Day 1 -10

Classic Japan Solo Tour

Be captivated by the unique culture of Japan as you discover lively Tokyo, beautiful Mt Fuji and historic Kyoto. A visit to Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial and the holy island of Miyajima completes this fascinating tour.

Japan

Japan is an isolated archipelago off the coast of mainland China, Russia, and Korea, separated from its Asian neighbours by the Sea of Japan. Between 1639 and 1859, Japan elected to cut itself off from trade or traffic with the rest of the world, except for marginal contact through the southern Kyushu island ports.

Since reopening its doors around 150 years ago, the densely populated islands have developed leaps and bounds, and much of the country is now covered by sprawling neon-lit cities and the world’s most sophisticated public transport networks.

Modern it may be, but Japan retains its mystical oriental charm. From the intricacies of etiquette demanded in social situations to the minimalist décor behind rice paper screens, traditional Japanese culture is alive and well, and visiting Japan is a fascinating experience.

The modern metropolises are dotted with numerous ancient shrines and temples, while the countryside is riddled with hundreds of volcanoes and hot springs overlooking pastoral paddy fields. Parks are decked with rigidly raked white gravel Zen gardens or coated with lilac and cherry blossom layers.

Japan’s islands are mountainous in the interior – 75 per cent of the country’s landmass is made up of mountains – and most people are tightly packed within the coastal plains’ limitations, particularly on Honshu’s main island. Tokyo, the capital and largest city on Honshu’s east coast, has a population of 12 million.

Despite this vast mass of humanity, Japan is well-ordered. Everything runs on time, and crime levels are almost non-existent. It is still possible to find beautiful vistas and vast empty spaces in the countryside, and when you are forced to mingle with the urban throngs, you will find the Japanese charming, courteous, and friendly to foreign faces.

Call us on 01 905 9008 or email sales@thetravelsuite.ie.