Golden Week in Japan

Welcome to Japan! Upon arrival in Tokyo, be transferred to your hotel. In the late evening, we do a cultural tour of the nearby areas of your city centre hotel giving your a first hand experience into the lifestyle of the Japanese.

Today we enjoy a full day tour of the city. A cruise down the River, followed by a stroll through Hamarikyu Garden, just a few minutes walk from the lively Ginza shopping district, where we will be able to see cherry blossom trees in full bloom. Later we will explore the precincts of Meiji Shrine, accompanied by a visit to Shibuya crossing – regarded as one of the busiest pedestrian intersections in the world. Late today, we visit a Sumo Wrestling Sight to learn about a Sumo’s lifestyle and also catch a match if possible.

One of the all time highlights of Japan is the Mt. Fuji and today we visit It with the town of Hakone. The trip today includes Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station at an elevation of 2,300 meters, a cruise on pristine Lake Ashi, and a ride on the Komagatake Ropeway which boasts great views of the surrounding Hakone National Park.

Tokyo – Matsumoto. This morning we start our journey to Matsumoto. Upon arrival we visit Matsumoto Castle, one of the remaining original castles in Japan and perhaps the most iconic landmark in the city.

Leave Matsumoto today for Takayama – A charming town in the heart of the Hida Mountains. The town is famous throughout Japan for its old town area of narrow streets filled with inns, tea houses, shops and merchants houses characteristic of the Edo period. On arrival we explore its charming old quarter and later enjoy a classic Japanese ryokan meal.

Today we explore the town’s market stalls and later head to the outskirts of town to visit the Hida folk village. This evening we guide you and together we discover some of the town’s best local food stalls and restaurants.

Today we travel by express train to Kanazawa, home to one of Japan’s most impressive gardens, Kenroku-en, where we see the country’s famous cherry blossoms at their very best. April is prime season for these pink flowers which can be seen lining the streets and filling the parks all over Kanazawa. After exploring the garden grounds we will visit the Ninja temple and Samurai house.

A morning express train takes us to Kyoto, Japan’s ancient and cultural capital. Upon arrival we embark on a guided walking tour of the UNESCO- listed Nijo Castle. Built by the first Tokugawa Shogunate in 1603, the exquisite castle is a wonderful example of Momoyama architecture. The later part of the afternoon offers free time for you to visit more of Kyoto’s sites.

We leave in the morning after breakfast as we visit the stunning Zen Buddhist temple of Kinkakuji, known as the Golden Temple and the Sanjusagen-do Temple famous for
its statues of Kannon. Later we make our way to Gion, the famed Geisha district for a guided walking tour where we’ll attend the famous Spring Geisha Dances

One of the all time highlights of Japan is the Mt. Fuji and today we visit It with the town of Hakone. The trip today includes Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station at an elevation of 2,300 meters, a cruise on pristine Lake Ashi, and a ride on the Komagatake Ropeway which boasts great views of the surrounding Hakone National Park.

Today after breakfast check out and proceed ahead to our final destination i.e. Osaka by train. Upon transfer to hotel, we visit the Osaka Castle, explore the city’s main spots and an hour Long cruise along the Okawa River.

Your last day is an adventurous escape to one of the majorly popular theme parks of the world- the universal studios. Enjoy some thriller rides and capture beautiful memories with shows etc.

Soak in all the wanderlust you’ve had in the past days, its now time to leave. We hope the trip would have created enough memories to last you a lifetime.