Your Tokyo tour will start with a visit to the historic district of Asakusa with its impressive Sensoji Temple, one of the oldest in the city. Nakamise Street, located just nearby, is the perfect place for buying traditional Japanese souvenirs.
You will then enjoy delicious meals at a kaiten sushi restaurant for lunch as a gastronomical introduction to Japanese culture.
Afterwards, you will head to Nezu Museum, home of a diverse collection of Japanese and Asian pre-modern art. Among over 7,400 works, exhibited in the museum, you will see seven National treasures, 88 Important cultural properties, and 94 Important art objects.
Finally, you will walk the famous Shibuya Crosswalk and get lost in the daily Tokyo crowd! The crosswalk is comparable with the New York City foot traffic as Tokyo resembles it in many ways, still keeping its spirit.
Kamakura is the medieval military capital of Japan. It was founded by Minamoto Yoritomi, the first shogun of Japan. The era when Kamakura was the capital gave its name to the historical period of the same name in the history of Japan.
After meeting the guide at the reception, you will start your excursion to Kamakura, the ancient military capital of Japan. The city is located on the Pacific coast and surrounded by picturesque mountains, making it an impregnable fortress for enemies. You will see the Shinto shrine Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, which is dedicated to the god of war. Then, you will walk the famous Wakamiya Oji road, which splits the city and leads to the shrine. The road runs between two ponds: one is called "Genji," which means life, and another is "Heike," which means death.
The next spot, the Kotoku family temple, includes the Great Bronze Buddha Daibutsu, which is 13.5 meters high. The shrine was created in 1252 and survived severe fires, powerful earthquakes, and tsunamis. Then, you will see the three-level Hasedera temple. On top of a sacred hill is the famous gilded sculpture of the eleven-faced goddess Kannon, the tallest wooden sculpture in Japan, 9.5 meters high. Buddhist monks carved The sculpture from a single trunk of a camphor tree. You will get back to your Tokyo hotel after the tour is finished.
4 day
Tour of Kyoto
06:30-08:00
Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
08:10
Meeting with the guide at the hotel reception and transfer to Tokyo station.
09:00
Travel by high speed train to Kyoto.
11:30
Arrival in Kyoto, meeting with the guide at the train carriage.
Upon arriving at Kyoto Station by bullet train, you will enjoy a day trip with a lunch at a traditional Japanese restaurant.
Kyoto is the ancient imperial capital of Japan, one of the oldest cities in the country, the entire historical part of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kyoto was founded in the 8th century and served as the Imperial residence for almost twelve centuries. Among its numerous temples and sacred sites in Kyoto, one can highlight the Sanjusan-gendo temple, built back in 1164. Even today, it is the longest wooden structure in the world. In the long central hall, in the twilight, there are 1,001 statues of the goddess Kannon the Merciful. You will have a lunch break then at a traditional Japanese restaurant.
Another Kyoto gem is the Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion, an elegant three-level temple with its roof covered with thin sheets of gold. The building is also topped with a traditional bronze phoenix. The temple is located in a magnificent garden from the Muromachi period. Nearby is the world-famous Zen rock garden of Ryoanji: fifteen stones seem to be randomly scattered on the white gravel, but from any point only fourteen are visible...
The Silver Pavilion, Ginkaku-ji, is another architectural masterpiece. The temple is gracefully reflected in the adjacent lake, making it a classic Kyoto view... Finally, you will walk down the open veranda of Kiyomizudera, or the Temple of Pure Water. You will enjoy a stunning Kyoto panoramic view. The local legend says that if you take three sips from the adjacent spring, your wish will come true! You will wrap up your Kyoto’s experience by visiting the legendary Geisha Gion quarter, which has been a center of entertainment since ancient times. You will come back to your hotel after that.