Japan, From Tokyo to Osaka

Arts and traditions in Japan 3^*

Arrival at Tokyo Airport.

Transfer to your hotel by shared shuttle. Pick up your Pocket Wi-Fi at the hotel reception to enjoy the internet for the duration of your trip.

Overnight stay in Tokyo.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day.

Suggested sightseeing: Start your discovery of Tokyo gently with the famous Meiji Shrine, before continuing along the Takeshita Dori pedestrian street, famous for its small shops. You can then take a stroll along Omotesando Avenue to admire the architecture, or do a little shopping in the Shibuya district, for a taste of Tokyo's fashion madness!

Overnight stay in Tokyo.

Meals included: breakfast.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day.

Suggested sightseeing : Discover the traditional districts of Asakusa and Ueno where you'll find the superb Senso-ji Temple and the Sumida Park. Then, press on with a stroll through Yanaka, known as "Old Tokyo". If you're curious about electronics and manga, head to the Akihabara district, where you'll find the craziest video games, manga from your youth, and Cosplay; a great opportunity to delve into a crazy and unusual universe!

Overnight stay in Tokyo.

Meals included: breakfast.

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Hakone (111 km, about 2 hours by train) using your Hakone Free Pass. Free day.

Suggested sightseeing: Hakone: this is where you'll see the majestic Mount Fuji, an iconic symbol of Japan. Visit the Hakone Shrine with its large vermilion Torii, then take a boat across Lake Ashi to enjoy the view of Mount Fuji. Take the cable car to Owakudani to see the impressive fumaroles of the sulphur quarry. It's also the ideal place to enjoy the hot springs and stroll through the open-air art museum, for a truly original nature walk.

This is a must if you want to immerse yourself in Japanese culture: experience an overnight stay in a Ryokan, an authentic Japanese inn, where you can enjoy a moment of Zen and take a dip in one of the many Onsen, the famous hot springs that are incredibly popular after a day's sightseeing. To top it all off, enjoy a delicious meal of Japanese specialities. Dinner and overnight stay in a Ryokan in Hakone.

Meals included: breakfast at the hotel and dinner at the Ryokan.

Please note: It is traditional to bathe naked in Onsens. Also, men and women are separate and people with tattoos may be refused access to the baths.

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Okayama by Shinkansen express train with a change at Odawara (approx. 4 hrs 30 mins by train). Free day.

Suggested sightseeing: Okayama boasts the incredibly famous Koraku-en garden, one of the most beautiful gardens in the country, located right next to the Okayama Castle. Small hills, ponds, and pavilions: take a stroll and admire the harmony of nature. Overnight stay in Okayama.

Meals included: breakfast at the Ryokan.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day.

Suggested sightseeing: Take the day to visit the small island of Naoshima, a genuine island-museum devoted to contemporary works of art and sculptures. Take a bike ride and discover the artistic and architectural sights while enjoying the scenery. Return and overnight stay in Okayama.

Meals included: breakfast.

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Hiroshima using your Kansai Hiroshima Pass (approx. 1 hr 30 mins by train). Free day.

Suggested sightseeing: Take time to appreciate the tragic history of Hiroshima and the astonishing pacifist reconstruction that followed the bombing by visiting the Peace Memorial Park and the Peace Museum. Hiroshima also offers pleasant walks in the Inari Shrine or the Shukkei-en garden, the perfect place for a short meditation on the city's history.

Overnight stay in Hiroshima.

Meals included: breakfast.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day.

Suggested sightseeing: visit the famous island of Miyajima and its sanctuary: take the ferry and set off to discover this extraordinary island, which is home to the famous floating Torii of the Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return and overnight stay in Hiroshima.

Meals included: breakfast.

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Kyoto using your Kansai Hiroshima Pass (approximately 1 hr 40 mins by train). Free day.

Suggested sightseeing: Take a Zen walk through the Arashiyama bamboo grove and Tenryu-ji temple. Continue on to the city centre districts to stroll around Gion and see the Geishas, or drop in at the Nishiki market, renowned for its size and the variety of foodstuffs on offer. Overnight stay in Kyoto.

Meals included: breakfast.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day.

Suggested sightseeing : Don't leave Kyoto without seeing the breathtaking Fushimi Inari-taisha shinto shrine and its thousands of red toriis in the middle of the forest; you can then take a walk to the south of Higashiyama to see the famous Kiyomizu-dera temple, Maruyama Park, or the Chion-in temple, among other attractions. A little further north, don't miss the Nanzen-ji, a famous Zen temple. You can end your tour at the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and then head on to the Ninna-ji Temple using the equally famous Hontsuji Dori street, passing through the Ryoan-ji stone garden.

Overnight stay in Kyoto.

Meals included: breakfast.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day.

Suggested sightseeing : Discover the historically rich town of Nara and its famous Deer Park. Visit the Kofukuji Temple, an illustrious complex comprising several pavilions classified as Japanese National Treasures. Visit the splendid Todaiji temple, the largest wooden structure in the world, and its monumental bronze Buddha. Finish off with a walk in the deer park or a little shopping.

Overnight stay in Kyoto.

Meals included: breakfast.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer by shared hotel shuttle to Osaka airport (Itami or Kansai) for your return flight (1-hour shuttle).

Meals included: breakfast.

To avoid queuing at the airport and to save time, we recommend that you register individually on the Visit Japan Web site (https://vjw-lp.digital.go.jp/en/) before your departure.

Conditions for entering the country:

On arrival, travellers must have a passport valid for at least 6 months after the date of return. A visa is only required for stays of more than 3 months.

Non-Japanese nationals entering Japan are required to take biometric data (fingerprints and photographic portrait).

Non-French nationals or dual nationals are advised to consult the consulate or embassy of their destination country.

Under-age children must have an individual passport. We strongly recommend that minors who are not accompanied by their legal representatives bring a copy of their family record book.

A few things you should know before arriving in Japan:

Currency

The currency used is the yen (JPY). On 20 December 2022, 1 Euro is equivalent to 140.40 Japanese yen.

Tips

It is not necessary or even customary to leave tips in restaurants, for guides, drivers, etc. If you want to thank your hosts, opt for a gift instead.

Climate

Spring (March to May) is a very pleasant time to travel in Japan, as the flowers in bloom make the landscape very beautiful and the climate is mild, but it is also the peak tourist season, as there are often many people visiting the sites.

Summer (June to August) is fairly hot and humid in most regions, but it is still possible to visit the country, particularly in mountainous areas.

Autumn (September to November) is mild, with beautiful colours that add to the charm of the landscape, but it is also rainy.

Winter (December to February) is dry and often sunny, so it's a great time to take pictures and admire the scenery without too many tourists. It's cold in most parts of the country (with snow in some areas), which is ideal for making the most of the famous Onsens, which are sure to warm you up!

Onsens

If you want to try out the Onsens (traditional baths), it is customary to go in completely naked (men and women separated). That said, tattoos are not always accepted in Onsens.

ACCOMMODATION:

Any specific request concerning the type of bed (double/separate beds) or any other request or special condition concerning the accommodation is subject to availability and may incur a supplement.

If, due to airline schedules, the first or last day is shortened by a late arrival or an early departure, no refund will be given. Similarly, any meal included in the board package that cannot be taken because of these timetables cannot be reimbursed. Also, depending on the timetable of any optional extras and excursions, any meals that cannot be taken at the hotel will be charged to the customer.

ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION:

Accommodation capacity :

Single room: 1 adult

Double/twin room: 2 adults or 1 adult + 1 child

Babies are not allowed

Age of children: 2 - 11 years

For technical reasons, hotels may be replaced with similar accommodation and the order of the stages may be reversed. All accommodation requests and special conditions are subject to availability.

Any change to the itinerary or closure/modification of hotel facilities/services due to the current health crisis (COVID-19 epidemic) will not result in any reimbursement or compensation. In Japan, hotel rooms are often rather narrow and the beds small.

Check-in is usually in the mid-afternoon (3 - 4pm). The accommodation included in this trip is not suitable for people with reduced mobility. For more information, please contact Customer Services.

MEALS:

This offer includes breakfast during the tour and a half-board package (excluding drinks) during your night in a Ryokan. You will need to pay for any other meals.

Getting around Tokyo: You will need to make your own transfers.

Tokyo metro map:

https://www.tokyometro.jp/fr/subwaymap/index.html

TRANSFERS

• Transfer from Tokyo Airport to your Tokyo hotel (Day 1): The transfer is by shared shuttle and drops you off in front of your hotel. It may make several stops along the way (ticket sent by email).
• Transfer Tokyo - Hakone (Day 4): By train from Tokyo Shinjuku on the Odakyu line, changing at Odawara with the Hakone Free Pass* (sent by email).
• Transfer Hakone - Okayama (Day 5) by Shinkansen express train (train ticket issued at the 1st hotel on the tour)
• Transfer Okayama - Hiroshima (Day 7): with the Kansai Hiroshima Pass (regional pass)
• Transfer Hiroshima - Kyoto (Day 9): with the Kansai Hiroshima Pass
• Hotel transfer from Kyoto to Osaka Airport (day 12): The transfer is provided by hotel shuttle and drops you off at the Kansai (KIX) or Itami (ITM) Airport depending on your return flight

Please note: transfers to other airports are not insured and will be charged to you.

*Note about the Hakone Free Pass:

You will receive your Hakone Free Pass in the form of an e-voucher issued by email.

It allows you to travel to Hakone from Tokyo Shinjuku on the Odakyu line. After changing at Odawara, travel to Hakone and use your Pass to travel on the Hakone Tozan buses, the Hakone Tozan cable cars, the Lake Ashi cruise ship and the funicular railway, among others. You'll also enjoy discounts on certain entrance fees for tourist sites!

Please note that for the French market, guided tours will be conducted with a French-speaking guide. For any other market, guided tours will be conducted with an English-speaking guide.