Spend the morning in Uji, the setting for the final chapters of ‘The Tale of Genji’ and the afternoon in Nara, Japan’s first permanent capital.
HIGHLIGHTS:
* Experience an authentic tea ceremony in Uji, a town famous for its tea
* Visit the picturesque area around Uji Bridge and the World Heritage Site Byodo-in Temple
* Sightsee around Nara and encounter wild deer in Nara Park
We firstly take you to admire Uji Bridge, one of the oldest bridges in Japan which is thought to have originally been built in the 7th century. Absorb the arresting views of the mountains from the bridge and learn about how this city thrived on its location by the banks of Uji-gawa River.
Stroll around Nakanoshima Park, built on a sandbar in the middle of the river and take a tea break to experience the ceremony at an authentic tea house, Taiho-an. Afterwards we make our way to the temple that puts Uji on the map: Byodo-in. The temple is a stunning example of Buddhist Pure Land (Jodo) architecture built near the end of the Heian era. Enjoy a tour around the temple and its equally beautiful gardens before returning to Kyoto for lunch ready for the afternoon portion of the tour in Nara.
Once we arrive in Nara, we start by visiting the star of the show: Nara Park and Todai-ji Temple, also known as the Great Buddha. This is the largest wooden structure in the world which houses the largest bronze figure in the world and is truly awe-inspiring. Absorb the scale of this Unesco World Heritage Site, and as you wander through Nara Park come closer than ever to wild deer; thought to be the shrine messengers.
We continue by seeing one of the most celebrated shrines in the city: Kasuga Taisha. Founded in the 8th century, the shrine is famous for its bronze lanterns that adorn the buildings where you are free to stroll through the areas not requiring admission. To round off the tour we go to Nara Nagomikan, the largest souvenir shop in Nara where you can stock up on local souvenirs to remember your day.
Tokyo is one of the most famous gourmet cities in the world. It is the famous Tsukiji Market, with a total area of 230,000 m2 that makes this possible. On the basis of "visiting rules" established by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, one of the guides in our group will show participants around the market, safely in a small group of 4 or less exploring both the vegetable and fruit sections and the impressive seafood section. Especially attractive are the more than 480 different kinds of seafood on display in the seafood section ranging from fresh fish, to shell fish and prawns. There may also be an opportunity to see a complete tuna being cut and filleted. In Tsukiji Market, active shopkeepers and craftsmen work their traditional skills and way of life daily.
Guests on this experience will also enjoy browsing various kinds of shops selling fish, vegetables, nori (dried seaweed), and dried seafood in the outer market. Since shoppers are buying direct from intermediate wholesalers in the inner market the volume of food and ingredients is substantially larger, often sold by the kilo. Tsukiji Market is essentially divided into 2 areas- the Inside and the Outside market. The inside market is usually more entertaining and visitors can see the actual wholesale of the seafood.
Take in the highlights of Kamakura and Yokohama just a short distance away from Tokyo. Blooming with history, culture and gardens, they’re home to popular tourist spots in Japan.
HIGHLIGHTS:
* Admire the Great Buddha housed in Kotoko-in Temple
* Take in the seasonal colours of Hase Temple and Sankeien Garden
* Walk through Japan’s largest Chinatown
From Tokyo we head to Kamakura by bus, located about an hour away, a city with plentiful temples and monuments, as well as home to the second tallest bronze statue in Japan. On arrival, we get stuck in and visit the 121 tonne symbol of the city: the Great Buddha. Standing proud at 13.35 metres, unlike the Great Buddha of Nara, this Buddha is placed directly outdoors, which you can enter for a small additional fee.
Next on the agenda, we visit the 1,200 year old Hase Temple that mirrors the seasons with over 700 Chinese peonies that bloom in the spring and maple trees that turn vibrant red in autumn. We stop for a Japanese lunch before continuing our whirlwind tour to Yakohoma and to the Sankeien Garden. Enjoy a stroll through the massive 43 acre garden featuring trees, ponds, streams and historical buildings, taking a tour of the inside of a traditional thatched roof minka house. Then it’s on to the largest of Japan’s three Chinatowns – alive with restaurants and shops – after which we head back to Ginza taking in the views of the impressive Yokohama Bay Bridge on our way.
A city of over 1,000 Buddhist temples, come and discover Japan’s former ancient capital with a morning tour from Osaka.
HIGHLIGHTS:
* Entry to the Imperial Palace without prior application
* See Kyoto’s most popular sightseeing spots in just one morning
* Admire the city’s most important palaces and temples
Hop aboard the train from Osaka to Kyoto for a morning discovering the sights and sounds of Kyoto. Arrive in the former ancient capital to begin a tour of the many temples and palaces that adorn the city.
We start at the World Heritage Nijo Castle whose flamboyant style and sublime gardens are bound to impress. Then head to the striking Kinkaku-ji Temple, known as the Golden Pavilion for its sparkling golden exterior as well as its spectacular setting surrounded by a lake. Finish your whirlwind tour of Kyoto by visiting the former ruling palace of the Emperor of Japan: Kyoto Imperial Palace. Entry to the palace for international visitors generally requires application in advance, but participants of this tour can enter only by going through a brief procedure. If you join the tour on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, instead of the palace we visit Kitano Tenmangu Shrine which was built in 947 as a shrine to bureaucrat, scholar and poet Sugawara no Michizane. The shrine is especially spectacular during the plum blossom and autumn leaf seasons.
After a jam-packed morning of sightseeing, we return to Osaka by JR Special Rapid Service or Rapid Service.
Credit for images copyrighted by ©JNTO
The most iconic symbol of Japan, Mt Fuji, is a must-see on any trip. Travel to the so-called border between heaven and earth and experience the powerful beauty of Mt Fuji.
HIGHLIGHTS:
* Visit the 5th Station of Mt Fuji
* Cruise Lake Ashi for breathtaking views over the landscape
* Ride the highest aerial tram in Japan
* Travel by Shinkansen
From Nagoya we travel by Hikari Shinkansen for the first part of our journey to the oft pictured and perfectly shaped volcano, Mt Fuji. Once we reach Hamamatsucho we depart by bus to the Fuji Visitor Centre, where you can learn about the volcano through displays and films. Next it’s time to travel through the clouds 7,546 ft above sea level to Mt Fuji 5th Station – nicknamed the border between heaven and earth – located halfway up the mountain.
Admire the views whilst savouring a Japanese set meal before embarking on a fifteen minute cruise across the picture perfect Lake Ashi, a crater lake formed as a result of a powerful volcanic eruption. Once on board, behold Mt Fuji and other surrounding mountains in all their glory. At the lake’s shore we board the Mt Komagatake Ropeway, Japan’s highest aerial tram, which takes you flying 4,452 ft up to the peak of Mt Komagatake, where views over Mt Fuji, the Izu Islands and the coast unfold before your eyes. We then return to Nagoya by bus and Shinkansen, where the tour ends at the station.
Spend a fun day out with all the family at Tokyo Dome City!
HIGHLIGHTS:
* Private transfer service to Tokyo Dome City
* Pick up and drop off at your hotel
* Stress-free and comfortable service
Tokyo Dome City has everything in entertainment you could ever need. Located in the heart of Tokyo, this private transfer service allows you to spend the whole day discovering its delights.
The complex include the Tokyo Dome (nicknamed “Big Egg”) which is the world’s largest roofed baseball stadium, an amusement park known as Tokyo Dome City Attractions as well as a spa resort LaQua and a host of character shows for Toei Company's Toei Superheroes, including the Super Sentai series.
Fun rides, including a Ferris wheel and Thunder Dolphin, a roller coaster that takes passengers on an 80-meter plunge at an angle of 80 degrees and other thrilling attractions offers a huge variety of entertainment for both adults and children.
Get a glimpse into traditional Japanese life with a tour to Koya-san; where Buddhist temples are nestled amongst stunning natural scenery.
HIGHLIGHTS:
* Enjoy a traditional Buddhist lunch
* Witness long-held traditions still in use
* Admire temples and sacred ground that make up Koya-san’s monastic complex
* Decipher these mystical sites and treasures with the help of a guide
Situated amongst eight mountain peaks, Mt Koya is listed as a Unesco Sacred Site and Pilgrimage Route in the Kii Mountain Range, whose sacred grounds invite guests to witness the Buddhist way of life. From Osaka we travel by Nankai Railway, Limited Express to Koyasan station where by bus we continue our journey to Ichinohashi Kanko Center.
Get your first taste of Buddhist lifestyle with a vegetarian Buddhist lunch before we start our tour of this fascinating monastic complex with your guide. Firstly we go to Okuno-in Temple, the highlight of Koya-san, where you walk along the 2km path to the temple located in a mystical atmosphere, lined with hundreds of thousands of small stone pagodas. We then explore the Danjo Garan Complex, a sacred place that represents the concept of Shingon Mikkyo Buddhism established by Kobo Daishi (Saint Kobo). Take time to appreciate the natural setting looking down over the area from a height of 900m, as well as the long-held traditions that are still visible in this unique place, before we embark on our journey back to Osaka by bus and Nankai Railway.
Credit for images copyrighted by ©Wakayama Prefecture/©JNTO
Be mesmerised by the carpet of cherry blossom that graces the city every spring. See the city in bloom illuminated at night with a tour through Ueno Park and a Sumida River cruise.
HIGHLIGHTS:
* See cherry blossoms at Ueno Park and the Sumida River banks, two locations selected among the top 100 places in Japan for cherry blossom viewing
* Includes a special bento box from a long-established Japanese restaurant Asakusa Imahan
* Revel in the canopy of cherry blossom and Tokyo Skytree illuminated by night
Famous for its cherry blossoms since the Edo period, Ueno Onshi Park is filled to the brim with 1,200 cherry trees that come alive every spring; flowering delicate pink petals that are a sight to behold. Start the evening with a stroll through the park, listed as a top 100 blossom destination in Japan, before taking the metro line to Asakusa station.
Here we embark the Sumida River Night Cruise, where we glide past row upon row of cherry blossom trees that line the riverbank. See effervescent pink blossom dance before your eyes whilst traditional dance is performed, set against a beautifully lit-up Tokyo Skytree in the background. The tour includes a special night cruise bento box from the famous Asakusa Imahan restaurant as well as a soft drink, beer or cocktail and a cup of sake served by the kimono-clad performer.
Credit for images copyrighted by ©Y.Shimizu/©JNTO, ©Taito City/©JNTO, ©Yasufumi Nishi/©JNTO & ©Mike Luk/©JNTO
Do as the locals do and escape the summer heat with a relaxing evening dining by the tranquil waters of the River Kiyotaki.
HIGHLIGHTS:
* Watch maiko perform as you dine
* Enjoy dinner on a kawadoko platform at a traditional Japanese restaurant
* Be mesmerised by the fireflies in this natural setting
Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city during summer and get a taste of traditional Japanese culture at Momijiya in Takao. On the banks of the river, you can appreciate the balmy breeze as you sit down for gourmet Kyoto cuisine. Normally slightly cooler than the city temperatures, the location is ideal for spending a summer’s evening.
A Japanese-style restaurant, here you can enjoy dinner on a kawadoko platform – a raised outdoor platform – whilst maiko girls (apprentice geisha) perform traditional dances and music. Spend some time talking to the maiko and taking photographs with them in a rare opportunity. What’s more, if you are enjoying the experience from June to early July, you can even spend the evening watching the fireflies as they twinkle above your head.
Credit for images copyrighted by © Q.Sawami/©JNTO
Acompáñanos en este recorrido en autobús turístico por Tokio, perfecto para los que visitan «el gigante que nunca duerme» por primera vez. Descubre tres puntos de referencia de la ciudad: la torre de Tokio, la plaza del Palacio Imperial y el templo Sensoji con la ayuda de un guía de habla inglesa que te acompañará en todo momento y te ayudará a aprender un poco más sobre la ciudad más grande del mundo.
Nos dirigimos a la terminal de autobuses de Hammamatsucho para embarcarte en una mañana repleta de descubrimientos. Pon rumbo a la torre de Tokio, una de las obras de la arquitectura japonesa más conocidas y maravíllate con el panorama del área del Gran Tokio o el área metropolitana de Tokio desde la plataforma de observación de la torre.
A continuación, pon rumbo al Palacio Imperial de Tokio, un amplio parque rodeado de piedras macizas y residencia oficial de la familia imperial de Japón. Delante del palacio hay una gran plaza, llamada Kokyo Gaien, que ofrece unas vistas espectaculares del puente Nijubashi y de los alrededores de este gran parque nacional.
Al acabar, pon rumbo al templo Sensoji, situado en el barrio de Asakusa, uno de los templos budistas más famosos de Tokio. El templo es uno de los 33 templos del este de Japón dedicado a la diosa Kannon. Aparte de visitar esta zona histórica, podrás pasar tiempo en la calle Nakamise, una calle con comercios que te brinda la oportunidad de comprar algún recuerdo.
Desde aquí nos dirigiremos a Akihabara a través de Ueno, hogar de la primera cafetería de Tokio. Al llegar a Akihabara, tienes la opción de bajarte de autobús y seguir por tu cuenta. Si lo prefieres, puedes seguir en el bus y contemplar la zona de camino a la estación de Tokio, donde pondremos punto final a nuestro tour.
Otros
Te informamos que, debido a que el discurso de Año Nuevo de la familia real japonesa se lleva a cabo en el Palacio Imperial el día 2 de enero, el tour no visitará el palacio ese día (el palacio se podrá contemplar desde el autobús).