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Luxury EscapadesEscortedGroupHighlightsDay 4: To Hakone National ParkMorning departure to Mount Fuji, Japan’s mostfamous natural landmark, considered to beone of the most beautiful conical volcanoes inthe world. Visit Mount Fuji 5th Station beforeheading to Hakone National Park, with its lakesand peaks. Travel through the Owakudani BoilingValley and finish with a cruise on Lake Ashi. HotelKowakien – 1 night (B)Day 5: To HiroshimaTravel by bullet train to Hiroshima and experiencethe impressive speed and even more impressiveefficiency of Japan’s railways and in particularthe famous engineering feat of the Shinkansen,or bullet train. Continue onto Miyajima Island.Visit Itsukushima Shrine, with the famous redTorii Gate rising from the harbour. IwasoRyokan – 1 night (B, D)Day 6: To KyotoOption: Morning walking tour of Mount Misen.At 1640 ft above sea level, this is the highestpeak on Miyajima. On clear days, it affordsspectacular views of the Seto Inland Sea and asfar as Hiroshima City. There are also a numberof Buddhist structures near the peak. A ropewayleads up the mountain from town, but it is alsopossible to climb up on foot.Late morning, transfer to Hiroshima and visitHiroshima Castle, the A-bomb Museum and thePeace Memorial Park, built to commemorate thedropping of the atomic bomb over Hiroshima anddedicated to promoting peace around the world.This evening, take the bullet train to Kyoto. KyotoRoyal Hotel & Spa – 2 nights (B, L)experience a Japanese tea ceremony and Maikodance. (B, L)Day 8: To Nara & OsakaMorning visit to Nijo Castle and KiyomizuTemple. In the afternoon, take a tour to Nara,home to Japan’s original emperors, includingTodaiji Temple, with its fine wooden sculpturesand huge bronze Buddha, the Kasuga Shrine andNara Park. Covering a finely wooded area of 5.25hectares, the Nara Park is popularly known asDeer Park for its herd of over 1,000 gentle deer.Drive to Osaka and visit the Observation Deckat the Umeda Sky Building. Sheraton MiyakoOsaka – 1 night (B)Day 9: Depart OsakaToday you will be transferred to Osaka airportfor your international flight (B)Travel in Japan: Japan is like no other Asiancountry, due to the prohibitively high costs ofvehicle rental and wages. This tour has beendesigned for groups traveling in chartered vehiclesand Japan’s efficient public transport system,accompanied by a national escort and cannot bereplicated for independent travelers.FestivalDepartures:May 13• From futuristic Tokyoto imperial Kyoto,speed across Japan onbullet trains• Festival Departures• Discover the splendorof Mount Fuji• Travel by boat to MiyajimaIsland and admire thebeautiful Itsukushima Shrine• Stay in a traditionalJapanese Ryokan• Visit Hiroshima Castle• Experience a Japanese TeaCeremony and Maiko danceOptionals• Walking tour ofMount MisenNote: Please contact your tourconsultant for further details.On festival departures some elements of the sightseeing program may beshortened or not included to allow time for the events. Please ask for a moredetailed itinerary.Aoi Festival in Kyoto & Toshogu Festival in NikkoThis tour starts in Kyoto and ends in Tokyo and includes Aoi Festival in Kyoto,dating back to the 6th century, and the Toshogu Festival in Nikko, with aprocession of over 1,000 people dressed as Samurais.Day 7: KyotoFull day tour of Kyoto, the heart of ancient Japan.Visit Kinkakuji Temple, known as the GoldenPavilion, the Sake Museum to learn more aboutJapan’s national drink, and the hillside Fushimi-Inari Shrine. After a traditional lunch, visit aMaiko (apprentice Geisha) house, where you willwww.coxandkings.comJul 10Oct 15Gion FestivalKyoto’s largest festival spans the entire month of July and is crowned by thebeautiful parade, the Yama-boko Junk, on 17 July.Kyoto's Jidai Festival & Toshogu Festival in NikkoJidai Festival commemorates the founding of Kyoto.Asia & Pacific 2011 I 35