Magic of Japan

Once we land at Narita or Haneda airport, a convenient group transfer will take us to our accommodation in Tokyo. The welcome briefing session will take place the next morning.

We will spend the morning discovering Tokyo with a walking tour. We will visit the city's most famous Shinto shrine, Meiji Jingu. We'll walk towards the nearby Harajuku, showcasing the Cosplay subculture (people dressed up in costumes of comic book characters, cartoons, etc.). We will take the train to Shibuya and see the iconic pedestrian crossing in front of Shibuya railway station. We will taste delicious food as we wander through the Tokyu Food Hall. Let's enjoy some free time to explore on our own.

We will discover the oldest and most revered temple in Tokyo, the Asakusa Temple. We will walk along Kappabashi Dori to see the endless series of specialized shops. We will visit the Yanaka Cemetery, one of Tokyo's most famous cemeteries that feels more like a park than a cemetery. We will wander through the Old Town of Yanaka where the oldest buildings are repurposed.

We will take the train to Hakone. We will enjoy a short cruise on the peaceful Lake Ashi and take the cable car to admire the majestic view of Mount Fuji. Tonight, we will delight in a delicious meal and some free time to soak in the onsen at our traditional Japanese hotel.

We will travel by train to Takayama. We will visit an historical government building, Takayama Jinya. We will discover the beautifully preserved wooden houses as we walk along Kami Sannomachi Street.

Today is a free day without a guide. It's a great opportunity to relax and take it easy. However, for those who wish to explore, we suggest visiting the Festival Float Exhibition Hall, home of the colorful floats that appear biennially during two of Japan's most famous festivals. Later, let's enjoy a peaceful afternoon or visit the serene area of Hidano Sato. Feel free to ask our guide for directions and what to see.

From Takayama, we will travel by train to Osaka. After leaving our luggage at the hotel, we will take a walking tour of the Dotonbori area, known for its bright neon signs, street food, and shopping.

We will head towards the Umeda Sky Building Garden with views over Osaka before walking through the Kuromon Ichiba Market, also known as "Osaka's kitchen." In the afternoon, we will explore the city at our leisure.

We will travel by train to Hiroshima and visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, dedicated to the events of 1945 before seeing the somber Hiroshima bomb cenotaph at the Peace Memorial Park.

We will travel by ferry to the tranquil Island of Miyajima, home of the Itsukushima Shrine. We will either hike or take the cable car to the top of Mount Misen for spectacular views. We will enjoy a traditional okonomiyaki pancake before returning to the mainland by ferry. We will spend the evening at our leisure.

We will travel by train to Himeji, known for its imposing castle on the hill before continuing towards Kyoto. We will take an evening walking tour along Ponto-cho and Hanami-koji Lane in the Gion district where we might see a geisha moving between appointments.

We will discover the highlights of Kyoto with a walking tour. We will start from the Kiyomizudera Temple, on the hills to the east of Kyoto. We will walk along the shops of Ninenzaka Street before visiting the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto, the Kenninji Temple. We will learn about the philosophy and art of serving tea during a traditional tea ceremony and will end the day with the golden pavilion of Kinkakuji, the most famous building in Kyoto.

We will start the day with a visit to one of the most iconic places in Kyoto, Fushimi Inari, with its vermilion torii tunnels. We will have free time to further explore Kyoto or to take an optional afternoon hike to the bamboo forest of Arashiyama. We will conclude our tour with a farewell dinner where we will be entertained by a real Maiko or geisha apprentice.

It's time to say goodbye to Japan, we will walk towards the Kyoto Railway Station and we can still use our rail pass to travel on the JR railway network to get to the airport and return independently to our respective hometowns.