Japan Adventure: Kyoto, the Japanese Alps & Tokyo

Board your overnight flight to Osaka today.

Welcome to Japan! Get settled in to your hotel this evening.

Join a local guide and set out to explore Osaka, the birthplace of many of Japan’s well-known arts, such as Kabuki theater and the tea ceremony.

• Visit the massive Osaka Castle, which houses a museum dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the legendary leader who built it
• Stroll through Kuromon Ichiba Market, famous for its selection of fresh fish, vegetables, fruit, and other Japanese specialties
• Learn about the country’s culinary traditions and try takoyaki, a fried octopus ball
• Walk to Dōtonbori, one of the most colorful areas in the city and a haven for food culture

This evening, sit down for a Yakiniku, family-style welcome dinner with your Tour Director and fellow travelers. You’ll enjoy grilled meats and veggies prepared at your table.

Board a high-speed bullet train and travel to Hiroshima. Then, get to know this renowned City of Peace alongside your Tour Director.

• Visit Peace Memorial Park to see the ruined Atomic Bomb Dome, marking the exact location where the atomic bomb detonated during World War II
• Meet a legacy successor, a local trained to pass on the stories of the Hiroshima bombing survivors
• Hear their story and ask them questions about their work preserving the city’s history
• Learn about the aftermath of the Hiroshima bombing and the mission to create a world without nuclear weapons, during a visit to the Peace Memorial Museum
• Take a short boat ride to Miyajima Island to view the 12th-century, UNESCO-listed Itsukushima Shrine

Please note: The order of the activities may change depending on the timing of the legacy successor talk.

Make your way to Kyoto, stopping in the city of Himeji along the way.

• Enjoy free time for lunch
• Enter Himeji Castle, a UNESCO-listed wooden masterpiece comprised of over 80 buildings
• Snap photos of the Otemon Gate as you enter and admire the castle’s white facade, elegant pinnacles, and striking 17th-century architecture
• Round out your visit with free time to explore Kōko-en, a stunning garden that’s designed to be pleasing all four seasons

Continue on to Kyoto, where you’ll enjoy a traditional shabu-shabu (hot pot) dinner at a local restaurant.

This morning, visit a local Buddhist temple and immerse yourself in the spiritual traditions of Japan.

• Tour the temple and tap in to your unconscious mind during a guided Zen meditation session
• Sip matcha green tea alongside a traditional Japanese sweet

Then, a local guide leads a tour of Kyoto, the city that served as the capital of Japan for more than 1,000 years—and is still considered its spiritual capital.

• See one of Japan’s most famous temples, the glittering Golden Pavilion
• See the country’s finest Zen gardens at Ryōan-ji Temple

Please note: The guided Zen meditation session may take place in the afternoon and the Arashiyama District & Nishiki Market excursion may take place in the morning.

Spend a free afternoon in Kyoto or add an excursion.

Discover some of Kyoto’s sacred spots and traditional flavors alongside your Tour Director today.

• Enter Fushimi Inari, a Shinto shrine famous for its thousands of red Torii gates
• Walk up steps and follow the pathway of gates up the mountain to the Yotsutsuji intersection, and take in the panoramic views of Kyoto

Please note: The walk through Fushimi Inari Shrine is one-way. You must complete the walk once you enter.

Spend a free afternoon in Kyoto or add an excursion.

Board a high-speed bullet train and travel to Kanazawa, a city bordered by the Sea of Japan to the west and the Japanese Alps to the east. You’ll take a guided tour of Kenroku-en, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Enjoy free time to stroll through the park before continuing on to the Japanese Alps.

Enjoy free time to relax in the hotel’s natural hot springs, called onsens, this evening.

Spend the day uncovering the beauty of Takayama and the Japanese Alps.

• Travel to the city of Takayama and stroll through the Old Town with your Tour Director
• Walk through the Sanmachi Historic District, a neighborhood of preserved Edo-style homes dating back to the 17th century

Next, drive through the scenic mountain landscape to Chubu-Sangaku National Park to visit Kamikōchi, one of the most beautiful areas in the Alps.

• Hike along Taisho Pond, a picturesque mountain lake formed by a volcanic eruption
• Enjoy views of the surrounding mountain landscape as you hike to Tashiro Pond
• Cross Kappabashi, a suspension bridge with spectacular Alpine views
• Enjoy free time to visit the Kamikochi Visitor Center

Please note: Kamikochi is closed from mid-November to mid-April. A sightseeing of the Shirakawa-go region, Ogimachi village, and Gassho-zukuri Minkaen open-air museum will be included during these months.

This evening, sit down with your group for a traditional Kaiseki dinner paired with a sake tasting. This multi-course meal showcases a chef’s refined skills and talent. Then, enjoy free time to relax in the hotel’s natural hot springs, called onsens, after dinner.

Return to Kanazawa this morning and board a high-speed bullet train to Tokyo.

This afternoon, sit down for a Japanese tea ceremony.

• Join a tea master to learn about the customs of a traditional ceremony and why each utensil is essential to this ancient practice
• Discover the meaning of the symbolic gestures you’ll make as you try matcha
• Sip some tea and snack on wagashi, Japanese sweets often made from red beans, which balance the bitterness of the matcha

Join a local guide and embark on an immersive tour of Tokyo.

• Walk through Tsukiji fish market and learn about Japan’s seafood heritage
• Visit a vendor’s stall to sample fresh sushi (vegetarian option available)
• View the iconic Shibuya Crossing as you drive through the central part of the city
• Set off on a short walk from Yoyogi Park to the Meiji Shrine, final resting place of Emperor Meiji
• Stroll through the colorful Harajuku neighborhood

Tonight, join an experienced chef at a local restaurant for a cooking lesson and dinner.

• Grab your apron and watch as the chef demonstrates how to make traditional Japanese cuisine such as gyudon, miso soup, cucumber pickles, or a chicken teriyaki bento box
• Try your hand at crafting your own authentic meal
• Sit down to enjoy the cuisine for dinner

Spend a free day in Tokyo or add an excursion.

Set out with your Tour Director to see more of Tokyo’s iconic pagodas, temples, shrines, and markets.

• See the pagodas and shrines in Ueno Park, as you hear the history and stories behind them
• Walk to Ameya market and enjoy free time to visit many of the shops and open-air stalls
• Peruse Kappabashi Street, or Kitchen Town, home to more than 170 shops specializing in high-quality kitchenware, such as chopsticks and knives
• Enter Senso-ji, the oldest temple in Japan

Celebrate your trip during a farewell dinner this evening.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home, or extend your stay in Naha, Okinawa.