JAPAN

Our next trip is to Japan for the Cherry Blossom season. A 22 day, self organised tour, travelling via train and visiting Tokyo, Hiroshima, Himeji, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kanazawa, Nagano, Matsumoto.

  

In outline our itinerary is

Day 1-2 Travel to Tokyo

Day 3-6 Tokyo

·         Asakusa Walking Tour and afternoon in Ueno Park
·         Modern Tokyo on the west side. Meji-jingu Shrine, Yogogi-koen Park, Shibuya Crossing area, Miyashita Park. Afternoon: Explore Roppongi. Evening Shinjuku Food tour
·         Day trip to Kamakura, Giant Budda, Enoshima and the Shonan Beach
·         Day trip to Kawagoe, Kitain Temple, Warehouse district, Hikawa Shrine. Evening: Shinjuku District Tour

Day 7 Travel to Hiroshima

Day 8-9 Hiroshima
·         Hiroshima Peace Park walking tour, Hiroshima Castle and Skukkei-en Garden
·         Day trip to Miyajima Island

Day 10 Travel to Kyoto, with a half day in Himeji Castle en-route

Day 11-15 Kyoto

·         Southern Higashiyama, Downtown and Fushimi-Inari, Gion Night walking tour
·         Day trip to Osaka, including a evening in Minami/Dotonbori
·         Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji and Datitoku-ji

·         Day trip to Nara

·         Kurama/Kibune and Northern Higashiyama.Afternoon Miyako-Odori Performance

Day 16 Travel to Kanazawa with the morning in Kyoto

Day 17 Kanazawa
·         Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle Park, Nagamachi District, Higashi Chaya District. Evening: Cherry Blossom Illuminations

Day 18 Travel to Matsumoto, with a half day in Nagano en-route (Zneko-ji Temple, Samon Gate, Okaidam, Temple Gardens)

Day 19 Matsumoto
·         Matsumoto Castle and historic old town

Day 20 Travel to Tokyo 

·         Afternoon in Teamlabs Planets. Evening in the Golden Gai district

Day 21 Tokyo - Final Day
Imperial Palace and Garden, Shinjuku area and travel to the airport

Day 22 Fly home

A busy holiday, particularly the last few days, but really looking forward to it and hoping to catch the Cherry Blossom somewhere on our travels.