Self Guided Tours
OSAKA (2) - FUKUOKA (1) - NAGASAKI (2) - UNZEN ONSEN (1) - KUMAMOTO (1) - BEPPU (2) - HIROSHIMA (2) - KYOTO (3) - TOKYO (3)
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Description
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Begin your adventure in Osaka, Japans second largest city, famous for its quirky personalities and delicious cuisine. Ideally its best to fly into Kansai International Airport however, if your flight lands in Tokyo, you can hop on the bullet train (using your JR Pass), travel for 3 hours from Narita Airport and check into your city centre hotel. Spend 2 nights here recovering from your flight and getting accustomed to the new time difference before starting the Kyushu experience, undoubtedly this tours main highlight. Located far southwest of Tokyo, Kyushu is an island almost forgotten by the rest of Japan, yet historically a symbollic region. Being the most westerly island, its close proximity to mainland China and the rest of the world, made access to ports easier than the larger Honshu. From the cosmopolitan city of Fukuoka, to the miles of open paddy fields and clear coastlines, Kyushu is a breath of fresh air that deserves to be discovered and explored. The Kyushu Experience begins in Fukuoka, Kyushus largest city. Enjoy one night tasting local cuisine at the busy riverside yatai (food stalls) or sampling a night out in the Tenjin district before making your way across to Nagasaki, Japans first gateway to the West, the next day. Sadly, Nagasaki is associated with the atomic bomb that brought World War II to an horrific end. It is ironic that although it was the victim of tragedy caused by Western technology, Nagasaki was one of the first regions in Japan to open up to the outside world. It started with the Christian CenturyE(1549-1650), and the arrival of a Chinese ship in 1543 with it on board a group of Portuguese adventurers, weapons and guns. The first visitors soon followed by the missionary St Francis Xavier in 1560. From this time onwards, Japans interest in the outside world grew stronger and stronger. Today Nagasaki is a vibrant city home to over half a million people, steep hills and deep waterways that run throughout the city, similar to that of San Francisco. Two nights are recommended here to explore the many interesting sights, including the Atomic Bomb Peace Park & Museum, Oura Tenshudo, a Catholic Church dedicated to the 26 Christians crucified in 1597, Chinatown, and the Dutch Slopes in the Glover Garden area. On Day 6 you will start making your way to Kumamoto by local bus, stopping in Unzen, on the Shimabara Peninsula, for one night. Unzen is famous for its volcanic activity, bubbling jigoku (boiling mineral hot springs) and is home to Japans first National Park (1934). Enjoy forest walks, a visit to the jigoku, and an overnight stay at an onsen (hot spring) hotel. Dinner and onsen at your hotel. The next day catch a ferry to Kumamoto, a city famous for its castle and garden. Spend one night here before taking your adventure one step higher, to the gigantic volcano caldera at Mt. Aso. Mt Aso remains the largest active caldera in the world. The last major blast was in 1993 but the summit is frequently declared off limits due to toxic gas emmissions, particularly on windy days. In this case you can visit the state of the art museum which displays real time footage of inside the active crater wall. Following your volcano experience, you will head to Beppu, well known for its abundance of hot spring baths, sand baths, and 8 jigoku. Recommended only to see one or two of these you can relax and enjoy the beautiful views from your seafront hotel, or soak in the hot springs or sand baths nearby, before finishing the Kyushu Experience on Day 10. The final leg of your journey will be one of urban madness in Tokyo, traditional temples and quaint streets in Kyoto, and a pleasant day trip out to the World Heritage Miyajima island during your two nights stay in the lively Hiroshima City. For more reading on this part of your trip, see The Golden Route on pages 9 & 10. Wonders of the West, is without a doubt, one of our most adventurous independent tours. We highly recommend it and hope your experience here will be an unforgettable one. |
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Tour Prices
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Standard Twin from 2,495
Standard Single from 3,001 ____________________________ Superior Twin from 3,369 Superior Single from 4,048 |
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Standard Hotels |
OSAKA (2) : New Hankyu Hotel (Western Style)
FUKUOKA (1) : Sunroute Hotel Hakata (Western Style) NAGASAKI (2) : Holiday Inn (Western Style) UNZEN (1) : Unzen Fukiya Onsen (Japanese / Hot Spring Hotel) KUMAMOTO (1) : Hotel New Otani (Western Style) BEPPU (2) : Hotel Seifu (Standard Room at Japanese Style) HIROSHIMA (2) : JAL City Hotel (Western Style)
KYOTO (3) : Sunroute Hotel (Western Style)
TOKYO (3) : Shinagawa Prince Hotel (Western Style)
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| Superior Hotels (4*) |
OSAKA (2) : Righa Royal Hotel (Western Style)
FUKUOKA (1) : Hyatt Regency (Western Style) NAGASAKI (2) : ANA Nagasaki (Western Style) UNZEN (1) : Kyushu Hotel & Hot Springs (Japanese / Hot Spring Hotel) KUMAMOTO (1) : Hotel New Otani (Western Style) BEPPU (2) : Hotel Seifu (Superior Room at Japanese Style) HIROSHIMA (2) : Righa Royal Hotel (Western Style)
KYOTO (3) : Hotel Granvia Hotel (Western Style)
TOKYO (3) : Keio Plaza Hotel Superior Room (Western Style)
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| Sightseeing Highlights |
The Kyushu Experience: Fukuoka: Dazaifu Tenmangu; Nagasaki: Atomic Bomb Museum, Oura Tenshudo (Cathlic Church), and Glover House; Unzen Onsen EHot Springs Jigoku and overnight at traditional hot spring ryokans; Kumamoto ECastle & Park; Beppu EMt Aso Volcano, Mud/Hell Baths, Sand Baths & Onsen (Hot Spring Baths)
Osaka - Castle & Umeda Sky Building; Hiroshima EA-Bomb Dome, Museum & Park, day trip to Miyajima Island / World Heritage Itsukushima Shrine; Kyoto Ehundreds of temples & gardens to choose from, day trip to Nara or Mt Koya; Tokyo EAkihabara Electric City, Odaiba, Omotesando, Roppongi Hills etc.. |
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| What's Included |
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| Transport |
Bullet Train, Local Train, Cable Car, Boat, On Foot | |||||||||||||||||
| Comments |
Available all year round. Prices may vary depending on season. Hotels are subject to availability at time of booking. |
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