Wonders of Japan

Arrival at Tokyo 

Arrive at the Airport and get transferred to your Hotel. 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. Shinjuku is one of the most important nightlife districts. Dinner included and return to hotel by metro with our guide. Overnight at the hotel. 

Overnight stay in Tokyo.

Tokyo

In the morning, we proceed to see 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.

Overnight stay in Tokyo.

Includes Breakfast

Tokyo - Mount Fuji - Kawaguchiko

We travel to the beautiful area of Monte Fuji, through the pretty countryside on our way. 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 go on to Kawaguchiko with its tiny houses, flowers mountains, and beautiful lake. On our arrival, 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. The visit also includes a delightful boat trip on Kawaguchiko Lake. 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. 

Includes Breakfast

Kawaguchiko - Iyasi no Sato Nenba - Toyota - Kyoto

In the morning, we continue along the pretty road bordered by lakes to 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. We then have the opportunity to admire the Shiraito Falls, considered one of the most attractive sites in Japan, with a waterfall height of 150 metres. We will then continue to Nagoya, the third most important city in Japan, on the shores of the Pacific. Here we will visit the Toyota Museum (admission included), a must-see for motor lovers. We continue to Kyoto, Overnight at the hotel.

Kyoto

We spent all 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. We head for the outskirts of Kyoto to 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. 

Includes Breakfast

Kyoto - Nara - Osaka 

We leave for NARA and 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. Lunch included. After the visit, we will see the Horyuji Buddhist temple, a World Heritage Site that includes a seminary, monasteries and temples. Its main pagoda temple is one of the oldest wooden buildings in the world is the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan and is an important place of worship. We continue to Osaka, where we arrive in the evening. Accommodation in this modern city (Japan's second city). We will visit Dotonbori, a colourful district filled with nightlife.

Includes Breakfast

Osaka - Himeji- Korakuen Garden- Okayama

We leave for HIMEJI, where we will include entry to its immense complex that shows us the architecture of Japanese castles. Lunch is included in a local restaurant. We go on to OKAYAMA, where 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, a symbol of Okayama Prefecture. We find a unique architecture with a corridor of 360 meters long. After the visit, free time in the city, an active provincial capital of just over 700,000 inhabitants.

Includes Breakfast

Okayama - Kurashiki - Hiroshima- Itsukushima - Hiroshima

We leave for KURASHIKI, a city with a very well-preserved historical centre. Time for a stroll in this charming place with its atmosphere from the past. We continue on our way to HIROSHIMA, a city 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. Dinner included.

Includes Breakfast

Hiroshima - Matsuyama

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

Matsuyama - Kotohira - Takamatsu - Naruto - Kobe

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. 

Includes Breakfast

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.

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, for an overnight stay. 

Includes Breakfast

Nagano - Monkey Park - Kusatsu - Ikaho Onsen

In Nagano, we will see the Zenko-ji, a place of pilgrimage with the first Buddhist image in Japan. Our travellers will be included in the Gomakuyo ceremony to bring luck. After this, we will travel to the beautiful Japanese Alps and in the mountains we will go to the Jigokudani Monkey Park, where we will include lunch and stroll amidst its forests with its rivers and spa waters where colonies of Japanese macaques live and bathe. After this, very beautiful high mountain scenery (we go up to 2,172 metres), passing semi-active volcanoes. Kusatsu, an attractive spa town, its main square full of life. We follow this with a walk in the city park which has an open-air Onsen. Then on to Ikaho, 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. 

Includes Breakfast

Ikaho - Nikko - Tokyo

We continue on our way to Nikko, and in this fantastic town, we will visit the impressive Nikko-Toshogu Temple with its room with the sound of a dragon. We will also see the Taiyuinbyo mausoleum, an impressive place full of peace. After this stroll by the river in Kanmangafuchi, Hundreds of Jizos watch us! We will have free time in the centre before leaving for Tokyo once more.- Arrival in Tokyo at around 18.30 in the evening.-End of our services. Please, check the time of your flight in case you might need an additional night.