Itinerary

DAYS 1 & 2

Upon arrival you will be met at the airport and transferred to your luxury hotel to rest after your flight. The Peninsula Hotel, your home for the next three nights, is located across the avenue from the Imperial Palace, and just a couple minutes walk from the vibrant Ginza.
The Peninsula, Tokyo

DAY 3

Explore one of the world’s largest cities, including a brief stop at the Imperial Palace Plaza to view the Emperor’s home and grounds. Drive by the imposing National Diet Building and visit the Garden of the Meiji Shrine, Tokyo’s most magnificent Shinto shrine. Continue on to the entertainment district of Asakusa and savor a delicious barbeque lunch. Also see the Nihombashi and Ginza shopping districts. This evening join your fellow travelers for a welcome cocktail and dinner party to learn more about the exciting adventures ahead.
The Peninsula, Tokyo

DAY 4

Your full-day excursion to Nikko will begin on the Tobu Express Train. You’ll visit the fabulous Yomeimon Gate and the Toshogu Shrine, the final resting place of the first Tokugawa Shogun. After lunch, travel to the beautiful Lake Chuzenji in the Japanese Alps, 4,194 feet above sea level. Witness the thundering Kegon Falls, known for its rainbow displays on sunny days, and Ryuzo-no Tako (Dragon’s Head Cascade). Return to Tokyo on the Tobu Express.
The Peninsula, Tokyo

DAY 5

Leave Tokyo today and travel to Hakone. Stop in Kamakura to visit the Kotokuin Temple, which houses Kamakura Daibutsu (Great Buddha). It is cast in bronze, weighing over 850 tons, and was finished in 1252. Following lunch, visit the Hakone Open Air Museum and enjoy a cruise on Lake Ashi, a crater lake that emerged around the Mt. Hakone volcano over 400,000 years ago. A reflection of Mt. Fuji across the lake is exceptionally beautiful. Also visit the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, cherished for its relaxing and beautiful atmosphere.
Hakone Hotel, Hakone

DAY 6

This morning depart for Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan and one of the most magnificent in the world. Points along the climbing trail are called “stations” and we travel to the fifth station, the highest point you can travel by road, located about halfway up the mountain. Here, weather permitting, you’ll have a panoramic view. We continue to Kyoto via the world-famous Bullet Train, which exudes the tranquility and charm of Japan’s ancient culture. The 1,100-year-old city is still the center for traditional arts and industries: silk weaving, embroidery, lacquer ware production, ceramics, doll making and flower arranging.
Westin Miyako Hotel, Kyoto

DAYS 7 & 8

Begin your tour of Kyoto with a visit to Nijo Castle. Built in 1630 as the residence of the first Tokugawa Shogun, it was intended to show his prestige and power. Continue to the famed Kinkakuji Temple (Temple of the Golden Pavilion), originally built in 1397. Your final stop is at the Heian Shrine, established in 1893 to commemorate the 1,100th-anniversary of the founding of Kyoto. On Day 8 enjoy a visit to a private home. Our gracious hostess demonstrates the traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony, and has you learn the art of origami. In the afternoon drive to Nara, the imperial capital during the 8th-century, and now a peaceful provincial town. Visit the lovely Deer Park, surrounding the magnificent Todaiji Temple, and enjoy feeding the deer in the park. Todaiji Temple is famous for its high bronze Buddha housed in the largest wooden structure in the world. Also see the Kasuka Shinto Shrine, standing in perfect harmony with its natural setting, and the 3,000 bronze and stone lanterns lining the avenue leading to this dignified shrine.
Westin Miyako Hotel, Kyoto

DAY 9

Travel this morning via the express train to Kurashiki, meaning the “warehouse village.” During the feudal era, the warehouses were used to store rice from the surrounding area. Many of the warehouses have now been converted into museums. Explore the traditional architecture and beautiful canals of this picturesque city. White-walled houses with traditional black tile roofs line the streets, while mansions with latticed windows and the weeping willows along the canal complete the peaceful picture of a Japanese town as it existed centuries ago. Visit the Ohara Museum of Art, the first museum of western art in Japan.
Hotel Nikko, Kurashiki

DAYS 10 & 11

Depart on Day 10 for Hiroshima via the express train. Begin your tour of Hiroshima with a visit to Peace Memorial Park. There are many memorials throughout the park including one that contains the names of all known victims of the atomic bomb. The Atomic Bomb Dome is just across the river from the Peace Memorial Park and is probably the most famous symbol of Hiroshima. On Day 11, take a trip to Miyajima Island, perhaps best known for the floating torii gateway to the Itsukushima Shrine, stunningly reflected in Hiroshima Bay. This is one of the most photographed spots in all of Japan. On your afternoon excursion, journey to the Shukkeien Garden and the Hiroshima Castle. This evening say goodbye to your fellow travelers at a farewell cocktail and dinner party.
Rihga Royal Hotel, Hiroshima

DAY 12

You will be taken to the airport in Hiroshima to depart for your home city or to your next destination.

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