Cherry Blossom Tour,
An Unforgettable Journey to Kyoto.
30th March - 9th April CONFIRMED
ONLY 2 PLACES LEFT!!
Join Jill on her Cherry Blossom Tour of Kyoto. Experience ancient temples, Hanami- cherry blossom viewing picnic, river trip and more. Our itinerary takes you to Kyoto and its surrounding areas.
We will visit Nara, Arashiyama and Uji as well as spending an unforgettable evening with the enigmatic geisha of Kyoto. Dates are now confirmed. We always wait until we have data regarding blossom.
This is however not an exact science!
Below is the itinerary, this may change slightly.
Tour Itinerary Day 1 UK/Kansai Airport Join Jill on her flight from Newcastle/Manchester On arrival at Kansai, you will be met by a member of staff and transferred to a private taxi for your transfer to your Ryokan.
Day 2
Gion and Kiyomizu-dera. After a leisurely light breakfast, enjoy a full day visiting Kennin-ji temple. Spend the afternoon strolling through Gion and the geisha districts, take in the fabulous shops along the route up to Kiyomizu-dera, a hill-side temple offering stunning views over the city.
Day 3
Nara Today we take a train to one of Japans old capitals, Nara. Nara was Japan's first permanent capital and is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Your highlight of the day is a visit to Todai-ji temple, the largest wooden building in the world and home to the Great Buddha. Are you brave enough squeeze through Bud-dha’s nostril! Nara Park is a lovely place to stroll, relax and feed the deer. Spend a relaxing afternoon visiting one of Nara’s most beautiful gardens.
Day 4
Geisha Experience Nijo Castle and its glorious history and gardens is our first stop today. Now we’re ready to go back to the gei-sha district and take in a tea ceremony followed by one of Kyoto's greatest spectacles. The Miyako Odori, Spring dances are the highlight of today's itinerary. The Miyako and Kyo Odori are a chance to see the geisha performing at their best. Please note this is NOT Gion Corner which is famous for its ‘tourist orientated show’. Let’s walk back into Gion and have a coffee at my favourite café.
* OZASHIKI. Price depends on numbers. A special package can be arranged for this evening. For a highly discounted price we can spend a hour in a private bar with geisha. We have a drink, play a few games and see some geisha entertainment. Ask all those questions you have been wondering about and get the picture of a lifetime. The vast majority of native Japanese would never be in the position to meet a geisha. This is truly a great experience.
Day 5
Toji and Muruyama Park Toji temple in itself is exquisite, but once a month it becomes one of my favourite places. Each month the grounds of the temple turn into a huge temple market. Hundreds of stalls fill the area. It’s a haven for anyone with a love of things Japanese. PLEASE don’t be tempted to buy that HUGE samurai helmet. (As one lady did last year!) You buy it, you carry it!
Day 6
Arashiyama Taking a train ride into the mountains, we return back into Arashiyama by river cruise. The two hour journey takes you through glorious scenery. See monkeys, cranes, turtles and if we’re lucky kingfishers. On arrival in town we stroll over the famous bridge and have a prepared picnic (hanami) under the cherry trees. Finish the day with a relaxing foot spa before returning to Kyoto.
Day 7
Uji A short train ride takes us to Uji. Uji is perhaps one of the best areas in Japan for tea growing. In Spring Uji bridge is a wonder to see. . We’ll be taught tea making by a tea master and visit Byodo-in. Weather permitting we will take a lunch cruise.
Day 8
Full day walk After arriving at Kyoto station today we will start our 5 hour walking tour. Don’t panic! It’s a slow paced walk, with no uphill or downhill. Throughout the day we visit temples, graveyards, artisans and old geisha districts.
Day 9
Ryo-anji, Kinkaku-ji and Yamazaki Today we visit the world famous gardens of Ryoan-ji, where the Queen was said to be mesmorised by its beauty. Following on to Kinkaku-ji, the golden pavilion and its sprawling gardens. As this is our last night we will have our farewell dinner at a Ryokan (inn) that is very dear to me.
Day 10
Nishiki Market and Terramachi, Daimaru, Return to UK A later start today for everyone. Japan is not only famous for Mount Fuji and geisha, but equally famous for its amazing variety of food. We visit Kyoto’s world famous Nishiki market.
As we leave tonight to fly back to the UK, we use this last chance to pick up last minutes gifts and sup-plies at these truly immense covered markets.
THE TOUR I
NCLUDES;
9 nights accommodation at centrally located hotels in Kyoto .
Services of a knowledgeable guide throughout.
Airport to accommodation taxi service. Suitcases must weigh no more than 24kg. Hand-luggage must be of a size that will fit on your lap in the taxi.
Entrance fees for all attractions mentioned above.
Meet & Greet service upon arrival at Kansai International Airport.
Optional 4 day extension available.
Fully guided tour available every day.
THE TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE:
ANY flights or travel to and returning from Japan or in the UK other than those stated in the itinerary.
Any journeys made and not mentioned in the itinerary.
Any meals not mentioned above.
Entrance to any attractions not named above.
Escorted return journey to UK unless otherwise stated. Our guide will take you to the airport and ensure your safety through to departure.
On returning to the airport you will be charged 1,000¥ per extra bag, other than your suitcase/hand luggage.
