In the footsteps of manga artists

Duration: 12 days/11 nights
Stages: Kobe – Kinosaki-Onsen – Tottori – Matsue – Kurashiki/Okayama – Ôsaka – Kishiwada – KIX

from €2,275

Services & Rates  Option photo album

Day 1 – Ôsaka (KIX) – Kobe

• You are welcomed at Ôsaka airport by your English-speaking tour guide
• Journey to Kobe and stroll in the Chinese and European districts
• Ascent with cable car and picnic near the observation deck with a splendid view on the whole Kobe bay
• Descent on foot along the herb garden (and possible visit of it) and visit to the impressive Nunobiki waterfall
• Return to the city center, dinner at an izakaya
• Overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel

Day 2 – Kobe – Takarazuka – Kobe

• Journey to Takarazuka, nice town between Kobe and Ôsaka
• Stroll through several sacred sites of Takarazuka on the mountain side
• Visit to the Osamu Tezuka museum, the famous manga artist and creator of Astro Boy, Black Jack, King Leo, etc..
• Journey back to Kobe and dinner in town
• Overnight stay at the same location as the previous day

Day 3 – Kobe – Kinosaki-Onsen

• Journey from Kobe to the spa town of Kinosaki-Onsen
• Bagage drop at a traditional guest-house/hotel
• Short trek in the mountains to the Onsenji temple
  Picnic with nice view on the bay
• Stroll through Kinosaki-Onsen clothed with yukata and geta (provided by the accommodation) while relaxing at several onsen and playing in vintage arcade parlors
• Evening meal and overnight stay at the guest house/hotel

Day 4 – Kinosaki-Onsen – Tottori

• Journey from Kinosaki-Onsen to Tottori
• Stroll along the coast on the huge sand dunes of Tottori
  Visit to a museum with huge sculptures made entirely of sand
• Return to town centre and visit to the Kannonin temple
• Evening meal and overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel

Day 5 – Tottori – Matsue

• Journey from Tottori to Yura
• Visit to the Case Closed museum
• Journey from Yura to Matsue
• Visit to Matsue Castle and stroll in its big and beautiful garden
• Evening meal and overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel

Day 6 – Matsue – Sakai-Minato – Matsue

• Journey from Matsue to Sakai-Minato
• Tour of the city and visit to the museum dedicated to the creator of GeGeGe No Kitaro, very famous manga in Japan (and completely unknown in the west) based on Japanese bestiary and folklore
• Return to Matsue
• Evening meal and overnight stay at the same location as the previous day

Day 7 – Matsue – Izumo – Matsue

• Journey from Matsue to Izumo
• Visit to Izumo-Taisha, one of the most ancient and important Shinto shrines in Japan
• Contemplation walk on this sacred ground
• Visit to the other holy sites of Izumo
• Return to Matsue
• Evening meal and overnight stay at the same location as the previous day

Day 8 – Matsue – Kurashiki – Okayama

• Journey from Matsue to Kurashiki, very old merchant town
• Tour of the city (canals, old warehouses, etc.) and visit to the Candy Candy museum, dedicated to the famous shôjo manga of the 70s
• Journey to Okayama
• Evening meal and overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel

Day 9 – Okayama – Himeji

• Stroll through Korakuen, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan
• Visit to Okayama Castle, called the “Crow Castle” due to its black exterior
• Journey from Okayama to Himeji
• Visit to Himeji Castle, the biggest castle in Japan, called the “White Egret  Castle” due to its brilliant white exterior
• Stroll and dinner in the city center
• Overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel

Day 10 – Himeji – Ôsaka

• Journey from Himeji to Ôsaka
• Exploration of the Denden Town district (the Akihabara district of Ôsaka)
• Make sure you’ve got room in your luggage for geek souvenirs 🙂
• Stroll along the Dotonbori canal and through the shopping arcades around Shinsaibashi
• Evening walk through the Tsutenkaku district and meal at an izakaya
• Overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel

Days 11 & 12 – Kishiwada – Ôsaka (KIX)

• Journey to Kishiwada, former fortress city south of Ôsaka
• Visit to the castle, historical jewel of the city
• Evening meal at a traditional sushi restaurant in the middle of a zen garden
• Overnight stay at an hotel in center of Kishiwada
• Journey to the KIX airport
• Return flight (not included in the tour)

Photo credits

Most of the photos that appear in this description are the property of Fukuchan Ryoko Olivier Baubrand. All rights reserved.
A few photos, however, has been taken from Wikipedia Commons. They are titled “Wikipedia” and are subject to the licence CC BY-SA 3.0.
Owners of the rights: european district of Kobe, pictures of Kannoin, Kurashiki © 663highland, Nunobiki Waterfall © Kenpei, Candy © Mimitje, Korakuen © Daderot, Okayama Castle © Kimon Berlin, Himeji castle © Bernard Gagnon, Madoka_Cosplay © Aimaimyi.