12 Nights / 14 Days
Day 1: USA - Tokyo (Japan)
Flight with a suitable itinerary.
Day 2: Tokyo
Arrive in the vibrant city of Tokyo, the economic capital of Japan and the world's largest megalopolis with over 40 million people.
As you leave the airport, you'll find our local representatives directing you to your shuttle to transfer you to your Tokyo hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or start exploring the city. In the evening, explore the sophisticated Roppongi district for an unforgettable nightlife experience with its refined restaurants and cocktail bars.
Day 3: Tokyo
Breakfast at the hotel. Around 9:00 a.m., meet with your guide and depart for a tour of the capital using public transportation. You will start with the discovery of TeamLab Planets, a digital art museum dedicated to exploring the relationships between humans, nature, and art, which will offer you a unique multisensory experience. At 1:00 p.m., your guide will take you to a local restaurant for a delicious sushi lunch, and then you will head to the outdoor market at Tsukiji, a culinary paradise where visitors can taste fresh products.
Enjoy a guided walk through the famous Ginza district, a luxury shopping haven adorned with art galleries and numerous high-end restaurants and cafes, earning it the nickname "Japanese Champs-Élysées." At around 6:30 PM you will return to your hotel before enjoying a group dinner at an Izakaya, a traditional Japanese pub. Overnight in Tokyo. (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)
Day 4: Tokyo
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, you will have a free day to continue exploring Tokyo. Being a vast metropolis, Tokyo is composed of different and unique neighborhoods. You can start your day with a visit to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, a 51-story, 243-meter-high building that offers breathtaking views of Tokyo, followed by a stroll in Harajuku, a fashion mecca. Stop for some ramen, a highly popular dish among the Japanese, before continuing your visit to Omotesando. Alternatively, you can visit the Shibuya district, known for being one of the most popular areas with numerous restaurants, karaoke bars, and nightclubs. Dinner on your own and overnight in Tokyo. (Breakfast)
Day 5: Tokyo - Kawaguchiko
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, you will head towards Kawaguchiko, a charming mountain town located at the foot of the majestic Mount Fuji, offering breathtaking views of the famous volcano.
In the morning, you will explore Tokyo, with a stop by bus in front of the Imperial Palace, the main residence of the Emperor; while it is not possible to visit, the majestic gates in front of Nijubashi Bridge are worth seeing. You will also discover the historic Tokyo Station building before passing by the Kokugikan, the main venue for sumo competitions. Here, you will have the opportunity to see a ‘dohyo’ up close, the famous ring used for sumo wrestling in Japan. At 11:30 AM, enjoy a lunch of ‘Chankonabe,’ a Japanese stew eaten by sumo wrestlers, before heading to Kawaguchiko.
Upon arrival, take a walk along the lake to admire the splendid Mount Fuji. Mount Fuji is the highest peak in Japan and a sacred symbol for its people. You will then go on a cruise on Lake Kawaguchi, one of the five lakes in the Mount Fuji region; this lake offers a magnificent panorama of the illustrious mountain. Around 5:00 PM, check in at your hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Kawaguchiko. (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)
Day 6: Kawaguchiko - Matsumoto - Azumino - Hirayu Onsen
Breakfast at the hotel, then drive to Matsumoto, a city located in the heart of the Japanese Alps. On arrival, you'll visit the town's art museum, featuring calligraphy artworks, paintings, and sculptures in a unique setting. You'll then be taken on a tour of a miso factory, a staple of Japanese cuisine. After a miso-based lunch, you'll head off to discover Matsumoto Castle, listed as a national treasure, which offers beautiful views of the Japanese Alps from the surrounding pond.
Around 2.30 PM, depart for the town of Azumino, where you'll visit a wasabi daio farm. This farm, which has been growing wasabi for centuries, is the largest in all of Japan. At the end of the day, you'll be transferred to Hirayu Onsen, a small town surrounded by mountains. You'll spend the night in a traditional Ryokan, famous for its Onsen: Japanese thermal baths filled with natural hot springs. Sukiyaki dinner (a tasty Japanese fondue) and overnight stay at a Ryokan Japanese inn. (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)
**Please note that the climb to the castle is very physical, requiring you to remove your shoes and carry them yourself in a plastic bag provided, as the steps are very high, small, and slippery. We do not recommend the climb for people with mobility difficulties.
**Please note that if you are tattooed, you will not be able to bathe in an onsen. Please also note that access to these public baths is nude, and bathing suits are forbidden. Men and women have separate access.
**Please note that you will need to pack a bag for the night at the Ryokan because the luggage will need to stay in the bus's luggage compartment.
Day 7: Hirayu Onsen - Takayama - Shirakawago - Gifu
Breakfast at the Ryokan, then departure for Takayama, an ancient city isolated in the middle of the Japanese Alps. Visit the Takayama Jinya, the city's old quarter, and its emblematic Sannomachi Street. The district immerses visitors in the traditional atmosphere of the Edo period and offers numerous boutiques, sake breweries, and tasty restaurants. At 11:30 AM, depart for Shirakawago, the Unesco World Heritage village surrounded by rice paddies. Take a stroll through the village of Shirakawago, home to the main "Gassho Zukuri", wooden houses with thatched roofs in the shape of a sloping triangle, before setting off for Takayama. Enjoy a delicious lunch of Hida beef.
In the afternoon, climb up to the Shiroyama lookout, where you can admire the magnificent landscape. Stroll through the village of Shirakawago, home to the main "Gassho Zukuri", wooden houses with thatched roofs in the shape of a sloping triangle, before taking the road to Gifu, where you'll spend the night. Supper on your own. (Breakfast-Lunch)
Day 8: Gifu - Ise - Kii Katsuura
Breakfast at the hotel, then set off for a visit to the Naiku Grand Shrine in Ise, founded over 2,000 years ago featuring a purely Japanese ancient style. Your day continues in the direction of Toba, with a visit to the Pearl Island Museum, where you'll learn about the oyster farming and pearl-making process. You'll be treated to a harvesting session by the local underwater fisherwomen, known as Ama. Lunch in the museum restaurant.
At 3:00 PM, you'll take the road one last time to Kii-Katsuura, where you'll spend the night. In the early evening, you'll enjoy a Kaiseki dinner, consisting of a succession of culinary art dishes such as soups, sashimi, fish, and meats. Overnight at Kii Katsuura. (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)
Day 9: Kii Katsuura – Nachi – Kumano Kodo – Mount Koya
Early in the morning, meet your guide to visit the Kii-Katsuura market*, the largest supplier of tuna in Japan. Return to your hotel for a savory breakfast before heading to Daimon Zaka, where you will have the opportunity to walk one of the paths used by pilgrims in the Kumano Kodo region, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit Kumano Nachi Taisha, a wonderful site that allows you to trace the history of the peaceful coexistence of Japan’s two main religions, and then admire the most imposing waterfall in Japan, Ichinotaki (or Nachinotaki).
Around 11:00 AM, depart for Meguri No Sato for a lunch of local specialties by the river. Then, head towards Kumano Kodo, the famous pilgrimage route in the heart of the Kii mountains. A long stone staircase will lead you to the sacred precinct of Kumano Hongu Taisha. At the end of the day, take the road one last time to Mount Koya, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where you will spend the night in a monastery. Enjoy a vegan dinner and overnight stay in the monastery in a Japanese-style room. (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)
**Please note that you will need to pack a bag for the night at the Ryokan because the luggage will need to stay in the bus's luggage compartment.
Day 10: Mount Koya - Nara - Osaka
At sunrise, the monastery gong invites you to attend morning prayer (optional) before enjoying your vegan lunch. Mount Koya (Koya-san) is a major Buddhist pilgrimage site, famous for its magnificent temples and mystical atmosphere, and is the starting and finishing point of the pilgrimage route to the 88 temples of Shikoku. Pass in front of Danjo Garan, the most sacred site on Mount Koya. The site boasts around twenty temples and buildings, including the Kondo, the main pavilion for major religious ceremonies, and Konpon Daito, "the great pagoda", which majestically reveals its brilliant vermilion-red color. Surrounded by a forest of century-old cypress trees stretching as far as the eye can see, the Okuno-in Cemetery is also home to the Kobo Daishi mausoleum, a majestic pavilion that is the entry point for the famous pilgrimage to Shikoku's 88 temples.
At around noon, you'll drive to Kashihara for lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you'll visit a sake brewery (nihonshu in Japanese). You'll learn about the brewing process and enjoy a tasting session at the end of the tour. At 2.30 PM, depart for Nara, founded in the 8th century AD. You'll begin your tour of Nara with a visit to Todai-ji, an immense complex of religious buildings, the most remarkable of which is the Daibutsu-den, the tallest wooden structure in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the end of the day, depart for Osaka, where you'll have a group dinner in a local restaurant and spend the night. If you'd like to discover Osaka at night, you can explore the lively Dotonbori district, famous for its many stores and nightlife. (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)
Day 11: Osaka - Hiroshima - Miyajima - Fukuyama
Breakfast at your hotel. Today you leave Osaka and head for the famous city of Hiroshima, aboard the Shinkansen (high-speed train) with a light travel bag (your suitcase will be returned the next day at your hotel in Kyoto). Hiroshima, known as the first target of the atomic bomb in 1945, has today become a symbol of peace. It's one of Japan's most relaxed cities, with its many boulevards, exceptional cuisine, and friendly locals.
On arrival, you'll take the road to Miyajimaguchi to board a ferry to Miyajima, an island whose unique setting and legendary beauty have earned it the title of one of Japan's three most beautiful landscapes. According to Shinto tradition, this is the island of the gods, where it is forbidden to give birth or die. Take a walking tour of the town before visiting the marvelous Itsukushima Shrine, famous for its floating Torii gate, whose base is covered with water at high tide, giving the impression that it’s sailing on the sea.
Continue your day with a visit to the Senjokaku, the largest building on the island, built in the 16th century and known as the hall of 1,000 tatami mats because of its immense surface area. At the end of your tour, lunch at a local restaurant, then return by ferry to Miyajimaguchi. You'll then travel by bus to Hiroshima for a visit to the Peace Park, its memorial and museum, which retraces the chronological history of this global event, minute by minute. At the end of the day, your bus will take you to Fukuyama. Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel in Fukuyama. (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)
Day 12: Fukuyama - Himeji - Kyoto
Breakfast at the hotel before heading to Himeji, a town near Kobe, for a visit to Japan's largest and oldest castle. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Himeji Castle, built on a hill, was regularly used as a location for historical films. Once the tour is over, lunch with your group at a local restaurant before departing for Kyoto.
At the end of the day, you'll leave with the group to discover the beautiful city of Kyoto. You'll pass through the lively Shijo Karasuma district, then reach Pontocho, a small alley running parallel to the Kamo River. With its multitude of wooden houses, boutiques, geisha houses, and restaurants, the street offers a real journey back in time. The Gion district quickly became associated with the world of geishas, known in Kyoto as Geiko. Stop for a photo in front of the Yasaka Jinja shrine, in the heart of this district. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant serving 'Shabushabu', a Japanese culinary specialty in which thin slices of meat, usually beef, pork, or chicken are cooked in a hot broth. Return to your hotel in the late evening. Overnight in Kyoto. (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)
Day 13: Kyoto
After breakfast at the hotel, you'll meet your guide to discover the former capital of Japan. Your first visit will be to 'Kiyomizu-dera', a Buddhist temple set in the mountains to the east of Kyoto, offering a magnificent panorama of the city. You'll then stroll through the traditional Japanese streets of Sannenzaka and Ninnenzaka. Your guide will then take you to the Nishiki market, where a festival of flavourful scents and tastes awaits you. Existing since the 14th century, the quality of the products makes this market the meeting point for all the city's gourmets and chefs.
Lunch at a local restaurant before visiting Ryoan-ji, a monastery of the Rinzai school, best known for its dry garden, created in the pure Zen tradition. You'll then visit Kinkaku-ji, commonly known as the "Golden Pavilion", famous for its magnificent facades covered in pure gold leaf. At the end of the day, you'll visit the sumptuous Fushimi Inari Shrine. This famous complex reveals its charms as you hike along a valley in the heart of nature, discovering over a thousand Torii gates. Return to your hotel by 6:00 PM. Evening and dinner at your leisure. (Breakfast-Lunch)
Day 14: Kyoto - USA
After breakfast, join your shuttle located right next to your hotel at the time indicated on your vouchers and be transferred to the airport for your return flight (Breakfast).
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*** Please note that traditional Japanese rooms have a futon on a tatami floor. During your overnight stay at the monastery, the bathroom will be shared.
*** If you wish to take this package on a single-occupancy basis, please note that when staying in Japanese rooms, you will be paired with one or two people of the same gender. (maximum 3)
