Japan 11 Days in Kanto, Kansai & Hokkaido (Jul.-Dec.) (code: DBP11E-1)

Upon arrival of Tokyo Narita International Airport, take free shuttle bus from the airport to hotel. A local staff will wait at Tokyo Narita International Airport (Terminal 1 & 2) from 10:30am to 21:30pm. He/she will assist you to find the shuttle bus.
Important Information:

1. Please let us know your flight details at least one week ahead of the arrival day.

2. Hotel check-in is available after 3PM.
3. Passengers arriving at other time can take free shuttle bus to the hotel on their own. The last free shuttle  bus departs at 22:30pm.  If you cannot catch it, please take taxi to hotel on your own. (Taxi fare, approx.AUD32 per way, is on your own account.)

After breakfast, visit Sensoji Temple, the oldest temple in Tokyo and definitely a must-visit for tourists to Tokyo. In front of the temple is Nakamise Dori - a narrow street flanked by stands selling a variety of souvenir.  View from afar the world’s tallest free-standing tower - Tokyo Skytree. 
Enjoy barbecue lunch.  Then proceed to Imperial Palace Outer Garden. Meander around  this scenic area  highlighted by the visit to Nijubashi Bridge, which is widely regarded as the emblem of Tokyo.  The last stop today is Ginza Tokyu Plaza, a new landmark in the bustling Ginza area. 

Additional tours (free) for groups in autumn between 16th Oct and 27th Nov: 
1. Icho Namiki Avenue of Meiji Jingu Gaien: ginkgo trees flanking the avenue blaze bright yellow in autumn     
2. Yoyogi Park: vibrant maple leaves in autumn
3. Rikugien Garden: in Edo-period style, offers amazing seasonal hues in fall foliage season 

Head for Mt.Fuji in  the  morning. The bus would stop at Mt.Fuji 5^th Station.  At an altitude of 2305 meters,  it is said to be an perfect place to view the mountain top in a distance.
After the mountain trip, proceed to Oshino Hakkai for distinctive Japanese countryside view. Spend some leisure time at Fuji Bussharito Heiwa Park (Park of Peace).  Japanese people built parks across the country in the name of peace to express their determination to uphold peace after devastating World War II. Fuji Bussharito Heiwa Park stands out with a white stupa which is a gift from Indian government.
Check in a hot spring resort hotel. Why not take a hot spring bath to refresh yourself!

Important Information:
If it’s not accessible on bad-weather day, Mt.Fuji 5^th Station  will be replaced by Mt.Fuji World Heritage Centre. 

Go shopping at a jewelry store. Step back in time at  Kiyomizu-dera Temple, the oldest temple of Kyoto.  Standing on the its veranda,  you could have a commanding view of Kyoto city.  
Do not skip Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka on the way to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. They are two  narrow streets lined with shops of souvenirs and snacks.  At the other end of the streets is Gion,  an entertainment district, particularly famous for geisha performance. With lovingly preserved scenes, Gion is also an ideal place for visitors tracing past times. Stroll along Hanami Lane at dusk, you might run into geishas passing by.
 The nearby Yasaka-jinja Shrine is the most revered shrine among the over 3000 Shinto shrines across Japan, attracting a large number of devout worshippers praying for good fortune.
Dinner is on your own. You are recommended to try a traditional dining at a townhouse on Hanami Lane.
Additional tour (free) for groups in autumn between 16^th Oct and 27^th Nov:   Togetsukyo Bridge of Arashiyama 

In Japan, a third of shrines worship Inari, a god in charge of farming and business. This  morning you will visit  Fushimi Inari Taisha, the head of all these roughly 9000 Inari shrines. The imposing Senbo Torri clearly tells the shrine’s popularity among worshippers praying for good harvest and prosperous business.

Proceed to Nara Park and interact with free-roaming tame deer, believed to be sacred messengers of the Shinto gods.  Walk through the park, you will arrive at KasugaTaisha Shrine.  Four gods enshrined attract devotees, while photographers are enthralled by its ancient architecture in harmony with natural surroundings.
Go shopping at a duty free shop  and aslo famous Shinsaibashi, the largest shopping district in Osaka.
Dinner on your own. Try to find what make your mouth water at Dotonbori Food Street , the paradise for Japanese food lovers. 

After breakfast, take hotel shuttle bus to Kansai International Airport.
Board the flight to Sapporo for the tour in Hokkaido. Upon arrival, guests would be picked up by a guide and proceed to check in hotel.  Free for the rest of the day!

Start your Hokkaido sightseeing with a visit to Farm Tomita, the largest one in Hokkaido, with a variety of over 150 kinds of flowers. Then proceed to Biei, a beautiful hilly town. Enjoy buffet lunch of delicious Furano food. The next will be your eyes that enjoy the most with the visit to Shikisai no oka (Flower Farm). Rows of flowers orderly planted on a land of 7 hectares is itself a spectacular view, especially in flower seasons from spring to autumn.  Also you will visit stunning Blue Pond, a by-product of a cut-off dam built to stop volcanic lava.  
At the end of the day, the group will arrive at Sounkyo Gorge. Check in a local onsen hotel where you would also have buffet dinner. 

Important Information:
During November and December,  the group will visit Ningle Terrace, instead of Farm Tomita.  Ningle Terrace is a complex of cabins in woods, inspired by an 15cm elf from a novel of Japanese writer So Kuramoto.  Another change would be the replacement of Shikisai no oka by Otokoyama Sake Brewery. 

Activity Take a morning tour of Sounkyo Valley, the centre of  Daisetsuzan National Park.  This meandering valley has more than plenty of high precipice, varied waterfalls, streams, flowers and colorful autumn leaves. Waterfall of Ginga, Waterfall of Meteor, Oobako Valley, Walkway of  Momijidani….to name just a few.
At Abashiri, which is most famous for its Ryuhyo drift ice, visit Okhotsk Ryu-hyo Museum. Experience a world of drift ice at minus 15 ℃ and get to meet “sea angle”.   Some free time at crystally clear Lake Kussharo-ko.   More stunning will be the visit to Lake Mashu, “the lake of devil”. As deep as 212 meters itself,  the lake’s center is actually a 240-meter volcano.   This crater lake is said to be the clearest one in the world. 
Enjoy a hot spring bath and also buffet dinner in hotel.

This morning, take a cruise on Lake Akan, another crater lake and natural habitat of lovely marino.   See the gathering of hundreds of Japanese red-crowned cranes in Kushiro Marsh.
Proceed to Tokachi-gawa and check in a local onsen hotel. Have dinner of Hokkaido beef and in-season vegetables from local farm. 

Important Information:
In DecemberAkan Lake cruise will be replaced by performance of Ainu folk dance and visit to Ryugetsu Sweetpia Garden (or Kofuku Station).

Visit Noboribetsu Jigokudani,  a valley in quintessential volcanic landform.  Better known as Hell Valley, it spells an demonic atmosphere combining bleached rocks, steaming pools,  sulfuric odor, and barren landscape.

Enjoy lunch of Japanese seafood hot-pot (or Japanese Bento) before moving to Bear Park.  Over 70 brown bears are now living in the park. Get as close as merely a layer of glass between you and adult bears (subject to availability).

Take Usuzan ropeway ascending to get an over-look of Lake Toya and a close view of the crater of Mount Showa-shinzan.

Later on, proceed to Jozankei and check in onsen hotel.  Dinner of local cuisine is also included.

After breakfast, take coach to Otaru and walk along tranquil Otaru Canal.  The township of nostalgic buildings tells its glorious  past as one of Japan's chief trade, financial and business centers.  Visit Kitaichi Glass Otaru where hosts several glasswork studios where Artisans create beautiful handcrafted glass. Visitors can also DIY glass in the studios.
Around 11:30am, you will arrive at New Chitose Airport for your homebound flight.
(Please book flight with departure time after 13:30pm.)