The Pilgrimage Route of Japan: Cherry Blossom Tour

9 days 8 nights

fromUSD $3798.00

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Single Supplement: USD $720.00

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Himeji Castle is located in the city of Himeji and is only a five minute bus ride away from Himeji Station. Himeji Castle the most popular and visited castle in Japan, it is also listed both as one of Japan’s national treasure castles and as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This castle is also one of Japan’s twelve original castles, which means it was never destroyed in its history and has been standing since it was originally completed in the year 1609. The surrounding area is also one of Japan’s most popular cherry blossom destinations during the spring.

Kurashiki’s canal area is one of Japan’s most beautifully preserved canals that date back as far to the Edo Period. The canals were once used to transport rice into the storehouses where they would be shipped to cities such as Osaka and Tokyo (was known as Edo during those times). Now this historic area is the most popular destination for tourist visiting Kurashiki. Many of the historic storehouses have been turned into shops, cafes, restaurants, and museums for guests to enjoy.

Located in Kurashiki’s historic canal area is the Ohara Museum of Art was Japan’s first museum of Western Art. This museum was the first museum built for western art in all of Japan and holds many displays of western art. There are many masterpieces of art on display from famous artist, such as Picasso, Pollock, Modigliani, and many more. There are three buildings that visitors can visit, the main gallery, annex, and the Kojima Museum. Each building features different displays of western art, Japanese art, sculptures, and other forms of art.

The Hiroshima Peace Park is a memorial park located in the center of the Hiroshima City. Many of the memorials related to the dropping of the atomic bomb are located in and around this area. The park is the location to the memorials such as the A-Bomb Dome, Children’s Peace Monument, and the Peace Memorial Museum. This area is also listed as one of Japan’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Peace Memorial Museum is one of the main destinations for guests visiting the Hiroshima Peace Park. The features the history of Hiroshima, effects of the atomic bomb, and its aftermath. Guests visiting the museum can explore the various artifacts and displays related to the atomic blast.

One of the most famous and well known shrines in Japan is the Itsukushima Shrine. This location is one of Japan’s top three most scenic places along with the famous Matsushima Bay and Amanohashidate, and brings plenty of tourist every year. This shrine and its famous torii gate are built over the water, which makes it seem like it is floating in the sea. Guests can stay in the ryokan hotels nearby or ride one of the many boat cruises while here.

One of the most unique attractions in Onomichi City is the Shimanami Kaido. This long 60 km (close to 37.25 miles) road connects the main island of Honshu to Japan’s Shikoku Island and passes over six small islands in the Seto Inland Sea. This roadway is the only way to travel into Japan’s Shikoku Island by foot or bicycle. Visitors can rent bikes to travel between Onomichi, the small six islands, and Imabari City on Shikoku Island. The scenery is spectacular and lets travelers enjoy the natural beauty of the Seto Inland Sea and the islands.

Located along the Shimanami Kaido is the Kirosan Observatory on Oshima Island in the Seto Inland Sea. The observatory is in a park on the southernmost part of the Oshima Island. The observatory offers a breathtaking view of the Seto Inland Sea and one of the most popular times to come is during sunset. The sunset, together with the illuminated suspension bridge, and the view of Imabari City will provide a beautiful scenery that visitors are sure to never forget.

One of the most popular museums located in the city of Takamatsu is the Shikoku Mura Village. This is an open air museum that features preserved buildings and structures from all over Shikoku. Many of the structures on display have been relocated from all over Shikoku and provide guests with a pleasant experience of Shikoku’s history. The exhibits feature old traditional buildings, farmhouses, storehouses, and other structures.

Ritsurin Koen Park is one of Japan’s most beautiful landscape garden located in the city of Takamastu. Many consider this garden to belong on the list of Japan’s three most beautiful gardens. This spacious and beautiful park features many ponds, hills, trees, bridges, and pavilions. There are a number of walking routes throughout the park and provides views that would leave any guest satisfied.

Naruto is the starting point of the Shikoku Pilgrimage, which leads around the island to visit 88 temples across Shikoku associated with the famous Buddhist monk, Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism. Naruto's Ryozenji Temple is the first temple of the pilgrimage. We will be traveling by foot for approximately 1.2 km (0.75 miles) from Ryozenji Temple to Gokurakuji Temple.

Shukubo is known as temple lodging, one of the best places in Japan to experience Shukubo is at the temples in the Mount Koya region. One of the best way to culturally experience Japan is staying overnight in a sacred Buddhist temple. Guests are treated to dinner and breakfast featuring delicious shojin ryori (vegetarian monk cuisine). Guests are also welcome to join the monk’s morning prayers and enjoy the temple’s gardens, halls, and baths.

Shojin Ryori is the famous vegetarian monk cuisine that has been developed since it was first introduced in Japan in the 6th century. There are a few locations and restaurants where guests can experience this delicious cuisine. The most popular location to experience this cuisine is in the temple lodging, where guests can stay overnight in a Buddhist temple and guests are served shojin ryori dinner and breakfast.

Okunoin Temple is known as one of Mount Koya’s most popular destination for visitors, many want to see Kobo Daishi’s mausoleum, but that first requires passing through Okunoin’s cemetery first. Crossing the Ichinohashi Bridge and walking through the cemetery was the traditional way to visit Okunoin. This cemetery is the largest graveyard in Japan with more than 200,000 tombstones stretching down the path to Kobo Daishi’s mausoleum. Recently, it has become very popular to visit the graveyard at night to give visitors a different special atmosphere compared to visiting during the day.

Mount Koya has many temple lodging locations where guests can stay overnight at a Buddhist temple. Staying overnight usually includes eating the famous and delicious shojin ryori cuisine, which is vegetarian monk cuisine for dinner and breakfast. But before breakfast, guests are invited to participate in morning prayers with the monks. Taking part in morning meditations with the monks is a fun and unique cultural experience that any guests will appreciate.

Okunoin Temple is one of the most famous and sacred temples in all of Japan. It is the location of the famous mausoleum of Kobo Daishi, who is one of the most famous and revered person in the religious history of Japan. There are plenty of cultural activities and landmarks for visitors to experience, including a walkthrough of Okunoin’s cemetery, which is the largest cemetery in Japan.

Another one of the most popular temples located in the Mount Koya area is the Kongobuji Temple. Originally built in the year 1593, visitors can experience this historic temple by learning and exploring the many rooms in the temple grounds. The rooms in this temple were once used for important rituals and ceremonies. Visitors can also enjoy tea and snacks in the large tatami hall or enjoy the rock garden outside, which is the largest rock garden in Japan.

The Danjo Garan is another one of the most popular temples located in the Mount Koya area. The legend goes that the founder of Shingon Buddhism (Kobo Daishi) threw his sankosho from China towards Japan. While searching Japan to establish his religion, he found his sankosho in a pine tree and the Danjo Garan Temple was built, and the pine tree still stands there today. Visitors can tour both Kondo Hall and the Konpon Daito Pagoda. Guests can experience the large wooden temple of Kondo Hall where ceremonies are still held. Next to the hall is the Konpon Daito Pagoda where it the popular Dainichi Nyorai statue.

Kumano Kodo refers to a network of pilgrimage trails through the southern Kansai region. The Kodo ("old ways") are a key part of the region's UNESCO designation, and have been in use for over 1000 years. They are the only pilgrimage routes besides the Camino de Santiago to be designated a world heritage site.

The Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine is one of the three Kumano Grand Shrines. This shrine is one of the most popular shrines in all of Kumano and also is the location of one of the tallest waterfall in all of Japan. This sacred shrine also is the location to a Buddhist temple.

Located along with the Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine in the Kumano region is the famous Nachi Falls. This waterfall is one of the tallest waterfalls in Japan, but it is the tallest straight drop waterfall in all of Japan. This beautiful water fall blends in nicely with the Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine and is one of the most popular destination in the Kumano region.

The Ise Jingu Grand Shrine is one of the holiest locations in the Shinto religion. A shrine to the sun goddess Amaterasu, Ise has been associated with the imperial family (who claim descent from the sun goddess) since its initial construction. It even supposedly contains an element of the imperial regalia - one of the three crown treasures of Japan: the Sacred Mirror. Ise Grand Shrine's style of architecture is wholly Japanese, free of influence from the mainland, as it predates the introduction of Buddhism to Japan. The overall shrine complex contains two major shrine buildings - the Geku and the Naiku. The Geku is the outer shrine, dedicated to Toyouke Omikami, the Shinto kami (deity) of housing, clothing, and food. The Naiku is the Inner Shrine, and enshrines Amaterasu herself. In accordance with Shinto beliefs, the Geku and Naiku buildings (and the bridge leading up to them) are torn down and rebuilt afresh every 20 years out of locally- sourced cypress wood, which is believed to maintain a harmony with the land as well as preserve the knowledge of ancient construction techniques.

Located within the Ise Grand Shrine complex, between the Geku (outer shrine) and the Naiku (inner shrine), is a traditional shopping complex called Oharaimachi. Since the Ise Grand Shrine has been a place of traditional Shinto pilgrimage for thousands of years, Oharaimachi has some truly ancient establishments that have served the visiting pilgrims for many generations. Halfway through Oharaimachi is the Okage Yokocho street, which contains various shops and restaurants. The architecture along the narrow street is a mixture of old-fashioned Edo period and slightly newer Meiji period buildings, so visitors really get a sense of how long the district has been a fixture of the community. Travelers can stop outside shops to try local dishes - akafuku (red happiness), which is a sweet mochi dumpling made with red bean paste, and Ise Udon, a thick noodle soup. Of course, there are shops selling Ise shrine- themed souvenirs as well.

One of the most popular museums located in the Ise Shima area is the Mikimoto Pearl Island. In this museum, visitors can learn about pearls, how pearls are cultivated, and about Mikimoto Kokichi (famous person that first cultivated pearls). Visitors are able to explore the museum and learn much about Mikimoto, and visit the shops to purchase a variety of pearl jewelry. There are also hourly performances by the female pearl divers for guests to enjoy.