Japan Discovery Tour (12 Days)

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.

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

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. To conclude the day, you will enjoy dinner at a a designated izakaya, a Japanese style pub. Overnight: Tokyo Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Hakone (Itchiku Kubota Art Museum, Hakone Ropeway, Lake Ashi, Mt. Fuji area) and local dinner in Tokyo On this early morning, we’ll embark on a journey to Hakone, renowned for its breathtaking views of Mount Fuji. Your first stop will be the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum, this museum showcases the stunning kimono creations of the renowned textile artist, inspired by the beauty of nature and the changing seasons. After that, continue along the scenic road which takes you to the Hakone Ropeway which offering panoramic views of the Owakudani Valley’s volcanic landscape and Hakone National Park. Following this, you’ll enjoy a relaxing cruise on Lake Ashi, taking in the picturesque scenery and perhaps catching a glimpse of Mount Fuji. Spend the last part of the day enjoying the drive along Cedar Avenue. Returning to Tokyo, you will enjoy sampling different foods in a local restaurant. Overnight: Tokyo Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

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

Day 6: Kanazawa (Kenroku-en, Nomura Family House, Myouryu-ji) Begin your day by boarding the Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo to Kanazawa, a city renowned for its well-preserved Edo-era districts with Samurai residences, Geisha houses, and exquisite gardens. Your first stop will be Myouryu-ji, also known as the Ninja Temple, where you’ll explore its hidden tunnels, secret rooms, traps, and labyrinth of corridors and staircases from the 1600s. Next, you’ll visit the Nomura Family House, a historic Samurai residence that offers a glimpse into the lives of the samurai class. Afterward, you’ll immerse yourself in the beauty of Kenroku-en, one of Japan’s most celebrated landscape gardens. Conclude the day with a local dinner. Overnight: Kanazawa Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7: Shirakawa-go and Takayama From Kanazawa, 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. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before heading 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 Yatai Kaikan Hall housing intricate hand-carved floats used only for major bi-annual festivals. Enjoy dinner with the famous hida beef that is renowned in this area. Overnight: Takayama Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Takayama, Nagoya, Kyoto (Bullet-train to Kyoto) 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 Miyagawa Morning Market. 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

Day 9: Kyoto (Tea Ceremony, Kiyomizu-dera, Gion, Heian Shrine) 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 Kiyomizu-dera (Pure Water Temple), the most celebrated temple in Kyoto. Have lunch in this area on your own before meeting your Tour Guide 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

Day 10: Kyoto (Rickshaw at Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji, Nijo Castle) 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 and taking a ride on a traditional Japanese rickshaw. Later, visit the Kinkaku-ji (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

Day 11: Kyoto, Nara ( Fushimi Inari Taisha, Todai-ji, Nara Park, Maiko Dinner) Begin your day with a visit to the iconic Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, renowned for its thousands of vibrant vermilion torii gates. Embark on a 60-80 minute hike through this stunning shrine, immersing yourself in its spiritual atmosphere. Next, head to the majestic Todai-ji (Great Eastern Temple), to see the great Daibutsu (Great Buddha) bronze statue. Continue your exploration of Nara Park, having fun and feeding the 1,000 tame and wild deer with shika senbei (deer crackers). After that, visit the historic 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. In the afternoon, return to Kyoto and enjoy some leisure time before before the Maiko Dinner (this is also the Farewell Dinner), showcasing the most traditional dance performances of Geisha. Overnight: Kyoto Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

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