Mercury Holidays 2021-2023 Brochure

Journey from incense-scented temples and elegant castles to ultramodern electronics districts as you travel the length of Japan on six train journeys. Experience the grandeur of Mount Fuji, and encounter snow monkeys. Day 1: UK to Sapporo Depart the UK on your scheduled, overnight flight via Hong Kong. Day 2: Sapporo D On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Settle in before tonight’s welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Day 3: Sapporo B Travel to the port city of Otaru and stroll along the Otaru Canal. Take in the delicately blown glassware of the Kitaichi Glass Shop then marvel at the 25,000 music boxes lining the shelves of the Music Box Museum, accompanied by the tinkle of their music. Continue on to the Nikka Whisky Distillery for a tour and a tasting of this peaty whisky before returning to Sapporo. Day 4: Sapporo to Hakodate B Pack an overnight bag for your trip to Hakodate then, after breakfast, board an express train, travelling through the countryside to Hakodate. On arrival, cross the moats that surround the star-shaped former fort of Goryokaku and explore the tranquil green grounds. Next, travel to Mount Hakodate for a cable car ride to its summit. Continue on to your hotel in Hakodate. Day 5: Hakodate to Tokyo B Join Hakodate’s locals this morning as you browse the lively Morning Market, exploring over 280 stores hawking everything from salted squid and hairy crab - culinary specialities of the area, to souvenirs and locally crafted sake. Browse through the wares on offer then board your high- speed train to Tokyo. Day 6: Tokyo B Today’s full-day city tour begins with a visit to the Meiji Shrine. Enter the sprawling complex through a towering wooden gate or ‘torii’ and explore the museum and inner garden. Continue on to Asakusa Kannon Buddhist Temple, Tokyo’s oldest temple, and wander down the age-old Nakamise Shopping Street to reach the main hall and pagoda. Browse the stalls that line Ameya Yokocho Street then visit the magnificent Imperial Palace, taking in its moats, gardens and the picturesque Niju Bridge. Day 7: Tokyo to Hakone B Following breakfast, travel by coach through rolling countryside to Hakone. On arrival, make your way to the Hakone Open Air Museum. Take a Hakone Ropeway ride to a mountaintop station with spectacular vistas of the sparkling waters of Lake Ashi and towering Mount Fuji. A short walking trail leads to Owakudani Valley, an active Tour highlights ✔ Enjoy a full-day tour of Tokyo’s opulent temples and palaces and Buddhist shrines ✔ Take in spectacular views from the base of iconic Mount Fuji ✔ Explore the magnificent Matsumoto Castle, Japan’s oldest castle ✔ See deer roaming in picturesque Nara Park ✔ Witness snow monkeys lounging in the steaming hot springs of Yudanaka ✔ Visit the Hiroshima’s peace memorial and A-Bomb Dome ✔ Marvel at the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto ✔ Tour and tasting at the Nikka Whisky Distillery Grand Tour of Japan 14 days from £3,999 Mount Fuji Sapporo Matsumoto Nagano Kyoto Hiroshima Fukuoka Nara Osaka Hakodate Hakone Tokyo         < < Coach Air Rail Visit our website or call for full prices and departure dates 160 East Asia Rail Tour