EUROPAMUNDO - SOUTH JAPAN EXPRESS TOUR PACKAGE

Day 1  OSAKA  
 Welcome to Japan! Transfer to the hotel and free time. You will receive information about the start of the circuit during the afternoon. At the end of the evening we will return to the hotel.

Hotel = CANDEO OSAKA NAMBA Or Similar

Day 2   OSAKA - HIMEJI - KORAKUEN GARDENS - OKAYAMA

We leave for HIMEJI, where we will include entry to its immense complex that shows us the architecture of Japanese castles. Lunch included in a local restaurant. We go on to OKAYAMA, where we will visit Korakuen, one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan, with its lakes, waterfalls and traditional teahouses. Next, we head towards the Shinto shrine of Kibitsu-Jinja where the God Kibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto is venerated, which is the origin of the legend of Momotaro, symbol of Okayama Prefecture. We find a unique architecture with a corridor of 360 meters long. After the visit, free time in the city, active provincial capital of just over 700,000 inhabitants.Note: On some dates, we may be accommodated in FUKUYAMA or KURASHIKI. When this happens, the visit to Kibitsu-Jinja Temple will be cancelled. The visit to Kurashiki can be made on the same day in the afternoon. At the end of the evening we will return to the hotel.
Distance travelled: 190 km 

8.00 hrs.- Osaka -Departure-. We continue to Osaka Bay.

09.45 hrs.-HIMEJI -Arrival-. Admission to the huge castle is included, which is built in the traditional style of a Japanese castle. Lunch included.

Day 3   OKAYAMA - KURASHIKI - ITSUKUSHIMA - HIROSHIMA

We leave for KURASHIKI, a city with a very well preserved historical centre. Time for a stroll in this charming place with its atmosphere from the past. We continue on our way to HIROSHIMA, a city sadly known for the atomic bomb that fell on it in 1945 and which levelled the city. We will stroll around the Peace Memorial, the Dome of the bomb and we will visit the impressive Museum of Peace. After the war we will seek peace by embarking on a ferry to the island "where men and gods live together", with the sanctuary of ITSUKUSHIMA dedicated to the guardian of the seas, built partially over the sea. Time to visit the temple, to stroll around its pretty centre and have lunch. Return to our hotel in Hiroshima. Dinner included. Note: The order of the visits in Hiroshima may vary without affecting their content.

Distance travelled: 220 Km Scenery: Pleasant scenery. Boat trip to Miyajima.

8.00 hrs.- Okayama -Departure-.

8.30 hrs.- KURASHIKI, a city with a very well-preserved historic centre. Time to explore this city with its old-world charm.

10.00 hrs.- Kursahiki -Departure12.30 hrs.- HIROSHIMA, arrival to the city that is sadly famous as the site where the atomic bomb fell in 1945, destroying the whole city. We will visit the peace memorial, the dome and the impressive Peace Memorial Museum. Time for lunch after the visits. Then, we continue to the outskirts of the city and take a small ferry on a 15-minute crossing to Miyajima, the island where "man lives alongside the Gods". Visit to ITSUKUSHIMA shrine, dedicated to the guardian of the seas and partially built on the sea. Time to explore the temple and stroll through the pretty centre.

Day 4   HIROSHIMA - MATSUYAMA

Today we will take a ferry to Shikoku Island, on a pleasant crossing that lasts two hours and a half and see the many islands that make up Japan. In MATSUYAMA we will take the cable car up to its impressive castle. Afterwards, we will visit ISHITEJI, a beautiful Buddhist temple and a place of pilgrimage. Lunch included. In the late afternoon, we will visit DOGO ONSEN (admission included), a traditional Japanese bath facility built in the 19th century.

Distance travelled: Journey by boat. Crossing of about 50 km.

Scenery: Interesting scenery on board, passing close to many different islands.

Day 5   MATSUYAMA - KOTOHIRA - TAKAMATSU - NARUTO - KOBE

Note: In the evening we will board a ferry to Japan. Do not forget bring your passport. Note: The itinerary for the We depart for KOTOHIRA, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the God of sailors and a place of pilgrimage. The shrine stands on Mount Zosu and is reached by climbing 785 steps. Afterwards in TAKAMATSU we will visit RITSURIN, one of the prettiest gardens in Japan. Lunch included. Then, in NARUTO, we cross an impressive bridge over the sea, stopping on the way to admire the construction and walk on its glass floor with the sea 45 metres below us. Our road is surrounded by beautiful scenery and then crosses long bridges between islands over the sea.

Distance travelled: 345 km

Scenery: Pleasant mountain scenery in some places. We walk along huge suspension bridges over the sea. Wear comfortable walking shoes for the journey. 7.30 hrs- Matsuyama.- Departure10.00 hrs.- KOTOHIRA, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the God of fishermen and a place of pilgrimage built on Mount Zozu. To access it, it is necessary to climb 785 steps. Those who do not want to climb the mountain can enjoy sightseeing and visit the small Sake Museum (the traditional Japanese liqueur).

12.00hrs.- Kotohira -Departure-.

13.00 hrs.- TAKAMATSU. Visit to RITSURIN, one of the prettiest gardens in Japan. Lunch included in a local restaurant.

15.00 hrs.- Takamatsu -Departure-.

16.15 hrs.- NARUTO, an impressive bridge that crosses the sea. We will stop to learn how it was built and walk along its glass floor with the impressive waves below us (depending on the times and tides) at a height of 45 metres.

17.15hrs.- Naruto -Departure-. Pretty scenery as we cross huge suspension bridges.

19.00hrs.- KOBE.- Arrival. Modern city by the sea, you can walk through its active center. Arrival in KOBE, accommodation.

Meals = Breakfast Lunch

Hotel = KOBE MERIKEN PARK ORIENTAL HOTEL Or Similar

Day 6   KOBE - OSAKA

In Kobe we visited the Earthquake Memorial Museum, a place to remind the tragic seism that devastated the city in 1995 and its perfect reconstruction. We go on to OSAKA, arrival at noon.