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Tour Code: 038-19979

8-Day Capitals of Japan Tour from Tokyo, Kyoto out

 

Our Price: from

$2341
￥16489
€1993
C$3224
(per person, based on double occupancy) Available: Thu Depart from: Tokyo, 13
Overview
Visit Tokyo (Akihabara, Nijubashi, Senso-ji, Shibuya), Kyoto (Fushimi Inari Taisha, Gion, Kinkaku-ji), Hiroshima (Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Itsukushima Shrine), Kobe (Earthquake Memorial Museum), Kotohira (Kotohiragu Shrine), Matsuyama (Dogo Onsen, Ishiteji Temple, Matsuyama Castle), Mount Koya, Takamatsu (Kuribayashi Park).

Day 1: Tokyo

Welcome to Japan! After completing customs procedures, you’ll be transferred to your hotel by shared shuttle bus. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure. In the afternoon, you’ll receive details about the start of your tour.

One of the 47 prefectures of Japan and has been the capital since 1869. The Greater Tokyo Area is the most populous metropolitan area in the world. It is the seat of the Emperor of Japan, the Japanese government and the National Diet.

Dulexe Hotel: Shinagawa Prince Hotel or similar

Meal: Excluded

Day 2: Tokyo

In the morning, we take part in a 5-hour trip with our guide to see this amazing city, with its hustle and bustle and extremely modern districts that coexist with quiet, peaceful areas. Brief stop at the Zojoji Temple to make a beautiful photograph of the Tokyo Tower. Pay attention to the hundred of Jizos, stone traditional protecting deities who guide us on our travels, give power to those who are weak (such children) and those in dangerous places, and who are dressed including hats, robes and windmills. Then we head to the junction of Shibuya, a junction that is said to be the most crowded in the world. The Meiji Temple is dedicated to the Emperor Meiji, his wife, and their spirits. We continue on our bus along the elegant street of Omotesando. We will edge the most beautiful part of the Imperial Palace and the gardens. Stop to visit the famous Nijubashi Bridge. We will pass through the district of Akihabara, the “electric town” with icons from the popular Japanese Manga and Anime culture and then see Kokugikan, the Sumo stadium, home of this Japanese sport. We will also visit the Buddhist temple of Sensoji, the oldest and most important temple in Tokyo, with its 55-metre high pagoda. Then we will have some free time to visit the traditional commercial street of Nakamise in the district of Asakusa. Lunch included in a local restaurant. Return to hotel.
Free time in the afternoon.
At 6:30 p.m., we'll meet our guide in the hotel lobby and take the metro (tickets included) to the lively Shinjuku district. Here, we'll enjoy a stroll through its bustling streets, renowned for their vibrant nightlife, as we head to a local restaurant for dinner (included). Afterward, we'll return to the hotel by metro, accompanied by our guide.

NOTE: With 5 passengers or less than 5 passengers, the city tour will be done by a tourist bus "Hop On-Hop Off" bus that passes through the most interesting parts of Tokyo, in which passengers can hop off, visit the site of their choice and then hop on the next bus

One of the 47 prefectures of Japan and has been the capital since 1869. The Greater Tokyo Area is the most populous metropolitan area in the world. It is the seat of the Emperor of Japan, the Japanese government and the National Diet.

  • Founded in approximately 628 AD, this Buddhist temple in Tokyo is the city's oldest as well as one of its most important. The street leading to the temple is called the Nakamise-dori and features many retail shops and kiosks.

    Duration: Approx. 40 Minutes

  • Meaning "Double Bridge" in Japanese, this bridge is one of the most famous in Japan. Though there are two separate bridges, when you look at them from the right angle, they appear to be a single two-storied bridge,

  • This district in the Chiyoda Ward of Tokyo became the city's major shopping center for household electronic goods, giving it the nickname "Electric Town." It is a center of otaku culture and seeks to replicate the anime world.

    Duration: Approx. 1 Hour

  • Shibuya is a popular shopping and entertainment area found around Shibuya Station. In this regard, Shibuya is one of Tokyo's most colorful and busy districts, packed with shopping, dining and nightclubs. Shibuya is also a center for youth fashion and culture. Its streets are the birthplace to many of Japan's fashion and entertainment trends. Numerous department stores and shopping malls can be found around the area catering to all types of shoppers.

Dulexe Hotel: Shinagawa Prince Hotel or similar

Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Included (Kyoto style grilled chicken, pickle, rice, fried escado and chicken karaage, sashimi, salad, chicken stew.)|Dinner: Included

Day 3: Tokyo - Hiroshima (670 km)

After breakfast, we'll transfer to the station to board the bullet train to Hiroshima, a journey of approximately four hours covering 800 kilometers. Upon arrival, we'll explore this city. Our visit will include a stroll through the Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome, and the powerful Peace Memorial Museum, a solemn tribute to the resilience and hope that emerged after devastation. We'll later board a ferry to “the island where gods and men live together.” Here, we'll visit the iconic Itsukushima Shrine, partially built over the sea and dedicated to the guardian of the seas. You'll have time to explore the shrine, wander through the island's charming center, and have some lunch. We'll return to Hiroshima for the evening, where dinner will be included.
Note: The order of visits in Hiroshima may vary, but you'll experience everything as planned.

The capital of Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan.As of August 2016, the city has an estimated population of 1,196,274. Hiroshima was the first city targeted by a nuclear weapon, when the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) dropped an atomic bomb on the city at 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945, near the end of World War II.

  • Originally the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, and now commonly called the Genbaku Dome, Atomic Bomb Dome or A-Bomb Dome, is part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The ruin of the hall serves as a memorial to the people who were killed in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945.

  • It is dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to suffer a nuclear attack, and to the memories of the bomb's direct and indirect victims (of whom there may have been as many as 140,000). The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is visited by thousands of people each year.

  • The centuries-old Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima is the source of both the island's fame and its name. The shrine is known worldwide for its iconic "floating" torii gate.The shrine and its torii gate are unique for being built over water, seemingly floating in the sea during high tide.

Dulexe Hotel: Hilton Hiroshima or similar

Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Included

Day 4: Hiroshima - Matsuyama (67 km)

Today we will take a ferry to Shikoku Island, on a pleasant crossing that lasts two hours and a half and see the many islands that make up Japan. In Matsuyamawe will take the cable car up to its impressive castle. Afterwards, we will visit Ishiteji Temple, a beautiful Buddhist temple and a place of pilgrimage. Lunch included. In the late afternoon, we will visit Dogo Onsen (admission included), a traditional Japanese bath facility built in the 19th century.

Matsuyama is the largest city on Shikoku. At the heart of the city stands Matsuyamajo, a beautiful, original castle. The city is also famed for being the setting of Natsume Soseki's popular novel, entitled "Botchan".

  • Matsuyama Castle is one of Japan's twelve "original castles", i.e. castles which have survived the post-feudal era since 1868 intact. It is also one of the most complex and interesting castles in the country. It is located on Mount Katsuyama, a steep hill in the city center that provides visitors with a bird's eye view of Matsuyama and the Seto Inland Sea. There are about 200 cherry trees on the castle grounds, making this a lovely cherry blossom spot typically around late March to early April each year.

  • Ishiteji located near Dogo Onsen, is the Matsuyama's most famous temple. It is number 51 of the 88 temples on the Shikoku Pilgrimage. Pilgrims dressed in white are a frequent sight at this large temple.

  • Dogo Onsen is one of Japan's oldest and most famous hot springs, located to the east of central Matsuyama. The area is popular with tourists for its beautiful bath house and many ryokan. Dogo Onsen has also been a frequent destination for Japan's most prestigious guests, the Imperial Family.

Dulexe Hotel: Ana Crowne Plaza Matsuyama/Ana Hotel Matsuyama or similar

Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Included (Buffet: includes soup, salad, dessert, curry, pork dishes, chicken, fish, pasta and a main course Non-alcoholic beverages)|Dinner: Excluded

Day 5: Matsuyama - Kotohira - Takamatsu - Kobe (14109 km)

We depart for Kotohira, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the God of sailors and a place of pilgrimage. The shrine stands on Mount Zosu and is reached by climbing 785 steps. Afterwards in Takamatsu we will visit Ritsurin Garden, one of the prettiest gardens in Japan. Lunch included. Then, in Naruto, we cross an impressive bridge over the sea, stopping on the way to admire the construction and walk on its glass floor with the sea 45 metres below us. Our road is surrounded by beautiful scenery and then crosses long bridges between islands over the sea. Arrival in Kobe, accommodation.

A town located in Nakatado District, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. The town is best known as the site of Shikoku's largest shrine complex, the Kotohira Shrine (popularly known as Konpira-san).

  • A Shinto shrine in the town of Kotohira. This shrine is patron of sea ship transport and sailor. Located at 521 metres halfway to the top of Mount Zozu, the shrine stands at the end of a long path, with 785 steps to the main shrine and a total of 1368 steps to the inner shrine.

The capital city of Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku in Japan. It is a port city located on the Seto Inland Sea, and is the closest port to Honshu from Shikoku island. The city's major tourist attraction is Ritsurin Garden.

  • The park was built around 1570-1591, named after a large chestnut forest planted in the early years. It was originally the private courtyard of the local rich. After N generations, it was nationalized in the 19th century.

Dulexe Hotel: Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel or similar

Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Included (Buffet)|Dinner: Excluded

Day 6: Kobe - Osaka - Mount Koya (328 km)

In Kobe, we'll visit the Earthquake Memorial Museum, which serves to honor the memory of the devastating earthquake that struck the city in 1995 and its remarkable reconstruction. Then continue to Osaka, before heading to the sacred Mount Koya, the most important center of Shingon Buddhism in Japan. We'll visit the Okuno Mausoleum, a deeply spiritual place and vast cemetery set in nature with over 200,000 graves. We'll also visit the Kongobuji Temple, originally built in 1593. We will spend the night in a Buddhist monastery, where the monks will lead us in a Zen meditation practice (Ajikan). Dinner will be included (vegetarian meal). If you wish, you can also attend the early morning religious ceremony at the temple.

Notes:
-On certain dates, the visit to the Earthquake Museum may be replaced by a visit to the Sake Museum or a trip up Kobe Tower.
-Staying at the monastery is considered a highly valuable experience. The rooms are simple, without private bathrooms, and follow traditional Japanese style with tatami mats. Bathrooms are shared.
-We cannot guarantee the meditation practice during peak tourist dates. Since accommodation capacity in the temples on Mount Koya is limited, in some cases, we may accommodate groups in nearby hotels (with half board included).

The sixth-largest city in Japan and the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture. Kobe was one of the cities to open for trade with the West following the 1853 end of the policy of seclusion and has since been known as a cosmopolitan and nuclear-free zone port city.

  • The Earthquake Memorial Museum, part of the Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution, was opened in 2002 to commemorate the tragic event and to educate visitors about earthquakes and disaster prevention. The museum includes a large screen theater with realistic images of the earthquake's destructiveness, a documentary film about the recovery process, lots of information about the earthquake and various interactive games about disaster prevention.

Mount Koya, the center of Shingon Buddhism founded by Kobo Daishi in 805, houses over 100 temples, including Kongobuji (head temple) and Okunoin (his mausoleum). Visitors can stay in shukubo (temple lodgings), experience shojin ryori (vegetarian cuisine), and join morning prayers. A key pilgrimage site and UNESCO World Heritage location.

Standard Hotel: Buddhist monastery (limited, and in some cases, we may arrange to stay in nearby hotels like Monasterio Hojoin instead)

Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Included (Vegetarian)

Day 7: Mount Koya - Kyoto (260 km)

We'll start the day with a traditional Japanese breakfast at the temple. Early in the morning, we'll depart for Kyoto. Our visit will take us to some of the city's most iconic landmarks. We'll admire the magnificent Shinto Shrine of Fushimi Inari, explore the historic Imperial Palace, and marvel at the Kinkaku-ji Temple, also known as the “Golden Pavilion,” with its stunning gardens.

You'll have free time to explore before we visit Gion, a bustling traditional district renowned for its Geisha culture. Here, you'll have additional free time to soak in the unique atmosphere.

Note: If you've already visited Kyoto as part of your tour, our guide will provide tips and recommendations to help you explore other parts of the city on your own.

For over 1,000 years, Kyoto was the imperial capital of Japan. Today, its economy is based around information technology. It is home to the Nintendo headquarters, one of the world's most popular video game corporations.

  • Fushimi Inari Shrine is an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of vermilions torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari, which stands at 233 meters and belongs to the shrine grounds. Fushimi Inari is the most important of several thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Foxes are thought the Inari's messengers, resulting in many fox statues across the shrine grounds.

  • The name of this Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto translates to the "Temple of the Golden Pavilion." It sits on a beautiful, tranquil lake. It was originally built in 1397 and rebuilt after a 1950 arson.

    Duration: Approx. 40 Minutes

  • Gion is the most famous district of Kyoto which reserves many old streets and architectures to feel the old Japanese culture.

Dulexe Hotel: Miyako Kioto Hachijyo or similar

Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded

Day 8: Kyoto

After breakfast, end of our services.

Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded

 

Price Includes:

Price Excludes: