Beyond The Tori Gates

Touchdown at Narita or Haneda Airport where a private driver will await your arrival. Once successfully landed and met with your driver you will be taken to your first night’s stay in Tokyo at Gajyoen Tokyo. An incredible place, treated as a cultural asset of Japan. Where you can bask and enjoy the ambiance of indoor gardens, a waterfall, and their minimalist room interior design.

On your first full day in Japan, a guide will be waiting for you in the morning after having breakfast. You will be taken to visit Tokyo’s Town Center of Pop Culture, Akihabara. Filled with flashy lights and your favorite popular Japanese culture shops filled with Anime, Manga, and electronics. You will also get to visit the Tokyo Sky Tree nearby, the tallest tower which has shopping zones at the foot of the tower. Pay a visit to the Ancient Sensoji Temple, the oldest temple in Tokyo decorated and filled with red lanterns. Then explore the Asakusa District and visit the kitchen goods and tools shops in Kappabashi Street. After visiting all the famous shopping districts and temples, you will be taken to visit the famous Imperial Palace in the heart of Tokyo, home to the emperor himself. If there is enough time left during the day you can take the chance to visit Hamarikyu Gardens, a peaceful park situated next to the sea. A beautiful way to end your first day in Tokyo. After a long day, you will be taken back to your hotel to relax.

Today you may decide to sleep in and have a late breakfast because a guide will pick you up to take you to The Ghibli Museum at noon. Where you will be able to see your favorite Ghibli characters and stories come to life. On the way back from the museum you can drop by the Mandarake Shop, a famous comic shop filled with manga. After shopping at Mandarake shop, you will be able to see the world-famous busy crossing street in Shibuya and visit the shopping street of Harajuku. You will come back to the hotel after this and relax for the rest of the night.

After breakfast, you will check out and be met by a private driver who will take you on to tour around Hakone. Your first stop will be Oshino Hakkai, a small traditional scenic village at the base of Mount Fuji filled with souvenirs and food vendors for you to enjoy and bask in the presence of Mount Fuji. After visiting the village, you will go to Kawaguchi Lake, where you will be able to visit herb gardens, and then to Arakurayama Sengen Park where you can get a higher view of Mt. Fuji. After enjoying the view, you can go check out the Narusawa and Fugaku Caves filled with nature’s natural wonders of icicles, rock formations, and lava tubes. Once out of the caves, you can visit the beautiful lush Aokigahara Forest nearby which has a lava rock forest floor where you can enjoy a nice nature walk. If time permits, you can also check out the Fujisan Museum which details information and the history of Mount Fuji. After an adventurous day exploring the mountain, you will retreat to have dinner in a gorgeous hotel hidden in the forests, where you will stay for the night.

After having breakfast, you will be picked up and taken to Odawara station where you will catch a train on the Shinkansen Line to Kyoto. Once you arrive in Kyoto, a transfer will be arranged for you to take you to your hotel where you will be able to check in and relax. You will have the rest of the day to do kick back or explore as you wish.

Wake up in the historical city of Kyoto and enjoy breakfast before heading out with a guide to explore the world-famous historical sites. You will visit the Kinkakuji Temple, known for its golden pavilion within a backdrop of trees. Then you will visit Nijyojyo Castle which is considered a place of national treasure. A castle that once housed a shogun within its Cyprus-wood palace and beautifully tended gardens. After exploring the castle, you can head over to visit Nishiki market and Shin Kyogoku shopping street to enjoy perusing through the vendors and stores. After perusing, you can continue to explore more of the city’s historical complexes, or you can head back to the hotel to relax.

Wake up to some breakfast on your second day in Kyoto. There will be a guide ready to take you on the Sagano Scenic train, where you will get to view the lush Sagano region through the window. The train will end at a peaceful bamboo grove in the Arashiyama area. You can further explore and walk around the area. Visit the Tenryuji Temple and have lunch in the Shigetsu Tenryuji - Shojin-Ryori where you will get a vegetarian dining experience, which is usually for priests. After lunch, you can move around to the Togetsukyo Bridge on the Hozugawa River. Pay a visit to the Monkeys in the park, and then begin to head back to Gion to get ready for a night tour. Once back at the hotel, you will have your own free time, to do as you please and relax.

Today you will have breakfast and be ready to check out. After fully checked out, you will head out and take the public train to Osaka KIX Airport to take your flight home.

You can choose to opt for a night between Tokyo and Narita and head to Sawara instead. - Once you have successfully landed at Narita, a driver will be ready to take you to your hotel in Sawara. Where You will be able to rest and relax for the rest of the day and enjoy the hotel's old Japanese architectural design. You may explore the small and pleasant town filled with canals and traditional buildings. Dinner will be served at the restaurant in the hotel, a mix of Japanese and French cuisine. After that, you may do as you please and relax.
Overnight at Hotel Nipponia
After having breakfast in the morning, a guide will be waiting to take you to visit and explore the town of Sawara. You will be taken to the Townscape Exchange Center to learn more of the history of the town. While visiting the town square, you will come across the historically famous Toyohashi wooden bridge awning over a peaceful canal. You will then be taken on a Sake factory tour, where you will see how Sake is produced, and you will get the chance to taste some fine Sake. After tasting some fine Sake, you will get to hop aboard a little traditional wooden boat for the Little Edo Sawara Boat Tour. You will get to view the sweet town of Sawara on a traditional rowboat from the Edo era. After viewing the city from a boat, hop off and head to the Katori Jingu Shrine. A peaceful Japanese Buddhist Temple in the forest where you can wander around and rest. After visiting the temple, you will be taken back to the hotel to check out. There will be a driver, ready to take you to Tokyo. The drive will take a little over an hour. Once you arrive in Tokyo, you will be taken to your hotel and connect to Day 1 in the program.

After your stay in Tokyo, you can choose to travel to Nikko. If you have chosen this option after having breakfast, you will continue to check out and there will be a guide and a driver prepared to take you to Nikko. Once you arrive in Nikko, you will visit the Nikko Toshogu Shrine shrouded by trees and surrounded by elegant mausoleums. After the shrine, you can go to the Rinnoji Temple and visit the surrounding pagodas, museums, and heritage sites. After the temple, you can go visit the magnificent Kegon Waterfalls and enjoy the sights of Chuzenji Lake. After a beautiful start to the day, you will be escorted to Kinugawa, to your hotel. Your lunch will be ready. Once eaten and checked in You will be able to explore the small town of Kinugawa and enjoy the valley and being in the small village town next to a river. You will have the rest of the day to yourself and there will be dinner served as well at the hotel so be sure not to miss out.
Overnight at Hotel Kanaya Kinugawa
After breakfast, you will check out and head out to get the train to Tokyo and then catch a train to Hakone and resume the program on Day 4 to Hakone.

After your stay in Tokyo, you can choose to visit Nagano, which means after having breakfast and checking out, you will take the Shinkansen Train from Tokyo to Nagano. Please note that the price of Shinkansen Tickets will be included. Once arrived in Nagano. You can decide to check in at the hotel first, to drop off your bags before exploring the city of Nagano. You will be exploring the city yourselves. We recommend visiting the Matsuhiro District, where there are the Matsushiro Castle Ruins, and the Matsushiro Bunbu School, a well-preserved historical building where the samurai trained. You will also be able to view preserved buildings where the samurai used to reside. Once finished with the historical sites, you can go visit the Shinshu Zenkoji Nakamise Street where there are a lot of shops and cafes that you can enjoy. Then head over to the Zenkoji temple, a 7th-century Buddhist temple, covered in peaceful little gardens, ponds, and shrines. After a long day of exploring, retreat back to the hotel where there will be dinner prepared for you.
Overnight at Hotel Kokuya
After breakfast, enjoy a second day in Nagano to explore for instance the Jigokudani Monkey Park (and see the Snow Monkeys), the Historical Inn Kanaguya and the Shibu Onsen town Back to the hotel and rest. Dinner will be served at the hotel.
Overnight at Hotel Kokuya
After breakfast, you will check out and head out to get the train to Tokyo and then catch a train to Hakone and resume the program on Day 4 to Hakone.

If you yearn for one more day to spend in Kyoto, enjoy your breakfast in the morning and then there will be a guide waiting to take you to explore deeper into the heart of Kyoto. You will visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine, filled with steps passing through many Tori Gates on the edge of a peaceful lake. After passing through the Tori Gates, visit the Sanjusangen-do Temple and look upon a room filled with dozens of statues. Then head to the beautiful Kiyomizudera temple sitting on top of the trees and with a spectacular view of the city. This temple also has a five-story pagoda. After the temple, you can go to the Yasaka and Gion area where you might be lucky to see women wearing traditional attire known as Maiko women. We can also arrange for you to have dinner in this area later if you are interested. If time permits, you may decide to visit the Byodo-In temple filled with many artifacts amid beautiful gardens and ponds. After a day filled with many beautiful sights, come back to the hotel to relax.
Overnight at The Junei Hotel Kyoto
After breakfast, be ready to check out and you will head out and take the public train to Osaka KIX Airport to take your flight home.

If you would like to explore Nara for one more day then after breakfast, be ready to check out and there will be a guide ready to take you to Nara (by train or by car). You will start the visit, by visiting the Kasuga Shrine, the Great Buddha of the Todaji Temple immersed with many deer in the area (considered as the messengers of the gods), and the gorgeous Yoshikien Garden. If there is an exhibit at the Nara National Museum on that day, you will get the chance to see what is happening inside. Continue on to visit Kofokuji Temple nearby. If there is enough time, explore the Old Town Naramachi area filled with many traditional buildings, shops, and cafes. Feel free to explore further for the rest of the day at your own pace but be sure to head to your new hotel in Nara at six in the evening because there will be dinner prepared for you. After dinner and checking in at your new hotel, you can relax and do as you please for the rest of the night.
Overnight at Ando Hotel Nara-Wakakusayama
After breakfast, be ready to check out and you will head out and take the public train to Osaka KIX Airport to take your flight home.

If you would like to spend one day more in Kanazawa, after having breakfast and checking out, a guide will meet you at the hotel to take you to Kanazawa via public transport. Once in Kanazawa, you will visit the Omichi Market, a fresh food market that is filled with many things to eat and restaurants. Then head to Kanazawa Castle Park located in the middle of the city. Explore the well-preserved castle grounds and see the insides of the castle. Then head behind the castle to visit Kenroku-en, one of Japan’s “perfect” gardens where you can relax next to ponds and visit heritage sites. Then head to the preserved Residences of Samurai in Nagamuchi where you can see how the Samurai used to live. After visiting the Samurai residences, continue onwards to the traditional neighborhood in the Higashi Chaya District where you enjoy many teahouses, and crafts shops. You may also be able to watch a geisha perform. Then you will be taken to your hotel where there will be dinner waiting for you. You will have the rest of the night to yourself to relax and enjoy.
Overnight at Ryokan Kinjoro
After breakfast, be ready to check out and you will head out and take the public train back to Kyoto or to Osaka KIX Airport to take your flight home.

If you would like to spend an extra day in Osaka After breakfast and checking out, you will be met by a guide who will escort you to Osaka. Your first stop will be Osaka Castle, sitting in the middle of beautiful gardens and parks. Then head to Nihonbashi Pier to take the Indy Boat Cruise on the river. Then head to Nakanoshima Park, a park set on an island in the middle of the river with a building from the eighteen hundreds with a library and a museum surrounded by a rose garden. After the park, visit the Shinsaibashisuji shopping street where you can enjoy shopping and eating to your heart’s content. Whilst in this district you can visit the Ebisu Bridge, a picturesque bridge where you can view the many pretty lights and signs reflecting off the canal of the Dotonbori district. You can continue to visit the many restaurants, theaters, and many other attractions offered in the area. After you can head back to your hotel, and you will have the night to do as you please.
Overnight at Zentis Osaka
After breakfast, be ready to check out and you will head out and take the public train to Osaka KIX Airport to take your flight home.

If you have chosen to venture further and choose to explore more to uncover Japan’s coastline, you will have your breakfast early and check out around eight in the morning as your guide will lead you first to Kurashiki, along the coast to Fukuyama and Hiroshima. Your first stop will be the world’s longest suspension bridge, Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. Underneath the bridge is the Maiko Maritime Promenade which has an observation deck, a glass-bottom walkway, and a cafe. After the bridge, you will see the world-famous Himeji Castle famous for its white facade, moats, and beautiful cherry blossom gardens. You will then head to the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter where you can walk around a historical area, filled with classic architecture, canals, shops, and eateries for you to enjoy. After walking around the district, enter the Ohara Museum of Art. One of the oldest private museums showcasing French and Japanese paintings. After the museum, you can head back to your hotel to check in and relax.

Overnight at Ryokan Tsurugata
After breakfast, you will check out and be met by a guide who will lead you to visit Onomichi. Your first stop will be the Onomichi Hondori shopping street, a famous street with many shops selling crafts, charming restaurants, and cafes. From there you will go take the Senkojima Ropeway Cable Car to reach the Senkoji Temple where you will get to view Onomichi from the Senkoji Temple Summit Observation Deck. After the summit, you will go to Shinshoji Zen and Garden Museum. A stunning building and garden hidden in the mountains where you take a deep breath. Then you will head to the Notohara Sunset Observation Deck, where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the mountains of Hiroshima meeting the ocean with the view of the Utsumi Ohashi Bridge. You will then drop down next to the ocean to go to the Fukuzenji Temple next to the sea with panoramic views of the mountains, island, and the sea. After the temple, go to the Fukuyama City Hall Tomo Terrace, where you can learn the history of Tomonoura and its festivals. Then you can hop over to see the Joyato Stone Lighthouse, built in the Meiji era, which has been well preserved and located in the middle of a fishing village. After the lighthouse, you will be able to retreat and check in to your hotel located by the ocean. Dinner will be ready and served at seven at night. Have dinner and relax for the rest of the night.

Overnight at Migiwatei Ochi Kochi
Enjoy your breakfast and check out. A guide will be waiting to take you around Kure and Miyajima. Your first stop will be the Maritime Self-Defense Force Kure Museum and Irifuneyama Memorial Museum, where you will be able to learn about minesweeping initiatives. You will also be able to explore the insides of Akishio, a huge submarine. After learning about the naval forces, you can visit the Irifuneyama Memorial Museum, a preserved historic home of a former naval commander that has artifacts, furniture, and a famous clock tower. This will conclude Kure, and you will head to Hiroshima. Your first stop will be Hiroshima Castle surrounded by a moat, and with great views of the city. Then you will visit the Atomic Bomb Dome, the iconic remains of the Industrial Promotion Hall which still stood after the horrific bombing of World War Two. You will also be able to visit the Peace Memorial Park of Hiroshima filled with many Monuments, such as the Gates of Peaces and the Children’s Peace Monument. You may also visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. After visiting many sites and monuments, retreat to your new hotel on the island of Miyajima and be ready to have an incredible dinner at seven. After dinner, you are free to relax and enjoy the island to yourself.

Overnight at Miyajima Iwaso
Have breakfast on the island and be ready to be picked up by your guide to visit Itsukushima Shrine which is famous for “floating” during high tide. Then visit the Hokokujinja Senjokaku Pavilion, a wooden shrine commissioned by the samurai Toyotomi Hideyoshi, overlooking the sea. Walk over to the Miyajima Omotesando shopping street where you can find fresh seafood and many souvenir shops. After shopping, head over to the Daishoin Temple, where you can take a nice walk and enter the Henjo Cave filled with lanterns, Buddhist statues, and the smell of incense. After entering the cave, you will go to take the Miyajima Ropeway and view the sea and the island through the cable car which will take you to the Shishiiwa Observation Deck. On the deck, you will get to see the most exquisite view of the island, the sea, and the coast of Hiroshima. After exploring the island. You will head back to your hotel and have dinner at seven. The rest of the night is yours to spend.

Overnight at Miyajima Iwaso
Have breakfast on the island and be ready to check out. Head back to the mainland and take the train to Osaka or directly to the airport to board your flight back home.

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