koyo colours and cultural treasures of japan · departing 9th october 2015 escorted by tamami...
TRANSCRIPT
17 day escorted tourDeparting 9th October 2015
Escorted by Tamami Bullock
Experience the spirit of Japan on this unique tour taking in the “Koyo” (autumn colours), a traditional Japanese Homestay and incredible contrasts between deep tradition and bustling modernity.
Koyo colours and cultural treasures of Japan
escorted tour
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE...• Stay one night in Osaka and experience the
flavourof“thenation’skitchen”• EnjoyarideontheShinkansen,Japan’s
infamousbullettrain,andenjoyatraditionalBento box onboard
• VisittheUNESCOWorldHeritageSiteofMiyajima,andHiroshima’sPeaceMemorialParkandMuseum
• AmpletimetoenjoyamixofhistoryandcultureinthemoderncityofKyoto
• ViewMtFujifromthepeacefulmountainvillageofHakone
• Experiencehand’sonculturalexperience,suchasateaceremony,Japanesecooking,craftsand onsen (hot springs)
• VisitTokyo,anultramodernmeccaofshopping,entertainment,cultureanddining
Your itineraryFRIDAY 9 OCTOBERAUSTRALIA - OSAKATodaywewilldepartTasmaniaonanovernightflighttoOsaka,Japan.
SATURDAY 10 OCTOBER OSAKA L,DTodaywearriveinOsaka,Japan’sthirdlargestcity.Wewillenjoysomesightseeing,includingOsakaCastle,surroundedbyalargemoatandsheercutrockwalls,thecastleplayedamajorpartintheunificationofJapaninthesixteenthcentury.
Osakaisknownasthe‘Nation’sKitchen’andatdinnertimewewillheadtothefamedDōtonboritofindoutwhy.
SUNDAY 11 OCTOBER OSAKA - HIROSHIMA B,LTodaywewillridetheShinkansen(bullettrain)toHiroshima.Atourofthemajorsites,includingtheA-Dome,PeaceMuseumandchildren’smemorial,willrevealthepeacefulnaturethathascomeoverthisareasinceWorldWarII.TonightfordinnerwewillexperiencethesimplejoyofOkonomiyaki,theJapanesepancake,aregionalspeciality.
MONDAY 12 OCTOBER HIROSHIMA B,DCatchtheferrytoMiyajima,anislandWorldHeritageSitefamousforitsgianttoriigate,attheItsukushimaShrine,whichathightideseemstofloatoverthewater.ThisshrinehasbeenrankedasoneofJapan’sthreemostscenicplaces.Wewillcatchtheropewaytoenjoythe360panoramicviewsfromMountMisen.ThiseveningwewillreturntoourhotelinHiroshima.
TUESDAY 13 OCTOBER HIROSHIMA - KYOTO B,L Today we catch the Shinkansen fromHiroshimatoKyoto, where wewillenjoyanafternoonculturalwalkingtour.Kyotoservedasthecountry’scapitalfrom794until1868andthishistoryisreflectedinthenumberofshrines,templesandotherhistoricalsitesscatteredthroughoutthemoderncity,aswellasthewayinwhichKyotohangsontothetraditionalJapanesewayoflife.Alittleoffthebeatenpathyouwillfindtofumakers,fishmongers,picklevendorsandteamerchantsliningshōtengai(shoppingstreets).
WEDNESDAY 14 OCTOBER KYOTO B,DThismorningwillbefreeforyoutoexploreKyoto.PerhapsyoucouldheadtoNishikiMarkettotrymanyJapanesedelicaciessuchasKobebeef,tofudoughnuts,andifyouarebraveenough,fugu—thepoisonouspufferfishthatonlyveryskilledchefsareabletopreparesafely.Intheafternoonwewillembarkonawalkingtourofthreeimportantlandmarks.
TheHeianShrineisaShintoshrinewithashorthistoryofjustover100years.HeianisthformernameofKyotoandthis shrine is dedicated to thespiritsofthefirstandlastemperorswhoreignedoverthecity.Sanjūsangen-dō,orHalloftheLotusKing,isaBuddhisttemplefamousforitsimpresivehallof1001statuesofKannon,thegoddessofmercy.OurfinalstopistheKiyomizuTemple,acolossalBuddhisttemplefoundedin778whichisnowpartofAncientKyoto’sUNESCOWorldHeritageSite.
THURSDAY 15 OCTOBER KYOTO BTodaywewillspendthemorningonatouroftheArashiyamaBambooForestandSagano.HaveyourpicturetakenontheTogetsukyoBridge,whichwillprovideabeautifulbackdropoftheforestedhills.
FRIDAY 16 OCTOBERKYOTO B,DTodayisatyourleisuretotakeinthespiritofKyotoatyourownpace.Thereareover1000BuddhisttemplesinKyoto,includingtheincredibleKinkaku-ji,thefamedlake-sideGolden
Hiroshima
Kyoto
TasmaniatoOsaka
Hakone
Myoko
TokyotoTasmania
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3
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Pavilionthatemergesfromthetrees,whichwilltakeyourbreathaway.AshorttrainridefromKyotostationisNijoCastle,orshopinanyofKyoto’sseveralretailareas.
SATURDAY 17 OCTOBER KYOTO - HAKONE B,L,DTodaywewilltransferfromKyototoHakonebytrain.Hakoneisabeautifulmountainsidetownfamousforitshotsprings,naturalbeautyandviewofMountFuji.Thisafternoonwillbeatyourleisuretoexplorethepeacefultown.PerhapsyoucouldtakealeisurelystrollaroundtheopenairmuseumorHakoneShrine.
SUNDAY 18 OCTOBER HAKONE B,L,DTodaywewillspendthedayaroundthebestspotsfromwhichtoseetheiconicMountFuji.WewillalsovisitOwakudani,theareaaroundacratercreatedduringthelasteruptionofMountHakone.Thisisstillanactivevolcaniczonewheresulfurousfumesandhotspringsandriverscanbeexperienced.Youcanalsopurchaseeggsthathavebeencookedinthenaturallyhotwaterandblackenedbysulfar,saidtoprolongone’slifebysevenyears.FromherewewillcatchtheHakoneropewaydowntoLakeAshiforashortcruise.
MONDAY 19 OCTOBER HAKONE - MYŌKŌ B,L,DTodaywewilltransferbytrainfromHakonetoour“Homestay”styleaccommodationinMyōkō.WewillenjoyaBentolunchboxonthetrainandafreeafternooninMyōkōbeforeindulginginourfirstonsen(naturalhotspring)experience.Myōkōhasbeendescribedasoneofthebestskiresortsin Japan and has retained its quaintandtraditionalsmall-townfeeling.
TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER MYŌKŌ B,L,DTodaywewillcatchtheSkycabletoMountMyōkōtoenjoytheKoyoviewandashortgentlehike.TheviewingofautumnleaveshasbeenapopularactivityinJapanforcenturiesanddrawslargenumbersoftravellerstofamous‘Koyo’spotsinthemountainsandcities.Myōkōisoneofthemostbeautifulareasinwhichtoexperiencethe‘Koyo’.ThisafternoonwewillimmerseourselvesintraditionalJapaneseculturewithaKimonodemonstrationandteaceremony.
WEDNESDAY 21 OCTOBER MYŌKŌ B,L,DWewillspendthismorninglearningtocookbeautifulfreshsushi-askillyoucantakehome
andimpressfamilyandfriendswithasyoutellthemofyourtrip.
ThisafternoonwewillvisitalocalwaterfallandexplorethebackareasofscenicMyōkōbeforeenjoyingtheonsenintheevening.
THURSDAY 22 OCTOBER MYŌKŌ - TOKYO B,LTodaywewillleavesereneMyōkōandheadtotheexcitingmovementandlightsofTokyo.TheafternoonisatyourleisuretoexploreTokyo’suniquedistricts.Asyoudisembarkthetrainineachdistrictyouwillfeelasthoughyouhavetraversedcities,notjustneighbourhoods.Appreciatethecity’shistoryinAsakusa,wanderthehigh-endshoppingdistrictofGinza,getlostintheentertainment,diningandshoppingdistrictsofShinjukuandShibuya,ortakeintheviewofTokyofromtheartificialislandofOdaiba.
FRIDAY 23 OCTOBER TOKYO B,L,DTodaywillbespentenjoyingafulldaysightseeingtour.WewilltakeinMeijiShrinewhichislocatedinalargeforestinShibuya.NextwewillvisitTokyo’soldesttemple,SensojitempleinAsakusa.FindsouvenirsandsnackonfreshlycookedricecakesontheshoppingstreetofNakamise.WewillthentakealeisurleycruisearoundtheTokyoBaybeforeenjoyingourlastgroupdinner.
SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER TOKYO - AUSTRALIA BFreemorningtospendinTokyo.Thisafternoonwewilltransfertotheairportforourflighthome.
SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER AUSTRALIATodaywearrivehomeandsaygoodbyetoournewfoundfriends.
TERMS AND CONDITIONSTOUR PAYMENTSAnon-refundabledepositof$750perpersonispayablewithin7daysofbooking.Thebalanceofpaymentisduenotlaterthan31July2015.CANCELLATIONSCancellationsfeesapply.Cancellationfeesmayalsoapplytoanyadditionalservices,reservedpriorto,duringandafterthetour.NoticeofallcancellationsmustbemadeinwritingtoAndrewJonesTravelonorbeforefinalpaymentduedate31July,2015.Lossofdeposit.Afterfinalpaymentduedate:100%oftotalprice.Cancellationfeesalsoapplytoanyadditionalservices,reservedpriorto,duringandafterthevacation.Ifflightchanges,includingflightcancellations,arerequested,revisionfeesorairlinecancellationfeeswillapply.AndrewJonesTravelPty.Ltd.andthecarriers,accommodations,andothersuppliersprovidingtourservicesshallallbeknownasthe‘Operators’andreservetherighttocancelorre-scheduleanyvacationdeparture.Ifcancellationismadepriortodepartureofthetour,theonlyresponsibilityoftheOperatorswillbetorefundtothepassengertheamountwehavereceivedforthereservation.Wewilltrytore-bookthesamevacationwithadifferentdeparturedate,orasimilartour.WheretheOperatorshaveconfirmedflights,wewilltrytoconfirmairseatsfortheselectednewdates,subjecttoavailability.TheOperatorscannotassumeresponsibilityforanyadditionalcostsoranyfeesrelatingtotheissuanceand/orcancellationofairticketsorothertravelarrangements.REVISION FEESAfeeof$150pertransactionwillbechargedforanyalterationorrevisionmadetoareservation,plusanyadditionalcostsfromthirdpartysuppliersandallotheroperatorsandcarriers.Airlinepenaltiesmayalsoapply.Achangetotravellername,vacationdateortouritineraryatanytimewillbetreatedasacancellationandnewreservation;standardcancellationfeesapply.PARTICIPATIONForthebenefitofeveryoneonyourholiday,theOperatorsreservetherighttoacceptorrejectanypersonasaholidayparticipant,andtoremovefromthetouranyparticipantwhoseconductisdeemedincompatiblewiththeinterestsoftheotherparticipants.TRAVELLERS WHO NEED SPECIAL ASSISTANCEYoumustreportanydisabilityrequiringspecialattentiontoAndrewJonesTravelatthetimethereservationismade.Alltravellersmustbeabletohandletheirownsuitcase.TheOperatorswillmakereasonableattemptstoaccommodatethespecialneedsofdisabledtravellers,butisnotresponsibleintheeventitisunabletodoso,norisitresponsibleforanydenialofservicesbycarriers,hotels,restaurants,orotherindependentsuppliers.Mosttransportationservices,includingthetouringmotorcoach,arenotequippedwithwheelchairramps.Weregretthatwecannotprovideindividualassistancetoatourparticipantforwalking,dining,gettingonandoffmotorcoachesandothervehicles,orotherpersonalneeds.Aqualifiedandphysicallyablecompanionmustaccompanytravellerswhoneedsuchassistance,andmustassumetotalresponsibilityforthehandicappedparticipantswell-being.Motorisedscootersareunsuitablefortouringvacationsinthisbrochure.SMOKINGSmokingisnotallowedontransportationoraccommodations.PRICE GUARANTEEAirticketsbookedviaAndrewJonesTravelareguaranteedwhenwereceivefullpayment.ThisdoesnotincludeanyGovernment/airporttaxincreasesandcurrencyfluctuations.Vacationpricesareperperson,basedontwopersonssharingaroom.Singleroomsupplementsarelistedwhereapplicable.ACCOMMODATIONSTheaccommodationslistedinthisbrochureareintendedtobeusedonthisdeparture;however,ifachangebecomesnecessaryforanyreason,theaccommodationssubstitutedwillbeequivalentinstandardtothoseshown.Everyeffortismadetoreserveyourpreferredroomrequest.Itmayoccasionallyhappenthatanaccommodationprovidessomedouble-beddedortwin-beddedrooms,asroomconfigurationisatthediscretionofindividualhotels.Pleasenotethataccommodationcheck-intimesvaryworldwide.Payingforasinglesupplementensuresownroom,notnecessarilyatwinbeddedroom.BAGGAGE ALLOWANCEPorterageforonesuitcaseonvacationisincludedinthetourprice.Airportporterageatbeginningandendofthevacationisnotincluded.Duetolimitedcoachcapacity,thissinglebagshouldhavedimensionsnotexceeding76x53x28cm(30x21x11”)andweightnotexceeding20kg(44lbs)orlessifyouraircarrierhasstricterweight/dimensionlimitations.Weregretweareunabletoacceptasecondsuitcase,oranyluggageexceedingtheselimits.Werecommendyouconsultyouraircarrierassizeandweightlimitationsvaryfromairlinetoairlineandevenaccordingtodestination,andarebecomingmorerestrictive.TheOperatorsarenotresponsibleforadditionalfeesimposedbyaircarriers.Regulationswithinmostairportsrequirethattravellershandletheirownluggagethroughcustoms.Yourcarry-onbagshouldnotexceedthedimensionsof30x28x14cm(12x11x6”).Forsafetyreasonswheeledcarry-onbagsarenotsuitableashandluggageonmotorcoachesandmini-buses.Noresponsibilityisacceptedforlossofordamagetobaggageoranyofthetourparticipant’sbelongings.Baggageinsuranceisrecommended.DININGArestaurantordateofadinnermaybesubstitutedatanytimeduetoreasonsbeyondtheOperators’control.NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICEAirporttaxeswhicharepayabledirectlyattheairport:passports;visasandvaccinations,tipstolocalcityguidesorstaff;laundry,telephone,minibar,alcoholbeveragesandfoodnotontheregulartabled’hotemenu(theseextraitemswillbebilledtoyoubeforeleavingthehotelorrestaurant);optionalexcursions;travelinsurance,excessbaggagefees;allotheritemsofapersonalnature.HOLIDAYSDuringlocalornationalholidays,certainfacilitiessuchasmuseumsandrestaurants,sightseeingtoursandshoppingmaybelimitedornotavailable.Alternativeswillbeofferedwheneverpossible.SAFETY PleasebeawarethatduringyourparticipationinvacationsoperatedbytheOperators,certainrisksanddangersmayarisebeyondourcontrolincluding,butnotlimitedto,thehazardsoftravellinginundevelopedareas;travelbyboat,train,automobile,aircraftorothermeansoftransportation;theforcesofnature,politicalunrestandaccidentorillnessinremoteregionswithoutmeansofrapidevacuationormedicalfacilities.TheOperatorswillnothaveliabilityregardingprovisionofmedicalcareortheadequacyofanycarethatmayberendered.ItisunderstoodthattheOperatorswilluseitsbesteffortstoensurethatadequatemeasuresaretaken.TRAVEL INSURANCEPassengersarestronglyadvisedtotakeouttravelinsurancetocoveranyunforeseencircumstanceswhichmayarise(including,butnotlimitedto;cancellationfees,lossofluggage,earlyreturnfollowingdeathofarelativeasdefinedintherespectiveproposalforms).WerecommendpassengersinvestigateallDepartmentofForeignAffairswarningsregardingthesafetyoftravellingtocertaindestinations.TheOperatorswillnotbeheldliableforanyactofgovernment,terrorism,revolutionorotheract.TheOperatorsreservetherighttocancelthetouratanystageduetoanactofgovernmentorterrorism.PASSPORTS AND VISASAllpassengersmusthaveavalidpassportwithatleast6monthsvalidityfromreturndate.Itistheresponsibilityofeachpassengertoensureanyapplicablevisasforallcountriesvisitedhavebeenobtainedpriortodeparture.Failuretoobtaincorrectdocumentationwillmeanthepassengerwillbeunabletoparticipateinparticularshoreexcursionsandmaybedeniedboardingand/orentryintocertaincountries.Meetingnecessarypassportandvisaentryrequirementsandcostsisthesoleresponsibilityofpassengers.TOUR ESCORTTheinclusionofanAndrewJonesTraveltourescortissubjecttominimumpassengernumbers.Asubstitutetourescortmaybeusedwithoutnoticeifunforeseencircumstancesarise.*Conditionsapply.Priceisperperson,twinshare.Priceiscorrectattimeofpublication15January2015butmayfluctuateduetochangesintaxes,charges,surchargesandcurrency.Airfareincludedisbasedonagroupairfareandallpassengerswillneedtoflyontheseflights,datesanddestinationonly.Pricedoesnotincludetaxesimposeddirectlybythirdparties.Tourissubjecttoavailabilityandtermsandconditionsaslisted.Minimumtournumbersapply,seebookingconditionsformoredetails.Aservicefeeandcreditcardsurchargewillapply. MapofJapanbyFreeVectorMaps.com
HOBART Level1,61SalamancaPlace,Hobart7000
Phone:(03)62213499 LAUNCESTON
44CharlesStreet,Launceston7250Phone:(03)63311214
www.ajtravel.com.au
TOUR PRICETwin Share $6940 per personexTasmaniaSingle supplement Additional$850(Strictlylimitedavailability)WhilethispricingiscurrentasofJanuary2015,fluctuatingfuelsurcharges,currencyexchangeratesandtaxesmayresultinanincreasedcost.Businessandmixedclassairfareupgradesavailable.Priceonapplication.
Please note that this tour includes a lot of public transport and guests are reminded that they are expected to be able to carry their own bags on this mode of transport.
INCLUDED IN THE TOUR COST*• EconomyclassairfareexHobartwith
taxes• JRPass(JapanRailPass)between
majordestinations• 16daysoftouring• 14Breakfasts• 10Lunches• 10Dinners• Servicesandexperienceofpersonal
escort• Expertlocalguides• Bespoke itinerary• Allentrancechargestoattractions
mentioned
NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR COST• Mealsotherthanmentioned• Publictransportotherthanthat
includedinJRPass• Camera/videoentrancefees• Passportandpassportphotos• Localairportdeparturetaxes(if
applicable)• Laundry,telephonecalls,beverages,
andotherexpenditureofapersonalnature
• Anyservicesotherthanmentioned• TravelInsurance