DAY 1 KYOTO

Check into your Kyoto hotel.

DAY 2 KYOTO – NARA – KYOTO

Nijo Castle
A World Heritage site. Tour the historical castle completed in 1626, which was built to provide lodging for Tokugawa Shogun and as a palladium for Kyoto Imperial Palace. The impressive, elaborate carvings and decors in the Ninomaru Palace are a must-see.

Visit Kinkaku-ji Temple
A World Heritage site. The wooden architecture is covered in thin layers of pure gold and is surrounded by a beautiful pond.

Kyoto Imperial Palace (Except Mondays)
See the Kyoto Imperial Palace, which was used as the Emperor’s residence until about 150 years ago.

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (Mondays (and Tuesdays when Monday is a national holiday)
On Mondays (and Tuesdays if a national holiday falls on the preceding Monday), this tour will visit Kitano Tenmangu Shrine instead of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. It is famous for housing the God of scholarship. This shrine’s main hall is a designated national treasure. The shrine is especially great to see during the plum blossom and autumn leaf seasons.

Enjoy lunch. After lunch, travel from Kyoto to Nara by bus.

Todai-ji Temple (Great Buddha)/Nara Park
A World Heritage site. This is the symbol of the Nara Period and one of the world’s largest wooden structures. Its huge main hall and bronze Great Buddha are impressive to behold.

Kasuga Taisha Shrine
This Nara Period shrine is designated as a World Heritage Site. The deer of Nara Park are thought to be the shrine messengers.

Nara Nagomikan
The largest souvenir shop in Nara. Enjoy yourself in this spacious shop and look for the perfect souvenir.

Stay at a Hotel in Kyoto city.

DAY 3 KYOTO – HIROSHIMA

Pick-up Service 
From pick-up hotels to Kyoto Station. Please be at the meeting location at least 10 minutes before departure.

Kyoto Station 
Reserved seating aboard the Shinkansen (Nozomi or Hikari). From Kyoto Station to Hiroshima Station. There is no accompanying English-speaking tour conductor while onboard the Shinkansen.

Arrive at Hiroshima Station 
Walk to Hotel Granvia Hiroshima

Depart from Hotel Granvia Hiroshima 
Go to Miyajimaguchi by bus

From Miyajimaguchi to Miyajima Port
Go to Miyajima by ferry

Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima Lunch (meal charges not included in the tour)
A World Heritage site. Established in the 6th century, this shrine is one of Japan’s finest, and is famous for its beautiful Shinden-zukuri style structure (architecture representative of a nobles’ residence in the Heian period). The contrast of the green of Mount Misen behind the lacquered shrine pavilion and the blue of the Seto Sea is beautiful and evocative of the underwater palace of Ryugujo.

From Miyajima Port to Miyajimaguchi 
Go to Miyajimaguchi by ferry

Depart from Miyajimaguchi 
Take the bus to Peace Memorial Park

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Museum 
This large-scale park was established in 1949 after the Pacific War ended, and is visited by countless visitors as a symbol of peace. The museum within the park is an Important Cultural Property of Japan, and was built to remind future generations of the terror wrought by atomic bombs.

Atomic Bomb Dome 
The Atomic Bomb Dome is a symbol of the disastrous atomic bombing during WWII, the first atomic bombs used in human history, and has been preserved as it was to promote peace and elimination of atomic weapons around the world.

Arrive at Hotel in Hiroshima City

DAY 4 HIROSHIMA – KURASHIKI – OKAYAMA – KYOTO

Depart from Hotel in Hiroshima City 
Walk to Hiroshima Station

From Hiroshima Station to Shin-Kurashiki Station 
Take the Kodama Shinkansen (reserved seating) from Hiroshima Station to Shin-Kurashiki Station.

From Shin-Kurashiki Station to the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter 
Transportation will be on a JR train (local service, non-reserved seating) and a taxi when the number of participants does not reach 6.

Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter 
Stroll through many of the original storehouses that have been preserved from the Edo and Meiji Periods (Edo: 1603–1868, Meiji: 1868–1912).

Western-style lunch at Kurashiki Kokusai Hotel

Ohara Museum of Art 
Not only the collection of modern and western art, but the ancient Greek architecture and the ivy-covered stone walls also attract many visitors.

Kurashiki Station to Okayama Station 
Take the JR train (ordinary car, non-reserved seating) and head to Okayama Station.

Depart from Okayama Station 
Head to Korakuen Garden by taxi.

Arrive at Korakuen Garden 
One of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan, and represents the Genroku Culture of the early Edo Period.

Okayama Station 
Head to Okayama Station by taxi.

From Okayama Station to Kyoto Station 
Take the Hikari Shinkansen (reserved seating) to Kyoto Station. There is no accompanying National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter while onboard the Shinkansen.

Arrive at Kyoto Station 
Participants will be taken to their hotels by taxi

DAY 5 KYOTO – TOKYO

Free time 
Free time all day

Free time from check-out until departure

Depart from Hotel 
An English-speaking assistant will meet participants at the hotel in Kyoto City at departure time for shuttle service to the station.

Kyoto Station

From Kyoto Station to Tokyo Station 
An assistant will guide participants to the station platform, but will not board the Shinkansen.

Tokyo Station 
An English-speaking tour conductor will meet participants at Tokyo Station.
A drop-off service by taxi to accommodations within the city area is available.

Stay at Hotel in Tokyo

DAY 6 KYOTO – SHIZUOKA – MT FUJI – TOKYO

Pick-up Service 
Pick-up service is available at hotel accommodation. Please be at the meeting location at least 10 minutes before departure.

Mt. Fuji 5th Station 
The bus will head up to the 5th Station along the Subaru Line.
The 5th Station is situated at 2,300 meters (7,546 ft) above sea level. At this height, you will be amazed at spectacular, breathtaking views from above the clouds.

Lunch 
Enjoy lunch.

Lake Ashi Cruise 
This crater lake along the southwest wall of the caldera of Mt. Hakone was formed by a powerful volcanic eruption nearly 3,000 years ago, and provides postcard views of Mt. Fuji towering 30 km northwest. Admire the superb view of Mt. Fuji from aboard a ship.
*The tour may be guided to another ropeway or an alternative destination if the Lake Ashi cruise operation is suspended, or depending on road conditions, congestion, etc.

Komagatake Ropeway 
Take a 7-minute ropeway ride to the peak of Mt. Komagatake. A total of 50 minutes will be spent here, including time to walk around at the peak. Take a cableway ride up to the spiritual Hakone Shrine Mototsumiya (original shrine) that nestles at the mountaintop.
*The tour may be guided to another ropeway or an alternative destination if the Komagatake Ropeway operation is suspended, or depending on road conditions, etc.

Hakone-en

Tour ends in Tokyo 
Afterwards, please make your own way to the hotel in Tokyo and check in on your own.

Stay at Hotel in Tokyo

DAY 7 TOKYO

Drive by National Diet Building
This is the center of the Japanese Government. Don’t let the impressive Western-style architecture fool you–this building is constructed almost entirely out of pure Japanese materials.

Drive by Imperial Palace
Formerly known as Edo Castle, this palace is the residence of the Emperor of Japan.
The grounds are lush with green foliage and provide a relaxing spot for Tokyoites and visitors alike.

Tsukiji Outer Market
Japans no.1 place for seafood with over 400 shops including fresh fish retailers, grocers, and restaurants. Enjoy shopping and try some local food while exploring this one-of-a-kind location.

Drive by Kabukiza
A classic Japanese-style theater where traditional Kabuki performances are held.

Tokyo Skytree Town
Enjoy freely exploring Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Solamachi which features many traditional Tokyo shops, an aquarium, planetarium, and more.

Senso-ji Temple & Nakamise Shopping Street
Senso-ji, Tokyos oldest temple, offers plenty to see including the bright red Kaminarimon Gate, a statue of the god of thunder, and a five-story pagoda. The bustling street known as “Nakamise” stretches for about 250 m from Kaminarimon Gate to Senso-ji Temple and is filled with a plethora of shops.

Stay at a Hotel in Tokyo city.

DAY 8 TOKYO

Free day.  

DAY 9 TOKYO

Transfer back to Narita/Haneda Airport is included on this day if you are not continuing on in Japan.