Japan World Heritage Private Tour

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16 days 15 nights

fromUSD $10100.00

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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.

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi or similar class

Begin your tour in the worlds most popular metropolis: Tokyo. After breakfast, we will visit the Edo Tokyo Museum which exhibits life size replicas as well as miniature models of structures during the Edo period in Japan. You will then be taken to Asakusa Kannon Temple, an active place of worship where you can see the largest paper lantern in Japan. You will also be able to explore the Nakamise Market, which is located right after the temple's outer gates. This is a traditional-style shopping street with several centuries of history. Then experience panoramic views of the city at 350 meters high at the Tokyo Skytree. These are the highest observation decks in Japan, and the tower is one of the tallest structures in the world. Lastly, head to the electric city of Akihabara for its establishments dedicated to anime and manga culture.

Breakfast

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi or similar class

This morning, travel north from Tokyo to Nikko where you will visit the UNESCO designated temples and shrines. Visit the lavishly decorated Toshogu Shrine. This is the final resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate that ruled Japan for over 250 years, until 1868. Here, you can experience a traditional Shinto ceremony performed by a priest or priestess. Then, visit Nikko’s most important temple: Rinnoji. Best known for its large, ornate main building known as Sanbutsudo, the temple houses 3 large wooden statues which depict the Buddhist manifestations of Nikko’s local Shinto gods. This is a great example of how Japan’s two main religions, Buddhism and Shintoism, can coexist in perfect harmony. The nearby Futarasan Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto versions of these same mountain deities and features a small garden. Your last stop will be the Iemitsu Mausoleum – Tokugawa Iemitsu being Ieyasu’s grandson. Originally, the mausoleum was meant to be a perfect marriage of Shinto and Buddhist ideologies, as was common at the time it was built. However, during the Meiji era, there were deliberate efforts to separate Shintoism from Buddhism. Today, the Mausoleum is officially known as a sub-temple of Rinnoji. However, many of its Shino elements remain.

Breakfast

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi or similar class

After breakfast, travel to the land at the base of Mt. Fuji – almost all of which has been designated a UNESCO world heritage site for being both a sacred place and a source of artistic inspiration for almost 1000 years. Your first stop will be the Fujisan World Heritage Center, or Fuji Visitor Center. Here, travelers can learn more about the formation, environment, and cultural significance of Mount Fuji. If the weather is in our favor, we will travel to Mt. Fuji’s 5th station, the most popular and convenient spot to enjoy views of the iconic mountain. Next, we will visit Lake Kawaguchi, one of the Fuji five lakes with the best views of the sacred mountain and included as a UNESCO site. Near Kawaguchiko, we will visit the Kubota Itchiku Art Museum. Here, we can see elaborate Kimono designs by Kubota Itchiku such as his unfinished "Symphony of Light", a collection of what should have been 80 kimonos, of which only 36 were completed. This series is meant to show the 4 seasons and, though incomplete, is truly an inspiring work of art with each kimono blending seamlessly into the next.

Breakfast

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi or similar class

After breakfast, make your way to Tokyo Station on foot and board the bullet train to Nagoya. From Nagoya, transfer to Takayama via JR express train – included in your 14-day JR pass. Upon arrival at Takayama Station, make your way to your hotel on foot. Tonight, relax in the onsen hot spring and enjoy a traditional kaiseki dinner at your hotel. Note: We will ship your large luggage to your hotel in Kanazawa (Included for up to one piece of baggage per person). Please pack your essentials for 1 night in a small bag to carry with you.

Breakfast / Dinner

Honjin Hiranoya Bekkan or similar class

Note: We will courier your big baggage from Tokyo to your hotel in Kanazawa. Please pack your essentials for 1 night in a small bag to carry with you to Takayama.

This morning, you will be touring Takayama by foot with your guide. We will start with the Takayama Morning Market, where visitors can taste local farm products and snacks. Explore Sanmachi Suji, one of the three Old Town streets that have survived in a beautiful state, with some businesses that have been around for centuries. In the afternoon, you will transfer with your guide to Shirakawago via highway bus. You will travel to the UNESCO World Heritage site in the rural area of Shirakawa-go. Ogimachi Village is the main attraction, we will walk past thatched roof farm houses and cultivated fields and see unspoiled Edo period wooden buildings. Once there, we will go to the Shiroyama Viewpoint, and also Gassho-zukuri Minkaen, which is an open-air museum of farmhouses and structures relocated to this area. Wada-ke House is the largest farmhouse in the area, which belongs to the village leader, is now open for visitors to have a look inside these buildings. From Shirakawago, you will continue to Kanazawa via highway bus. Upon arrival at Kanazawa station, you will make your way on your own to your hotel.

Breakfast

Nikko Hotel Kanazawa or similar class

Today, you will enjoy a guided tour in Kanazawa via public transit. Your first stop will be Kenrokuen Garden, regarded as one of the top three gardens of Japan. Stroll along the garden and enjoy the view of trees, stones, bridges and teahouses. At Myoryuji Temple, you will see how it got the nickname “Ninja Temple”. While the temple is not associated with the Ninja, it was built as a disguised military outpost and so has many hidden defenses, secret rooms, traps, and a labyrinth of corridors and staircases. Step back through time in the Nagamachi Samurai District where many old samurai residences remain at the foot of the former Kanazawa Castle. One such house, the Nomura family residence, has been fully restored and filled with artifacts of the time period to reflect the samurai class. Then, visit the Kaga Yuzen Traditional Industry Center. Kaga Yuzen is a type of silk fabric made for Kimono. You can see many Kimono on display here which use this fabric. Additionally, should you choose to add the experience to your itinerary, you can try on one of the traditional garments. Other optional experiences in the area include a Gold Leaf Craft Workshop and a visit to the Kutani Pottery Kilns which are famous for their detailed and intricate designs.

Breakfast

Nikko Hotel Kanazawa or similar class

Make your way on your own to Kanazawa Station on foot and take the JR express train to Osaka. From Osaka, board the bullet train to Himeji. Upon arrival at Himeji Station, meet your tour guide at the TRAIN EXIT. 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 western residence. Here, visitors can enjoy many varieties of Japanese gardens from the awe-inspiring classic featuring a pond and waterfall to wilds of the bamboo garden to the tea, pine tree, and flower gardens. While this is not an exhaustive list of the types of Japanese gardens, hopefully it will give you an idea of their versatility. In the afternoon, you will continue to Hiroshima via bullet train.

Breakfast

Hotel Granvia Hiroshima or similar class

Note: We will courier your big baggage from Kanazawa to your hotel in Kyoto. Please pack your essentials for 2 nights in a small bag to carry with you to Hiroshima.

After breakfast, explore Hiroshima and nearby Miyajima Island with your guide via public transportation. Our first destination of the day is the Peace Memorial Park. The Peace Park consists of the Peace Memorial Museum, the A-Bomb Dome (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and the Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims. The Peace Park is one of the most significant features of the city, devoted to the events that occurred on August 6, 1945. Afterwards, we will travel to Miyajima, where we will see Itsukushima Shrine. It is famous for being uniquely built over water, and its large torii gate that appears to “float” over the sea during high tide.

Breakfast

Hotel Granvia Hiroshima or similar class

This morning, make your way to Hiroshima station on your own and board the bullet train to Kyoto -m included in your 14-day JR pass. Upon arrival at Kyoto Station, make your own way to your hotel on foot. You will then be free for leisure in the afternoon. If you prefer, we can also arrange a visit to a traditional home to learn about some of the iconic traditional arts of Japan – Kimono, Green Tea Ceremony, Origami, Calligraphy, and Ikebana.

Breakfast

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo or similar class

Tour the historic city of Kyoto, beginning with the Shimogamo Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to the time before Kyoto was established as Japan’s capital in 794. The shrine is surrounded by the Tadasu forest, inside which you can find trees dating back 600 years. Then visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace. This was the former residence of Japan’s Imperial Family until 1868, during which the capital moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. Tour Kiyomizu-dera, a famous temple in Japan that is best known for its large wooden stage that overlooks a hillside of natural scenery. 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. If you choose, you can also add the following optional experiences. Please note, optional experiences may require an additional day. One such experience is to try on the traditional garment of Kimono. Many visitors to Kyoto will wear a Kimono for the day to complete the traditional atmosphere that the city is known for. You can also experience a Green Tea Ceremony, Rickshaw ride, Zen meditation in a temple with local monks, or a Kaiseki dinner with a Geisha performance.

Breakfast

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo or similar class

Continue your tour of Kyoto at the UNESCO site of Toji Temple. Originally established in the late 700’s, the temple soon became one of the most important Shingon Temples, minus those of Mt. Koya. Then, explore Nijo Castle, a designated UNESCO world heritage site and a perfect architectural example of castles from the feudal era of 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. We will end today with Ryoan-ji Temple, which is the site of the most famous rock garden in Japan.

Breakfast

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo or similar class

Today, will travel to Okunoin Temple which is regarded as having the most sacred and largest cemetery of Japan. Afterwards, tour the Kongobuji Temple constructed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to commemorate his mother after death. The Banryutei Rock Garden behind Kongobuji Temple is a large Zen garden beautifully composed to represent dragons emerging from clouds in the sky. Danjo Garan is one of the two most sacred sites on Mt Koya. In the 9th century, Mt Koya’s temple complex was founded on this very ground. At that time, Kobo Daishi held a groundbreaking ceremony and then dedicated his life to the construction of Danjo Garan. Within Danjo Garan, you will visit Kondo Hall – the large wooden temple hall in which ceremonies are held. Then, you will visit the Tokugawa Mausoleum – built by Tokugawa Iemisu for his father Tokugawa Hidetada and his grandfather Tokugawa Ieyasu. Both buildings are finely detailed, in honor of the two great leaders. Tonight, you will be staying at a temple where you will be able to enjoy the simpler things in life. Your dinner 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. After relaxing at the temple lodgings for a while, you may choose to venture back out to Okunoin where you will visit the graveyard once again by night.

Breakfast / Dinner

Sekishoin or similar class

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

After participating in morning prayers at the temple, you will transfer to Osaka with your guide. Visit Osaka Castle, which was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in aims for it to be the center of a new, unified Japan. Then, visit the colorful, neon-lit entertainment district of Dotonbori. This area is popularly known for being the heart of the city, filled with eye-catching billboards and numerous restaurants. Lastly, make your way to Shinsaibashi, the largest shopping district in Osaka.

Breakfast

Courtyard by Marriott Shin-Osaka Station or similar class

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. 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. Your last stop of the day will be Yakushi-ji Temple. One of Japan’s oldest temples, the complex consists of a number of buildings including the striking main hall and two pagodas.

Breakfast

Courtyard by Marriott Shin-Osaka Station 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 the private airport transfer to be included, please contact us for the arrangements.