Cultural Treasures of Japan featuring the Takayama Festival

Location: Tokyo

Accommodation: Grand Nikko Daiba

Welcome to Japan, the “Land of the Rising Sun." Begin in the electrifying city of Tokyo, where pop culture is turned all the way up and traditions are rich and long-kept.

Location: Tokyo

Accommodation: Grand Nikko Daiba

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Feel the excitement start to build as you pass by the grounds of the Imperial Palace and see the Niju Bridge and Sakurada Gate, the well-known symbols of the Imperial Palace. Walk through Ginza, one of the most elegant and luxurious streets in the world, where modern landscape meets rich history. Enjoy shopping at some of the most renowned "department stores" in Japan. Later, amid a lush forest outside of Tokyo, visit the Meiji Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken. Tonight, join your fellow travelers at a festive welcome dinner.

Location: Tokyo

Accommodation: Grand Nikko Daiba

Meals: Breakfast

Begin the day exploring Asakusa, Tokyo’s oldest Geisha district. Visit the famous Buddhist temple, Senso-ji, the colorful temple famous for the red chochin (lantern) hanging at the entrance gate. Experience the long standing tradition of the Japanese tea ceremony, dating back to the 15th century. During your free time, explore the Nakamise Shopping Arcade and feel the energy of the oldest shopping street in Japan. Then, head to Edo Tokyo Museum to learn about the fascinating history and culture of Tokyo. The museum displays life-size and model scale replicas of towns and buildings of old Tokyo.

Location: Tokyo

Accommodation: Odakyu Hotel de Yama

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Journey to the lakeside resort of Hakone, renowned for its hot springs. In the shadow of Mt. Fuji (UNESCO), this scenic town hugs the shorelines of Lake Ashi. Make a stop at Owakudani, located in an active volcanic zone. The Owakudani crater was created some 3,000 years ago, when Mt. Hakone erupted. Climb aboard the Hakone Ropeway, an aerial cable car descending from Owakudani for a breathtaking view* of Mt. Fuji. Next, take to the deep-blue waters of Lake Ashi on a cruise where you’ll see epic views of the local mountains before stopping in the charming town of Moto-Hakone.

Location: Hakone

Accommodation: Takayama Green Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This breathtaking day begins in Matsumoto at Matsumoto Castle, known as the “Crow Castle” because of its striking black exterior. Enjoy the local cuisine as we stop for lunch at a Soba noodle shop. Later, you’ll step back in time in the rural Edo-period town of Takayama, nestled in the Japanese Alps. You are in for a treat! Enjoy the night viewing of the Takayama Festival, considered one of the most beautiful festivals in Japan that dates back to the 1700s. The centerpiece is the collection of yatai floats that dazzle onlookers with their colorful and intricate decorations, an example of Takayama’s legendary artisanship.**

Location: Takayama

Accommodation: Takayama Green Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

The ancient cultures of Takayama come alive this morning in the town’s historic district. Take a walk through the past and glimpse the 19th-century Jinya government building. Stroll through the morning market, a 600-year-old open air market with locally grown and produced products, located along the Miyagawa River. Circuit the winding streets, where the town’s traditional charms are preserved in the inns and houses. Well known to the locals for its connection to sake, this is the perfect place to gather for a visit to one of Japan’s 200-year-old sake breweries. Afterward, experience a true Japanese epicurean treat – traditional rice wine paired with a special Hida beef dinner.

Location: Takayama

Accommodation: Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today, embrace the unique charms of Shirakawa-go (UNESCO). Hidden away in the mountain, this harmonious village is famous for its gassho-zukuri-style houses – thatched-rooftops designed to resemble two hands joined in prayer. Journey to Kanazawa, the origin of gold-leaf making since the 16th century. Visit the Samurai district where we will enter the former home of the Nomuras, a wealthy samurai family who served the ruling Maeda family. Then, travel to the Geisha quarters of Kanazawa, the Higashi Tea district.

Location: Kanazawa

Accommodation: Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

More than 25 acres of absolute beauty await you today at Kenroku-En – Garden of Six Qualities. From the beauty of Japan’s most stunning gardens, dive into the ancient craft of gold leaf making during a hands-on lesson in decorating your own lacquer box at Kanazawa Katani! In the center of town, take in the action of the Omicho fish market before venturing out on your own to really immerse yourself in Kanazawa’s dynamic culture.

Location: Kanazawa

Accommodation: Kyoto Tokyu Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Kyoto awaits! The former Imperial capital of Japan is now one of the nation’s top cosmopolitan cities. At the same time, Kyoto’s connection with its past is strong; you won’t need to look far to see one of its 2,000 temples and shrines. For lunch, participate in a sushi making class – given by a professional sushi chef – and master the art of sushi making. This afternoon, visit Kinkakuji (UNESCO), the Golden Pavilion, a Zen temple whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf.

Location: Kyoto

Accommodation: Kyoto Tokyu Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

All aboard the Shinkansen bullet train to Hiroshima. Upon arrival, board a ferry for the short trip to Miyajima Island, or “Shrine Island” (UNESCO). Afterwards, head into Hiroshima city to visit the Peace Memorial Park, and pause to see the ruined Atomic Dome (UNESCO). Reflect at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. As this moving day comes to a close, return to Kyoto by the Shinkansen bullet train.

Location: Kyoto

Accommodation: Kyoto Tokyu Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

This morning, explore Fushimi Inari Taisha for a tour of the most revered shrine of Inari. Follow the spectacular rows of orange torii (made famous in the movie Memoirs of a Geisha) that weave through the forest, leading you to the inner shrine. Move on to the home of the first Shogun, Nijo Castle (UNESCO), and see intricate woodcarvings, wall paintings, and the Ninomaru Garden, designed by Kobori Enshu, a landscape architect and tea master. Next, visit Marumasu Nishumuraya for a lesson in the art of stenciling at a traditional Kyoto townhouse.

Location: Kyoto

Accommodation: Kyoto Tokyu Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today, spend some time relaxing or set out to explore Kyoto on your own. Fully immerse yourself in Japanese culture tonight during a special kaiseki farewell dinner and geisha show.

Location: Kyoto

Meals: Breakfast

Your tour comes to a close in this fascinating land. As you depart, reflect on its beauty and all you have learned about its rich history and culture.