Japan Discovery Tour (12 Days)

Itinerary

Day 1: Day 1 – Depart for Tokyo

Pass By: Tokyo International Airport International Terminal Observation Deck, Haneda Airport, Ota 144-0041 Tokyo Prefecture
Depart from your home country to Japan. Please select a flight in which you will arrive no later than 2:30 PM at one of the Tokyo Airports on Day 2 of the itinerary. For guests that are already in Japan, please note that accommodations are not included on Day 1.

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 2: Day 2: Arrive in Tokyo

Pass By: Tokyo International Airport International Terminal Observation Deck, Haneda Airport, Ota 144-0041 Tokyo Prefecture
Arrive in Tokyo and transfer to your hotel at your own leisure. You will officially meet your Tour Manager and other guests for the first time after arriving at the hotel. This evening, there will be a Welcome Dinner at 6:30 PM in which you will receive an orientation from your Tour Manager of what to expect, and you can also meet and have some drinks with fellow travelers that will be going on this same tour with you.
Overnight: Tokyo
Meals: Dinner

Meals included:
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 3: Day 3: Tokyo (Tsukiji Fish Market, Sushi Demonstration, Akihabara, Ginza)

Stop At: Tsukiji Fish Market, 4-14-2, Tsukiji, Chuo 104-0045 Tokyo Prefecture
Day 3: Tokyo (Tsukiji Fish Market, Sushi Demonstration, Akihabara, Ginza)

On this morning, wake up early for your first full-day tour of Tokyo. You’ll begin by walking through Tsukiji Fish Market, known for its sprawling fish market and is famous for the popular tuna auction that used to take place here. After visiting this busy area, you can see a culinary demonstration of sushi or sashimi-making by a professional Sushi Chef and enjoy the meal for lunch afterward. After lunch, visit Akihabara, famous for its electronic shops and is considered the center of Japan’s otaku (diehard fan) culture with many shops and establishments devoted to anime and manga. Explore Akihabara and Ginza district, Tokyo’s most celebrated upscale shopping, dining and amusement area. At night, meet your Tour Manager and the rest of the group at a designated izakaya, a Japanese style pub, where you will have dinner.

Overnight: Tokyo

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 4: Day 4: Hakone (Hakone National Park, Itchiku Kubota Art Museum, Mt. Fuji area)

Stop At: Itchiku Kubota Art Museum, 2255 Kawaguchi, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Minamitsuru-gun 401-0304 Yamanashi Prefecture
Day 4: Hakone (Hakone National Park, Itchiku Kubota Art Museum, Mt. Fuji area)

On this early morning, we’ll drive south to Hakone, known for its breathtaking views of Mt. Fuji. Along the way, we’ll stop and visit the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum, a museum located near Lake Kawaguchi and showcases some of the textile artist’s kimono creations with various themes of nature and the seasons. Continue along the scenic road to the gondola which takes you on the Hakone Ropeway overlooking Owakudani Valley’s extraordinary volcanic zone. Eggs are cooked in the sulfur-rich hot pools here and are said to prolong a peron’s life by seven years. Later, take a cruise around the peaceful Lake Ashi. Spend the last part of the day enjoying the drive along Cedar Avenue, a historic site of Hakone Old Tokaido Road that linked Tokyo and Kyoto during the Edo Period. We return to Tokyo, where you’ll enjoy sampling different foods on a local walking food tour.
*Due to local conditions, the Mt. Fuji sightseeing might be altered. Details will be provided locally by your Tour Manager.

Overnight: Tokyo

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 5: Day 5: Tokyo (Imperial Palace, Asakusa, Meiji Shrine, Harajuku)

Stop At: The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace (Edo Castle Ruin), 1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda 100-0001 Tokyo Prefecture
We’ll start by visiting Imperial Palace and its East Garden, a scenic part of the inner palace area. After the Imperial Palace, we’ll visit Asakusa area to see Sensoji (Asakusa Kannon Temple) with its iconic gigantic paper lantern leading towards the temple. Walk along Nakamise-dori, an old shopping street with many Edo-style crafts and souvenirs. Then, we’ll visit the famous Meiji Shrine, nestled in a forested area, dedicated to the deified spirits of the first Emperor Meiji and his Empress. Finally, we’ll head to Harajuku, renowned for its colorful street art and fashion scene, with quirky vintage clothing stores and cosplay shops along Takeshita Street, and more traditional, upmarket boutiques lining leafy Omotesando Avenue. Enjoy free time strolling through the busy streets and alleys of Harajuku and Omotesando area at your leisure.

Overnight: Tokyo

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 6: Day 6: Kanazawa (Kenrokuen Garden, Kagaonsen Ryokan Experience)

Stop At: Kanazawa Castle, 1-1 Marunouchi, Kanazawa 920-0937 Ishikawa Prefecture
Begin this early day by boarding the famous Shinkansen (bullet-train) that takes you to Kanazawa, known for its well-preserved Edo-era districts with Samurai residences, Geisha houses, and lavish gardens. Visit Kenrokuen Garden, celebrated for its classic landscape designs, before continuing to the Nomura Family House, where Samurai once lived. After the Kanazawa City tour, enjoy the evening and overnight stay at a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) at Kaga Onsen, a highly-rated onsen destination with four hot spring towns just south of Kanazawa. Here, you’ll dress in yukata (casual kimono), enjoy a kaiseki dinner (traditional Japanese multi-course meal with seasonal foods) and bathe in an onsen (hot spring spa). The overnight stay at the ryokan will consist of an authentic Japanese room with tatami mats and sleep on a traditional futon mattress bed.

Overnight: Kaga Onsen

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 7: Day 7: Shirakawa-go and Takayama

Stop At: The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go Gassho Style Houses, Ogimachi, Shirakawa-mura, Ono-gun 501-5627 Gifu Prefecture
From Kaga Onsen, we’ll travel to Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its village of thatched gassho-zukuri (praying hands) farmhouses. Explore Ogimachi, the largest village and main attraction of Shirakawa-go, and the ruins of its castle that dates back to the 1300s. Have lunch at a local restaurant before driving to Takayama, a city in the mountainous Hida region of Gifu Prefecture, and retains an especially traditional atmosphere in its old town. You’ll visit the Takayama Jinya, the historic government headquarters under the Tokugawa shogunate that has been converted to a museum. Then, visit the Yatai Kaikan Hall housing intricate hand-carved floats used only for major bi-annual festivals. Enjoy free time for dinner. In the evening, arrive at a scenic mountain resort for an overnight stay. Enjoy dinner with the famous hida beef that is renowned in this area.

Overnight: Takayama

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 8: Day 8: Takayama, Nagoya, Kyoto (Bullet-train to Kyoto)

Stop At: Takayama Jinya, 1-5 Hachikemmachi, Takayama 506-0012 Gifu Prefecture
On this morning, enjoy a walking tour of Takayama’s well-preserved Edo-period shops and houses in the Sanno-machi Historic District and the morning market along the Miya River. Across the river lies Sanmachi-Suji, a group of three main streets that are lined with sake breweries, cafes, and iconic architecture that creates a nostalgic atmosphere. Transfer to Nagoya before boarding the bullet-train to Kyoto.

Overnight: Kyoto

Meals: Breakfast

Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 9: Day 9: Kyoto (Kiyomizudera Temple, Tea Ceremony, Rickshaw)

Stop At: Kiyomizu-dera Temple, 1-294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0862 Kyoto Prefecture
At the very start of the day, enjoy a traditional Tea Ceremony, where you’ll participate in the ancient art of preparing and serving tea while learning the precise rules and etiquette of this traditional art. Next, stroll through the ancient streets of Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka with old wooden storefronts and tea houses and visit the famous Kiyomizudera Temple (Pure Water Temple), the most celebrated temple in Kyoto. Have lunch in this area on your own before meeting your Tour Manager and transfer to Gion to walk around and learn about Kyoto’s geisha district. Afterward, visit the impressive Heian Shrine, a Shinto shrine built on the 1100th anniversary of Kyoto’s foundation (when the capital was transferred from Nara to Kyoto) and has a giant torii gate on the approach to the shrine.

Overnight: Kyoto

Meals: Breakfast
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 10: Day 10: Kyoto (Arashiyama, Nijo Castle, Rickshaw, Kimono Dressing)

Stop At: Arashiyama, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto 616-0007 Kyoto Prefecture
On this day, discover the cultural aspects of the beautiful and traditional Kyoto, as you start by visiting the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Stroll through the bamboo forest before taking a ride on a traditional Japanese rickshaw. Later, visit the Kinkaku-ji Temple (the Golden Pavilion), a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. Have lunch at a local restaurant before continuing Nijo Castle, which was the residence of the Tokugawa shoguns in Kyoto who had ruled over Japan for over 260 years. Spend the rest of the day and evening at your leisure.

Overnight: Kyoto

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 11: Day 11: Kyoto, Nara (Imperial Nara, Great Buddha Statue, Deer Park, Kasuga Grand Shrine, Maiko Dinner)

Stop At: Heijo Palace Museum, 2-9-1 Sakicho, Nara 630-8577 Nara Prefecture
Wake up early to travel by private bus to the 8th century Imperial capital of Nara, known as Japan’s first permanent capital with some of Japan’s oldest and largest temples that are considered UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Arrive at Todai-ji Temple (Great Eastern Temple), to see the great Daibutsu (Great Buddha) bronze statue. Later, have fun at the Nara Deer Park to see and feed the 1,000 tame and wild deer with shika senbei (deer crackers). At the east of Nara Park, you will visit the Kasuga Grand Shrine which rests at the foot of Mt. Mikasa—a spiritual mountain where a god is thought to dwell, and boasts over 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns. This afternoon, return to Kyoto and enjoy some leisure time before the Maiko Dinner (this is also the Farewell Dinner), showcasing the most traditional dance performances of Geisha.

Overnight: Kyoto

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 12: Day 12: Depart Japan from Osaka

Pass By: Osaka City Air Terminal, 1-4-1 Minatomachi, Naniwaku, Osaka 556-0017 Osaka Prefecture
Say, “Sayonara,” to the friends you made on this small group tour before transferring to Osaka for your departure flight. You also have the option to transfer to Tokyo at no additional cost.

Meals: Breakfast

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.