Description

ITINERARY

DAY 1   OSAKA ARRIVAL – KYOTO
Upon arrival at Kansai International Airport, meet and greet.
Transfer to your hotel in Kyoto.

Depending on arrival time, you may choose an OPTIONAL unique Gion Cultural Walk & Geisha Show.

Meet your guide in Gion district and learn all about the mysterious geisha traditions of the area. Get an insider’s perspective on facts about geisha culture that tourists usually miss, and pass by shops, shrines, and beautiful temples. To elevate your experience, the tour also includes a geisha show with an apprentice geisha, where you can watch a dance performance and ask questions.

Featured Accommodation

DAY 2   KYOTO (B)
Full day private sightseeing tour in Kyoto.

Venture first to Nijo Castle, a superficially deceptive structure that harbors a magnificent interior; stroll the lavishly decorated chambers and marvel at glittering gold leaf and opulent tones as your guide offers tales of the building’s heritage.

Afterwards, visit Kyoto Imperial Palace.

Lunch on your own.

This afternoon, visit Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum for a tasting and then stop at the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine, its vivid vermilion torii gates are icons of Kyoto, estimated that there are nearly 10,000 torii.

Then to see the Tofuku-ji Temple is also the head of the Rinzai sect. Interestingly the name Tofuku-ji is a combination of Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji temples in Nara. But this temple has to be most famous for its rock gardens that surround the Hojo, the abbot’s hall, which are just spectacular. Also, Tofuku-ji’s views are just spectacular during the autumn leaves season.

Next, we will see the Sanjusandendo, a Buddhist temple of the Tendai sect in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto, Japan. The temple was founded in 1164 by Taira no Kiyomori for the cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa.

View the sun set at Kyoto’s most popular temples – Kiyomizu Dera.

DAY 3  KYOTO (B) 
Full day private sightseeing tour in Kyoto.

This morning at 7:00 am, your guide will pick you up and transfer to Arashiyama.

Visit Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama. It boasts about 120 snow monkeys, which are also called Japanese Macaque. They are native to Japan, and, yes, these are the type of monkeys seen in iconic photos in which they’re bathing at hot springs in winter.

Continue to visit Sagano Bamboo Grove and Arashiyama to see Tenryu-ji Temple, a World Heritage site. The Japanese garden is complemented by the beautiful landscapes of Arashiyama, and has been registered as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty.

Enjoy a relaxing walk through the Sagano Bamboo Grove. Togetsu-kyo Bridge is a famous 250-meter-long bridge in Arashiyama.

Continue to Ninna-ji, a temple that is deeply related to the Imperial Family of Japan. The temple is especially famous for its Omuro Sakura cherry trees which are the latest blooming cherries in the whole of Kyoto and beautiful Garden.

Next, absorb the sacred ambience of Kinkaku-ji Temple, an elegant ecclesiastical structure declared Kyoto’s most popular temple. Stroll the exquisitely beautiful Japanese garden and the celebrated Golden Pavilion.

Enjoy a moment of quiet reflection at the famous Zen style architecture – the Royanji Temple, just famous for its exquisite garden designed by Soami in 1473 where you will experience the Zen Spirit through the eternal aspects of nature … sand and stone.

Afterwards, step into the small but lovely Nishiki Tenmangu shrine for a moment of tranquility before walk through the wonderful Nishiki-koji food market, known to the locals as Kyoto daidokoro or Kyoto’s kitchen. Today, the covered arcade is lined with shops selling all manner of foods – think tsukemono (Japanese pickles), soy milk donuts, and skewered octopus – as well as candy, tea, souvenirs, and kitchen tools. Many shops give out free samples, making this a great place to sample Kyoto’s diverse delicacies.

From Nishiki, walk towards Gion, Kyoto’s most famous hanamachi (geisha district. If you’re passing through around dusk, you’re likely to see Geiko and Maiko en route to their evening appointments.

DAY 4  KYOTO  – OKAYAMA BIZEN OSAFUNE SWORD MUSEUM – MATSUE  (B)
This morning, travel with Shinkansen Nozomi to Okayama station

On Arrival in Okayama, you are met by an English speaking guide and private charted vehicle to visit Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum.

Anciently called Bizen Province, Okayama Prefecture has been known throughout history for its high-quality sword making, with almost half of the swords that are recognised as National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties having been made here. Home to one of the finest collections of samurai swords, at the Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum you can see Japanese swords being crafted by the most skilled sword makers in the world and even order your own custom-made sword, which will be forged exclusively for you.

If time permits, we will see Korakuen Garden, considered one of Japan’s top three gardens, the crow-black exterior of nearby Okayama Castle.

In the afternoon, continue your journey via Yakumo Limited Express to Matsue Station.

Upon arrival in Matsue Station, transfer to your hotel for check-in.

The rest of the day is free at leisure.

Featured Accommodation

DAY 5   MATSUE – ADACHI MUSEUM OF ART – HIROSHIMA (B)
This morning, you are picked up by an English speaking guide for a day tour with private vehicle.

First, we will head west along beautiful Lake Shinji to reach one of the most important Shinto shrines in Japan, Izumo Taisha. It is a traditional shrine believed to be a gathering place for all Japanese deities.

We’ll then travel to visit Adachi Museum of Art, housing a collection of nihonga, including paintings by Yokoyama Taikan, and has a celebrated garden. Its six gardens and around 1,500 exhibits of Japanese paintings, pottery, and other works of art occupy the 165,000 square-meter area.

In addition, there are some downright incredible gardens here as well. They’re so well regarded that they have been ranked the Number One Garden in Japan for 21 consecutive years. There are two charming teahouses on site, where you can enjoy some matcha and Japanese sweets while taking in the surrounding views.

Return to Matsue and have a quick visit to Matsue Castle. Although there are many beautiful castles scattered all across Japan, many of those are restorations – the original structures were destroyed by fires or earthquakes, or demolished by the new Meiji government at the close of the feudal era. However, the Matsue Castle is one of the castles still remains in its original form dating back to the early 1600s.

You may climb up to the top level of the castle (admission on own) and get a fantastic view of the city and Lake Shinji. Next to Matsue Castle is Matsue’s Samurai Residence which has been preserved to give you an idea of how some high ranking samurai families would have lived in times gone by.

In the afternoon, take an Express Bus from Matsue Station to Hiroshima Station.

Make your own way to the hotel nearby.

Rest of the day is at leisure.

Featured Accommodation

DAY 6  HIROSHIMA  – MIYAJIMA – HIROSHIMA (B)

This morning, you are picked up from your hotel by your guide and transfer to Miyajimaguchi.

On arrival, you will take a ferry to Miyajima Island.
Visit Itsukushima Shrine, a World Heritage site. Established in the 6th century, this shrine is one of Japan’s finest, and is famous for its beautiful Shinden-zukuri style structure (architecture representative of a nobles’ residence in the Heian period). The contrast of the green of Mount Misen behind the lacquered shrine pavilion and the blue of the Seto Sea is beautiful and evocative of the underwater palace of Ryugujo.

In the afternoon, return to Hiroshima to visit the Memorial Park of Hiroshima.

This large-scale park was established in 1949 after the Pacific War ended, and is visited by countless visitors as a symbol of peace. The museum within the park is an Important Cultural Property of Japan, and was built to remind future generations of the terror wrought by atomic bombs.

The Atomic Bomb Dome is a symbol of the disastrous atomic bombing during WWII, the first atomic bombs used in human history, and has been preserved as it was to promote peace and elimination of atomic weapons around the world.

DAY 7    HIROSHIMA – OSAKA (B/D)

This morning, with your guide and we rent an Ebike to visit the Shukkeien Garden that was built about 400 years ago. The garden is particularly beautiful in the Fall.

Try Okonomiyaki for Lunch, the soul food of Hiroshima.

Check out and return to Hiroshima Station for your train to Osaka.

Upon arrival at Shin Osaka Station, transfer to your hotel.

In the evening, enjoy a Walking food tour of Osaka with your guide and discover where the locals go to eat and drink. Your personable guide will bring you to a few local izakayas and backstreet bars of Namba and Shinsaibashi, where you sample local food and drink throughout the evening.

Featured Accommodation

DAY 8   OSAKA – UJI TEA – NARA – OSAKA (B)
This morning, meet your guide at the hotel lobby and enjoy a full day excursion to Uji and Nara private vehicle.

We will visit Byodoin Temple with its Phoenix hall, and enjoy experience of Japanese Tea Ceremony at Taihoan Tea House.

Continue to Nara and visit Todai-ji Temple (Great Buddha) and Nara Park, which is a World Heritage site. This is the symbol of the Nara Period and one of the world’s largest wooden structures. Its huge main hall and bronze Great Buddha are impressive to behold.

Also on your list are Kasuga Taisha Shrine is designated as a World Heritage Site. The deer of Nara Park are thought to be the shrine messengers.

Nara Nagomikan, the largest souvenir shop in Nara. Enjoy yourself in this spacious shop and look for the perfect souvenir.

Return to Osaka for overnight.

Day 9   OSAKA TOUR – KANSAI AIRPORT (B)
This morning, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and start a private tour of Osaka on foot and by public transportation.

Osaka Castle is certainly one of the most famous landmarks in Japan, and for good reason. This five-story castle is one of the most visually spectacular creations in the country, with a history that dates back almost 450 years!

You will take a walk through Dotonbori District with its huge billboards, hundreds of restaurants and food stalls selling local foods including the famous Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki.

Shinsekai, the New World, with Tsutenkaku, the Osaka Eiffel tower, kushikatsu and Billiken, the God of wealth and money. Shinsekai is also home to Spa World, a huge bath complex with a large number of pools on a European themed floor and an Asian themed floor.

Later today, transfer to Kansai Airport or Itami Airport for your onward journey or homebound flight.