Japan Garden Private Tour

71 Reviews

14 days 13 nights

fromUSD $9710.00

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Upon arrival, proceed through customs and meet your driver just outside the exit gate, they will be holding an “All Japan Tours” sign for easy visibility. Proceed to your hotel by private car. Upon arrival at the hotel, you will be free for leisure.

Courtyard by Marriott Shin-Osaka Station or similar class

Meet your guide in the morning and traverse through Japan’s pristine public transportation system. We will travel to Nara and visit one of Japan’s most famous temples and a landmark of Nara, Todaiji Temple. Outside the temple, interact with the wild deer of Nara Deer Park. There are special deer crackers available at every corner of the area. Nearby, visit Isuien Garden – a traditional Japanese Garden with a scenic view structured using “shakkei” or borrowed scenery, fusing the background with the trees within the area. Then visit Kofuku-ji Temple, a family temple to the Fujiwara clan during the ancient period of Japan. This is also the site of the 2nd tallest five-story pagoda in Japan. If you choose, you can also add the following optional experience. Please note, optional experiences may require an additional day. You may also want to add a Bamboo Chasen (tea whisk) making experience to this day to further your understanding of traditional Japanese culture and crafts. After your day of activities, head back to Osaka where you will spend the night in your hotel.

Breakfast

Courtyard by Marriott Shin-Osaka Station or similar class

Today, we will visit Himeji Castle, one of the original surviving twelve castles of Japan. It is known as "White Egret Castle" and "White Heron Castle" because of its brilliant white exterior, which resembles a bird taking flight. Then visit the nearby Kokoen Garden which is a relatively recently constructed Japanese style garden, opened in 1992 on the former site of the feudal lord's west residence. In the afternoon, you will make your way to Matsue which is approximately 4 hours away by train. Upon arrival, relax in the onsen hot springs at the hotel and enjoy the view of the lake and the city below.

Breakfast / Dinner

Hotel Ichibata or similar class

Note: We will courier your big baggage from Osaka to your hotel in Matsue. Please pack your essentials for 1 nights in a small bag to carry with you to Matsue.

Today, you will explore Matsue and nearby Yasugi via public transportation with your guide. While in Matsue, travel on to one of the islands in the lake to visit Yushien Garden. While the garden features many traditional landscape elements, it is famous for its collection of 250 types of peonies. Some are kept outside in traditional, protective, bamboo coverings, but far more are kept inside in the lovely indoor garden. In Yasugi, visit the Adachi Museum of Art. Here, you will be able to see the award-winning garden which is the creation of Adachi Zenko. He hoped that viewing the garden and art together would pique people’s interest in Japanese art. After enjoying the beautiful sights, return to your hotel where you can once again soak in the onsen hot spring.

Breakfast / Dinner

Hotel Ichibata or similar class

Continue to explore the castle town of Matsue, beginning with the castle itself. This is one of only a dozen original castles in Japan, meaning that its main tower has survived to this day through fires, earthquakes, and the anti-feudal demolitions of the Meiji Period. It is sometimes called the "black castle" after its darkly-colored, austere exterior. You can also enjoy a lovely cruise around the moat of the castle to get more interesting views of the castle and surrounding area. Visit the home of Lafcadio Hearn, one of the first western authors of Japanese culture. Hearn's former residence is now open to the public along with a museum located next door that is dedicated to his work and person. Take a walk down the streets of the old samurai district where samurai families used to live. One of the homes, Buke Yashiki, has been restored and filled with artifacts making for a very interesting time capsule of samurai life. In the afternoon, you will transfer to Okayama – the journey takes about 2 hours 40 minutes by train.

Breakfast

Hotel Granvia Okayama or similar class

Note: We will courier your big baggage to your hotel in Okayama. Please pack your essentials for 1 nights in a small bag to carry with you.

In the morning, meet your guide in the hotel lobby and travel from Okayama to the Canal Area in Kurashiki. This location was very important along the distribution route of rice during the Edo period. Today it is a scenic area where visitors can walk along the canal and see the old storage units, along with buildings from the Edo period. We will also visit the Ohara Museum of Art, which is considered the first museum of Western art in Japan. It is a private museum consisting of three adjacent buildings next to the canal. Back in Okayama visit Korakuen Garden – a landscape garden and the main attraction at Okayama. It is one of three most famous gardens in Japan featuring a large pond, walking paths, and many different types of trees.

Breakfast

Hotel Granvia Okayama or similar class

In the morning, meet your guide and travel to the island of Shikoku. Here, near Takamatsu, you will visit the Kinashi Bonsai Village. There are over 30 nurseries in this area that focus on growing pine trees for the purpose of Bonsai. Next, visit Ritsurin Garden, a traditional Japanese garden regarded as one of the top three gardens of Japan. The features of the garden include the rest houses, tea houses, bridges, historic trees, and ponds. You will then return to Okayama for the night.

Breakfast

Hotel Granvia Okayama or similar class

In the morning, make your way on your own to Kyoto via bullet train (tickets included). Upon arrival at Kyoto Station, you will be met at the “Train Exit” by your guide. You will then enjoy a fully guided tour in your guide’s company through the historic city of Kyoto. Enjoy the Edo Period’s Nijo Castle, a designated UNESCO world heritage site and a perfect architectural example of castles from the feudal era of Japan. You can then visit Ryoan-ji Temple, which is the site of the most famous rock garden in Japan. Visit Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, so known because it is covered with 18-karat gold leaf. This three-story structure was originally built by the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in 1397. Additionally, you will have the option to add a unique lunch to your day. Should you choose this option, your lunch will be similar to a Japanese kaiseki dinner, with more focus on natural flavor. This form of cooking is referred to as Shojin Ryori, or Monk’s Food. As is tradition among practicing Buddhists, your meal will be vegetarian.

Breakfast

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo or similar class

Note: We will courier your big baggage to your hotel in Kyoto. Please pack your essentials for 1 nights in a small bag to carry with you.

Continue to explore Kyoto with the Arashiyama district. First is a visit to see Tenryuji Temple where you can catch a glimpse of the traditional rock landscape garden design. Then proceed through a dense bamboo grove, past several small shrines, tea shops and private houses before arriving at the Togetsukyo Bridge over Hozu River. Next, visit the Okochi Sanso Villa, built by the late Japanese actor Denjiro Okochi. The villa consists of several buildings and lovely gardens which the actor spent 30 years building. You will then leave the Arashiyama district and head to Myoshin-ji. This temple has several subtemples on its grounds, making it one of the largest temple properties in Japan. You will be able to see many beautiful temples and gardens here, though not all are open to the public. Taizoin temple in the most famous of these temples. Its garden features a lovely pond and is considered one of the best of the Showa period. If you choose to add it to your itinerary, you will be able to enjoy the charming, old-fashioned trains of the Sagano Scenic Railway as you right through the mountains and take in the beautiful scenery. You may also choose to add a flat-bottomed boat cruise along the Hozugawa River where get a unique view of Arashiyama’s natural beauty.

Breakfast

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo or similar class

Our first stop for the day will be Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pavilion, a Zen temple modeled after the Golden Pavilion. This was built as a retirement residence for Ashikaga Yoshimasa and filled with beautiful moss gardens and varies temple structures. Next, we will stroll along the Philosopher’s Path which runs along a water canal lined hundreds of cherry blossom trees. While at Nanzenji Temple, a famous Zen temple converted from the retirement villa belonging to Emperor Kameyama, we can enjoy the views and unique architectural traits of ancient Japan. Within the temple complex, you will visit Konchiin temple which is well known for its Zen garden. Then, visit the lovely Murin-an garden. This is a rare example of a Japanese garden which also exhibits western architecture. Master gardener Ogawa Jihee designed a garden where one can enjoy tea on the veranda while soaking in the beauty of the garden. Lastly, we will visit Heian Shrine – dedicated to Emperor Kammu and Emperor Komei, famous for its large torii gate. In addition to these excellent sites, you may also choose to add a visit to a private garden to your tour. This will be a garden which is not normally open to the public in which you will be accompanied by a professional garden designer who will be able to give you a unique perspective into these works of art.

Breakfast

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo or similar class

Today, we will tour Kiyomizu-dera, a famous temple in Japan that is best known for its large wooden stage that overlooks a hillside of natural scenery. Leading up to the temple are Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka, these streets are filled with preserved buildings that remind us of Japan’s past. Many of the buildings are selling souvenirs and Kyoto-specific wares. Here is also where you will find Kimono rental shops where you may choose to experience the traditional Japanese garment, as many locals do when visiting Kyoto in order to truly immerse themselves in the traditional atmosphere. Then, enjoy a stroll down Ishibei-koji lane. This traditional street can be easily missed as you walk past, but as your guide leads you down the correct path, you will step back into old-Kyoto on the pedestrian-only walkway. Then, we will travel to Kodaiji Temple, which is a lavish temple built in the memory of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Here, we can experience Zen meditation. Then visit the brightly painted Yasaka-jinja Shrine, one of the city's best known and most popular landmarks, especially the two-story vermilion entrance gate at the end of Shijo-dori Avenue. We will end our day in the Gion Geisha District, where its streets are lined with ochaya (teahouses), exclusive establishments where guests are entertained by Geisha and Maiko. In addition to your Kimono experience, you may also choose to add a Zen meditation experience at Kodaiji Temple and a traditional Kaiseki dinner with a Geisha performance while in Gion.

Breakfast

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo or similar class

First, we will see the Fushimi Inari Shrine, renowned for its trail of thousands of torii gates. Then visit Tofukuji Temple, one of the leading Zen temples in Kyoto. Highlights of the temple include the 22-meter (72ft) tall Sanmon Gate – the oldest Zen gate of its kind being built in 1425 – and the Tsutenkyo Bridge which spans a valley of maple trees. We will then visit a traditional home to learn some of the iconic traditional arts of Japan – Tea Ceremony, Calligraphy, and Ikebana.

Breakfast

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo or similar class

After breakfast, you will be free for leisure. You may make your own way to Osaka Kansai Airport via Haruka Express Train – train tickets included.

Breakfast

Note: If you would like for a private airport transfer to be included, please contact us to make the arrangements.