Fly into Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT); flights usually arrive in the late afternoon.

Each individual traveler or family of travelers will have a reservation for a complimentary, private car that will drive them from Narita Airport to our five-star hotel in downtown Tokyo 
(Note: Since Narita Airport is far outside of Tokyo, this drive will take about 70 minutes).

Check into our five-star hotel, The Prince Park Tower Tokyo Hotel.

Meet in the hotel’s top-floor restaurant, Sky Bar & Dining Stellar Garden, for our welcome dinner.

Here you will meet your hosts:

• Mariko Shigeta Schimmel, associate professor and department chair of Chinese and Japanese at Grinnell College

• John Shors, founder of John Shors Travel

• Tracy Lewis, John Shors Travel's in-house tour guide

Meet in the hotel lobby and depart via private vans to enjoy a stroll through the peaceful and large Yoyogi Park. This park features hundreds of now mature trees that were brought here as saplings from all corners of Japan. At Yoyogi Park, we will enter through the Meiji Jingu gate.

After walking into the park and visiting the shrine at its center, we’ll drive to Shibuya, a famous part of Tokyo.

We will briefly stop to watch over the crowd at Shibuya Crossing.

Enjoy lunch at La Coquina Cerveceria, a Spanish restaurant located on the 13th floor of the Shibuya Scramble Square building.

Since this is our first day of the trip, and we’ll go out tonight, we will head back to our hotel to enjoy some free time.

Meet in the hotel lobby and walk to a nearby restaurant, Shimizu, for dinner. The restaurant is located within the Prince Park grounds and a few minutes away by foot. We will enjoy a Japanese course meal.

Meet in the hotel lobby and depart via private vans for a tour of Asakusa Temple complex, which features Senso-ji Temple.

While at Senso-ji Temple, we will learn about and observe many ancient Japanese traditions and rituals.

Head to Azabudai Hills to enjoy lunch at Sawaan Bistro, an upscale Thai restaurant in the Morii building.

Head for the spectacular Tokyo Digital Art Museum, also known as teamLab Borderless. We will have tickets for a 2 p.m. entry. This amazing museum features stunning digital gardens.

Relax for the rest of the day, or continue exploring the area independently.

Enjoy dinner at the hotel's Chinese restaurant, Yomeiden.

Meet in the hotel lobby, with bags, and take taxis to Tokyo Station.

At the station, we will purchase bento boxes to eat on the train for lunch.

If we have a clear day, we’ll get a great view of Mt. Fuji.

Eat a simple box lunch on the Bullet Train. This will be a light lunch.

After about 3 hours, arrive in Kyoto — a city of more than 2,000 temples and shrines.

Meet up with our local guide, and transfer by private cars to our hotel. We will stay at the five-star Hilton Kyoto, a luxury property that opened in 2024 and is located right in the heart of the city. The hotel’s excellent downtown location puts you within walking distance of hundreds of cafés, restaurants, shops, and major attractions, and it’s just steps from the beautiful Kamo River with its scenic walking path.

Upon arrival, we will check into our rooms if available. If rooms are not yet ready, we will leave our luggage at the front desk.

Depart via local train, with our local guide, and enjoy a guided tour of the legendary Fushimi Inari Shrine. Comprising thousands of orange “tori” gates, this shrine goes deep into a lush forest.

Relax for the rest of the day, or continue exploring the area independently.

Enjoy dinner at 7 Embers, located on the first floor of the hotel.

Meet in the lobby and depart via private vans for Arashiyama, a picturesque part of Kyoto.

Enjoy a 30-minute ride through a famous bamboo forest in a traditional Japanese rickshaw.

Afterwards, spend time walking around the area.

Enjoy lunch at Yudofu Sagano, which is famous for its Zen Buddhism food (vegetarian).

After lunch, enjoy the grounds and wonderful garden at Tenryuji Temple, which features one of the city’s most famous rock gardens.

Guests may continue to explore the area (which has great shopping), return to the hotel via taxis for free time, or walk up nearby “Monkey Mountain”.

This is about a 20-minute hike, each way, and at the top of the mountain are many wild monkeys. The summit offers not only views of the monkeys, but a great view of the city.

Relax for the rest of the day, or continue exploring the area independently.

Meet in the hotel lobby and walk to a nearby restaurant, Ganko Sushi, which is a high-end sushi restaurant.

Meet in the hotel lobby and depart for a walking tour of Nishiki Market. This ancient market is still functioning, and offers locals the chance to buy fresh seafood, meats, vegetables, and much more. Guests will enjoy some free time here to do a little shopping (many other goods are available).

Take taxis to head to our lunch at Forni, an upscale Italian restaurant across Nijo Castle.

Head to Nijo Castle and enjoy a guided tour. Nijo Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In Nijo Castle, we will see many of the background sets for the mini-series “Shogun”.

Relax for the rest of the day, or continue exploring the area independently.

Tonight, guests will be on their own for dinner.

Those heading to Hiroshima will meet Koji at the lobby by 8:30 a.m..

Those staying in Kyoto will meet John and Tracy at the lobby by 9:30 a.m..

As tickets for each group is numbered and purchased in advance, switching groups may be difficult.

Meet in the hotel lobby and walk to the nearby Fortune Garden Kyoto, which is one of the city’s best restaurants and is located next to a Zen garden. This restaurant serves French food in addition to Japanese dishes.

Guests may enjoy time in the Zen garden prior to eating.

 Options include:

• Shopping at countless nearby stores

• Taking a walk along the nearby Kamogawa River

• Exploring nearby neighborhoods on foot

• Visit a quiet temple

Leave bags in the lobby.

Today, guests will be on their own for lunch.

We will have private vans and drivers take us from Kyoto to Osaka. This drive will take about one hour.

Check into our five-star hotel, the Swissôtel Nankai Osaka, which is a high-rise hotel that offers amazing views of the city:

Relax for the rest of the day, or continue exploring the area independently.

Meet in the hotel lobby and walk to Dotonbori, one of the most famous pedestrian malls in the world, which is known for its countless street food stalls.

After walking around Dotonbori, and seeing countless food offerings, enjoy dinner at a seafood restaurant. We will be dining at Kani Doraku.

For those with allergies or would prefer to dine elsewhere, a smaller group will be escorted to another restaurant in the area.

Professor Shigeta will be departing this morning.

Meet in the hotel's sushi restaurant to enjoy a sushi-making workshop.

We will learn to make several different kinds of sushi rolls, which we will then eat for lunch.

Meet up with Koji and tour Osaka Castle and the surrounding area.

Relax for the rest of the day, or continue exploring the area independently.

Meet in the hotel lobby and head to the hotel's Chinese restaurant for a farewell dinner. We will be dining at the Empress Room.

There is a high-speed train that departs below our hotel and heads directly to Osaka airport (Kansai International Airport – KIX). A ticket and instructions will be provided for each guest for this train, and groups of guests will be accompanied by John or another guide.