Japan Uncovered

Fly to the lively, fast-paced city of Osaka. On arrival you will be met by an English-speaking representative and transfer to your hotel. Please note: Early check in is not included. If your flight arrives in the morning and you wish to arrange this, please speak to your reservation’s consultant. You will be transferred by shared coach with other passengers who are not part of a Wendy Wu Tour. If you are on a shared bus transfer, you may have to walk for a few minutes to get to your hotel. Transfers will differ depending on group size. Destination Information Osaka – Osaka, formerly known as Naniwa, is Japan’s third largest city and remains the economic powerhouse of the Kansai Region. The city is famed for its delicious food and is often referred to as the culinary capital. The city also boasts vibrant colours that surround each street, rich history and culture.

Transfer by coach to Japan’s former imperial capital Nara, a journey of approximately 1 hour. Visit Todaiji Temple, the world’s largest wooden structure and home to Japan’s largest Buddha. Today, visit Isui-en Gardens, known for its natural ponds – sightseeing here will be about 3 hours on foot. Due to the congestion of Nara Park coach parking, you may need to walk from coach parking to Nara Park for 15 minutes on flat road. Continue to Osaka by coach, approximately an hour’s drive. On arrival, enjoy lunch in the vibrant Dotonbori District, a restaurant mecca, where you can sample delicious local delicacies. This afternoon, visit Osaka Castle. At Osaka castle park, you will reach to the castle for 15 minutes` walk from coach parking on flat road. Later, take a short cruise down the Yodogawa River.

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. You will be on your feet for 3-3.5 hours during the visit. 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.

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 and enjoy free time on Miyajima Island to explore the local streets or make the walk up to Daisho-in Temple. You will be on your feet for approximately 4-5 hours today. Later this afternoon, return by ferry and coach to your Hiroshima hotel for dinner.

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 to Ryoanji, the ‘temple of the peaceful dragon’ and the famous Kinkakuji, also known as the ‘Golden Pavilion’ due to its gold-like exterior. You will need to remove your shoes at both temples. Sightseeing on foot will be approximately 2-3 hours on foot today.

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. Due to the nature of the cultural experience, you will be required to remove your shoes before entering the venue. After lunch, visit the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine with its thousands of vermillion torii gates. You will walk up part of the mountain and the incline allows a steadypaced walk around 15 minutes with flat road and steps to reach the torii gates. Due to the limited space of Fushimi Inari Shrine coach parking, you may need to walk from coach parking for 15 minutes.

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.

Visit the Nomura Samurai House and garden before transferring around 1.5 hours to Gokayama. You will need to remove your shoes before entering. 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. You will need to remove your shoes before entering. Finally, drive around 1.5 hours to reach Takayama and check into your hotel with onsen facilities.

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.

This morning, depart Takayama and travel around 2.5 hours to Matsumoto to visit the formidable 16th Century Matsumoto Castle, also known as ‘Crow Castle’, due to its intense black exterior. 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. From the coach parking to castle, it is around 15 minutes walk on flat road. After lunch, stop at a Miso House to learn about the process of making this Japanese seasoning and try Miso soup. Later, 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 the onsen facilities.

This morning travel deeper into the Japanese Alps to Yudanaka in search for the snow monkeys (Japanese Macques) at Jigokudani Yaen-Koen Monkey Park. Please note, it 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 up-close, and they almost completely ignore their human guests.

In Nagano, stop to visit the 7th-century Zenkoji Temple, before continuing by road to Matsumoto.

Today, travel around 3.5 hours by road through the foothills of the iconic Mount Fuji to the mountain’s base. The region is spectacular with the calm waters of the five lakes, formed by past volcanic eruptions, reflecting Fuji’s picture-perfect cone. Head up Fuji’s 5th Station for spectacular mountain vistas, please note it is only possible to reach the 5th station if weather permits. If the 5th Station is closed, the Fuji San World Heritage Centre (formerly Fuji Visitor Centre) will be visited instead. 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.

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.

Tokyo is the ultimate metropolis, perfectly blending modern technology with beautifully serene backstreets and old temples. This morning, head to the Imperial Palace East Gardens, the Meiji Jingu Shrine, and walk the famous Shibuya Crossing. You will be on your feet for 4 hours today. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to spend how you wish.

Start your last full day in Tokyo with a stroll in the vibrant Asakusa district and soak up the ambiance of Senso-ji, which is arguably one of Tokyo’s most popular and photographed temples and remains the oldest Buddhist temple in the capital. Home to a five-storey pagoda and the iconic large red Kaminarimon Thunder Gate lantern, the Sensoji Temple is a must-see. Due to the limited coach parking, you may need to walk around 15 minutes on flat road. Continue to the 634-metre Skytree and ascend to the observation deck for magnificent views. You will be on your feet for 3-4 hours during your touring in Tokyo. The afternoon is free at leisure until the evening, when you will board a traditional yakata boat for a dinner cruise. You will need to get on and off your boat this evening without assistance.

This morning is free at leisure before transferring to the airport for your return flight home. Please note: Only breakfast is included today. Late checkout is not included in our Japan Uncovered tour. If you wish to book a late check-out for your final day in Tokyo, please contact our reservations department who can confirm the additional price and make this arrangement for you, subject to availability at the hotel.