Best of Japan in 23 Days Tour
23 Days/21 Nights
- Introduction •
- Itinerary •
- Map •
- Inclusions •
- Gallery
- 2013 Dates & Prices •
- 2014 Dates & Prices •
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- Optional Cultural Activities •
- Western-Style Room Option
If you don't want to miss anything in Japan, then this is the tour for you. From Sapporo to Nagasaki, you will enjoy the best Japan has to offer including some of Japan's best onsens, gardens, castles, natural scenic areas, historical districts, temples and shrines, cultural activities and much, much more in a tour that will create travel memories to last a lifetime.
Destinations:
Tokyo, Hakone, Hakone-Yumoto Onsen, Takayama, Kyoto, Koya-san, Takamatsu, Kotohira, Matsuyama, Dogo Onsen, Miyajima Island, Hiroshima, Beppu, Usuki, Nagasaki, Sapporo, Shiraoi, Noboribetsu Onsen, Hakodate, Hiraizumi, Sendai, Matsushima, Nikko
You'll stay overnight at a mountaintop Buddhist temple where Buddhist monks will serve you meals of shojin ryori (the traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine), receive meditation instruction from the monks and 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, stroll through farmer's markets, meet a "maiko" (geisha-in-training) face-to-face, see where the geisha live and work, stay overnight on beautiful and quiet Miyajima Island, soak in the thermally-heated mineral waters at some of Japan's best onsens and admire sacred Mt. Fuji (weather permitting), the icon of Japan. You'll enjoy Tokyo where the sheer energy level will sweep you away, and Sapporo, host to the 1972 Winter Olympics with its many, fine restaurants, explore the morning market of Hakodate, where you can have the local specialties of crab, sea urchin or squid prepared for you for breakfast, and learn about Japan's original inhabitants, the Ainu, whose culture almost disappeared until recent efforts of restoration. You will be awed by Chuson-ji with its "Golden Hall" built in the 12th century and considered to be one of the most important national assets of Japan, enjoy Matsushima, considered to be one of three most scenic places in Japan, visit the sobering testament to peace of Hiroshima and the ostentatious over-the-top shrines and temples of Nikko. The rural, mountainous island of Shikoku will charm you with its natural beauty, and the island of Kyushu with the largest onsen (hot springs resort) in Japan, active volcanoes and the history-filled city of Nagasaki will surprise you with its diversity.
Every day you'll enjoy the friendliness, fun and flexibility of small group travel by experiencing sights, Japanese restaurants and family-run ryokans and hotels that are off-limits to larger groups. From start to finish, all group transportation, group admission fees, lodging, travel insurance, all breakfasts, 12 dinners including 2 Kaiseki-style dinners, Grilled Lamb and Shojin-ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) dinners, 12 lunches, tour guide tips and more are included. Our tour guides bring Japan alive with their insights.
PLEASE NOTE: For this itinerary, we will use western-style hotels at some locations. Please contact us for details if you have any questions.
Best of Japan in 23 Days Tour Itinerary
Click here for a detailed itinerary.
| Day 01: | Leave for Japan |
| Day 02: | Arrive at Tokyo's Narita Airport, Welcome Dinner, Overnight in Tokyo |
| Day 03: | Tour Tokyo |
| Day 04: | Free time in Tokyo, Travel to Hakone, Overnight in Hakone Yumoto Onsen |
| Day 05: | Tour Hakone, Travel to Takayama |
| Day 06: | Tour Takayama, Afternoon free |
| Day 07: | Travel to Kyoto, Home Visit, Tea Ceremony, Kimono Dyeing Demonstration, Kimono Dress-Up |
| Day 08: | Tour Kyoto |
| Day 09: | Travel to Koya-san, Tour Koya-san, Overnight at a Buddhist Temple |
| Day 10: | Attend prayer service in the morning, Travel to Okayama, Tour Korakuen, Travel to Takamatsu |
| Day 11: | Tour Takamatsu, Travel to Kotohira, Tour Kotohira, Return to Takamatsu |
| Day 12: | Travel to Matsuyama, Tour Matsuyama |
| Day 13: | Travel to Miyajima Island by high speed ferry, Free time on Miyajima Island |
| Day 14: | Free time on Miyajima Island, Travel to Hiroshima, Tour Hiroshima, Travel to Beppu |
| Day 15: | Tour Beppu, Travel to Usuki, Tour Usuki Stone Buddhas, Travel to Nagasaki |
| Day 16: | Tour Nagasaki, Afternoon Free |
| Day 17: | Fly to Sapporo, Overnight in Sapporo |
| Day 18: | Tour Sapporo, Travel to Shiraoi, Tour the Poroto Kotan Ainu Village, Travel to Noboribetsu Onsen |
| Day 19: | Free time at Noboribetsu, Travel to Hakodate, Mt. Hakodate at night |
| Day 20: | Tour Hakodate, Travel to Hiraizumi, Tour Chusonji, Travel to Sendai |
| Day 21: | Tour Matsushima |
| Day 22: | Travel to Nikko, Tour Nikko, Travel to Tokyo, Sayonara Dinner, Overnight in Tokyo |
| Day 23: | Fly Home |