9D6N Spring Sanyo & West Japan with Okuno Island

HIGHLIGHTS

Seasonal Scenery:
Peace Memorial Park “Sakura”, Korakuen Japanese Garden “Sakura”, Himeji Castle “Sakura”, Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden by Ropeway “Various Flowers”, Arashiyama (Bamboo Forest & Togetsu Bridge) “Sakura”, Philosopher’s Path “Sakura”, Keage Incline “Sakura”

Unique Experiences:
Okunoshima Rabbit Island, Senkoji Temple with Ropeway

Sightseeing & Shopping Experiences:
Atomic Bomb Dome, Itsukushima Shrine, Omotesando Shopping Street, Kosanji Temple and Miraishin Hill, Kurashiki Bikan Quarter, Sake Brewery Visit (30min), Kobe Harbor Land, Nishiki Market

Special Gourmet Delights:
Sumptuous Japanese multi-course dinner Japanese Kaiseki or buffet in Ryokans/Hotels, local delights at the restaurant

Hotel/Ryokan Stays:
Authentic Japanese Onsen/Ryokan/Hotel at Tomonoura (GRP 2 Only). Centrally located hotel in Hiroshima, Onomichi (GRP 1 only), Okayama, Kobe, Kyoto & Osaka.

ITINERARY

Day 1 Assemble at Changi Airport for Check in

Day 2 Hiroshima Airport – Hiroshima – Miyajima – Hiroshima 広島空港 – 広島 – 宮島 – 広島
Hotel: Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima or similar / Western room 
Meal: Meal on Board / L / D
Upon arrival at Hiroshima Airport, coach transfer to Peace Memorial Park (平和記念公園), a museum surveys the history of Hiroshima and the advent of the nuclear & Atomic Bomb Dome (原爆ドーム), the feature of Hiroshima and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This afternoon, you will have a lunch [Okonomiyaki Set] at a local restaurant. After lunch, transfer to Miyajima Pier. We will transfer to Miyajima Island by ferry. Upon arrival, visit Itsukushima Shrine (厳島神社). A Shinto shrine on the island of Itsukushima (popularly known as Miyajima), best known for its “floating” torii gate. You will have free time at Omotesando Shopping Street. The shopping street between the ferry terminal and the shrine is a popular spot for buying souvenirs (omiyage), having a meal or picking up a snack. At the end of the day, transfer to hotel for check in. Tonight, enjoy your dinner [Japanese Kaiseki] at the hotel restaurant.

Day 3 Hiroshima – Takehara – Okunoshima – Onomichi/Tomonoura  広島 – 竹原 – 大久野島 – 尾道/鞆の浦

Hotel: Onomichi Kokusai Hotel/ Hotel Ofutei or similar / Western room 
Meal: B / L / D
This morning, transfer to Okunoshima Island (大久野島) by ferry from Miyajimaguchi Pier. Okunoshima Island is a small island in the Seto Inland Sea in the city of Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture. Best known as Rabbit Island, the home of over 1,000 rabbits that roam the forests and fields, chasing tourists for food. Enjoy your lunch [Japanese Set] at a local restaurant. After lunch, transfer to Tadanomi Pier by ferry. Upon arrival, coach transfers to Onomichi and visit Senkoji Temple by Ropeway (千光寺). This temple was built in 806 on the mountain Senkoji Yama. You can see a great view of Onomichi downtown and port from the top of Senkoji Temple precincts. Finally, transfer to the hotel to check in and enjoy your dinner [Japanese Kaiseki] at the hotel for tonight.

Day 4 Onomichi/Tomonoura – Shimanami – Kurashiki – Okayama 尾道/鞆の浦 – しまなみ – 倉敷 – 岡山

Hotel: Hotel Granvia Okayama or similar / Western room 
Meal: B / L / D
After breakfast, transfer to Shimanami and visit Kosanji Temple (耕三寺). Within the temple grounds, there is a large walking area on top of the hill called Miraishin Hill (未来心の丘), which means Heights of Eternal Hope for the Future. It is made entirely of marble imported from Italy and features a few abstract statues, including a Statue called Tower of Light at the very peak of the hill. After that, transfer back to Onomichi city, enjoy your lunch [Tempura Sashimi Set] at a local restaurant. After lunch, visit Kurashiki Bikan Quarter (倉敷美観地区). Kurashiki is famous for the preserved canal area that dates back to the Edo Period (1603-1867). At that time, the city served as an important rice distribution center. Nowadays, Many of Kurashiki’s former storehouses have been converted into museums, boutiques and cafes. You can stroll around and explore them by yourself. Next, transfer to Okayama city for Sake Brewery Visit (30min). Tonight, enjoy your dinner [Sake Brewery Japanese Course] at a local restaurant. After dinner, transfer to hotel for check in.

Day 5 Okayama – Himeji – Kobe  岡山 – 姫路 – 神戸

Hotel: Kobe Bay Sheraton Hotel & Towers or similar / Western room 
Meal: B / L / D
This morning start your day at Korakuen Japanese garden (後楽園). Ranked as one of Japan’s three best landscape gardens, it is located just beside Okayama Castle, which can be seen from the garden as “borrowed scenery”. Next, transfer to Himeji and have a lunch [Japanese Set with Himeji Oden] at a local restaurant. After lunch, visit Himeji Castle (姫路城). Designate as the UNESCO World Heritage site, it is the largest and most visited castle in Japan. Thereafter, transfer to Kobe Harbor Land (神戸ハーバーランド). A shopping and entertainment district between JR Kobe Station and the waterfront of Kobe’s port area. Tonight, enjoy your dinner [Kobe Beef Set] at a local restaurant before transferring to hotel for check in.

Day 6 Kobe – Kyoto 神戸 – 京都

Hotel: The Hotel Higashiyama by Kyoto Tokyu Hotel or similar / Western room
Meal: B / L / D
After breakfast, visit Nunobiki Herb Garden by Ropeway (布引ハーブ園). It is Japan’s largest herb gardens with about 75,000 herbs and flowers of about 200 kinds blooming throughout the year. This afternoon, lunch [Grilled Fish Set] will be served at a local restaurant. After lunch, transfer to Arashiyama. Visit Togetsu Bridge – a landmark in Arashiyama District for over 400 years and Bamboo Grove, the natural forest of bamboo in Kyoto. Next, visit Nishiki Market (錦市場). Running between Teramachi and Shinmachi, one block north of Shijo, Nishiki Market is Kyoto’s largest traditional food market. While modern food shops and souvenir shops are starting to move in, there are still enough traditional shops to give you a glimpse of what a traditional shotengai (shopping street) must have looked like. Tonight, enjoy your dinner [Japanese Kaiseki] at a local restaurant. At the end of the day, transfer to hotel for check in.

Day 7  Kyoto – Osaka 京都 – 大阪

Hotel: Hotel Granvia Osaka or similar / Western room
Meal: B / L / –
After breakfast, start your day at Philosopher’s Walk (哲学の道), is a pleasant stone path through the northern part of Kyoto’s Higashiyama district. This is a great place to visit all year round, as the scenery offers something unique for every season. Next, visit Keage Incline, a disused cargo railway now open as a public space. It offers the perfect setting for leisurely strolls and, in spring, gorgeous cherry blossoms create a stunning contrast to the wistful old rail line running beneath them. After lunch [Yudofu Set] at a local restaurant, transfer to Osaka city for hotel check in. Enjoy your free & easy time in Osaka city. Tonight, dinner is at your own expense

Day 8 Osaka – Singapore 大阪 – 新加坡

After breakfast at the hotel, free at your own leisure until departure.

Bid farewell to Japan as we proceed to the airport and take a flight back to Singapore. We hope that you have enjoyed this vacation with JTB and we look forward to helping you create your next perfect moments, always!

Day 9 Singapore  新加坡
Arrive at Singapore

REMARKS

* All the photos are for illustration purposes only
* The itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions
* Meals indicated are for reference only and subject to change
* Flight schedule is subject to change
* Flower viewing locations are dependent on weather conditions