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Dates and prices are subject to change. For booking, availability, and detailed itineraries, consult your travel agent or check online. Backroads of Japan CLASSIC Highlights › › Experience the bustle of modern Tokyo › › Visit the Zenkoji temple in the Japanese Alps › › Discover the snow monkeys bathing in the hot springs › › Cycle the Kibi Plains › › Explore Kyoto's temples What's Included Modern Tokyo walking tour. Zenkoji Temple visit (Nagano). Jigokudani Monkey Park visit (Matsumoto). Matsumoto Castle visit. Hida No Sato folk village visit. Kibi Plains bike ride (outside Kurashiki). Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine visit. Japan Rail (JR) pass (7-day). All transport between destinations and to/from included activities. ACCOMMODATIONS Hotels and traditional guesthouses/onsens (11 nts) TRANSPORT Bus, bullet train, local train, bicycle GROUP LEADER CEO throughout MEALS 1 breakfast, 1 dinner. Allow USD590-770 for meals not included. ITINERARY Tokyo and Kyoto—the modern and imperial capitals of Japan, respectively—represent the perfect merger of the ancient and the contemporary. On this trip, you'll thoroughly explore both and everything in between, from traditional villages and miles of rice fields to ancient temples and the stunning vistas of the Japanese Alps. Snow monkeys, geishas, the teeming pedestrian scrambles of Tokyo's Shibuya district, and the impossibly friendly staff of your traditional ryokan are just a few of the locals you'll meet and never forget. DAY 1 TOKYO Arrive at any time. DAYS 2-3 TOKYO Take a CEO-led walking tour of eclectic modern Tokyo from the hub of Shinjuku to Shibuya through Yoyogi Park and Harajuku. Enjoy a free day to experience Tokyo or venture out to Mt Fuji. DAY 4 NAGANO Journey to the Japanese Alps and Nagano, host city of the 1998 Winter Olympics. Visit the historic Zenkoji Temple. DAY 5 MATSUMOTO Discover the world-famous Jigokudani Monkey Park and watch Japanese snow monkeys bathing in the natural hot springs. Continue to Matsumoto. DAYS 6-7 TAKAYAMA Explore Matsumoto's breathtaking Black Crow Castle and continue to the traditional alpine market town of Takayama, known as "Little Kyoto," to experience sites such as the Hida No Sato traditional folk village, sake breweries, and craft shops. ( 1B, 1D ) DAYS 8-9 KURASHIKI Get a real glimpse of old Japan in Kurashiki, a picturesque town which has retained much of its old world charm with beautifully preserved black and white merchants' homes and storehouses. Take a bike ride through the Kibi Plains, surrounded by rice fields and ancient burial grounds. DAYS 10-11 KYOTO Spend two nights in the traditional heart of Japan with plenty of time to experience some of the many temples, teahouses, shrines, and shops – and maybe even spot a real-life geisha. Visit the impressive Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu, and Chion-in temples. DAY 12 KYOTO Depart at any time. Guaranteed Departures Number of IF YOU'RE BOOKED, YOU'RE GOING | departures / month. 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ■›■›■›■›■›■›■›■›■›■›■›■ J F M A M J J A S O N D 12 DAYS—TOKYO TO KYOTO FROM $ 3699 TOUR CODE: AJMS IS THIS TOUR FOR ME? See back foldout. TYPE: SMALL GROUP – MAX 15, AVG 12 SERVICE LEVEL: STANDARD PHYSICAL DEMAND: AVERAGE Tokyo Takayama Matsumoto Nagano Kyoto Kurashiki J A P A N Japan Hike, Bike & Kayak ACTIVE Highlights › › Hike along the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route › › Cycle between islands in rural Japan › › Walk along the Philosopher's Walk in Kyoto › › Explore Wakayama castle › › Kayak to the famous floating torii gate at Miyajima What's Included All hiking routes along the Kumano Kodo Trail. Wakayama Castle visit. Kyoto sightseeing and walking. Cycling along Shimanami Kaido. Miyajima visit and sea kayaking. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities. ACCOMMODATIONS Hotel (8 nts), Guesthouse (3 nts) TRANSPORT Local train, local bus, bike, on foot, kayak GROUP LEADER CEO throughout, local guides MEALS 12 breakfasts, 4 lunches. Allow USD495-645 for meals not included. ITINERARY Get off the beaten track in Japan and experience parts of the country other big-city tours tend to skip. This tour of the Land of the Rising Sun includes something for every active passenger. Take in major cultural touchstones like Osaka and Hiroshima, along with lesser known areas. Hike along the ancient Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route to visit spectacular temples, cycle across islands as you follow the Shimanami Kaido, and kayak around the famed floating torii gate in the Bay of Miyajima. Every view is that much sweeter when you've worked for it. DAY 1 OSAKA Arrive at any time. DAY 2 OSAKA/CHIKATSUYU Take the train from Osaka to Wakayama, before heading to Chikatsuyu to begin the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage hike. ( 1B, 1L ) DAY 3 CHIKATSUYU Enjoy a day hike along the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route. Reach the Hongu Taisha Shrine with the largest torii gate in Japan. ( 1B ) DAY 4 CHIKATSUYU/TANABE Hike to Japan's largest waterfall and the Nachi Taisha Shrine, an ancient site along this pilgrimage trail. ( 1B, 1L ) DAY 5 TANABE/KYOTO Visit the impressive site of Wakayama Castle before transferring by train to Kyoto. ( 1B ) DAY 6 KYOTO Stroll along the Philosopher's Walk and explore the historic side of Kyoto , visiting the famous sites of the Golden and Silver pavillions. ( 1B ) DAY 7 KYOTO/ ONOMICHI Explore more of Kyoto in the morning, before taking the train to Onomichi. ( 1B ) DAY 8 ONOMICHI/IKUCHI JIMA Enjoy a day of cycling across bridges and between islands to the south of Honshu. Explore small villages and spend the night on Ikuchijima. ( 1B, 1L ) DAY 9 IKUCHI JIMA/MATSUYAMA Cycle along the Shimanami Kaido towards Imabari City. Continue on to Matsuyama to rest for the night. ( 1B, 1L ) DAY 10 MATSUYAMA/HIROSHIMA-SHI Enjoy a free morning in Matsuyama,, home to the oldest hot springs in Japan. In the afternoon, transfer by ferry to the famous city of Hiroshima. ( 1B ) DAY 11 HIROSHIMA-SHI Head out from Hiroshima to visit the island of Miyajima. Explore the temples and kayak out to the torii gate which floats in the bay. ( 1B ) DAY 12 HIROSHIMA-SHI Visit the Peace Park and Museum and learn more about the tragic history of this city. Transfer by train to Tokyo. ( 1B ) DAY 13 TOKYO Depart at any time. We highly recommend booking post-accommodation to fully experience this vibrant city. ( 1B ) Guaranteed Departures This tour has four IF YOU'RE BOOKED, YOU'RE GOING | special departures. June 25 - July 07, Aug 27 - Sept 08, Sept 24 - Oct 06, Oct 22 - Nov 03 NEW TOUR 13 DAYS—OSAKA TO TOKYO FROM $ 4499 TOUR CODE: AJHB IS THIS TOUR FOR ME? See back foldout. TYPE: SMALL GROUP SERVICE LEVEL: STANDARD PHYSICAL DEMAND: AVERAGE J A P A N Tokyo Hiroshima Matsuyama Onomichi Osaka Kyoto Tanabe Kii Katsuura ASIA›› JAPAN 59