15-Day Wonders of Japan Tour Package from Tokyo

Welcome to Japan! Transfer by the shuttle bus 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. The visit includes an ascent to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, which has a wonderful view of the city from the 45th floor. Then we will take a walk around an hour to the restaurant. Shinjuku is one of the most important nightlife districts. After dinner, return to hotel by metro with our guide.

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. We will pass near the walls and gardens of the Imperial Palace and visit the Meiji Shrine dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and his wife, and their spirits. In Yasukuni Shrine we will have the chance to reflect on peace in this shrine, built in remembrance of the 2.5 million Japanese citizens who lost their lives in World War II. Passengers who wish to do so can visit the War Museum. 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-meter high pagoda. Then we will have some free time to visit the traditional commercial district of Asakusa. Lunch is included. Free time in the afternoon.

We set out for the beautiful region of Mount Fuji, passing through pretty countryside on our way. We reach the idyllic city of Kawaguchiko with its tiny houses, flowers and mountains, and its beautiful lake. Upon arrival, we will visit the Fuji Sengen Jinja 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 trip includes the ascent by cable car to Mount Tenjo. The views of the neighboring lakes and Mount Fuji are spectacular. 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 meters. Return to Kawaguchiko, with time to stroll near the lake. We will stay at a Ryokan (a traditional Japanese hotel), and have the chance to enjoy its Onsen (public baths). Traditional Japanese dinner included.

We are only 130km (81 miles) from Kyoto. in the morning, we continue along the pretty road bordered by lakes to Iyasi 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 done of the most attractive sites in Japan, with a waterfall height of 150 meters. We will then continue to Nagoya, the third most important city of 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, accommodation.

We spend 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. Free time before visiting GION, a busy traditional quarter famous for its Geisha. Free time.

We head for the outskirts of Kyoto to Arashiyama, where we cross the Togetsu-kyo Bridge (“bridge over the moon”), which has fantastic views. We will visit the Tenryu-ji, one of the "five major Zen temples of Kyoto" and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, followed by a walk through its mystic bamboo forest. Then we leave for Nara and visit Todai-ji, 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 Horyu-ji, 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 and is the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan and 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 colorful district filled with nightlife.

We leave for Mount SHOSA, and its ENGYO-JI complex of temples dating back more than 1,000 years, which was the place where the film “The last Samurai” was made. Cable car ride. After this we will see HIMEJI, where we will include entry to its immense complex that shows us the architecture of Japanese castles. Lunch 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 tea-houses.

We leave for Kurashiki, a city with a very well conserved historical centre. Time to wander through this charming old-world charming town with its quaint atmosphere. Then we carry on to Miyajimaguchi, where we take a ferry to Miyajima, the island “inhabited by Gods and men” and its Itsukushima shrine dedicated to the guardian of the seas, built partially over the sea. Time to visit the temple, stroll through the pretty centre and have lunch. Then we set out for Hiroshima, sadly famous for the atomic bomb that fell in on it 1945 and completely destroyed the city; we will visit the peace memorial park, the atomic bomb dome and the impressive Peace memorial Museum.

Today we will take a ferry to Shikoku, 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 Ishite-ji, 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.

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. We will arrival in Kobe for accommodation.

In Kobe we will visit the Earthquake Memorial Museum, a place to remind the tragic seism that devastated the city in 1995 and its perfect reconstruction. After stopping by in Osaka for lunch. We will depart from this city at 1:00pm to visit Mount Koya, one of Japan’s sacred mountains and Japan’s main center of Shingon Buddhism. There are 120 shrines and monasteries on this mountain which is a magical place of pilgrimage. We will visit Okunoin Mausoleum, a spiritual place and an immense cemetery in the wilderness that has more than 200,000 graves. We will visit Kongobu-ji, built in 1593. Please note that in winter, as it gets dark earlier, we will not have time to enter Kongobu-ji 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. 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.

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.

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.

In Nagano we will see the Zenko-ji, a place of pilgrimage with the first Buddhist image in Japan. Our travelers will be included 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 will include attendance at a Yumomi show, with its actresses and singing telling us about the traditional method used to cool the spa waters. We follow this with a walk in the city park which has the 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. 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 and the Yumoni show are cancelled due to the weather from November to April.

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 a 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 7 in the evening.