Capitals of Japan With Mt. Fuji

Arrival at Tokyo 

Arrive at the Airport and get transferred to your Hotel.  In the afternoon, transfer by subway to Shinjuku.

Overnight stay in Tokyo.

Tokyo

In the morning, we proceed to the tour of this amazing city, with its hustle and bustle and extremely modern districts that coexist with quiet, peaceful areas. A brief stop at the Zojoji Temple to take 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 as 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 is included in a local restaurant. Return to hotel. Free time in the afternoon. NOTE: During the Japanese Olympics, accommodation may be given near Narita airport.

Overnight stay in Tokyo.

Includes Breakfast

Tokyo - Hiroshima

After breakfast, transfer to the station to take the BULLET TRAIN to HIROSHIMA. It takes four hours, more or less, to travel the 800 kilometres between both cities. Arrival at Hiroshima. This city is sadly known for the atomic bomb that fell on it in 1945 and which levelled the city. We will stroll around the Peace Memorial, the Dome of the Bomb and we will visit the impressive Museum of Peace. After the war, we will seek peace by embarking on a ferry to the island "where men and gods live together", with the sanctuary of ITSUKUSHIMA dedicated to the guardian of the seas, built partially over the sea. Time to visit the temple, to stroll around its pretty centre and have lunch. Return to our hotel in Hiroshima.

Overnight stay in Hiroshima.

Includes Breakfast

Hiroshima - Matsuyama

Today we will take a ferry to Shikoku Island, on a pleasant crossing that lasts two hours and a half and see the many islands that make up Japan. In MATSUYAMA we will take the cable car up to its impressive castle. Afterwards, we will visit ISHITEJI, a beautiful Buddhist temple and a place of pilgrimage. Lunch included. In the late afternoon, we will visit Dogo Onsen (admission included), a traditional Japanese bath facility built in the 19th century.

Overnight stay in Matsuyama.

Includes Breakfast

Matsuyama - Kotohira - Takamatsu - Naruto - Kobe

After Breakfast We depart for Kotohira, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the God of sailors and a place of pilgrimage. The shrine stands on Mount Zosu and is reached by climbing 785 steps. Afterwards in Takamatsu, we will visit Ritsurin, one of the prettiest gardens in Japan. Lunch included. Then, in Naruto, we cross an impressive bridge over the sea, stopping on the way to admire the construction and walk on its glass floor with the sea 45 metres below us. Our road is surrounded by beautiful scenery and then crosses long bridges between islands over the sea. Arrival in Kobe, accommodation.

Includes Breakfast

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: On some dates, the Earthquake Museum may be changed for the Sake Museum or a climb up Kobe Tower. We go on to Osaka. We will depart from this city 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 the Kongobuji temple, built in 1593. 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 a 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.

Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Mount Koya - Kyoto 

After  Japanese breakfast at the temple. Then we leave early for KYOTO, to spend the whole day in the city, which was the capital of Japan between 794 and 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. 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. Free time before visiting GION, a busy traditional quarter famous for its Geisha. Free time. Note: If you already visited Kyoto on your circuit, our guide will offer you information and advice on visiting the other parts of the city unaccompanied.

Includes Breakfast

Kyoto - Tsumago - Matsumoto - Nagano

We set out for Tsumago, passing attractive country scenery on our way. This small village with its wooden houses is one of the prettiest places in Japan. Free time to explore and lunch included. Then we continue to Matsumoto, a tourist city, where we will visit the impressive 16th-century castle, known as the "Crow Castle". Free time to explore this bustling tourist city. We continue to Nagano, accommodation.

Includes Breakfast

Nagano - Monkey Park - Kasatsu - Ikaho

We set out for Tsumago, passing attractive country scenery on our way. This small village with its wooden houses is one of the prettiest places in Japan. Free time to explore and lunch included. Then we continue to Matsumoto, a tourist city, where we will visit the impressive 16th-century castle, known as the "Crow Castle". Free time to explore this bustling tourist city. We continue to Nagano, accommodation.

Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Ikaho - Nikko - Tokyo

We set out for Tsumago, passing attractive country scenery on our way. This small village with its wooden houses is one of the prettiest places in Japan. Free time to explore and lunch included. Then we continue to Matsumoto, a tourist city, where we will visit the impressive 16th-century castle, known as the "Crow Castle". Free time to explore this bustling tourist city. We continue to Nagano, accommodation.

Includes Breakfast

Tokyo - Kamakura - Odawara - Gora 

We set out for Tsumago, passing attractive country scenery on our way. This small village with its wooden houses is one of the prettiest places in Japan. Free time to explore and lunch included. Then we continue to Matsumoto, a tourist city, where we will visit the impressive 16th-century castle, known as the "Crow Castle". Free time to explore this bustling tourist city. We continue to Nagano, accommodation.

Includes Breakfast

Gora - Mont Fuji - Kawaguchiko - Tokyo - Departures

Today´s stage is spectacular traveling to the beautiful area of Hakone, a region of lakes and mountains near Mount Fuji. We start the day going up OWAKUDANI, the "hell valley", steam boiler, bubbling mud and sulphurous gases (Note: Access is sometimes closed due to high volcanic activity or toxic gases, in which case we would include the Arakurayama sengen park). After that, we go on to OSHINO HAKKAI, a small, picturesque village with 8 ponds and views of Mount Fuji. We continue to KAWAGUCHIKO, an idyllic city of small houses, flowers and mountains next to its beautiful lake, where we include a beautiful boat trip. Later we start to climb Mount Fuji where, on the road that takes us to the "fifth station" amidst spectacular forests and views, we reach a height of 2305 metres. Return to Tokyo at the end of the day. Note: In winter, the climb to Mount Fuji is often closed by snow or other weather conditions; if this is so, we will go as far as we are authorised. End of our services. Please, check the time of your flight in case you might need an additional night.