Quintessential Japan With Airfare

Board your overnight flight to Asia today.

Upon arrival at Narita or Haneda airport, clear immigration and proceed to the arrivals hall, where our representative will greet you and assist you in boarding a taxi to your Tokyo hotel. After check-in, the remainder of the day is at leisure.

Today, enjoy Tokyo at leisure, where every street corner offers a new discovery, from tranquil gardens to bustling markets. Explore the city's vibrant energy as you adventure into its diverse neighborhoods and iconic landmarks on your own.

Start off your stay in Tokyo with a morning tour. Visit the Imperial Palace grounds and Nijubashi Bridge. The palace is the residence of the Emperor of Japan and the grounds are a relaxing spot for Tokyoites and visitors alike. Then visit Tokyo Tower’s main deck for a 360-degree panoramic view from the observatory. Next, visit Senso-Ji Temple and Nakamise Shopping Street. Senso-Ji, Tokyo's 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. The tour will also drive by the National Diet Building which is the center of Japanese Government and Kabukiza, a classic Japanese-style theatre where Kabuki is performed. The tour ends near Tokyo Station. Enjoy your free time in the afternoon.

Meet your tour group and begin the tour with a bullet train journey from Tokyo Station to Mishima Station. Upon arrival at Mishima Station, transfer to the Hokusai Special Train to Fujinomiya Station and enjoy spectacular views of Mt. Fuji. The train is named after Katsushika Hokusai, who was famous for his ukiyo-e woodblock prints, including The Great Wave off Kanagawa, perhaps his most iconic work.

Enjoy photo stops and slow driving at spots depicted in his prints, and an onboard talk will introduce his life and artistic legacy. Then visit the Mt. Fuji World Heritage Centre in Shizuoka to gain a deeper understanding of Mt. Fuji's rich history, spiritual significance, and cultural importance through engaging exhibits and displays.

Continue to Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine, the spiritual heart of Mt. Fuji worship. As the head shrine of all Sengen shrines across Japan, it has long been revered for its role in appeasing Mt. Fuji's eruptions. Next, visit Shiraito Falls and Otodome Falls, where crystal-clear snowmelt from Mt. Fuji cascades into two strikingly different yet equally captivating waterfalls.

After lunch, visit a farm that cultivates Japan's world-renowned wasabi, and enjoy a hands-on experience grating and tasting Mazuma wasabi, regarded as the finest variety in Japan. Drop off at Mishima Station after the tour and walk to your hotel adjacent to the station.

Escort assistance to Mishima Station in the morning to board the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto. Arrive in Kyoto in the early afternoon and set out on an afternoon walking tour. Begin with a Japanese Sweets Making Experience, where, under the guidance of an artisan, you’ll create two traditional Japanese sweets: a sakura-shaped nerikiri and a seasonal kinton. Then visit Sanjusangendo Temple, renowned for its impressive wooden hall and more than 1,000 life-sized statues of Buddhist deities. Finally, proceed to the hilltop Kiyomizudera Temple and admire panoramic views of Kyoto from its iconic wooden veranda. You may also wish to sample a few drops from the Otowa Waterfall, which flows beneath the main hall and is believed to grant wishes to those who drink from it. Check in to your hotel after the tour.

Take a full day tour to explore some of Kyoto and Nara's most famous sites. Visit Nijo Castle, noted for its gorgeous interiors and its 'squeaky' nightingale floors which alerted residents to unwanted intruders (if Nijo Castle is closed, visit Ryoanji Temple instead). Continue to Kinkakuji Temple, famous for its Golden Pavilion covered entirely in thin layers of pure gold as well as for its exquisite Japanese gardens and koi ponds. Afterwards, visit Kyoto's Imperial Palace and gain exclusive access to the former residence of the Emperor of Japan (if the Palace is closed, visit Kitano Tenmangu Shrine instead). After a western-style lunch, travel by bus to Nara, the first permanent capital of Japan. Visit the ancient Todaiji Temple and its massive Great Buddha (the largest bronze Buddha in Japan). You will also see the colorful Kasuga Taisha Shrine with 3,000 lanterns. This Shinto shrine is considered one of Japan's "Three Great Shrines". Also visit Nara Park, affectionately called "Deer Park" because of the friendly, free-roaming deer that inhabit it. Return to Kyoto in the evening.

Leaving from Kyoto early this morning travel to Hiroshima by Shinkansen train. The journey takes approximately two hours. Arrive at the JR Hiroshima station and walk to the Granvia Hotel, directly connected to Hiroshima Station, to meet your tour group. First, you will transfer to Miyajimaguchi where you will take a ferry over to beautiful Miyajima Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its Itsukushima Jinja Shrine. Here, you will have the opportunity to take in one of the three most renowned views in Japan, especially at high tide when the shrine appears to be floating magically on top of the sea! Break for lunch (not included) and enjoy some time to relax on your own. Continue on to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum, dedicated to promoting peace around the world. Walk around and reflect on human history through the poignant portrayals of Hiroshima's darkest hours. See the Atomic Bomb Dome, a sobering reminder of World War II and an inspiring symbol of peace. At the end of the tour take the Shinkansen train back to Kyoto Station; you will arrive in Kyoto in the evening.

Today is a day at leisure to explore Kyoto on your own.

Kyoto Hotel to Osaka Kansai Airport by Shared Taxi or Airport Bus.
Board your onward flight from Osaka back to North America arriving later today.