JAPAN:
Best of Japan, a 16 Day Exclusive and Custom Tour Experience
15 days / 14 nights
March 25 - April 10, 2008
estimated cost $5,399.00 per person in double from Denver
Discover the warmth and hospitality of a gentle, ancient culture with its unique tradition and dynamic festivals nurtured by Japan’s more than thousand-year history. Come enter into the day-to-day life of Japan and its people From the gardens and temple s of Kyoto to ancient samurai homes in Kanazawa and ultra-modern neighborhoods in Tokyo, we will explore all of Japan's many moods and styles firsthand.
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE :
- Tokyo - home to the world’s largest Fish Market.
- Nikko - the center of Shinto and Buddhist mountain worship for many centuries and home to the famous Tosho-gu, Japan's most lavishly decorated shrine complex.
- Kyoto - “The Thousand Year Capital”.
- Hiroshima - a city vehemently engaged in the promotion of peace.
- Ginkaku-ji – one of the grandest feudal castles of Japan.
- Japan’s Bullet train - the worlds first high speed train.
- Takayama –which retains a traditional touch like few other cities.
- Miyajima - literally meaning “Shrine Island” has been celebrated as a sacred island and one of Japan's three most scenic views.
- Osako - the economic powerhouse of the Kansai region for many centuries.
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY:
Day 1
TO TOKYO
Depart from home for Tokyo's Narita Airport
Day 2
ARRIVE TOKYO
You will lose a day flying to Japan due to crossing the International Dateline, and gain the day back when you fly home. You will be met at Tokyo's Narita airport by our English Speaking Tour Guide, who will escort you and the group to the hotel in Tokyo. After checking into the hotel, we will have a relaxing dinner of Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pancakes) at a small local restaurant. (D)
Day 3
TOKYO
Your first full day in Japan will start very early (you will probably be awake anyway). We will go by subway to the Tsukiji neighborhood of Tokyo to visit the Tsukiji Fish Market and tuna auction. This fish market is the largest in the world, and it is estimated that 20% of all of the fish caught in the world pass through this market. After returning to our hotel for a rest and breakfast, we will visit the Nakamise-dori and Senso-ji Buddhist Temple where our tour guide will explain Buddhist and Shinto Japanese religious practices. From there we will cruise down the Sumida River to the famous Ginza district to wander through the department stores and boutiques after stopping for a lunch of Kushiage (fried meat and vegetables on bamboo skewers). The rest of the day is free to explore Tokyo on your own. Our tour guide will be available to give us some self touring suggestions for the afternoon or evening. Perhaps wander through the trendy Shibuya or Harajuku districts where you will more than likely see interesting and far-out fashions. In the evening, you can visit the Kabuki-cho entertainment district to see how the Japanese businessmen let off steam. (B,L)
Day 4
TOKYO
This morning is free to explore this intriguing and city on you own. Our tour guide will be available to make suggestions for touring shopping etc. Walk through the stores of Akihabara, Tokyo's electronics center and shop for that perfect high tech gadget or souvenir, for it's here that the latest goods are sold long before they reach Western markets. Then, this afternoon we meet our guide back at the hotel and begin a very memorable experience. First, we visit the Meiji Jingu Shrine, the most venerable shrine in Tokyo. Dedicated to Emperor and Empress Meiji, Meiji Jingu Shrine opened in 1920. We’ll also stop off at the Iris Garden, located about halfway on the 10-minute tree-shaded path to the shrine. In the late afternoon, we will attend Kabuki play at the Kabuki-za Theater. After taking the subway back to the hotel, we will enjoy a special Sushi Dinner (there will be other items for those who do not enjoy Sushi). (B, D)
Day 5
TOKYO - NIKKO - TOKYO
This morning we take our deluxe coach to Nikkoi, where the Tosho-gu Shrine is located. This shrine, built by his grandson, Tokugawa Iemitsu, is a dedication to the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. (James Clavell's fictional Shogun in his novel Shogun was based on this person.) This is one of the most elaborate shrines in Japan, and no expense was spared in its construction. We will have a nice local lunch in Nikko and some free time before returning to the comfort of our western hotel. The evening in Tokyo is free. Tonight you will need to prepare your main luggage for transfer to Kanazawa as our main baggage will be transferred separately from our group. We pack overnight bags for our train journey the next day and for our stay in Takayama. (B, L)
Day 6 TAKAYAMA
After checking out of the hotel we will be leaving Tokyo by bullet train to Takayama with overnight bags only. Takayama, in the middle of the Japan Alps, with its traditional inns, shops, and sake breweries, has managed to retain its traditional charm. After checking into our hotel, we will enjoy some tea and Japanese sweets before we tour the Sanmachi-suji district which consists of merchant homes dating back to the 16th century. The evening is free. (B)
Day 7
TAKAYAMA
This morning will be spent at the Farmer's Market strolling past the vegetable stands and stalls selling herbs, pickles, and souvenirs. We will be able to sample the numerous options as we go. After that we will tour the Takayama-jinya, which was the governing office of Takayama and the surrounding area since the early 17th century. The afternoon is free to roam and explore Takayama. Visit the many temples, shrines, and museums, rummage through antique shops, or relax at one of sake breweries. A Kaiseki-style dinner will be served at the hotel in the evening. (B, D)
Day 8
KANAZAWA
We will travel to Kanazawa by train, arriving as early in the day as possible. Upon arrival we receive our main baggage.While in Kanazawa we visit the garden Kenroku-en, one of the top three gardens in Japan. The name Kenrokuen literally means "Garden of the Six Sublimities", referring to spaciousness, seclusion, artificiality, antiquity, abundant water and broad views, six attributes that make up a perfect garden according to a Chinese theory. The spacious garden used to be the outer garden of Kanazawa Castle, the garden of the ruling Maeda family. It was constructed over a period of two centuries and not open to the public until 1871. (B)
Day 9
KANAZAWA
Today we explore Kanazawa’s geisha district, the oldest in Japan, and take the tour there of an authentic geisha house. The Higashi Geisha District is the larger and more spectacular of the two geisha districts, where you might be able to spot a geisha in the evenings. Shima, a former geisha house in the Higashi Geisha District, is open to the public. We visit Nagamachi, a district at the foot of the former Kanazawa Castle, where Samurai used to reside. The area preserves a historic atmosphere with its remaining samurai mansions, earthen walls, private entrance gates, narrow lanes and water canal. Nomura House, an elegant samurai mansion with a beautiful, small garden, is open to the public, like many other samurai, it went broke when Japan's feudal era came to an end with the Mejii Period. The rest of day is at leisure. Tonight it is time to pack your overnight bags as tomorrow our main baggage will be sent to Kyoto. (B)
Day 10
OSAKA
This morning you leave for Osaka by train (overnight bags please). The train journey takes a little less than three hours and we should arrive in the early afternoon in time for lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon is free to explore on our own and again our tour guide will be on hand to offer any advice that is needed. The evening is free to visit the Minami which is one of Osaka’s two major city centers. The other one is Kita around Osaka and Umeda Stations. Minami is Osaka's most popular entertainment and shopping district. Or you may choose to explore Dotumburi-dori, the nearby nightlife and restaurant district. While there, you can visit the Ebisu-bashi bridge which will make you feel like you stepped into the movie Blade Runner. (B, L)
Day 11
OSAKA - HIMEJI - HIROSHIMA
This morning we continue on to Hiroshima. En route we will stop at the city of Himeji, where we will tour Himeji Castle. Himeji Castle is the oldest and largest Samurai castle in Japan. It was originally built in the 14th century and took its present form in 1610. We will also tour Koko-en Garden which was built on the former grounds where the Samurai housing was located. We will have a relaxing lunch in a restaurant that looks out over the garden with its waterfalls and koi-filled pond. Our tour escort will guide us through our visit to Himeji Castle and the Koko-en Garden. We then continue on to Hiroshima by Shinkansen and check into our hotel. This evening we will have dinner at a local restaurant. (B, L, D)
Day 12
MIYAJIMA ISLAND - HIROSHIMA - KYOTO
After breakfast we will board a ferry for Miyajima Island. Miyajima Island is said by the Japanese to be one of the top three scenic sights in Japan. After taking the ferry back to Hiroshima, we will tour the Peace Memorial Museum and the Peace Memorial Park, which are both sobering testaments to the dropping of the A-Bomb on August 6, 1945. Afterwards, we are off to Kyoto via the Shinkansen. Once in Kyoto, we will pick up our main baggage and check into our hotel, where we will be staying for the remainder of the tour. The evening in Kyoto is free. You may visit Pontocho which is one of Kyoto’s traditional nightlife districts, a narrow street running from Shijo-dori to Sanjo-dori, one block west of the Kamo River. In the evenings, the narrow street offers a great atmosphere and lots of Restaurants and teahouses, ranging from inexpensive yakitori stores to highly exclusive establishments. (B)
Day 13
KYOTO
After breakfast we will start the day at the famous Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) Buddhist Temple and Garden, The Walk of Philosophy (Tetsugaku no michi) is a pleasant path beside a canal that connects Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) with the vicinity of Nanzenji. Cherry trees are planted along most of the over one kilometer long path, making it one of Kyoto's most popular spots for hanami (cherry blossom viewing) in spring. The trees are usually in bloom in the beginning to mid April. After our included lunch in a local restaurant, we will tour the famous Gion Geisha district, where we will see the tea houses and geisha houses where the Geisha live and work, and learn more about this mysterious world. We will enjoy the Miyako Odori Cherry Blossom Dance performed by apprentice geisha (subject to ticket availability). The dance has been performed by Maiko’s in April of every year since 1872. In the evening we will participate in an authentic tea ceremony. (B, L, D)
Day 14
KYOTO - Excursion to NARA
Today we are off by coach to Nara, the original capital of Japan in the eighth century before it was moved to Kyoto. Here you will see the Todai-ji, the largest wooden building in the world, which houses the largest bronze statue of Buddha in the world. We will also visit the Kasuga Taisha shrine. This shrine was first established in the eighth century, and was completely rebuilt every 20 years according to Shinto tradition until the 19th century. There are thousands of stone lanterns lining the entrance to the shrine. Along the way, you can feed the famous Nara deer. They have been here since the seventh century, and roam freely protected by Buddhist traditions. We will stop for a lunch at local noodle shop before continuing back to Kyoto. (B, L)
Day 15
KYOTO
This morning we travel by coach to Sanjusangendo. This awe-inspiring temple was built in the 12th century, and houses over 1,000 Buddha statues. After lunch, we will walk to “Teapot Lane” lined with shops selling handicrafts and pottery, local snacks and souvenirs on our way to Kiyomizu-dera, one of the most famous Buddhist temples in Japan. Here you can drink the water from the Otawa-no-taki, where the sacred water is believed to have therapeutic properties. The Afternoon is free. We will have our Sayonara dinner in the evening at a local restaurant. The highlight will be a private Maiko and Geiko performance just for our Focus Travel Group.(B, D)
Day 16
HOME
It's time to say Sayonara (Goodbye). We will take a coach back to Narita airport for our flight home. (B)
For more information, contact Ellie Leinaweaver.