Take a flight to Osaka, Japan

• Arrival in Osaka

• Meet your English-speaking assistant and transfer to a local restaurant

• Lunch

• Transfer to your hotel (check-in available from 3:00 PM)

• Free time to rest after check-in

• Transfer to the lively Dotonbori district, Osaka’s traditional entertainment hub. This vibrant area is home to the National Bunraku Theatre, numerous cinemas, and an endless variety of restaurants where you can sample the city’s famous local cuisine. At night, Dotonbori comes alive under a dazzling canopy of neon signs, including the iconic Glico running man billboard that has become a symbol of Osaka.

• Dinner at a local restaurant

• One hour of free time after dinner in the district and along the riverside

• Meet at the designated parking spot with your guide for transfer back to the hotel

• Overnight at the hotel

INCLUDED:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Departure for Nara (approx. 50 minutes by road)- Former capital of Japan; Surrounded by wooded hills, temples, and beautiful parks

• Visit Todaiji Temple with the Great Buddha- Todaiji Temple is the largest wooden building in the world and home to the Great Buddha, the largest statue of Buddha ever built. Located in Nara Park near the expansive Kofuku-ji temple complex with its five-story pagoda, Todaiji has been a spiritual and cultural landmark for centuries. Originally commissioned in 728 by Emperor Shōmu and designed by the monk-architect Rōben, the temple took more than 20 years to complete and was built to enshrine the colossal bronze statue of Daibutsu Birushana.

• Lunch in a local restaurant

• Explore Nara Park (“Deer Park”)- Nara Park, established in 1880, is best known for its freely roaming tame deer, which have become a beloved symbol of the city and are even considered a national treasure. The park is also home to many of Nara’s most important attractions, including the majestic Todaiji Temple, the sacred Kasuga Taisha Shrine, the historic Kofukuji Temple, and the Nara National Museum, which specializes in Buddhist art.

• Visit Kasuga Shrine- Kasuga Shrine, founded in 710—the same year as the city of Nara—served as the tutelary shrine of the powerful Fujiwara clan. It is one of Japan’s major Shinto sites and is renowned for being regularly rebuilt in accordance with ancient purification traditions, similar to the shrines at Ise. Visitors approach through a striking avenue lined with 3,000 stone lanterns, creating a truly atmospheric entrance to this sacred site.

• Hotel check-in

• Dinner (at the hotel or a local restaurant)

• Overnight at the hotel

INCLUDED:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Departure for Mt. Shigi (approx. 50 minutes by road)- Mount Shigi is a magical and sacred mountain, often referred to as a “mini Mt. Koya.” Still largely unknown to tourists, it remains a hidden gem where only monks reside, preserving extraordinary rituals and a deeply spiritual atmosphere. With no automobiles allowed, the mountain offers a rare sense of peace and authenticity, making it a place where tradition and serenity prevail.

• Walk through the sacred site- From one temple to another, along paths and stairways lined with 3,000 lanterns

• Visit Chogosonshi-ji Temple, with beautiful views over the Yamato Plain

• Experience the Kaidan Meguri, a passage in complete darkness meant for reflection

• Lunch in a local restaurant

• Visit the Reiho-kan Museum- The Reiho-kan Museum houses a national treasure: the Illustrated Scrolls of the Legends of Mt. Shigi. This set of three painted and calligraphed scrolls (emaki) tells the story of the temple’s origins and associated legends. Considered one of the oldest surviving examples of emaki, the work is often regarded as an ancestor of modern manga, linking Japan’s artistic past to its contemporary cultural influence.

• Check-in at the monastery (by 5:30 PM)

• Dinner and overnight stay in the monastery- Traditional Japanese-style room; Shared bath and toilets; Evening walk illuminated by the thousands of lanterns lit nightly throughout the temple complex — a truly unique atmosphere
  

INCLUDED:

• Optional morning prayer

• Breakfast at the monastery

• Departure for Osaka (approx. 1 hour by road)- Japan’s third largest city, is the industrial and commercial hub of western Japan. Situated at the mouth of the Yodo River, its network of canals played a vital role in the city’s rise to prosperity. Today, Osaka is a modern, bustling metropolis that continues to thrive while proudly preserving its rich historical heritage.

• Visit Osaka Castle- Once the most important castle in Japan, was originally completed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1586. Although the current main keep was reconstructed in 1931, it still conveys the power and grandeur of the original fortress. Surrounded by massive stone walls and impressive moats, the castle rises five stories on the outside and eight stories within, standing as both a symbol of Osaka’s history and a landmark of resilience.

• Explore the Dotonbori district- Dotonbori is a lively district famous for its food, with countless stalls and small restaurants serving Osaka’s specialties like takoyaki and okonomiyaki.

• Lunch in a local restaurant

• Continue to Kurashiki (approx. 3 hours by road)

• Dinner in a local restaurant

• Overnight at the hotel

INCLUDED:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Visit Kurashiki- A former merchant town from the Edo and Meiji eras, spared from wars and rapid urban development. Its narrow streets are lined with beautifully preserved wooden houses and willow-shaded canals, creating the feeling of stepping back in time. The town’s charming atmosphere is enhanced by a number of small museums, making it a delightful place to explore history and culture.

• Visit the Ohashi family residence (built in 1796)- The Ohashi family residence, designated an Important Cultural Property, is a typical Edo-era house with tatami floors, sliding panels, and a samurai-style courtyard. It reflects the wealth and influence of Kurashiki merchants who prospered through the rice and salt trade.

• Stroll along the canals and explore the Bikan historical quarter- Preserved houses and warehouses, many converted into shops and restaurants

• Departure for Hiroshima (approx. 2h15 by road)

• Lunch en route

• Visit Hiroshima- Hiroshima is a dynamic modern city that also stands as a powerful memorial to the devastation of the atomic bomb on August 6, 1945. At the heart of its Peace Memorial complex, designed by architect Kenzō Tange, are the Peace Memorial Museum, the Cenotaph inscribed with “Rest in peace, for the error shall not be repeated,” and the Eternal Flame, symbolizing hope for peace.

• Visit the Peace Memorial Park (Heiwa Kinen Kōen)

• See the A-Bomb Dome, UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996

• Continue to Miyajimaguchi (approx. 30 minutes)

• Kaiseki dinner at a local restaurant

• Overnight at the hotel

INCLUDED:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Ferry crossing to Miyajima Island (10 minutes)- Miyajima, located in the Seto Inland Sea in Hiroshima Prefecture, covers 30.4 km² and is easily reached by ferry from Hiroshima. Considered a sacred island in Shintoism, it is unique in that no one is allowed to be born or buried there.

• Walking visit of Itsukushima Shrine- established in 591 at the foot of Mount Misen, has been restored many times and is dedicated to the three daughters of Susanoo from Shinto mythology. Highlights include the striking vermillion Sori Bashi bridge, the Asaza-ya Meditation Hall with dance costumes, Japan’s oldest Noh theater stage from 1590, and the Treasure Hall housing offerings to the shrine.

• See the Great Floating Torii Gate (Ōtorii)- The Great Torii Gate, the symbol of Miyajima, is painted in bright vermillion and built from camphor wood. Standing nearly 17 meters tall with massive pillars 10 meters around, it appears firmly anchored yet rests only on its own weight in the sand. Located 200 meters offshore, it can even be reached on foot at low tide.

• Lunch of Okonomiyaki (local specialty) in a restaurant

• Transfer to Hiroshima Station

• Take the Shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto (direct, approx. 1h45)

• Arrival in Kyoto- Japan’s cultural and historical capital for over a thousand years, is a UNESCO World Heritage city home to more than 2,000 temples. Long considered the cradle of Japanese art, culture, religion, and philosophy, it remains one of the country’s most treasured destinations.

• Transfer by public transport to the hotel and check-in

• Dinner in a local restaurant

• Overnight at the hotel

INCLUDED:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Meet your guide at 9:00 AM in the hotel lobby for a full day of visits by coach

• Kyoto sightseeing:

  • Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)- Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, was built in 1397 by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu as a villa and later converted into a Zen temple. Its design blends Samurai and Buddhist culture with Japanese, Chinese, and Indian influences.

  • Ryōan-ji Zen Garden- The Ryōan-ji Zen Garden is a famous rock and sand garden where 15 stones are arranged so that only 14 can be seen at once from any viewpoint.

  • Nishiki Market- Nishiki Market, a covered shopping street in central Kyoto, is filled with stalls offering fresh and dried fish, pickled vegetables, seaweed, teas, sweets, and other traditional foods. Lively and colorful, it’s an ideal place to stroll and explore, even on a rainy day.

• Afternoon visits:

  • Kiyomizu-dera Temple

  • Tea ceremony experience

  • Stroll through Gion, Kyoto’s geisha district

  • Explore preserved streets of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka

• Dinner in a local restaurant

• Overnight at the hotel

INCLUDED:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Meet your English-speaking guide in the hotel lobby

• Departure for Hakone

• Board the Shinkansen bullet train to Odawara (direct / approx. 2 hours)

• Continue by coach upon arrival in Odawara

• Lunch in a local restaurant

• Visit the Hakone Open-Air Museum (Chokoku-no-Mori)

• Explore Hakone National Park- Known for its hot springs, volcanoes, small lakes, and lush forests

• Cruise on Lake Ashi- One of Mount Fuji’s scenic lakes

• Visit Hakone Checkpoint (Hakone Sekisho)-Former shogunate-era barrier and checkpoint

• Stroll along the historic Cedar Avenue, part of the old Tokaido Road once used by daimyos during the shogunate era

• Check-in at the ryokan

• Dinner and overnight stay at the ryokan
  

INCLUDED:

• Breakfast at the ryokan

• Departure for Tokyo by coach (approx. 2 hours)

• Discover Tokyo- Formerly known as Edo until 1868 when Emperor Meiji moved the capital and renamed it the “Eastern Capital,” is now Japan’s largest city, spanning nearly 600 km². With a metropolitan population of about 50 million, it is one of the most populated areas in the world. Rebuilt twice—after the 1923 earthquake and again following World War II—Tokyo is a city of striking contrasts, where diverse neighborhoods and constant energy make it both dynamic and endlessly fascinating

• Visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (Shinjuku skyscraper district)-Ascend to the twin towers for panoramic views of the entire city

• Lunch in a local restaurant

• Visit Meiji Jingu Shrine- the largest Shinto shrine in Japan, is located in central Tokyo and dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. It symbolizes the nation’s transition from isolation to modernization.

• Explore Tokyo neighborhoods- Harajuku & Takeshita Street; Shibuya

• Hotel check-in

• Dinner in a local restaurant

• Overnight at the hotel

INCLUDED:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Departure by private coach

• Visit the Ueno District

• Visit the Tokyo National Museum- Collections include:

  • Fine Japanese kimonos

  • Samurai armor

  • Traditional prints

  • Ancient swords

• Asakusa District

• Walk along Nakamise-dori arcade, lined with traditional shops

• Visit Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo’s most famous temple dedicated to Kannon, the goddess of mercy

• Lunch in a local restaurant

• Visit the Odaiba District- A futuristic area built on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay. Today, Odaiba is a hub of cutting-edge architecture and entertainment

• Transfer to the airport

• Dinner on your own

• Check-in and departure flight

• Overnight and services on board

INCLUDED:

Arrive back to US