Itinerary
Day 1
Saturday Oct 3, 2009.Sydney – Seoul (airport)– Narita (airport) – Tokyo
Staying at: Hotel Edoya
Assemble at 6am(!) at Sydney International Airport for Korean Air flight to Seoul.
Flight KE 122 departs at 8am from Sydney and arrives in Seoul airport at 5:40pm.
Transfer to connecting flight to Narita airport: flight KE 705 departs at 6:40pm from Seoul and arrives in Narita at 8:50pm.
On arrival in Japan, clear immigrations and customs before meeting TEI escort in the Arrivals Hall who will escort us to our coach at Narita airport #2 terminal/arrival level (Bus stop #19) for transfer to Hotel Edoya for 3 nights accommodations. [Coach Transfer: Ryoso Grand Service Co Ltd (Tel: 0011 81 476 35 3773)]
Day 2
Sunday Oct 4, 2009. Tokyo (Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Mitaka, Ikebukuro)
Staying at: Hotel Edoya
After breakfast, buy a “Tokyo Free Ticket” (1580 yen) from local train station, travelling to Tokyo station and change for the JR Yamanote Line to Harajuku and Shibuya to look at the current pop culture in Japan .
Have lunch at Shinjuku, then travel by JR train to Mitaka and catch the neko-bus (200 yen) to Ghibli Museum (4pm)
Return to Shibuya station and travel up to Ikebukuro for some shopping and dinner.
Return to Tokyo station and Hotel Edoya by 9pm.
Day 3
Monday Oct 5, 2009.Tokyo (Ueno, Asakusa, Akihabara) & Tokyo Disneyland
Staying at: Hotel Edoya
After breakfast, buy a “Tokyo Free Ticket” (1580 yen) from local train station, travelling to Tokyo station and change for the JR Yamanote Line and Ginza Metro Line to Asakusa to look at traditional Tokyo artefacts and visit the famous Sensoji (Asakusa Kannon Temple), then up to Ueno to visit the famous Ameyoko shopping street.
Travel back down to Akihabara to have lunch and look at the latest technology and gadgets in Japan, then return to Tokyo station to catch the JR train via JR Keiyo Line to Tokyo Disneyland.
Spend rest of day at Tokyo Disneyland, returning to Tokyo station for dinner and back at Hotel Edoya by 10pm.
Day 4
Tuesday Oct 6, 2009. Tokyo – Shin-Osaka – Hiroshima
Staying at: New Hiroden Hotel
After breakfast, pack all luggage and leave latest by 10am to prepare for the 5 hour shinkansen ride from Tokyo to Hiroshima!
We will first catch the JR Tokaido Line from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka (approx. 3 hrs) and stop for lunch, then travel via the JR Sanyo Line to Hiroshima (approx. 2 hrs).
Upon arrival, check-in to New Hiroden Hotel for 2 nights accommodation, then have a look at the streets and department stores around Hiroshima station, before travelling via local bus for dinner at the local shops near the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
Day 5
Wednesday Oct 7, 2009.Hiroshima (Miyajima Island, Peace Memorial Park)
Staying at: New Hiroden Hotel
After breakfast, walk to Hiroshima station and catch JR train via JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi Station, then catch a JR ferry from the Miyajima ferry pier to Miyajima Island, visiting the famous Itsukushima Shrine, the 5-storey red Pagoda, Senjokaku (Hall of One Thousand Mats) and the beautiful Omatesando shopping street.
Return to Hiroshima station for lunch, then catch local streetcar (route 2 or 6) to Genbaku Domu mae (A-Bomb Dome) and visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and surrounding attractions.
Have dinner at nearby local shopping district, before catching streetcar and returning to New Hiroden Hotel by 9pm.
Day 6
Thursday Oct 8, 2009.Hiroshima – Kyoto – Himeji (Himeji Castle)
Staying at: Kyoto Tower Hotel Annex
After breakfast, pack all luggage and catch the shinkansen from Hiroshima to Kyoto via Shin-Osaka (approx. 2 hrs).
Drop off luggage at Kyoto Tower Hotel Annex (4 nights accommodation), before travelling by JR train to Himeji to visit the famous Himeji Castle and surrounding areas.
Return to Kyoto station for hotel check-in, then shopping/sightseeing of surrounding areas and dinner, before returning to hotel by 9pm.
Day 7
Friday Oct 9, 2009.Kyoto (castles, temples and shrines)
Staying at: Kyoto Tower Hotel Annex
After breakfast, catch the local buses (500 yen 1-day travel pass) from Kyoto station to go and sightsee traditional Kyoto, including the famous Kiyomizudera (Pure Water Temple), Nijo Castle, Heian Shrine, Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion).
Travel by streetcar to Omotesando shopping street for dinner, returning to Kyoto Tower Hotel Annex by 9pm.
Day 8
Saturday Oct 10, 2009.Kyoto (Toei Eigamura, Kyoto Handicraft Centre)
Staying at: Kyoto Tower Hotel Annex
After breakfast, catch Kyoto City Bus #206 (get off at Kumano Jinja-mae)to visit the Kyoto Handicraft Centre and (if available) take a lesson on how to make traditional koma (wooden spinning tops).
We can also look at displays and watch artists demonstrate their skills at making traditional Kyoto handicrafts.
Return to Kyoto station and catch a JR train to Hanazono station and visit the famous Toei Eigamura (Toei Movie Village), show-casing a huge collection of Power Rangers, traditional movie sets, a traditional ghost house, and a ‘adventure ride’. If our timing is right, we may get to watch a Ninja show, too
Return to Kyoto station and have dinner, arriving back at Kyoto Tower Hotel Annex by 9pm.
Day 9
Sunday Oct 11, 2009. side trip to Nara
Staying at: Kyoto Tower Hotel Annex
After breakfast, catch JR train from Kyoto to Nara to sightsee and visit the famous Kofuku-ji and Todai-ji temples.
Return to Kyoto station to catch local bus and have dinner/sightseeing/shopping at Omotesando shopping street. Arrive back at Kyoto Tower Hotel Annex by 9pm.
Day 10
Monday Oct 12, 2009. Kyoto – Kansai – Seoul – Sydney
(overnight on plane)
After breakfast, pack all luggage and board the JR Haruka Limited Express from Kyoto to Kansai Airport (approx. 1 hr). Check-in for afternoon flight to Seoul: flight KE 724 departs from Kansai at 1:40pm and arrives in Seoul at 3:30pm. Upon arrival, transfer to connecting flight to Sydney: flight KE 121 departs from Seoul at 7:10pm.
Day 11
Tuesday Oct 13, 2009.Arrive in Sydney
KE 121 arrives in Sydney at 7:10am. Clear immigration, pick up luggage and clear customs, then return home