The Nature of Japan - Small Group Holiday of a Lifetime. Book now!

Nature of Japan 

The natural beauty of Japan has long inspired artists, from the architects of Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples to contemporary artists such as Yayoi Kusama. Our curated Nature of Japan tour offers a colourful and comfortable opportunity for us to explore this aesthetic relationship between nature and Japanese culture.

Come join us as we explore the art and natural beauty, as well as the history, traditions, and food, of the Land of the Rising Sun.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime 14-day cultural journey to Japan that will stimulate your senses all while travelling in comfort and ease. 


ITINERARY

Day 1 - Arrive Tokyo

Fly from Sydney (08:15) to Tokyo Haneda Airport (17:05) on Japan Airlines flight JL052. 
Duration: 9 hours 50 minutes

Welcome to Japan!

On arrival in Tokyo, we will be met and transferred by private coach to our luxurious accommodation.

Check-into the hotel, our home for the next three nights. Shinjuku neighbourhood is most exciting for its neon lights, shopping, bars and restaurants.

Meals: None. Our hotel is surrounded by local eating places.


Day 2 - Tokyo 

This morning after breakfast, we meet our local guide in the hotel lobby and depart for the Meiji Shrine by private coach. This is the most visited sacred shrine in Japan and dedicated to the deified spirit of the Emperor Meiji, the first Emperor of Modern Japan. It is an oasis in the heart of frenetic Tokyo with 700,000 metres of forest, and a place we might like to revisit independently.

On leaving the Meiji Shrine, we will visit the Ota Memorial Museum which specialises in ukiyo-e woodblock prints. This is a Museum of very humane proportions with an excellent small shop and rest rooms.

After our outdoor exercise and first taste of Japanese spirituality and culture, we can return by coach to our hotel, or stroll up Omotesando Avenue, enjoy the fascinating street fashion and explore some of the best of Japanese shopping. There is a sushi place close to the Ota Museum and the amazing Omotesando Hills Mall with restaurants and cafes a little further on. We can taxi back to our hotel in Shinjuku.

Meals: Breakfast


Day 3 - Tokyo

Following breakfast, we meet our local guide in the hotel lobby and depart for the Yayoi Kusama Museum.

From the Museum we go by mini-bus to Nihonbashi, modern-day Tokyo’s business and financial district. Here we will be guided through what was once the mercantile centre of Japan during the Edo period, and visit a replica of the Kidai Shoran Scroll. 

We will make our own way back to our hotel in the afternoon. 

Meals: Breakfast


Day 4 - Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Kanazawa

**Luggage will be transferred to our hotel in Hiroshima separately**
*Please prepare an overnight bag for 2 nights in Kanazawa*

After breakfast and check-out, we will take our private coach to Tokyo station for connection with bullet train for Kanazawa (2.5 hours). We can store our small bags and return to Kanazawa station for a light, independent lunch, or lunch at our hotel. If you are hungry on the train, lunch boxes and sandwiches can be purchased en-route.

Mid-afternoon, we will depart by private coach for the Nomura Samurai House and Nishi Chaya District. We will spend around 2 hours exploring here and then return to our hotel.

Meals: Breakfast


Day 5 - Kanazawa

After breakfast, we will meet our local guide in the hotel lobby and depart for Higashi Chaya, Kanazawa’s most interesting and well-preserved Geisha district. Many of the buildings along the central street now house cafes and shops, including one still selling gold leaf products and another, a traditional Shima tea house. 

Next, we will visit the 21st Century Art Museum, designed by SANAA, also designers of Sydney Modern. Here we will have lunch and explore the amazing architecture and contemporary artworks.

From the Museum we will walk the short distance to the Kenroku-en Garden, classified one of Japan’s three most beautiful gardens…a perfect garden.

Our coach will return us to our hotel mid-afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch


Day 6 - Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Hiroshima

This morning, after breakfast and check-out, we depart from Kanazawa Station by bullet train to Hiroshima, changing at Kyoto Station. (4 hours). Lunch boxes and sandwiches can be purchased on the train or at the platform prior to boarding.

Upon arriving at Hiroshima Station, we will walk to our hotel for check in. Our main luggage will be waiting for us. After check-in, those who wish, can accompany Judith to Orizuru Tower, Peace Memorial Park and Museum. We will take taxis there and back.

Meals: Breakfast


Day 7 - Private Tour of Miyajima Island

After breakfast, we meet our guide in the hotel lobby to go to Miyajima Guchi Port by public transport: there, we board a ferry to Miyajima Island, a small sacred island located in the Inland Sea and a holy place of Shintoism.

After exploring Miyajima Island with our guide, we return to our hotel by public transport, or remain on Miyajima. For dinner, Hiroshima Station has a lot of restaurants, casual and otherwise, and the best Okonomyaki (Japanese cabbage pancakes) you will ever eat!

Meals: Breakfast


Day 8 - Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Kyoto

**Luggage will be transferred to the hotel in Kyoto separately**

After breakfast and check-out, we walk to Kanazawa Station and board a 2-hour bullet train to Kyoto. Coach transfer to our hotel. Casual lunch at our hotel (prep time for our days in Kyoto).

Early evening we will make our way to a designated spot in Gion for a guided walk through the famous Geisha district. Afterwards we might go on to Pontocho Alley, another Geisha district, for dinner, in small groups.

Meals: Breakfast


Day 9 - Kyoto

After breakfast, meet with our guide in hotel lobby for a departure by private coach to visit Ginkakuji (the Silver Pavilion), a Zen temple along Kyoto’s eastern mountains (Higashiyama). In 1482, Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa built his retirement villa on the grounds of today’s temple. The villa was converted into a Zen temple after Yoshimasa’s death in 1490.

From the Silver Pavilion we will walk across to the Philosopher’s Path, a pleasant stone path through the northern part of Kyoto’s Higashiyama district. The path follows a canal which is lined by hundreds of cherry trees. We won’t walk the whole Path, but we will get a colourful impression of it; there is an interesting memorial and a couple of specialist shops to explore.

Our coach will collect us from The Philosopher’s Path and take us to Higashiyama, one of Kyoto’s best-preserved historic districts, where we can see/buy souvenirs including Kiyomizu-yaki pottery, textiles, sweets and much more. Higashiyama is a great place to experience old Kyoto and there are many options for lunch as we explore the area. We return by coach to our hotel.

Meals: Breakfast


Day 10 - Kyoto

After breakfast, meet with our guide in the hotel lobby for our departure to Miho Museum by private coach. Miho is about a 1.25-hour interesting drive from Kyoto; it was designed by the renowned architect I.M. Pei, is an art and architectural marvel with an astounding collection of ancient European and Asian artefacts, located in an astonishing setting. The audio guide is superb. After a couple of hours at the Museum, our private coach will return us to our hotel.

FREE AFTERNOON

Meals: Breakfast


Day 11 - Kyoto

FREE DAY - Some suggestions and recommendations:

• Early morning, pre-breakfast visit to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.

• Visit Kawai Kanjiro’s House – for the devotees of pottery and ceramic ware, its history and production.

• Visit Daisen-In , 24 sub-temples of the Rinzai school of Zen – highly recommend.
These ones are small and unique and the whole place is profoundly serene.

• Nomura Tailor Shop – for fabric and all sewing paraphernalia.

• Visit Gion Geisha District.

• Le Jazz Club – live music from 7.30pm.

Meals: Breakfast


Day 12 - Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Tokyo 

**Luggage will be transferred to the hotel in Tokyo separately**

After breakfast and hotel check-out, we will depart by private coach to Kyoto Station for bullet train to Tokyo. (2.5 hours). Upon arriving at Tokyo Station, we will be met and transferred to our hotel in Shinjuku.

Check-in after 14.00. Our main luggage will be waiting for us.

FREE AFTERNOON 

Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner


Day 13 - Depart Tokyo 

FREE DAY

• After breakfast, our private guide will accompany anyone interested to the Mori Museum in Roppongi Hills, Japan’s premier contemporary art museum.

• We'll provide suggestions for anyone interested in visiting special Japanese Gardens.

Check out by 15:00; depart for Airport by private coach.

Fly from Tokyo Haneda Airport at 19:20 on Japan Airlines flight JL051. 

Meals: Breakfast


Day 14 - Return to Sydney 

Arrive Sydney at 06:25.
Duration: 9 hours 50 minutes

INCLUSIONS & HIGHLIGHTS

• Return Economy Class flights from Sydney to Tokyo with Japan Airlines. Combinable with upgrades, on request.
• 12-nights upscale accommodation with traditional Japanese hospitality, daily breakfast, and Wi-Fi
• 4nts Tokyo; 2nts Kanazawa; 2nts Hiroshima; 4nts Kyoto
• Hyper-modern Tokyo culture, people and lifestyle + art museums, temples, shrines and gardens
• Ota Memorial Museum, Mori Art Museum in Roppongi Hills and Nezu Museum home to thousands of artworks including calligraphy, painting, sculpture, archaeological work and more
• Kanazawa with famous Kenrokuen Garden and Castle + geisha district + Samurai House
+ 21st Century Contemporary Art Museum
• Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park and Museum + Miyajima Shrine and Island
• Kyoto’s Zen Temples and Gardens + Gion geisha district + Netsuke Museum
• Explore Japanese Buddhism
• Stunning Miho Museum, out of Kyoto
• Travel by high-speed Shinkansen (the bullet train)
• All sightseeing, cultural activities and private guiding, including entrance fees (as per itinerary)
• Private coach and intercity transfers where required
• Welcome Lunch and Farewell Dinner
• Plenty of shopping time including world-famous Mitsukoshi Ginza - the “Harrods” of Japan!


Book online to secure your place, or for more information and to request a copy of the detailed itinerary, contact your Artmuse Tours Travel Advisor on 1300 800 878 today!