1 WHERE THE OLD WORLD MEETS THE NEW
At once serene and electrifying, ancient and modern, Japan reveals its glory.
10 BEAUTY DAY TOUR: OF JAPAN Includes with Qantas return flights to Tokyo Ride Kyoto the to bullet Osaka train from Visit the icons – Mt Fuji, Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Nara Sept 2022 – Nov 2023 TIP: Join a March tour to witness the ephemeral beauty of cherry blossom season.
This trip takes in Japan’s most iconic highlights so you can be immersed in the humming, neon-bright energy of Tokyo then disappear into pristine nature. Heading west from the capital, you’ll feel dwarfed by the 13-metre-high Great Buddha of Kamakura and learn centuries-old tea-making techniques before boarding the exhilarating high-speed train to Osaka. While not included in the itinerary, a kaiseki dinner is one thing you don’t want to miss during your free time. An elegant multi-course meal made from seasonal produce in a traditional inn or ryokan, it’s your chance to taste Japan’s celebrated cuisine with locals. On day four, you’ll have an option to explore Hiroshima and sail to Miyajima, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed island renowned for its giant torii gate, which, at high tide, appears to float on water. In Osaka, after meandering the grounds of the city’s 16th-century shogunate castle, it’s time for some retail therapy in the department stores and quirky boutiques of the Shinsaibashi district. Trading glitz for greenery, you’ll then see free-roaming deer grazing in Nara Park near the city of Nara before a day visiting villages restored in homage to the Edo period (1603-1868). Back in Tokyo, take in the sights including Tsukiji Outer Market, Meiji Shrine and Tokyo Tower on an optional half-day tour. Or while away the morning practising hanami, the Japanese pastime of admiring flowers, at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, people-watching in eccentric Harajuku or getting acquainted with Shibuya’s booming craft beer scene.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
Staring up at snow-capped Mt. Fuji from the 5th Station lookout, 2300 metres above sea level, is a true pinch-yourself moment. Discover the many different perspectives of the sacred mountain from a cruise on beautiful Lake Ashi, which was formed by the eruption of Mount Hakone more than 3000 years ago.