Arrive in Toyko and take a taxi to our hotel, The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Tokyo Shiodome. 

Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure and battle jetlag.

Later, meet the group for a welcome briefing and drink in the hotel bar (included).

Overnight The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Tokyo Shiodome

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, we’ll head to Meiji-jingu Shrine, Tokyo’s most famous Shinto shrine, and it is located in Shibuya city. The shrine is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji (hence the name), and his wife Empress Shōken. But the shrine doesn’t contain the grave of the emperor – that is located south of Kyoto, at Fushimi-momoyama.

This Tokyo shrine is particularly popular for its surroundings – it is surrounded by forest, in the middle of this busy city. Even the path to the shrine is lined with trees and gorgeous nature. 

Later, we’ll hit the streets of Harajuku for some of the best shopping in the world. From thrift store to luxury boutiques, there is something for everyone. 

Gwen Stefani made Harajuku a household name with her controversial hit Harajuku Girls and subsequent clothing ranges, but the birthplace of this playful fashion centers on a shopping street in the heart of the neighborhood. Takeshita-dori (Takeshita Street) runs past Harajuku Station and through Meiji-dori, and is a crossroads for street-style culture. Along the pedestrian-only road, shops specialize in unique clothing, such as punk fashion or costumes, as well as jewelry and fun patterned socks. Look out, too, for the trendy street food stalls such as the giant rainbow cotton candy from Totti Candy Factory. The whole scene gets pretty crowded on weekends, but it is still well worth visiting for the people-watching alone.

Later, we’ll head to Shinjuku for a few fashion shows and to explore the famous piss alley.

Overnight: The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Tokyo Shiodome

Meals included: Breakfast

teamLab Borderless is a world of art without boundaries, a museum without a map.

teamLab is a group of artworks that form one borderless world. Artworks move out of rooms, communicate with other works, influence, and sometimes intermingle with each other with no boundaries. 

Immerse your body in borderless art in this vast, complex, three-dimensional 10,000 square meter world. Wander, explore with intention, discover, and create a new world with others.

This afternoon, we’ll explore Tokyo’s top fashion. Shows will be added closer to the date.

Evening at leisure.

Overnight: The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Tokyo Shiodome

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, we’ll visit Sensō-ji Buddhist Temple. 

Located in the historic Asakusa neighborhood, directly beside the famous Asakusa Shrine, Sensō-ji is the oldest and most visited temple in the city with visitors coming from both Japan and abroad. The path to the temple is lined with stalls, small shops and vendors selling traditional wares and snacks and is an area popular among tourists looking to dress up in kimono. The grounds of the Buddhist temple are also home to Chingo-dō, the Tanuki Temple. Tanukis are Japanese raccoon dogs thought to bring good luck and protect homes and businesses from fire and theft.

You’ll have free time for lunch and some shopping time on Nakamise Shopping Street.

Lining the approach to must-see Sensoji Temple is – perhaps surprisingly – one of the oldest shopping centres in Japan, Nakamise Shopping Street. From 1688 to 1735, special permission was granted for locals to open shops in thoroughfares surrounding the temple, in service to its visitors. Today, picture-perfect Nakamise Shopping Street – lined with red chochin lanterns – has around 90 shops, some dating as far back as the traditional Edo era (1603–1867), that sell various keepsakes. You’ll find everything from fridge magnets to typical maneki-neko cat sculptures, but look out for some good bargains on clothes and shoes, too. It’s also a great place to buy traditional snacks and dishes, particularly those that are popular during festivals.

Later this afternoon, we’ll explore Tokyo’s top fashion.  Shows will be added closer to the date.

Overnight: The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Tokyo Shiodome
 

Meals included: Breakfast

We’ll start our morning with a visit to the Toyosu Fish Market.

Toyosu Fish Market, to the south of central Tokyo station, is the largest seafood market in the city, with fresh fish on sale for a reasonable price. It was previously located in the city’s most famous market, Tsukiji, and the quality and range of fish on offer is just as exemplary in the market’s new spot in the Toyosu area of Kōtō ward. You don’t need to be buying anything to visit, because it’s simply an unmissable eye-opener. 

Lunch at leisure.

We’ll fill the rest of our time today with Tokyo Fashion Week festivities. Shows will be added closer to the date.

Overnight: The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Tokyo Shiodome

Meals included: Breakfast

Depart Tokyo for the USA or go to Kyoto and extend your trip.

Extend your tour and explore the best of Japanese culture on our Kyoto extension. You’ll learn about Buddhism, visit the UNESCO World Heritage shrines and temples and catch a glimpse of a Geisha.

Day 7: Friday, March 17, 2023 – Depart Tokyo to Kyoto by high-speed bullet train

Meals included: Breakfast

Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Overnight Kyomachiya Ryokan Sakura Urushitei

Day 8: Saturday, March 18, 2023 – The Cultural Emersion Tour

Meals included: Breakfast

Visiting temples and shrines is a must-do when traveling in Kyoto. There are over 1,500 of them in Kyoto. Today we’ll meet with our local guide, Kenji, and visit Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkakuji (or the Golden Pagoda), and Nanzenji Zen Garden. We’ll also take a stroll through Gion and learn about the lives of Japanese Geishas.

Overnight Kyomachiya Ryokan Sakura Urushitei

Day 9: Sunday, March 19, 2023 – Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine and a traditional Japanese dinner 

Meals included: Breakfast

Fushimi Inari Shrine (伏見稲荷大社, Fushimi Inari Taisha) is an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion 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 Shrine has ancient origins, predating the capital's move to Kyoto in 794.

We’ll spend most of our day climbing to the top of the Inari Mountain and exploring the thousands of temples and shrines on property.

Tonight, we’ll have one last meal together. It will be a traditional Japanese style meal.

Overnight Kyomachiya Ryokan Sakura Urushitei

Day 10: Monday, March 20, 2023 – Kyoto – USA

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, head to the Kyoto airport for your flight back to the USA.