Best of Japan in 23 Days
23 Days/21 Nights
Interested in the ultimate Japan? This is it! You'll visit all the same great cities and destinations of our "Best of Japan in 16 Days" tour, plus much, much more. If you have the extra time, and you don't want to miss anything in Japan, we can't wait to show you the best that Japan has to offer.
Destinations:
Tokyo, Nikko, Sendai, Matsushima, Matsumoto, Tsumago, Kamikochi, Takayama, Koya-san, Osaka, Himeji, Takamatsu, Beppu, Aso-san, Nagasaki, Miyajima Island, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Nara
Japan's best offers a colorful mix of large cities like Tokyo and Osaka, quaint and traditional Takayama and Tsumago, the ambiance and solitude of Miyajima Island, the ostentatious, over-the-top shrines and temples of Nikko. There's also the religious center of Koya-san, the historical Nagasaki - once the gateway for foreigners to Japan, the natural beauty of Matsushima and Kamikochi, the active volcano of Aso-san, Japan's largest onsen (hot springs resort) of Beppu plus the ancient shrines and temples of Kyoto and Nara, the testament to peace of Hiroshima, and even more than we've listed here!
You'll stay overnight at a mountaintop Buddhist temple, where Buddhist monks will serve you meals of shojin ryori (the traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine), attend prayer services at the temple early the next morning, climb to the top of a samurai castle, participate in a tea ceremony, visit the world's largest fish market, and stroll through farmer's markets. Then picture yourself walking along the rim of an active volcano, visiting an onsen, and hiking along a rushing high mountain stream. Would you like to meet a "maiko" (geisha-in-training) face-to-face, see where the geisha live and work, stay overnight on beautiful and quiet Miyajima Island and enjoy six gourmet Kaiseki-style dinners and one shojin-ryori Buddhist vegetarian meal? All this is included when you sign-up for Japan's best... and much, much more.
Every day you'll enjoy the friendliness, fun and flexibility of small group travel by experiencing sights, Japanese restaurants, and family-run ryokans that are off-limits to larger groups. From start-to-finish, all group transportation, group admission fees, lodging, travel insurance, all breakfasts, eleven lunches, eleven dinners and more are included. All while our tour guide brings Japan alive with exceptional insights.
Best of of Japan in 23 Days Tour Itinerary
Click here for a detailed itinerary.
| Day 01: | Leave for Japan |
| Day 02: | Arrive Tokyo's Narita Airport |
| Day 03: | Tokyo - Tsukiji Fish Market and Tuna Auction, Nakamise-dori, Senso-ji, Tokyo City View, Ginza District, Sumida River Cruise |
| Day 04: | Nikko - Rinno-ji, Tosho-gu, Futarasan-jinja, Taiyuin-byo, travel to Sendai |
| Day 05: | Travel to Matsushima, tour Matsushima, Travel to Matsumoto |
| Day 06: | Matsumoto Castle, Travel to Tsumago, Tour Tsumago, Return to Matsumoto |
| Day 07: | Travel to Kamikochi, free time in Kamikochi, travel to Takayama |
| Day 08: | Takayama morning markets, Takayama-Jinya, San-Machi-Suji District, afternoon free |
| Day 09: | Travel to Koya-san |
| Day 10: | Koya-san/Osaka - Okuno-in Cemetery and Temple, Garan Temple Complex, travel to Osaka |
| Day 11: | Himeji - Travel to Himeji, Himeji Castle, Koko-en Garden, Travel to Takamatsu |
| Day 12: | Takamatsu - Ritsurin Koen, Shikoku-mura Open Air Musuem |
| Day 13: | Travel to Okayama, Korakuen Koen, Travel to Beppu |
| Day 14: | Beppu: Beppu Hells, Afternoon free |
| Day 15: | Travel to Aso-san, Aso-san, Travel to Nagasaki |
| Day 16: | Nagasaki - Free day |
| Day 17: | Travel to Miyajima Island |
| Day 18: | Miyajima Island - Free day |
| Day 19: | Hiroshima - Travel to Hiroshima, Peace Museum and Park, Travel to Kyoto |
| Day 20: | Kyoto - Ginkaku-ji, Sanjusangendo, Sannen-zaka, Ninen-zaka, Higashiyama District, Yasaka Shrine, Kinnen-ji Temple, "Meet a Maiko", Gion Geisha District |
| Day 21: | Nara - Nara Park, Todai-ji (Great Buddha), Authentic tea ceremony, Kimono-dyeing demonstration, Calligraphy lesson, traditional Japanese clothing dress-up in Kyoto |
| Day 22: | Kyoto - Free day |
| Day 23: | Depart for home/Arrive Home |