Autumn 2023 Hiroshima Package Tour (10d/9n)
Join us on the Japan Hiroshima Package tour in the autumn of 2023!
On this tour, you will visit many places where you can experience colorful autumn foliage, highlights, and hidden gems in areas such as Kyoto, Miyajima, and Iya. Of course, you also won’t miss some of the best sightseeing spots in Japan such as Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, beautiful old towns, and war heritage sites. This is the full tour route: Kyoto – Matsue – Izumo – Hagi and Tsuwano – Hiroshima – Shimanami Kaido – Dogo Onsen – Iya valley – Osaka.
Japan Hiroshima Package Tour Description
- Discover a mix of famous highlights and hidden gems in the west of Japan
- Enjoy a variety of local Japanese dishes
- See some of the most impressive UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Wifi is available on the bus and in the hotels.
Tour Date and Price
Arrival and departure: Starts in Kyoto and Ends in Osaka
Tour date: autumm 2023* (10 days and 9 nights) *exact dates TBA. If you’d like to be updated once the dates are known, please let us know with the inquiry form below and we will add you to our mailing list.
Tour price: USD 3,280 (price per person, based on twin room occupancy)
Single room price: USD 3,780
Hiroshima Package Tour Highlights
Day 1 : Arrival Osaka – Transfer to Hotel in Kyoto
Day 2 : Kyoto
Day 3 : Kyoto – Himeji – Matsue
Day 4 : Matsue – Izumo Taisha – Hagi
Day 5 : Hagi – Motonosumi shrine – Akiyodahido Cave – Hagi
Day 6 : Hagi – Tsuwano – Hiroshima
Day 7 : Hiroshima – Miyajima – Onomichi – Shimanami Kaido – Dogo
Day 8 : Dogo – Takamatsu – Iya
Day 9 : Iya – TokushimaOsaka – Naruto – Osaka
Day 10 : Osaka – Kansai Airport
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 : Airport (Kansai or Itami) – Kyoto
Welcome to Japan! You will be greeted by an English-speaking assistant at the airport. The assistant will help you get on the transfer bus to your hotel. You will have the rest of the afternoon and evening to enjoy Kyoto freely.
Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka or similar
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Day 2 : Kyoto
Today we will discover Kyoto, Japan’s former capital full of historical treasures. First, we visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine with its seemingly endless arcades of vermilion torii gates on a thickly wooded mountain. If you like drinking sake, you will love our next stop, a sake brewery! The guide gives you a little tour inside followed by a tasting.
We also can’t miss Kyoto’s most famous highlights, the Kiyomizu Temple and Kinkakuji Temple also known the as Golden Pavilion. In the evening, we will take a stroll around the Gion geisha district. If you are lucky, you can catch a glimpse of a maiko or geisha on her way to the tea house.
Miyako Hotel Kyoto-Hachijo or similar
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Day 3 : Kyoto – Himeji – Matsue
Leaving Kyoto, we go to Himeji Castle which was built in the early 17th century. The UNESCO World Heritage site is also known as the ‘Egret Castle’ due to its beautiful white walls and roof.
In the early afternoon, we will drive to the prestigious Adachi Museum which is famous for its beautiful art works and Japanese garden. The collection includes over 100 paintings by Yokoyama Taikan and a good selection of works by other major 20th century Japanese painters.
Matsue Tokyu Hotel or similar
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Day 4 : Matsue – Izumo Taisha – Hagi
Today’s excursion starts from Matsue Castle, completed in 1611 and one of Japan’s only 12 remaining original castles. Nex, we go to the Izumo Taisha Shrine that has a very long history since ancient time. Hagi is our final destination of the day, where we will drive along the coastline of Sea of Japan while enjoying the nice view from the window. We stay in this old castle town for two nights.
Senshunraku or similar
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Day 5 : Hagi – Motonosumi Shrine – Akiyoshido Cave- Hagi
This morning, we will visit the historical highlights of Hagi. Tokoji is a family temple of feudal lord Mori that has 500 stone lanterns donated by their vassals. We also walk around the castle town to see the well-preserved samurai and merchant houses.
Our next destination is the Motonosumi Shrine. The view of 123 torii gates with the ocean in the background is very photogenic. It was selected as one of “Japan’s 31 most beautiful places” by CNN. Before going back to the hotel, we visit the Akiyoshido Cave, one of the biggest caves in Japan with a total length of 10,700 meters. There is an underground river along the trail with many scenic spots.
Senshunraku or similar
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Day 6 : Hagi – Tsuwano – Hiroshima
Leaving Hagi, we first go to a small castle town, Tsuwano, that prides itself on its traditional arts, crafts, and literature. This town called the ‘Little Kyoto of San-in’ developed along the Tsuwano-gawa River and is surrounded by nature. We will enjoy a walk around this beautiful town.
Then we head for Hiroshima, where we will first learn more about the terrible A-bomb disaster of 1945. It will be a precious experience to visit the Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum, as well as the famous Atomic Bomb Dome. Although you can’t see the aftermath of the disaster in Hiroshima anymore today, the museum tells you all about what happened.
Rihga Royal Hotel or similar
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Day 7 : Hiroshima – Miyajima – Onomichi – Shimanami-Kaido – Dogo
Near Hiroshima city is the iconic Itsukushima Shrine. We take a boat to the small sacred island where it stands and visit the site of the large red torii gate in the sea. The gate and the shrine are floating on the water when the tide is high.
Before heading to Shikoku, we stop at the picturesque town of Onomichi which has developed on a slope. We will enjoy the great views from the mountain top and walk down the nostalgic small streets. Then we get back on the bus and cross a series of huge suspension bridges spanning the distance between the Shikoku and Honshu islands. The view from the bridges that were built incorporating the latest Japanese technology is amazing. The climate of this region is similar to that of the Mediterranean, making it suitable for growing fruits like grapes and oranges.
We spend the night in hot-spring town Dogo in Matsuyama.
Hotel Tsubakikan or similar
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Day 8 : Dogo – Takamatsu – Iya
Today, we drive to Takamatsu in the morning. The Ritsurin Garden, one of the most famous Japanese gardens in the country, is the symbol of the city. Let’s enjoy the beautiful scenery while walking around this exquisitely landscaped garden.
In the afternoon, we go into the rarely visited Iya Valley where we will stop at the Kazurabashi, which is a vine suspension bridge. If you are brave enough, you may cross this thrilling bridge on foot.
Tonight we stay at another hot-spring hotel surrounded by the mountains.
Hotel Iyaonsen or similar
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Day 9 : Iya – Tokushima – Naruto – Osaka
Today, we first drive to Tokushima where you can enjoy an Awaodori dance demonstration show. You’re invited to dance with the performers. The Ryozenji Temple, one of the 88 pilgrimage temples, is located near the museum, so we may come across a few pilgrims there.
On the way to Osaka, we stop at the Naruto Strait where whirlpools are generated during tide changes. After crossing two more bridges, we are back in Honshu where we spend the night in Osaka. You can enjoy Osaka’s exciting nightlife freely after the tour ends.
Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka or similar
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Day 10 : Osaka – Kansai Airport
This is the end of the tour, so unless you booked extra days at the end of the tour it is time to go back home with unforgettable memories and lots of souvenirs. You will leave for Kansai Airport by bus. Thank you very much for coming to Japan and we hope to see you again!
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INCLUDED
- 7 nights Western-style accommodation and 2 nights Japanese-style accommodation
- Meet and greet upon arrival at Kansai or Itami Airport
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure
- Private coach transfers between destinations in Japan
- Comprehensive escort of our professional English-speaking tour guide as described in the itinerary
- Meals as described in the itinerary (22 meals)
- Admission fees to sites, gardens, and museums listed in the itinerary
EXCLUDED
- International airfares
- Meals that are not included in the itinerary
- Travel insurance
- Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
- Personal expenses such as telephone and laundry bills
- Gratuities
EXTENSION PLAN
You can also extend your vacation before/after the tour to Tokyo, Osaka, or other areas. We can provide an extension for the same hotel that you are staying at during the tour for 15,000 yen ~ per night, per person. We can also help you plan your additional days. Please contact us for more details.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Transport: Travel by air-conditioned, private coach, baggage handling free
Arrival / Departure Airports: For arrivals at Narita or Haneda airport, this tour starts in Tokyo and ends in Osaka.
Meal Requests: Vegetarian, halal or special meals can be arranged
Meet and Greet: Please note that the meet and greet and airport transfer to the first hotel is ONLY available on the first day of the tour after 10 AM. If you plan to stay extra nights before the start of the tour, please arrange your own hotel transfer
Tour schedule and prices subject to change without notice
CANCELLATION POLICY
46 days or more prior to arrival date in Japan: no penalty
45-31 days prior to arrival date in Japan: 10% of the tour fee
30-15 days prior to arrival date in Japan: 20% of the tour fee
14- 8 days prior to arrival date in Japan: 30% of the tour fee
7 – 3 days prior to arrival date in Japan: 50% of the tour fee
Less than 3 days prior to arrival date in Japan: 100% of the tour fee
Feedback from Clients
- Jennifer M. – 2018 Autumn –
- Overall I loved the tour and felt it gave me a good overview of Japan
We loved Kyoto with the Golden Pavillion and Gion the best. The hotel in Tokyo was really amazing, and I loved the Japanese food we had. Guide Kazu was very kind, helpful and friendly. We covered a lot of ground and saw a lot, and overall I loved the tour and felt it gave me a good overview of Japan.
Vanessa F. – 2018 Autumn –- The best were the food, Mt. Fuji and the geisha in Gion
The hotels and food were excellent and guide Hisakazu was the best! He was very attentive, knowledgeable and very kind. The sights were very good and full of culture. I really enjoyed our tour, if anything I wished we had a bit more time to see everything.
Dylan D. – 2019 Autumn –- Overall extremely happy and satisfied with the tour, how it was planned and organized
We were very happy and satisfied with the tour, all hotels were good, the Japanese food was varied and of great quality. Guide Kazu was very good, helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. We liked the fact that it was a small tour group.
