Japan Honeymoon

Japan Honeymoon – Day 1 – Arrival in Tokyo

Upon your arrival at Tokyo Airport, one of our representatives will meet you and assist you with boarding the right train or shared shuttle bus to your hotel.

The rest of the day is at leisure.

Optional Dinner:
For guests staying at the Park Hotel, enjoy your dinner in ‘Tateru Yoshino Bis’, a Michelin-starred restaurant on the 25^th floor. Mainly inspired on casual French cuisine, this cosy restaurant also caters a great collection of French wines.

For guests staying at the Peninsula Hotel, enjoy a culinary journey in the different bars and restaurants in the hotel. Start with an appetiser while enjoying the live music in the Peninsula Lobby, followed by a traditional Cantonese seafood course at Hei Fung Terrace, then a main course of international fare at Peter located on the 24^th floor of the hotel. Wine is included throughout the evening.

*Supplementary charges apply. Please refer to the price table.

Overnight in Tokyo

Japan Honeymoon – Day 2 – Tokyo (B)

Today you will spend a full day with your guide visiting some of Tokyo’s iconic sites and utilizing the city’s complex yet very efficient public transport.

First stop is Meiji Jingu, Tokyo’s most famous shrine dedicated to the spirit of the late Emperor Meiji. The shrine is a popular site for Japanese weddings, and if you were lucky, you might see a bride and groom dressed in traditional Shinto wedding attire.

Travel through time, from “old” Tokyo to “new” Tokyo, as you walk to Omotesando. Commonly referred to as Tokyo’s Champs-Elysees, this broad, tree-lined avenue features a multitude of fashion flagship stores designed by internationally renowned architects.

A short subway ride will take you to Asakusa, a part of Tokyo’s shitamachi, or old town. Asakusa is the city’s oldest Geisha district and also the home to Sensoji (“Asakusa Kannon”) Temple, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple. The streets around Sensoji feature many traditional shops that sell Japanese crafts and souvenirs and are a delight to wander through.

Before the day ends, you will get to see Tokyo from a different angle as you take a cruise down the Sumida River by boat to Hama-Rikyu Teien, the former private garden of an Edo Period lord. Stroll through the serene garden before taking a break in the tea house known as ‘Nakajima No Chaya’ which stands elegantly in the park’s lake. Here, you will have the chance to get a taste of matcha, or Japanese green tea.

Overnight in Tokyo

Japan Honeymoon – Day 3 – Tokyo, Optional Day Trip to Kamakura or Nikko (B)

Today is a self-guided day.

Suggested Self-Guide Itinerary:
You have the rest of the day to explore this amazing city. You can choose to make an early start to visit the world-famous Tsukji Fish Market, visit the electronics district of Akihabara or discover Tokyo’s world-class museums and art galleries.

Alternatively, you can make an excursion outside of Tokyo to one of the following places with your Japan Rail Pass:KamakuraOne of Japan’s former capitals, Kamakura is a delightful seaside town home to many ancient shrines, temples, and other structures like the Daibutsu, a giant bronze Buddha that stands at 13-meter tall.

Note: The Giant Buddha will be covered by scaffolding from 13^th January 2016 to 10^th March 2016 due to regular inspection and maintenance.

Distance and journey time:
JR Tokyo Station to JR Kamakura Station (61km): approx. 53mins

NikkoLocated north of Tokyo, Nikko is a city that lies in the mountainous area of Tochigi Prefecture well-known for its national park. Some of the popular places in the park include the Toshogu Shrine complex and the Tamozawa Imperial Villa.

Note: Toshogu Shrine is currently undergoing partial renovations.

Overnight in Tokyo

Japan Honeymoon – Day 4 – Tokyo – Hakone / Mt. Fuji (B,D)

Today is a self-guided day.

Make an early start today and leave Tokyo behind to get on the journey to Hakone, the gateway to Mt. Fuji and its surrounding national park. This small town is famous for its onsen (natural hot springs), and has natural beauty in abundance.

Suggested Self-Guide Itinerary:
You have the rest of the 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 rope way all the way up Mt. Owakudani, passing over sulphurous fumes, hot springs, and hot rivers in this volcanic area.

You will also have the opportunity to eat one of Hakone’s specialities, the kuro-tamago, an egg hard boiled in the sulphuric 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 3,000 years ago. The Hakone Tozan ‘switchback train’ zigzags through the mountains, giving amazing views of the surrounding valleys.

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.

Note: Mt. Owakudani has been temporarily closed due to volcanic activities.

Tonight you will stay in a ryokan, or traditional Japanese-style accommodation, complete with tatami mats, shoji (rice paper) sliding doors, and onsen (hot springs). In the 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.

Option:
For guests staying in superior accommodation, upgrade just this night to Hakone Ginyu to indulge in absolute luxury. The Ginyu is built on a mountain, offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Each room has an outdoor terrace with a private hot spring bath.

*Supplementary charges apply. Please refer to the price table.

Overnight in Hakone

Distance and journey time:
JR Tokyo Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station (90km): approx. 65mins

Japan Honeymoon – Day 5 – Hakone – Kyoto (B)

Make an early start today to have one last soak in the onsen before travelling via the world-famous shinkansen (bullet train) to Japan’s cultural capital, Kyoto, the home to an astonishing 2,000 shrines and temples, including 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

This afternoon, you will get a chance to learn more about the Japanese culture in a machiya, a beautifully restored wooden town house that is typical in Kyoto.

First, you will get a short tour of the house with some explanations about the architecture before trying on a kimono, the traditional Japanese garment. This will be followed by an induction to the tea ceremony, a quintessential part of the Japanese culture. The tea master will teach you each movement, from preparing the tea to serving it. The last part of your activity will be a walk through the old neighbourhood and a visit to a nearby sake brewery where you will have a chance to try the local brew, a perfect way to conclude today’s experience.

Overnight in Kyoto

Day 6 – Kyoto (B)

Today, you will explore the former imperial capital with a knowledgeable local guide, utilising Kyoto’s comprehensive bus and subway system to visit some of Kyoto’s World Heritage Sites.

You will start your day with a visit to Nijo Castle. This ornamental castle, surrounded by stunning gardens, was built by the founder of the Edo Shogunate as his Kyoto residence. The main building was completed in 1603 and is well-known for its Momoyama architecture, decorated sliding doors, and ‘chirping’ nightingale floors.

Continue onward to Kinkaku-ji, or the Golden Pavilion, which was 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.

This afternoon, you will engage in a walking tour around Higashiyama district. You will start at Kyomizu-dera, the temple situated on Mt. Otowa. The most impressive part of the temple is probably the veranda, which stands at 13 meters tall and was built without any nails. The view from the veranda is breath-taking, especially when the sakura (cherry blossoms) are in full bloom or when the leaves change colour in fall. Descend from the temple and stroll in Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka, two of Kyoto’s most picturesque streets lined with machiya (traditional Japanese houses), shops, cafés, and cultural centres.

From the Higashiyama slopes you will continue onto Maruyama-koen, a public park that sits just beside Yasaka Shrine. Here you will find a Weeping Sakura tree, a small pond, and a bridge, components which are commonly found in Japanese parks and gardens. Locals and tourists flock to the park when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.

The last part of your walking tour is going to be in Gion District, the area in Kyoto known as hanamachi (flower town). This is where Geishas live and work and where you can find shops, restaurants, and tea houses inside well-preserved machiya (old houses). Pass through Hanami-koji, the most popular street in Gion for its lavish ochaya lining up the old street.

Overnight in Kyoto

Note: Kiyomizu Temple is currently undergoing partial renovations.

Japan Honeymoon – Day 7 – Kyoto – Nara (B)

Today is a self-guided day.

Suggested Self-Guide Itinerary:
This morning, you can choose to go out of town and travel to Nara with your Japan Rail Pass. For 74 years during the 8^th century, Nara was Japan’s capital and many of the temples and shrines built at that time still remain.

Nara is just a small town, with most of its main tourist spots located around Nara Park, where you can encounter quite a great number of tamed deer. You can visit Todaiji Temple, the world’s largest wooden building and home to Japan’s largest Buddha, and Kasuga Taisha, Nara’s most celebrated shrine.

In the afternoon, head back to Kyoto and visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, also known as “10,000 Torii Gates,” located in the southern part of Kyoto. This enchanting place was also featured in the movie ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’.

Distance and journey time:
JR Kyoto Station to JR Nara Station (42km): approx. 45mins *via Rapid train

For your last night in Japan, we have arranged a special experience for you and your special one:

Tonight, you will have an opportunity to meet a Maiko up-close. You will be escorted from your hotel to the restaurant where you can enjoy a kaiseki ryori (traditional multi-course dinner) in the company of a Maiko. You will have the chance to interact with her and know more about her craft and the world of Geisha. She will also perform historic dances and even invite you to play some Japanese drinking games.

After the dinner, you will be escorted back to your hotel.

Overnight in Kyoto

Japan Honeymoon – Day 8 – Departure from Kyoto (B)

The rest of the day is at leisure until your included transfer by airport shuttle van to Kansai Airport.