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Golden Route of Japan
VISITING
Osaka, Hiroshima, Matsuyama, Takamatsu, Naruto, Kobe, Nara, Kyoto, Kanazawa, Matsumoto, Hakone, Kamakura & Tokyo
8th-22nd of July 2024
MONDAY, 8TH JULY / TUESDAY, 9TH JULY
We meet at the Malta International Airport at 4.15 pm for our Turkish Airlines flight that leaves Malta at 7.20 pm and arrives in Istanbul at 10.45 pm. We then board our flight to Japan departing at 2.00 am and arriving in Osaka at 8.00 pm. On arrival, we are transferred to our hotel Mystays Shin-Osaka Conference Centre (or similar). Check in, we have dinner and overnight. *Coach will continue with checked-in luggage to Hiroshima – hand luggage to be kept with us.
WEDNESDAY, 10TH JULY
After breakfast, we make our way to the train station and take the bullet train for a 90-minute ride to Hiroshima. We make our way to Hatsukaichi, then go by ferry to the island of Miyajima (included) and visit the sanctuary of Itsukushima Shrine (included) whose colourful buildings float on the water of the Inner Sea. We then have a brief city tour of Hiroshima by a private coach. Visiting the Genbaku Dome (the striking Cupola of a building which remained famously intact after the nuclear attack); and the Peace Memorial Park. Later, transfer to our hotel Daiwa Roynet Hiroshima – Ekimae (or similar), check in, and have dinner at a restaurant.
THURSDAY, 11TH JULY
After breakfast we meet our English-speaking guide and take Shimanami Road to Matsuyama, which is a 60-kilometer-long toll road that connects Japan’s main island of Honshu to the island of Shikoku, passing over six small islands in the Seto Inland Sea. We will visit the Ishiteji temple (included), one of Shikoku’s pilgrimage temples. Pilgrims dressed in white are a frequent sight at this large temple. We later proceed to Takamatsu where we have some free time at the center and have dinner. Later check in at our hotel – Rihga Hotel Zest Takamatsu (or similar) and overnight.
FRIDAY, 12TH JULY
Today, after breakfast we meet our English-speaking guide and have a brief city tour. Later we go to the beautiful Ritsurin landscape garden (included). We then proceed and have a short stop at Naruto. This is followed by a transfer to Himeji via the 1,629m Naruto Ohashi suspension bridge, famous for viewing whirlpools. In Himeji, we discover the city on foot and have some free time for lunch. We later stop at Himeji castle (included), the famous many-tiered white castle, acclaimed as Japan’s most beautiful and complete historic citadel, known as the White Egret. Transfer to Kobe, a large port city, and walk through the Chinatown district and Kitano-cho, a former residential area for foreign merchants. Transfer to our hotel in Candeo Osaka Namba (or similar) in Osaka and enjoy dinner.
SATURDAY, 13TH JULY
After breakfast, we have a guided tour with our English-speaking guide of Osaka – sightseeing by a private coach. We stop at The Umeda Sky Building (included), famous as the Floating Garden Observatory; Osaka Castle (included), and the sparkling district of Osaka Dotombori. Transfer to a hotel in Osaka, and have some free time. Dinner (extra).
SUNDAY, 14TH JULY
Breakfast at our hotel and we proceed with a full-day excursion of Nara accompanied by an English-speaking guide. We visit Todaiji-Temple (included), famous for the biggest bronze statue of Buddha in Japan; the Kasuga Shrine with 3,000 lanterns; Nara Park where about 1,000 tame deer circulate freely. Transfer back to our hotel and dinner.
MONDAY, 15TH JULY
After breakfast, we have a full-day excursion to Kyoto. Together with our guide, we visit Kinkakuji Temple (included), the “Golden Pavillion”, covered entirely with gold leaf, and Heianjingu shrine, which was built on the 1,100th anniversary of the foundation of Kyoto as the capital of Japan. Later in the afternoon, we visit Fushimi Inari, a famous Shinto shrine, famous for its thousands of red Torii. Return to our hotel.
TUESDAY, 16TH JULY
We start the day with breakfast, meet our English-speaking guide, and transfer to Kanazawa. Here we have a half-day city tour – we will be visiting Kenrokuen garden (included), justifiably classified as one of Japan’s three most beautiful landscape gardens; and Higashichaya-town, a traditional tea shop district. We later proceed to our hotel and check in at – Resol Trinity Kanazawa (or similar). Dinner included.
WEDNESDAY, 17TH JULY
After breakfast this morning we meet our guide and we are transferred to Shirakawago. We will have free time to explore the Shirakawa region, declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995. The region is famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses. The roofs, made without nails, provided a large attic space used for cultivating silkworms. We later proceed to Takayama and walk around the old town. Due to its previously inaccessible location nestled high in the mountainous Hida alpine region, this beautifully preserved old town was cut off from the rest of Japan, allowing it to develop its own unique culture. Afterward, we have the transfer to Alpico Plaza in Matsumoto (or similar), check-in, and dinner.
THURSDAY, 18TH JULY
We start our day with breakfast meet our English-speaking guide and transfer to Hakone. On the way, we will have a short stop at Fujikawaguchiko and Lake Kawaguchi. Later we proceed and enjoy cruising on Lake Ashi where the famous and revered Mount Fuji is reflected in all its glory. Transfer to our hotel in Hakone where we will spend the night at Hotel Kagetsuen (or similar). Dinner at our hotel is included.
FRIDAY, 19TH JULY
We meet our English-speaking guide after breakfast at our hotel and then proceed to Kamakura. Here we will visit Kotokuin Temple (included) to see a giant bronze Buddha statue. Afterward, we make our way to Yokohama – the second-largest city in Japan. Later on, we proceed to our hotel – Monterey Hanzomon (or similar). Today’s lunch and dinner are included.
SATURDAY, 20TH JULY
Today we will have a full-day excursion to discover the city of Tokyo. After breakfast, we meet our English-speaking guide and together we visit the observatory of the Metropolitan Government of Tokyo Shinjuku (included), which offers a beautiful view of the whole city and also visit Meiji Jingu Shrine located within a stunning inner-city park. Later we will have a photo stop at the Imperial Palace Square and afterwards, we will visit Asakusa Sensoji Temple, the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo dedicated to Asakusa Kannon. Dinner included.
SUNDAY, 21ST JULY / MONDA, 22ND JULY
Breakfast. On our last day in this splendid country, we have a day at leisure for personal sightseeing and shopping. Later in the afternoon, we are transferred by private coach to the Airport. We depart Haneda Airport at 9.55 pm and arrive in Istanbul at 5.05 am. We then proceed to our flight to Malta which departs at 4.50 pm and arrives at 8.25 pm. Between flights, one can opt to join the sightseeing tour of Istanbul.
Price per person
Adult in Triple on request
Adult in Twin (Double rooms not guaranteed) € 5437
Adult in Single € 5999
Price includes
Flights with Turkish Airlines to Osaka / return from Tokyo via Istanbul
Accommodation in 3* & 4* similar category hotels
12 breakfasts [a mixture of japanese & western]
8 dinners as per programme
Return ferry to Miyajima
All excursions guided with an experienced English-speaking guide as per itinerary
All the entrance fees, as mentioned in the programme
All transfers
Service of a tour leader
All taxes
Insolvency Funds
Notes
The minimum group size is based on 20 passengers
A Maltese passport with a validity date of 6 months beyond the departure date
Vaccines: Kindly check with the National Immunisation Service at Floriana Health Centre
