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Japan, 13 Days · Classic tour
Osaka, Koya, Nikko, Tokyo and Kyoto
Immerse yourself in spiritual and traditional Japan
Beyond the brightness of the neon lights, the noise of the pachinko parlours and the modernity of cutting-edge technology, Japan is a country of deep spirituality in which traditions are still present in the daily life of the vast majority of its inhabitants. In this itinerary you will discover that quieter Japan, that of the temples, the rooms with tatamis, monasteries and prayers. Mt. Koyasan and Nikko, near Osaka and north of Tokyo respectively, will be two of the stops along this route that will bring us closer to Japanese tradition. Fancy joining us?
Departure date
Departures from May 2024 till March 2025
From
Dublin, Knock, Galway, Shannon, Donegal, Cork, Kerry county...
Travel details
City of origin - Osaka
Departure with destination Osaka. Night on board.
Osaka
Arrival in Osaka, transfer to the hotel and rest of the day free to start getting to know this fascinating country. Accommodation.
Osaka - Mount Koya
Breakfast. Free morning until 1 p.m., when we will leave the city to head to the sacred mountain of Koya, the most important location in Japan for Shingon Buddhism. This mountain is a place of pilgrimage and magic and is home to 120 temples and monasteries. We will visit the Okuno mausoleum, a spiritual place amid natural surroundings which has an enormous cemetery of more than 200,000 tombs. We will also visit the temple of Kongobuji, which was built in 1593. We'll then spend the night in a Buddhist monastery, where the monks will give us a lesson in Zen meditation (Ajikan). Evening meal included (vegetarian). If we wish, we can attend the religious ceremony of the temple at dawn.
Mount Koya - Kyoto
Japanese breakfast at the temple. Today we'll go to Kyoto. Upon arrival, we'll spend the whole day exploring what was the capital of Imperial Japan between 794 and 1868. It was the only large Japanese city that did not suffer bombing during the Second World War, so it retains a rich artistic heritage. What is more, in 1997 a protocol was signed there which seeks to limit emissions of greenhouse gases. We will visit the Fushimi Inari Shinto Shrine - whose pathways are guarded by thousands of 'vermilion torii' gates, making it one of the most photographed places in Japan - the Imperial Palace and the Kinkakuji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion, with its magnificent gardens. Later on we will take a stroll through Gion, which is full of life and one of the city's most traditional neighbourhoods. With a bit of luck we can see some elusive geisha. Accommodation.
Kyoto - Tsumago - Matsumoto - Nagano
Breakfast. Traversing beautiful rural landscapes our route continues to Tsumago, a small town with wooden buildings, considered one of the most beautiful in Japan. We can take a stroll through its streets. Lunch at a local restaurant. We'll then continue on to Matsumoto, a touristy city where we can visit a striking 16th century castle commonly known as the 'castle of the crows'. We'll have some free time here, and then we'll continue to Nagano. Overnight stay in Nagano.
Nagano - Monkey Park - Kusatsu - Ikaho Onsen
Breakfast. Today we'll venture into the stunning Japanese Alps. In Nagano we'll see Zenko-ji, a place of pilgrimage which is home Japan's first Buddhist image, and attend the Gomakuyo ceremony which will bring us good fortune. Then we'll travel through tall mountains to the Jigokudani Monkey Park. We'll have lunch and stroll through its forests, admiring as we go the rivers and thermal springs where colonies of Japanese macaque monkeys live and bathe. After that, we'll soak up the beautiful mountain scenery (we'll be 2172 metres up) as we pass by semi-active volcanoes on our way to Kusatsu, a delightful spa town with a lively central square. We'll watch the Yumomi performance, in which the actresses and songs will teach us about the traditional method used for cooling the hot springs. We'll then take a stroll through the city's park, which is home to an open-air onsen. Continue to Ikaho, a picturesque thermal city. We will take a stroll through its historical centre and we will stay in a ryokan, a traditional Japanese-style accommodation, where we can enjoy its thermal baths. Traditional Japanese dinner included.
Ikaho Onsen - Nikko - Tokyo
Breakfast. Afterwards, we continue to Nikko, where we will visit the impressive temple of Nikko-Toshogu, in which the room with the sound of the dragon is a highlight. We'll also visit the Taiyuinbyo mausoleum, an impressive and wonderfully peaceful place. We will take a stroll along the river in the Kanmangafuchi Abyss, with hundreds of Jizos watching us as we go! We will have some free time before leaving for Tokyo, the capital. Accommodation.
Tokyo
Breakfast. We dedicate the morning to an extended, five-hour tour of this impressive city, accompanied by our guide. The frenetic buzz and ultramodern neighbourhoods of the city coexist in harmony with fantastically peaceful areas. We start with a brief stop at the Zojoji Temple to take a good photo of the Tokyo Tower. In this temple hundreds of jizo statues stand out, serving as guardian stone deities of children, to whom wool hats, bibs and windmills are given as offerings. We will then go to the famous Shibuya crossing, the busiest crosswalk on the planet. We'll pay a visit to the Meiji Shinto shrine, which is dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife. On departure, we'll walk to the lively Harayuku district where you can find shops and boutiques with the most eccentric styles. From there we continue with our bus through the elegant Omotesando Avenue, which serves as an important commercial hub. We will skirt the Imperial Palace and its gardens and make a stop to visit the famous Nijubashi Bridge. We will cross the neighbourhood of Akihabara, known as the city of electronics and the home of manga and Japanese anime; we then pass by the Kokugikan, the Sumo stadium, the king of Japanese sport. We will also pay a visit to the Buddhist temple of Sensoji, also known as Asakusa Kannon, the oldest and most important temple in Tokyo with its 55-metre-high pagoda, and the Nakamise Shopping Street, full of small stalls ideal for buying souvenirs. Later on you'll have free time to spend in the traditional Asakusa district, which is full of commercial life. Lunch at a local restaurant. Return to hotel. In the afternoon, we'll take the underground to the Shinjuku area. Afterwards, we'll stroll to the restaurant to enjoy our welcome dinner. Return journey to the hotel by underground for overnight stay.
Tokyo - Mount Fuji - Kawaguchiko
Breakfast. We make our way towards the beautiful area of Mount Fuji, travelling through beautiful landscapes. First stop will be the Arakurayama Sengen Park, with its spectacular pagodas and outstanding views of Mount Fuji. Arrival in Kawaguchiko, an idyllic lakeside town of pocket-sized houses, flowers, and mountains. Upon arrival, we'll visit the Fuji Sengen Shrine, a magical place, situated among tall trees, where the pilgrimage to the mountain traditionally began. We'll give our thanks at the shrine for the chance to visit this enchanting place. We'll also take a boat trip on Lake Kawaguchiko. We then start our climb to Mount Fuji along the road that takes us to the "fifth station", where we will reach an altitude of 2305 metres amidst spectacular forests and views. Return to Kawaguchiko, where there'll still be time to stroll around the lake. Overnight stay at a Ryokan (traditional Japanese hotel), where you can enjoy its Onsen (public bath). Traditional Japanese dinner included.
Kawaguchiko - Iyashi no Sato Nenba - Toyota - Kyoto
Breakfast. In the morning, we drive along a beautiful road that runs alongside lakes to visit Iyashi No Sato Nenba, a small village destroyed by a cyclone in 1966 and later restored as an open-air museum. Its classic houses have been converted into artisan shops, restaurants, and traditional museums. We then visit the Shiraito Falls, considered to be one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Japan, with a 20-metre drop. Lunch. Then it's on to Nagoya, Japan's third largest city, which sits on the shores of the Pacific. There we will visit the Toyota Museum, a must for car lovers. Onward journey to Kyoto, check-in, and overnight stay.
Kyoto
Breakfast. We start off with a trip to Arashiyama, just outside of Kyoto. We cross the Togetsukyo bridge, which means "moon crossing bridge", from where you can take in the wonderful panoramic view. We will then visit the Tenryuji temple, one of the five great Zen temples of Kyoto, and take a stroll through the bamboo forest. Return to Kyoto and free time. Accommodation.Note: this visit may take place the following day, before the visit to Nara.
Kyoto - Nara - Osaka
Breakfast. We will go to Nara to visit the Buddhist temple of Todaiji, which dates back to the year 752, to marvel at its giant Buddha, and enjoy the park well known for its sacred deer. Lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch we will visit the Buddhist temple of Horyuji, a complex that brings together a seminary, monasteries and temples. Its main pagoda is one of the oldest preserved wooden buildings in the world and is considered the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan, besides being an important place of worship. Continue to Osaka. At night we will walk through the neighbourhood of Dotonbori, glistening with neon lights and buzzing with all sorts of nightlife. Accommodation.
Osaka - City of origin
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport at the prearranged time. Flight with destination the city of origin. Arrival. End of the trip and our services.
Your trip includes
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Return flight.
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Overnight stay in the listed hotels, or similar.
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Transfers according to the itinerary.
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Transport in vehicles appropriate to the size of the group.
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Regular tours mentioned in the itinerary, not stated as optional.
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Bilingual Spanish- and English-speaking local guides.
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Diet: 11 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners.
Your trip doesn't include
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Any other service not previously mentioned as included.
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Insolvency protection.
Destinations Visited
Expected Hotels (or similar)
In this section you will find a selection of hotels according to the category specified in the itinerary.
Flight
Overnight stay on board.
Important remarks
- Triple rooms in Japan are generally rooms with twin beds or a double, in which a folding bed is installed to accommodate the third person. Due to the inconvenience this causes, we advise against using this option as far the possible.
- Please check with your international vaccination centre about the recommended healthcare measures in Japan.
- Depending on the return flight, the trip may be one day longer.
- In Japan double beds are not common. If you want to have rooms with double beds during your trip, you must let us know in advance. We will do everything possible so that you can enjoy them, but we can not guarantee their use in advance in any case; They will always be subject to availability upon arrival at each of the hotels. Individual rooms may be, in some cases, smaller than the double rooms.
- In general, people with tattoos are not accepted in the onsen for cultural reasons. If they're small tattoos, they could be covered with a plaster, but access isn't guaranteed if the tattoos are large.
- Please check which documents are required to enter the country.
- Due to the shorter daylight hours in winter, there is not enough time to enter the Kongobuji temple.
- Sleeping in a monastery is an experience of great experiential value. The existing rooms are simple, without private bathrooms and designed in a traditional Japanese style with tatami mats. In addition, the dinner is vegetarian.
- On some trips you will not sleep in Nagano, but rather in Matsumoto.
- In autumn in Jigokudani, depending on the abundance of fruit of the mountains, the movement of the monkeys is unpredictable: they may not travel down to the park, so the park could be kept closed. In winter, meteorological factors may affect the monkey park, leading to the planned park visit being suspended. Furthermore, from November to April the Kusatsu visit and the Yumomi performance are not running.
- In winter, the route that leads to Mount Fuji 5th Station is often closed by snow or as a result of other weather-related reasons. If this happens on your trip, you will reach the point permitted by the authorities.
- Due to high hotel occupancy and limited availability in some seasons, hotels selected may be different from those mentioned.
- At the Ryokan some rooms are Japanese style with tatami mat accommodation and others are Western style. On some occasions, accommodation may be provided in a western-style hotel.
- To make it easier to meet up with the transfer staff, we will need your mobile phone number.
- The view of Mount Fuji depends entirely on the weather and can never be guaranteed.
- The order of the itinerary may be altered for logistical reasons, without prior notice, but no scheduled trips will be cancelled (except in the case that adverse weather conditions prevent its realisation).
- A credit card is considered a guarantee, so sometimes you will need one for check-in at hotels.
- Prices are calculated based on admission fees to the sights as of the date of publication. If there is an increase in these prices, you will be promptly informed.
- If you are a person with reduced mobility, please contact us to confirm the suitability of the trip.