Japan Panorama

Day 1- Emirates Airlines flight from London Heathrow to Dubai.

Depart London Heathrow this evening flying Emirates Airlines to Dubai (6hrs 50 mins). Please note that other regional airport are available (Gatwick, Birmingham are at no extra cost or Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow for a small supplement - all subject to availability).

Day 2- Connect with the onwards flight to Tokyo. On arrival transfer to Keio Plaza Hotel.

In Dubai connect to the onwards flight to Tokyo (9 hours 45 minutes). On arrival in Tokyo this afternoon, your Tour Manager will escort you to the Keio Plaza Hotel for a 3 night stay (superior room) in the Japanese capital.

Day 3- Morning tour of the capital. Afternoon at leisure.

Early morning tuna auction visit before returning to the hotel for breakfast. Morning tour of Japan’s vibrant capital visiting the site of the Imperial Palace, the Buddhist temple of Sensoji (Asakusa Kannon) and the famous Ginza district. The afternoon is at leisure. This evening there is the option of a visit to a Takarazuka revue. During our September Sumo wrestling departure, there is the option to attend a Sumo wrestling match in Tokyo in the evening. Please advise at time of booking if you would like to attend the Sumo tournament

Day 4- Full day excursion to Nikko.

Full day’s excursion to Nikko, by train and coach, to visit the famous Toshugo Shrine and Rinoji Temple. Return to Tokyo in the early evening.

Day 5- Drive to Mount Fuji via Lake Kawaguchi. Continue to Hakone for overnight at the Hakone Palace.

This morning enjoy a sushi making lesson in a local restaurant and the opportunity to eat what you make. At midday drive to the magnificent setting of Mount Fuji, travelling via Lake Kawaguchi and Fuji’s 5th station and enjoy some spectacular views of the landscape. Continue to Hakone for overnight at the Hakone Palace Hotel (standard room) where you can try out a traditional hot spring spa.

Day 6- Take a cable car ride to visit the hot springs of Owakudani.

This morning take a cable car ride to visit the sulphurous hot springs at Owakudani for which Hakone is famous. Enjoy a boat ride on Lake Ashi, before taking the train (standard class), via Nagoya, to Takayama (454 KM/5 hours) for your stay at the Associa Takayama Resort (standard room).

Day 7- Enjoy a walking tour of Takayama.

A walking tour of Takayama this morning takes in the Miyagawa open air market, and the beautifully preserved ambience of its old town including Kami-sannomachi street, Jinya House and Kusakabe House. Also visit the Festival Floats Museum with its excellent display of floats used during the Spring and Autumn ‘matsuri’. During the spring and autumn Takayama festival, a walking tour of Takayama takes in the Takayama Festival procession to see the floats being paraded through the streets of the town.

Day 8- After a visit to Miyagawa market depart from Takayama.

Depart from Takayama, driving to Shirakawago to explore something of its captivating old farm houses, taking in the traditional architectural style of the Gasshozukuri houses, before proceeding, via Gokayama Village, to Kanazawa (150 KM/full day including sightseeing stops). Overnight at the ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel (standard room).

Day 9- Take a morning tour of Kanazawa.

A morning’s tour of the city takes in the beautiful landscapes of the Kenrokuen Gardens and a former Samurai House, now an interesting museum. In the afternoon travelling first by Express Train and then by Bullet Train, you will head for Hiroshima (600 km/4 hours 30 minutes). Overnight at the Rihga Royal Hotel (standard room). Dinner will be at a local restaurant tonight with the chance to try a traditional dish known as Okonomiyaki.

Day 10- Morning tour of Hiroshima including the Peace Park. Travel to Miyajima Island.

Morning tour of the city, to include the poignant and powerful Peace Park, the A-bomb Museum and Shukukeien Gardens and Hiroshima castle. In the afternoon travel by coach and ferry to Miyajima Island (21 km/1 hour 30 minutes) for an overnight stay at the Iwaso Ryokan.

Day 11- Enjoy a walking tour around Miyajima.

After breakfast enjoy the beauty of Miyajima with a walking tour and visits to the Itsukushima Shrine and Momijidani Park. In the afternoon return by ferry the short distance to the mainland. Continue by local train and then Bullet Train (300 km/approximately 2 hours) to Kyoto where you will be staying 3 nights at the ANA Hotel Kyoto (standard room).

Day 12- Sightseeing in Kyoto.

Sightseeing in Kyoto includes Kinkakuji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion, Ryoanji Rock Garden and Kiyomizu Temple. A rickshaw ride takes you from Heian Shrine to Ginkakauji Temple There is the option to attend the Miyako Odori or cherry blossom dance held between 1 – 30 April each year in Kyoto. Please advise at the time of booking if you would like to attend the show.

Day 13- Full day excursion to Nara.

This morning enjoy a walk around the Gion area of Kyoto gives the opportunity to see the famous geishas and maikos. Take part in a traditional tea ceremony at a traditional Kyoto home. Excursion to Nara to see the Deer Park, Todajij Temple and Kasuga Shrine.

Day 14- Visit Nijo Castle.

After a leisurely breakfast visit the nearby Nijo Castle. Continue by coach to visit the Fushimi Inari shrine where some scenes of the film, “Memoirs of a Geisha” were recorded. There will also be a visit to the Gekkeikan Okura sake museum. Return to the hotel to arrive mid-afternoon. There is some free time for a couple of hours to freshen up or to enjoy an optional calligraphy lesson. A hospitality room will be available for everyone or alternatively a late check out can be booked at a supplement for your room from the previous night. In the evening transfer to Osaka Kansai airport for the Emirates Airlines flight to Dubai (10 hrs 30 mins).

Day 15- Connect with the Emirates flight to London Heathrow.

In Dubai connect to the Emirates flight to London Heathrow (7hrs 30 mins). Other regional airports are also available. Arrival in the UK around midday.

The Keio Plaza Hotel

The Keio Plaza Hotel, Tokyo is situated in the Westside district of Shinjuku, an area dominated by department stores, gardens, restaurants, and one of the busier railway stations. Two main towers of 47 and 34 floors, house over 1,400 rooms with standard facilities which include, air-conditioning, mini-bar, tea making facilities, television, hairdryer. The hotel has a total of 21 restaurants and bars, and a shopping lobby. Money exchange is available from 0800 to midnight.

Hakone Palace Hotel

The Palace Hotel in Hakone is a modern hotel set high up on a hillside overlooking the surrounding hills, Lake Ashi and Mount Fuji. There are 97 rooms overlooking either the mountains or the lake. There is a choice of restaurants, a coffee shop and a French restaurant with a Tepanyaki corner. The hot-spring ‘onsen’ has inside and outside areas and a sauna.

Associa Takayama Resort

The Associa Takayama Resort is located in the Takayama Highlands surrounded by forests and mountains, approximately 5KM away from the city centre. Each of the 290 guestrooms features cable television, telephone, mini-bar and a hairdryer. Hotel facilities include a French and Japanese restaurant, a swimming pool, tennis court, indoor and outdoor hot spring baths and a spa.

ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel

The ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel in Kanazawa is a modern hotel conveniently located adjacent to the JR railway station. The 254 rooms are pleasantly decorated with all the standard facilities including hair dryer and tea and coffee making facilities. There are Japanese and Chinese restaurants as well as a bar and pleasant coffee shop in the lobby.

The Rihga Royal Hotel

The Rihga Royal Hotel, Hiroshima is conveniently situated only a short distance from the castle, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, gardens and museums, and next to a shopping arcade with restaurants. There are 490 rooms on 31 floors with standard facilities, which include air-conditioning, TV, mini-bar, tea making facilities and hairdryer. The hotel has 5 restaurants, a coffeehouse and lounge. A health and fitness club and swimming pool are available for a supplement.

Iwaso Ryokan

Set in picturesque Momijidani Park, close to the mountain cable car, the delightful Iwaso ryokan is the most famous on the island, constructed in the old style of Japanese shrines and offering 42 traditional rooms located in three elegant buildings. With the oldest of these dating back some 80 years, Iwaso presents a fusion of ingenious design and natural tranquillity, the rooms a unique blend of traditional early 20th century architecture. With a history and guest list of some note, Iwaso offers service and style to match, with relaxing hot springs, 12-course dinners and beautiful gardens filled with cherry blossoms (in spring) that make this a stay of some distinction. Please note: as is the style in a Japanese ryokan, sleeping arrangements are on traditional futon mattresses made up on the floor.

ANA Hotel

The ANA Hotel in Kyoto is conveniently located to explore the city's fascinating sights. There are 303 rooms and suites providing coffee maker, colour television, hair dryer, in-room safe and refrigerator. There is a choice of restaurants offering Japanese, Chinese and French cuisine and a fitness centre.

Miyako Odori Extension

Extra Days:0Cost:from £ 65

The Miyako Odori is a series of dances performed in Kyoto, every year in the month of April. These dances showcase traditional Japanese art and culture. The performers at the Miyako Odori are geisha, trained in a variety of traditional Japanese arts including music, tea ceremony, painting, dance, and flower arranging. In Kyoto, these women prefer to be known as “geiko,” meaning “a woman of art,” rather than “geisha,” which simply means “artist.” In addition to full-fledged geiko, the Miyako Odori also features apprentice geiko known as maiko, and sometimes young women in training to become maiko also participate in minor roles. Visitors to the Miyako Odori can see a variety of traditional dances, usually performed several times each day (12:30. 14:00, 15:30 and 16:50 hrs from 1-30 April) in an hour-long show. For the dancers, the Miyako Odori is quite gruelling, as they must perform flawlessly multiple times a day all month long, but being able to participate is a great honour.

Emirates - Business Class

Cost: from £ 2175

Emirates has at least six types of business class products currently flying, a result of its rapid expansion, frequent upgrading of quality on old aircraft and better seat designs on new aircraft. The first three (oldest three) types are cradle style seats with slightly different degrees of recline. As each type of seat came out, small improvements were made, most noticeably in the angle of recline. These seats are comfortable, and to make room for the extra recline a row of seats was taken out of some aircraft.Complimentary chauffeur-driven cars are available for First Class and Business Class passengers in many of the cities we serve.