Teachers' Travel        HF Holidays
Guided Walking and Sightseeing
Worldwide Holidays

 IMPERIAL JAPAN 

Our journey takes us from Tokyo along the historic Nakasendo path to the historic capital of Kyoto. With  a stay in the Hakone National Park for views of Mount Fuki, we see ancient traditions and the ultramodern combined in this fascinating country.  

Dates:  Apr 05 -18  (12 nights)    Aug 30 - 12 Sep  (12 nights)  Oct 11 - 24  (12 nights) 

2009 Prices:      2380.00 GBP    (High Season)  See brochure for all prices.                      Prices are per person for 12 nights based on double occupancy without airfare.                Single room supplement  350.00   

Guided Walks: Walking over easy to moderate terrain, ranging from level countryside paths to trails of up to 10 miles and 2,000 ft of ascent.  Days on the path are unhurried with plenty of time to enjoy the scenery.

Hotels:  In Tokyo and Kyoto modern western-style hotels are used.  In rural areas we stay in ryokan, traditional Japanese style inns.  Rooms are always traditional with tatami (straw) matting and futons laid out in the evening.  Evening meals are exquisitely prepared multi-course meals.  They are unusual to westerners but are a unique and classic Japanese experience. Included: 12 nights accommodation in  twin-bedded en-suite rooms. All meals except one lunch.  Services of a local tour conductor and HF Holidays walking guide.  Walks, sightseeing, entrance fees and travel by minibus or coach.
Itinerary:
 
Day 1: Depart UK.

Days 2 - 3: Tokyo - 2 nights
Arrival in Tokyo ( 2 nights) where we take a walk through the ancient and modern of the city, including the grand Meiji Shrine and the dazzling Ginza district.

Day 4:
Travel into the remote Kiso Valley to the Nakasendo Path, the "road through the central mountains" which linked ancient Tokyo to Kyoto in  feudal times.  Over the next three days we walk from village to village staying in ryokans while our luggage is taken by road. Today we walk to the old post town of Narai.

Day 5: 
Walk from Narai to Yabuhara through beautiful mountain scenery past shrines and ancient road markers with a chance to bathe in a hot spring in a cypress wood at the end of the day's walk.

Day 6:
Walk from Nagaiso to Magome, visiting the well-preserved post town of Tsumago for a real flavour of old Japan, and walking over the Magome Pass.

Days 7 - 9 :  Kyoto  ( 3 nights )

Take the train to Kyoto (3 nights), Japan's ancient capital with its palaces, intricate shrines and beautiful gardens.  We take walks around Kyoto visiting the Silver Pavillion and gardens the geisha district and a walk next to cherry trees on the Philospher's Path and enjoy some free time. 

Days 10 - 11: Hakone ( 2 nights)
Travel on the famous bullet train to Hakone (2 nights).  Here we enjoy lakeside and mountain walks, with cable cars taking us to the Owakudani geothermal fields and vies of the iconic Mount Fuji.

Day 12:   Tokyo ( 2 nights)
Morning walk on the shores of Lake Kawaguchi-ko at the foot of Mount Fuji.  In the afternoon we return to Tokyo ( 2 nights).

Day 13:
Day at leisure for shopping and to explore Tokyo, with an evening farewell dinner.

Day 14:
Transfer to the airport for our return flight to the UK.  

 
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