Trail by Rail
“Experience modern & traditional Japan with 10 days of unforgettable experiences such as wrestling a sumo wrestler and viewing Mt. Fuji from a cable car ride up an active volcano. Visits many of Japan’s must-see UNESCO World Heritage Sites”.
Explore the futuristic neon wonderland of Tokyo city and the scenic national park centered around the majestic Mt Fuji. Savour fabulous traditional kaiseki dinner and relax in volcanic hot spring onsen before riding the bullet train to ancient Kyoto. Explore UNESCO world heritage temples, shrines and stunning gardens and take part in a traditional tea ceremony. Visit the ultra-modern Osaka, the incredible Himeji castle and the historic city of Hiroshima before heading back to Tokyo to get up close and personal with a sumo wrestler over a traditional sumo lunch and much more….
Itinerary
Day 1: Touchdown in Tokyo
Day 2: Tokyo City Sightseeing
Meet our experienced Tokyo guide in your hotel lobby to explore the city together for the next few hours. Get a real feel for Japan’s capital via public transport in this fantastic introduction to the city and be all the better prepared for your own further adventures. This is your chance to ask your questions about Tokyo and Japan life in general. Our typical half day in Tokyo will be:
- Shibuya Scramble Crossing
- Meiji Jingu Shrine in Yoyogi Park
- Harajuku Walk-through (your guide will leave you in Harajuku for some fun people watching)
Your guide will say goodbye after approx. 4 hours together leaving you to explore the world’s largest city together.
Day 3: Lakeside Cruise, Hakone Open Air Museum, Ryokan Stay & Onsen
Walk to Shinjuku station together with your tour assistant. Board the local / express train from Shinjuku to Hakone, an area inside Fuji National Park famous for magnificent views of the mountain.
After checking into your ryokan, you will explore the Mt Fuji National park area around Hakone with your local guide.
- Pirate boat cruise on Lake Ashi with views of the majestic giant, Mt Fuji (weather permitting)
- Cable car up a volcano to see smoke and fumes bellowing out of the volcanic crater & enjoy further views of Mt Fuji (weather permitting)
- Hakone Open Air Museum (Picasso fixtures)
Enjoy The Hakone Open-Air Museum, Japan’s first outdoor, open-air museum of art. Located in a lushly green 70,000 square meters garden with a view of the Hakone mountains, the museum has on permanent display some 120 masterpieces by famous modern and contemporary sculptors. Visit the museum’s five indoor exhibitions, including the Picasso Pavilion with its rotational displays from more than 300 Picasso pieces in this world-class collection, as well as the natural hot spring bath and the art in the outdoor plazas.
♥Highlight: Dinner & Hot Springs (onsen) at your ryokan♥ Get dressed up in traditional Japanese yukata evening wear before dinner (provided in your room)!
Day 4: Travel to Japan's Ancient Capital Kyoto City
In the evening, enjoy a tea ceremony at local machiya teahouse.
♥Highlight: Authentic Tea Ceremony Experience♥
You can enjoy an authentic tea ceremony experience first-hand in a small Japanese-style teahouse in the Gion area of Kyoto followed by a picturesque walk through the quintessential Kyoto back streets! Dinner at teppan yaki style restaurant (pay locally).
(or similar 4*)
Day 5: Full Day Guided Tour in Kyoto
Meet our Kyoto guide in the lobby of your hotel after breakfast.
♥ Highlight: Full Day Private Guided Tour of Kyoto♥
Our local guide will design this day based on the weather, traffic, and number in our group. You will travel around Kyoto using the public transportation and/or taxis as appropriate. Typical Kyoto sights on tour include:
Lunch and transport will be included today as well as your tour guide for the full day.
(or similar 4*)
Day 6: Free time for optional day trips in the Kansai region
Please tell us your preference at time of booking.
(or similar 4*)
Day 7: Bullet Train from "Old World Kyoto" to "Modern Day Tokyo"
This evening we will meet you for an evening of Karaoke and Casual Style Dining (pay locally).
Day 8: Tokyo a city of neon & infinite possibilities
Day 9: Intimate lunch & meeting with a Sumo Wrestler!
♥ Highlight: Sumo Wrestling Challenge With Special Chanko Lunch♥
You will enjoy a dining experience like never before. Eat, train and fight like a real Japanese sumo wrestler during this sumo demonstration and authentic ‘Chanko Nabe’ (hotpot) lunch. Discover the history, training and rules behind the typical sumo match as you watch three real clashes. You can even try it yourself during a skirmish with a retired wrestler. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, dig into a tasty
Chanko Nabe lunch, a filling meal of hotpot, rice, miso, salad, French fries and more, used by these hulking fighters to gain weight. You’ll get a chance to take some photos with the sumo giants, and learn about the behind-the-scene stories and daily life of a real sumo wrestler whilst enjoying an authentic chanko lunch. This is one lunch in Japan that will never be forgotten.
Day 10: Tokyo Free Day
1. Ghibli Museum Visit
2. Team Lab Borderless & Tsukiji Outer Fish Market
3. Tokyo Skytree & Asakusa Temple (Old Tokyo Area)
Day 11: Sayonara Japan
“Trail by Rail” comes to an end after breakfast today and you will be provided with an airport transfer service from your hotel. Don’t forget to send us your flight details as soon as you know them. Transfers need to be booked early!
Dates and Prices
| Triple Room | €2,880 | £2,415 | US$2,995 | AU$4,300 |
| Twin/Double | €3,200 | £2,680 | US$3,230 | AU$4,780 |
| Single Room | €4,190 | £3,515 | US$4,360 | AU$6,260 |
Accommodation
Tokyo (Two Nights)
Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu (or similar)
We will base you smack bang in the centre of the worlds busiest crossings in Shibuya for your first two nights. What better way to start your trip to Japan with great shopping, variety of restaurants and entertainment areas, impressive buildings and an atmosphere that says so many things about Tokyo. Vibrant, wacky, non-stop, crowded, busy, but serviced like no other city in the world! Conveniently accessed by many of the JR subway lines, it is one of the best places to be based for the duration of your stay in Tokyo.
Hakone (1 night)
Gora Kansuirou (or similar / Japanese Style Ryokan)
Hakone is one of Japan’s best-known hot spring areas. Since the Meiji period (1868-1912), Gora has enjoyed an unsurpassed reputation as a holiday retreat in Hakone, and it is here that you will find Gora-Kansuiro, a traditional Japanese hotel (or ryokan). In addition to 14 undeniably atmospheric guest rooms and hot springs with water that flows directly from the source, the hotel is also home to a beautiful Japanese garden. Gora-Kansuiro is in a convenient location, a three-minute walk from Gora Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway. The hotel offers traditional Japanese ryokan atmosphere for your enjoyment. This includes authentic kaiseki ryori (Japanese multi-course cuisine), in-room baths, and our open-air bath with a view of a garden overflowing with natural splendour, one that will allow you to experience the beauty of Japan’s four seasons.
Kyoto (3 nights)
The Chapter Hotel, Kyoto (or similar 4*)
We choose this hotel for its location and facilities – walking distance to the Termachi shopping street where you can find lots of authentic shops unique to Kyoto. Rooms are modern and tastefully decorated. If you fancy a special night out, Kyoto’s Ritz Carlton is around the corner with exquisite dining options. This hotel has a public bath area, also a bonus for a western style hotel. They serve Ramen Happy Hour in the evenings so if you feel like skipping dinner, dine in for free!
Hiroshima (1 night)
<strong>Hiroshima Granvia Hotel</strong>(or similar)
Located next to Hiroshima station, you will have easy access to the bullet trains, local restaurants, train/ferry to Miyajima Island, and trams/trains for getting around Hiroshima. The hotel itself is considered four star with all functional facilities needed while on tour.
Tokyo (2 nights)
Remm Hotel Ginza (or similar)
End your stay in Tokyo in Remm Tokyo, Ginza district. Located close to Tokyo station (a must visit while in the capital), Ginza is a great place to be based for shopping, soaking up the amazing atmosphere, and being next to the worlds biggest brands and high street stores. Fashionistas, creatives, architects, and anyone who craves style/something different will enjoy this part of Tokyo. Rooms are small but that’s to be expected when staying in this part of Tokyo. Larger room types may be available at time of booking for additional charge.
Tour Testimonial
Whats Included
| Date | Service |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | 4* Western (8 nights) / Superior Ryokans (1 nights) with hot springs & kaiseki dinner (total 10 nights) |
| English Speaking tour leader |
*If your tour has less than 5 people on it, we will arrange the tour on a semi-escorted basis. You will met in each area by our local assistants and guides on days you don’t have private guides). |
| Private Tour Guides | Local English speaking tour guides in Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima |
| Transfers | All transfers included from arrival to departure airports |
| Entrance Fees | Included into all sights listed in itinerary |
| Cultural Experiences |
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| Meals | Breakfast daily, 2 lunches, 2 evening meals (including one traditional kaiseki dinner) |
| Other Inclusions: |
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| This package does not include: |
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