JAPAN: Boutique Autumn Small Group Tour - 14 days

Destination:   JAPAN: Tokyo | Mt Fuji | Takayama | Kanazawa | Kyoto | Hiroshima | Osaka

Tour Commences In:  Tokyo

Tour Concludes in:  Osaka

Number of Days:  14 days / 13 nights

Tour Style:  Private Escorted Small Group Tour (groups, couples & solo travellers)

Accommodation:  Boutique Hotels

Meals:  Breakfasts; 13: Lunches; 12: Dinners; 6:

Leaders: Professional private guides

Transportation:  Luxury / deluxe chauffeur driven air-conditioned private vehicles, buses & trains

Tour Grading:  MODERATE: Suitable for travellers with an average to above average level of fitness and mobility

• A curated itinerary especially for Boutique Tours & Travel

• Be in awe of Tokyo, one of the world’s most exciting cities

• Admire the beautiful autumni hues in the splendid Imperial Palace Garden

• Discover the most famous and picturesque bridge in Tokyo

• Prayer for ‘good fortune’ at the Meiji Jingu Shrine

• Visit Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest temple

• Walk and shop the earea and continue onto the ‘Paris end of town’

• Venture into a fabulous fabric / haberdashery shop

• Shop in Harajuku area, Ginza district and the famous Nakamise shopping street

• Cruise down Tokyo’s Sumida River to Old Downtown

• Embrace the view from the 52nd floor of Tokyo’s Tower Observatory

• Experience the Tsukiji Market, the largest in Japan

• Participate in a Sushi Making lesson

• Absorb the breathtaking view of Mt Fuji

• Discover the local produce on display at Kawaguchiko Natural Living Centre

• Be in awe of the Kimono exhibition at the Kubota Itchiku Art Museum

• Travel through beautiful scenery to Takayama

• Be captivated at the Takayama Yatal Kaikan Museum

• Experience a traditional Ryokan Hotel & indulge in an Onsen – Hot Spring Bath

• Try the delicious Kaiseki cuisine

• Participate in the morning Miyagawa market and mingle with the locals

• Taste sake during our sake making tour

• Indulge your taste buds at Kanazawa Omicho Market

• Explore Kenrokuen Garden, one of the top 3 gardens in Japan

• Kanazawa, the city of handcrafts, participate in activities and workshops

• be captivated In Kyoto, tour temples, shrines & castles, some are listed as UNESCO sites

• Experience an authentic Tea Ceremony

• Delight in a kimono moment

• Tour Gion geisha district

• Share a moment with Geisha/Maiko

• Travel to beautiful Miyajima and the Itsukushima Shrine, a World Heritage site

• Remember; at Hiroshima - Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Memorial Museum

• Experience Osaka, its castles, a river cruise and more

• Walk Namba and Dotonburi area, the place to be in Japan

• Ride an iconic ‘Bullet Train’

• Along the way be enthralled with Japan’s autumn palette, delicious cuisine, and the charming people of Japan

Day 1: November: Arrive Tokyo: (D)
Konnichawa, Greetings and Welcome to Tokyo! You will be met at the Airport (Haneda preferred) and transferred to our hotel on shared shuttle bus. (Optional private car /minivan available at own cost)
Later this evening, we will rendezvous in our hotel lobby and meet fellow travellers before departing for our welcome dinner at a lovely local restaurant.
You may wish to arrive a day or so earlier and visit a number of options including visiting museums, galleries and shop or maybe just to get your bearings and recover from any jet lag you may have. If you do choose to arrive early, we can extend your hotel booking and provide any information or advice you may need in order to make the most of your time in this exciting city. (Please confirm if you require pre or post tour accommodation ASAP)

Day 2: November: Tokyo: (B/L)
Our professional local guide will meet us at our hotel after breakfast. We then transfer by train to the Meiji Jingu Shrine. The Shrine was established in 1920 is dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.
We continue onto Harajuku district. Harajuku has been the centre of Tokyo teen fashion styles for decades, especially goth and funk and it includes big-name international fashion boutiques with Takeshita-dori, the pedestrian street, the most famous area of all. It includes great restaurants, cafés and gift shops galore. Just a short walk further along is the sophisticated area of Omote Sando street, the ‘Paris end of town’ with its artistic fashion buildings and galleries along the zelkova tree lined street.
Following lunch, we travel to the Ginza district and explore the area and visit one of the well-known Department stores here.
We then travel to the spectacular Imperial Palace Garden. The Imperial Palace in Tokyo is where the Emperor of Japan and his family resides. We stop and soak up the grandeur of this impressive spectacular garden and appreciate Japan’s autumn hues all about us.

Day 3: November: Tokyo: (B/L)
It’s an early start, we're off to the Tsukiji Market, the largest fish market in Japan, with fish and other produce shops to explore. Our guide will take us through the market and discuss the food culture of the Japanese people.
We continue onto the beautiful Hama-rikyu Japanese Garden. This garden used to belong to a Samurai Family and is now operated as a government owned garden. We stop and reflect for a moment and see the beautiful old cherry blossom trees.
We then transfer to our venue for our private Sushi making lesson. Sushi is a staple of the Japanese diet. In this hands-on program you will enjoy learning and making various types of Sushi. The staff will prepare the ingredients. We then reap the rewards of all our hard work and enjoy our delicious lunch.
We then board a boat for a cruise on the Sumida River, one of the main rivers running through Tokyo. Enjoyed all the fabulous cherry blossom along the way with the locals enjoying a picnic lunch under them. We disembark at Asakusa. Asakusa is known as Tokyo’s Old Downtown. We visit Senso-ji Temple, known as the oldest Buddhist temples in Tokyo. We have free time here on Nakamise shopping street, another popular shopping spot before we return to our hotel and prepare for our departure from Tokyo in the morning. Dinner is on your own this evening.

Day 4: November: Tokyo – Mt Fujiyama: (B/L/D)
We depart Tokyo this morning by private bus. Our journey takes us to the area called Yamanashi, known as the home of Mt. Fuji. On arrival, glimpse the panoramic view of Japan’s Alpine Mountain Range from an observatory. At the Kawaguchiko Natural Living Centre which is located right in front of Lake Kawaguchi, there’s a stunning view of Mt. Fujiyama. (No promises, it’s not always a clear day) Our next stop is the fabulous Kubota Itchiku Art Museum, which houses the stunning Kimono Collection by the legendary Kimono Designer Itchiku Kubota. Following the visit to the museum, we will continue driving to our hotel. Dinner is at our hotel.

Day 5: November: Mt Fujiyama – Takayama: (B/L/D)
We will be travelling by private bus today to Takayama. (Approx 4.5hrs) On the way we will pass by the beautiful scenery of the Nagano, the stunning Japanese alps. On arrival our guide will take us on a tour of some of the traditional houses, shops and restaurants and to the historical Takayama Jinya, a local Governors office in the Edo period that still retains its original form from over 200 years ago. It is the last remaining building of its type here. We then visit Takayama Yatal Kaikan, the Festival Floats Museum to see the colourful floats being prepared for the Takayama Festival in mid-April. Later we will have a sake tasting ..
This evening, enjoy our stay in a traditional Japanese hotel. There is an Onsen (hot spring bath) available here so take a moment to indulge. Dinner this evening is at a wonderful local restaurant.

Day 6: November: Takayama – Shirakawa-go – Kanazawa: (B/L/D)
It’s the local market day today and we visit Miyagawa morning market and mingle with local people selling fresh fruit and vegetables and other produce from the farms around the area. Our guide will explain some of the famous products of the region including miso and offer a taste of some traditional rice dumplings and Japanese home-made sweets.

We depart Takayama in our private bus and travel through the picturesque Shokawa Valley to Shirakawa-go. This village is nestled in the countryside and is famous for its Gassho-Zukuri style farmhouses, with their steep thatched rooves that are designed to withstand the large amount of heavy snow that falls in the region during winter. We will meander through the village and learn about the traditional life in the countryside. We have lunch at a fabulous local restaurant.
We continue our journey onto Kanazawa. During the Edo Period, Kanazawa served as the seat of the Maeda Clan, the second most powerful feudal clan after the Tokugawa in terms of rice production and fief size. Accordingly, Kanazawa grew to become a town of great cultural achievements, rivalling Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo). During World War Two, Kanazawa was Japan's second largest city (after Kyoto) to escape destruction by air raids. Consequently, parts of the old castle town, such as the Nagamachi samurai district and Chaya entertainment districts, have survived in pretty good condition. Today, Kanazawa remains an important city in its region and serves as the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture. The city boasts many historical attractions such as restored residences and districts, as well as modern museums.
After arriving to Kanazawa, we will visit to Higashi Chaya-gai District. This district is known as the historical area were preserving the atmosphere of 18th - 19th century when Samurai dominated Japan is evident. Enjoy the atmosphere of an old era as we wonder around this enchanting town. Dinner will be at our hotel.

Day 7: November: Kanazawa: (B/L)
This morning we visit the stunning Kenrokuen Garden. It is a private garden and one of the three great gardens of Japan. It was developed in the 1620’s and includes the famous “Garden of Six Qualities”. The six essential features include vastness, symmetry, solemnity, coolness, antiquity and pleasure. It also includes Japan’s oldest fountain operating by natural water pressure. This truly is a beautiful garden. We continue on and visit the stunning Palace.
Kanazawa is also famous for its arts and handcrafts including lacquer-ware decoration, ‘makie’ and ceramics. This afternoon we visit a fabric dyeing and kimono painting studio and observe the technique used to decorate kimonos by painting dye directly on the cloth. There is a workshop to hone your skills if you wish to participate. We then visit a gold leaf factory to view a demonstration of the process of gold leaf application.
If time permits, we continue on and visit the local vibrant Omicho market known throughout Japan for its fresh seafood and sushi. We stop and taste some delicious local products. Dinner is on your own this evening.

Day 8: November: Kanazawa – Kyoto: (B/L)
Later this morning we travel to Kyoto on a local train. Kyoto has a large cultural legacy from its 1200 year-long history and offers an array of wonderful attractions for tourists. We begin our tour in Kyoto travelling by local bus to the amazing Sanjusangendo Temple in the Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka districts, known for its charming pedestrian thoroughfare and its classic architecture and teahouses. We then enjoy a Lunch at a nearby restaurant. After lunch we continue onto the large area of the including the Kiyomizudera temple or ‘pure water temple’ as it is built near waterfalls. This temple predates the foundation of Kyoto and has had millions of pilgrims ever since. It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site with over 30 structures, including a huge wooden veranda in front of the main hall that juts out over the cliff and provides you a panoramic view of Kyoto. There is a famous expression: that states "You jump off the stage of Kiyomizu." It means that you should take the plunge to make your dreams come true. We travel to the hotel on public bus. This evening is at your leisure. (Luggage Transferred to Kyoto - overnight bag required)

Day 9: November: Kyoto: (B/L/D)
This morning we continue our tour of Kyoto and visit Nijo Castle. Nijo Castle was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867). After the Tokugawa Shogunate fell in 1867, Nijo Castle was used as an imperial palace for a while before being donated to the city and opened up to the public as a historic site. The palace buildings are arguably the best surviving examples of castle palace architecture of Japan's feudal era, and the castle was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1994. The ancient pine trees and 430 Sukura cherry trees here. (If time permits, we may view a kimono fashion parade and visit a handicraft centre)
We then travel by train to the amazing Fushimi Inari Taisha. It is an important Shinto Shrine. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion tori gates which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari. At the shrine's entrance stands the Romon Gate, which was donated in 1589 by the famous leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Behind stands the shrine's main hall (honden). A place for prayer. We later walk to lunch at local restaurant.
After lunch we have a Tea Ceremony and kimono experience to enhance your understanding of the Japanese way of life.
This evening enjoy a special Japanese Kaiseki dinner with a VIP guest.

Day 10: November: Kyoto: (B/L)
This morning, we tour the area called Arashiyma. It is rich in temples and has beautiful scenery. On arrival we have free time before visiting Okochi Villa. (Optional) Formerly the estate of the famed film actor Okochi Denjiro. (1898-1962) This sublime villa and surrounding gardens are now open to the public. The main house here is one of the finest examples of traditional Japanese residential architecture anywhere. We walk through a famed bamboo grove to Tenryuji Zen Temple. It is one of the most important Zen temples in Japan and is listed on the UNESCO site. Stroll the beautiful gardens before our special lunch at the temple..
Following lunch, we continue our tour of Kyoto and visit the striking Kinkaku-ji Zen Temple, the ‘Golden Pavilion’ in northern Kyoto whose two top floors are completely covered in 18-carat gold leaf. This temple was a retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga and he used it for entertaining. According to his Will it become a Zen temple after his death in 1408. We return to our hotel via a handicrafts store. Dinner is on your own this evening.

Day 11: November: Kyoto – Miyajima – Hiroshima: (B/L)
This morning we transfer to Kyoto Station and take the Shinkansen ‘bullet’ train to Hiroshima. (We will leave our overnight bags in storage at Hiroshima Station) Lunch today is a delicious Okonomiyaki, referred to as Japanese Style Pancake. After lunch, we then travel onto Miyajima by local train. At Miyajima Station, we then take a ferry boat to Miyajima island. Miyajima island is known as one of the most scenic places in Japan and has long been regarded as an ‘Island of Gods’. It is a romantic and historical island, located in the beautiful Seto Inland Sea along with the Virgin Forest of Mt. Misen. It has numerous preserved shrines, temples and historical monuments. Our guide will take us on a tour of Itsukushima Shrine, a World Heritage site, which is famous for the view of its floating Torii Gate in the sea. (when high tide) Later we return via ferry & train & taxi to our hotel in Hiroshima. Dinner is on your own this evening. (Luggage Transferred to Osaka - overnight bag required for Hiroshima)

Day 12: November: Hiroshima – Osaka: (B/L)
This morning we walk to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. (Atomic Bomb Museum) Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is a memorial park in the centre of Hiroshima and is where the iconic A-Bomb Dome is located. Ground Zero. It is dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to suffer a nuclear attack and is dedicated to the memories of the bomb's direct and indirect victims who died and suffered.
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is located within a park; it has continuously appealed for the elimination of nuclear armaments and the realisation of permanent world peace. It is divided into east building and main building. We will visit both and stop and remember. We walk back to our hotel and collect our overnight bags and taxi to lunch.
Following lunch, we travel by Shinkansen ‘bullet’ train to Osaka.
On arrival, we will visit the outstanding and popular Umeda Sky Building. From the Observatory you can enjoy the sweeping view of Osaka.
We later transfer to our hotel and dinner is on your own this evening.

Day 13: November: Osaka: (B/L/D)
Osaka is said to be a City of Waterways. We board an Aqua-liner for a river cruise passing through the downtown area of Osaka offering us a glimpse of life in Osaka with an introduction to the city by our guide. We disembark at Osaka Castle. Known as a symbol of Osaka, we have a guided walking tour of the wonderful Castle and discover how Toyotomi Hideyoshi (founder of the castle and Samurai Leader in 16th century) was powerful.
After lunch, we travel to Namba Area, known as the old downtown of Osaka, where people can enjoy the busy streets full of unique neon lights. It consists of two 40-story towers that connect at their two uppermost stories, with bridges and an escalator crossing the wide atrium-like space in the centre signs and hundreds of restaurants lined up. In colourful Dotonburi, watch out for the large ‘crab’. We later gather for our special farewell dinner.

Day 14: November: Depart Osaka: (B)
Our tour concludes this morning after breakfast. It is time to say farewell to acquaintances and new-found friends. ‘Sayonara’.

We take with us some wonderful memories of stunning scenery including the glorious autumn hues, delicious food and fabulous times together filled with fun and laughter.

At your leisure before transferring to the airport for your onward or homebound journey.

Depending on your departure itinerary, you may have time for some last-minute sightseeing and shopping. We are able to organise our private guide to accompany you.

Some guests may wish to stay another day or more in this amazing country. Please don’t hesitate to contact Boutique Tours & Travel for further travel arrangements.

Our specially curated itineraries are carefully planned and well thought out and we often find some wonderful surprises. The magic of travelling in such a small group allows us to cater for this spontaneity and it is sometimes these unplanned occurrences that can be the most memorable. The rich tapestry of experiences and the characters you meet along the way will make this guided tour something special and one you will remember for a lifetime.

Flexibility
The itinerary can be flexible, sometimes due to weather or on-going events which guests may want to see. If there is something else you’d like to do or see on your trip please contact us and we’ll try our best to ensure it can be done.

• A specially curated itinerary for Boutique Tours & Travel

• A small group tour of 4 - 12 guests

• Shared shuttle for international arrival and departure transfers for all guests (Optional private car /minivan available at own cost)

• Exclusive and private international airport arrival and departure transfers for all guests

• Hand selected 5 & 4 star modern and boutique hotel accommodation

• Meals as indicated in Itinerary; B = B’fast: L = Lunch: D = Dinner:

• Private services of a Professional Bilingual Tour Guide

• Concierge services throughout tour

• 24 hour on call support service

• Luggage Forwarding for large suitcases to assist with transfers (overnight bag/small suitcase required)

• Luxury private air-conditioned vehicles for some of our transportation, also Some local buses, taxis & trains

• Entrance fees to all sightseeing & shows as indicated in Itinerary

• Some tipping and gratuities to guide and driver

• Boutique Tours & Travel – Information Phone App

Not included:

• International airfares

• Arrival / Departure Taxes, levies and other charges

• Passport and Visa fees

• Some of our transportation, also Some local buses, taxis & trains

• Excess baggage charges

• Cost of any ‘luggage delivery’ via FedEx or postal services

• Personal travel insurance

• Some tipping and gratuities to guide and driver for extra services

• Porterage tips

• Meals not included

• Alcoholic beverages

• Personal expenses