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50 | JAPAN KYOTO OSAKA Nara Hiroshima KANAZAWA TOKYO 3 2 JAPAN Coach Cruise Bullet Train Train No. of Nights Stay 5 ARRIVE & EXPLORE JAPAN'S VIBRANT CAPITAL Day 1. Arrive Tokyo. Be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure. Tonight, meet your APT Tour Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception at the hotel. Three Night Stay: Tokyo, Prince Sakura Tower or similar. Day 2. Tokyo. After breakfast, set out for a morning tour of Tokyo. Due to its destruction during the 20th Century, admire Tokyo's overwhelmingly modern architecture. This current urban landscape is one of the most modern and contemporary of its kind, where older buildings are scarce if any. Afterwards, be further captivated by the Imperial Palace East Gardens. The former site of the residence of the Tokugawa shogun who ruled Japan from 1603 to 1867, take a tour within Edo Castle's innermost circles of defence and wander around the moats, walls, entrance gates and several guardhouses that still exist today. Later, enjoy the atmosphere of the Tokyo of past decades in the Asakusa centre of the shitamachi district. Walk around Asakusa's historic surroundings including the main attraction of Sensoji, a popular Buddhist temple built in the 7th century which is approached via the oldest shopping street in Japan – Nakamise-dori Street. After some time to look around you will transfer to a local restaurant before meeting Grandma Hiroko, where you'll discuss and appreciate the Japan of yesteryear and try your hand at cooking traditional cuisine. This evening, head out for a Welcome Dinner. BLD Day 3. Mt. Fuji, Hakone, Tokyo. Today you will enjoy a full day tour of Mount Fuji and Hakone. At 3,776 meters, Mount Fuji is Japan's highest mountain. Worshipped as a sacred mountain throughout the centuries, this perfectly shaped active volcano stands on the border between Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures and can be seen from Tokyo and Yokohama on a clear day. The tour begins at the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station, which lies approximately at the halfway point of the Yoshida Trail, which leads from Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine at the mountain's base to the summit of Mount Fiji. It is the most popular of the four 5th stations and also offers a commanding view of the Fuji Five Lakes area. Later, embark on a sightseeing cruise around Lake Ashinoko, formed in the caldera of Mount Hakone after the volcano's last eruption some 3,000 years ago, before climbing Mount Komagatake aboard the Komagatake Ropeway aerial lift line. Be transferred back to Tokyo this evening for your choice of dining. BLD Day 4. Tokyo, Kanazawa. Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before boarding the refurbished Kagayaki (bullet train) from Tokyo to Kanazawa. Recently reopened due to line extensions, the Hokuriku Shinkansen is the fastest railway category which connects Tokyo and Kanazawa. Featuring twelve train cars, this journey takes just 2.5-hours (where it originally took over 4 hours) and stops only four times. Upon arrival at 'Little Kyoto', enjoy time at leisure to explore the old castle town before your choice of dinner at your hotel. Two Night Stay: Kanazawa, Hotel Nikko (or similar). BD Day 5. Kanazawa. This morning after breakfast, you will begin a full day tour through the city of Kanazawa. During the Edo Period, Kanazawa served as the home of the second most powerful feudal clan in terms of rice production and fief size, rivalling Kyoto and Tokyo. Explore YOUR INCLUDED SIGNATURE EXPERIENCES Meet with Grandma Hiroko and try your hand at cooking traditional authentic cuisine Enjoy a Tea Ceremony and meet with a local Maiko or Geiko Interact with local volunteers at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and construct paper cranes at the Sadako Memorial BEST OF JAPAN 11 DAYS – TOKYO TO OSAKA 10 Night Smaller Group Journey KEY SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE FREEDOM OF CHOICE TM DINING (B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner 30 MAX. GUESTS G U A R A N TE E D S M A L L E R G R O U P S