Day/Date

Description

Remarks

Day 1 / 26 Mar Thur

Singapore/Osaka / Kobe

SQ622 SINKIX

Dep 1425hrs

Arr  2125hrs

Assemble and check in for your flight on Singapore Airlines on SQ622 for Osaka this afternoon.

Enjoy the in-flight service and upon arrival, proceed for immigrations clearance (Japan Web) at Osaka Airport.  Meet our guide and transfer by coach to Kobe (1 hr) for check in and rest

O/N Hotel Kobe Juraku or similar (3 star)

Meal on Board

Day 2 / 27 Mar Fri

Kobe / Tokushima

After breakfast, check out and board our coach for 2hr transfer to Tokushima via the Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway.  Reaching Tokushima prefecture in Shikoku, we take a sightseeing boat to the Naruto Whirlpools, one of the three major tidal currents in the world. Spring is the best season to see the biggest whirlpools of the year! The Naruto Straits, only 1.3 km between Shikoku and Awajishima Island, has high and low tides twice a day, and the best time to watch the powerful whirlpools is during the hour and a half before and after the high and low tides.  Following lunch, we drop by the Tokushima Botanical Garden that captivates visitors with a walking course where you can enjoy beautiful flowers in every season.  Then participate in Tokushima’s famous dance event, Awa Odori Festival (normally held in August) at the Awa Odori Kaikan Hall.  After watching the local dancers perform, why not join in the dance?  Enjoy a ride on the Bizan Ropeway up to the top of Mt Bizan for outstanding views of the city.  We enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.  If you are up for it, enjoy this city with its lovely riverfront path.

O/N Tokushima Grandvrio Hotel or similar (3 star)

BLD

Day 3 / 28 Mar Sat

Tokushima / Kochi

We check out and depart for Iya Kazurabashi in the mountainous terrain of Tokushima’s Iya Valley.  Traditionally made by weaving together Wisteria vines, the suspension bridges were deterrents to outsiders, which could easily be cut does if enemies approached. Grab a picture of Iya Kazurabashi at 45m long, 2m wide and 14m above the water, a testament of ancient Japanese ingenuity (crossing not required)!  Next, we move to Oboke Gorge, a spectacular, narrow canyon with jagged rock formations that seem carved by time itself. The boat trip here is a major highlight — a chance to see the gorge from the water, where every turn reveals dramatic cliffs and lush foliage. Reviewers mention how the boat ride is both peaceful and awe-inspiring, giving a different perspective on the landscape that’s hard to match from land.

After lunch, we proceed to Kochi, known as the “Emerald of the Nation.” This prefecture is renowned for its agriculture, fisheries, and forestry. Enjoy a photo stop at Kochi Castle and then nearby we visit the Hirome Market, which offers a unique experience with its communal dining style, where visitors can enjoy food and drinks together at shared tables. The market is a hub for local delicacies, offering a wide range of culinary experiences from seared bonito to moray eel dishes. With its vibrant atmosphere and diverse offerings, Hirome Market is a must-visit destination for anyone in Kochi.  Dinner at a local restaurant before we check in.

O/N Orient Hotel Kochi or similar (3 star)

BLD

Day 4 / 29 Mar Sun

Kochi / Matsuyama

This morning after breakfast, check out and board coach for a morning excursion to the Niyodo River, consistently ranks as the purest river in the country, and so is often referred to as “Japan’s most beautiful river.” Springing out from beneath the ground from around 1500m above sea level, the river’s water purity barely changes from its source to the downstream area. This flowing ribbon is a dazzling cobalt blue, which has given rise to the nickname “Niyodo Blue.”  Putting on your walking shoes and spending some time through one of the gorges along the river is the best way to enjoy Niyodo Blue.  We then depart for Matsuyama, capital of Ehime prefecture, where lunch is served at a local restaurant. 

A chance to explore Matsuyama’s historic Dogo district.  Probably the oldest in Japan, Dogo Onsen’s hot springs have been known for 3,000 years and are mentioned in the Man’yoshu poetry anthology in 759. According to the legend, the sources were discovered after observing a heron healing an injury by bathing in the water. These waters are renowned for their skincare properties and especially for giving a softer skin. The imperial family even has their own bath facility and is known to have visited here at least since the 6th century.   We explore the traditional shopping arcade and Dogo Park featuring the ruins of Yuzuki Castle and famous for cherry blossoms in Spring.  And perhaps take a quick soak at one of the several free public footbaths (ashiyu).

And maybe for those who are keen, grab a chance to enjoy onsen at the 1894 Dogo Onsen Honkan after dinner (last admission 10.30pm).  We check into our hotel to rest.

O/N Hotel Mystays Matsuyama or similar (4 star)

BLD

Day 5 / 30 Mar Mon

Matsuyama / Takamatsu

We check out and depart from hotel after breakfast this morning and ride a cable car up to Matsuyama Castle, a restored 17th-century castle, located 4km from Matsuyama’s city center. The castle sits atop a small mountain and offers stunning views of the city and the Seto Inland Sea. It has remained intact since the Edo era, making it one of the oldest castles in Japan. Explore various historic buildings, including the intricate keep, and admire panoramic views of the city from the ramparts.

We transfer to Kotohira, the prettiest town in Kagawa prefecture, well-known for its Sanuki Udon.  Udon are thick wheat flour noodles usually served in a broth with various toppings and accompaniments and Sanuki is the old name for Kagawa.  Learn the special Sanuki dough kneading technique with our hosts demonstrating how to slice the dough into noodles before you have the chance to cook and eat them. 

Bidding our hosts farewell, we visit Ritsurin Garden, the largest Cultural Property Garden in all of Japan, and is an important cultural asset that has been maintained for nearly 400 years. Originally created in the Edo period for the daimyo (feudal lord), the garden features six ponds and thirteen landscaped hills in front of the green vista of Mt. Shiun, along with stunning rock arrangements and a wide variety of beautiful plants. The garden was designed to be leisurely strolled through, and each step offers a new perspective on the garden’s scenery. 

We then head to Chichibugahama Beach (30 mins) to catch a breathtaking view of the sun setting over the Seto Inland Sea, earning itself as one of the “Top 100 Sunset Spots In Japan”.  We leave for Takamatsu (1 hr) where we check in for the next 2 nights.  Dinner at our hotel.

We depart for Takamatsu for dinner at a local restaurant and arrive at our hotel and check in for the next 2 nights.

O/N JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu or similar (4 star)

BLD

Day 6 / 31 Mar Tue

Takamatsu

After breakfast at hotel, board our coach for a day’s excursion starting at Takamatsu port to transfer by fast ferry for Ikeda on Shodo Island, an island nestled in the Seto Inland Sea of Japan, to visit the Shodoshima Olive Park, with its gentle hills and iconic windmill, provides an escape from the ordinary. Here you can enjoy the birthplace of olive cultivation in Japan, visit a herbal garden, and breathe in the blue skies and green landscapes.

Following lunch, we visit Angel Road, a natural wonder that captivates visitors with its breathtaking coastal views and unique geological features. This park is famous for its sandbar, known as Angel Road, which emerges during low tide and connects the island to several small, uninhabited islets. Cross the Dofuchi Strait, officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s narrowest strait. Being able to cross in just a few steps is a quirky experience you won’t find elsewhere. Enjoy some time at Shodoshima before we return to Takamatsu by ferry for dinner at local restaurant and our hotel.

O/N JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu or similar (4 star)

BLD

Day 7 / 01 Apr Wed

Takamatsu / Kobe

Following breakfast, we check out and board coach for Kobe with a photo stop at Seto Ohashi bridge, a series of double deck bridges connecting Okayama and Kagawa prefectures in Japan across a series of five small islands in the Seto Inland Sea.

Back to the island of Honshu, we visit Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, a beautifully preserved area in Okayama, known for its traditional architecture, picturesque canals, and rich history as a former rice distribution hub for lunch and some exploration.  We head on to Osaka and check into our hotel, conveniently located near the Shinsaibashi shopping area.  Dinner at a local restaurant.

O/N Hotel Vischio Osaka or similar (4 star)

BLD

Day 8 / 02 Apr Thur

Kobe / Osaka /Singapore

SQ621 KIXSIN

1725/2255hrs

Breakfast at hotel following by a leisure morning to repack.  Free to explore the Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori shopping districts before check out and lunch at a local restaurant and checking in for our flight this afternoon and returning home to Singapore tonight.

BL

Meal on Board

Based on min 20 pax/max 24 pax

Member

SGD 

Non Member

SGD 

Twin Share Basis

$4,780.00

$4,860.00

Single Room Supplement

$5410.00