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This Japan round trip takes you to the metropolises Tokyo and Osaka, as well as the cultural center Kyoto. You will discover tea plantations and bamboo forests; Japan's largest lake, the Japanese Alps and the sacred Mount Fuji.
You will discover Japan by bus, train and of course the Shinkansen accompanied by a English speaking tour guide.
Highlights:
Detailed prices on request
The Dotonbori nightlife district in Osaka
After overnight flight arrival at Osaka airport (KIX) welcome by your tour guide. After check-in at the centrally located hotel, your guide will take you on a tour of the famous Dotonbori Canal nightlife district. Enjoy a Japanese welcome dinner to get acquainted.
Himeji Castle Complex
The Shinkansen takes you to Himeji, 120 kilometers away, in less than 45 minutes. Here you will visit the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Himeji Castle complex, which has received the nickname "Silver Heron" due to its white exposed mortar. In addition to the interior of the castle tower, which is still original from the 17th century, explore the numerous outbuildings and get intoxicated by the pink blossoms of hundreds of cherry trees during spring ester mines. The castle complex also includes the Kokoen walking garden, from which you can enjoy picturesque views of the castle keep. In the afternoon, we travel by Shinkansen and train to the cosmopolitan port city of Kobe, also known for its world-famous Kobe beef. We will visit the modern city center as well as the Chinatown district of Nankinmachi. The district offers a fascinating mix of Chinese and Japanese culture and also offers a colorful culinary mix of the two cultures. Of course, you'll also have the opportunity to sample the world-famous Kobe beef. This marbled, tender and flavorful beef comes from locally bred and raised Tajima cattle and is an international treat among gourmets.
The deer in Nara are considered sacred.
Today you will head to the cradle of Japanese culture, the small town of Nara. Among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, you will visit the largest wooden building in the world, the Todaiji Temple, which also houses the largest cast bronze in the world, and the "Golden Hall" of the Kofukuji Temple, which was rebuilt by 2018 and also impresses with its five-story pagoda from the 15th century. But the city is not only known for its shrines. Tame dwarf deer sometimes roam the city in packs and can also be fed. But beware. If the deer smell that you have the locally sold "deer cookies" with you, it can come to funny scenes with snapping and pinching deer.
Miho Museum, unique art museum
By coach you set off for the mountains east of Kyoto and visit one of Japan's great architectural highlights of all: the Miho Museum by architect Ieoh Ming-Pei. The house, which was opened in 1997 and for which an entire mountain was cleared away, lies like the mystical place Shangri-La in the midst of gently rolling forest hills and houses the rich art collection of the Miho family. In addition to the exquisite exhibits, the main attraction of this visit is the exceptionally designed museum building itself, which is flooded with natural light and can only be entered through a specially constructed tunnel with an adjoining suspension bridge.
The golden pavilion Kinkakuji.
Today, the ancient imperial capital of Japan is waiting to be discovered by you. Founded as early as the end of the 8th century, Kyoto is by far the most historically interesting city in Japan with the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan, having suffered little damage even during World War II. You'll start with arguably Japan's most famous shrine: the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Kinkakuji Golden Temple. Covered in more than 20 kilos of gold, this three-story pavilion dates back to a temple foundation in the 14th century and, with its garden, is considered the epitome of classical Japanese aesthetics. Through Kyoto's large city garden, we now head to the old Gosho Imperial Palace. Most of the buildings, the throne hall and the beautiful gardens were rebuilt in the 19th century and the grandfather of the current emperor, Hirohito, spent his youth here. Afterwards, relax with a traditional Kyoto tea ceremony.
The bamboo forest of Arashiyama
Today your tour guide will accompany you to a very special cultural experience. In the more than 150 year old city villa "Tondaya" you have the opportunity to once again lend a hand yourself. You have the choice whether to take part in a course for Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging, with competent Japanese guidance or to learn how to create Japanese calligraphy with ink, brush and Japanese paper. Whichever option you choose, enjoy the view of the ancient Japanese indoor garden and experience the kimono-clad ladies who will assist you with flower arranging and painting.
In the afternoon we will go to one of Japan's great sights: the Sagano Bamboo Forest of Arashiyama. As early as the 14th century, Japan's aristocrats enjoyed idling in the shade of the bamboo grove, which today, like all the mountains around Kyoto, is under strict protection.
Directly at the foot of the Hein is the extensive area of Tenryuji Temple with its numerous individual gardens and scattered temple buildings. As part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the complex has existed since the 14th century and, as one of Japan's great Zen temples with its finely raked gravel gardens, invites visitors to meditate and contemplate on this wonderful journey.
Ōmihachiman, historically preserved trading town
Today is entirely dedicated to Japan's largest and oldest lake and its historic towns. You will stop at the medieval town of Omihachiman. After a short cable car ride to the town's Buddhist shrine, enjoy a good view of Japan's largest inland lake, Lake Biwa. It's past the town's Shinto shrine for a stroll along the picturesque old town canal. You will also visit one of the town's many revitalization projects and talk with an expert about sustainable promotion and marketing of local products of rural areas. In Omihachiman, numerous young Japanese have renovated houses threatened by decay and demolition and converted them for modern use, fighting the effects of demographic change that affects almost all rural regions of Japan. In the afternoon, you will drive to the landmark of Lake Biwa, the red shrine gate (torii) of Shirahige Shrine standing in the water. You will also visit one of the most beautiful pine beaches of Lake Biwa. In the early evening, continue to the historic town of Nagahama on the north shore of the lake. Evening stroll through the medieval town center with its restaurants and bars.
The Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa
By express train in the morning you will visit the old samurai city of Kanazawa, where history and present impressively meet. You will first visit one of the most magnificent classical gardens in Japan, which is also counted among the three most beautiful in the country: the Kenrokuen Walking Garden. Situated on a plateau in the middle of the city, this garden complex, which has been constantly expanded since the 1620s, offers indescribably beautiful vistas at any time of year, with Japanese women dressed in kimonos posing for photos.
Zen Meditation
In the morning you will take the Shinkansen to the alpine city of Nagano. You will visit the pilgrimage temple Zenkoji, the main sanctuary of the city, where according to legend the oldest Buddha statue in Japan is kept, which came to the land of the rising sun in the 6th century by Korean monks. Afterwards, you will settle into a traditional temple hostel and be introduced to Zen meditation by the monks and accompanied by your tour guide. In the evening you will also taste the traditional temple cuisine and stay overnight in your temple hostel. You will have the opportunity to participate in a Buddhist prayer ceremony in the early morning.
Bathing Japan macaques in Jigokudani
The highlight of this day awaits you today in the depths of the forests of Nakano: the Jigokudani Monkey Park. The wild Japanese macaque packs that live here gather daily to warm up in the hot spring pools preserved here in cold weather. Who hasn't seen the photos of the bathing monkeys relaxing in the hot spring pool even in heavy snowfall. On the way to the sacred Mount Fuji, you will then make a stop in the charming town of Matsumoto. You will visit the first castle complex on this trip and the characteristic black castle tower. Because of the color it is nicknamed "Crow Castle", is one of the oldest in Japan and takes us back to the time of the samurai and feudal lords. In Matsumoto, traditional puppet and figure making for house shrines and festival structures is also practiced, which you will enjoy on a tour of the picturesque old town streets. In the afternoon, you will continue to Fuji Hakone National Park. At the end of a long staircase, you will visit the Chureito Pagoda, located on a hill, and enjoy a perfect view of Japan's holiest mountain: Mount Fuji, weather permitting. With its 3,776 meters, this is also the highest mountain in Japan and still an active volcano, which can also be seen in its distinctive and almost perfect cone shape. After a walk to nearby Lake Kawaguchi, one of the five major Fuji lakes, we check in at our accommodation today, which has its own hot spring (onsen). Take the opportunity for an extensive bath and let the impressions of the last days pass in review.
The traditional Asakusa district in Tokyo.
By coach in the morning we will go to the capital and metropolis of Japan: Tokyo! In an almost enchanted forest of ancient trees is the city's most important Shinto shrine: the Meiji Shrine. Completed in 1921, this shrine houses the divine souls of the Meiji Emperor and his consort. The Meiji Emperor is worshipped here as the God of Scholarship, which is why students like to pray here for passing exams. Just outside the garden is the crazy fashion district of Harajuku with the screamingly colorful shopping street Takeshitadori. From here, you'll continue your journey to visit the newly restored Tokyo Central Station, modeled after the brick building of Amsterdam's Central Station in the late 19th century. Even the emperor uses this station regularly. Therefore, there is an extra entrance for him and the family. Speaking of the emperor's family, how about a visit to the palace grounds not far from the station? Like soldiers, artfully trimmed pine trees stand distributed around the palace grounds on perfectly manicured lawns. This is where the imperial family lives in seclusion, shielded from the public eye. From here, you can continue on foot to the luxurious shopping area of the Ginza. In addition to all the Western luxury brands, it is worth visiting the large department stores here to observe exactly what the Japanese enjoy most: shopping. You always wanted to buy white albino strawberries and melons for the equivalent of more than 100 euros? No problem at all at Takashimaya supermarket! In the late afternoon, the last highlight of the day awaits us: a visit to the hyper-modern multimedia light installations by the Teamlab artist collective at TeamLab Planetes on the artificially raised island of Odaiba. Look forward to a truly poetic and multi-sensory experience and a completely new look at modern media art.
The night view from Shibuya Scramble skyscraper
Today you will continue your contrasting adventure tour of Tokyo, starting in the neighborhood of Asakusa with a visit to a sumo training facility. The mythical roots of this now world-famous sport date back more than 1,500 years. Supposedly, the god Takemikazuchi once defeated his opponent in wrestling and thus conquered a part of Japan. For a long time, the sport was considered to be purely Japanese, but today it also enjoys great popularity among foreigners, which can also be seen in the nationalities of the professional sumo wrestlers.
Return journey
Airport transfer from the hotel and farewell to your tour guide. Sayonnara!
Kaiserdamm 105, 14057 Berlin
Takanoha Square 5th floor, 331 Kamiyanagicho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8099 Japan
ジェイナビゲーター合同会社
〒600-8099 京都府京都市下京区上柳町331 タカノハスク エア５階
