Dates: 06 Nov (Fri) – 15 Nov (Sun) 2026 10 days
* Fly Cairns to Kansai direct in 7 hours.

This 10 day trip aims to include all the best things to do in Japan in November. It also includes activities with Rotarians of Ibaraki City, Osaka and raises funds to help earthquake victims in the Noto Peninsula. We will spend 8 night be able to make this holiday match with your interests.

November weather is generally very comfortable but the nights can get down to single digits so hot baths at home or a soak in the hot spring down the road will go well with drinking hot sake and bargain-priced wine around a bubbling pot of shabu shabu.

Max. 6 people * this allows me to personalise each day to your interests, travel in 1 x 7 seater car together and make some decisions, such as what we want to eat, as we go.

Inclusions:

• Fully escorted by Lyn, a bilingual Australian with extensive knowledge of Japan

• All accommodation - most nights in Lyn & Will’s 2 adjoining Japanese cottages

• An overnight stay in a Buddhist Temple

• Most meals

• All transport within Japan – domestic flight, trains, bullet trains, cable car, monorail, bicycles, taxis

• Most sightseeing, activities and entrance fees

• Assistance with planning should you wish to extend your time in Japan.
  
  Cost: AU$4,980 * All guests must have travel insurance ** All profits from this trip will be donated to community projects supported by Ibaraki Rotary Club.

Itinerary

Day 1 (Friday 06 November 2026)　（S)

Guests travelling from Cairns, Australia depart at 12:30pm on Jetstarn JQ 15 and land at 7 pm.
Chauffeur drive to our home base via Osaka Castle.

Day 4 (Monday 09 November 2026) (B,L,D)

Kyoto was the nation’s capital for over 1000 years and remains the cultural capital of Japan. We will decide together whether to head into the downtown area with iconic sights or avoid the crowds and visit Uji - famous for tea, Byodo-in temple and the scenic Uji River. We could also connect with Uji Rotary.
On the return drive, we might go via T Site Mall in Hirakata and/or have dinner in a restaurant with Lyn’s amazing 93 year old ‘Japanese mum’.

Day 5 (Tuesday 10 November 2026) (B, L)

Today we’ll zoom west on the bullet train and visit Lyn’s favourite garden, Kokoen, and visit the best castle in Japan, Himeji. Around 2 pm, we’ll head back towards Osaka, stopping en route at JR Maiko Station to see the longest suspension bridge in the world. Once back in Osaka, we’ll have around 3 hours of free time for you to explore the myriad of shops, and outdoor spaces surrounding JR Osaka Station before we head home.

Day 7 (Thursday 12 November 2026) (B,D)

Around 10 a.m, we will take trains right through Osaka, deep into the mountains of Wakayama and up a cable car to the top of Mt Koya, the birthplace of Shingon Buddhism in Japan. Nestled in amongst towering conifers and colourful maple trees are many temples and shrines, some with World Heritage status.  We will gain insight into the lives of Buddhist priests as we eat a traditional vegetarian dinner -shojin ryori -and sleep on futons, surrounded by autumn splendour.

Overnight: Jokiin Temple or similar

Day 8 (Friday 13 November 2026) (B,L,D)

At 6:30 am, you may like to join the priests in prayer and meditation. Alternatively, you may snuggle into your futon and stay there until our second mindful, meditative meal. Hopefully our short stay will suffice to realign our minds and bodies! Mt Koya has many UNESCO World Heritage sites to see and is a photograph’s paradise. Around 10 am, we will head back down the mountain into the bustling city of Osaka. After we drop our bags in lockers, Lyn will show you the southside of Osaka with all it’s craziness and introduce you to the many foods Osaka is famous for. There’ll be time to explore the myriad of shops too before we head back home.

Day 9 (Saturday 14 Nov. 2026) (B,L, D)
We will go to see Lyn’s favourite Temple in Japan - Katsuoji which is set in stunning gardens and only 6 km from our home.
We’ll have a picnic lunch in the adjoining National Park, snack on tempura maple leaves and there’s a very pretty, optional walk (2.8 km) from Minoh waterfall down to shops and a train station.

Around 3 pm, another neighbour, Ogawa-san will help you to dress in kimono and we’ll do a photo shoot at home.

For dinner, we will likely cook Shabu Shabu at home. This ‘hot pot’ is easy, healthy and delicious.
*possibility of Ikenobo show in Kyoto too

Day 10 (Sunday 15 November 2026) (B,L)

Hard to believe we’re saying Sayonara already.
Since the Jetstar (JQ 16) flight back to Cairns doesn’t depart until 9:45pm, I suggest we add on a little side trip to Nara en route to the airport. Taxis will pick us up at 1145am and we’ll take a train to Namba where we’ll store our suitcases. After a 40 minute train ride from Namba to Nara, we’ll see lots of very friendly deer, a 500 tonne, 1,273 year old, bronze Buddha and the largest wooden building in the world.
Around 5 pm, we’ll collect our bags and catch another train to Kansai Airport. With around 3 hours before take off, you’ll also have time to take a shower and/or grab some food if you wish. Alternatively, we chill out at home and head to the airport around 5 pm. Like many things on the trip, we’ll see how we feel, check out the weather and decide what’s best as we go.