Japan, From Tokyo to Osaka

Japan from East to West 3^*

Arrival in Tokyo.

Transfer to your hotel by shared shuttle.

Pick up your Pocket Wi-Fi at the hotel reception to enjoy the Internet for the duration of your trip.

Overnight in Tokyo.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free day.

Suggested sightseeing: discover the famous Japanese capital starting with the Tokyo tower and its magnificent panorama. Visit the famous Meiji-jingu shrine and stroll along the pedestrian Takeshita Dori street. Discover the traditional district of Asakusa and stroll through the vast Ueno Park.

Overnight stay in Tokyo.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free day.

Suggested visits: Visit the Akihabara district, Tokyo's famous geek district, where the craziest video games, manga from your youth and cosplay await you - the perfect time to enter a whole new world! Head to Shibuya, famous for its Scramble Crossing and fashion shops. Finish off with a visit to the bustling Shinjuku district, with its numerous skyscrapers and shops.

Overnight stay in Tokyo.

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Hakone (111 km, about 2 hours by train) using your Hakone Free Pass.

Free day.

Suggested sightseeing: Hakone: this is where you'll discover Mount Fuji, a veritable symbol of Japan. Visit the Hakone-jinja shrine with its large vermilion Torii. Take a boat ride across Lake Ashi to enjoy the view of Mount Fuji! Continue by taking the cable car to discover the Owakudani volcanic valley and the impressive fumaroles of its sulphur quarry.

Make the most of your ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn, and enjoy a moment of Zen by taking a dip in one of its many onsens - famous natural hot springs - before enjoying a delicious meal of Japanese specialties.

Dinner and overnight stay at the Ryokan in Hakone in a Western-style room with a bed or a traditional Japanese room with a futon.

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Kyoto by "Shinkansen" express train (366 km, approx. 2 hr train journey).

Free day.

Suggested sightseeing: Take a Zen walk through the Arashiyama bamboo grove and Tenryu-ji Temple. Continue with a visit to the Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Overnight stay in Kyoto.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Day at leisure.

Sightseeing suggestions: Visit the splendid shinto sanctuary of Fushimi Inari, famous for its magnificent Red Torii, the famous traditional Japanese portals.

Visit the nearby Zen temple of Tofuku-ji, whose contemporary Japanese gardens are well worth a visit.

Stroll south to Higashiyama, a traditional district to the east of Kyoto, to see the famous Kiyomizu-dera temple, Maruyama-koen park, or Chion-in temple, among others. A little further north, don't miss the Nanzen-ji, a famous Zen temple.

Overnight in Kyoto.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free day.

Sightseeing suggestions: Stroll through the Gion district, famous for its geisha, and visit the Nishiki market, renowned for its size and the variety of food on offer. You can also visit the castle of Nijo-Jo, home of the 1st shogun, with its nightingale parquet floor that "sings" to whose who walk on it.

Overnight stay in Kyoto.

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Hiroshima using your Kansai Hiroshima Pass.

Free day.

Suggested sightseeing: On the way, stop off at Himeji to visit one of Japan's most famous castles: the White Heron Castle! This building dates back to the 14th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage site, probably for its beauty but also for the architectural interest it embodies.

Continue on towards Okayama. The town is famous for its traditional Korakuen garden, considered to be one of the "three most beautiful gardens" in Japan. Okayama Castle, nicknamed the Castle of the Golden Raven, and the Kibitsu-jinja shrine, listed as a "national treasure", are also well worth a visit.

Overnight stay in Hiroshima.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free day.

Suggested sightseeing: Take time to appreciate the tragic history of Hiroshima and the astonishing pacifist reconstruction that followed the bombing by visiting the Peace Memorial Park and the Peace Museum.

Take a stroll through the Ikari sanctuary and the Shukkei-en garden, showcasing miniature reproductions of a number of natural landscapes.

Take the ferry and discover the wonderful island of Miyajima and its famous floating Torii. Take a stroll through Itsukushima sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, among the mischievous roaming fallow deer.

Overnight stay in Hiroshima.

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Osaka using your Kansai Hiroshima Pass (approx. 1h30 train ride).

Day at leisure.

Sightseeing suggestions: Stroll the streets of rebellious Osaka! Japan's third-largest city, it's well worth a stop to see some of the must-sees ..

Take the time to visit the Osaka Castle, one of the country's most important, which has stood the test of time and conflict. If you feel like it, continue with a visit to the Osaka History Museum.

Stroll through the Umeda and Namba districts to do your shopping and sample the local gastronomy, renowned throughout the country.

Also discover the streets of the lively Dōtonbori district.

Overnight in Osaka.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Self-transfer by train using your Kansai Hiroshima Pass from Osaka to Kansai Airport (KIX) and boarding for your return flight.

Note: In case of return from Itami Airport (ITM) or Kobe (UKB), the transfers will be at your expense.

**No activities are included. The activities mentioned in the program are suggestions that will be included in the travel guide

**Currency
The currency used is the yen (JPY). On December 20, 2022, 1 Euro is equivalent to 140.40 Japanese yen.

**Climate
Spring (March to May) is a very pleasant time of year to travel in Japan, as the blossoms make the landscape beautiful and the climate mild, but it's also the peak tourist season, as the sites to be visited are often very crowded.
Summer (June to August) is quite hot and humid in most regions, but it's still possible to visit the country, especially in mountainous areas.
Autumn (September to November) is mild and colorful, adding to the charm of the landscape, but also rainy.
Winter (December to February) is dry and often sunny, making it a great time to take photos and enjoy the scenery in peace and quiet, without too many tourists. It's cold in most parts of the country (with snow in some areas), which is ideal for taking full advantage of the famous onsens that provide a little warmth!

**Language
Japanese people don't all speak English very well, especially outside the big cities, so take a small lexicon with you to help you.

Time zone
From March to October, Japan is 7 hours ahead of France, and 8 hours ahead from October to March.

Accommodation
In Japan, it's not uncommon to find single or double rooms that are small by Western standards. The average surface area of a standard double room is equivalent to 10m².

Onsens
If you'd like to try out the Onsens (traditional baths) experience, it's customary to be completely naked (men and women separated) to go there. Similarly, tattoos are not always accepted at onsens.

**Pocket Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi is not available everywhere in Japan. The ideal solution is to travel with a small "Pocket Wi-Fi" box, so you can get a fast connection wherever you are during your stay. This makes it much easier to consult simple information or communicate with friends and family. You can collect the box from your hotel on the first day and return it in a dedicated envelope to the post office.

**Tips
It is not necessary to leave tips in restaurants, to guides, drivers... this is not part of the custom. If you wish to thank your hosts, a gift is preferable.

**Driving
In Japan, driving is on the left, with the steering wheel on the right. The gearbox is automatic. The Japanese drive rather quietly and are very respectful of traffic regulations. Highways are well maintained. To drive in Japan, you need your French driving license and a translation of the same license into Japanese.

For more information, visit the website:

[Visit Japan Web | Digital Agency](http://agencyvjw-lp.digital.go.jp/)

Getting around Tokyo: You must arrange your own transfers within Tokyo.

Tokyo metro map:

https://www.tokyometro.jp/fr/subwaymap/index.html

TRANSFERS

• Transfer from Tokyo Airport to your Tokyo hotel (day 1): The transfer is by shared shuttle and drops you off in front of your hotel. It may make several stops along the way (transport ticket sent by email).
• Tokyo - Hakone transfer (day 4): By train from Tokyo Shinjuku on the Odakyu line, changing at Odawara with the Hakone Free Pass* (sent by email).
• Hakone - Kyoto transfer (day 5): by Shinkansen express train with the Hakone Free pass, then connection at Odawara for Kyoto (paper ticket issued at the 1st hotel).
• Kyoto - Hiroshima transfer (day 8) with the Kansai Hiroshima Pass (regional pass), valid for buses, trains, and ferries
• Hiroshima - Osaka transfer (D10): with the Kansai Hiroshima Pass
• Hotel transfer from Osaka to Osaka airport (Day 12): The transfer is provided by hotel shuttle and drops you off at Kansai Airport (KIX) for your return flight.

Please note: transfers to other airports such as Itami (ITM) or Kobe (UKB) are not guaranteed and will be charged to the customer.

*Note on the Hakone Free Pass:

You can reach Hakone from Tokyo Shinjuku on the Odakyu line. After a change at Odawara, head to Hakone and take advantage of your Pass to use the transport networks such as the Hakone Tozan buses, the Hakone Tozan cable cars, the Lake Ashi cruise boat, and the funicular railway, among other options. You'll also benefit from discounts on certain tourist attractions!

To avoid queuing at the airport and save time, we advise you to register individually on the website https://vjw-lp.digital.go.jp/en/ before your departure.

As government restrictions are constantly changing, we ask you to consult the following websites regularly right up to the day of departure:

https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs/
https://www.fr.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_fr/index.html

We recommend that you register on the Ariane website:
https://pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fildariane/dyn/public/login.html

It is the traveller's responsibility to find out about any changes to entry formalities in the destination country.

Non-French nationals or dual nationals are advised to consult the consulate or embassy of their destination country.
Travellers with connecting flights should look into the conditions of access to the airports where they have a stopover.

Please note that airlines reserve the right to modify and reinforce their boarding conditions more strictly than the formalities and regulations of the destination country, at any time and without prior notice.

On arrival, travellers must have a **passport valid for at least 6 months after the date of return.

Non-Japanese nationals entering Japan are required to provide biometric data (fingerprints and photographic portrait).

Minors
Under-age children must have an individual passport. We strongly recommend that minors who are not accompanied by their legal representatives bring a copy of their family record book.
Specific formalities: If you are travelling abroad as a minor, please note that minors resident in France and travelling unaccompanied by their legal guardians must bring with them, in addition to their ID, a form authorising them to leave the country: CERFA no. 15646*01 downloadable here:
https://www.formulaires.modernisation.gouv.fr/gf/cerfa_15646.do

Healthcare
No vaccination is compulsory. Don't forget to check that your vaccination record is up to date (DPT).
Health level is equivalent to that of Western Europe.
Natural and climatic risks are high in Japan, so make sure you keep informed.