Day One & Two
Fly to Tokyo, Japan from LAX non-stop. Arrive in the late afternoon and rest in your hotel.

Day Three
Transfer by private coach to the Meiji Jingu. Your first stop will be at Meiji Jingu, Tokyo’s most famous Shinto shrine dedicated to the spirit of the late Emperor Meiji. The park that surrounds the shrine has around 120,000 trees, making you forget that just outside the shrine grounds are two of the city’s popular shopping districts, Harajuku and Omotesando.

 

Right next to Meiji Jingu is Takeshita Street, a 400-meter long alley filled with boutiques, shops, and cafes. Neighboring Harajuku is Omotesando, commonly referred to as Tokyo’s Champs-Elysee. This broad, tree-lined avenue features a number of fashion flagship stores designed by internationally renowned architects like TOD’s Omotesando, designed by Toyo Ito.

Next, you will visit the iconic Senso-ji, which burned during World War II and was later rebuilt. The streets around Senso-ji feature many traditional shops that sell Japanese crafts and souvenirs and are a delight to wander through, and Nakamise Street connects the main gate of Senso-ji temple (Kaminarimon gate) and the main hall. 

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Finally, you visit Hamarikyu Gardens is a perfect example of a Japanese-style garden that has its origins back in the Edo period when it served as a private villa of a powerful feudal lord. Its wide collection of seasonal flowers makes it one of the most visited gardens in Tokyo but what makes it more attractive is the teahouse called Nakajima-no-Chaya, which serves freshly made green tea and offers lovely views of the surrounding pond and greenery.

Day Four

Dubbed the most-visited single artist museum in the world, you will enjoy the modern TeamLabs Borderless museum! Opened in early 2024, this jaw-dropping museum has no routes. Wander through museum at your own pace, discover rooms with stunning artwork that changes throughout the day. 

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Next, you are off to Shibuya Crossing, the busiest intersection in the world where 2.4 million people cross daily! 

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Finally, you are off to the 10th tallest observatory in the world, the SkyTree tower. Enjoy magnificent views of the most populated city on earth.

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Day Five

Today is a free day in Tokyo! Join the host at Disneyland Tokyo or DisneySea Tokyo. Or, take a taxi to the Ginza District for some upscale malls and shopping. Take a day trip to Mt. Fuji. The possibilities are endless in one of the cleanest, safest cities on earth!

Day Six
This morning, transfer to the airport to take a short flight to Osaka. This afternoon, you will visit Osaka Castle. It is Osaka's best known sight and the symbol of the city. The construction started in 1583 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s order, however the castle suffered several destructions throughout its history. It was not until 1931 that the present ferro- concrete construction of the castle tower was built. During the war it miraculously survived the city wide air raids. The castle tower is surrounded by secondary citadels, gates, turrets, impressive stone walls and moats. In the evening, you can stroll Osaka’s entertainment district. 

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Day Seven

Today, we will enjoy nearby Kyoto, starting with Arashiyama, the district famous for the vast bamboo grove and the majestic Hozugawa River. Enjoy a morning stroll in the bamboo groves before heading to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tenryu-ji. The most captivating spot inside the temple grounds is the landscaped garden that features a pond surrounded by rocks and pine trees set against the great Arashiyama Mountains. 

Next up is the serene Ryoan-ji, which is famous for its well-maintained rock garden and known to be the Myoshinji School of the Rinzai Buddhist sect. Just a short distance from Ryoan-ji is the stunning golden pavilion collectively known as Kinkaku-ji. The temple grounds are relatively smaller than that of most temples and shrines in Kyoto but what is undoubtedly impressive is the pavilion that is completely covered in handmade gold leaves.

Day Eight
Today is a day trip to nearby Nara where you will visit the Todai-ji Temple. Todai-ji Temple Todai-ji is the landmark of Nara that was built in the 8 th century to serve as the head Buddhist temple in Japan. The most notable part of the temple is the Daibutsu-den, the largest wooden building in the world where you can find a 15-metre tall bronze Buddha. You will also see a number of deer strolling outside the temple or in the nearby Nara Park.

Next, visit the Nara Park (walking distance). Nara Park is a large park in central Nara. Established in 1880, it is the location of many of Nara's main attractions including Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha, Kofukuji and the Nara National Museum. It is also home to hundreds of freely roaming deer. Considered the messengers of the gods, Nara's over 1000 deer have become a symbol of the city and have even been designated as a natural treasure. Deer crackers are for sale around the park, and some deer have learned to bow to visitors to ask to be fed. Nara's deer are surprisingly tame, although they can be aggressive if they think you will feed them, so make sure not to tease them with food.

Day Nine
Transfer by private coach to Osaka station for a day trip to Hiroshima! Take the bullet-train from Kyoto station to Hiroshima station. While on board the bullet train, keep an eye out for Himeji Castle, also known as the ‘White Egret Castle’, and the Seto Ohashi Bridge, the longest two-tiered suspension bridge in the world that stretches 13 kilometers long and links Honshu to Shikoku. First visit will be at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum. The area where the park now lies used to be ground zero after the bombing in 1945. The Memorial Park was built as a commemoration for those who lost their lives in the attack. 

Following the guide, stroll through the park and pass by Genbaku Dome (A- Bomb Dome), the ruins of the former Industrial Promotion Hall of Hiroshima and one of the very few World Heritage Sites that remind us of the negative effects of war. Continue onwards and stop by the Children’s Peace Monument, where the guide will share the story behind it and the thousands of paper crane.

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Next, you will visit Miyajima by ferry. Enjoy views of the spectacular Torri Gate just offshore. 

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Transfer back via bullet train to Osaka.

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Day Ten
Today we visit with a visit to Nijo Castle, an ornamental castle that was originally built to serve as the private villa of a powerful feudal lord. The main building was completed in the early 1600s and has since then been known for its Momoyama-style architecture, decorated sliding doors, and “chirping nightingale” floors. 

 

Finally we end the tour at Fushimi Inari-taisha, one of the most iconic shrines in Japan. Enjoy the famous Torii path with hanging lanterns. 

Day Eleven
Fly from Osaka to LAX with a connection in Tokyo. Thank you for traveling with us, welcome home!