Nara & Asuka Self guided walking

Nara and Asuka Self Guided

Ideal for those who prefer a less-busy schedule and a lot of flexibility, The first of our two-centre self-guided trips focuses on two of Japan's former capitals. You spend four nights in world-famous Nara, which has 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Visit Todai-ji temple with its giant bronze Buddha, Bigatsu-do temple, and nearby Nara park. Walk Japan's oldest road, the Yamanobe-no-michi, with the option of more local, historical trails. You will move by train to Asuka, capital of the early nation of Japan during the 6th and 7th centuries. Asuka is a quiet and unspoilt rural village that is a pleasure to explore either on foot or by bicycle (which can be rented locally). The sites are laid out throughout the village along level paths ideal for cycling or walking. Kofun burial mounds from the 5th and 6th centuries set against a rural landscape of rice fields and wooded hills. The village has many preserved houses and you will have the chance to see a rural landscape and lifestyle, and stay in a local guesthouse run by a local family.

There is a 10% discount available if you are also joining one of our guided-tours before or after.

We also offer a 4-day and 5-day version of this trip.

Type and level of walking Generally easy level village paths (paved) with some gentle ascents.	What's Included Accommodation booked & prepaid - a prepaid electronic "ICOCA" card good for trains and most buses - detailed day-by-day itinerary and walking instructions - walking and sightseeing maps - local phone support - breakfast daily & 2 evening meals
Season All year, however from December to March both Nara and Asuka may experience snow.	Tour length: 6 nights/7 days
2012 Price (per person): Budget £720 / $1,160 / AUD1,145 / €845 / ¥95,000 Standard £895 / $1,445 / AUD1,425 / €1,045 / ¥118,000 Premium £1,215 / $1,950 / AUD1,935 / €1,420 / ¥160,000 Above hotel grades apply to Nara. Prices are based on two people sharing. Single supplement £200/ £250/ £340 . Child prices: Age 6-11 £75 off above prices, age 1-5 take £150 off. Over 12 pay adult price. 10% discount is available to anyone travelling on one of our regular guided tours consecutive to this self-guided trip.	Departures: Any day (Nara and Asuka may experience snow from December until March) Accommodations are busy and may charge extra during the following Japanese holiday periods: New Year (29 December to 04 January), Golden Week (29 April - 05 May), and O-bon (09 - 17 August). Please enquire for availability and pricing if your trip falls within those dates.

Add a full-day of private guiding in Nara for £165 / $270 / AUD265 / €192 / ¥22,000 (per person based on a group of two, lower prices for larger groups)

Slideshow (click on any picture)

HIGHLIGHTS

Nara – Asuka

ITINERARY OVERVIEW

Day 1 Nara

Check-in to your hotel in central Nara, We offer 3 (budget), 4 (standard) and 5 star (premium) grade hotels or Japanese-style ryokan according to your preference.

Breakfast included.

Day 2 Self-guided sightseeing in Nara

Use one of our prepared self-guided sightseeing options for your exploration of Nara today.

For today we suggest visiting Todai-ji temple to see the world's largest wooden structure and the giant bronze Buddha. Continue to Isuien Garden and Nigatsu-do temple.

Breakfast included.

Day 3 Self-guided walking along the Yamanobe-no-michi

Choose between another day of sightseeing in Nara, or use our prepared maps and detailed walking directions to walk along the historic Yamanobe-no-michi, said to be the oldest road in Japan. This trail winds its way along the base of the hills which mark the edge of Yamato Plain, south of Kyoto and Nara, associated with the early Yamato clan, founders of the first unified Japanese state. The route is dotted with old shrines and burial mounds of the first emperors. In between are small villages, fields or rice, vegetables, strawberries and other fruits. Also famous are the thin Miwa somen noodles, served with a light broth. Small shops sell snacks such as mochi (rice paste) cakes covered in kinako (soya flour) and matcha (powdered green tea).

Return to Nara for dinner or enjoy an evening out in vibrant Osaka, just 30 minutes by train from Nara.

Breakfast included.

Day 4 Self-guided walking from Nara to Osaka on the old Nara-kaido trail or visit Horyu-ji temple

Our suggested option for today is a walk from Ikoma in Nara Prefecture over the Ikoma hills to Osaka. Follow the route along a mixed paved and dirt trail to see rice fields and small villages. The road up is somewhat strenuous on the climb up, so you may prefer to visit Horyu-ji temple, the world's oldest wooden structure, a short journey by train south-west of Nara.

Return to Nara for dinner.

Breakfast included.

Day 5 Transfer to Asuka

Transfer by train (about 1 hour) to the village of Asuka (commonly referred to as Asuka-mura), on the southern edge of the Yamato Plain.

You will check in to your family-run minshuku (guesthouse). With only three guest rooms the inn is cosy and the service very personal. Dinner is in the dining room and the family cook who a wonderful traditional meal with many of the ingredients grown locally. Bicycles are available to rent directly from the accommodation and are ideal for a slow and leisurely sightseeing ride around Asuka, and are recommended to see some of the more far-flung sites, such as the outlying rural landscapes, terraced rice fields, etc.

Dinner and breakfast are both included.

Day 6 Self-guided walking or cycling: Asuka

Using our prepared walking and cycling maps for Asuka, with notes and directions, explore peaceful Asuka today. The centre of the village is a typical rural village with some lovely preserved wooden buidings, small shrines and a very nice cafe and gift shop run by a former television presenter.

Visit the Takamatsuzuka Kofun (bural mound) where astrological charts, fresco images deities, and zodiac images were found.They are on display in a nearby exhibition room. There is also a folklore museum, cultural centre dedicated to the Man'yoshu collection of Japanese poety from the 8th century, the Kameishi (a stone in the shape of a tortoise), the Mausoleum of Empress Jitou, the Ishibutai (the largest underground burial chamber in Japan) and many others.

Dinner and breakfast are both included.

Day 7 Tour ends

Your trip ends this morning. Using your prepaid electronic "ICOCA" card you can transfer to Kyoto or Osaka for onward connections.

Trip extensions

We can arrange extra days at the end of the trip in the following destinations:

Mount Koya

This atmospheric temple complex south of Kyoto is home to around 100 temples and shukubo (pilgrim's lodging). Founded by the monk Kobo Daishi in the 10th century, Mount Koya is the spiritual centre of Shongon (True word) Buddhism, and he is enshrined at Oku-no-in. Located at 800 metres altitude in the Wakayama mountains, you reach Mount Koya via the scenic Nankai railway. There are many optional local walks.

Tokyo

Travel from Osaka to end your trip with a few days in Tokyo.

Kanazawa

Three hours by train from Kyoto is famous city of Kanazawa, with its famous Kenrokuen gardens, Omicho market, and preserved old town.

Many others possible - please ask

ACCOMMODATION GRADES

We offer three levels of accommodation to suit your budget. This applies to the hotel in Nara only. Budget (3 star hotel), Standard (4 star hotel) and Premium (5 star hotel). In Asuka we use a family-run minshuku (guesthouse) with three comfortable Japanese-style rooms. Rooms do not have private bathrooms, rather the baths and toilets are adjacent.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Six nights accommodation, with breakfast each day and dinner on two nights in Asuka. A prepaid electronic "ICOCA" card is also included, and will cover your train journeys between Nara and Asuka, the day walk locations, as well as some travel within Nara for sightseeing. Any left-over balance on the ICOCA card maybe used for purchases of snacks and drinks at kiosks and certain convenience stores or vending machines.

Not Included are international flights, drinks with meals, lunches and evening meals in Nara and Osaka. The ICOCA card value of 3500 has been calculated as sufficient for journeys by standard trains on the routes suggested in our prepared itineraries (with a little left over). If you use express trains or some longer non-standard routings then the balance may be used up, and you will need to pay any extra fares locally in cash.

SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT

There is a single room supplement of £200/ £250/ £340 (depending on the grade of accommodation) per person (please note that single rooms are not always available in Japanese-style accommodations). This supplement is mandatory for anyone travelling alone, or those travelling in groups who require single rooms.