Japan Wanderer

On arrival at Tokyo Narita or Haneda Airport, you will be greeted by our local, accredited, English-speaking guide, who will assist you with the transfer by limousine bus to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.

After breakfast, enjoy a full day of explorations around Tokyo with your guide by public transportation. Your tour starts in the exquisitely beautiful Edo period Hamarikyu Garden where seawater ponds change with the tides. A traditional teahouse on an island offers visitors a resting place to enjoy the scenery. This traditional green oasis stands in stark contrast to the surrounding skyscrapers of the adjacent Shiodome district. Next, continue aboard a boat for a cruise along the Tokyo River, passing more of the city sights. The boat will dock in Asukasa, where we’ll find the Sensoji Temple, one of Tokyo’s most popular and colourful Buddhist temples. Legend says that in the year 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River, and even though they put the statue back into the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, Sensoji was built nearby for the goddess of Kannon. No visit to Tokyo would be complete without a walk along Nakamise Street, lined with boutiques, souvenir shops and street food outlets. Our final stop is at the spacious Meiji Shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken.

This morning our guide will meet you in the hotel foyer, and together you will travel by public transportation to Shinjuku Station. From here, you will travel on an Express Train for approximately 2 hours to Hakone-Yumoto. On arrival, explore the beautiful Fuji Hakone Izu. This national park is home to incredible scenery, including the famous Mount Fuji. Soak in the natural scenery of Lake Ashi on the Pirate Cruise Ship and enjoy the wonderful views of Mount Fuji. Next, enjoy a ride on the cable car known as the Hakone Ropeway. This will give you the chance to glide through the skies, looking down on the Japanese countryside. Disembark in Owakudani – an active volcanic zone of sulphurous fumes, hot springs and rivers. Today’s final stop is at the Hakone Open Air Museum to visit the various sculptures and paintings, including a collection by Picasso.

After breakfast, your guide will help you transfer to Odawara station, from where you will continue your journey and travel on the Bullet train to Kyoto. On arrival, you will be greeted by our guide, who will assist in your transfer to your hotel. Kyoto is famous for its numerous classical Buddhist temples, as well as gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses. It’s also known for formal traditions such as kaiseki dining, consisting of multiple courses of precise dishes, and geisha, female entertainers often found in the Gion district.

Enjoy a full day of sightseeing in Kyoto with your guide using Kyoto’s public transportation. Commence the day tour with a nice cup of tea! The Japanese tea ceremony, known as chanoyu or sado, is a custom that dates back thousands of years. The ceremony is a carefully choreographed ritual that offers the ultimate Japanese hospitality. As well as trying out a cup of this delicate green tea, we’ll get a unique insight into the customs and etiquette of traditional tea serving. Then, fully refreshed, you visit the Kinkakuji Temple, a Zen temple known for its delicately manicured gardens and floors covered in gold leaf. Formally known as Rokuonji, the temple was the retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.
A walk through the Bamboo Grove in Arashiyama is next on the itinerary. The walking paths cut through bamboo groves that have been used for centuries to make traditional crafts and continue across the Togetsukyo Bridge, an iconic landmark.

Today you travel to and enjoy a ½ day tour of Nara – Japan’s first permanent capital. With your guide, you will use public transportation to travel to Nara. On arrival, discover Todaiji Temple, home to Japan’s largest Buddha image. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the country’s most historically significant wooden buildings. While strolling through the grounds of Nara Park, we can take photos of the population of more than 1,000 tame deer. Kasuga Taisha Shrine is the most important Shinto shrine in Nara. More than just the shrine buildings, Kasuga Taisha is a mysterious world of atmospheric forest, pathways, lanterns and wandering deer. Returning to Kyoto, we’ll visit the Gion and Pontocho areas. Gion is known for its charming, historical atmosphere and strong ties to the world of traditional Japanese arts, in particular – geisha. Pontocho is one of Kyoto’s most atmospheric dining areas, offering a variety of choices from inexpensive yakitori to highly exclusive establishments.

Enjoy a final day of touring Kyoto with your local, accredited English speaking guide. The east side of Kyoto beckons today. This is where we’ll find Fushimi Inari Shrine, an important Shinto shrine famous for thousands of bright red torii gates that line the way to the top of the sacred Mount Inari. Next, continue to Kiyomizu Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which offers incredible views from the 13-metre-high building whose massive veranda was built without using any nails. In the spacious Kyoto Imperial Park, we’ll find the Kyoto Imperial Palace, where Japan’s Imperial Family resided until 1868, when the capital was moved to Tokyo. Returning to central Kyoto, we’ll visit the beautiful Nijo Castle, once the residence of the Tokugawa shoguns. The final stop is at Nishiki Market, known as ‘Kyoto’s Kitchen’. This lively retail market specializes in all things food related and is a great place to find Kyoto specialties such as Japanese sweets, pickles, dried seafood and sushi.

Enjoy your final few hours in Kyoto before you meet your guide, who will assist in the transfer to Osaka Kansai International Airport for your onward flight.