Japan - Mount Fuji and Beyond
Holiday Itinerary
Day 1: Rendezvous at the group hotel in Kyoto. A single group transfer from the airport is provided. KE Land Only package services begin with overnight accommodation at the group hotel.
Day 2: A day of sightseeing in Kyoto, visiting the World Heritage Sanjusangendo temple and Kiyomizu-dera, a vibrant Buddhist temple. Evening visit to Gion Corner and Geisha district.
Day 3: We take the express train to Osaka Castle. In the afternoon, there will be a beginner's aikido lesson in Osaka.
Day 4: We take a bus ride to the mountains of Shiga Prefecture, where we take part in the fun activity of 'sawanobori' - ghyll scrambling. Return to Kyoto for a well earned dinner.
Day 5: Today we will visit Kyoto's Golden Pavillion, and also travel to Sagano, to hike the historic 'Kiyotaki' trail to Arashiyama, via the Zen temple of Tenryuji.
Day 6: A free day in Kyoto, with the option to make an unaccompanied day trip to the ancient city of Nara, or to Hiroshima and the famous Miyajima Island.
Day 7: A morning drive to mountainous Hida District and the city of Takayama. Afternoon at the Hida Folk Village, an open-air display of traditional architecture. Overnight in a traditional Ryokan.
Day 8: Visit the early morning market beside the Miyagawa River and explore the old-town. Also go to Ankokuji Temple and hike in the forest nearby. A second night in our Ryokan.
Day 9: Bus to Shinhodaka Onsen and cable car up into the Japanese Alps. A 3-hour hike from here will take us to the top of Nishihodoppyo Peak (2701m). Descend to the Nishihodaka Hut.
Day 10: Today we have a 4-hour hike along a ridge to Yakedake, an active volcano with a complex of craters. Descend to Kamikochi and spend a second night in a mountain hut.
Day 11: Transfer today to Kawaguchiko in the area known as Fuji Go-Ko. Picturesque lakes and Mount Fuji provide great photo opportunities.
Day 12: After a morning at the Mount Fuji Visitor Centre, we take a bus to the start of our ascent and from there hike for 3 hours to a hut at 3200 metres. Great views back to Lake Kawaguchi.
Day 13: Setting off at around 1.30am it takes 3 to 4 hours to reach the summit. After admiring the dawn views, we descend to the roadhead and take the bus to Tokyo and our hotel.
Day 14: KE Land Only package services end after breakfast. A single, timed escorted transfer to the airport is provided.
Altitude
This holiday involves going to high altitude. During the course of your trip you will reach altitudes in excess of 3500 metres. This is not something that you should worry about; the human body is quite capable of adapting to a very wide range of altitudes, but it is important that we follow some simple rules in order to acclimatise successfully. Before coming on this holiday you should read the advice on trekking at high altitude.
