Japan..Land of The Rising Sun
Enjoy the "Land of
the Rising Sun" while on a tour of Japan, by visiting places such as
futuristic Tokyo, Kyoto (located on the central island), and the commercial hub
of Osaka, or by falling in love with Cherry Blossom season
and Hokkaido.
Check our organized tours or the self-guided ones!
This Japan tour is a must for value-minded travelers who enjoy history, beautiful settings, and fascinating architecture. You’ll start in Tokyo, end in Osaka.
This Japan tour is a must for value-minded travelers who enjoy history, beautiful settings, and fascinating architecture. You’ll start in Tokyo, end in Osaka.
Tour Details
Day 1: Welcome to
Japan’s capital city.
Day 2: Meet your Tour Director and travel companions prior to morning sightseeing in Tokyo.Your tour starts with a visit to Meiji Shrine, a magnificent 20th century Shinto monument set in a man-made forest. Next, visit Shinjuku Gyoen Garden. Originally dating from the early 1600s, the garden was destroyed in World War II and reopened in 1949 as a public park, home to one thousand cherry blossom trees. Today, it remains an immensely popular stop for locals and visitors alike. Last stop is the vibrant Asakusa Kannon Temple and the bustling Nakamise shopping arcade.
Day 3: Enjoy the day at your leisure to explore this sprawling metropolis.
Day 4: This morning, leave Tokyo and head south along the coast to the beautiful Five Lakes region.Here, take a cable-car ride (weather permitting) for panoramic views of Lake Kawaguchi and spectacular Mount Fuji, or Fujisan as the local's call it, Japan’s highest mountain. You will also visit Chureito Pagoda for a chance to snap your own iconic image of the pagoda with Fujisan in the background!
Day 5: This morning, board Japan’s famous bullet train for Osaka.Upon arrival, a traditional lunch is served. Experience the city's legendary dish, okonomiyaki, a delicious Japanese-style pancake. Then, join your Tour Director for a walking tour in Minami. Made up of Shinsaibashi, Namba, and Dotonbori, this area is home to great dining and nightlife and some of the city’s most fashionable shops and department stores. This is evening is free to explore the city on your own.
Day 6: Your sightseeing tour starts at the Open-Air Museum of Old Japanese Farm Houses, where traditional thatched-roof farm houses dating from the Edo period have been restored. Be transported back in time as you explore the old architecture.Visit Osaka Castle then enjoy the afternoon and evening at leisure. Perhaps return to Dotonbori this evening to sample local cuisine and see the sparkling neon lights.
Day 7: This morning, drive south to Okayama and visit Koraku-en, one of the “Three Great Gardens of Japan.” Covering some 30 acres, the garden features ponds, plum groves, and tea fields. A unique feature not typically found in Japanese gardens are the wide lawns which are said to help uplift the spirit and promote open mindedness.In Kurashiki, enjoy some free time in the Bikan Historical Quarter, once the political and commercial center of the city. The canal-lined, white-washed, and stone streets reflect the Edo period (1603-1867) and are quintessentially Japanese. Continue to Hiroshima.
Day 8: Today’s full day sightseeing includes two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Peace Memorial Park and Itsukushima Shrine. Start at Peace Memorial Park where you’ll visit the Peace Memorial, commonly referred to as the Atomic Bomb Dome, that is preserved and is just as it was on August 6, 1945, immediately after the bombing.You will also visit the Memorial Museum and Memorial Hall, which commemorate the lives lost that day. Then, travel to Miyajima Island to visit Itsukushima Shrine, known for its beautiful floating Torii Gate.
Day 9: Drive north to Bizen, where you’ll visit a traditional pottery workshop to learn more about Bizen-yaki, one of Japan’s six ancient pottery styles dating back over 1,000 years.Stop in Himeji to visit Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the finest surviving example of early 17th-century Japanese castle architecture that combines function with elegance. Continue to Osaka and enjoy the evening at leisure.
Day 10: Your day begins with a visit to stunning Kinkakuji, the Temple of the Gold Pavilion, covered in shimmering gold leaf. Walk through bustling Nishiki Market, a narrow, five block long shopping street lined by more than one hundred shops and restaurants.Participate in a tea ceremony, time-honored tradition, and wonderfully choreographed ritual of preparing and serving Japanese green tea. After lunch, visit Sanjusajendo Temple, famous for its 1,001 statues of Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy and Fushimi Inari Shrine, renowned for the thousands of brightly hued Torii Gate. Then, take a walking tour through Gion, Kyoto’s most famous geisha district, and sample a local Japanese treat. Consider an optional afternoon trip to the expanses of Nara Park, famous for its free-roaming deer who wander freely amid its shrines and temples.
Day 11: Full day at leisure to explore more of Kyoto’s historic sites and shrines.
Day 12: Your tour ends with breakfast this morning.
End of Trip..
Day 2: Meet your Tour Director and travel companions prior to morning sightseeing in Tokyo.Your tour starts with a visit to Meiji Shrine, a magnificent 20th century Shinto monument set in a man-made forest. Next, visit Shinjuku Gyoen Garden. Originally dating from the early 1600s, the garden was destroyed in World War II and reopened in 1949 as a public park, home to one thousand cherry blossom trees. Today, it remains an immensely popular stop for locals and visitors alike. Last stop is the vibrant Asakusa Kannon Temple and the bustling Nakamise shopping arcade.
Day 3: Enjoy the day at your leisure to explore this sprawling metropolis.
Day 4: This morning, leave Tokyo and head south along the coast to the beautiful Five Lakes region.Here, take a cable-car ride (weather permitting) for panoramic views of Lake Kawaguchi and spectacular Mount Fuji, or Fujisan as the local's call it, Japan’s highest mountain. You will also visit Chureito Pagoda for a chance to snap your own iconic image of the pagoda with Fujisan in the background!
Day 5: This morning, board Japan’s famous bullet train for Osaka.Upon arrival, a traditional lunch is served. Experience the city's legendary dish, okonomiyaki, a delicious Japanese-style pancake. Then, join your Tour Director for a walking tour in Minami. Made up of Shinsaibashi, Namba, and Dotonbori, this area is home to great dining and nightlife and some of the city’s most fashionable shops and department stores. This is evening is free to explore the city on your own.
Day 6: Your sightseeing tour starts at the Open-Air Museum of Old Japanese Farm Houses, where traditional thatched-roof farm houses dating from the Edo period have been restored. Be transported back in time as you explore the old architecture.Visit Osaka Castle then enjoy the afternoon and evening at leisure. Perhaps return to Dotonbori this evening to sample local cuisine and see the sparkling neon lights.
Day 7: This morning, drive south to Okayama and visit Koraku-en, one of the “Three Great Gardens of Japan.” Covering some 30 acres, the garden features ponds, plum groves, and tea fields. A unique feature not typically found in Japanese gardens are the wide lawns which are said to help uplift the spirit and promote open mindedness.In Kurashiki, enjoy some free time in the Bikan Historical Quarter, once the political and commercial center of the city. The canal-lined, white-washed, and stone streets reflect the Edo period (1603-1867) and are quintessentially Japanese. Continue to Hiroshima.
Day 8: Today’s full day sightseeing includes two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Peace Memorial Park and Itsukushima Shrine. Start at Peace Memorial Park where you’ll visit the Peace Memorial, commonly referred to as the Atomic Bomb Dome, that is preserved and is just as it was on August 6, 1945, immediately after the bombing.You will also visit the Memorial Museum and Memorial Hall, which commemorate the lives lost that day. Then, travel to Miyajima Island to visit Itsukushima Shrine, known for its beautiful floating Torii Gate.
Day 9: Drive north to Bizen, where you’ll visit a traditional pottery workshop to learn more about Bizen-yaki, one of Japan’s six ancient pottery styles dating back over 1,000 years.Stop in Himeji to visit Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the finest surviving example of early 17th-century Japanese castle architecture that combines function with elegance. Continue to Osaka and enjoy the evening at leisure.
Day 10: Your day begins with a visit to stunning Kinkakuji, the Temple of the Gold Pavilion, covered in shimmering gold leaf. Walk through bustling Nishiki Market, a narrow, five block long shopping street lined by more than one hundred shops and restaurants.Participate in a tea ceremony, time-honored tradition, and wonderfully choreographed ritual of preparing and serving Japanese green tea. After lunch, visit Sanjusajendo Temple, famous for its 1,001 statues of Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy and Fushimi Inari Shrine, renowned for the thousands of brightly hued Torii Gate. Then, take a walking tour through Gion, Kyoto’s most famous geisha district, and sample a local Japanese treat. Consider an optional afternoon trip to the expanses of Nara Park, famous for its free-roaming deer who wander freely amid its shrines and temples.
Day 11: Full day at leisure to explore more of Kyoto’s historic sites and shrines.
Day 12: Your tour ends with breakfast this morning.
End of Trip..
What's Included
Accommodation, transportation and guided tours..