Japan

What can I expect from Japan? (March 2023)

Start in Osaka and end in Tokyo! With the In-depth Cultural tour 8 Days Japan Delight visiting Osaka, Hiroshima, Miya Jima, Himeji, Nara, Kyoto, Hamamatsu, Mount Fuji, and Tokyo. 8 Days includes accommodation in hotels, at every major city, all the nights, as well as an expert guide, Free Breakfast on all days, and all intercity transports. Most of the sight-seeing is included in the price, except Kyoto and Tokyo.

Depart from USA – Thursday, 30th March, night.

Day 1:
31st March - Hometown – OSAKA(KIX)

Upon arrival, a tour representative will meet you at the airport and then assist you to check into your hotel via a shuttle bus or public transfer Please note the check in time in Japan is always after 3pm. Overnight in Osaka.

Day 2:
2nd April - HIROSHIMA-MIYAJIMA-HIMEJI(BREAKFAST)

After breakfast travel to Fukuyama with a stop in Kobe, a region famous for its sake production. Visit the famous Nadagiku Shuzo Sake Brewery and learn how traditional Japanese sake is made.
Drive to Kurashiki and make a brief stop at the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. With its scenic canals lined with weeping willows, Edo-period gardens and historic merchant houses, the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter offers an authentic feel of old Japan in the heart of one of the oldest merchant towns.
Arrive in Hiroshima in the afternoon and stay overnight.

Day 3:
2nd April - HIROSHIMA-MIYAJIMA-HIMEJI(BREAKFAST)

Head to Miyajimaguchi by coach then board a boat to the sacred Miyajima Island, hailed as one of Japan’s most beautiful landscapes. Discover the natural and cultural treasures of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed island for 45-minutes with your guide. See the Itsukushima Shrine, then revitalise with a delicious lunch in a local eatery (own expense). Re-board the boat and cruise back to Hiroshima to reflect on the heartbreaking history of the region. Take a moment of contemplation at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, a historical site near to where the atomic bomb exploded. See exhibitions that articulate the destruction the bomb caused and the city’s regenerative recovery. Finally, board a bus to the Atomic Bomb Dome (Genbaku Dome), a skeletal structure that survived the 1945 attack. Depart Hiroshima for Himeji in the afternoon. Overnight in Himeji.

Day 4:
3rd April - HIMEJI-NARA-KYOTO (BREAKFAST）

This morning Visit the Himeji Castle.Himeji Castle (姫路城, Himejijō), also known as White Heron Castle (Shirasagijo) due to its elegant, white appearance, is widely considered as Japan's most spectacular castle for its imposing size and beauty and its well preserved, complex castle grounds. The castle is both a national treasure and a world heritage site. Visit the famous Nara Deer Park and maybe feed deers. Upon arrival in Kyoto make a stop at Fushimi-Inari Shrine, an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto. It is famous for its vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari, which stands at 233 meters and belongs to the shrine grounds. Overnight in Kyoto.

Day 5:
4th April - KYOTO-HAMAMATSU(BREAKFAST)

Today before leave Kyoto for Hamamatsu you will have a half free day discovering this cultural city on your own.
Alternatively, you can also join a Kyoto optional tour with us($80/ppl).
Kyoto Half Day Optional Tour (book on site, credit cards accepted).
08:30am Depart from hotel
09:00am-10:30am Kiyomizu Dera and Ninenzaka
11:00am-1:00pm Arashiyama Bamboo Garden and free lunch time
01:30pm-2:40pm Kinkakuji temple
03:00pm Back to hotel and depart for Hamamatsu area
Overnight in Hamamatsu.

Day 6:
5th April - HAMAMATSU-MT. FUJI-TOKYO(BREAKFAST)

Drive to Shizuoka City, the capital of Japanese tea production and visit a local tea house. Shizuoka Prefecture contains 40% of the total area of tea plantations in Japan. Black tea, Taiwan tea, and Chinese tea are all fantastic, but after trying some of the best Japanese tea in Shizuoka City, you will find yourself loving Japanese green tea the most. Then drive through the countryside and mountains to reach Lake Yamanaka, the largest of all the Fuji Five Lakes, and enjoy views of Mt. Fuji. The lake is located in the village of Yamanakako, home to a large population of swans. Thus, it has been unofficially called “Swan Lake.” Some of these swans are real, others are man-made such as swan-like paddled boats. Take a scenic boat ride to tour around the lake. Drive all the way to Mt Fuji 5th Station (weather permitting) At 2300 meters above sea level, the Fuji 5th Station offers a commanding view of the Fuji Five Lakes area below, making it a popular spot for those who are not intent on climbing the mountain. An observation point with unobstructed views of Fujiyoshida City and Lake Yamanaka can be found at Komitake Shrine behind the shops.

Day 7:
6th April - TOKYO (BREAKFAST)

Enjoy a free day at leisure in Tokyo.
Alternatively, attend our Tokyo one day tour for $99/ppl
Tokyo Optional Tour (book on site, credit cards accepted).
09:00am-10:00am Imperial Palace
10:30am-12:00pm Asakusa temple and Nakamise Shopping area
12:30pm-01:30pm Take the famous metro from Asakusa to shibuya
02:00pm-03:30pm A secret Japanese traditional rock garden .
04:00pm-05:00pm Tokyo tower (include the admission tickets)　
05:30pm-07:00pm Free at Shinjuku Kabukicho area (enjoy the colorful night life of Japan)

Day 8:
7th April - TOKYO-Hometown (BREAKFAST)

Today after breakfast the tour guide will give you information for how to get to your hometown airport.