Japan, Great Discovery

Upon arrival in the vibrant city of Osaka, you will be warmly welcomed by our local representatives and transferred to your hotel in Osaka. After your check-in (usually in the late afternoon) take some time to relax or begin your exploration of the city. As Japan's third largest city, Osaka has the reputation for being a city of food, with a wide variety of delicious dishes. We recommend taking a stroll through the lively district of Dotonbori, famous for its many restaurants, or indulging in some shopping.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before departing from Osaka to the iconic city of Hiroshima with a light travel bag, via the high-speed bullet train. Hiroshima, known for being the first target of the atomic bomb in 1945, has today become a symbol of peace. It is one of the most laid-back cities in Japan with many boulevards, exceptional cuisine, and very welcoming locals. Upon your arrival, you will embark on a bus tour to visit the Peace Park, its memorial and museum which retraces the chronology of this world event, minute by minute. Afterward, you will take the road to Miyajimaguchi to board a ferry to Miyajima, an island renowned for its legendary beauty, considered one of the three most beautiful landscapes in Japan. According to Shinto tradition, the island is home to Gods and it is forbidden to give birth or die there. You will go for a walking tour of the city and have lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the marvelous Itsukushima Shrine, known for its floating Torii gate, which appears to be sailing on the sea when the base is covered in water at high tide. Your day will continue with the visit of Senjokaku, the largest building on the island built in the 16th century, called the hall with 1000 tatami mats because of its immense surface. At the end of your tour, you will return by ferry to Miyajimaguchi, before departing for Fukuyama. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Fukuyama. (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)

Start your day with a delightful breakfast at the hotel before embarking on a journey to Himeji, a charming city located near Kobe, to visit the largest and oldest Japanese castle. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Himeji Castle, built on a hill, was regularly used for the filming of historical films. Once the tour is over, you will have lunch with your group at a local restaurant before departing for Kyoto. At the end of the day, you will discover the beautiful city of Kyoto. You will pass through the lively Shijo Karasuma district, then reach Pontocho, a small alley parallel to the Kamo River. With its multitude of wooden houses, shops, geisha houses and restaurants stuck together, the street offers a real journey back in time. The district of Gion quickly became associated with the world of geishas, locally known as Geiko. Photo stop in front of the Yasaka Jinja shrine, in the heart of this same district. Tonight, you will savor a unique culinary experience for dinner at a local restaurant, where you will eat a Japanese specialty of ‘Shabushabu’, a dish that consists of cooking thin slices of meat, usually beef, pork or chicken, in a hot broth. Return to your hotel at the end of the evening. Overnight in Kyoto. (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)