Included in this offer :

• 17-day / 16-night tour in the accommodation as mentioned (or similar)
• 1 night in a traditional ryokan in Hakone on a half board basis
• Breakfast included from day 2 to day 17.
• Flights departing from the city of your choice
• Airport-hotel transfers in Osaka and Tokyo: Transfers can be made by combining the JR Rail Pass 14 days and local underground passes in Osaka and Tokyo.
• 14-day JR Rail Pass allowing unlimited travel on JR lines throughout Japan, including Shinkansen, local trains and JR ferries.
• Ōsaka Metro and Ōsaka City Bus Pass - 2 days, offering unlimited travel on the Ōsaka metro and bus network.
•  Tokyo Subway Ticket - Unlimited journeys (Tokyo Subway Ticket - 3 days) for unlimited travel on the Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway networks
• English-language travel guide for visits and recommendations
• 24/7 emergency telephone assistance

✆ Any questions?

NEED HELP FINALISING YOUR BOOKING?

020 3318 2660
Everyday from 8am-8pm (Local rates apply)

From Abroad +44 20 3318 2660 International call rate

THE JAPANESE ODYSSEY: A GRAND JOURNEY OF EXPLORATION

Welcome to Japan, a country where the harmony of cultural heritage and innovation is an integral part of everyday life. This 17-day tour will take you on a journey of discovery through the Japanese archipelago, from the bustling neighbourhoods of Osaka to the vibrant metropolis of Tokyo. En route, you will visit the peaceful temples of Kyoto, the serene landscapes of Hakone and the artistic island of Naoshima. Every stop provides an opportunity to delve into a distinct facet of Japanese culture, whether it be spirituality, history, nature, gastronomy or technology.

This balanced itinerary combines big cities, cultural getaways, Zen gardens and iconic shrines with moments of relaxation in traditional ryokan inns. Prepare for an unforgettable journey that takes you from the past to the present, with each day revealing a new facet of Japan.

Your day-by-day itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in Osaka

Day 2: Free day in Osaka

Day 3: Excursion to Nara

Day 4: Himeji and Hiroshima

Day 5: Free day in Hiroshima

Day 6: Miyajima Island

Day 7: Okayama and Kurashiki

Day 8: Excursion to Naoshima

Day 9: Free day in Kyoto

Day 10: Free day in Kyoto

Day 11: Departure for Nagoya

Day 12: On the way to Hakone

Day 13: Arrival in Tokyo

Day 14: Free day in Tokyo

Day 15: Free day in Tokyo

Day 16: Free day in Tokyo

Day 17: Departure from Tokyo

Your detailed itinerary

Day 1 | Arrival in Osaka

Arrival at Kansai International Airport (KIX).

Transfer to the hotel using the JR Haruka Express (included in your JR Rail Pass) to the main JR stations in Osaka, then use the underground and bus pass to reach the accommodation.

Lunch and dinner are not included.

Overnight in Osaka.

Day 2 | Free day in Osaka

Breakfast at the hotel.

Day at leisure to explore Osaka, a dynamic city combining modernity and tradition.

Lunch and dinner are not included.

Overnight stay in Osaka.

Suggested visits: the retro Shinsekai district with the Tsutenkaku Tower and its popular restaurants; the Umeda district and the Umeda Sky Building for spectacular views of the city; the open-air museum of old houses from the Edo period to immerse yourself in traditional rural Japan; Kaiyukan Aquarium, one of the largest in the world and suitable for families; an evening in the lively Dotonbori district, famous for its neon signs and culinary specialities such as takoyaki and okonomiyaki.

Day 3 | Excursion to Nara

Breakfast at the hotel.

Day at leisure to continue exploring Osaka and take a trip to Nara.

Lunch and dinner are not included.

Overnight stay in Osaka.

Suggested visits: Osaka Castle and its lush park for an immersion in feudal history; the Dotonbori district with its neon signs and lively atmosphere; in Nara, discover Todai-ji Temple, home to the Great Buddha; stroll through Nara Park, famous for its free-roaming deer and peaceful atmosphere.

Day 4 | Himeji and Hiroshima

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure by train to Hiroshima via Himeji.

Lunch and dinner are not included.

Overnight stay in Hiroshima.

Suggested visits: in Himeji, visit the famous castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site considered one of the most beautiful in Japan, then continue on to Hiroshima by Shinkansen for the rest of the day.

Day 5 | Free day in Hiroshima

Breakfast at the hotel.

Day at leisure to explore Hiroshima at your own pace.

Lunch and dinner are not included.

Overnight stay in Hiroshima.

Suggested visits: explore Hiroshima Castle, rebuilt identically to the original, with its museum dedicated to feudal history; stroll through Shukkeien Garden, a true haven of peace in the heart of the city; wander along Hondori shopping street for shopping and street food; and end the day by sampling okonomiyaki, Hiroshima's iconic speciality.

Day 6 | Miyajima Island

Breakfast at the hotel.

Day at leisure to explore Hiroshima and Miyajima Island.

Lunch and dinner are not included.

Overnight stay in Hiroshima.

Suggested visits: Start with the Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome, two essential places of remembrance. Then take the included JR ferry crossing to the sacred island of Miyajima. Explore the famous Itsukushima Shrine, which is renowned for its torii gate that appears to float at high tide. Take a stroll through the traditional streets and sample local specialities such as oysters and momiji manju.

Day 7 | Okayama and Kurashiki

Breakfast at the hotel.

Depart by train for Kurashiki, stopping in Okayama to visit the famous Korakuen Garden, one of the three most beautiful landscaped gardens in Japan.

Continue on to Kurashiki, a charming town renowned for its historic Bikan district, its willow-lined canals and its traditional warehouses converted into museums and galleries.

Lunch and dinner are not included.

Overnight stay in Kurashiki.

Day 8 | Excursion to Naoshima

Breakfast at the hotel.

Optional: Enjoy a half-day excursion to Naoshima, the iconic island of contemporary art, where you can visit must-see attractions such as the Chichu Art Museum or the Benesse House Museum (ferry not included in the JR Pass).

Continue your journey by JR train to Kyoto, the former imperial capital and cultural heart of Japan.

Lunch and dinner are not included.

Overnight stay in Kyoto.

Day 9 | Free day in Kyoto

Breakfast at the hotel.

Day dedicated to discovering the must-see sights of Kyoto, the former imperial capital and cradle of traditional Japanese culture.

Suggested visits: Kinkaku-ji, the famous Golden Pavilion, symbol of Zen elegance; Ryoan-ji, a temple renowned for its iconic dry garden; Arashiyama, a peaceful neighbourhood with natural landscapes, including a bamboo grove and the Togetsukyo bridge.

Lunch and dinner are not included.

Overnight stay in Kyoto.

Day 10 | Free day in Kyoto

Breakfast at the hotel.

Day at leisure to continue exploring Kyoto at your own pace.

Suggested visits: Fushimi Inari Taisha: an iconic shrine with thousands of red torii gates forming mystical pathways; Kiyomizu-dera: a temple perched high above the city, offering panoramic views of the city and surrounding hills; The Gion district: the heart of traditional Kyoto, with its narrow, preserved streets, tea houses, and fleeting geisha silhouettes

Lunch and dinner are not included.

Overnight stay in Kyoto.

Day 11 | Departure for Nagoya

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure by Shinkansen to Nagoya (approximately 1 hour).

Day at leisure to explore the city at your own pace.

Suggested visits: Visit Ghibli Park, located at Expo 2005 Aichi Park, to immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Studio Ghibli films such as My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle; Nagoya Castle, an iconic monument known for its golden dolphins (kinshachi) perched on the roof; the Toyota Memorial Museum, tracing the evolution of the automobile and Japanese industrial innovation; and the Sakae district, a lively centre for shopping and relaxation, with the Nagoya TV Tower and the futuristic Oasis 21 complex.

Lunch and dinner are not included.

Overnight stay in Nagoya.

Day 12 | On the way to Hakone

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure for Hakone via Odawara by Shinkansen (approximately 2.5 hours).

Free time to explore Hakone and enjoy its hot springs.

Suggested visits: Cruise on Lake Ashi, offering exceptional views of Mount Fuji on a clear day; Cable car to Owakudani, an active volcanic valley known for its fumaroles and black eggs cooked in sulphur springs; Hakone Open-Air Museum, combining modern sculptures and natural landscapes

Lunch is not included.

Dinner included at your ryokan.

Overnight stay in Hakone.

Day 13 | Arrival in Tokyo

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure for Tokyo by JR train (approximately 1 hour 30 minutes).

Day at leisure in Tokyo.

Suggested visits: Explore the lively neighbourhoods of Shibuya with its famous crossroads and Harajuku, a temple of fashion and pop culture. Visit Meiji Jingu Shrine, nestled in a peaceful forest in the heart of the city. Stroll through Yoyogi Park or discover the trendy shops of Takeshita-dori.

Lunch and dinner are not included.

Overnight stay in Tokyo.

Day 14 | Free day in Tokyo

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free day in Tokyo or day trip depending on your preferences.

Suggested visits:

Kamakura option: About an hour from Tokyo, discover the Great Buddha of Kamakura (Daibutsu), an imposing bronze statue that is emblematic of the city, and stroll along the path leading to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, the spiritual heart of Kamakura.

Nikko option: About 2 hours from Tokyo, explore Toshogu Shrine, an architectural masterpiece surrounded by forest, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and richly decorated with sculptures and gilding.

Lunch and dinner are not included.

Overnight stay in Tokyo.

Day 15 | Free day in Tokyo

Breakfast at the hotel.

Day at leisure to explore Tokyo at your own pace.

Suggested visits:

Start with Asakusa, where Senso-ji Temple, the oldest in the city, will immerse you in the atmosphere of old Tokyo with its traditional shopping streets.

Continue on to Akihabara, famous for its shops dedicated to geek culture, video games and electronics.

End the day in Ginza for some high-end shopping or take a break in nature at Shinjuku Gyoen Park, a true haven of peace in the heart of the city.

Lunch and dinner are not included.

Overnight stay in Tokyo.

Day 16 | Free day in Tokyo

Breakfast at the hotel.

Last day in Tokyo to enjoy the Japanese capital to the fullest.

Suggested visits:

Start with TeamLab Planets in Toyosu, an immersive experience combining art, light and technology.

Climb the Tokyo Skytree or the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatory for a panoramic view of the city.

Immerse yourself in local history at the Edo-Tokyo Museum (if reopened).

Stroll through the elegant streets of Omotesando or explore the picturesque alleys of Daikanyama.

Take a moment to relax in a Japanese garden such as Hamarikyu Garden or Kiyosumi Teien.

End the day with some last-minute souvenir shopping at Nakamise-dori in Asakusa or in the department stores of Ginza.

Lunch and dinner are not included.

Overnight stay in Tokyo.

Day 17 | Departure from Tokyo

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Tokyo Airport via the Narita Express or Tokyo Monorail. Complete the journey with the Tokyo Metro Ticket, if necessary.

Return flight from Narita Airport (NRT) or Haneda Airport (HND).

Your accommodation

During your tour, you will stay for 16 nights in the following 3-star (local standards) accommodation (or similar):

• Osaka: 3 nights at the 3-star Plaza Osaka Hotel
• Hiroshima: 3 nights at the 3-star Vista Hiroshima Hotel
• Kurashiki: 1 night at the 3-star Kurashiki Ivy Square Hotel
• Kyoto: 3 nights at the 3-star Anteroom Kyoto Hotel
• Nagoya: 1 night at the 3-star The Royal Park Canvas Nagoya Hotel
• Hakone: 1 night at the 3-star Ryokan Ichinoyu Honkan Hotel
• Tokyo: 4 nights at the 3-star Henna Hotel Tokyo Tawaramachi

Please note:

The establishments are classified as 3-star according to local standards. The services provided may not be equivalent to European 3-star standards.

Hotels may be changed depending on availability. However, we always endeavour to re-accommodate you in hotels of a similar category.

Your board

During your tour, you will enjoy the breakfast-only package as well as a dinner during your night in a ryokan in Hakone.

Useful information

ADMINISTRATIVE FORMALITIES FOR TRAVELLING TO JAPAN

To avoid queues at the airport and save time, we recommend that you register individually on the Visit Japan Web website (https://vjw-lp.digital.go.jp/en/) before your departure.

As government restrictions are constantly changing, we advise you to regularly check the following website until the day of your departure:

• https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/japan

It is the traveller's responsibility to find out about any changes to the entry formalities for the destination country. In general, travellers should always carry a mask and hand sanitiser with them.

Please note that airlines reserve the right to tighten their boarding conditions at any time and without notice, making them stricter than the destination country's formalities and regulations. Travellers with connecting flights should check the access conditions for the airports where they are stopping over.

Upon arrival, travellers must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after their return date. A visa is only required for stays of more than 3 months. Non-Japanese nationals entering Japanese territory are subject to biometric data collection (fingerprinting and photographing). Dual nationals are advised to consult the consulate or embassy of their destination country. Minors: Minors must have their own passport. We strongly recommend that minors travelling unaccompanied by their legal guardians carry a copy of their family record book.

Health

Covid-19 health crisis: travellers who have been fully vaccinated are no longer required to take a PCR test less than 72 hours before their flight. It remains mandatory for those who have not been fully vaccinated. Remember to check the latest information on gov.uk. No vaccinations are mandatory. Don't forget to check that your vaccination record is up to date. The level of healthcare is equivalent to that in Western Europe. Natural and climatic risks are high in Japan, so make sure you stay informed.

Good to know

If you are travelling alone, you will be asked to pay a surcharge for a single room. This additional charge will be automatically included in your quote.

Child rates will be applied for children from 2 to 12 years old in the case where the child shares the room with two adults. If the child is travelling with just one adult, the surcharge may be applied on an adult basis. If your child or children do not fit into the age group mentioned above, the rate will be communicated to you at the time of processing your order. If the room is equipped with a bunk bed, the bed height is not suitable for children under 6 years of age.

For safety reasons, the wellbeing facilities of most establishments are not accessible to children under 16 years old. Similarly, it is possible that some amenities or services require an additional charge or are unavailable for exceptional reasons.

Unless otherwise stated in the service description, activities and any additional services available at destination are provided in the language of the destination country and in English.

The opening times and hours of the activities, restaurants and bars are provided as an indication only and may be subject to change. Contact the reception desk in order to be informed of any changes.

Appropriate dress is required. We remind you that gambling may involve risks of isolation, indebtedness, and dependency...

Any additional special requirements the traveller may request which are not included in the travel service description will be communicated to our service provider. Sending this information does not imply acceptance and PerfectStay.com cannot be held responsible for the fulfilment of these special requests. Only the service provider of PerfectStay.com can access this request on location and any additional costs may be paid locally by the traveller.

Unless expressly stated in the description of the services and accommodation, the hotel is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.

Transportation

Choose an offer and, according to your preferences, opt for a seat in economy, business or first class.

See the 'View flight info' section for details on each trip.

In order to best organise your time in the airport, we advise that you arrive 2 hours before boarding for a medium-haul flight, or 3 hours before boarding for a long-haul flight (more than 5 hours). Take advantage of your early arrival to pass through security and check your luggage.

You will be informed whether or not luggage is included at the time of your booking.

You will have the opportunity to add additional luggage for a fee.

There are several different cities that are typically offered as departure points. Your arrival destination will show in your travel documents.

Depending on the flight schedule, some arrivals or returns may be made at night with early arrival or late departure. You will not always be able to have your room available immediately and will need to refer to the check-in and check-out conditions of the hotel.

In the event that your transfer is not included in your hotel reservation, it may be offered at the time of your reservation as an additional option. Unless specifically mentioned, transfers may be made in groups of 15 to 55 people.

Important: the modification or the cancellation of a booking is only possible within the limits and including the fees outlined in our general conditions of sale.

Thank you for kindly taking note of the CO2 emissions produced by your means of transport: https://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx

Formalities

The following details apply to any British citizen who, during a trip sold by PerfectStay goes to a foreign country. The following is a resource directing you to information related to your travel formalities (identification documents, vaccines, VISA, safety, travel advice, etc.), and may be subject to change. Please note that Brexit negotiations are likely to include travel document modifications, therefore please regularly check most updated information. Please see official resource for British citizens wishing to travel:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

The official UK Foreign Travel site has updates on safety and security, including incidents such as pickpocketing and robbery, along with larger incidents such as measuring the risk of terrorism.
Detailed country by country here:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

If you are travelling with minors, please be sure to verify whether or not you will require a consent: https://www.gov.uk/permission-take-child-abroad

Please note that these details serve as a guiding resource in order to ensure that you have access to important information in order to pursue the necessary travel formalities required before travelling abroad with PerfectStay. Please note that PerfectStay will not engage in obtaining travel documents for you, such as visas, and you are solely responsible for knowing the potential health risks you may face in the course of your travels for which you may require vaccinations or medications. PerfectStay is not responsible for ensuring your travel formalities are properly undertaken and will only act as an intermediary directing you to resources which have been known to provide reliable information concerning travel formalities specific to British citizens.

VACCINE

For information concerning travel health requirements (vaccinations, health risks, etc.) please see the following resources:
https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries
https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations.aspx
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/travel-vaccinations/

VISA

For the latest information on which travel documents (visas, passports, etc.) British citizens will require by destination, please see the following resources:
https://visacentral.co.uk/visa-quick-check
https://www.passportindex.org/comparebyPassport.php?p1=uk&fl=&s=yes
https://www.travisa.com/Visa_Search

IDENTITY

Please be sure to verify that your necessary Identification documents (passport and/or ID card dependent upon the country to which you will be travelling) have valid expiration dates, i.e. verify your ID documents have not yet expired. Also, be sure to remember to bring these necessary documents with you. It is also recommended to make copies of all travel documents in the event of an emergency.

Travel documents

Once your reservation has been made, you will receive a confirmation e-mail before your travel documents are sent.

Regarding the transport documents (in the case of a reservation with transport included), we will provide you with all the information relating to check-in and luggage in the "Your travel documents" email, allowing you to leave with peace of mind.

To take advantage of all your reserved services (hotels, transfers, activities, etc.), you will receive one or more exchange vouchers to be presented to each supplier.

The contact details of the establishment will be specified in these documents, to help make your arrival at your destination as straight-forward as possible.

✆ Any questions?

NEED HELP FINALISING YOUR BOOKING?

020 3318 2660
Everyday from 8am-8pm (Local rates apply)

From Abroad +44 20 3318 2660 International call rate