Tokyo arrival.
Welcome to Japan! Transfer by coach (SHUTTLE BUS) to hotel.
18H30.- Meeting with guide. Late in the afternoon, we will pay a visit to this fascinating country by taking a trip on the metro (tickets included) to the Shinjuku district and see the crowds of people who use this modern and efficient collective transport system. Then we will take a walk around an hour to the restaurant. Shinjuku is one of the most important nightlife districts. Dinner included and return to hotel by metro with our guide.
Tokyo.
08.00 hrs.- In the morning, we take part in a 5-hour trip with our guide to see this amazing city, with its hustle and bustle and extremely modern districts that coexist with quiet, peaceful areas. Brief stop at the Zojoji Temple to make a beautiful photograph of the Tokyo Tower. Pay attention to the hundred of Jizos, stone traditional protecting deities who guide us on our travels, give power to those who are weak (such children) and those in dangerous places, and who are dressed including hats, robes and windmills. Then we head to the junction of Shibuya, a junction that is said to be the most crowded in the world. The Meiji Temple is dedicated to the Emperor Meiji, his wife, and their spirits. We continue on our bus along the elegant street of Omotesando. We will edge the most beautiful part of the Imperial Palace and the gardens. Stop to visit the famous Nijubashi Bridge. We will pass through the district of Akihabara, the “electric town” with icons from the popular Japanese Manga and Anime culture and then see Kokugikan, the Sumo stadium, home of this Japanese sport. We will also visit the Buddhist temple of Sensoji, the oldest and most important temple in Tokyo, with its 55-metre high pagoda. Then we will have some free time to visit the traditional commercial street of Nakamise in the district of Asakusa. Lunch included in a local restaurant. Return to hotel.
Free time in the afternoon.
NOTE: With 5 passengers or less than 5 passengers, the city tour will be done by a tourist bus "Hop On-Hop Off" bus that passes through the most interesting parts of Tokyo, in which passengers can hop off, visit the site of their choice and then hop on the next bus
Tokyo - Mount Fuji - Kawaguchiko.-
Total distance: 191 km Note: Bring some warm clothes since on Mount Fuji can be cold.
08.00 hrs.- We set out for the beautiful region of Mount Fuji, passing through pretty countryside on our way.
10.00 hrs- We go on to KAWAGUCHIKO with its tiny houses, flowers and mountains, and its beautiful lake. First of all we see the ARAKURAYAMA SENGEN PARK, with its beautiful pagodas, and from here enjoy the best and most well-known views of Mount Fuji. After this, we will visit the FUJI SENGEN SHRINE set in a magical site surrounded by tall trees, and the starting point of the traditional pilgrimage to the mountain. At the shrine, we will express our thanks for being able to visit this wonderful place.
12.30 hrs- We will enjoy a delightful boat trip on Kawaguchiko Lake which lasts approximately 30 minutes.
14.15 hrs- After lunch, we start to ascend Mount Fuji on the road that takes us to the “fifth station”, surrounded by spectacular forests and views, to a height of 2,305 metres.
Note: In winter, the route up to Mount Fuji is closed due to snow or other adverse weather conditions; during this season, we will ascend as far as the authorised point.
16.15 hrs- Return to Kawaguchiko arriving at 17.15hrs, with time to stroll near the lake. We will stay at a Ryokan (a traditional Japanese hotel), where we recommend you to enjoy its ONSEN. The experience in this typical Japanese public bath will be unforgettable. Dinner included.
(NB: In the planned Ryokan, some rooms are in Japanese style, with accommodation on tatamis, and others are in western-style).
Kawaguchiko - Iyasi no Sato Nenba - Toyota - Kyoto.-
Total distance: 390 km Note: Wear comfortable walking shoes. At the falls we will walk about 1.5km
08.30 hrs- Kawaguchiko- Departure. We continue along the pretty road bordered by lakes Kawaguchi and Saiko.
09.00 hrs- IYASHI NO SATO NENBA, a tiny village destroyed by a typhoon in 1966 and later restored as a traditional open-air mountain village and museum. Its traditional houses have been transformed into arts and crafts shops, restaurants and traditional museums.
10.00hrs- Iyashi departure.
10.45 hrs- We then have the opportunity to admire the SHIRAITO FALLS, considered done of the most attractive sites in Japan, with a waterfall height of 20 metres.
11.45 hrs- Shiraito Falls departure.
15.30 hrs- We will visit the TOYOTA MUSEUM (admission included), a must-see for motor lovers.
19.00 hrs- KYOTO, arrival and accomodation.
Kyoto.-
We spend whole day in the city that was the capital of Japan from the year 794 to 1868 and home to the Imperial Court. During World War II the city was the only major Japanese to escape the bombardments, and so it still preserves its wealth of artistic heritage; the famous protocol restricting greenhouse gas emissions was signed in Kyoto in 1997.
08.30hrs.- We head for the outskirts of Kyoto. Arashiyama, where we cross the Togetsukyo Bridge (“bridge over the moon”), which has fantastic views. We will visit the Tenryuji temple, one of the "five major Zen temples of Kyoto" and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, followed by a walk through its mystic bamboo forest. The visit includes a trip to one of the most important parts of the city. We will see the marvellous Shinto Shrine of Fushimi Inari, the Imperial Palace and Kinkakuji temple, “the golden pavilion” and its wonderful gardens.
19.00hrs- At night, a transfer to GION will be included, a busy traditional quarter famous for its Geisha. Free time. The return to the hotel will be free, we suggest you take a taxi. The guide will explain how.
Kyoto - Nara - Osaka.
Total distance: 125km
08.00hrs- Kyoto. Departure.
09.00hrs- NARA, we visit Todaiji, a magnificent Buddhist temple built in 752, which has a giant Buddha and where passengers can take photos and touch and feed the deer that wander through the park.
10.30hrs.- Todaiji Temple departure.
11.15hrs- HORYUJI Buddhist temple, a World Heritage Site. Time to discover its seminary, monasteries and temples. Its main pagoda temple is one of the oldest wooden buildings in the world and is the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan and an important place of worship.
12.45hrs- Horyuji Departure. Lunch included in a local restaurant. We continue to OSAKA. 14.30hrs.- OSAKA, Arrival. Accommodation in this modern city (Japan’s second city) and free time. In the evening we will visit Dotonbori, a colourful district filled with nightlife.
Osaka - Himeji- Korakuen Garden- Okayama.-
Distance travelled: 190 km
8.00 hrs.- Osaka –Departure-. We continue to Osaka Bay.
09.45 hrs.-HIMEJI –Arrival-. Admission to the huge castle is included, which is built in the traditional style of a Japanese castle. Lunch included.
Note: The queues to enter the castle are often very long. In certain cases, we recommend a visit to see only the gardens.
13.00hrs.- Himeji- Departure.
14.30 hrs- OKAYAMA. We will visit Korakuen, one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan, with its lakes, waterfalls and traditional teahouses. Next, we head towards the Shinto shrine of Kibitsu-Jinja where the God Kibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto is venerated, which is the origin of the legend of Momotaro, symbol of Okayama Prefecture. We find a unique architecture with a corridor of 360 meters long. After the visit, free time in the city, active provincial capital of just over 700,000 inhabitants.
17:30hrs.- Arrival at the hotel and accommodation.
Note: On some dates, we may be accommodated in FUKUYAMA or KURASHIKI. When this happens, the visit to Kibitsu-Jinja Temple will be cancelled. The visit to Kurashiki can be made on the same day in the afternoon.
Okayama - Kurashiki - Hiroshima- Itsukushima - Hiroshima.
Distance travelled: 220 Km Scenery: Pleasant scenery. Boat trip to Miyajima.
8.00 hrs.- Okayama –Departure-.
8.30 hrs.- KURASHIKI, a city with a very well-preserved historic centre. Time to explore this city with its old-world charm.
10.00 hrs.- Kursahiki –Departure-.
12.30 hrs.- HIROSHIMA, arrival to the city that is sadly famous as the site where the atomic bomb fell in 1945, destroying the whole city. We will visit the peace memorial, the dome and the impressive Peace Memorial Museum. Time for lunch after the visits. Then, we continue to the outskirts of the city and take a small ferry on a 15-minute crossing to Miyajima, the island where “man lives alongside the Gods”. Visit to ITSUKUSHIMA shrine, dedicated to the guardian of the seas and partially built on the sea. Time to explore the temple and stroll through the pretty centre.
Note: The order of the visits in Hiroshima can change, being able to go first to Miyajima and later to Hiroshima.
19.00 hrs—Miyajima –Departure-. We take the boat and then continue to Hiroshima. Dinner included.
Hiroshima - Matsuyama.
Distance travelled: Journey by boat. Crossing of about 50 km.
Scenery: Interesting scenery on board, passing close to many different islands.
Note: We recommend staying on deck to enjoy the crossing, but bring warm clothing.
Today we will take a boat to the island of Shikoku. The crossing is extremely pleasant and takes two and a half hours, and discover that Japan is formed by many small islands. If there are no changes in the ferry times, it will leave at 09.20hrs (we leave the hotel at 08.00 hrs).
12.00hrs. – MATSUYAMA. Arrival. We will take the cable car and ascend to its impressive castle. Then we will visit ISHITE JI, a beautiful Buddhist temple and place of pilgrimage. Lunch included.
In the late afternoon we will visit DOGO ONSEN (admission included), a traditional Japanese bath built in the 19th century.
Note: we highly recommend you to live the Onsen experience in Japan. There are rules that will be explained to you; The baths are separated by sex and a thorough cleaning must be carried out before entering the hot water naked. In Japanese Onsen they can prohibit the entry of people with tattoos.
Matsuyama - Kotohira - Takamatsu - Naruto - Kobe.
Distance travelled: 345 km
Scenery: Pleasant mountain scenery in some places. We walk along huge suspension bridges over the sea. Wear comfortable walking shoes for the journey.
7.30 hrs- Matsuyama.- Departure-.
10.00 hrs.- KOTOHIRA, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the God of fishermen and a place of pilgrimage built on Mount Zozu. To access it, it is necessary to climb 785 steps. Those who do not want to climb the mountain can enjoy sightseeing and visit the small Sake Museum (the traditional Japanese liqueur).
12.00hrs.- Kotohira –Departure-.
13.00 hrs.- TAKAMATSU. Visit to RITSURIN, one of the prettiest gardens in Japan. Lunch included in a local restaurant.
15.00 hrs.- Takamatsu –Departure-.
16.15 hrs.- NARUTO, an impressive bridge that crosses the sea. We will stop to learn how it was built and walk along its glass floor with the impressive waves below us (depending on the times and tides) at a height of 45 metres.
17.15hrs.- Naruto –Departure-. Pretty scenery as we cross huge suspension bridges.
19.00hrs.- KOBE.- Arrival. Modern city by the sea, you can walk through its active center.
Kobe - Osaka - Mount Koya.
In Kobe we visited the Earthquake Memorial Museum, a place to remind the tragic seism that devastated the city in 1995 and its perfect reconstruction.
Note: Sometimes, the entrance to the Earthquake Museum may be modified by the Sake Museum or the climb to the Kobe Tower.
10.30hrs- We continue to Osaka.
11.15hrs- OSAKA, arrival to the second biggest city in Japan.
12.00hrs- We will depart Osaka to visit, MOUNT KOYA, one of Japan’s sacred mountains and Japan’s main centre of Shingon Buddhism. There are 120 shrines and monasteries on this mountain which is a magical place of pilgrimage. We will visit Okuno Mausoleum, a spiritual place and an immense cemetery in the wilderness that has more than 200,000 graves. We will visit Kongobuji temple, built in 1593.
Note: In winter, as it gets dark earlier, we will not have time to enter Kongobuji temple.
We will spend this night at a Buddhist monastery. The monks will offer us a Zen meditation session (Ajikan). Dinner included (vegetarian food). There is religious ceremony at the temple early in the morning if you wish to attend it.
Note: We consider the sojourn at the monastery as an experience of great existential value. The rooms at this place are modest, without bathrooms, in the traditional Japanese style with tatamis. Bathrooms are communal.
Mount Koya - Kyoto.-
Japanese breakfast at the shrine. We will depart for KYOTO at first light where we will enjoy a full free day. Our guide will inform you so you can make the best of your alone time and visit the most interesting places in this gorgeous city.
Kyoto - Tsumago - Matsumoto.-Nagano
Total distance: 320 km.
08.00 hrs- We leave Kyoto to set out for Tsumago, passing attractive country scenery on our way.
11.15 hrs- TSUMAGO. This small village with its wooden houses is one of the prettiest places in Japan. Free time to explore and lunch included in a local restaurant.
13.30 hrs- Tsumago departure.
14.45 hrs- MATSUMOTO, arrival to this tourist city, where we will visit the impressive 16th century castle, known as the “Crow Castle”. Free time to explore this bustling tourist city.
18.00hrs.- Matsumoto.- Departure.
19.15hrs.- NAGANO, arrival.
Note: In some tours, we will not sojourn in Nagano but in the town of Matsumoto.
Nagano - Monkey Park - Kusatsu - Ikaho Onsen.
Total distance: 160 km
Scenery: Today our journey takes us through the beautiful Japanese Alps.
Note: Wear comfortable shoes to walk around the Monkey Park
Early in the morning, in NAGANO, we will visit Zenkoji temple, a pilgrimage site where the first Buddhist image of Japan is located. Passengers will have the opportunity to take part in the Gomakuyo ceremony that brings good luck.
10.30hrs- Nagano departure. We continue through the high mountains.
11.30hrs- Monkey Park, with lunch included and wander through its forests with their rivers and thermal fountains where colonies of Japanese monkeys live and bathe.
13.45hrs- We leave the park, our journey takes us through beautiful mountain scenery (reaching an altitude of 2,172 metres) with semi-active volcanoes.
15.00hrs- KUSATSU is an attractive spa city with a lively main square. Then we can stroll through the city park with its outdoor Onsen.
17.45 hrs- Departure from Kustasu.
19.15hrs- IKAHO, arrival to a picturesque spa town where we will stroll in its ancient centre with its staircase streets. We will stay at a RYOKAN, a Japanese style hotel where we will continue to enjoy its baths. Traditional Japanese dinner included. .
NB: In the autumn, depending on the amount of fruit in the mountains, the movement of the monkeys is unpredictable. If the macaques do not come down to the park, it may be closed. The visit to Kusatsu may be cancelled due to the weather from November to April.
NB: On certain dates, due to local festivities, accommodation may be provided in nearby towns such as TAKASAKI or MAEBASHI in a western-style hotel/dinner without onsen.
Ikaho - Nikko - Tokyo.
Total distance: 310km
07.45hrs- Ikaho Onsen. Saída.
10.00hrs- NIKKO, a fantastic town where we will visit the impressive Nikko Toshogu Shrine and the hall of the crying dragon. We will also visit the Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum, set in an impressive, peaceful site, followed by a walk near the river, in Kanmangafuchi, under the watchful eye of hundreds of Jizo statues!
Free time for lunch and visit the city centre.-
15.30hrs- Departure to Tokyo.
18.30hrs- TOKYO.- arrival.
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