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 breathtaking views. 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 – a perfect opportunity to discover 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 is where you'll discover the iconic 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! Press on 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 specialities.

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.

Free day.

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

Take this opportunity to 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" when people walk upon 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 its architectural interest.

Press 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 Hiroshima's tragic history 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 Shrine 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 Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, among the mischievous roaming deer.

Overnight stay in Hiroshima.

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

Free day.

Sightseeing suggestions: Stroll the streets of rebellious Osaka! Japan's third largest city is well worth a stop to visit some of its must-see attractions...

Take some time to visit the Osaka Castle, one of the country's most important, which has survived conflicts as well as the test of time. If you feel like it, continue with a visit to the Osaka History Museum.

Stroll through the Umeda and Namba districts for some 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.

Transfer on your own by train using your Kansai Hiroshima Pass from Osaka to Kansai Airport (KIX) and boarding for your return flight.

Note: In case you are returning from Itami (ITM) or Kobe Airport (UKB), you will be responsible for your own transfers.

No activities are included in your stay. The activities mentioned in the itinerary are suggestions that will be included in your travel guide.

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

Climate
Spring (March to May) is a very pleasant season for travelling in Japan, with beautiful blossoms and mild weather, but it is also the peak tourist season, so there are often large crowds at tourist sites.
Summer (June to August) is quite hot and humid in most regions, but visiting the country is still entirely possible, especially in the mountainous areas.
Autumn (September to November) is mild with beautiful colours, which gives the landscapes a different charm, but it is also rainy.
Winter (December to February) is dry and often sunny, making it a great time to take beautiful photos and admire the scenery in peace without too many tourists. It is cold in most of the country (with snow in some regions), which is ideal for enjoying the famous onsen, which are sure to warm you up!

Language
Not all Japanese people speak English very well, especially outside of major cities, so bringing a small dictionary with you could prove very useful.

Time zone
From March to October, Japan is 7 hours ahead of the UK, 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 size of a standard double room is 10m².

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

Pocket Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi is not available everywhere in Japan. The best option is to travel with a small "Pocket Wi-Fi" device so that you can enjoy a fast connection wherever you are during your stay. This makes it much easier to look up information or communicate with your friends and family while travelling. You can pick up the device at your hotel on the first day and return it in a special envelope at the post office.

Tips
Tipping is not required in restaurants, to guides, drivers, etc. It is not customary. If you wish to thank your hosts, opt for a gift instead.

Driving
In Japan, driving is on the left, with the steering wheel on the right. Gearboxes are automatic. Japanese drivers tend to drive calmly and are very respectful of traffic regulations. Motorways are well maintained. To drive in Japan, you must have your British driving licence and a Japanese translation of it.

For more information, visit:

Visit Japan Web | Digital Agency

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 (day 10): 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: Some of your travel vouchers may be sent to your postal address. We advise you to check your post carefully before you travel.

Please note: transfers to other airports such as Itami (ITM) or Kobe (UKB) are not included and you must therefore arrange and pay for these yourself.

*Note about the Hakone Free Pass:

This pass allows you to travel to Hakone from Tokyo Shinjuku on the Odakyu line. After changing at Odawara, travel to Hakone and use your pass to take advantage of transport networks such as the Hakone Tozan buses, Hakone Tozan cable cars, Lake Ashi cruise boats, and the funicular railway, among others. You can also enjoy discounts on admission to certain tourist attractions!

To avoid queues 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 their own passport. We strongly recommend that minors who are not accompanied by their legal representatives bring a copy of their family register.
Specific formalities: When travelling abroad, minors residing in France and travelling without their legal guardians must carry their identity document and the authorisation form for leaving the country: CERFA no. 15646*01, which can be downloaded from:
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.