Japan Autumn Leaves Private Tour

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14 days 13 nights

fromUSD $8940.00

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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 Century Southern Tower or similar class

Meet your guide in the morning and traverse through Tokyo’s pristine public transportation system. First, make your way to the Tsukiji Outer Market, filled with shops and restaurants where you can try fresh produce and other food-related goods. Then visit the beautiful landscape garden of Hamarikyu which features seawater ponds that change level with the tides. Next, board a Sumida River Cruise and enjoy views of the city’s skyline and bridges. 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. It is a traditional-style shopping street with several centuries of history. Next, we will go to the Imperial Palace and see the beautiful East Garden. This is the current residence of Japan’s Imperial Family and a historic landmark. Additionally, you may choose to add a Sushi- making lesson to your tour. These lessons make an excellent lunch-time activity as you will get to eat your creations! Cooked fish and vegetable options can be arranged.

Breakfast

Hotel Century Southern Tower or similar classs

Continue your fully guided tour of Tokyo. You first stop today will be to enjoy the natural atmosphere of the Meiji Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Stroll through the Takeshita district of Harajuku and surround yourself with fascinating shops and the latest fashion trends. Harajuku is especially known for its more eccentric fashions, but cute and conventional items can be purchased here as well. Not in the mood for shopping? Not to worry – Harajuku also is a great place for people watching! Nearby, take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city at Yoyogi Park – one of Tokyo’s largest parks. Yoyogi koen features large grassy areas, a number of ponds, and groupings of cherry and ginko trees. It is especially beautiful in spring and autumn. You can continue to view the beautiful trees and their season colors at Icho Namiki. The is a path and street lines with ginko trees. While these trees are a beautiful sight all year long, they turn a striking gold in autumn which is particularly beautiful. Our last destination for the day will be famous Tokyo Tower, the communications tower standing at 333 meters as the second tallest structure in Japan.

Breakfast

Hotel Century Southern Tower or similar class

Travel north from Tokyo to Nikko where you visit the lavishly decorated Toshogu Shrine which 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. At the top of a long, winding road, we will stop and visit the Kegon Waterfall. This is ranked as one of Japan's three most beautiful falls. You will finish your day-trip with a visit to Lake Chuzenji, a scenic lake located at the foot the sacred volcano in Nikko, Mount Nantai. You will then return to Tokyo for the night.

Breakfast

Hotel Century Southern Tower or similar class

Travel with your guide to Hakone by way of Japan’s famously efficient transit system. In Hakone, you will have many opportunities to view Mt. Fuji, if the weather is in your favor. Upon arrival, you may board a Lake Ashi Cruise where you can enjoy and appreciate Hakone’s natural scenery. Take a 20-minute ropeway ride from Togendai to Owakudani. Along the ropeway, weather permitting, there will be great views of Mt. Fuji in the distance. While in Owakudani, visitors will have the chance to experience hot springs and sulfurous fumes along the trails of an active volcanic zone. In the evening, transfer to Atami with your guide via public transport. In Atami, you will stay at a Ryokan where you can enjoy the Onsen and a traditional Kaiseki Dinner.

Breakfast / Dinner

Atami Onsen Sakura Ryokan or similar class

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

Today, you will make your way to Atami station on your own and board a bullet train to Hiroshima – covered by the included 7-day JR pass. On the way, you may choose to stop in Himeji for a visit for 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. You may also choose to 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. Upon arrival at Hiroshima Station, make your way to your hotel. You will then be free for leisure.

Breakfast

Hotel Granvia Hiroshima or similar class

Our first destination of the day is the Peace Memorial Park. The Peace Park consists of the Peace Memorial Museum, the A-Bomb Dome, 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

Make your way to Hiroshima Station on your own and board the bullet train to Kyoto – included in your 7-day JR pass. Upon arrival at Kyoto station, you will make your way to the hotel on foot. For the rest of the day, you will be free for leisure. Or, you may choose to add a visit to a Traditional Wooden Townhouse to learn about Kimono, Green Tea Ceremony, Origami, Calligraphy and the art of Ikebana.

Breakfast

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo or similar class

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

Enjoy a fully guided day through the ancient city of Kyoto – one of the most deeply historic cities in the world. First, you can see the Fushimi Inari Shrine, renowned for its trail of thousands of torii gates. 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. 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. 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 Rickshaw Ride, Green Tea Ceremony, Zen meditation in a temple with local monks, or a Kaiseki dinner with a Geisha performance.

Breakfast

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo or similar class

Once again, you will be fully guided on this day as you travel Kyoto via public transportation. Continue to explore Kyoto, traveling to Nijo Castle, a designated UNESCO world heritage site and a perfect architectural example of castles from the feudal era of Japan. Next, we will visit the Golden Pavilion covered with 18 carat gold leaf. This three-story structure was originally built by the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in 1397. Then we will tour Arashiyama. First is a visit to see Tenryuji Temple where you can have a glimpse of 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. Optional sections for this part of the tour include a ride on the Sagano Romantic Train, or a cruise along the Hozugawa River.

Breakfast

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo or similar class

Travel to Koyasan with you guide via public transportation. First, we will travel to Okunoin Temple which is regarded to as 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 the largest Zen garden beautifully composed to represent dragons emerging from clouds in the sky. Then we will visit the Danjo Garan, a sacred location for the Shingon Buddhist monks to train and chant. You will stay at one of the famous temple lodgings around Koyasan and enjoy Shojin Ryori – traditional food eaten by the monks of the temple. After relaxing at the temple lodgings for a while, you may choose to venture back out to Okunoin where you may 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 taking part in morning prayers and breakfast in the temple, travel to Osaka with your guide. Visit Osaka Castle, which was also 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

Today, we will travel to Nara and visit Nara Park which houses a number of interesting sites. First is the Nara National Museum which displays a permanent collection Buddhist art in addition to temporary exhibitions. You can then visit the nearby 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, we will 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. 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.

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.