Japan Art & Gardens: Kyoto, Naoshima, Okayama & More

On arrival at Osaka's Itami Airport, you will be met by Goway's local representative and assisted to your transfer to your hotel in Kyoto. The balance of the day is at leisure to explore Japan's former capital.

Your trip includes a 7 Day Japan Rail Pass. This can be activated at your convenience at any JR Railway Station. 

Japan has one of the most extensive, comfortable and modern rail systems in the world. The Japan Rail Pass offers foreign visitors the opportunity to travel on the extraordinary network of the JR Group at an economical price. The JR Pass allows travel on most JR trains, including Shinkansen bullet trains, limited express, express, rapid and local trains, as well as some local JR buses and the ferry to Miyajima island (near Hiroshima).

Following breakfast 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. Walkthrough 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.

After breakfast meets your private guide at your hotel and then travel together to the Arashiyama area, where Kyoto's renowned bamboo forest is located. Walk along the pathway through the bamboo forest to admire the groves and capture the perfect photo. Then visit Tenryuji Temple, one of Kyoto's main zen temples and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Walkthrough the temple grounds and see the zen garden. Afterwards, discuss with your guide to decide what to see and do next, since Arashiyama offers a lot of options. Choose to shop along Saga-Toriimoto Preserved Street, visit lesser-known temples or go to Monkey park. At the end of the tour, your guide will escort you back to your hotel.

Naoshima is an island in the Seto Inland Sea that is known for its modern art museums, architecture and sculptures. Part of Kagawa Prefecture, the island with its Mediterranean atmosphere, sandy beaches and sunny weather, combined with a laid-back rural feel is a relaxing getaway from Japan's large urban areas.

Much of Naoshima's art was installed by the Benesse Corporation, which oversees art museums, installations and sculptures both on Naoshima and on neighbouring islands. Benesse's museums were designed by the well-known Japanese architect Ando Tadao and include the Chichu Art Museum, Lee Ufan Museum and all the buildings of the Benesse House. In addition, Naoshima's municipal buildings and schools were designed by the modern architect Ishii Kazuhiro.

This morning make the 150-minute journey by train to Okayama with your guide (pick up at your Kyoto hotel). You will be met in Okayama by car that will take you to Uno port, where you will ride the ferry to Naoshima. You can spend the day exploring the island by private car.

Honmura, a small port town on Naoshima's eastern coast, is home to the Art House Project, a collection of abandoned houses, workshops, a temple and a shrine that have been converted into art installations and venues for contemporary art by artists and architects from Japan and abroad. The art houses are scattered throughout town, and most of them are unassuming from the street, blending into the surrounding traditional Japanese neighbourhood. The interior of each, however, has been converted into whatever suits the artist's artistic vision.

The Chichu Art Museum is a unique modern art museum built into a hillside overlooking the southern coast of Naoshima. The museum building, designed by Ando Tadao and itself a work of art, is mostly located underground and solely utilizes natural light to illuminate the artwork. This creates a viewing experience that is heavily influenced by the surrounding natural environment.

There are many other smaller art installations and museums that your guide will be happy to show you. Tonight, have dinner at Benesse House's renowned French restaurant.

In the morning you have time to continue exploring the island with your guide by local transport. Please note however that as there is no set plan for the day, entrance fees and meals are not included. You will then be escorted by ferry back to Uno and by car to Okayama to drop off at your hotel. 

Today is at leisure to explore nearby Kurashiki. Use your rail pass to take the train from Okayama to Kurashiki (approx. 20 minutes) and then walk to Kurashiki’s Bikan Historical Quarter. Explore the historical quarter at your own pace walking along the canal-lined streets, stone bridges and weeping willow trees. The town is very picturesque. We suggest you visit the Ohara Museum, the first museum of Western art in Japan (closed on Mondays). Picasso, El Greco, Gauguin, Modigliani, Rodin, Pollock and Kandisky all have masterpieces there, a very impressive collection. After the museum visit, stroll down the street to Ryokan Kurashiki for a scrumptious Japanese lunch overlooking the ryokan’s small garden. After lunch, you can choose to visit the Kurashiki Museum of Folk Crafts to see the various displays of ceramics, textiles, woodwork, lacquerware, bamboo, Japanese paper and other types of material. Or, spend the rest of the day exploring the boutique shops, including the Design Market where you will find a Japanese-made denim shop, Kursahiki is well known for its denim production in Japan. You may also choose to take a rickshaw ride or a sampan ride along the canals before returning to Okayama.

This morning visit Okayama’s main attraction: Korakuen Garden, regarded as one of the top three landscape gardens in Japan. You can easily spend a few hours strolling around the ponds, streams and walking paths.

In the afternoon make your own way by bullet train from Okayama to Osaka and then connect trains to continue to Kanazawa (approx. 3-hour journey).

Meet your guide in the lobby of your hotel in Kanazawa and then begin your walking tour using public bus transit. First, visit the Kaga Yuzen Kimono Center to learn about the process of kimono dying and the history of kimono making in Kanazawa. Then, you will have the very special experience of dressing in a kimono! Once dressed, choose to visit either Kenrokuen Garden or the Higashi Chaya district for photo taking. Return to the center afterwards to return your kimono. Your next visit is Gyokusen-en Garden, where you will partake in a traditional matcha green tea ceremony and learn about the tradition and etiquette of drinking green tea in Japan. If time permits, you can discuss with your guide what you would like to see and do next in Kanazawa.

Following breakfast your guide in the lobby of your hotel in Kanazawa and then begin your walking tour using public bus transit. Your first stop is Kanazawa's star attraction, Kenrokuen garden which is regarded as one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan. Walk through the garden grounds and enjoy the flora and fauna which changes depending on the season. Continue your tour to the Higashi Chaya district, the historical geisha district where you will learn about geisha lifestyles and have the opportunity to visit a gold leaf store, a specialty of Kanazawa. Your last stop today is the Nagamachi district, where samurai and their families used to reside. While there visit the Nomura Samurai House. Your guide will escort you back to your hotel or the train station at the end of the tour.

This afternoon take the bullet train from Kanazawa to Tokyo (approx. 3 hours) and then make your own way to your hotel in Tokyo.

This morning travel around Tokyo using the city's sophisticated and efficient subway and train lines together with your private guide visiting some of Tokyo`s main sites. Meet your 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.

Tonight we suggest you visit the Mori Art Museum, a contemporary art museum located on the 53rd floor of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower. After visiting the museum, go to the indoor or outdoor observation deck for a nighttime aerial view of Tokyo.

Today is at leisure to continue exploring Tokyo’s vibrant art scene. Choose to visit the Digital Art Museum in Odaiba, the world’s first digital art museum. Or perhaps, visit the lesser-known and quirky Art Aquarium, displaying thousands of swimming fish. Tokyo also has a handful of more traditional art museums, you may need to extend your trip by a few nights to fit it all in!

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Tokyo's Haneda Airport for your onward flight.