Detailed Itinerary
DAY 1: TOKYO
The Adventure Begins
Welcome to Japan!
Welcome to Tokyo! Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met with an English-speaking assistant holding a sign with your name on it. Together with the driver, they will take you to the hotel in downtown Tokyo.
Where you’re staying
Hotel in Tokyo
Premium with Breakfast
DAY 2: TOKYO
After breakfast, meet your local guide in the lobby for a private half-day tour of this fascinating city via public transportation. Our first stop is Asakusa, where you can experience the atmosphere of Tokyo's old town. Explore Sensoji, Tokyo's oldest temple, and wander along Nakamise, a shopping street that has served temple visitors with traditional Japanese snacks and souvenirs for centuries.
We will take the subway across the city to Omotesando to check out the ritzy flagship stores and Meiji Shrine, Tokyo's most famous Shinto shrine. This shrine contains the deified spirit of Emperor Meiji. As locals do, you'll be able to write a wish on a small piece of paper and tie it to the prayer wall. As instructed by your guide, you may place some yen into the offering box, bow twice, clap twice, and bow once more.
After your tour, you can take the subway or taxi back to your hotel or continue exploring on your own.
Where you’re staying
Hotel in Tokyo Premium with Breakfast
DAY 3: TOKYO
For today, we recommend a private Kamakura Full-Day Tour via Public Transportation. We will take the local train for the 1 hour trip to the former de facto capital of Japan from 1185-1333. Kamakura was once the largest city in the world, but today it is a small, sleepy seaside town with numerous temples, shrines, and other attractions. A local guide will take you to Kotokuin Temple, home of the Daibutsu, a giant bronze Buddha who stands (or rather sits) 44 feet tall. The Hasedera Temple of the Jodo sect is best known for its statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The statue portrays Kannon with eleven heads, each representing a characteristic of the goddess. This shrine dates back to the 12th century and is one of Kamakura's most popular attractions.
If you have time, you might like to stop for lunch at nearby Komachi-dori, a fashionable street with historic restaurants and stylish shops. There are more than 250 restaurants, boutiques, fancy cafes, Japanese sweet cafes, and stores selling souvenirs and other items unique to the ancient city along the street. By exploring narrow alleys, you'll find Western-style houses with an historic atmosphere and traditional shops hidden away. Also present are incensed shops, a soba noodle restaurant with a strong Japanese influence, and French restaurants with a retro feel. Travel back to Tokyo by train at the end of the day.
Where you’re staying
Hotel in Tokyo Premium with Breakfast
DAY 4: TOKYO - NAGANO
Today after breakfast, transfer by taxi to the rail station and board the Asama Bullet Train for Nagano. Upon arrival at the station, you will take a short taxi ride to your hotel, which is located near it. Your afternoon is at your disposal after checking into your hotel. The tourist-friendly resort town is easy to navigate, so you can enjoy some independent sightseeing. You are on your own for dinner today, so try some of Nagano's specialties, such as soba noodles, apples, and sake, as well as oyaki dumplings, gohei mochi snacks, bamboo leaf-wrapped sasa-zushi.
Where you’re staying
Hotel in Nagano Premium with Breakfast
DAY 5: NAGANO
Begin your day with an English-speaking guide for a full-day tour of Jigokudani Monkey Park and Obuse. Travel by public transportation to see the famous Snow monkeys. Japan's Jigokudani literally means "hell's valley" because of the steam and boiling water that bubbles out of crevices in the frozen ground, and it is here that the resident Japanese Macaques enjoy bathing in this bubbling water. Monkeys live in large social groups, so it is quite entertaining to watch them interact. Since they are accustomed to humans, they can be observed closely and ignored almost completely. From the closest parking area, the entrance to the park is around a 20-minute hike away. However, the hike is scenic and leisurely, and there are no steep slopes.
During the afternoon, we will stop at the nearby village of Obuse, known for its chestnuts and also for being the home of Hokusai, the famous painter and printmaker of Japan's Edo period. There are over 100 houses in the town participating in an "Open Garden" theme. You can enter the property and enjoy the gardens if you see this sign in front of the house, giving you a unique insight into Japanese home life. You must taste the local saké during your visit to Obuse. Sake is Japanese rice wine, a beverage made from fermented rice that has been polished to remove the bran.
Where you’re staying
Hotel in Nagano Premium with Breakfast
DAY 6: NAGANO TO KANAZAWA
After breakfast, you can take a one-hour ride on the Kagayuki Bullet Train to Kanazawa. Once you arrive in Kanazawa, you will be picked up by your driver. You may spend the rest of the day at your leisure. Often referred to as "Little Kyoto," this historical jewel of Japan is overlooked by foreign tourists. Since the central city is fairly compact, walking around it and exploring its narrow side streets is the most convenient way to get around.
There is a Tourist Information Center at the railroad station that is a convenient place to start. Visitors can find directions, maps, and suggestions there. Relax in the Kenroku-en Garden, considered one of Japan's top 3 gardens. Just a short walk away, you will find the D.T. Suzuki Museum. It was Suzuki who introduced Zen Buddhism to western culture. It is the perfect setting for contemplation or meditation to stroll through the garden and water features.
Where you’re staying
Hotel in Kanazawa Premium with Breakfast
DAY 7: KANAZAWA
Your English-speaking guide will meet you after breakfast for a full-day excursion to Shirakawa-go. We will be traveling by public transportation for the 90-minute trip and your guide will explain some of the attractions we will see. Shirakawa-go, located at the foot of Mount Haku-san, is a quiet mountain village with rice fields and a river running through it.
The village is home to 114 thatched roofs and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. You will be escorted through the village, which is famous for its gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old. Gassho-zukuri means Praying Hands in Japanese since the steep thatched roofs of the farmhouses resemble the hands of Buddhist monks pressed together in prayer, and they are built to endure the heavy snowfall in the area. Lunch will be served at a delicious local spot where meat and fish are grilled on a magnolia leaf over an open flame.
Where you’re staying
Hotel in Kanazawa
Premium with Breakfast
DAY 8: KANAZAWA TO KYOTO
After breakfast, you'll have a private transfer to the train station to take the Thunderbird Express. The train travels along the northern coast of Japan for two hours to reach Kyoto. A private driver will be waiting for you at the rail station to transfer you to your hotel.
Kyoto remains the spiritual heart of Japan, and you'll be reminded of this by the smell of burning incense and the sight of robed monks strolling through zen gardens. Once you've checked into your hotel, you can explore on your own. You will be on your own for dinner tonight, but your concierge can assist you with recommendations and reservations. Kyoto is home to several Michelin-starred restaurants that specialize in multi-course kaiseki meals served to diners on tatami mats.
Where you’re staying
Hotel in Kyoto
Premium with Breakfast
DAY 9: KYOTO
Join your guide for a full-day tour of Kyoto via subway and bus*. Our first stop will be the Ryoanji Zen Temple, which is home to Japan's most famous rock garden, which draws hundreds of visitors every day. The site was originally a villa built by aristocratic families during the Heian Period, then converted into a Zen temple around 1450. Located in a rectangular plot of pebbles, the garden is surrounded by low earthen walls with 15 rocks arranged in small groups on patches of moss. The Kyoto Imperial Palace was formerly the residence of Japan's Imperial Family until 1868 when the capital was moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. In the spacious Kyoto Imperial Garden that encompasses the Sento Imperial Palace, it can be found.
After lunch, we will stroll along the Philosopher's Path, a pleasant stone path that runs through the northern part of Kyoto's Higashiyama district. The path follows a canal lined with cherry trees. The path is about two kilometers long and starts around Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) and ends in Nanzenji. Nishida Kitaro, one of Japan's most prominent philosophers, is said to have walked this path every day on his way to Kyoto University while practicing meditation. You will have dinner on your own tonight after returning to your hotel.
During the busy season (March 20 - May 8, October 10 - November 30), the tour will be conducted by taxi.
DAY 10: DEPARTURE
Jet Off
A private driver will take you to either Itami or Kansai airport of Osaka. You may extend your tour in Osaka with our guided tour or on your own.
service packages in this port
Gold Package - AVAILABLE
Platinum Package - AVAILABLE
Platinum Package - AVAILABLE
Included:
- A private car.
- A private English-speaking driver.
What you'll get:
- Dedicated and full-hearted service to you.
- Basic generic guidance or introduction of the destination with limited English.
- Freedom and privacy when touring on your own.
- More flexibility of your tour schedules.
- Significant saving of the tour cost.
What's not covered:
- Wal
Included:
- A private car.
- A private English-speaking driver.
What you'll get:
- Dedicated and full-hearted service to you.
- Basic generic guidance or introduction of the destination with limited English.
- Freedom and privacy when touring on your own.
- More flexibility of your tour schedules.
- Significant saving of the tour cost.
What's not covered:
- Walking with you in the attractions.
- Professional commentary.
- Lunch.
Platinum Package - AVAILABLE
Platinum Package - AVAILABLE
Platinum Package - AVAILABLE
Included:
- A private car.
- A private English-speaking tour guide.
- Entrance fees.
What you'll get:
- Dedicated and full-hearted service to you.
- Detailed commentary of the attractions.
- Flexibility of your tour schedules.
What's not covered:
- Lunch.
Transfer Your Cruise Booking and Receive
Free airport transfer, free shore excursion, free hotel, and much more...