Classic Japan

After clearing Customs and Immigration formalities at Osaka's Kansai International Airport you will be met and assisted to your transfer to Kyoto.

Kyoto was the capital of Japan for over 1000 years before Tokyo became its capital in 1868 and is Japan’s most beautiful city with a rich cultural heritage possessing 14 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is known as the “City of 10,000 shrines” because there are 2000 religious sites (mainly Buddhist). Other major attractions on a Japanese vacation are Kyoto’s palaces and gardens plus its old and colourful neighbourhoods. 

The balance of the day is at leisure to relax or explore Kyoto at your own pace.

A 7-Day Japan Rail Pass is included in the tour price. You may exchange your voucher and validate the pass at most Japan Rail Stations. Ensure the pass is validated prior to use.

The is the perfect introduction to Kyoto, visiting some of the cities most iconic sites. Meet your guide in the morning in the lobby of your hotel and then begin your walking tour using public transit (subway and bus). Your first stop is the renowned Kinkakuji temple, better known as the Golden Pavilion, one of Kyoto's UNESCO World Heritage sites. Walk through the temple grounds to admire the gold leaf decorated temple and visit the teahouse for a matcha green tea tasting and Japanese sweet. Afterwards, choose to visit either Nijo Castle, one of the best examples of castle palace architecture from Japan's feudal era or Kyoto's Imperial Palace, the once residence of Japan's Imperial family. Your guide will then escort you to a restaurant for lunch as you will have surely worked up an appetite from all the morning explorations. The type of cuisine you have for lunch will depend on your preferences, but your guide will be able to make some recommendations. After lunch, travel to the Southern Higashiyama district to visit another one of Kyoto's most famous sites, Kiyomizu-dera temple, located on a hillside overlooking the city and also a UNESCO site. Explore the temple grounds and see Otowa Waterfall. Then you may decide to explore the souvenir shops in Higashiyama (time permitting). Your guide will escort you back to your hotel at the end of the tour or you may choose to end the tour in the Gion district, the historical geisha district of Kyoto.

A full day to explore historic Kyoto at your own pace. Please ask your destination specialist about option excursions available.

Following breakfast depart by train for Hiroshima.

Meet your guide in the lobby of your hotel in Hiroshima or at Hiroshima JR train station in the morning and then begin your walking tour using public transit (streetcar, train and ferry).  Your first stop is Peace Memorial Park. Walk through the park to see the Atomic Bomb Dome and the other monuments and then visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Afterwards, go for lunch at an okonomiyaki cuisine restaurant, one of Hiroshima's specialties. Then transfer to Miyajima island, home to one of Japan's most photographed sites - Itsukushima Shrine with the floating tori gate. During high tide the tori gate appears to be floating in the sea. After visiting the shrine, the rest of the day will be spent exploring the quaint town of Miyajima. Choose to visit the lesser known Daishoin temple, perched on a hillside overlooking the sea or explore the shops and food stalls in town. At the end of the tour, your guide will either escort you back to your hotel or the train station.

Following breakfast, travel to Hiroshima by ferry and train and then take the bullet train to Tokyo, Japan's sprawling capital city. The balance of the day is at lesiure. 

We suggest you stop en-route in Himeji to visit Himeji castle, one of Japan’s most famous castles. The castle is about a 5 minute taxi ride from Himeji station, making it a very convenient stopover.

Travel around Tokyo using the cities sophisticated and efficient subway and train lines together with your private guide visiting some of Tokyo`s main sites. Meet you guide in the lobby of your hotel and then walk to the train station to begin your adventure. Start the day with a visit to Sensoji Temple, Tokyo`s oldest Buddhist temple. After visiting the temple grounds take time to stroll along Nakamise shopping street to look for souvenirs or maybe purchase a snack. Then travel to the Imperial Palace East Gardens, a part of the inner palace area. The palace itself is not open to the public as it is the residence of the emperor, but you can walk through the garden grounds to see the moats, remains of Edo castle and gardens. Next, travel to either Ginza or Tsukiji Outer Fish Market. Your guide will either say goodbye so you can continue exploring or escort you back to your hotel.

Travel from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji by bus this morning and head up to the 5th Station. The 5th Station is situated at 2,300 meters (7,546 ft) above sea level. At this height, you will be amazed at spectacular, breathtaking views from above the clouds. After which you will enjoy lunch.  Once your lunch is done a short visit on a Lake Ashi Cruise.  This crater lake along the southwest wall of the caldera of Mt. Hakone was formed by a powerful volcanic eruption nearly 3,000 years ago, and provides postcard views of Mt. Fuji towering 30 km northwest. Admire the superb view of Mt. Fuji from aboard a ship. Take a ropeway ride to the peak of Mt. Komagatake. There will be time to include a walk around at the peak. Take a cableway ride up to the spiritual Hakone Shrine Mototsumiya (original shrine) that nestles at the mountaintop. Depart Hakone and proceed to Odawara Station by bus. Board the Kodama Shinkansen to Tokyo in the non-reserved section.  You will arrive back in Tokyo between 8-10pm, all dependent on traffic conditions. You will need to make your own way back to your hotel on arrival.

This morning, transfer to Tokyo's Haneda airport for your onward flight. Of course if you want to stay longer your Goway Destination Specialist can customize the perfect itinerary for you.