Trip Highlights
Discover the Enchanting Kenroku-en Garden
Enjoy the strolling-style landscape garden of Kenroku-en, one of Japan’s most beautiful.
Join Your Botanical Guide Simon Rickard
Travel with celebrity gardener Simon Rickard, who has a passion for Japan and its gardens.
Admire Ryoanji Garden
Visit Ryoanji Temple, a World Heritage-listed site, known for its rock garden, considered one of the finest surviving in the world.
Trip Inclusions
- Travel with a small group of 15-25 guests, escorted by expert Botanical Guide, Simon Rickard
- Includes 11 nights’ accommodation in centrally located four-star hotels, return private transfers from door to door, tipping and porterage, plus 30 meals and select beverages
- Relax aboard a comfortable coach with an experienced and informative Tour Manager
- All sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary
- Discover Japanese strolling gardens and zen gardens in spectacular autumn colour
- Visit the world-famous gardens, Kenroku-en and Koraku-en, as well as the Japanese Zen garden, Ryoan-ji, with your Botanical Guide
- Explore Matsue castle and the impressive golden Kinkakuji
- Explore the cities of Tokyo, Kyoto & Kanazawa and learn about their history
Map & Itinerary
Trip Notes
- Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
- Fitness Rating: Medium - involves walking on uneven surfaces and stairs, and being able to stand for up to one hour, while keeping up with the pace of the group
- Group size: 15-25 guests
- Some excursions may require a high level of mobility and fitness
- Our experience of gardens, their flora, and other aspects of nature, is subject to weather conditions and seasonality, which may vary
- Travel by bullet train or private coach
Tokyo
Be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. This evening enjoy a Welcome Dinner to meet your fellow travellers and Botanical Guide.
Stay: Three Nights: Tokyo, Keio Plaza Hotel or similar
Daily :Tokyo Sights, including Meiji Shrine, Nezu Museum and Roppongi Hills Mori Tower
Visit Meiji Shrine, an oasis of serenity in the heart of the city, surrounded by over 100,000 trees displaying their beautiful autumn leaves. Afterwards, visit Nezu Museum, with its excellent collection of Japanese and East Asian art, hidden within a forest-like garden. After lunch, enjoy incredible views over Tokyo from Roppongi Hills Mori Tower before finishing the day at Kiyosumi Garden, a traditional Japanese strolling garden.
Daily :Nikko Autumn Leaves, Toshogu Shrine, Tamozawa Imperial Villa and Kirifuri Falls
Travel to the town of Nikko, the historical centre of Shinto and Buddhism, renowned for its spectacular autumn colours. Visit the Toshogu Shrine complex and the Tamozawa Imperial Villa. From here, we head to Kirifuri Falls, translating as ‘falling mist’, for spectacular views.
Daily :Asakusa, Senso-ji Temple and Kanazawa
Visit Asakusa, Tokyo’s Old Town, where you’re able to enjoy some time to shop. Afterwards, visit Senso-ji Temple before boarding a bullet train to Kanazawa.
Stay: Two Nights: Kanazawa, Tokyu Hotel or similar
Daily :Kanazawa, Omicho Market and Kenroku-en Garden
This morning visit Omicho Market, home to more than 200 stalls. We then visit Kenroku-en garden, classified as one of Japan’s most beautiful, which will be delightful in the autumn. Afterwards visit the Nomura Samurai House, a traditional Japanese home with a tea-ceremony room, an interior courtyard garden and artifacts from the Edo period.
Daily :Kanazawa to Kyoto, Tenryu-ji Temple and Arashiyama
Travel via express train to Kyoto, with many incredible gardens and home to the famous geisha. On arrival, visit the World Heritage-listed Tenryuji temple, then travel through the the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove which is unlike any other place in Japan.
Stay: Three Nights: Kyoto, Tokyu Hotel or similar
Daily :Ryoan-ji Temple and Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji Temple
Visit Ryoan-ji Temple, a World Heritage-listed site known for its rock garden, which is considered to be one of the finest in the world. Our travels then take us to Kinkaku-ji, also known as the ‘Golden Pavilion’. Its top two floors, covered completely in gold leaf, render it resplendent. Nijo Castle then presents its sprawling grounds, alive with autumn colour. We round out our day with a visit to Ginkaku-ji Temple, the ‘Silver Pavilion’, whose beautiful moss garden is complemented by a unique dry sand garden.
Daily :Nara, Nara Park, Kasuga Shrine and Todai-ji Temple
Today, we travel to the former capital of Nara to admire the imposing Todai-ji Temple, which was once the world’s largest wooden structure. At Nara Park, we share the open green spaces with a large population of tame deer. From here, we head to Kasuga Taisha shrine, the Shinen Manyo Botanical Garden and the Heian Shrine, whose garden represents those of the Meiji era.
Daily :Matsue Castle, Adachi Museum and Shimane
Travel by bullet train to Matsue to visit Matsue Castle, known as the ‘Black Castle’. It is one of only a few wooden medieval castles remaining in Japan today. A visit to the Adachi Museum of Art then proves an exciting experience. The museum’s picture-perfect garden is manicured and maintained to a breathtaking level by no fewer than seven highly skilled full-time gardeners. This is truly one of the most magnificent gardens in Japan.
Stay: Shimane, Matsue Excel Tokyu Hotel or similar
Daily :Mount Daisen, Koraku-en and Okayama
Travel to Mount Daisen this morning and see the autumn leaves of the surrounding landscape before continuing to Okayama. The city’s famed Koraku-en is one of Japan’s most significant gardens – its name means ‘garden of pleasure after’.
Stay: Okayama, ANA Crowne Plaza Okayama or similar
Daily :Kurashiki Sightseeing, Ohashi House, Okayama to Osaka
We make our way to nearby Kurashiki today and visit its canal area, where we find many traditional rice storehouses – the city was once a critical distribution point for the country’s most important commodity. At Ohashi House, we see the former home of one of Japan’s wealthy merchant families. Afterwards, we are taken east by bullet train to Osaka, where we enjoy a Farewell Dinner this evening.
Stay: Osaka, Granvia Hotel or similar
Daily :Osaka
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport as your journey concludes.
Daily :In all we had a fantastic holiday. We would recommend Botanica to all who'll ask.
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