Departure from Fukuoka by charter bus → Shimonoseki → Yamaguchi → Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima stay

Fukuoka Prefecture - 10:00 (PICK UP) from your hotel in Fukuoka city
Pickup details: A driver or guide will be waiting for you with a name board at your specified location and time. The side of our bus displays the company name in Roman letters.

• Please note that if you are not present even after 1 hour or more at the specified place and time, the service will be canceled for the day.
  If you wish to change the location or time, please contact us through this site.

The Site of Dannoura Battlefield - 11:30-11:45 (Historic sites) Dannoura Battlefield, 21-1 Mimosusogawacho, Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi

Shimonoseki City in Yamaguchi Prefecture is renowned as the site of the Battle of Dan-no-Ura, the final battle between the Minamoto and Taira clans. Initially, the Taira dominated the battle, but as the tide turned, the Minamoto gained the upper hand. Ultimately, the Minamoto emerged victorious, marking the beginning of the Kamakura era in Japan.

Today, it is known as Mimosuso River Park, a city park offering a splendid view of the Kanmon Strait. There is a monument commemorating the Dan-no-Ura Old Battlefield site and informative displays about the battle. Additionally, there are handprints from famous actors who portrayed roles in “Yoshitsune,” the NHK TV drama broadcast in 2005.

Karato Sea Market - 12:00-13:00 (lunch 1) Karato Fish Market, 5-50 Karatocho, Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi

At this bustling market in Yamaguchi, local fishermen sell their freshly caught fish at very reasonable prices. Karato Market began as a street market in 1909 and now ships fish throughout Japan. While seafood is the main focus, you can also purchase other local seasonal ingredients as many farmers from Yamaguchi and the surrounding area set up shop here.

Ruriko Temple Five-Story Pagoda - 14:15-15:15 (guided in park) Ruriko-ji Five Story Pagoda, 1-28 Kimachi, Yamaguchi

This pagoda was commissioned by Ouchi Morimi, a leader of the Ouchi clan that ruled Yamaguchi from the 14th to 16th centuries. Morimi had the pagoda built as a memorial to his older brother Ouchi Yoshihiro, who died leading a revolt against the central government in 1399. Completed in 1442, it is celebrated as the most outstanding structure surviving from the middle of the Muromachi period, which spanned from approximately 1336 to 1573. It is designated a national treasure.
The pagoda stands 31 meters tall, or about 102 feet. Its roofs are made of multiple layers of cypress bark held in place with bamboo nails. Each story is progressively narrower, contributing to the structure’s balanced appearance. Except for a railing around the second story, the pagoda has minimal adornment typical of Muromachi period architecture.

Kintaikyo Bridge - 16:45-17:30 (free walk) Kintai Bridge, Iwakuni, Yamaguchi

The Kintaikyo Bridge is a five-span bridge over the Nishiki River in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Counted among Japan’s three most famous bridges, it is set against a backdrop of abundant nature and has been designated a national Place of Scenic Beauty (including the area upstream and downstream). Constructed in 1673, it is a testament to wisdom and skill, designed to be flood-proof. Spanning the river’s width of around 200 meters, it is both exquisite and original, boasting a beautiful shape. In the approximately 350 years since its construction, the technology and beauty of the Kintaikyo Bridge continue to be preserved.

Miyajima - 18:15 (day-1 drop off) Miyajimaguchi, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima (or HIROSHIMA city)
*The world cultural heritage “Miyajima” is accessed by ferry. The bus cannot accompany you on the ferry. If you prefer, you can stay at a hotel in Miyajima, near the ferry terminal “Miyajimaguchi,” or make a reservation in advance on your own.
-Our bus will pick you up again tomorrow morning or noon at the drop-off location.

→ Hiroshima city → Onomichi city, Okayama stay

Itsukushima Shrine - 9:00-13:00 (guided walk) ITSUKUSHIMA Shrine, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima

-The world cultural heritage “Miyajima” is accessed by ferry. The bus cannot accompany you on the ferry. If you prefer, you can stay at a hotel in Miyajima, near the ferry terminal “Miyajimaguchi,” or make a reservation in advance on your own.

-Ferry Fee ¥400/adult (Please pay on your own)

Since ancient times, Miyajima has been regarded as one of Japan’s “three most scenic spots” and is part of the Seto Inland Sea National Park. It has received several distinctions, such as a place of extraordinary scenic beauty, exceptional history, a scenic preservation area, and a natural monument. The virgin forests neighboring Mt. Misen represent the lush greenery and abundance of nature that still covers the entire island.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum - 13:45-14:45 (guided free walk) Peace Memorial Park - Hiroshima, 1-1-10 Nakajimacho, Naka Ward, Hiroshima

Extending southwards from the Atomic Bomb Dome and located mostly on a narrow stretch of land between two rivers, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is like a green island in the middle of the city. A serene space covering over 120,000 square meters, it serves to memorialize the many lives lost in the world’s first nuclear attack, while using nature to reaffirm the preciousness of all life.

Before the 1945 bombing, this district was the administrative and commercial heart of Hiroshima. In 1949, the recovering city decided the area should become a place of remembrance and contemplation, rather than simply being rebuilt.

Senkoji & Senkoji Park - 16:15-17:15 (view spot) Senkoji Temple Mountain Ropeway Base Station, 1-3-3 Nagae, Onomichi, Hiroshima

• close-17:00 : ¥700/adult

For tourists visiting Shimanami Onomichi on a family trip or cycling tour, this is the perfect way to reach Senkoji Park while enjoying the scenery of the Onomichi Channel and Onomichi. Pets are also welcome. The scenery offers a 360° panoramic walk through the miniature garden of Onomichi, with a panoramic view of Onomichi city, including the large camphor tree at Gonjinja Shrine, the three-story pagoda at Tenneiji Temple, and Senkoji Temple. This is the perfect way to reach Senkoji Temple, the most Onomichi-like place that tourists always visit. Enjoy a 3-minute walk in the air from Onomichi city to Senkoji Park while taking in the tranquil scenery.

Onomichi - 17:45 (guest hotel 2) - near ONOMICHI Port, Onomichi, Hiroshima

If you prefer, you can stay at a hotel in ONOMICHI, near the ferry terminal ONOMICHI Port, or make a reservation in advance on your own.
-Our bus will pick you up again tomorrow morning or noon at the drop-off location.

-If you want to cycle the Shimanami Kaido, you will stay in Onomichi on this night. The next morning, you can rent a bicycle on your own near the port and enjoy it.
Rental Charge ¥3000-8000 (≒20-60 USD)/12 hours
↓
https://visitshimanami.com/bike-rental/

→ Kurashiki city, Okayama → Himeji city or Kobe city, Hyogo

Onomichi - This morning, you can rent a bicycle on your own near the port and enjoy it.
↓
https://visitshimanami.com/bike-rental/

13:00 (day-3 pick up) at ONOMICHI Port, Onomichi, Hiroshima
-Our bus will pick you up again at the drop-off location.

Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter - 14:30-16:30 (guided walk) Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, Central, Kurashiki, Okayama
:You can stroll around the castle town, and the area is also home to the famous Ohara Museum of Art.

Kurashiki in Okayama Prefecture flourished as a town of trade in the Edo period (1603–1867) and as a textile town in the Meiji period (1868–1912). Today, the city’s historical quarter is known for its beautiful townscape and as a place to appreciate fine art.

Kurashiki (present-day Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture), which fell under the direct rule of the Tokugawa Shogunate in the seventeenth century, developed as a town of merchants and a trade center. Many boats traveled along the Kurashiki River, which runs through the town and was lined with machiya (townhouses) and storehouses. A beautiful townscape of impressive elegance was created here, with the white plaster walls of the townhouses reflecting off the surface of the river water.

Himeji - 19:00 ? (guest hotel 3) - near HIMEJI Castle, Himeji city, Hyogo or KOBE city, Hyogo
-If you are interested in Himeji Castle, also known as the White Heron Castle, the first registered World Heritage Site in Japan, please book a hotel in the international port city of Kobe. Your hotel can be either in Himeji or Kobe. Either way, our guide will walk you around the area the next morning.
-Our bus will pick you up again tomorrow morning or noon at the drop-off location.

→ Otsu city, Shiga → Tsuruga city, Fukui → *stay Awara city, Fukui (or FUKUI city)

Himeji Castle Otemon Gate - 9:00-11:00 HIMEJI Castle, Himeji (or KOBE city), HYOGO pref.

-If you are interested in Himeji Castle, also known as the White Heron Castle, the first registered World Heritage Site in Japan, please book a hotel in the international port city of Kobe. Your hotel can be either in Himeji or Kobe. Either way, our guide will walk you around the area the next morning.

-HIMEJI Castle Entrance Fee (about) ¥1000 (≒10 USD)/adult
-It seems that you can also book a local guide specializing in Himeji Castle on your own.
https://www.himejicastle.jp/en/
:Please pay on your own.

Himeji Castle (姫路城, Himejijō), also known as White Heron Castle (Shirasagijo) due to its elegant, white appearance, is widely considered Japan’s most spectacular castle for its imposing size and beauty and its well-preserved, complex castle grounds. The castle is both a national treasure and a world heritage site.

Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse - 16:00-16:30 (short break) Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse, 4-1 Kanegasakicho, Tsuruga, Fukui

The Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse consists of two buildings on the eastern side of Tsuruga Port, which stand as some of the most distinguished brick buildings in Fukui Prefecture. In January 2009, the north building, the south building, and the brick wall were all registered as Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan. The warehouse was constructed in 1905, based on a design drawn up by a foreign engineer, to be used for petroleum storage; until several years ago, it was still being used for kombu kelp storage. In October 2015, the Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse reopened as a new sightseeing destination combining historical accuracy and entertainment, with the early 20th-century Tsuruga townscape depicted in the railroad and port diorama, and restaurants offering the best of Tsuruga’s cuisine.

→ Sakai city, Fukui → Eiheiji town, Fukui → Katsuyama city, Fukui → Awara city, Fukui (or FUKUI city)

Tojimbo Cliff - 09:30-11:00 (Sea of Japan) Tojinbo, 64-1 Mikunicho Anto, Sakai, Fukui
:You can take a sightseeing boat here. The rock waves created by the rough waves of the Sea of Japan are some of the largest in Japan.
Fee ¥1800 (≒15 USD)/adult
https://www.toujinbou-yuransen.jp/en/

Tojinbo (東尋坊, Tōjinbō) is a one-kilometer-long stretch of rugged basalt cliffs along the Sea of Japan coast north of Fukui City. The rocky coastline has been carved out by the waves, leaving deep chasms and precipitous bluffs that tower up to 30 meters above the water below. The coarse, pillar-shaped rocks look like bundles of hexagonal and pentagonal rods and are a rare geological formation that can be seen in only a few other spots in the world.

Tojinbo can be explored via trails that lead along the rocky embankment to various chasms and promontories. Visitors are free to walk right up to the unmarked edges of the bluffs.

Daihonzan Eihei-ji Temple - 12:00-14:30 (lunch 5 and free walk) Daihonzan Eiheiji, 5-15 Shihi, Eiheiji, Yoshida, Fukui

Eiheiji (永平寺) is a large temple complex and active monastery standing on a cedar-covered slope in the mountains just outside Fukui City. The temple was founded in 1244 by Dogen, the Buddhist scholar who introduced Soto Zen from China to Japan in 1228. Eiheiji is one of two head temples of the Soto Sect of Zen Buddhism (the other was formerly Sojiji Temple on the Noto Peninsula before its head functions were transferred to Yokohama).

The sizable temple complex consists of over 70 buildings, which are connected to each other by covered walkways that protect from the heavy snow seen in the region from December to March. The warmer months bring lush vegetation to the temple grounds, which are especially beautiful from late October to early November when the autumn colors typically peak.

→ Tsuruga city, Fukui → Hikone city, Shiga → DROP OFF at Kyoto Station

Hikone Castle - 12:45-14:30 < lunch 6 and guided walk > Hikone Castle, 5 Konkicho, Hikone, Shiga

For a perfect mix of fascinating history and beautiful surroundings, Hikone Castle has become a great side trip to work into your itinerary when you visit Shiga Prefecture, just north of Kyoto.

Appropriately for a castle which started by being taken apart and put back together, Hikone Castle’s history as a site of importance started with the bloody Battle of Sekigahara which was fought to unite a country torn apart by politics and conflict.

Kyoto Station Building - 16:30 (Final DROP OFF) Kyoto Station, Higashishiokoji Kamadonocho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto

*After this, you can do some sightseeing in Kyoto or go to Osaka, Tokyo. It’s up to you. Kyoto Station is also served by the Shinkansen and has good access to the international airport. We have to go back to Fukuoka now.

[ Departure & Return ]

• Starting time: 10:00 AM *Flexible
• Meeting Point: in Fukuoka * Your designated place
• Ending Point: Arrival at 16:30 Kyoto Station, Higashishiokoji Kamadonocho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto

[ Hotels you book yourself ]

• day1: Miyajimaguchi, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima (or HIROSHIMA city)
• day2: *near ONOMICHI Port, Onomichi, Hiroshima
• day3: *near HIMEJI Castle, Himeji city, Hyogo or KOBE city, Hyogo
• day4 & 5: AWARA Onsen, Harumiya, Awara, Fukui (or FUKUI city) * You cannot go to “Kanazawa”, Ishikawa Pref.

• a 7m minibus and a driver, an English speaking guide
• toll, parking, crew’s hotel fee

• your hotels and meals, drinks *Guide will help you pay.
• (All entrance fees *per adlut ) - Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum￥200(2 USD)
• • Senkoji Temple Ropeway￥700(5 USD)- ( option ) Shimanami Kaido Rental Cycle￥3000-8000(≒20-60 USD)
• • ( option ) HIMEJI Castle￥1000(10 USD) - ( option ) Cruise in “TOJINBO”￥1800(≒15 USD)
• • Fukui Pref Dinosaur Museum￥1000(10 USD)
• *ENTARANCE FEES: There are also optional prices that include the fees, so choose the one you prefer.

• Enjoy a comfortable journey from the west side of Fukuoka to Kyoto in a private setting.

• Although it takes more time than the Shinkansen, there’s no need to drive.

• The highlight of this tour is savoring Japan’s exquisite Echizen crab in FUKUI.

• Rent a bicycle at Onomichi Port and explore the Shimanami Kaido by cycling.

• Efficiently explore numerous world cultural heritage sites and tourist attractions.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.