Japan Discovery

Sightseeing

• Visit Imperial Palace East Garden
• Stroll through the Ginza District
• Experience Shibuya Crossing
• Admire the city lights of Tokyo Bay while on a dinner cruise
• Tokyo sightseeing including Asakusa Sensō-ji Temple and Nakamise Shopping Arcade
• Enjoy a sumo wrestling demonstration and a traditional Chanko Nabe lunch
• See Mt Fuji while riding the Hakone Ropeway (weather permitting)
• Spend a night in a traditional ryokan guesthouse
• Take in the sights of historic Takayama by foot
• Free time to explore Miyagawa Open Air Market
• Wander through Shirakawa-go, with its famous gasshō-zukuri thatched roofs
• Learn about the Japanese tradition of washi papermaking in Gokayama
• Tour the Fushimi Inari Shrine
• Stroll the Philosopher's Walk
• Take part in a black ink calligraphy class
• Experience a traditional tea ceremony in Kyoto
• Visit Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion)
• Enjoy a tofu and shichimi making lesson
• Stroll through the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and see the Tōgetsu-kyō Bridge
• Enjoy a Buddhist lunch at Shigetsu (Tenryū-ji Temple)
• Visit the island Miyajima and see the giant Itsukushima Torii Gate (currently under maintenance)
• Tour the Hiroshima Peace Park, and visit the Atomic Bomb Dome and the very moving Peace Memorial
• Visit Himeji Castle
• Sample the famous sake beverage
• Explore the Tōdai-ji Temple
• Feed the deer in Nara Deer Park
• Free time to explore Osaka's Dōtonbori District
• Learn the way of the Samurai in Osaka, Japan's pre-modern warriors

Travel

• Return economy-class flights from Australia to Japan. Taxes included
• Airport transfers on the first and last day of tour (please refer to Some things to note)
• All touring in air-conditioned vehicles
• 4 bullet train journeys in Japan
• 2 Limited Express train journeys in Japan
• Tipping is not part of the Japanese culture, so tips are not expected

Accommodation

• 12 nights in 3-4 star hotels
• 1 night in a traditional ryokan guesthouse, Hakone

Properties include:

• Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa, Tokyo
• Hakone Yunohana Prince Hotel, Hakone - Japanese Style Ryokan accommodation
• Hida Hotel Plaza, Takayama
• Umekoji Potel Kyoto, Kyoto
• Sheraton Grand Hotel Hiroshima, Hiroshima
• Sheraton Miyako Hotel, Osaka

Hotels listed are an indication, and are subject to change without notice.

Meals

• 13 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 5 dinners, including group welcome and farewell dinners

One of the best ways to experience a destination is through its cuisine, and in Japan, food holds deep cultural significance, reflecting centuries of tradition.

With this in mind, it should be noted that dietary requirements – including but not limited to vegetarianism, veganism, gluten-free/coeliac diets and some allergens – are less common and may not always be accommodated.

The restaurants and experiences visited on our Japan tours will not always be able to alter their menus to fully exclude specific allergens or to cater for strict dietary requirements, and it should also be noted that meals for those with specific dietary requirements may be simpler and less varied. Cross contamination cannot be catered for in all of our restaurants and experiences we visit, therefore it is up to the individual traveller to manage their own allergens.

While your Bunnik Tour guide will make every effort to inform you of the main ingredients in the dishes, the ultimate responsibility rests with you to ensure that you avoid any problematic ingredients.

Tour Guides

• English-speaking locally based national guide

Some things to note

• Should you not be travelling on the group tour flights shared bus transfers will be used between the hotel and the airport for the departure transfer.
• On days 6 and 11 we will be travelling by bullet train and our luggage will be transferred via coach. We will need to pack an overnight bag with two night’s worth of luggage. Unfortunately, bullet trains have very limited space for luggage.
• Miyajima's famous floating Torii Gate is undergoing renovations. During the renovation works, the Torii Gate maybe partially covered by scaffolding.
• If you are travelling on or around the holidays of Golden Week (29 April to 5 May) heavier traffic conditions and longer waiting times can be expected.
• Women may need a head scarf to enter some mosques and temples and wear modest clothing that covers knees and shoulders. Also, a good tip is to pack a spare pair of socks in your daypack, as sometimes shoes need to be removed when entering and the ground can be hot.