Included in this offer :

• The 12-day / 11-night tour in the accommodation mentioned (or similar)
• Your stay in Japan from day 1 to day 6
  - Breakfast and dinner at a Ryokan in Hakone
  - Airport-hotel transfer by group shuttle bus
  - The Kyoto - Odawara Shinkansen trip in second class
  - 2-day Hakone Free Pass in Hakone from Odawara
  - Odawara - Tokyo by second-class Shinkansen train
  - Luggage transfer (1 bag/person) from Kyoto to Tokyo
• Stay in Taiwan from day 7 to day 12
  - Taiwan transfers in air-conditioned bus
  - The services of a professional English-speaking tour guide during your stay in Taiwan
  - Private transfer from the hotel to Taipei Airport
• Economy class international flight from Tokyo to Taipei

✆ Any questions?

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THE WONDERS OF JAPAN AND TAIWAN

Discover the gems of Japan and the treasures of Taiwan on this 12-day private tour.

Your day-by-day itinerary:

Days 1 to 2: Kyoto

Day 3: Kyoto - Hakone (in French)

Day 4: Hakone - Tokyo (in French)

Days 5 to 6: Tokyo

Day 7: Tokyo - Taipei**

Day 8: Taipei - Taichung

Day 9: Tainan - Kaohsiung

Day 10: Kenting - Kaohsiung National Park

Day 11: Kaohsiung - Tainan

Day 12: Tainan - Lukang - Taipei

Your detailed itinerary

DAY 1 | Arrival in Osaka

On arrival at Osaka airport, you will be directed to the taxi departure point. You will then take a shared shuttle bus to your hotel in Kyoto. The journey is estimated to take between 2 hrs 30 and 3 hrs.

Luggage drop-off. Check-in from 2 p.m.
Make your own arrangements for the rest of the day and for meals.

Suggested visits:

Nijo Castle, built in 1603, was the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa shoguns. A true symbol of their power, it sits in the middle of several magnificent gardens.

Gion stroll Formerly reserved for pilgrims on their way to the nearby Yasaka sanctuary, the district quickly became associated with the world of geisha, known as geiko in Kyoto.

DAY 2 | Kyoto

Breakfast at the hotel.
Free day - make your own dining arrangements.

Suggested visits:

Kinkaku-ji, or the Golden Pavilion, as it's usually better known, is the Rokuon-ji Buddhist temple of the Rinzai Zen school. It earned its nickname because of its magnificent walls covered in gold leaf.

Ryoan-ji, monastery of the Rinzai school, is best known for its rock garden created in the classic Zen style: fifteen stones of different shapes and sizes are laid out on a bed of fine gravel in such a way that no matter where you stand, you can only see fourteen at a time.

Stroll through the Nishiki market, full of Kyoto street foot, where a festival of smells and flavours awaits.

Kiyomizu-dera, a complex located in the mountains to the east of Kyoto.

DAY 3 | Kyoto - Hakone

Breakfast at the hotel.
(One suitcase per person for Tokyo).
Arriving the following day, make sure you have packed for a night's stay in Hakone.

Transfer to Kyoto station and Shinkansen (high-speed train) to Odawara.

Hakone is a famous spa resort in the heart of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, a popular holiday destination for many Tokyoites seeking an escape from the stress of the big city. Built on an ancient volcano home to a caldera twelve kilometres in circumference, the town boasts magnificent landscapes that change with the seasons, set off by a lake surrounded by mountains and Mount Fuji in the background.

Start using the 2-day Hakone Free Pass from Odawara.

Transfer by train with your pass to Tonosawa (25 mins, with one change). Drop off your belongings. Check-in from 3 p.m.

Free day, make your own lunch arrangements.

Overnight stay at the Ryokan.

DAY 4 | Head to Tokyo

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out before 10 a.m.
Transfer to Odawara station (using your Hakone Free Pass).
Shinkansen (high-speed train) to Tokyo.

Tokyo, formerly known as Edo, is the capital and economic heart of Japan, and its conurbation is the largest megalopolis in the world with over 40 million inhabitants. It's a city bursting with activity, day and night, where there are virtually no town planning regulations, and where you'll find skyscrapers right next to old Japanese houses, or state-of-the-art buildings just round the corner from ancient shrines and their gardens.

Transfer to your hotel in Tokyo, check-in from 3 p.m.
Make your own arrangements for the rest of the day and for meals.
Overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 5 | Tokyo

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free day - make your own dining arrangements.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Suggested visits:

The Tokyo National Museum is Japan's oldest and largest museum.

Stroll through the Ameyoko market.

The Asakusa district, also known as the Old Town or Old Edo, is home to Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple: Senso-ji.

Akihabara is a district of two halves: on the one hand, it's known for its electronics and the hundreds of small shops and big names competing for an ever-growing market, and on the other, its popular culture centred on cartoons, manga, and video games...

DAY 6 | Last day in Tokyo

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free day.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Suggested visits:

Tokyo City Hall

The Meiji Jingu is Tokyo's most important Shinto shrine. The souls of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken, are venerated at this shrine, which lies at the heart of a forest comprising over one hundred thousand trees from all over Japan.

Stroll around Harajuku, a fashion hotspot for teenagers.

Omotesando, a stone's throw from the eclectic Harajuku district, is commonly referred to as "Tokyo's Champs-Elysées". Along this avenue you can find the crème de la crème in terms of fashion and luxury in buildings designed by fashionable architects.

The Shibuya district is reputed to be the most heavily populated in the world.

DAY 7 | Departure for Taipei

Start the day with a delicious breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast, meet in the hotel lobby for an air-conditioned transfer to the airport.

Then board your flight to Taipei.

When you arrive in Taipei, you will be transferred privately to your hotel.

Free day.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 8 | Taipei - Sun Moon Lake - Taichung

Please arrive at your hotel in the lobby at 7:30 a.m.

On the first morning of your tour of the island of Taiwan, you will set off from the centre of Taipei and head to the heart of the island, in the national area of outstanding natural beauty known as the Lake of the Sun and Moon.

The Sun and Moon Lake, the largest freshwater lake on the island, is split in half by the island of Lalu. The eastern side of the lake resembles the sun, while the western side resembles the waxing moon, giving the lake its unique name. This picturesque region is also the homeland of the Thao people, one of Taiwan's indigenous groups. With its incredible indigenous culture and abundant natural beauty, the Sun and Moon Lake has established itself as one of Taiwan's top must-see destinations.

After lunch, your journey continues with a visit to Ita Thao, an indigenous village where you can enjoy insights into the Thao people's culture and way of life. You will then admire the grandeur of the Ci'en pagoda, an iconic monument on the Lake of the Sun and Moon built by the late president Chiang Kai-shek in memory of his mother.

You will then arrive at the Xuanzang Temple, a serene Buddhist sanctuary dedicated to the venerable monk Xuanzang. Your journey will then take you to the Wenwu Temple, an imposing Taoist temple comprising three halls dedicated to the God of War and the God of Literature.

For the first night of your 5-day tour of Taiwan, enjoy a comfortable stay in a five-star hotel, either in the serene surroundings of Sun Moon Lake or in the vibrant heart of downtown Taichung.

DAY 9 | Taichung - Tainan - Kaohsiung

Breakfast at the hotel. On this second day of your 5-day Taiwan adventure, you'll board the bus for Tainan, Taiwan's oldest city, renowned for its abundance of historic buildings and rich historical heritage.

Your adventure continues with a visit to Fort Zeelandia, built by the Dutch East India Company during its 38-year administration of western Taiwan. The original fortress was almost destroyed by the British army in the 19th century, but was later rebuilt by the Japanese.

Then take a leisurely stroll along the historic Anping Old Street. Located to the east of Fort Zeelandia, this historic street was established by the Dutch over 300 years ago and is known as the first officially named street in Taiwan.

Your next destination is the romantic port city of Kaohsiung, the most populous city in southern Taiwan. On arrival in Kaohsiung, your first visit will be to the famous Fo Guang Shan monastery (FGS), an important Buddhist monastery founded by the Venerable Master Hsing Yun in 1967. During your visit, you will have the opportunity to talk to a learned monk who will provide you with insights into the doctrines and development of Buddhism, the most widely practised religion in Taiwan.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 10 | Kenting National Park

After a hearty breakfast, you'll set off on your journey south towards the border, where you'll get to visit Taiwan's first national park.

Kenting National Park is celebrated for its coastal geological formations, picturesque landscapes and rich marine biodiversity, fostered by a unique combination of crustal deformation and tropical climate. Kenting is also a paradise for surfers and divers.

On the third day of your tour of the island of Taiwan, you'll make stops at Maopitou, literally "the cat's nose", so named because it resembles a colossal crouching cat when viewed from afar; Chuanfan Rock, which means "the sail rock", another distinctive natural formation that resembles the sail of a ship or a likeness of former US president Richard Nixon; the Eluanbi Lighthouse, a Qing dynasty construction recognised as one of the Eight Views of Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period; and the Longpan Park, a coral limestone plateau overlooking the Pacific Ocean, shaped over time by rainwater erosion.

Your journey will then take you to Taitung via the scenic South Link Highway, a great way to take in the changing scenery along the way.

In the evening, you will stay at the same hotel in Kaohsiung City. What's more, you'll have the chance to explore this charming port city at your leisure, immersing yourself in the daily life of the local people.

DAY 11 | Kaohsiung - Tainan

Get ready for an immersive adventure as you discover the Chimei Museum's remarkable collection of Western artefacts and delve into the rich historical heritage of Tainan, the ancient capital.

Visits planned:

Chimei Museum: The Chimei Museum is proud to be home to a vast collection of Western artefacts, including a wide range of treasures such as captivating paintings and finely crafted musical instruments. The complex evokes the majestic atmosphere of the Louvre Museum, offering visitors a glimpse of the elegance of European palaces. In addition to the permanent exhibitions, the museum hosts a number of special exhibitions throughout the year.

Fort Provintia: Enjoy a leisurely stroll through the district to explore multiple historic relics dating back over 100 years. First, visit Fort Provintia, designated a national historic monument in 1983. Today, Fort Provintia is one of Tainan's most famous monuments.

Temple of Martial Sacrificial Rites: The Temple of Martial Sacrificial Rites, one of the premier temples in Guan Di, stands testament to the government's ancient sacrificial rites. It holds the prestigious status of a first-class national historic site, attracting countless devotees.

Great Mazu Temple: As you cross the threshold of the temple, your eyes will be drawn to a magnificent golden statue of Mazu. In keeping with the temple traditions of martial sacrificial rites, both men and women come to the Great Temple of Mazu to pay homage to Yue Lao, the God of Marriage. They come to ask his blessing, hoping that it will improve their chances of meeting their life partner.

In the evening, head to your accommodation in the vibrant heart of Tainan. You'll enjoy top-class amenities and the freedom to explore the city at your leisure. Bustling department stores' and a variety of boutiques are just a short walk away.

DAY 12 | Return to Taipei

On the last day of your stay in Taiwan, you will explore the famous Confucius Temple in Tainan, immersing yourself in its rich cultural heritage.

After this enriching experience, you'll head to Lukang, a historic old town with a timeless charm that evokes the beauty of ancient poetry and nostalgia and is renowned for its well-preserved cultural and historical heritage.

Lukang is renowned for its wide variety of street food and traditional Taiwanese desserts. Treat yourself and take the opportunity to stock up on gifts, bringing back a taste of this charming old town to share with friends and family.

After lunch at your own expense, you will return to Taipei and be transferred to the airport in the late afternoon.

Your Accommodation

During your tour, you will stay 6 nights in three-star hotels and 5 nights in the following five-star hotels (local standards) (or similar, subject to availability):

Kyoto: 2 nights at the three-star Vessel Hotel Campana Gojo (or similar)

Hakone: 1 night at the three-star Ryokan Ichinoyu Honkan hotel (or similar)

Tokyo: 3 nights at the three-star Henna Hotel Tokyo Tawaramachi hotel (or similar)

Taipei: 1 night at the five-star Regent Taipei hotel (or similar)

Taichung: 1 night at the five-star Fleur de Chine Hotel (or similar)

Kaohsiung: 2 nights at the five-star Grand Hilai Kaohsiung hotel (or similar)

Tainan: 1 night at the five-star Silks Place Tainan hotel (or similar)

Your Accommodation

During your tour, you will enjoy the breakfast package from day 2 to the last day, as well as dinner on your night in Hakone (night 3).

Breakfast

Includes an assortment of hot and cold drinks and sweet and savoury dishes.

USEFUL THINGS TO KNOW

For people booking the "hotel-only" package (without international flights), please send us your flight details as soon as possible via the contact form located in the "Help and contact" section at the bottom of the page, so that we can organise your transfers.

Suggested visits are not included in the price of the stay.

A few things you should know before arriving in Japan:

Currency:

The currency used is the yen (JPY). As of 20 August 2024, 1 euro is equivalent to around 162 Japanese yen.

Tips:

It is not necessary or customary to leave tips in restaurants, for guides, drivers, etc. If you want to thank your hosts, a gift is preferable.

Climate:

Spring (March to May) is a very pleasant time to travel to Japan, as the flowers in bloom provide a stunning landscape, and the climate is mild, but it is also the peak tourist season; there are often many people visiting the places of interest.

Summer (June to August) is fairly hot and humid in most regions, but it is still possible to visit the country, particularly in mountainous areas.

Autumn (September to November) is mild, with beautiful colours that add to the charm of the landscape, but it is also rainy.

Winter (December to February) is dry and often sunny, so it's a great time to take photos and admire the scenery without too many tourists. It's cold in most parts of the country (with snow in some areas), which is ideal for making the most of the famous 'Onsens', which will bring you a little warmth!

Entering the country:

On arrival, travellers must have a passport valid for at least 6 months after the date of return. A visa is only required for stays of more than 3 months.

Non-Japanese nationals entering Japan are required to provide biometric data (fingerprints and photographic portrait).

Non-French nationals or dual nationals are advised to consult the consulate or embassy of their destination country.

Minors must have their own passport. We strongly recommend that minors who are not accompanied by their legal representatives bring a copy of their family record book.

**Some useful information before you arrive in Taiwan:

Climate:**

Taiwan has a subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers (June to September) and mild winters (December to February). The typhoon season is from June to October, so it's advisable to check the weather forecast if you're travelling during this period.

Languages:

Mandarin is the official language. However, in big cities like Taipei, you will find many people, especially young people, who speak some English. Learning a few basic phrases in Mandarin can be very useful and much appreciated.

Currency:

The local currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (TWD). Bank cards are widely accepted in large towns, but cash is preferable for small shops or in rural areas.

Safety:

Taiwan is one of the safest countries in Asia, with a very low crime rate. Visitors can generally walk around safely, even at night. However, as with everywhere else, it's always a good idea to be vigilant.

Food:

Food is a central aspect of Taiwanese culture. Don't miss out on the famous night markets where you can sample an incredible variety of local dishes, such as xiaolongbao (steamed ravioli) and the famous bubble tea.

Respecting the local customs:

Taiwanese people are very polite and respectful. It is important to show courtesy, for example by removing your shoes when entering a house. When visiting temples, be sure to dress appropriately and respect the local rules.

Internet availibility:

Wi-Fi is widely available in cafés, hotels and public spaces. You can also easily buy a local SIM card at the airport so you can stay connected.

Healthcare:

The tap water is not always safe to drink. It's best to drink bottled water. The medical facilities are excellent, but it is advisable to take out travel insurance to cover any medical expenses.

Electrical sockets:

Electrical sockets are type A or B, with a voltage of 110V. It's a good idea to check whether you need an adaptor for your devices.

TRANSPORT AND TRANSFERS

JAPAN:

Airport - hotel transfer by grouped shuttle (1 suitcase + 1 piece of hand luggage per person)

Kyoto - Odawara by Shinkansen (high-speed train), second class

Odawara - Tokyo by second-class Shinkansen train

Hakone Free Pass valid for 2 days from Odawara

Luggage transfer between Kyoto and Tokyo (one item per person)

International flight from Tokyo to Taipei in economy class.

TAIWAN:

Private hotel - airport transfer

Local transfer by air-conditioned bus

Licensed professional tour guide (English-speaking)

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation in the accommodation mentioned (or similar if unavailable) in a twin room on a breakfast basis; dinner included on the night in Hakone.

Good to know

If you are travelling alone, you will be asked to pay a surcharge for a single room. This additional charge will be automatically included in your quote.

Child rates will be applied for children from 2 to 12 years old in the case where the child shares the room with two adults. If the child is travelling with just one adult, the surcharge may be applied on an adult basis. If your child or children do not fit into the age group mentioned above, the rate will be communicated to you at the time of processing your order. If the room is equipped with a bunk bed, the bed height is not suitable for children under 6 years of age.

For safety reasons, the wellbeing facilities of most establishments are not accessible to children under 16 years old. Similarly, it is possible that some amenities or services require an additional charge or are unavailable for exceptional reasons.

Unless otherwise stated in the service description, activities and any additional services available at destination, are provided in the language of the destination country and in English.

The opening times and hours of the activities, restaurants and bars are provided as an indication only and may be subject to change. Contact the reception desk in order to be informed of any changes.

Appropriate dress is required. We remind you that gambling may involve risks of isolation, indebtedness, and dependency...

Any additional special requirements the traveller may request which are not included in the travel service description will be communicated to our service provider. Sending this information does not imply acceptance and PerfectStay.com cannot be held responsible for the fulfilment of these special requests. Only the service provider of PerfectStay.com can access this request on location and any additional costs may be paid locally by the traveller.

Unless expressly stated in the description of the services and accommodation, the hotel is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.

Transportation

Choose an offer and, according to your preferences, opt for a seat in economy, business or first class.

See the 'View flight info' section for details on each trip.

In order to best organise your time in the airport, we advise that you arrive 2 hours before boarding for a medium-haul flight, or 3 hours before boarding for a long-haul flight (more than 5 hours). Take advantage of your early arrival to pass through security and check your luggage.

You will be informed whether or not luggage is included at the time of your booking.

You will have the opportunity to add additional luggage for a fee.

There are several different cities that are typically offered as departure points. Your arrival destination will show in your travel documents.

Depending on the flight schedule, some arrivals or returns may be made at night with early arrival or late departure. You will not always be able to have your room available immediately and will need to refer to the check-in and check-out conditions of the hotel.

In the event that your transfer is not included in...