Discovery of Japan

First thing in the morning, you will meet your guide at the reception. Then, you will have a two-hour drive to the Nikko National Park – a place that, as its name suggests in Japanese, means sunshine. Since the temple with the great Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu's tomb was built here in the 17th century, Nikko has been synonymous with splendor and grace. The red Shinkyo Bridge, which could only be crossed by representatives of the Shogun or Emperor, was constructed on the spot where the founder of Nillo's first temple, the Buddhist monk Shodo, crossed a stormy mountain stream on the backs of two gigantic snakes. At least, this is what the local legend says. The famous Hall of Three Buddhas in the Rinnoji Temple has a unique composition of three statues: Buddha Amida, the Goddess of Mercy Kannon, and the thousand-armed Kannon. Just behind the temple, there is a classic Japanese Shoyo-en landscape garden. Nearby is the sacred stable with a world-famous bas-relief of three wise monkeys, whose poses say: "I see no evil, I hear no evil, I speak no evil." The Great Hall of the main shrine, Honden, contains the deified spirits of the three great shoguns of Japan: Ieyasu Tokugawa, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, and Yoritomo Minamoto. Those who wish to worship it can climb 200 stone steps to the bronze Hodo Pagoda, where Ieyasu's ashes are buried. Climbing along the mountain track, you will see the cascade of Kagon waterfalls.

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. Then, you will enjoy your lunch.

Moving to Fujisawa, the island of the samurai, on the top of the hill, you will see a sanctuary of the dragon of the seas, revered as the deity of loyalty and devotion. You will then visit the Cape of Love, where all lovers strive to strengthen their feelings. Iwaya Cave was carved out by water and served as a natural shelter during the samurai wars. After the tour is completed, you will come back to your hotel.

In the morning, you will meet your guide at the reception. Then you will take a ride to the footsteps of the sacred Mt. Fuji, or Fuji-san. As you reach the 5th station, located at 2,300 meters, the Fuji Subaru Line road will lead you to the Shinto shrine Sengen, dedicated to Princess Konohanasakuya. According to local legend, the spirit of the greatest mountain in Japan lives there. In the same area, you will find the Kachi-Kachi Ropeway, which leads to nearby Mt. Tenzo. From the observation deck, you can enjoy the magnificent view of Mt. Fuji and the whole Five Lakes region. You can visit one of the volcanic caves, each with unusual names like Bat Cave, Ice Cave, and Narusawa Wind Cave. After that, you can visit Yasino Sato village, an open-air museum. There, you can get acquainted with the culture and lifestyle of ancient Japan: take part in a tea ceremony, and try on an authentic kimono or samurai armor. You will transfer to Fuji-Q Highland then. The park is located in the Mount Fuji area. There are several unique attractions here: for example, the 80 meters high Fuji-Q roller coaster that accelerates to 130 km/h, Dodompa is 52 meters high, it accelerates up to 172 km/h. Finally, the Takabisha roller coaster is over 1000 meters long with seven turns, the falling angle of 121 degrees, measured from a height of 43 meters. You can also visit the Cave of Fear,it is inhabited by ghosts, monsters, and criminals. Another, brighter option, is Thomas Land, an amusement park for kids. You will transfer to the hotel after the day trip.

First thing in the morning, you'll meet your guide at the reception. The picturesque Ashinoko SkyLine mountain road has stunning views of the surrounding landscapes. Then, you will move to the park; inside it is the museum of the imperial artifacts, plus an observation deck with the best views of Mt. Fuji. You can also cruise along the mountain lake Asi on a pirate ship. gigantic cryptomerias surround the beautiful Hakone Temple, located near the lake. The temple, built in 757, is magnificent any time of the year. Then, the mountain road will lead you to the footsteps of the sacred mountain Kami Yama. You can also try tasting eggs boiled in hot spring water in the nearby Owakudani Valley. According to local legend, each egg eaten extends life by seven years! Finally, you can relax and enjoy yourself at the Yunessun hot springs resort. You can try up to 25 hot spring open baths, known as rotenburo, such as green tea, sake, coffee, cypress, charcoal with dead sea water onsen, and many more. There's also a spa resort that also uses hot spring water. You will have a ride to the hotel after the excursion.

You will enjoy a two-day trip to Kyoto, dining at the city's best venues.

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 1001 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: its fifteen stones seem to be randomly scattered on the white gravel, but from any point only fourteen are visible...

You will get to your ryokan, a traditional inn, for a gourmet dinner, kaiyseki-ryory style, which is Japanese haute cuisine.  

The second day will start with visiting the Silver Pavilion, Ginkaku-ji. The temple is another architectural masterpiece. Ginkaku-ji is gracefully reflected in the adjacent lake, making it a classic Kyoto view...

Then, 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.

…the mood that arises during a stay in this amazing city was accurately expressed by Yasunari Kawabata, a Japanese writer and Nobel Prize winner:

“It’s drizzling outside... Kyoto...
I sit by the window and listen to the soothing sound of the rain.
It is here... with a slight sadness,
I feel that indescribable feeling of peace inherent in old Japan.”

A night in Kyoto.You will come back to your ryokan after that.

The city is very close to Kyoto, just half an hour away. During its foundation, several majestic temples have been built here. For example, the Todaiji Temple, which was completed in 725. This is one the greatest wooden structures on Earth. Todaiji now is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This temple is dedicated to the Buddha of Infinite Light incarnation, embodied in the sun. Inside, there is a gigantic bronze Buddha statue, the largest in Japan.

In the 5th century AD, Japan borrowed a lot from China and Korea in terms of civilizational development. Religion was one of these gifts from Asia's mainland. Japanese have also borrowed writing, architecture, and even urban planning that dominated the Chinese Tang Dynasty style back then. This is why Nara, as Japan's first permanent capital, was built on the model of Changyan, the capital of China at the time.

Near Todaiji, another Buddhist temple, Kofukuji, is located; it was built in the 7th century. Its pagoda, Goju-no-to, is one of the tallest in the country. This "skyscraper from the past" is 55-meter-high! The Goju-no-Pagoda is the most famous graphic symbol of Nara.

Thanks to Nara's compact site, people usually come here for just a day, which is enough to see all the sights. Of course, the Kasuga Taisha Shinto Shrine is also worth your attention. At the entrance to the temple, there is a wisteria tree, whose age is estimated to be 800 years! Inside, on the temple grounds, is a Japanese cedar tree, which is around ten centuries old! All year round, the temples in Nara host various Buddhist and Shinto religious festivals.

After the excursion, you will have a ride to your Osaka hotel.

You will meet your guide at your hotel in Osaka around 9 am.

Osaka is the Kansai region’s main city, a true metropolis. The city is the industrial and commercial heart of the whole Western Japan. Osaka has been playing a major role in Japan’s history even since it was founded. Osaka’s most famous landmark, a city that rivals Tokyo, is Osaka-jo, or the Osaka Castle. It is a majestic eighth-floor structure, three of which are underground. The castle was erected in 1586 as a Shogun Toytomi Hedeyoshi’s stronghold, and the main castle of Japan of the time. In the lower floors there is a museum, exposing a medieval collection of armor, artifacts, and documents.

The next part of the trip will be visiting Osaka downtown. You will check out the famous Umeda Sky skyscraper, with its Sky Gardens observation deck located on the roof. Its unique architecture resembles hanging gardens. A must have for any Osaka tour is walking down the legendary Dotonbori Street, the local “Broadway”. This central street of the city is famous for its exquisite restaurants and boutiques, representing world's leading fashion brands.

At the end of the tour, you will move to the hotel.

Today, you will visit Hiroshima, a surprisingly beautiful city with great local seafood. After arriving in Hiroshima from Osaka by Shinkansen, you will take a rest at your hotel. In the afternoon, after lunch, you can pay tribute to the victims of the nuclear bombing at the A-Bomb Dome. It is the only building that survived the bombing in 1945 in Hiroshima. The building is located in the Peace Park Memorial Park, the epicenter of the strike. You will also visit the Hiroshima Peace Park Museum; it collects artifacts from the bombing and reminds people of Hiroshima's wish for world peace. You will come back to your hotel.

The second Hiroshima trip day will be devoted to visiting the island of Miyajima, known for its fascinating Itsukushima Shrine, or floating torii gate, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. High tide makes the torii gates look like it is floating in the water, a fantastic view! It is considered one of Japan’s three most beautiful sights. Yet, there’s more than this: Miyajima is famous for its momiji manju (maple leaf-shaped cake with red beans) and delicious oysters. You can enjoy these delicacies while staying on the island. After the Hiroshima two-day tour is finished, you will travel back to Tokyo by Shinkanse to rest at your hotel by night.

Enjoy your free day in Tokyo!

Breakfast in the hotel and check out. Your dirvier will take you to Narita airport. Departure from Japan.