Japan Complete, 28 days

Japan Complete, day by day

Day 1 Departure Amsterdam

Day 2 Arrival Fukuoka
Fukuoka is a friendly and chilled-out town, a great place to start your journey through Japan. You can stroll through the nice shopping malls or walk along the river, lined with food stalls, bars and restaurants. 

Day 3 Fukuoka – Nagasaki
A 2 hour train journey brings you to the port town of Nagasaki. Don’t miss a visit to the Atomic Bomb Museum. Japan is the only country in the world that has been attacked by nuclear weapons. Clover Park is like an open air museum with several old 19th century English mansions and gardens, e.g., the house of Madam Butterfly.

Day 4 Nagasaki
Via Dutch Slope you can walk into Nagasaki’s Chinatown. A visit to the Siebold Memorial Museum or Ten Bosch House, which is not open to the public in the Netherlands, is definitely worth wile.

Day 5 Nagasaki – Kumamoto
Today you have a renral car at your disposal, a convenient way to travel to Mount Aso. Along the way, you can stop at Unzen volcano. Then, continue to Shimabara from where you take the ferry to Kumamoto. Kumamoto has a nice castle, built in 1607, and the famous Suizenji Gardens.

Day 6 Kumamoto – Mount Aso
Mount Aso’s caldera, also called Aso-san, is the world’s largest caldera (18 by 24 km). The whole area is rugged and barren and resembles a lunar landscape. The crater contains an active volcano which continuously emits smoke and has occasional eruptions. The smell of sulphur is overpowering.

Day 7 Mount Aso
A rental car is the most convenient way to explore the charming green villages in the vicinity of Mount Aso. The peaks of the still quite active Nakadake and Kusasenri volcanoes, can be seen.

Day 8 Mount Aso – Beppu
Beppu is one of the most touristic place on Kyushu Island. The town is famous for its hot springs (onsen). The city is blessed by as many as eight different springs, surrounded by beautiful landscape garden, called the “hells” of Beppu. They are for viewing rather than bathing and presented to visitors in a rather touristy fashion; you can even boil an egg in the “hells”. You can take a public bath or a bath at the onsen of your ryokan.The many hot springs in the region area are rich in different minerals, which make for onsen of many colours and qualities.

Day 9 Beppu – Kobe
Free day in Beppu before boarding the boat that takes you to Kobe. The boat departs at 19.30pm and arrives at 7.55am in Kobe. 

Day 10 Kobe
A walk through “Kobe’s old settlement” is definitely worth while. It gives insight into the lifestyle of Western merchants in the 19th century. A visit to Chinatown is always fun and for food lovers, Kobe even has a cafe with Belgian beer, where you can order a famous Kobe beef steak. Kobe farmers are giving their cows beer to drink and even throw in the occasional massage.

Day 11 Kobe – Kyoto
The train journey from Kobe to Kyoto takes 45 minutes. The ancient capital of Kyoto offers something for all tastes.The Nijo castle, the Kinkakuji or Golden Pavilion temple and the peaceful rock gardens at the Ryoanji Zen temple (peaceful dragon). A walk around in the Gion-district at night is a top priority. In this enchanting neighbourhood you have a good chance to stumble upon the famous geisha scurrying to secret liaisons.

Day 12 Kyoto – Nara – Kyoto
Nara is an easy day trip from Kyoto. Nara was the former capital of Japan and has many temples listed as Unesco world heritage. The Todaji temple is the largest wooden structure in the world and houses a 15 meter high bronze Buddha statue. The Kasuga temple is definitely worth a visit too.

Day 13 Kyoto
Don’t miss the Heian Temple. This vermilion gated Shinto temple is very popular with newly weds on the wedding day. The Sanjusangendo temple is an impressive temple complex, built in 1164. The temple also contains one thousand life-size statues of the Thousand Armed Kannon, the goddess of mercy. It is surrounded by a beautiful park, perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city.

Day 14 Kyoto – Kanazawa
After check-in to your hotel, you can visit the Kenrokuen gardens, considered to be one of the most beautiful landscaped gardens in Japan. The name Kenrokuen literally means “Garden of the Six Sublimities”, referring to spaciousness, seclusion, artificiality, antiquity, abundant water and broad views, which according to Chinese landscape theory are the six essential attributes that make up a perfect garden.The Nomura house is an old restored samurai residence and is now open to the public.

Day 15 Kanazawa – Wajima
The southeast area of Kanazawa faces the mountains and the northwest faces the Sea of Japan. Self-drive is the best way to explore the surroundings and then drive direction Wajima on Noto Peninsula. The city is centered on a protected harbour on the Sea of Japan coast and is most famous for its morning market and lacquerware.The local lacquerware is distinguished for its durability, which is achieved from many stages of coating, sometimes up to 17 layers. You can spend the night at a local fisherman’s house (shared bathroom and toilet). Dinner is included in your stay. 

Day 16 Wajima – Kanazawa
Wajima is famous for the morning market and the Sojiji Soin temple. Then, drive back to Kanazawa. Nearby, there is an 8 kilometer stretch of sandy beach where you can drive a car. The Higashi Pleasure district is the perfect place to enjoy a nice dinner.

Day 17 Kanazawa – Shirakawago
Travel by local bus to Shirakawago, where you can visit the traditional “Ghasso–zukuri” houses, recognised for their slanted, thatched gable roofs. They were built with three or four stories to be large enough to house extended families on the first floor, sometimes up to 20 or 30 members, and allow silkworm farming in the rest of the house. You spend the night at a minshuku, (again without private bathroom and toilet). Dinner is included.

Day 18 Shirakawago – Takayama
Take the bus to Takayama, an old town where it seems time stands still. The Sannomachi Street survives in a particularly pretty state with many old homes, shops, coffee houses and sake breweries, some of which have been in business for centuries. Pay a visit to the Kusakabe Heritage House, one of Takayama’s oldest merchant homes open to the public.

Day 19 Takayama – Kamikochi
Again, take a bus to Kamikochi. This area is nice for walkin; enjoy the beautiful scenery in the Japanese Alps.

Day 20 Kamikochi – Matsumoto
Visit the 400 year old Matsumato castle with great mountains views. Matsumoto is also famous for its wasabi farms. In the Nakamachi Street, lined by several nicely preserved old buildings.

Day 21 Matsumoto – Mount Fuji
Check-in to your hotel and enjoy a hot bath in the onsen of your ryokan with view of Mount Fuji

Day 22 Kawaguchiko – Mount Fuji
Climb to Mount Fuji’s crater, which is only possible in July and August. A soothing hot bath is the perfect way to end a full day of hiking.

Day 23 Mount Fuji – Tokyo
Get to know world’s largest metropolis and take your time to explore Tokyo, e.g. in the Shinjuku area. An average of 3.5 million people use the station every day making it the busiest station in the world, in terms of passenger number.

Day 24 Tokyo
Tokyo has it all: delicious cuisine, ultra-modern architecture and charming old neighbourhoods.Don’t forget to explore Electric City. The Meiji-shrine and its beautiful Yoyogi park is an oasis of peace and calm. In April there is an explosion of color with the arrival of the cherry blossoms. When the 600 cherry trees are in bloom, the park is very popular. To get a picture perfect view of the bustling metropolis, take the elevator to the top floors of the Shinjuku Metropolitan Building. On a clear day you can even see Mount Fuji.

Day 25 Tokyo
Shibuya is the center of young generation, and the most energetic district in Tokyo, offering countless restaurants, shops and entertainments! Ginza is a neighbourhood esteemed by everyone in Japan. It’s a place where you can find the best fashion, gourmet, beauty, and other luxurious ways to spend. Here you find the Sony Building, with its many bars, restaurants, showrooms and Sony products.The 8th floor has the best of everything: cameras, TVs, computers, audio equipment, videos, etc.

Day 26 Tokyo – Nikko – Tokyo (optional)
Nikko is an easy (optional) day trip from Tokyo.The many shrines and temples of Nikko are beautifully decorated and set in the hillside of Japan surrounded by green and lush forest. Stunning! Nikko National Park with its lakes, waterfalls, hot springs and wild donkeys is one of the most beautiful parks in Japan.

Day 27 Tokyo
The early bird get the freshest sushi and sashimi at the world’s largest fish market: Tokyo’s Tsukiji market! The Harajuku district with its many trendsetting shops and street stalls is definitely a must-see spot if you want to immerse in Japanese pop-culture.Especially on Sundays you can see Tokyo youth dressed in eccentric cosplay outfits.

Day 28 Departure and arrival in Amsterdam
After breakfast, transfer to Narita Airport for your day flight to Schiphol. You will arrive back home on the very same day.

Japan Complete day by day

Price Complete Japan Complete:

The starting price of this 28 days Japan Complete Tour package is 3.350,-€ per person, based on double occupancy and depending on the chosen travel dates.

Different ways of traveling

There are many kinds of travellers, all with different preferences, so also many different  ways of traveling. Some travellers prefer simple but good, others prefer good but with a bit of luxury. Therefore we offer tours in many different price categories:

What’s included:
– All accommodation, including breakfast, except on the ferry from Beppu to Kobe.
– 4 dinners, more particularly in Wajima, Shirakawago and Mt. Fuji.
– Car rental, including insurance
– All journeys by bus and by train, as described in the itinerary
– Detailed personalised info pack with maps and translations.

What’s not included:
– International flight to and from Japan
– Transfers to and from the airports
– Bustour to Nikko, cf excursion to Nikko.
– Transport by local buses and subway
– All entrance fees and guide services
– Excess insurance in case of damage, cover up to ¥50.000
– Travel and cancellation insurance