Honshu highlights, Japan
See the sights of Japan’s main island
Take in the higlights of Honshu - Japan’s main island. Visit the immense and fascinating capital Tokyo; the stunning Hakone National Park, renowned for its hot-springs; and the cultural haven of charming Kyoto. Also take in the sights on quaint Miyajama Island, and understand the history of how the A-bomb affected the city of Hiroshima. Finish up in the bustling and vibrant city of Osaka.
Days 1-3: Tokyo
Depart from London and be met upon arrival at Tokyo Narita Airport. Take the Limousine Bus to Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, from where your hotel is a short walk. Tokyo can be crowded and confusing (buildings are numbered in the order they were constructed and streets have no names). However, it’s also one of the safest, friendliest and most hi-tech cities in the world. It has a very low crime rate, locals will go out of their way to help you and many public buildings have heated toilet seats! On your second day you will enjoy a full day private tour around Tokyo, with a local guide. Flexibility has been given as to what you see and do (entrance fees to attractions are not included).
Day 4: Day trip options
Choose to take another, more in-depth trip around Tokyo or take a day trip to one of the many places of interest nearby. You could choose to visit the ornate temples in Nikko or the sleepy coastal town of Kamakura, or you could hike around the sacred Mt Takao. There are also a few other different day trip options, such as the 120m-tall Buddha at Ushiku or Japan’s largest Chinatown at Yokohama.
Days 5-6: Hakone
Take the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Odawara Station, the gateway city for the Hakone National Park. Here you will be given a 3-day Hakone Free Pass, which entitles you to use six different forms of transport in the region, from mountain trains and buses, to cable cars and pirate ships. Use your freedom pass to take a bus further up into the mountains, to the Fujiya Hotel, where you will stay. Visit the small villages and hamlets within the park and take advantage of the area’s famous hot spring baths. There are also a number of good art museums, a sculpture park and a Picasso gallery to discover. From Hakone you have one of the best chances of getting a view of sacred Mt. Fuji.
Days 7-9: Kyoto-Nara
After your time in Hakone you will use your Hakone Free Pass to make the journey by bus down from the mountains to Odawara Station. Here you will be given a 7-day rail pass, which entitles you to travel on any trains, as well as the famous Shinkansen ’Bullet Trains’ (except for the Nozomi Shinkansen). Take the bullet train to Kyoto, Japan’s most culturally rich city. There is so much to discover here, with 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, 1,600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines. This ancient city encompasses the very soul of traditional Japan. Kyoto also boasts an array of beautiful gardens and hosts many spectacular festivals. Kyoto’s riches may not be evident at first, as you walk through this modern city, but scratch the surface and you will discover a city of treasure.
In the early evening head to Gion, Kyoto’s famous geisha district. Here you will see geisha scurrying down narrow alleyways, past bamboo houses and hidden shrines. Enjoy a full day tour of Kyoto with a private guide who will show where to find the ancient sights.
Take a day trip to Nara, set in the low lying mountains and renowned for the wealth of its Buddhist and Shinto heritage. Nara, being the end of the Silk Road, was the one of the first places to receive Buddhist teachings from China. See the immense daibutsu or big Buddha and the impressive wooden building it’s housed in; currently the largest in the world.
Day 10: Miyajama
From Kyoto you will use your Japan Rail Pass to head on down to Hiroshima, and from here, by ferry, onto Miyajima Island. Miyajima Island is one of Japan’s most loved places; it’s charming and quaint and is set in stunning landscapes. The island is renowned for its famous red Torii Gate, which appears to be floating in the sea. Stroll around the island’s many beautiful temples and along the bustling shopping street. You may also see some of the island’s native animals, including sacred deer and shy monkeys.
Day 11: Hiroshima
Take a day trip to explore nearby Hiroshima. Hiroshima is a city that needs little introduction, it was of course the site where the first atomic bomb was dropped on Japan at the end of the Second World War. Despite its catastrophic history, Hiroshima is now a busy and vibrant city well worth visiting. Important sites to see include The Peace Park and Museum, which remind visitors why the city is so famous and explain what happened in the aftermath of the bomb. After the intense and heart-wrenching experience of visiting the museum, go to the beautiful Shukkei-en Garden to reflect and relax. Over a drink in one of its many charming tea houses. Other attractions in the city include Hiroshima Castle and the baseball stadium.
Days 12-13: Okayama-Osaka
Take the bullet train to Okayama. The city is most famous for its stunning Koraku-en garden, filled with tea pavilions, lakes, bridges, cherry and maple trees. It’s one of Japan’s three most well-known gardens. Some of the best views of the garden can be had from the nearby Okayama Castle, a reconstruction of the original, that is still fascinating to see nonetheless.
Continue to Osaka, Japan’s second largest city and a very exciting and vibrant place. Sit back watch the Japanese go about their daily lives in this enthralling city. After dark is when Osaka really comes alive, walk through the bright lights of the Namba district and take in the atmosphere. The next day take the train to the airport for your onward/return flight.
The Honshu Highlights itinerary map
To book, call 0845 643 6561
To book this travel offer, call one of our tailor-made travel experts now, quoting reference WEX102305.
Back to the top
