Traditional Japan
10 Days 9 Nights - Traditional Japan
Day 1 & 2 Arrive Tokyo
Arrive in Tokyo, transfer to your hotel and get ready for the exciting days ahead discovering the " Land of the Rising Sun"
After breakfast, set out with your expert guide to explore the bustling capital of Tokyo. Explore the traditional gardens of the
Imperial Palace Plaza, former site of the Medieval Edo Castle and visit Asakusa Temple.
Shop and sight-see at Nakamise arcade and the famed Ginza and Akihabara districts and snap the best view of Tokyo from
a top Tokyo Tower.
Day 3 - Nikko
Take a full day excursion to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of ancient Nikko, a sacred center of Shintoism known for its
architectural masterpieces. Visit the ornately decorated 17th century Toshogu Shrine and learn about its connection to the
Tokugawa Shoguns. Revel in nature's handiwork as you explore Nikko National Park, pristine Lake Chuzenji and the Kegon
Waterfall. Return to Tokyo.
Day 4 Mount Fuji and Hakone
Travel to iconic 12,388 ft high Mt Fuji and Fuji - Hakone- Izu National Park on the shores of Lake Ashi. Enjoy a scenic cruise
of lake and take the cable ride up neighboring Mt. Komagatake for more spectacular views of "Fuji-san" and the surrounding
volcanic landscapes. Enjoy dinner and spend the night a the exclusive Gora Kadan Ryokan, a former Imperial family's summer
home with natural open-air baths and exquisite antiques.
Day 5 Takayama
Transfer to the train station this morning for your rail journey to tranquil Takayama via Nagoya. Lose yourself in Old Japan
in this beautifully preserved town in the Hida Mountains. Stroll among the 30 transplanted traditional farmhouses and enjoy
the re-enactors demonstrating the old-fashioned culture and traditions at the Hida Folk Village Open Air Museum. Visit the
Kusakabe Heritage House.
Day 6 & 7 Kanazawa
Peruse the colorful marketplace before winding up your Takayama exploration in Shirakawa-go. With its 25 authentic village
houses, the restored "learning village" and UNESCO World Heritage Site provides a window into the rural lives of farmers. On
to Kanazawa, where you'll be amazed by the "garden perfections" achieved at Kenrokuen Gardens. You'll be fascinated by the
artisans at Kutani-yaki Pottery Kiln and get a glimpse into the lifestyle of the Maeda Clan in the Nagamachi Samurai District.
Day 8 & 9 Kyoto / Nara
Leave for Kyoto by train. Explore the former imperial capital of Kyoto, the center of Japanese culture for over 1,000 years.
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It rivals Kanazawa as one of the best preserved cities in Japan with more than
2,000 Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. Visit Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, the striking golden Kinkaku-Ji Temple and Heian
Jingu Shrine. At lunch, you'll be mesmerized with a dance performance and tea ceremony by lovely Maiko and Geisha. Then,
meet the local artisans and shops at the Kyoto Handicraft Center. Spend the next day on an excursion to ancient Nara, celebrating
its 1,300th anniversary as the first permanent capital of Japan. Visit the enormous bronze Buddha at Tadal-Ji Temple, the Kasuga
Shrine with its red-painted corridors and Tori gates, and Hay-Ji Temple. You'll be smitten with the free-roaming deer that make
Nara Park their home.
Day 10 Depart for home
Depart Kyoto for Kansai International Airport and your return flight home.
Please call us or email for more details.