Highlights of Japan & The Philippines

Highlights of Japan & The Philippines

These leisurely paced trips are specially designed for first-time visitors who want a perfect balance of exploring a country's highlights and enjoying some well-deserved rest and relaxation. We understand that time is valuable, so our itineraries are carefully crafted to make the best use of your time while ensuring you don't feel overwhelmed with too much history and culture. Whether you're looking to immerse yourself in the beauty of stunning landscapes or indulge in rejuvenating activities, our With Ease itineraries offer a perfect blend of exploration and relaxation.

Highlights

  • Experience the flavours of the cosmopolitan city of Osaka.
  • Spend an evening at the one of a kind Robot Show in Tokyo’s entertainment district.
  • Join a tea master for a deeper insight in Japan's tea ceremony
  • Keep your eyes peeled for dozing tarsiers at the Corella sanctuary
  • Relax and unwind on one of Philippines beautiful beaches.

Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo, Bohol


Sample Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive Osaka

After passing through customs and luggage collection, you're met by an airport guide who will give you your trip documents and direct you to the private service which takes you to your hotel. After checking in, spend the rest of the day at leisure.


Day 2 - Explore independently

Your day is at leisure and you may wish to visit Osaka Castle, arguably Osaka’s most famous landmark. Originally built in the late 1500s, the pretty wooden structure seems more charming than threatening, but it sits atop sheer stone ramparts that are now largely hidden by cherry trees, and withstood months of siege during the shogun era. Although the present castle was largely rebuilt in 1931, the views from the top floor of the surrounding gardens and city are stunning, and an excellent introduction to the city.

Day 3
Train to Kyoto, kimono wearing & tea ceremony

Catch the train to Kyoto, where you’ll meet your knowledgeable local guide for a string of hands-on cultural experiences, each carefully designed to introduce all your senses to some of Japan’s most refined and rarefied traditions. You’ll get a tour of a beautifully restored wooden townhouse, spend time learning how to put on and wear a kimono, before - suitably dressed - joining a tea master for a deeper insight into the tea ceremony and the meaning behind its ritual gestures. Afterwards you can enjoy a short introduction to origami.

Day 4
Explore independently

Your day is at leisure to explore Kyoto. Your Destination Specialist will be happy to provide suggestions for ways to spend your time here.

Day 5
Nijo Castle, Zen garden & Arashiyama shrines

Meet your guide for a tour of some Kyoto’s World Heritage Sites. Start with Nijo Castle, an ornamental structure surrounded by stunning gardens, built by the founder of the Edo Shogunate. The main building was completed in 1603 and is known for its distinctive architecture and chirping ‘nightingale’ floors. Continue to Ryoan-ji, the site of Japan's most famous Zen garden, and home to the Myoshinji School of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. Visit the picturesque district of Arashiyama, a popular destination since the 8th century (!) thanks to its striking bamboo forest and elegant shrines, taking in Togetsukyo (‘Moon Crossing’) Bridge over Katsura River, and making your way to the bamboo forest path on the west side of the river, where you may well hear the bamboo creaking as it sways in the breeze.

Day 6
Train to Tokyo, Kabukicho Robot Restaurant

Make your own way by train from Kyoto to Tokyo and on to your hotel. Once you’ve checked in, your day will be at leisure until the evening, when it's time to venture into Kabukicho, Shinjuku’s red-light district, in time to catch the famous Robot Restaurant - a rather bizarre performance which mixes neon, techno, robots and dancers in a flashy floorshow the likes of which you’ve probably never seen... at least outside Tokyo.

Day 7
Fish market & historic city tour

Sample the freshest sushi you'll ever taste today at the Tsukiji Fish Market, one of the world's largest fish markets. Your guide will accompany you through the narrow streets of this traditional neighbourhood and help you order super-fresh sushi from one of the shops by the market. Finish your brunch in a graceful Edo-era garden, where you can taste frothy matcha in its elegant tea house. You'll then take to the Sumida River for a boat cruise to Asakusa, one of the city's oldest Geisha districts, and home to 1,400 year old Senso-ji (‘Asakusa Kannon’) Temple - Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist site. Visit Yanaka, another traditional area, where you'll see one of the oldest and largest cemeteries in Tokyo, with over 4,000 shrinelike graves including those of the Tokugawa clan, who ruled Japan as shoguns throughout the Edo era. The cemetery even has its own police station, and its avenues are lined with cherry trees. If time permits, your guide will introduce you to some interesting temples and shrines. The streets of Yanaka are lined with authentic craft shops, original restaurants and small coffee houses, and the remainder of your day will be at leisure to explore.

Day 8
Explore independently

Your day will be at leisure to explore Tokyo at your own pace. Alternatively, you can venture beyond Tokyo to explore the popular seaside city of Kamakura or head into the mountains of Nikko National Park.

Day 9
Fly to the Philippines, ferry to Bohol

Your morning is at leisure until your departure for Narita Airport for your onward flight to Cebu in The Philippines, where you will connect for your ferry to Bohol. Upon arrival you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel on Bohol’s Panglao Island, where the remainder of your day is at leisure.

Day 10
Relax on Panglao Island

Spend a day at leisure in Panglao’s picture-perfect paradise, laying on the beach, snorkelling in the shallows or trekking to hidden waterfalls.

Day 11
Tarsier sanctuary, Chocolate Hills, river cruise

Head over the bridge to Bohol, driving through a bucolic landscape of coconut plantations and small villages, to the Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella. Wander through a small section of the sanctuary, keeping your eyes peeled for dozing tarsiers, and possibly meeting famous conservationist ‘Tarsier Man’ Carlito Pizzaras. Continue inland to a viewpoint near Carmen, for panoramic views across Bohol’s famous Chocolate Hills. This unique landscape of conical hills, covering an area of 20 square miles, turns brown during winter, making them look like domes of chocolate, but is lush green during summer. Soak up the scenery before driving south to Loboc for a leisurely cruise along a picturesque section of river, with palm trees and jungle foliage lining the banks, enjoying a typical Filipino lunch as you travel.

Day 12
At leisure on Panglao

Another day to relax and enjoy the beach.

Day 13
Depart Panglao Island

Your day is at leisure until your transfer to the airport.

Booking Policy

English speaking, local guide
All accommodation listed
All train tickets and rail passes as listed
Luggage forwarding service as listed
4G Wi-Fi To Go Package
Land transportation by private air-conditioned vehicles
Any domestic flights listed (unless marked otherwise)
All admission fees at attractions, temples and activities as mentioned in the itinerary
All meals listed
International flight reconfirmation.

Entry visas
International airport departure taxes
Any meals not listed in the itinerary
Drinks, other than water on activity days
Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, drinks, tip...)
Travel insurance
All other services not listed in 'inclusive'

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Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on firsthand knowledge of the destionation.
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Authentic Experience
Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing you destination to life with care and passion.
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Responsible Travel
Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that priorities travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.
It is easy to customize your Highlights of Japan & The Philippines tours with us

What our clients say about us

Leslie
Feb 2023
star star star star star
An amazing trip out together by Stephen at My Way Travel! This was our second trip ( went to Vietnam and Cambodia 2019). Stephen is great to work with- very flexible and listens to what we wanted to do. This trip was originally scheduled for April 2020. A honest company that asked if I wanted my deposit back and I said no - that I would use it in a future trip! How many companies around the world did this???? We had great guides In Bangkok and Chiang Rai and Chiang Rai. Fon was full of energy and fun in Bangkok. Ann was one of the best guides I have ever had- she took us to a couple of places not noted on the tour. We went for a hike at a waterfall and visited the cave where the Thai boys were rescued in the cave. Both Ann and Fon gave us wonderful suggestions for restaurants. I would absolutely recommend Stephen and My Way Travel! We plan to use him again in planning Bali!
Lida
April 18, 2023
star star star star star
Our group of 26 people traveled to Japan & Thailand with My Way Travel, and had an incredible time. This was our third trip with My Way Travel and the trip was planned perfectly with every detail accounted for. Our tour guides were exceptional in every way. They exuded a warmth and friendliness that immediately put us at ease, making our trip more enjoyable. Not only were they amiable, but they also had extensive knowledge about the places we visited. We would highly recommend My Way Travel to anyone planning a trip to Asia.
Erik
July 28, 2023
star star star star star
We have just returned from a 16 Day/15 Night trip to southeast Asia including stops in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand planned by Stephen at My Way Travel. We reached out to My Way Travel with quite a tall order asking them to arrange a trip for us that included visiting 9 cities in 15 nights! From the first point of contact, our experience with My Way Travel was absolutely fantastic. Stephen was very attentive and let us customize our tour however we pleased. All of the hotels he booked for us were incredible and the tour guides and drivers made us feel like family. It was very easy to keep in touch with Stephen throughout our trip via Whatsapp. The only thing we really needed during our trip was to add baggage for one of our flights and he was able to take care of it the day before we arrived at the airport. All the drivers/guides showed up on time and made transferring from airport to hotel to tour to wherever extremely easy. I will definitely recommend this company to anyone that plans on traveling to Asia.
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