Japan Garden Discovery

ARRIVAL IN TOKYO

On our arrival, we transfer to our hotel, the excellent four-star superior New Otani Garden Tower, for three nights with breakfast.

This afternoon we have our first taste of Tokyo with a short orientation walk in the surrounding area, with the rest of your first day to relax after the flight.

TOKYO

This morning we commence the exploration of Japan's capital and largest city visiting two gardens, the University of Tokyo Botanical Garden Koishikawa and Shukkeien Bonsai Museum set up by the famous Bonsai Master Kkunio Kobayashi. Upon entering there is a 1000 year old pine tree in front of the house. At first glance, Tokyo might seem similar to other great Asian cities like Singapore or Shanghai, with its gleaming glass skyscrapers and busy, fashionable shops. But you'll soon begin to notice some of the many fascinating differences – like the spotlessly clean and surprisingly quiet streets. There's no beeping of horns here, that would be far too impolite! 

After we savour some Japanese cuisine at our included lunch, we experience the famous Shinto Meiji shrine, dedicated to one of its past emperors. Set in outstandingly lush parkland, this is a working religious site where you may be lucky enough to see a typical Japanese marriage underway. 

TOKYO

This morning we visit Tokyo’s Asakusa district including the peaceful and tranquil Hamarikyu Garden, a serene location within the vast City. Full of traditional small houses and shops, it’s a unique insight into the Tokyo of a hundred years ago. We will then transfer by boat down the Sumida River to Ginza, widely recognised as one of the world’s most luxurious shopping destinations. It’s brimming with ultra-modern department stores, boutiques, restaurants and coffee houses. Your afternoon is free to shop, explore, or perhaps indulge in some fascinating people-watching. Alternatively for more exploring take the included one way ticket monorail from Shimbashi.

Another option is to head to the Tokyo National Museum, just a few stops on the metro. Here you’ll find the world’s largest collection of Japanese art, with pottery, painting and prints, textiles, fashion and oriental antiquities.

MOUNT FUJI & HAKONE

Saying goodbye to Tokyo we drive towards Mount Fuji, probably Japan’s most instantly recognisable sight. Fringed by thick forests and a crescent-shaped ring of shimmering lakes, we are presented with one of the world’s greatest and most spectacular views. We visit two of these beautiful lakes to give you the best chance of appreciating and enjoying the stunning panorama from two different angles with some of life’s most amazing photo opportunities. Our first stop is the Kachi Kachi Yama Ropeway followed by Ichiku Kubota Art Museum located on Lake Kawaguchi. The lake is well known to the Japanese but as yet undiscovered by most foreign visitors. On a clear day, the views of Mt Fuji are one of the world's greatest panoramas. Then we head south to explore the fascinating mountain resort of Hakone to discover the Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetland featuring more than a thousand species of woody and wild herbaceous plants within a designed eco-system of steams, ponds, rockeries, man-made hills including several types of marsh moors with natural plant species to Hakone. 

Arriving at the four-star Hakone Hotel, we stay for one night with breakfast and dinner. The entire area here is geo-thermally active, and provides the perfect opportunity to try one of Japan's unmissable experiences – bathing in an 'onsen', a hot spring at our very own hotel.

HIROSHIMA & MIYAJIMA SHRINE

This morning we travel to Hiroshima on Japan's iconic gleaming white bullet train. With reclining seats, plenty of legroom, air conditioned comfort and speeds up to 189 mph, this is an incomparable way to travel. Arriving at lunchtime, we’re on our way to one of the country’s most distinctive views on the nearby small island of Miyajima. A huge red 'Torii' gate sits just offshore; widely celebrated, at high tide it appears to float between the sea and sky. This popular little island is easy to explore on foot. It has a relaxed holiday atmosphere, lots of interesting shops and a covered market. Returning to Hiroshima, we stay for two nights at the Sheraton Hiroshima, with breakfast.

HIROSHIMA

There’s a sobering reminder of the horrors of war this morning as we visit Hiroshima's Peace Park and museum, displaying the remains of the only building to survive the atomic bomb blast of August 1945. The city has been completely rebuilt and there are no signs left of the devastation of that fateful day. Yet you may notice a small digital counter indicating the number of days since the last atomic test – it's surprisingly recent. After lunch we visit the historic scenic Shukkeien Japanese Garden of which original garden construction dates back to 1620. This garden park features small bridges, lakes and circular features capturing flora of the Japanese countryside. Take the rest of the afternoon at leisure in this charming city.

KYOTO

Leaving Hiroshima by coach, we head towards the old imperial capital of Kyoto. En route we’ll visit the superb Korakuen garden at Okayama – built in 1700 and renowned as one of Japan’s most exquisite gardens, with lawns, lakes, wooden bridges and shrines and teahouses! Our hotel for four nights in Kyoto is the centrally located four-star Kyoto Century Hotel, with breakfast.

KYOTO

This morning is one of the real highlights of the tour as we explore some of the overwhelming treasures of Japan’s most revered city. First is the spectacular and beautiful Golden Pavilion, dating from the classical Muromachi age of Japanese temple design, perfectly overlooking its lake and garden. The whole of the upper floors, covered in gold leaf, glow in the morning light with an almost blinding intensity. Nearby is the Ryoan-ji temple, or the Temple of the Dragon at Peace, home to Japan's most famous Zen garden, consisting of fifteen rocks surrounded by white gravel carefully raked by monks daily. We see the Japanese Garden, less visited by foreigners at the huge temple complex of Myoshinji Temple founded in the 9th Century. As a complete change, we then move on to the amazing Sagano Bamboo Grove located in the gorgeous Arashiyama district of western Kyoto – experiencing an almost other-worldly feel as the light streams through the tall green columns of bamboo, up to 30 feet high! The day is completed visiting the Japanese Garden at the breath taking quiet Okochisanso Villa capturing views over the Arashiyama area of Kyoto.

NARA

Capital city before Kyoto, Nara is just a few miles south. Firstly we see one of the country's most iconic shrines, made from thousands of red Torii gates forming two extraordinary vermilion-coloured wooden tunnels up a hillside. Arriving at Nara you'll be greeted by the dozens of tame deer considered for centuries to be messengers of the gods. The main sight though is the amazing Todai-ji temple, astonishingly the world’s largest wooden structure. Housing a huge bronze Buddha, this is a truly inspiring sight and just one of Nara’s several UNESCO World Heritage sites. Today's Japanese Garden features unique lush vegetation at the Tofukuji Temple. This is the head temple of the Tofukuji scholl of the Rinsal sect of Zen Buddhism, a historic place built in 1236.

NIJO CASTLE AND TEA CEREMONY

This morning we visit another iconic Kyoto monument - Nijo Castle. Set at the heart of the city and built in the 17th century, it's famous for its wooden floors remarkably designed to creak like a nightingale's song, thus warning its occupants of any impending stealthy attack!

After visiting the Heian Jingu Shrine Japanese Garden with charming serene water features, we experience a Traditional Japanese Tea Ceromony.

Finally we take an orientation walking tour through Kyoto's Gion district. Here is the classic image of Japan; streets of wooden houses, the unmistakable sound of wooden sandals reverberating on the pavements, bright, silk-clad geishas, cherry trees and a host of traditional restaurants. 

Tonight you also have the option of staying in a ryokan, a typical Japanese inn. You’ll sleep on a rolled out futon with tatami matting on the floor. You’ll also enjoy a traditional 'kaiseki' multi-course dinner. Beautifully prepared and served, it’s just as stunning to look at as it is to eat. This is subject to availability and needs to be pre-booked, please mention at time of booking.

BULLET TRAIN TO TOKYO

After a last free morning at leisure, we take our bullet train to Tokyo staying overnight at the four-star Excel Tokyu near the airport.

RETURN FLIGHT

We fly directly back to the UK, arriving later the same day, with memories of an incomparable tour full of the most extraordinary insights and experiences that Japan has to offer.