Japan by Rail

Fly overnight to the charming city of Fukuoka, the gateway to the island of Kyushu. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.

Begin the day by travelling approximately two hours on the Limited

Express train to Nagasaki. Upon arrival, enjoy a stroll through the

Glover Garden, an open-air museum that exhibits mansions attributed

to the Scottish merchant who contributed to the modernisation of

Japan. Also visit the Oura Catholic Church and Atomic Bomb Museum

before returning to Fukuoka.

Say goodbye to Kyushu and board the bullet train for a speedy 1 hour

40 minute journey to Hiroshima, located on Honshu, Japan’s largest

island. Upon arrival in Hiroshima, take the ferry across the Seto

Inland Sea to the holy island of Miyajima. Here, visit the Itsukushima

Shrine and enjoy a momiji manju making experience. Later, return to

Hiroshima.

Please note: You will need to pack a smaller overnight bag for your 2

nights’ stay in Hiroshima as your main luggage will be transferred

separately to your Osaka hotel

Spend the day in Hiroshima starting with a visit to the Peace Memorial

Park and Museum where you will have the opportunity to pay homage

to the victims of the 1945 atomic bomb. Enjoy okonomiyaki for lunch

before ascending Orizuru Tower to view the city from above, followed

by a stroll through the historical Shukkeien Garden.

Depart Hiroshima by bullet train, in just one hour you will arrive in Himeji to visit the magnificent Himeji Castle, one of Japan’s most impressive feudal era forts, followed by a walk through Kokoen, an Edo-style garden just across the castle moat. The castle is largely in its original condition, so please use common sense and be mindful of your step when strolling around. You will have to remove your

shoes before walking along some of the wooden floors and there are some steep wooden steps to reach certain areas. After the reopening in March 2015, Himeji Castle has welcomed many visitors. As such, they now issue numbered tickets to visitors in order to limit the number of people who can enter the Main Keep, reducing congestion, waiting time, and to protect the cultural properties. Please note that this means that there may be cases where some visitors are not allowed to enter the Main Keep. Continue a further hour by Limited Express to Osaka.

Begin the day in Osaka starting with a visit to the Umeda Sky Building

followed by a lunch at the famous Dontonburi district. Later, travel one

hour by road to Nara and explore Todaiji Temple which houses the

impressive Daibutsu, a 15-metre tall bronze stature of Buddha. Enjoy

an ink making and calligraphy class before returning to Osaka.

Journey by road for approximately 1 and a half hours to Kyoto.

Capital for 1,000 years, this enchanting city is the epitome of

traditional Japan. Upon arrival, stroll through the Arashiyama

bamboo forest and admire the towering thickets. Also visit Ryoanji

Temple, home to Japan's most famous zen garden and the famous

'Golden Pavilion' Kinkakuji Temple.

The day begins with a visit to Kiyomizu Temple, one the most visited

temples in Kyoto. Next, head to a restored Japanese wooden

townhouse and immerse yourself in the culture and enjoy the age-old

rituals of a tea ceremony and try your hand at fan painting. Also

explore Gion, Kyoto’s famous geisha district and centre of the city’s

traditional arts.

This morning travel approximately two hours by Limited Express

train to Kanazawa and upon arrival, meander your way through

Kenrokuen, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Also visit the

Nomura Samurai House and Kunani Pottery Factory.

Please note: You will need to pack a smaller overnight bag for tonight

as your main luggage will be transferred separately to your

accommodation in Takayama.

Travel by road to Takayama stopping en route at Inami for a sake

wooden cup-making experience and sake tasting. Next, continue to

the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Shirakawago Village which is

famous for its farmhouses built in gassho-zukuri architectural style and

take time to explore the village to get a glimpse of rural Japan.

Continue to Takayama.

Spend the morning browsing the local handicrafts and fresh

produce at Miyagawa market, the Takayama Floats Museum and

Takayama Jinya. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure or perhaps take a

stroll through Kami Sanomachi, Takayama’s old town.

Travel to Matsumoto and spend time at the Daio Wasabi Farm to see

the plantations and learn about its cultivation. Next, travel to

Yudanaka and head to Jigokudani Yaen-Koen. Walk through a

picturesque forested valley to the hot pools where you will see the

famous Japanese macaques (snow monkeys) bathe and play before

returning to Matsumoto.

Begin the day with a visit to the magnificent 16th-century

Matsumoto Castle, also known as ‘Crow Castle’, due to its intense

black exterior. Next, head to a miso house and learn about the

process of making this famous Japanese seasoning. After lunch,

travel approximately 1 hour by road to Narai-juku, one of the bestpreserved post towns for a zen mediation experience before

continuing a further one hour by road to Suwa.

Travel approximately one and a half hours by road to Hakone.

Weather permitting, ascend the road to the 5th Station to view Mt

Fuji. Also, enjoy a peaceful cruise on Lake Ashi before taking to the

skies on the Komagatake Ropeway to enjoy the breath-taking scenery

of the below. Later, continue your journey by road for around two

hours to Tokyo, Japan’s capital city.

A dazzling, high-tech metropolis, Japan’s capital has wonderfully

traditional roots. Begin the day with a leisurely stroll through

Hamarikyu Gardens. Next, take part in a sushi making class and

enjoy your own creations for lunch! Later, soak up the atmosphere

at Sensoji Temple, browse the stalls on Nakamise shopping street

and drive by the Imperial Palace Plaza.

Begin the day at the Tokyo Metropolitan Building and ascend to the

observation deck for breathtaking views over the sprawling city.

Next,soak up the atmosphere at the peaceful Meiji Jingu Shrine and

drive-by the world-famous Shibuya crossing.

As the tour journeys to northern Honshu, board the bullet train for

a short 1.5-hour journey to Sendai, the largest city in Tohoku. Upon

arrival, transfer by road to Matsushima and enjoy a cruise on

Matsushima Bay. Also visit Zuigani Temple and the famous Nikka

Whisky factory in Sendai.

Please note: You will need to pack a smaller overnight bag for the next

two nights in Sendai and Hakodate as your main luggage will be

transferred directly to Sapporo.

Say goodbye to Honshu Island as you board the bullet train to

Hakodate located on Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. This

journey will take approximately 3.5 hours. On arrival, visit the

Goryokaku Tower, a star shaped fortress followed by some time at

leisure. This evening, journey on the Mt. Hakodate Ropeway and enjoy

the fabulous views of the city below.

Board the bullet train for the very last time to Sapporo. This journey

will take 3 hours and 45 minutes. On arrival in Sapporo, head to the

Clock Tower and Odori Park. This evening, stop by the Sapporo Beer

Museum and enjoy a tasting or two, followed by a farewell dinner.

This morning is free at leisure before transferring to the airport for

your return flight home.

Please note: Only breakfast is included today. Late check-out is not

included in our Ancient Empires of China & Japan tour. If you wish to

book a late check-out for your final day in Tokyo, please contact our

Reservations Department who can confirm the additional price and

make this arrangement for you, subject to availability at the hotel.

Transfers: In the event that your flight departs outside of the majority

group departure time, you will be transferred to the airport by a

shared coach (not with other Wendy Wu Tours passengers). If you are

on a shared coach transfer, you may have to walk for a few minutes to get to the coach.