The Far Eastern Odyssey Tour
24 October - 7 November 2027
This 14-day tour is designed to capture Japan in all its Autumnal glory. Starting and finishing in Tokyo, this self-drive tour will be led by a tour manager ensuring you see the best of Japan’s largest island Honshu, as well as Shikoku Island.
The tour starts with two nights in Tokyo in order to acclimatise and sightsee. Your tour manager will be on hand to welcome you and give you some hints and tips whilst in Japan’s capital city. Your five star hotel is set within its own park and downtown Tokyo easy easily accessible by public transport.
From Tokyo we pick up our hire cars and head to the Fuji Speedway circuit, for a visit to its acclaimed museum. We stay near to the circuit where you will have a view of Mount Fuji from your room.
We then head North to Nikko via the Toshogu Shrine before taking to Japan’s Romantic Road to Matsumoto. A superb drive ensues over the Japanese Alps enroute to for two night stay to enjoy the many sights, such as Kanazawa Castle, the Kenrokuen Garden, traditional tea houses and seafood markets.
The route then heads south via Japan’s National Museum before arriving Kyoto for a two night stay, here we have arranged a traditional Geisha ceremony. You also have time to explore the classical Buddhist temples, imperial palaces and Shinto shrines.
The next destination is Hiroshima, infamous as the first target of an atomic bomb on August 6, 1945, during WWII, an event commemorated at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, featuring sites like the Genbaku Dome, we have a two night stay here which will include a guide visit.
We then head onto Shikoku Island to have time to visit the impressive Matsuyama Castle. The route then takes us back onto the mainland to Osaka, where there is time to explore and enjoy the street food before boarding the Bullet train back to Tokyo for the final night and farewell dinner.
Price
(price based on 2 people sharing a room)
A 10% deposit is required to confirm your booking
What's Included
14 nights accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis
Dinner on 10 evenings
Entry to Fuji Speedway museum
Entry to Toshogu Shrine
Entry to Komatsu Automobile museum
Hiroshima visits
Miyajima Ferry
Entry to Matsuyama Castle
Hire car for 11 days
Bullet train Osaka to Tokyo
Services of a tour manager
What's Not Included
Flights
Drinks with meals
Itinerary
Sunday 24th October
Arrival in Tokyo. Take your time to acclimatise after your flight and check in to the luxury five star Hotel Chinzano set amongst its own park, giving you peace and tranquillity on the edge of Japan’s bustling capital city. Dinner is at your leisure this evening at the end of a busy day.
Monday 25th October
Start the day with a hearty breakfast at the hotel, ready to start the day afresh. You will then meet your fellow tour participants and tour manager, who will brief you on the tour and give you some tips and insights for enjoying Tokyo with visits such as Asakusa (Sensō-ji Temple) and Sumida River walk, the Meiji Shrine and Harajuku Takeshita Street.
This evening the group meet for welcome a drinks reception, briefing on the following day and dinner in a traditional Japanese izakaya.
Tuesday 26th October
After breakfast we collect our hire cars and head out of Tokyo for our first taste of the Japanese roads. We have selected some great roads for your to follow in your detailed roadbook or on the state of the art GPS app we supply you. Our destination today is the Fuji Speedway museum for a visit. Our overnight hotel is at the Fuji Speedway, with rooms that overlook Mount Fuji, dinner will be taken at the hotel this evening.
Wednesday 27thOctober
Today we head north from Fuji towards Nikko, via the Toshogu Shrine (a UNESCO heritage site) for a stop and visit. Our overnight in Nikko is at a traditional Japanese style, for an authentic experience, with dinner at the hotel.
Thursday 28th October
A great days drive is in store today as you take in Japan’s romantic road via the volcanic landscapes of Tsumagoi and the hot spring town of Kusatsu before arriving in Matsumoto, the location of Japan’s most beautiful castle. Dinner is taken at the hotel this evening.
Friday 29th October
We tackle the Alpine route today to Takayama famous for the Hida beef. We drive via another UNESCO site of Shirakawa-go, a thatched roof village. Our overnight destinations is Kanazawa, where you have two nights. Dinner is included at the hotel on the first evening.
Saturday 30th October
There is plenty to see and explore in Kanazawa and we will advise you in a briefing the previous evening on what there is to do. Highlights are the Kenrokurn Gardens, Kanazawa Castle, Omichi Seafood markets, the Geisha district, to name a few. This evening is free to enjoy as you wish.
Sunday 31st October
We now head south towards Kyoto. We have a stop planned en route at Japan’s largest motor museum, followed by a scenic drive across the Lake Biwa region. On arrival in Kyoto we will be taken to a Geisha evening with Maiko dinner. You have two nights in Kyoto.
Monday 1st November
You have a day in Kyoto to explore activities such as the Fushimi Inari Shrine, Arashiyama Bamboo grove or Nijo Castle, to name a few. This evening is free to enjoy as you wish.
Tuesday 2nd November
Today we drive West to Hiroshima, with two routes on offer, either via the Sanyo Expressway or via the Setonaikai National Park with sections of scenic coastal road. You have a two night stay in Hiroshima with dinner at the hotel.
Wednesday 3rdNovember
You have a full day to take in Hiroshima, including the Peace Memorial Park, museum and Atomic Dome. We then include a boat trip across to Miyajima Island. This evening is free but we can advise on where to fine Hiroshima style okonomiyaki.
Thursday 4th November
We drive over to Shikoku Island today to visit the must see Matsuyama Castle. This evening we have a traditional Japanese hotel stay planned with dinner included.
Friday 5th November
We drive the famous island bridges today on the Shimanami Kaido Expressway on the way to Osaka. In Osaka we return hire cars at the hotel we stay at. This evening we go out to eat at the Dotonbori Yatai-mura Namba street food village.
Saturday 6thNovember
After breakfast there is some free time in Osaka before we board the bullet train back to Tokyo. We will be transferred to our hotel for the final night of the tour, where we will have a farewell dinner.
Sunday 7th November
Check out of the hotel after breakfast and say farewell to your fellow tour participants, before carrying on your onward journey.