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Meals American breakfast daily (B); 2 lunches (L); 4 dinners (D), including a Welcome Dinner in Tokyo and a Farewell Dinner in Kyoto Hotels Tokyo Hilton Tokyo (D), Takayama Hida Hotel Plaza (F), Kanazawa Hotel Nikko Kanazawa (F), Kyoto ANA Hotel Kyoto (F)
Day 1:
(Tue.) Board your transpacific flight. Day 2: Arrive in Tokyo, Japan. (Wed.) Welcome to Japan’s capital city. Hotel rooms are available for immediate check-in. Day 3: Tokyo. (Thu.) Meet your Tour Director and traveling companions prior to a morning sightseeing of Tokyo, home to more than eight million people. Your tour takes you to the MEIJI SHRINE, a magnificent 20thcentury Shinto monument set in a man-made forest, followed by a drive to see the Imperial Palace Plaza. Next, visit an ARTIST’S STUDIO and enjoy demonstrations by a master calligrapher before trying it yourself. You will also visit a KIMONO FACTORY where you can try on this traditional dress and have your picture taken. Last stop is the ASAKUSA KANNON TEMPLE with the NAKAMISE SHOPPING ARCADE. The balance of the day is at leisure. Perhaps stroll through the famous Ginza area. Tonight, join your traveling companions at a WELCOME DINNER hosted by your Tour Director. After dinner, join your Tour Director for a WALKING TOUR among the dazzling neon lights of Tokyo. (B,D) Day 4: Tokyo. (Fri.) A free day for independent activities. You may wish to join a full-day optional excursion to Kamakura, home of the 750-year-old Great Buddha, followed by a scenic drive to Hakone and cable car ride for panoramic views of Mount Fuji (weather permitting). Your optional tour concludes with a thrilling bullet train ride back to Tokyo. During your evening at leisure, you may want to experience a local Japanese restaurant. (B) Day 5: Tokyo–Matsumoto–Takayama. (Sat.) Journey to Matsumoto, gateway to the Japanese Alps. Visit famous MATSUMOTO CASTLE, dating back to 1593, and discover the history at the JAPAN FOLKLORE MUSEUM. After lunch, continue by motorcoach through the ruggedly beautiful Japanese Alps to the quiet, isolated town of Takayama, where old traditions are untouched by the passage of time. The balance of the day is at leisure, providing you time to explore the narrow streets where artisans sell traditional crafts. (B,L) Day 6: Takayama. (Sun.) Today begins with a visit to the morning market where farmers display locally grown fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Then on to the San-Machi Suji historic district, famous for sake distilleries and tiny lacquerware shops where merchants buy and sell as they have for 300 years. Visit the KUSAKABE HERITAGE HOUSE for a glimpse of traditional Japanese architecture of the late 19th century. In the afternoon, a short ride brings you to the HIDA MINZOKU-MURA FOLK VILLAGE, a collection of traditional buildings and farmhouses, as well as numerous artifacts relating to the life and work of the local villagers. Enjoy demonstrations of crafts such as lacquer work, silk dying, basket making, and wood carving. Tonight, enjoy a wonderful Japanese-style dinner. (B,D) Day 7: Takayama–Shirakawa–Kanazawa. (Mon.) This morning, enjoy a drive through the mountainous Shokawa Valley to Shirakawa. This remote region of Japan is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites due to the unique GASSHO-ZUKURI (joined hands)-style thatched houses that can be found only here. Continue to the scenic town of Kanazawa, situated between the mountains and the Sea of Japan and once the country’s richest region. The balance of the day is for independent exploration. Your included dinner tonight is at your choice of one of three restaurants within your hotel. (B,D) Day 8: Kanazawa–Kyoto. (Tue.) Today your Tour Director leads you on a tour of one of Japan’s greatest gardens, KENROKU-EN, the “Garden of Six Qualities,” dating from the 1670s. Adjacent to the garden is the ISHIKAWA PREFECTURE CRAFTS MUSEUM, displaying more than 30 traditional crafts, including the locally famous Kanazawa Haku gold leaf produced since 1593. This afternoon, travel along the Sea of Japan to Kyoto. Upon arrival, visit the FUSHIMI INARI SHRINE, renowned for the thousands of brightly colored Torii Gates. Here you will witness an exclusive performance of MIKO (Shinto girls) before continuing on to your hotel. (B) Day 9: Kyoto. (Wed.) This morning’s city tour features the extraordinary NIJO CASTLE, built in 1603 as the official residence of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. Next, visit Kinkakuji, the TEMPLE OF THE GOLD PAVILION, and the HEIAN SHRINE and GARDEN. Then, for lunch, participate in a special JAPANESE COOKING CLASS. Under the instruction of a local chef you will learn how to make a popular Japanese dish. Perhaps join the afternoon optional excursion to Nara, the oldest capital of Japan, where you will visit Todaiji Temple with Great Buddha; Kasuga Shrine, famous for stone and bronze lanterns; and Kofuji Temple with its 5-story pagoda. (B,L) Day 10: Kyoto. (Thu.) A full day at leisure for you to enjoy the many temples, shrines, palaces, and pagodas at your own pace. Tonight, your Tour Director hosts a FAREWELL DINNER to celebrate your discovery of Japan. (B,D) Day 11: Kyoto–Osaka. (Fri.) Transfer to Kansai Airport with a short orientation tour of Osaka. Your homebound flight leaves later this afternoon and arrives the same day. (B)
City Highlights TOKYO: City sightseeing; visit the Meiji Shrine, calligraphy demonstration, a Kimono factory, Asakusa Kannon Temple, and Nakamise Shopping Arcade; night walking tour MATSUMOTO: Visit Matsumoto Castle and the Japan Folklore Museum TAKAYAMA: City sightseeing; visit Kusakabe Heritage House and the Hida Minzoku-Mura Folk Village SHIRAKAWA: Visit Gassho- Zukuri houses KANAZAWA: City sightseeing; visit Kenroku-en Garden and Ishikawa Prefecture Crafts Museum KYOTO: Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, Nijo Castle, the Temple of the Gold Pavilion, and Heian Shrine and Garden; Miko performance; Japanese cooking class OSAKA: Orientation tour Price Details US Single Room Supplement: OJ $607. Triple Room reduction per person: OJ $121. Extra Nights per person in Tokyo: in single room $207; in twin room $130; in triple room $117. Extra Nights per person in Kyoto: in single room $182; in twin room $116; in triple room $103. Extra Nights per person in Osaka: in single room $233; in twin room $153; in triple room $139. Related Tours OJE| Discover Japan with Hiroshima Extension CURRENT SPECIALS: Standard Offers and Specials provided by Globus Share the pleasure of a Globus vacation with your children and grandchildren and take advantage of a 10-percent discount on the land-only price. For eligibility, children must be under 18 years of age on the departure date and must be accompanied by an adult. On escorted vacations we don’t accept children under eight years old because we have found that they are too young to enjoy these vacations.
Pay less for your second vacation We charge you vacation price for your first vacation in 2008, but for every additional Globus vacation you take in the same year, you pay US$35 under list. Our vacations are designed and scheduled so you can combine them almost any way you want. It’s fun to play the add-a-vacation game yourself or talk to your travel agent.
Triple room reduction On most Globus vacations you receive a reduction when three people travel together and share the same accommodations. Triple room reductions, when available, are listed on the itinerary pages. A word of caution: Triple rooms usually are no larger than twin rooms and the third bed, if there is one, is often a rollaway put in a twin-bedded room.
Avoid the single room supplement We do not take reservations on a “share” basis because we have found that strangers rarely enjoy sharing a room for the duration of their vacation. Avoid the single room supplement by traveling with a friend. It’s less expensive and much more fun!
Globus River Cruise Special Offers
And now, a Globus river cruise is an even better value. Book a 2009 European river cruise before February 28, 2009, and you will save $400 per stateroom on the air-inclusive price or save $200 per stateroom on the land/cruise price.*
*Book a 2009 Globus River Cruise Europe air-inclusive vacation to receive the $200 off per person offer. Cruise-only bookings are eligible for the $100 off per person offer. Booking must be made, under deposit, and discount applied between December 16, 2008 and February 28, 2009 for travel through December 31, 2009. Offers not valid with one-another or any other offer except Journeys Club and applies to new 2009 bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.
Book a group of 10 or more and one travels FREE! *Book a group of 10 or more members on any 2009 Globus, Cosmos, Monograms or Avalon group benefit eligible vacation to receive the one free (land only) offer. To qualify, group must be booked and under deposit between October 17 and February 28, 2009, for travel commencing by December 31, 2009. Applies to new 2009 bookings only. Offer excludes tour vacations with cruises of three or more nights. Not combinable with other group incentives. Additional restrictions may apply. |
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Note: All prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to availability. These pages are not endorsed or supported by the tour operator in any way. All information presented is based on promotional material provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. The prices on this website are not guaranteed. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in pricing. Please call us toll free at 1-800-942-3301 to confirm availability and pricing.
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