Empire of the Sun Tour

Japan is an exciting destination to tour, with a wonderful blend of ancient history and modern technology, but can be expensive for visitors. This Japan tour includes all the essentials for your visit to Japan without adding expensive frills. We look after the travel and accommodation and you need only think about how best to enjoy your time.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Maximum Group Size: 12
Trek Grade: B - Moderate (Fuji trips only), A - Easy for non-Fuji trips
Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader
Transport: Train network, Shinkansen (bullet train), ferry, local bus, taxi, tram
Japan Railpass: A 14-day Japan Rail Pass (worth approx US$400) is included in the cost of this tour
Activities: Extensive walking at sites and optional bike rides and mountain walks. Mt Fuji climb (July and August)
Accommodation: 13 nights simple hotels, 1 night mountain hut on Mt Fuji (selected trips only)
Meals: Not included. Allow US$40 per day
Arrival Transfer: Not included
Entrance Fees: Not included. Allow approx. US$60-90 for all the sites that you are likely to visit (including optional excursions).
Local Payment: Must be paid in cash on day 1 of your tour

ITINERARY CHANGE: Mt Fuji is only open from 01 July - 31 August.
Outside of these dates the group will stay in Nara and Tokyo for the nights of day 12 and day 13 respectively. The tour leader will arrange additional excursions as appropriate. Please refer to the trip dossier for further details.

RAIL PASS: A 14-day Japan Rail Pass is included in the cost of this tour. If you wish to travel independently after the tour, we can arrange for a 21-day pass instead. Please ask us for more details.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride on the famous Shinkansen 'Bullet trains'
• Stay in a traditional Ryokan
• Explore Kyoto with Zen gardens, temples and pagodas
• Stay on Miyajima and see the sunset over the Tori Gate

BRIEF ITINERARY

Day 1, TOKYO: Arrival day.

Day 2, TOKYO: Morning orientation tour.

Day 3, TAKAYAMA: Board the famous ‘Bullet train’ for the first time. Disembark in Nagoya and journey into the Japan Alps, far from the modern life of Tokyo.

Day 4, TAKAYAMA: A full day to explore this beautiful landscape. Discover traces of a feudal past of thatched houses and rice fields. Optional bike ride.

Day 5, KYOTO: Depart early for Kyoto, former Imperial Capital of Japan and home of the country’s most treasured remnants of Japanese imperial life.

Day 6, KYOTO: You have a full free day to discover the Zen gardens, huge wooden temples, pagodas and shrines.

Day 7, HIMEJI – NAGASAKI: Travel to the Mount Fuji regionIn the morning we visit the impressive Himeji Castle. Continue to Nagasaki for the night.

Day 8, NAGASAKI: A full day to explore this exciting city. Opportunity to visit the Glover Gardens, Dutch Museum, Chinatown or take a harbour cruise.

Day 9, KYUSHU HOT SPRINGS: We travel across Kyushu to the hot spring resorts of the east coast.

Day 10, YUFUIN: Optional mountain walks in the stunning scenery around Mt. Yufuin.

Day 11, HIROSHIMA – MIYAJIMA: Travel by train to Hiroshima for a morning visit. Continue by ferry to Miyajima, a lovely small island which is ideal for walking or cycling. See the famous ‘floating’ Tori Gate.

Day 12, MIYAJIMA - MT FUJI: Travel to the Mount Fuji region..

Day 13, Mt. FUJI: Today we commence our climb of Mt. Fuji. We break the trek by spending the night on the mountain at the 7th station. (The climb is dependent upon weather conditions.)

Day 14, Mt. FUJI – TOKYO: Continue to the summit of Mt. Fuji and then return to Tokyo.

Day 15, TOKYO: Tour ends

DEPARTURE DATES

TRAVEL STYLE

You love the sometimes tough but ultimately rewarding nature of adventure travel and you want to spend more time enjoying every experience rather than wasting time on travel arrangements.

Maximum Group Size - 18: You love the whole concept of travel. Getting there is as much fun as being there and you love using public transport, local restaurants and small family run hotels where you get the best chance to really get under the skin of a destination. You love the sometimes tough but ultimately rewarding nature of adventure travel and you love spending more time enjoying every experience rather than wasting time on travel arrangements.
Included: All accommodation (usually twin share but occasionally multi share), transportation
Not included: Most meals, entrance fees
Single Supplement: Not available. [Read more about Imaginative Traveller travel styles]