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A well-paced itinerary, with moderate accommodation. Active, but not really strenuous, our days of sightseeing will be fairly busy, and may involve a fair bit of walking. We will also have to handle our baggage while travelling by train. Exploration of temples and castles sometimes includes many stairs. There is free time for independent exploration at several points throughout the tour. This is generally in towns where the sights are walkable, and there are many small museums plus temples, shrines, gardens and shops to explore. There is also a full free day in Kyoto.
Transportation: Travel is primarily by Bullet train, local trains and some busses. At the end of the tour, we explore Tokyo by subway and by foot - a faster and more interesting way to get around than in Tokyo traffic. Our guide will ensure we do not get (too) lost!
Accommodation: Mostly Business Hotels with a few nights at Japanese Inns. Rooms will be small, but all have private facilities. Nights at Japanese Inns will feature a futon on the tatami floor - a great experience, and very Japanese.
Meals: Breakfast will be available each day - possibly Western, Japanese or just rolls and coffee. Other meals include 8 lunches and 7 dinners - usually Japanese style, occasionally sitting at a low table on the tatami floor (very traditional!). We have not included all meals as group lunches and dinners can be very expensive - it is much more economical (and interesting!) to choose your meals and pay locally. At lunchtime, we will tend to stop in an area with sandwich/coffee shops and fast food available. Most of our hotels have restaurants, if you don't care to venture out for dinner. Typically there will be lots of choice nearby - our guide will help us with suggestions.
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