Explore by Rail 2

1. Day
2. 1

Meals: N/A
Accommodation: Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa, Tokyo

Upon arrival at Narita/Haneda Airport, clear customs and immigration before boarding the airport limousine bus to your accommodation in Tokyo. Transfer services can be provided from either Narita or Haneda Airports. Additionally JTB can arrange early check in or prior accommodation and or any other arrangements before the tour begins.

1. Day
2. 2

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa, Tokyo

Your Japan journey begins with a full day sightseeing tour of Tokyo. Visit some of the major sights including the Tokyo Sky Tree with 360 panoramic views of the city, Tsukiji Outer Fish Markets, and Asakusa Kannon Temple, Tokyo’s most famous Buddhist Temples. You will get to drive by some famous shopping districts in Tokyo such as Ginza and Akihabara. Today’s tour will conclude early evening and tonight enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

1. Day
2. 3

Meals: Breakfast
Luggage: Tokyo to Nagasaki. Carry an overnight bag.
Accommodation: Granvia Osaka Hotel

After breakfast, depart for Osaka on a Japan Airlines domestic flight. After arrival at Itami Airport, visit one of Japan’s most famous castles, Osaka Castle. Then onto Osaka Sky Garden – an observation platform at Umeda Sky building providing a 360-degree view of the city. This is a very uniquely shaped building. Finally visit the Namba district of Osaka, known as the entertainment district, hosting many of the city’s most popular shopping arcades and department stores, restaurants and bars.

1. Day
2. 4

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: New Nagasaki Hotel or Nagasaki Onsen Yasuragi Ioujima Resort Hotel

After breakfast at your own leisure, transfer to Osaka Itami Airport by bus for a domestic flight to Nagasaki. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to downtown Nagasaki. Today you will go with your escort to the Japan Rail Nagasaki ticket office and validate your Japan Rail Pass for use. You will need to show your passport when you exchange your exchange order for your actual pass.

Note: 16 October 2016 Tour Departure:
Day 4: Arrive at Nagasaki Airport and transfered to town where you will have a couple of hours free time before boarding the bus to your accommodation. *Nagasaki Onsen Yasuragi Iojima Resort Hotel, including dinner. (Located approx 1 hour by bus from Nagasaki station).

1. Day
2. 5

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: New Nagasaki Hotel or Nagasaki Onsen Yasuragi Ioujima Resort Hotel

Optional Sightseeing: Visit some famous spots in Nagasaki including the Old Glover Garden, beautiful gardens surrounding nine western style homes built between 1868-1912 for western merchants living in Japan. Also visit Dejima, an artificial island that was built during the Edo period to accommodate Portuguese Christian missionaries.

Note: 16 October 2016 Tour Departure:
*Nagasaki Onsen Yasuragi Iojima Resort Hotel, including dinner. (Located approx 1 hour by bus from Nagasaki station).

1. Day
2. 6

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Granvia Hotel, New Hiroden or ANA Hotel Hiroshima
Luggage: Hiroshima to Kyoto. Carry an overnight bag for 2 nights.

Today depart Nagasaki and travel onto Hiroshima by Shinkansen bullet train.

Optional Sightseeing: Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Dome, well known for its destruction by the atomic bomb in 1945, now dubbed the ‘City of Peace’.

1. Day
2. 7

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Granvia Hotel, New Hiroden or ANA Hotel Hiroshima

Optional Sightseeing: Visit Miyajima Island and the World Heritage listed Itsukushima Shinto Shrine. This famous icon is known for its floating red torii gate in the water and reputed to be one of the most famous views in Japan.

1. Day
2. 8

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Kyoto Century (Grand Comfort) Hotel

Today board the Shinkansen bullet train for Himeji. Here visit Himeji Castle & Koko Garden. Himeji castle is both a national treasure and a world heritage site. Unlike many other castles, it was never destroyed by war, earthquake or fire and survives to this day as one of the country’s twelve original castles. Continue onto Kyoto by bullet train and tonight enjoy a special dinner at a local temple in Kyoto.

1. Day
2. 9

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Kyoto Century (Grand Comfort) Hotel

Today enjoy a full day sightseeing tour of Kyoto city visiting some of the most famous shrines and temples including the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji), Heian Shrine, Sanjusangendo and Yasaka Jingu Shrine, founded over 1350 years ago.

1. Day
2. 10

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Kyoto Century (Grand Comfort) Hotel

Optional Sightseeing: Indulge yourself in the rural atmosphere of Sagano-Arashiyama, only a short train ride from Kyoto station. With Mt. Arashiyama as the backdrop, take a walk through the Sagano Bamboo Grove, visiting Zen temples along the way. Marvel at Togetsu Bridge, Sagano-Arashiyama’s landmark, and visit the many shops and cafes. You will have the rest of the afternoon free.

1. Day
2. 11

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Nikko or ANA Crowne Plaza Kanazawa
Luggage: Kyoto to Takayama. Carry an overnight bag.

Today, depart for Kanazawa city by JR limited express train.

Optional Sightseeing: Visit some famous spots in Kanazawa including the Higashi Chaya District, Kenroku Garden and old Samurai House.

1. Day
2. 12

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hida Hotel Plaza, Takayama Green Hotel or Associa Hotel

Depart for Toyama and continue travelling to Takayama by JR limited express train.

Optional Sightseeing: Visit some famous areas of Takayama including, San-machi, a traditional Japanese village area and Takayama Jinya.

Your tour escort will suggest some great local restaurants for dinner. Try ‘Hida-gyu’ beef, which is known to be the finest quality of beef in Japan for its marble, luster, colour and texture.

1. Day
2. 13

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hida Hotel Plaza, Takayama Green Hotel or Associa Hotel

Optional Sightseeing: Visit the Hida Folk Village, an open air museum exhibiting over 30 traditional houses from the region, Matsuri-no-mori and San-machi, a traditional Japanese village area and Takayama Jinya. Explore this historic area of Takayama’s old town. A small 3 lane area is filled with old wooden buildings consisting of sake breweries, small boutiques and some larger merchant houses which are now museums.

1. Day
2. 14

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Yoshiike Ryokan, Hakone
Luggage: Takayama to Tokyo. Carry an overnight bag.

Depart for Nagoya by JR limited express and continue onto Hakone by Shinkansen. Dinner tonight is a Japanese meal at your Ryokan accommodation in Hakone.

1. Day
2. 15

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa or Grand Prince Le Daiba.

After breakfast, embark on a full day sightseeing tour of the Hakone and Lake Ashi region. Take a cruise on lake Ashi, then ropeway up Mt. Hakone stopping at Owakudani Valley for a spectacular panoramic view of Mt. Fuji and the surrounding area. In the afternoon travel to Tokyo by bullet train.

1. Day
2. 16

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Metropolitan Sendai Hotel
Luggage: Tokyo to Hakodate. Carry an overnight bag.

In the morning depart Tokyo and board a bullet train onto Sendai.

Optional sightseeing: In the afternoon take a Matsushima bay cruise and then visiting Zuiganji Temple.

1. Day
2. 17

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Loisir Hotel, Hakodate

In the afternoon depart for Hakodate by bullet train via the Seikan Tunnel crossing under the Tsugaru Strait.

Optional Sightseeing: In the evening visit Hakodate mountain. This mountain is renowned for it’s splendid night view of the city and surrounding bay. This spectacular view is a must see!

1. Day
2. 18

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Keio Plaza Hotel or Sapporo Grand Hotel
Luggage: Sapporo to Tokyo. Carry overnight bag.

Optional Sightseeing: Visit some famous places in Hakodate which include the Waterfront Warehouses, overlooking the Hakodate Port, Old Churches of Hakodate, and Daisanzaka Slope.

In the afternoon, board a limited express train to Sapporo city.

1. Day
2. 19

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Keio Plaza Hotel or Sapporo Grand Hotel

After breakfast enjoy the sights of Sapporo, visiting Lake Shikotsu, Shiroi Koibito Park and Okurayama viewing point. Hokkaido is the birth place of Japanese beer. On your tour, you will have the chance to visit the famous Sapporo Beer Museum. As your rail journey comes to an end, tonight enjoy a group farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

1. Day
2. 20

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa or Grand Prince Le Daiba.

You will have the morning free to explore more of Sapporo city or do some last minute shopping. In the afternoon transfer to Shin-Chitose Airport by local train for your domestic flight to Tokyo with Japan Airlines. This last evening of the tour is free in Tokyo.

1. Day
2. 21

Meals: Breakfast

Your rail journey concludes today after breakfast at your Tokyo hotel. Included in this tour is a transfer service back to Narita or Haneda Airport. JTB can also arrange late check out, post tour accommodation and or any other arrangements if you wish to extend your stay in Japan after the tour concludes.

1. Day
2. 1

Meals: N/A
Accommodation: Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa, Tokyo

Upon arrival at Narita/Haneda Airport, clear customs and immigration before boarding the airport limousine bus to your accommodation in Tokyo. Transfer services can be provided from either Narita or Haneda Airports. Additionally JTB can arrange early check in or prior accommodation and or any other arrangements before the tour begins.

1. Day
2. 2

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa, Tokyo

Your Japan journey begins with a full day sightseeing tour of Tokyo. Visit some of the major sights including the Tokyo Sky Tree with 360 panoramic views of the city, Tsukiji Outer Fish Markets, and Asakusa Kannon Temple, Tokyo’s most famous Buddhist Temples. You will get to drive by some famous shopping districts in Tokyo such as Ginza and Akihabara. Today’s tour will conclude early evening and tonight enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

1. Day
2. 3

Meals: Breakfast
Luggage: Tokyo to Nagasaki. Carry an overnight bag.
Accommodation: Granvia Osaka Hotel

After breakfast, depart for Osaka on a Japan Airlines domestic flight. After arrival at Itami Airport, visit one of Japan’s most famous castles, Osaka Castle. Then onto Osaka Sky Garden – an observation platform at Umeda Sky building providing a 360-degree view of the city. This is a very uniquely shaped building. Finally visit the Namba district of Osaka, known as the entertainment district, hosting many of the city’s most popular shopping arcades and department stores, restaurants and bars.

1. Day
2. 4

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: New Nagasaki Hotel or Nagasaki Onsen Yasuragi Ioujima Resort Hotel

After breakfast at your own leisure, transfer to Osaka Itami Airport by bus for a domestic flight to Nagasaki. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to downtown Nagasaki. Today you will go with your escort to the Japan Rail Nagasaki ticket office and validate your Japan Rail Pass for use. You will need to show your passport when you exchange your exchange order for your actual pass.

Note: 16 October 2016 Tour Departure:
Day 4: Arrive at Nagasaki Airport and transfered to town where you will have a couple of hours free time before boarding the bus to your accommodation. *Nagasaki Onsen Yasuragi Iojima Resort Hotel, including dinner. (Located approx 1 hour by bus from Nagasaki station).

1. Day
2. 5

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: New Nagasaki Hotel or Nagasaki Onsen Yasuragi Ioujima Resort Hotel

Optional Sightseeing: Visit some famous spots in Nagasaki including the Old Glover Garden, beautiful gardens surrounding nine western style homes built between 1868-1912 for western merchants living in Japan. Also visit Dejima, an artificial island that was built during the Edo period to accommodate Portuguese Christian missionaries.

Note: 16 October 2016 Tour Departure:
*Nagasaki Onsen Yasuragi Iojima Resort Hotel, including dinner. (Located approx 1 hour by bus from Nagasaki station).

1. Day
2. 6

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Granvia Hotel, New Hiroden or ANA Hotel Hiroshima
Luggage: Hiroshima to Kyoto. Carry an overnight bag for 2 nights.

Today depart Nagasaki and travel onto Hiroshima by Shinkansen bullet train.

Optional Sightseeing: Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Dome, well known for its destruction by the atomic bomb in 1945, now dubbed the ‘City of Peace’.

1. Day
2. 7

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Granvia Hotel, New Hiroden or ANA Hotel Hiroshima

Optional Sightseeing: Visit Miyajima Island and the World Heritage listed Itsukushima Shinto Shrine. This famous icon is known for its floating red torii gate in the water and reputed to be one of the most famous views in Japan.

1. Day
2. 8

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Kyoto Century (Grand Comfort) Hotel

Today board the Shinkansen bullet train for Himeji. Here visit Himeji Castle & Koko Garden. Himeji castle is both a national treasure and a world heritage site. Unlike many other castles, it was never destroyed by war, earthquake or fire and survives to this day as one of the country’s twelve original castles. Continue onto Kyoto by bullet train and tonight enjoy a special dinner at a local temple in Kyoto.

1. Day
2. 9

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Kyoto Century (Grand Comfort) Hotel

Today enjoy a full day sightseeing tour of Kyoto city visiting some of the most famous shrines and temples including the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji), Heian Shrine, Sanjusangendo and Yasaka Jingu Shrine, founded over 1350 years ago.

1. Day
2. 10

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Kyoto Century (Grand Comfort) Hotel

Optional Sightseeing: Indulge yourself in the rural atmosphere of Sagano-Arashiyama, only a short train ride from Kyoto station. With Mt. Arashiyama as the backdrop, take a walk through the Sagano Bamboo Grove, visiting Zen temples along the way. Marvel at Togetsu Bridge, Sagano-Arashiyama’s landmark, and visit the many shops and cafes. You will have the rest of the afternoon free.

1. Day
2. 11

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Nikko or ANA Crowne Plaza Kanazawa
Luggage: Kyoto to Takayama. Carry an overnight bag.

Today, depart for Kanazawa city by JR limited express train.

Optional Sightseeing: Visit some famous spots in Kanazawa including the Higashi Chaya District, Kenroku Garden and old Samurai House.

1. Day
2. 12

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hida Hotel Plaza, Takayama Green Hotel or Associa Hotel

Depart for Toyama and continue travelling to Takayama by JR limited express train.

Optional Sightseeing: Visit some famous areas of Takayama including, San-machi, a traditional Japanese village area and Takayama Jinya.

Your tour escort will suggest some great local restaurants for dinner. Try ‘Hida-gyu’ beef, which is known to be the finest quality of beef in Japan for its marble, luster, colour and texture.

1. Day
2. 13

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hida Hotel Plaza, Takayama Green Hotel or Associa Hotel

Optional Sightseeing: Visit the Hida Folk Village, an open air museum exhibiting over 30 traditional houses from the region, Matsuri-no-mori and San-machi, a traditional Japanese village area and Takayama Jinya. Explore this historic area of Takayama’s old town. A small 3 lane area is filled with old wooden buildings consisting of sake breweries, small boutiques and some larger merchant houses which are now museums.

1. Day
2. 14

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Yoshiike Ryokan, Hakone
Luggage: Takayama to Tokyo. Carry an overnight bag.

Depart for Nagoya by JR limited express and continue onto Hakone by Shinkansen. Dinner tonight is a Japanese meal at your Ryokan accommodation in Hakone.

1. Day
2. 15

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa or Grand Prince Le Daiba.

After breakfast, embark on a full day sightseeing tour of the Hakone and Lake Ashi region. Take a cruise on lake Ashi, then ropeway up Mt. Hakone stopping at Owakudani Valley for a spectacular panoramic view of Mt. Fuji and the surrounding area. In the afternoon travel to Tokyo by bullet train.

1. Day
2. 16

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Metropolitan Sendai Hotel
Luggage: Tokyo to Hakodate. Carry an overnight bag.

In the morning depart Tokyo and board a bullet train onto Sendai.

Optional sightseeing: In the afternoon take a Matsushima bay cruise and then visiting Zuiganji Temple.

1. Day
2. 17

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Loisir Hotel, Hakodate

In the afternoon depart for Hakodate by bullet train via the Seikan Tunnel crossing under the Tsugaru Strait.

Optional Sightseeing: In the evening visit Hakodate mountain. This mountain is renowned for it’s splendid night view of the city and surrounding bay. This spectacular view is a must see!

1. Day
2. 18

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Keio Plaza Hotel or Sapporo Grand Hotel
Luggage: Sapporo to Tokyo. Carry overnight bag.

Optional Sightseeing: Visit some famous places in Hakodate which include the Waterfront Warehouses, overlooking the Hakodate Port, Old Churches of Hakodate, and Daisanzaka Slope.

In the afternoon, board a limited express train to Sapporo city.

1. Day
2. 19

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Keio Plaza Hotel or Sapporo Grand Hotel

After breakfast enjoy the sights of Sapporo, visiting Lake Shikotsu, Shiroi Koibito Park and Okurayama viewing point. Hokkaido is the birth place of Japanese beer. On your tour, you will have the chance to visit the famous Sapporo Beer Museum. As your rail journey comes to an end, tonight enjoy a group farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

1. Day
2. 20

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa or Grand Prince Le Daiba.

You will have the morning free to explore more of Sapporo city or do some last minute shopping. In the afternoon transfer to Shin-Chitose Airport by local train for your domestic flight to Tokyo with Japan Airlines. This last evening of the tour is free in Tokyo.

1. Day
2. 21

Meals: Breakfast

Your rail journey concludes today after breakfast at your Tokyo hotel. Included in this tour is a transfer service back to Narita or Haneda Airport. JTB can also arrange late check out, post tour accommodation and or any other arrangements if you wish to extend your stay in Japan after the tour concludes.