Wonderful Japan & Phuket 2026-27
NEWOSAKA - KYOTO - NARA - TOKYO - PHUKET
Wonderful Japan & Phuket 2026-27 is a Guiness Travel escorted group tour in Thailand and Japan: 15 days by plane, with a tour leader from Italy. 6 departures scheduled, from 2 November 2026 to 15 March 2027. Participation fee from 6.300,00 € per person. Required document: INDIVIDUAL PASSPORT + VISIT JAPAN WEB.
Wonderful Japan & Phuket 2026-27
OSAKA - KYOTO - NARA - TOKYO - PHUKET

15 days starting from
6.300,00 €
Departures
Legend
Plus Guiness
- 6 dinners in hotels/traditional restaurants in Japan
- Shinkansen high-speed bullet train Kyoto/Tokyo
- all scheduled admissions included
- tasting of local specialities
- individual wireless audio-guide system
- accommodation in a 4-star resort in Phuket
- travel in exclusive style with a maximum of 20 people
Why this tour?
- to discover the magic of an unforgettable country
- to admire at close quarters the great civilisation of the Japanese people
- to enjoy a dream stay on the golden beaches of Phuket
Description
An Extraordinary Journey of Culture and Relaxation. This tour is a complete experience that combines the timeless allure of Japan with the tropical beauty of Phuket. A journey designed for those who wish to immerse themselves in the age-old culture of the Land of the Rising Sun without forgoing a few days of pure relaxation on heavenly beaches. The itinerary starts in Osaka, a vibrant metropolis where modernity and tradition coexist in perfect harmony. This first taste of Japan continues with Kyoto, a city of extraordinary historical heritage, among temples, bamboo forests and the evocative Gion quarter, where the legendary geishas can still be glimpsed. In Nara, the ancient capital, spirituality fills every corner, with the majestic Great Buddha and the sacred deer strolling through the park. Tokyo, by contrast, offers total immersion in modernity: from the glittering skyscrapers of Shibuya to the traditional market stalls of Asakusa, by way of the shopping and electronics districts. After the intensity of Japan, the journey continues to Phuket, a true tropical paradise. Here the pace slows, giving way to days of relaxation among dream beaches and breathtaking sunsets. The stay on the island is not just about the sea: the visit to the Big Buddha and Phuket Old Town offers an interesting perspective on the history and culture of the place. For those who love adventure, the optional excursion to the Phi Phi Islands offers spectacular scenery and the chance to swim in crystal-clear waters. A journey that knows how to move and surprise, alternating intense experiences with moments of pure well-being. Ideal for those who dream of an itinerary rich in discoveries without giving up a few days of total relaxation.
Phuket, Paradise After Japan. After days spent among ancient temples, futuristic cities and the iconic landscapes of Japan, Phuket is the perfect destination for those who wish to end the journey with a touch of pure relaxation. The Thai island welcomes you with its turquoise sea, beaches of the finest sand and a laid-back atmosphere that invites you to leave behind the bustle of the first part of the tour. The first days in Phuket are devoted to rest: long sunny days, walks on the beach and swims in the warm waters of the ocean. For those who wish to explore the island, the excursion to the Big Buddha and Phuket Old Town is an unmissable opportunity to discover the most authentic face of the place. The imposing Big Buddha offers a spectacular view, while the historic centre of Phuket Town, with its Sino-Portuguese buildings, tells a story of encounters and cultural influences. For lovers of the sea and nature, the optional excursion to the Phi Phi Islands is an experience not to be missed: crystal-clear waters, spectacular cliffs and the chance to snorkel among corals and tropical fish. But even without venturing far, Phuket offers unforgettable sunsets, lively evenings and a warm hospitality that makes the stay all the more enjoyable. After the intensity of Japan, Phuket is the perfect pause to round off the journey on a light note, among postcard landscapes and the gentle rhythm of tropical life.
Itinerary
Day 1
ITALY - JAPAN
Departure on scheduled Emirates/Turkish Airlines flights to Osaka – meals on board – overnight flight.
Day 2
OSAKA
Arrival at Osaka Kansai airport – transfer to the hotel – dinner in a restaurant – after dinner, Osaka by night: a stroll with the tour leader around the Dotonbori area – overnight stay.
Day 3 · 70 km.
OSAKA “modern technology” - KYOTO
Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, visit of Osaka with a local guide, taking in the Castle and the Umeda Sky Building (in the northern Kita district, home to the largest underground shopping centre in Japan and a remarkable concentration of offices, banks and hotels. The “Floating Garden” Observatory, 173 m up, offers breathtaking views over the city) - transfer to Kyoto by private coach – lunch at leisure - in the afternoon, visit of Kyoto with a local guide – Kiyomizu Temple and the lanes of Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka (a complex of temples built from 1633 onwards, a place of worship where pilgrims venerate the eleven-headed effigy of Kannon and drink the water of the sacred spring) - dinner in a traditional restaurant – after dinner, Kyoto by night: a stroll with the tour leader, using public transport, through the Gion quarter (with its typical narrow streets and low wooden houses that take us back 300 years) and along the streets of the Pontocho district, well known for its geishas - return to the hotel – overnight stay.
Day 4
KYOTO & ARASHIYAMA
Breakfast at the hotel – full-day excursion with a local guide – in the morning, visit of Arashiyama with a walk through the bamboo forest, Tenryuji Temple (one of the principal temples of the Rinzai school of Zen), Kinkakuji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (of particular interest is the Golden Pavilion, the only original structure) - Fushimi Inari Shrine (the best known in Japan and the most visited by pilgrims, the head shrine of the three thousand dedicated to the god Inari), Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (built by Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate) - lunch at leisure - return to the hotel in the evening - dinner in a restaurant – evening at leisure – tour leader on hand – overnight stay.
Day 5 · 100 km.
NARA “the ancient capital” & UJI - KYOTO
Breakfast at the hotel – full day devoted to visiting Nara & Uji with a local guide – visit of Todaiji Temple (one of the most important monuments of Nara, the ancient capital from 710 to 794, housing the Great Buddha and architectural masterpieces designated National Treasures), Kasuga Shrine (its vermilion-lacquered buildings make a magnificent contrast with the green of the surrounding virgin forest, and the three thousand lanterns lining the approach to the shrine are a unique sight), Nara Park (with its famous resident deer) - Byodo-in Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (built in 1052 by the Emperor’s Chief Adviser) - lunch at leisure – return to Kyoto in the late afternoon – dinner in a restaurant – evening at leisure – tour leader on hand – overnight stay.
Day 6
KYOTO – TOKYO
Breakfast at the hotel – transfer to the station – departure on the Shinkansen bullet train, reserved seats, for Tokyo – on arrival, city visit with a local guide to the Tokyo Tower (333 m tall and built after the war at the government’s behest, as a symbol of the country’s economic rebirth) – lunch at leisure – in the afternoon the visit of Tokyo with a local guide continues – Asakusa Kannon Temple(the oldest and most impressive temple in Tokyo) and the charming nearby market of fans, kimonos and souvenirs, Akihabara Electric Town (the world’s largest retail area for new and second-hand electronics and computers) - transfer to the hotel – dinner in a restaurant – after dinner, Tokyo by night: a stroll with the tour leader, using public transport, around Shinjuku and night-time Tokyo at Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho and Shibuya crossing - overnight stay.
Day 7
TOKYO “the capital”
Breakfast at the hotel - full day devoted to visiting Tokyo with a local guide – Meiji-jingu Shrine (the largest Shinto shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji), the boutiques of Omotesando (an area known as the Champs-Élysées of Tokyo), the Ginza and Shibuya districts – lunch at leisure – dinner in a restaurant - after dinner, Tokyo by night: a stroll with the tour leader, using public transport, to Odaiba, crossing the Rainbow Bridge with spectacular views over Tokyo Bay – overnight stay.
Day 8
TOKYO – PHUKET
Breakfast at the hotel – transfer to the airport - departure from Tokyo on scheduled Thai Airways flights to Phuket - on arrival, transfer to the hotel – dinner at the hotel – overnight stay.
Day 9
PHUKET
Breakfast at the hotel – free day to rest and relax by the sea – tour leader on hand - lunch at leisure - dinner at the hotel - evening at leisure – tour leader on hand – overnight stay.
Day 10
PHUKET
Breakfast at the hotel – free day to rest and relax by the sea – tour leader on hand - lunch at leisure - dinner at the hotel - evening at leisure – tour leader on hand – overnight stay.
Day 11
PHUKET “ the Golden Temples”
Breakfast at the hotel – full day devoted to sightseeing with a local guide - visit of the Big Buddha –the largest Buddha in Thailand and of old Phuket Town with its distinctive Sino-Portuguese architecture - lunch in a restaurant on Rang Hill, the finest viewpoint - dinner at the hotel - evening at leisure – tour leader on hand – overnight stay.
Day 12
PHUKET “Phi Phi Islands”
Breakfast at the hotel – free day to rest and relax by the sea – tour leader on hand – possibility of taking an optional full-day excursion with the tour leader to the Phi Phi Islands archipelago - lunch at leisure - dinner at the hotel - evening at leisure – tour leader on hand – overnight stay.
Day 13
PHUKET
Breakfast at the hotel – free day to rest and relax by the sea – tour leader on hand - lunch at leisure - dinner at the hotel - evening at leisure – tour leader on hand – overnight stay.
Day 14
PHUKET - DUBAI
Breakfast at the hotel – free day to rest and relax by the sea - tour leader on hand - lunch at leisure – late-afternoon transfer to the airport – dinner at leisure - departure on scheduled Emirates/Turkish Airlines flights for the return to Italy – meals on board – overnight flight.
Day 15
ITALY
Arrival in Italy.
Prices
- return journey Italy/Osaka-Phuket/Italy on scheduled flights with Emirates/Turkish Airlines
- journey Tokyo/Phuket on scheduled Thai Airways flights
- journey on the Shinkansen bullet train Kyoto/Tokyo with reserved second-class seats
- airport/hotel transfers and vice versa
- hotel/station transfers and vice versa
- tour of Japan by luxury coach
- accommodation in Japan in 4-star hotels on a half-board basis
- accommodation in a 4-star hotel in Phuket on a half-board basis
- buffet breakfasts
- guided visits as indicated, with an Italian-speaking guide in Japan
- guided visit of Phuket on day 11
- separate luggage transfer on the Kyoto/Tokyo leg
- individual wireless audio-guide system for the whole tour in Japan
- admission to all sites and museums indicated in the programme during the tour
- taxes, VAT
- tour leader from Italy, departing from Rome
- tour leader Dubai/Dubai for those departing from other airports
tips, drinks of any kind and anything not expressly mentioned. N.B. any change to the menu due to allergies or dietary restrictions notified directly on the spot will incur a charge
of ¥1,000 to cover operating costs. This amount is to be paid by clients directly to our tour leader.
Our hotels
OSAKA
HOTEL SHERATON MIYAKO OSAKA or similar 4-star
KYOTO
HOTEL RIHGA ROYAL KYOTO or similar 4-star
TOKYO
HOTEL METROPOLITAN IKEBUKURO or similar 4-star
PHUKET
HOTEL HOLIDAY INN KARON BEACH RESORT or similar 4-star
Info and schedule
N.B. The order of the planned visits may be switched between days according to the opening hours of the sites visited or for technical reasons, but the programme remains unchanged.
- Required document: INDIVIDUAL PASSPORT + VISIT JAPAN WEB
Flight times
Frequently asked questions
How long is the tour?
The tour lasts 15 days by plane, with a Guiness tour leader from Italy.
When does it depart?
6 departures scheduled, from 2 November 2026 to 15 March 2027.
How much does it cost?
The individual participation fee starts from 6.300,00 € by plane.
What does the price include?
return journey Italy/Osaka-Phuket/Italy on scheduled flights with Emirates /Turkish Airlines; journey Tokyo/Phuket on scheduled Thai Airways flights; journey on the Shinkansen bullet train Kyoto/Tokyo with reserved second-class seats; airport/hotel transfers and vice versa; hotel/station transfers and vice versa; tour of Japan by luxury coach; accommodation in Japan in 4-star hotels on a half-board basis; accommodation in a 4-star hotel in Phuket on a half-board basis; buffet breakfasts; guided visits as indicated, with an Italian-speaking guide in Japan; guided visit of Phuket on day 11; separate luggage transfer on the Kyoto/Tokyo leg; individual wireless audio-guide system for the whole tour in Japan; admission to all sites and museums indicated in the programme during the tour; taxes, VAT; tour leader from Italy, departing from Rome; tour leader Dubai/Dubai for those departing from other airports
What is not included in the price?
tips, drinks of any kind and anything not expressly mentioned. N.B. any change to the menu due to allergies or dietary restrictions notified directly on the spot will incur a charge; of ¥1,000 to cover operating costs. This amount is to be paid by clients directly to our tour leader.
Which documents are required?
INDIVIDUAL PASSPORT + VISIT JAPAN WEB
Can I cancel?
Cancel without penalty up to 45 days in advance
How do I book a Guiness tour?
You can request a quote directly from each tour page with the “Get your quote” button, save it and send the booking request: we will get back to you. How to book
How do I pay for the tour (deposit and balance)?
Payment terms (deposit and balance) are set out in the quote; we accept the main payment methods. Terms and conditions


