Japan Uncovered
with Wendy Wu Tours
- All the classic sights and key cultural activities
- All sightseeing and entrance fees included
- Return international flights included
- Biggest sale ever - save up to $600pp^
Wendy Wu's most extensive tour of Japan includes all the classic sights and key cultural activities. Featuring modern cities, historical sights and beautiful landscapes, you get the most from this fascinating land.
This tour will see you exploring the most iconic sites, delving into deep-rooted culture and dining on delicious cuisine and thoroughly researched to bring you a range of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, many of which are entirely exclusive to Wendy Wu Tours.
The tour is 18 days in duration including 15 nights in 3+ star accommodation and 2 international overnight flights.
Highlights
- Discover delightful Kyoto & Nara
- Reflect in Hiroshima & Miyajima
- Admire beautiful Mount Fuji
- See the Snow Monkeys
- Feel the rush of Tokyo & Osaka
- Explore Kanazawa & Takayama
Inclusions
- Return international economy flights, taxes and current fuel surcharges (unless a land only option is selected)
- All accommodation - 15 nights in 3+ star accommodation
- All meals
- All sightseeing and entrance fees
- All transportation and transfers
- English speaking National Escorts (if your group is 10 or more passengers) or Local Guides
- Specialist advice from our experienced travel consultants
- Comprehensive travel guides
The only thing you may have to pay for are personal expenditure e.g. drinks, optional excursions or shows, insurance of any kind, customary tipping, early check in or late check out and other items not specified on the itinerary.
Classic Tours
These tours are designed for those who wish to see the iconic sites and magnificent treasures of India on an excellent value group tour whilst travelling with like-minded people. The tours are on a fully inclusive basis, so you’ll travel with the assurance that all your arrangements are taken care of. You will be accompanied by our dedicated and professional National Escorts and local guides, whose unparalleled knowledge will turn your holiday into an unforgettable experience.
Day 1-2: Osaka
Fly overnight to the lively, fast-paced city of Osaka. On arrival you will be met by an English-speaking representative and transfer to your hotel.
Meals: Dinner
Day 3: Discover Nara
Transfer around 1 hour by coach to Nara and stroll through Nara Park to Todaiji Temple, meeting the resident sika deer en-route. Admire the traditional Isui-en Garden before returning to Osaka. Visit the impressive Osaka castle and later take a short cruise down the Yodogawa River.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 4: Himeji Castle
Journey around 2 hours by coach to Himeji and explore the magnificent 17th Century Himeji Castle and the neighbouring Koko-en, a traditional-style garden. The castle is largely in its original condition, so please use common sense and be mindful of your step when strolling around. You will have to remove your shoes before walking along some of the wooden floors and there are some steep wooden steps to reach certain areas. After the reopening in March 2015, Himeji Castle has welcomed a large number of visitors. As such, they now issue numbered tickets to visitors in order to limit the number of people who can enter the Main Keep, reducing congestion, waiting time, and to protect the cultural properties. Please note that this means that there may be cases where some visitors are not allowed to enter the Main Keep. After lunch, continue around 3.5 hours to Hiroshima.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 5: Explore Hiroshima
Transfer to the famous Peace Memorial Park and Museum. Please be aware that the museum may be confronting and upsetting for some group members and it is at your discretion if you wish to visit or enjoy time at leisure exploring the Peace Memorial Park. After lunch, take a short ferry ride to Miyajima Island, where sightseeing will be at a leisurely pace on foot. Visit Itsukushima Shrine and explore the traditional market town at leisure. Later this afternoon, return by ferry and coach to your Hiroshima hotel for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 6: Bullet Train to Kyoto
This morning, transfer to Hiroshima Station and catch a bullet train to Kyoto, a journey of 1 hour 40 minutes. Capital for a thousand years, this enchanting city is the epitome of traditional Japan. After lunch, visit Ryoanji Temple, with its famous Zen Garden, and Kinkakuji Temple, known as the ‘Golden Pavilion’ due to its golden exterior. You will spend approximately 2 hours exploring the temples before continuing to your hotel to check in.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 7: Japanese Tea Ceremony
Start the day by visiting the spectacular Kiyomizu Temple. You will spend 1.5 hours on foot exploring the temple. Later, experience the age-old rituals of a traditional tea ceremony accompanied by a Tea Master. After lunch, visit Fushimi Inari Shrine with its thousands of vermillion torii gates. The Shrine stretches up Mount Inari (233m high). You will walk up part of the mountain and the incline allows a steady-paced walk.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 8: Travel to Kanazawa
Depart Kyoto and travel around 4 hours by coach to Kanazawa. After lunch in a local restaurant, wander through the beautiful Kenroku-en Garden before viewing the excellent art collection of the Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. Continue to your hotel and check in.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 9: Washi Paper Making
Visit the Nomura Samurai House and garden before transferring around 1.5 hours to Gokayama. Enjoy lunch and then try your hand on making washi paper. Continue approximately 1 hour to Shirakawago and explore the 300-year-old Gassho style Wada House. Finally, drive around 1.5 hours to reach Takayama and check into your hotel with onsen facilities.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 10: Explore Takayama
Head to the Miyagawa Morning Market, where you can sample some of the delicious local fruits and vegetables (at your own expense). Next, take a leisurely stroll around the traditional houses of the area and visit some of the local museums including Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall, Kusakabe Folk Crafts Museum and Takayama Jinya before spending some free time in Kamisannomachi Street. You will spend around 5 hours on foot today sightseeing around the town of Takayama.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 11: Travel to Nagano
This morning, depart Takayama and travel around 2.5 hours to Matsumoto to visit the formidable 16th Century Matsumoto Castle. After lunch, stop at a Miso House to learn about the process of making this Japanese seasoning and try Miso soup. Also visit a wasabi farm to learn about its cultivation before travelling a further 1.5 hours to Nagano to check in at your hotel and enjoy it's Japanese bath facilities should you wish.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 12: Snow Monkeys
Travel deeper into the Japanese Alps to visit the Snow Monkeys at the Jigokudani Monkey Park. There is around a 30-minute walk through the forested valley along paths, occasionally on an incline, from the bus park to the main pool where the monkeys bathe. Accustomed to humans, the monkeys can be observed from up-close and they almost completely ignore their human guests. Enjoy lunch and then continue to Zenkoji, one of Japan’s most prolific Buddhist temples. Return to Nagano.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 13: Mount Fuji
Today, travel around 3.5 hours by coach to the Fuji Five Lakes area and ascend by road to Fuji’s 5th station (weather permitting) for fantastic views over the area. Visit Itchiku Kubota Art Museum to view the elaborate dyed silk creations of artist Kubota Itchiku. Continue to your hotel in Mishima or Gotemba and check in.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 14: Explore Hakone
This morning, transfer to Hakone, a drive of around 2 hours. Enjoy a boat cruise on the peaceful waters of Lake Ashi before boarding the Hakone ropeway to soar over the hilltops to the volcanic Owakudani Valley. After lunch, continue around 2 hours to Japan’s capital city, Tokyo..
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 15: Discover Tokyo
Tokyo is the ultimate 24-hour city, but look behind its busy, high-tech façade and you will find plenty of tranquil backstreets and old temples to explore. This morning, head to the Imperial Palace East Gardens, the Meiji Jingu Shrine, and walk the famous Shibuya Crossing. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to spend how you wish.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 16: Tokyo Panorama
Start your last full day in Tokyo with a stroll in the vibrant Asakusa district and soak up the ambiance of Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple. Continue to the 634-metre Skytree and ascend to the observation deck for magnificent views. The afternoon is free at leisure until the evening, when you will board a traditional yakata boat for a dinner cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 17-18: Depart Tokyo
This morning is free at leisure before transferring to the airport for your return flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
It is Wendy Wu Tours' intention to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as stated however, the order of events or sightseeing may change as Wendy Wu Tours look to improve our tours or as local conditions dictate. In these circumstances Wendy Wu Tours make the best possible arrangements maintaining the integrity of your trip.
Prices
| Standard Price per person, twin share |
Sale Price per person, twin share |
|---|---|
| From $12,990 | From $12,390 |
Dates
| Departure dates |
|---|
| Multiple departures in 2024 & 2025 |
Dedicated departures for Solo Travellers:
2024: 29 October, 31 October - Please enquire for pricing.
2025: 04 April, 05 April, 09 April, 10 April, 29 October, 31 October
*Advertised from prices includes maximum saving amount and is based on 16 June 2025 departure. Other dates are available at seasonal surcharge. Special offer applies to selected departure dates. Prices are correct as at 15 July 2024 and subject to availability and change. Please contact your RAC travel consultant for current pricing, departure dates and availability.
*Advertised price is a 'from price' and subject to availability and change. Prices are correct as at 15 July 2024 and subject to change at any time. Prices and services are subject to availability of tour, airline, and specific economy airfare. Indicated rates are based on lead in economy airfares, airfare supplements may apply. Departures booked more than 11 months in advance may be subject to air supplements when airline fares are published. Prices may differ once a preferred booking class is sold out.
^Offer is valid until 15 August 2024, unless sold out prior. Offer is valid on selected departure dates only. Grab last minute savings on selected 2024 departures and book early to get the best deals on 2025 dates. Please enquire with your local RAC travel consultant for eligible departure dates. Tours are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Applicable to new bookings only. Wendy Wu Tours reserves the right to release specials which are applicable to new bookings only. Bookings are non-transferable.
Further Wendy Wu Tours and general RAC Travel terms and conditions apply.
