Japan Cultural & Scenic Tour – 10 Nights / 11 Days

Tokyo

• Arrive in Tokyo and transfer by shared shuttle to your hotel.
• The rest of the day is free to unwind or explore nearby sights.
• In the evening, your tour briefing will be shared at the hotel.

Tokyo Sightseeing & Shinjuku Night Tour

• Start the day with a five-hour guided city tour.
• Visit Zojoji Temple, offering a picture-perfect backdrop of Tokyo Tower and lined with colourful Jizo statues.
• Walk across the bustling Shibuya Crossing, the world’s busiest intersection.
• Stop at the tranquil Meiji Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.
• Drive through Omotesando Avenue, then admire the serene Imperial Palace gardens and the Nijubashi Bridge.
• Pass through Akihabara, Tokyo’s famous electronics and anime hub, and see the exterior of Kokugikan Sumo Arena.
• Visit Asakusa’s Sensoji Temple and the vibrant Nakamise Street.
• Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
• At 6:30 p.m., head out to explore Shinjuku’s nightlife, followed by dinner at a local spot. Return to the hotel with your guide via metro.

Tokyo – Hiroshima – Miyajima Island

• Travel to Hiroshima via bullet train (approx. 4 hours).
• Visit Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome, and the moving Peace Memorial Museum.
• Take a ferry to Miyajima Island, home to the floating Itsukushima Shrine
• Enjoy free time to stroll through the island’s scenic centre and grab lunch.
• Return to Hiroshima for an included dinner and overnight stay.
• *Note: The visit order in Hiroshima may vary, but all experiences are included.

Hiroshima – Matsuyama

• Take a scenic ferry to Shikoku Island.
• Ride the cable car to visit Matsuyama Castle, one of Japan’s best-preserved hilltop castles.
• Explore the sacred Ishiteji Temple, a Buddhist pilgrimage site.
• Lunch at a local restaurant.
• Unwind at the historic Dogo Onsen, a 19th-century traditional bathhouse.

Matsuyama – Kotohira – Takamatsu – Naruto – Kobe

• Visit Kotohira Shrine, climbing 785 steps up Mount Zosu.
• Discover Ritsurin Garden, one of Japan’s finest landscape gardens, in Takamatsu.
• Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
• Stop at Naruto Bridge to walk across the sea on a glass floor and view the powerful whirlpools below.
• Journey through scenic island bridges before reaching Kobe for the night.

Kobe – Osaka – Mount Koya

• In Kobe, visit the Earthquake Memorial Museum (or Sake Museum/Kobe Tower, depending on
  availability).
• Stop in Osaka, then head to spiritual Mount Koya.
• Visit the sacred Okuno Mausoleum, nestled in a vast cemetery of towering trees and ancient graves.
• Explore Kongobuji Temple, the heart of Shingon Buddhism.
• Stay overnight at a Buddhist monastery, take part in Ajikan meditation, and enjoy a vegetarian dinner.
• *Note: Temple stay features shared baths and traditional rooms. During peak times, hotel accommodation nearby may be arranged.

Mount Koya – Kyoto

• Wake up to a traditional Japanese breakfast.
• Travel to Kyoto, the imperial capital and a treasure trove of Japanese heritage.
• Visit the majestic Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Imperial Palace, and the golden Kinkaku-ji Temple.
• Free time for independent exploration.
• In the evening, stroll through Gion, the famed Geisha district.
• *Note: If Kyoto has already been covered in your tour, your guide will offer local sightseeing suggestions

Mount Koya – Kyoto

• Wake up to a traditional Japanese breakfast.
• Travel to Kyoto, the imperial capital and a treasure trove of Japanese heritage.
• Visit the majestic Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Imperial Palace, and the golden Kinkaku-ji Temple.
• Free time for independent exploration.
• In the evening, stroll through Gion, the famed Geisha district.
• *Note: If Kyoto has already been covered in your tour, your guide will offer local sightseeing suggestions

Kyoto – Tsumago – Matsumoto – Nagano

• Drive to the countryside village of Tsumago, known for its wooden Edo-period architecture.
• Enjoy lunch and explore the charming streets.
• Head to Matsumoto, visit the 16th-century Crow Castle, and enjoy some free time
• End the day in Nagano, a peaceful mountain town.

Nagano – Jigokudani – Kusatsu – Ikaho

• Visit Zenko-ji Temple and take part in the Gomakuyo Blessing Ceremony.
• Explore the famous Jigokudani Monkey Park, home to hot spring-bathing macaques.
• Enjoy lunch and walk through scenic forest trails and steaming rivers.
• Ascend to mountainous landscapes and visit Kusatsu, a renowned spa town with a live onsen display.
• Continue to Ikaho, known for its stone staircase streets, staying overnight at a traditional ryokan.
• Soak in the bath and enjoy a traditional Japanese dinner.
• *Note: Monkey visibility may vary with seasons. Kusatsu visits may be skipped in winter months.

Ikaho – Nikko – Tokyo

• Travel to Nikko, home to the majestic Toshogu Shrine and its echoing “room of the dragon”.
• Visit the peaceful Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum.
• Walk along the scenic Kanmangafuchi Abyss, lined with hundreds of Jizo statues.
• Enjoy some free time in the town centre before returning to Tokyo around 6:30 p.m.

Tokyo – Departure

• After breakfast, the tour concludes. Take with you the spirit of Japan, beautiful memories, and a heart full of stories.