Golden Route Japan

Golden Route Japan – TOKYO – HAKONE/MT FUJI – KYOTO – NARA
Explore the very best Japan has to offer from the majestic shrines and pioneering shopping malls of Tokyo to the stunning Mt Fuji and heritage rich Kyoto. Experience the quintessential hot onsen baths in Hakone, at the gateway to Mt Fuji. Stay in traditional Japanese-style ryokan accommodation complete with tatami mats and shoji rice paper sliding doors. Take a cooking class in Kyoto or even visit a sake brewery before watching a mesmerizing Geisha performance in this memorable tour of Japan.

Golden Route Japan – DAY 2- TOKYO(B)

Golden Route Japan: Suggested self-guided itinerary:
This morning explore the city utilizing Tokyo’s super-efficient metro system.
Begin the day with an early morning visit to Meiji Shrine; perfectly timed to avoid the crowds. Tokyo’s most famous shrine is dedicated to the spirit of the late Emperor Meiji and the park that surrounds the shrine is a forest of some 120,000 trees of 365 different species, making your forget you are in the world’s largest city.
Next to Meiji Shrine is Harajuku – Tokyo’s youth fashion mecca. Whether you are a Goth, punk or anything in between, there is a shop in Harajuku that caters for you.
Neighboring Harajuku is Omotesando, commonly referred to as Tokyo’s Champs-Elysee. This broad, tree-lined avenue features a multitude of fashion flagship stores designed by internationally renowned architects within a short distance of each other. Feel free to stop for a coffee in one of the area’s many stylish cafes and watch the beautiful people walk by.
From Omotesando, take the metro to Ginza. Named after the silver coin mint established there in 1612, Ginza is Tokyo’s most famous upmarket shopping, dining and entertainment district. One square meter of land is worth over 10 million yen (€ 90,000). Adjoining Ginza lays the Imperial Palace, the main residence of the Emperor. Whilst the Palace itself is not open to the public, you can take a stroll through the Palace East Gardens.
Last stop for the day could be Asakusa, part of Tokyo’s Shitamachi, or old town. Asakusa is home to Sensoji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, and is also the city’s oldest Geisha district. The streets around Sensoji have many traditional shops selling Japanese crafts and souvenirs and are a delight to wander through.
Overnight in Tokyo.

Services included:
Transport card PASMO (Value: 1,500 yens)

Nikko

Sitting high in the mountains of Nikko National Park, Nikko houses the Toshogu Shrine complex and mausoleum, Japan’s most extravagant display of religious architecture and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Overnight in Tokyo.
Note: Return train tickets to Kamakura or Nikko need to be arranged in advance at an additional cost.

Golden Route Japan – DAY 4 – TOKYO – HAKONE/MT FUJI (B,D)

Today is a self-guide day.

Golden Route Japan: Suggested self-guided itinerary:
Today leave Tokyo behind and travel to Hakone, the gateway to Mt. Fuji and surrounding national park. This small town is famous for its onsen, or natural hot springs, and has natural beauty in abundance.

You will stay in a traditional Japanese-style ryokan accommodation, complete with tatami mats, shoji rice paper sliding doors and onsen baths.
This evening, relax in your yukata, or lightweight kimono, and dine on a sumptuous kaiseki multi course meal.
An onsen after dinner is highly recommended before you bed down on your futon.

Overnight in Hakone.

Services included:
Hakone Transport Pass 3Days

Golden Route Japan – DAY 5 – HAKONE/MT FUJI (B,D)

Today is a self-guide day.

Golden Route Japan: Suggested self-guided itinerary:
Today you have the whole day to explore all that Fuji Hakone National Park has to offer. Armed with your included Hakone Transport Pass, you can take advantage of the numerous forms of transportation on offer throughout the park. You can ride the Guinness World Record-holder ropeway all the way up Mt. Owakudani, passing over sulfurous fumes, hot springs, and hot rivers in this volcanic area.
You will also have the opportunity to eat one of Hakone’s specialties, the kuro-tamago, an egg hard boiled in the sulfuric hot springs. They say that if you do, it will add seven years to your life!
A majestic replica pirate ship will sweep you across Ashinoko, a lake that was formed by a volcanic eruption 3000 years ago. The Hakone Tozan ‘switchback train’ zigzags through the mountains, giving amazing views of the surrounding valleys.
Hakone also has many museums and parks, including the Hakone Open Air Museum that features a harmonic balance between nature and art by exhibiting various sculptures on its spacious grounds in combination with beautiful views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. Besides the sculptures, it also features various indoor galleries, including a sizeable Picasso Collection that displays some paintings, prints, sculptures, and ceramic creations of the legendary artist.
Throughout the day, you will have the chance to get a glimpse of Mt. Fuji, however please keep in mind that she is a notoriously shy mountain and it needs to be a clear day for you to see her splendour.

Overnight in Hakone.

Services included:
Hakone Transport Pass

Golden Route Japan – DAY 6 – HAKONE TO KYOTO (B)

Today is a self-guide day.
Time for one last soak in the onsen, before undertaking the 2-hour journey by the world-famous Shinkansen (bullet train) to Japan’s cultural capital, Kyoto.

Golden Route Japan: Suggested self-guided itinerary:
Kyoto is home to an astonishing 2000 Shrines and Temples, including 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The afternoon is at leisure.
You can start exploring this magnificent city by yourself or take part in one of the many cultural experiences we offer in Kyoto, such as cooking classes, tea ceremonies or even a visit to a sake brewery.
To finish the night in style we can arrange a performance by a Maiko or Geisha where you will get an insight on the traditional arts and music they have been practicing for so many centuries and generations.

Note: The cultural experiences and the Maiko performance need to be arranged in advance at an additional cost.

Overnight in Kyoto.

Services included:
Hakone Transport Pass
Train tickets to Kyoto (one-way)

Golden Route Japan – DAY 7 – KYOTO (B)

Today is a self-guide day.

Golden Route Japan: Suggested self-guide itinerary:
Today explore the former imperial capital utilising Kyoto’s comprehensive bus system to visit some of Kyoto’s World Heritage Sites.
Start your day with a visit to Nijo Castle.
This ornamental castle was built by the founder of the Edo Shogunate as his Kyoto residence and is surrounded by stunning gardens. The main building was completed in 1603, and is famous for its Momoyama architecture, decorated sliding doors and ‘chirping’ nightingale floors.
Continue on to Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion. Originally built as a retirement villa for the Shogun, after his death it became a Buddhist Temple at his request, and is now one of Kyoto’s most famous temples.
The final stop of the morning should be Ryoan-ji, the site of Japan’s most famous rock garden. Originally served as an aristocrat’s villa during the Heian Period, the site was later on converted into a Zen Buddhist temple in the year 1450. Now, it belongs to the Myoshinji School of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism and serves as a perfect spot for a zazen meditation.
After lunch, visit Kiyomizu (Pure Water) Temple. From the 13m high veranda jutting out from the Main Hall you can enjoy amazing views of the whole of Kyoto, whilst pondering the fact that both the Main Hall and Veranda were built without the use of nails or any kind of joiners.
Finish off the day with a stroll through the atmospheric Higashiyama district, whose busy lanes lead up to Kiyomizu and are filled with quaint shops selling souvenirs including Kiyomizu-yaki pottery, sweets and pickles.

Note: Kiyomizu Temple has been undergoing renovation since 2008, with some of its halls and structures wrapped up with covers. The construction has a certain but not overwhelming impact on a visit

Overnight in Kyoto.

Services included:
Kyoto Bus and Subway Pass 1 Day

Golden Route Japan – DAY 8 – KYOTO – NARA (B)

Today is a self-guide day.

Golden Route Japan: Suggested self-guide itinerary:
Spend another day at your leisure in Kyoto and enjoy what the ancient capital all has to offer or alternatively make the short 45min trip by train to Nara. For 74 years during the 8th century Nara was Japan’s capital and many of the temples and shrines built at that time still remain.
Especially worth visiting is the Todaiji Temple, the world’s largest wooden building and home to Japan’s largest Buddha.

Overnight in Kyoto.

Services included:
Train tickets to Nara (return)

Golden Route Japan – DAY 9 – KYOTO DEPARTURE (B)

Departure day. At leisure until your included transfer by airport shuttle van to Kansai Airport.

Looking for a more in-depth itinerary try our Highlights of Japan here: http://www.discoverytravel.com.au/highlights-of-japan/

This Golden Route Japan 9 day itinerary can also be requested as our Budget Japan 9 days (slightly different inclusions and lower standard of accommodation) currently $1999 per person twin share!

Golden Route Japan – Our Services Include:
Hotel accommodation in twin room with daily breakfast.
Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).
Meet and greet at the airport and return transfers to the airport.
PASMO Tokyo transport pass at a value of 1,500 JPY.
3-Day Hakone Free Pass.
One-way train ticket from Odawara Station to Kyoto Station in Ordinary Class.
1-Day Kyoto Bus and Subway Pass.
Return train tickets from Kyoto to Nara in Ordinary Class.
Information Pack.

Golden Route Japan – Our Services Do Not Include:
International and domestic flights (quoted separately).
Some local transport.
Meals other than mentioned above.
Personal expenses (e.g. drinks, laundry, telephone, and other expenditures of a personal nature).
Travel insurance (please see below).
Other services not clearly indicated in the package inclusions above.

Golden Route Japan – Important Notes:
We strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance (covering emergency medical evacuation).
Prices are valid 30 days from date of offer. Past this date price and conditions may be readjusted
Rooms at hotels are available only from 15:00 on arrival day till 10:00 on departure date. A supplement will be added if early check-in or late check-out is desired.
Please note that all the above services & tours have yet to be booked, they are proposed for your information only and we will not make any reservations before we receive your confirmation to do so.
If one or some proposed service(s) is (are) not available at the moment of booking, we will try to find other possibilities/options or other similar service(s) in order to avoid changes to the program.

Golden Route Japan – Creating Unique Touring Experiences
All the touring itineraries on this website have been carefully crafted by our in-country management teams and represent a series of experiences we can certainly recommend. However, we understand that every travel experience should be as unique and individual as each traveler. Our consultants are waiting to hear from you so that we can tailor or custom design a Japan tour to your individual specifications.