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Escorted Tours

Treasures of Japan


Route:
  • London
  • Tokyo
  • Takayama
  • Kyoto
  • Hiroshima
  • Osaka
  • London

11 DAYS from £3899pp

Tour Highlights
  • Embark on captivating city tours of Tokyo and Kyoto
  • Visit scenic Hakone, home to Mount Fuji
  • Discover Takayama's beautifully preserved buildings
  • Explore Hiroshima and delve into its infamous history
  • Marvel at Miyajima Island and its awe-inspiring Itsukushima Shrine
  • Visit the black and white Matsumoto Castle

or call us on 0330 818 8907

Treasures of Japan

The Land of the Rising Sun boasts one of the world's most enthralling and unique cultures and civilisations. Japan is a nation of samurai castles and Zen Buddhist temples on the one hand, and bullet trains racing through neon-tinted futuristic cityscapes on the other. This fully immersive tour offers a fantastic introduction to this fascinating country.

Tour Itinerary

1
UK to Tokyo

Depart London on your scheduled, overnight flight to Tokyo, via Hong Kong.

2
Tokyo

On arrival in Tokyo, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for the day at leisure.

3
Tokyo

A full day of sightseeing will allow you to visit Sensoji, Tokyo's oldest temple. Enjoy a special sushi making experience, wander through the popular area of Ginza and see the iconic Akihabara Electric Town.

  • Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
4
Tokyo & Hakone

Today, visit Hakone National Park, home to one of Japan's most instantly recognisable sights - the iconic Mount Fuji, fringed by thick forests and a crescent-shaped ring of shimmering lakes. Discover volcanic activity along the Hakone Ropeway before visiting the Owakudani Valley.

  • Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
5
Tokyo to Takayama

After breakfast, travel to Matsumoto, a small city flanked by the great peaks of the Japanese Alps and home to the exquisite Matsumoto Castle, known locally as 'Crow Castle' due to its striking black and white design. Continue your journey to the mountain town of Takayama.

  • Breakfast & Dinner
6
Takayama

Established as a merchant town, the remote mountain village of Takayama offers a truly unique insight into a bygone Japan. Your fascinating guided tour takes you past canals flowing under the eaves of sake brewing houses which display bundles of cedar leaves, indicating the new season's rice wine is available.

  • Breakfast
7
Takayama to Kyoto

Departing Takayama, journey into the ancient capital of Kyoto and experience an age-old tradition with an evening of geisha performances and dinner.

  • Breakfast
8
Kyoto

Once the imperial capital of Japan, the ancient city of Kyoto now boasts 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. On this full-day tour, explore the Zen Buddhist temple of Kinkakuji, the brightly coloured gates of Fushimi Inari shrine and the maze of food stalls in 400-year old Nishiki Market. Enjoy a stroll around the Gion area, a geisha district lined with charming wooden buildings, teahouses and restaurants.

  • Breakfast & Dinner
9
Kyoto to Hiroshima

This morning travel to Hiroshima where you will take a boat ride to Miyajima Island, known as the 'Island of the Gods' and visit the awe-inspiring Itsukushima Shrine with its towering, free-standing wooden gate which stands in the middle of the sea. Later, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

  • Breakfast & Dinner
10
Hiroshima to Osaka

Start your day with a visit to Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park & Museum where photos and belonging of victims of the Hiroshima bombing are on display, serving as a reminder of the horror of the devastating event. Later, a train carries you to Osaka, arriving in time for tonight's entertaining farewell meal - a walking dinner that samples Osaka's best culinary delights.

  • Breakfast & Dinner
11
Osaka to UK

This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK, via Hong Kong, or continue on to your chosen extension.

Important Information

Visas

UK passports holders will be granted a tourist visa on arrival into Japan free of charge for stays of up to 30 days. Visa, arrival and departure requirements are subject to change and obtaining a visa is the responsibility of the traveller and not Mercury Holidays. We recommend you check with your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy prior to departure for the most up to date guidelines regarding these.

Insurance

We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras. To arrange your travel insurance with Holiday Extras, please call 0800 781 4237 and quote 'WK830' for preferential rates. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24-hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.

Payment

If booking more than 10 weeks before departure a deposit of £250pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 10 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 10 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.

Flight Information

Your flight is to Narita International Airport, via Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific departing from London Heathrow. Each passenger is entitled to a case of hold luggage. There is also an allowance of one cabin bag and one personal bag that you can take on the aircraft as hand luggage. Weight restrictions will be finalized on the final documents. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay an additional fee for this at check-in. Heathrow Airport advises that you should arrive at the airport at least three hours prior to your flight time for international departures.
IMPORTANT: Please note that final flight details will be confirmed on your final documentation which will be sent to you approximately 10 days before departure. A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you.

Health and Vaccinations

It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.

Physical Accessibility

This tour is accessible to most people with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves full days of sightseeing, often on foot and includes some hiking, trekking, climbing stairs and getting on and off coaches. Please note that this tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.

Group Size

The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 16, and the maximum will be 40. If in the unlikely event there are less than 16 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.

Tour Guide

We would like to inform you that local guides will not be used during your tour. This is a fully escorted tour, meaning that you will be met on arrival by your Tour Guide who will remain with you for the duration of your trip. Your guide will be on hand for the duration of your tour and will be able to provide you with some general information on each of the destinations/ attractions that you visit

Currency Information

The currency in Japan is the Japanese Yen (JPY). You can purchase the currency before you travel but you will probably get a better exchange rate if money is exchanged when in Japan. You can buy Yen at foreign exchange banks and at the airport. Credit, debit and prepaid cards from international brands are accepted at a wide variety of places in the major cities within Japan. Outside of these, cards may not be widely accepted, although you will be able to withdraw cash in the local currency across the country at ATMs.

Personal Expenses

You will need to take money with you to cover any personal purchases such as souvenirs, laundry, any meals not included in the itinerary as well as drinks and any additional snacks. We recommend you bring along a minimum of GBP £500 per person to change into local currency. It is a good idea to try and maintain a supply of small notes and change in the local currency for tipping or small purchases.

Tour Dates & Prices

Depart UKArrive UKPrice
2024 Dates
15 Apr 202425 Apr 2024SOLD OUT
22 Apr 202402 May 2024£4399.00
29 Apr 202409 May 2024£3999.00
17 Jun 202427 Jun 2024£4379.00
16 Sep 202426 Sep 2024£4199.00
14 Oct 202424 Oct 2024£3999.00
04 Nov 202414 Nov 2024£3899.00

Included in the Price

  • Local English-speaking Guides
  • Scheduled Flights from the UK.
  • All internal travel including air-conditioned/heated transportation.
  • Accommodation, meals as specified and entry fees to all sights.
  • All airport taxes and security charges.

Additional Expenses

  • Visas
  • Insurance
  • Tips
  • Any meals not specified in your itinerary

What to expect

Fact File
Currency

Yen

Average Flying time

13 Hours

Min/Max temperature

5 °C / 8 °C

Spoken languages

Japanese, English

When to go

Weather can vary quite considerably throughout the year, so please familiarise yourself with the climate charts below.

Tokyo

Takayama

Kyoto

What to pack
  • An overnight daypack/ bag is required for your train journey on Day 10 from Hiroshima to Osaka
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellent
  • Wide-brimmed hat
  • Waterproof, lightweight jacket
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Lightweight clothing
  • Sweater/warm clothing
  • Camera and charger
  • Small day pack
  • Swimwear
  • A plug adaptor
Customer Rating:
10/10
D Jones
17th Sep 2019

No comments

  • Overall Satisfaction
  • Value for money
Customer Rating:
8.8/10
Julie Brooks
28th May 2019

Satisfactory tourist grade hotels on the whole. Bit of a pain not having coffee making facilities in the room only green tea! All very clean. Enjoyed traditional hotel in Takayama. Hotel in Osaka much better than the rest.
All hotels were very well located. Breakfasts were good.

  • Overall Satisfaction
  • Value for money
Customer Rating:
/10
Kathryn Shaw
13th May 2019

The hotels were generally good. They were clean and service was good. Our room in the first one was rather small made worse by the fact that there was nowhere to put anything so we had to leave everything in the suitcase.

Tour Map
Treasures of Japan Route Map
Tour Dossiers
Extensions
  • Japan
    Tokyo City Stay

    3 nights from £719pp

    View
  • Japan
    Kyoto

    3 nights from £769pp

    View
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Hotels & Accommodation

Extensions

Tokyo City Stay
Tour Route
  • London
  • Tokyo
  • Takayama
  • Kyoto
  • Hiroshima
  • Osaka
  • Tokyo
  • London

Originally a small fishing village, Tokyo is now the world's largest metropolitan area and home to some 35 million people. The capital city is synonymous with Japan and perfectly demonstrates the country's juxtaposition of ancient traditions and Zen calm with the hectic madness and love of new technology. Extend your stay in Japan to explore this electric city and experience the passion of Tokyo.

3 nights
from £719pp
View Tour + Extension
View Tour + Extension
Kyoto
Tour Route
  • London
  • Tokyo
  • Takayama
  • Kyoto
  • Hiroshima
  • Osaka
  • Kyoto
  • London

Extend your stay to further explore this ancient capital or venture to the neighbouring city of Nara with its park home to free roaming deer. Alternatively choose an Excursion to Hiroshima to witness the famous history from World War II.

3 nights
from £769pp
View Tour + Extension
View Tour + Extension