Deal negotiated for you
- The 11-day, 10-night tour, with accommodation in the hotels as mentioned or similar
- Board according to programme
- Flights departing from the city of your choice
- Outbound transfer from Kansai Airport (KIX or ITM) to Kyoto Hotel by shared shuttle
- Transfer from downtown Osaka to Kansai International Airport (KIX) by limousine bus
- The JR Kansai Wide Area Pass 5 days
- Kyoto-Himeji luggage transfer (1 piece of luggage per person)
- A tea ceremony
- The return ticket for the boat to Amanohashidate
- The return ticket for the cable car at Amanohashidate
- Lunch or dinner with Kobe beef in teppanyaki style (excluding drinks)
- Sake distillery tours in Kobe with group tasting in English
- Visit to the Denshokan Museum in Sakai with a group knife-making workshop in English
- A Japanese kitchen knife with your name engraved on it
- Unlimited Pocket Wifi (1 per booking)
Customise your trip on the Options page.
Your stay starts here
Exploring Hyogo and Kansai 3*
Set off to discover Kansai, Japan's iconic region, where age-old traditions and modernity sit elegantly side by side.
Starting in Kyoto, the cultural capital with its temples and refined gardens, and ending in Osaka, the vibrant gourmet metropolis, this trip takes you through Kobe and its exceptional beef, Himeji and its UNESCO-listed castle, and Kinosaki Onsen and its traditional baths. Explore the rich diversity of Kansai on this journey. With unique experiences such as tea ceremonies, Sakai cutlery and sake distillery visits, as well as serene interludes in unspoilt landscapes like Amanohashidate, this complete itinerary brings you closer to the Japanese art of living.
Your day-by-day itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Osaka
Day 2: Free day in Kyoto
Day 3: Free day in Kyoto
Day 4: Discover Amanohashidate
Day 5: Kinosaki - Himeji
Day 6: Himeji - Kobe
Day 7: Discover Kobe
Day 8: Kobe - Osaka
Day 9: Discover Osaka
Day 10: Discover Osaka
Day 11: Return from Osaka
Your detailed itinerary
Day 1 | Arrival in Osaka
Upon arrival at Osaka Airport, you will be transferred by shared shuttle bus to your hotel in Kyoto. Once you have settled in, pick up your Pocket Wifi to stay connected throughout your trip.
To start your Japanese immersion, we suggest a Zen walk through the Arashiyama bamboo grove and Tenryu-ji Temple, followed by a stroll through the Gion district in the hope of meeting a geisha. Finally, visit the renowned Nishiki market, which is famous for its culinary specialities.
Meals not included.
Overnight at a hotel in Kyoto.
Day 2 | Free day in Kyoto
Breakfast at the hotel.
Free day to explore Kyoto at your own pace. Activity included: take part in a tea ceremony, a true ritual of Japanese tradition.
Lunch and dinner not included.
Overnight at the hotel in Kyoto.
Day 3 | Free day in Kyoto
Breakfast at the hotel.
Enjoy another day at leisure to explore further. We recommend visiting the Fushimi Inari shrine with its thousands of red torii gates, and then exploring the Higashiyama district, home to the Kiyomizu-dera temple, Maruyama Park and the Chion-in temple. Further north, the famous Zen temple Nanzen-ji is also well worth a visit.
Lunch and dinner not included.
Overnight at the hotel in Kyoto.
Day 4 | Discovering Amanohashidate
Breakfast at the hotel.
Take the train to Amanohashidate, widely regarded as one of Japan's three most beautiful landscapes. Explore its sanctuaries, enjoy a cruise and take a cable car ride up to the ‘floating bridge of heaven’, where you can enjoy exceptional panoramic views. In the afternoon, continue by train to the charming spa town of Kinosaki Onsen.
Dinner included and overnight in a ryokan in Kinosaki Onsen.
Day 5| Kinosaki - Himeji
Breakfast at the ryokan.
Spend the morning strolling along the willow-lined streets of Kinosaki in a traditional yukata and try one of the town's seven public baths. Then, take the train to Himeji to see its majestic, UNESCO-listed castle.
Lunch and dinner not included.
Overnight at the hotel in Himeji.
Day 6 | Himeji - Kobe
Breakfast at the hotel.
Set off for Kobe, a cosmopolitan city on the shores of the Inland Sea. Activity included: enjoy a teppanyaki meal made with the world-famous Kobe beef.
We suggest you take the opportunity to visit Himeji's White Heron Castle and stroll through the Koko-en gardens, made up of nine areas laid out using Edo period techniques.
One meal included (lunch or dinner subject to availability).
Other meals are not included.
Overnight at the hotel in Kobe.
Day 7 | Discovering Kobe
Breakfast at the hotel.
Included activity: a guided tour in English of sake distilleries, followed by a tasting, to discover the secrets of this iconic drink.
We also recommend visiting the Ikuta-jinja shrine and the lively Chinatown, as well as taking a stroll around Kobe harbour.
Lunch and dinner not included.
Overnight at the hotel in Kobe.
Day 8 | Kobe - Osaka
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure for Osaka and a free day to explore the city at your leisure.
We suggest a visit to Osaka Castle, a symbol of feudal power, followed by a visit to the History Museum.
Lunch and dinner not included.
Overnight at the hotel in Osaka.
Day 9 | Discovering Osaka
Breakfast at the hotel.
Included activity: an immersion into the art of Sakai cutlery with a visit to the Denshokan Museum and a workshop, where you will have the opportunity to take home a knife engraved with your name.
Lunch and dinner not included.
Overnight at the hotel in Osaka.
Day 10 | Discovering Osaka
Breakfast at the hotel.
Free day to explore Osaka. We suggest a stroll through the shopping districts of Umeda, Namba and Shinsaibashi, before enjoying the unique atmosphere of Dotombori in the evening, with its neon lights, culinary specialities and lively bars.
Lunch and dinner not included.
Overnight at the hotel in Osaka.
Day 11 | Return from Osaka
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer by limousine bus to Osaka Airport for the return flight.
Your accommodation
During your tour, you will be accommodated for 10 nights in 3-star hotels (local standards) or similar:
- Kyoto: 3 nights at the 3-star Il Verde Kyoto Hotel (or similar)
- Kinosaki Onsen: 1 night at the 3-star Tsuruya Ryokan (or similar)
- Himeji: 1 night at the 3-star Comfort Himeji Hotel (or similar)
- Kobe: 2 nights at the 3-star Sunroute Sopra Kobe Annesso Hotel (or similar)
- Osaka: 3 nights at the 3-star WBF Namba Motomachi Hotel (or similar)
PLEASE NOTE: The hotels listed above are subject to availability. Changes may be made, but we will always try to accommodate you in hotels of a similar category.
Your board
During the tour, you will be accommodated on a bed and breakfast basis, with a dinner planned in a ryokan on day 4 and a lunch in Kobe on day 6.
Useful information
CUSTOMS FORMALITIES: Upon arrival, travellers must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after their return date. A visa is only required for stays of more than 3 months.
Non-Japanese nationals entering Japan are subject to biometric data collection (fingerprinting and photographing).
Non-British nationals or dual nationals are advised to consult the consulate or embassy of their destination country.
Minors must have their own passport. We strongly recommend that minors travelling unaccompanied by their legal guardians carry a copy of their family register.
CURRENCY: The currency used is the yen (JPY). As of 15 October 2024, 1 Euro is equivalent to 162.8 Japanese yen.