IRCTC just made it easier to fly to Japan this August

There’s good news for travellers looking to fly out of the country this August! Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has launched a 10-day Japan itinerary that checks all the travel-worthy spots: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Mount Fuji and Nara. And, obviously, there’s no skipping a ride on Japan’s iconic Shinkansen bullet train.

Expect 4-star stays, meals, visa charges, local transport, sightseeing and local guides. The curated Japan tour with IRCTC comes courtesy of the excellent tourism connect between the two countries.

What are the dates for travel?

Travellers are to board an All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND). The flight will take off on September 6 at around 6pm, landing in Tokyo at 5am the next day. A similar seven-hour flight will get you back from Tokyo to Delhi: it departs Tokyo (HND) at 11am on September 15 and arrives in Delhi at 4:30pm. However, IRCTC says the itinerary might get updated a bit later on.

What’s the itinerary?

The ten-day itinerary will cover:

1. Tokyo: Asakusa Temple, Nakamise Dori, Imperial Palace, Tokyo Tower, Ueno Park, Odaiba, TeamLab Planets and Tokyo Skytree (350m).
2. Hakone and Mt Fuji: Mt Fuji 5th Station, Owakudani Valley, Hakone Ropeway and Hakone Pirate Ship.
3. Nagoya: Toyota Museum and SCMAGLEV Railway Park.
4. Kyoto: Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Kinkaku-ji Temple and Fushimi Inari Taisha.
5. Nara: Nara Deer Park and Todai-ji Temple.
6. Osaka: Osaka Castle Park.
7. Hiroshima: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima Island, including Itsukushima Shrine.

There’ll be bullet train journeys between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima (on September 13) and from Hiroshima to Tokyo (on September 14). Because if you’re doing Japan, you might as well do it at Shinkansen speed (at some 300 km/hr).

What are the prices like?

Package costs actually vary, depending on what accommodation you choose. While the triple-sharing package costs around Rs 3.46 lakh (₹3,45,999) per person, the twin and double-sharing package costs Rs 3,49,999. The cost of the single-occupancy package is ₹4,73,999.

For children aged 5 to 11 years, the package costs ₹2,92,499 with a bed and ₹2,63,999 without one.

What else are we getting?

Expect return economy-class airfare, accommodation in 4-star hotels, Japan tourist visa fees, three meals a day, airport transfers and sightseeing in AC coaches. You won’t have to pay for sightseeing entrance charges or travel insurance for passengers below 70 years. Plus, what’s better than having an English-speaking tour guide along for the whole itinerary.

What’s not on the itinerary?

Any increase in airfare, urgent visa charges and overseas medical insurance are excluded. Passengers will also have to pay for any increase in airport taxes, fuel and visa fees.

Also, rooms are billed separately from the meals included in the tour.

And, of course, everyone will have to take care of personal expenses such as laundry, wine, mineral water and midnight ramen cravings.