Jewels of Japan 2023

Fly overnight to Tokyo, the capital of Japan. On arrival, you will be met by an English-speaking representative and transfer approximately 1.5 hours to your hotel.



Please note: Early check in is not included. If your flight arrives in the morning and you wish to arrange this, please speak to your Reservations Consultant. Transfers will differ depending on group size, but you may share a coach with other passengers who are not part of a Wendy Wu Tour. If you are on a shared bus transfer, you may have to walk for a few minutes to get to your hotel.

Tokyo is the ultimate 24-hour city, but look behind its frantic, high-tech frontage and you’ll find plenty of tranquil backstreets and old temples to explore; today take a tour by coach of this fascinating city. Begin with a stroll through the Imperial Palace East Garden (you will not enter the palace itself) before exploring the Edo Tokyo Museum. After lunch, head to the Asakusa district, stopping at the atmospheric Sensoji Temple and wandering down

Nakamise shopping street, followed by a visit to the observation deck of the Tokyo Skytree for panoramic views over the city.



You will be on your feet for 4-5 hours during your touring in Tokyo. Dinner this evening will be at a local restaurant within walking distance of your hotel.

Spend a relaxed morning wandering around the classical landscapes of the Hamarikyu Garden and exploring the huge evergreen forest that encompasses the Shinto Meiji Shrine. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel, driving by the Shibuya “Scramble” Crossing on the way. Return to your hotel where your guide will let you know what time to meet for this evenings dinner cruise, the rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore independently or relax in the hotel. Transfer from the hotel to your boat and take a leisurely 1-hour dinner cruise on Tokyo Bay for some excellent city vistas. You will need to be able embark and disembark the boat this evening without assistance

Journey 2 hours through the foothills of the iconic Mount Fuji to its base, where you will find the Fuji Five Lakes. The region is spectacular with the calm waters of the five lakes, formed bypast volcanic eruptions, reflecting Fuji’s picture-perfect cone. Head up Fuji’s 5th Station for spectacular mountain vistas. Please note it is only possible to reach the 5th station if weather permits. After lunch, visit the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum to view the elaborate dyed silk creations before exploring the Iyashi no Sato historical village, located on the western shores of Lake Saiko, famous for its thatched-roofed houses. Transfer around 1 hour to your hotel and check in.



For May departures only: instead of visiting the Iyashi no Sato historical village, a visit to the Fuji Shibazakura Festival has been included. This is the best time of the year and one of the most scenic places in Japan to see the pink moss phlox in full bloom.



In the Fuji Five Lakes area we use a selection of hotels, some of which are more traditional in style, but you will be accommodated in Western-style rooms.

Transfer around 45 minutes to Oshino Hakkai, a scenic area of ponds full of crystal-clear spring water created by Fuji’s melting snow. Stroll around the area before trying your hand at making traditional Japanese soba noodles, which you will then tuck into for lunch. Drive around 2 hours to Mishima Station to board a 2-hour bullet train to Kyoto. An enchanting city, Kyoto was capital for a thousand years; today it is the legacy of ancient Japan, full

of tranquil temples, silk-clad geisha and sublime gardens. Check in to your hotel and have dinner at a local restaurant.



Please note that your luggage will be transferred separately to your hotel in Kyoto and arrive later the same day.

Enjoy a full day tour of Kyoto, starting with a visit to the spectacular Kiyomizu Temple. You will spend 1.5 hours on foot exploring the temple. Next, immerse yourself in the culture, learning the traditional Japanese handicraft of origami. After lunch, visit a traditional teahouse where you will be joined by a Tea Master, followed by a visit to Fushimi Inari Shrine. With its thousands of vermillion torii gates, the Shrine stretches up Mount Inari (233m high). You will walk up part of the mountain and the incline allows a steady-paced walk.



Please note: Kiyomizu Temple is undergoing renovations which may last until 2020. You can still visit the temple and the shrines around it and your touring will not b

Begin the day with a visit to Ryoanji Temple, home to Japan’s

most famous zen garden, and Kinkakuji Temple, also known as

the Golden Pavillion due to its golden exterior. Continue

around 1 hour by coach to Osaka to have lunch in the vibrant

Dotonbori district. Transfer to the train station and take the

bullet train to Hiroshima, a journey of 1 hour 40 minutes. A

modern and prosperous city, Hiroshima will be forever

remembered as the world’s first atomic bomb target.

You will need to pack a smaller overnight bag for tonight as your main luggage will be transferred separately this

morning to your Osaka hotel.

Hop on the ferry to Miyajima Island, where sightseeing will be at a leisurely pace on foot. Visit Itsukushima Shrine and explore the traditional market town at leisure. Return by ferry and then coach to Hiroshima and have lunch. Later, visit the famous Peace Memorial Park and Museum. Please be aware that the

museum may be confronting and upsetting for some group members and it is at your discretion if you wish to visit or enjoy time at leisure exploring the Peace Memorial Park. Also visit the Orizuru Tower.



Please note: Miyajima's floating torii gate is currently undergoing renovation work.. During the renovation works, the torii gate will be covered up by scaffolding. It is not known yet exactly how long the renovations will take, but they are expected to last until the end of 2021. While the torii gate will be covered, you can still see the Itsukushima shrine itself as well as enjoying free time on Miyajima Island to explore the local streets or make the

walk up to Daisho-in Temple.

Travel 3.5 hours by coach to Himeji, with a rest stop along the way. On arrival, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before visiting the beautiful Himeji Castle and Koko-en Garden. Himeji Castle is largely in its original condition so, please be mindful of your step when walking 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 a large number of visitors. As such, they now issue numbered tickets to enter the Main Keep in order to limit the number of people who can enter, reducing congestion, waiting time and to protect the cultural properties. Please note this means that there may be cases where some visitors are not allowed to enter the Main Keep, however, there are many other parts of the castle to explore. Transfer approximately 2 hours to Osaka for your overnight stay.

This morning is free at leisure before you transfer to Osaka airport for your return flight home. Please note: Only breakfast is included today. Late check-out is not included in our Jewels of Japan tour. If you wish to book a late check-out for your final day in Osaka, 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.