Japan Culture & History Essential Tour

Today you will fly to Tokyo. On arrival, your driver will welcome you at the arrival hall and transfer you to your hotel with a private car to ensure your arrival is worry-free.

You will have a professtional English-speaking guide with you today.

Tokyo national museum:The Tokyo National Museum features one of the largest and best collections of art and archeological artifacts in Japan, made up of over 100,000 individual items including nearly a hundred national treasures. At any one time, about 4000 different items from the permanent museum collection are on display. In addition, visiting temporary exhibitions are also held regularly.

Meiji Jingu Shrine:Meiji Shrine is a shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. Located just beside the JR Yamanote Line's busy Harajuku Station, Meiji Shrine and the adjacent Yoyogi Park make up a large forested area within the densely built-up city. The spacious shrine grounds offer walking paths that are great for a relaxing stroll.

The Tsukiji Fish Market was once the largest seafood market in the world, handling more than 2,000 tons of marine products a day. Tsukiji now regularly shows up on visitors’lists of must-see destinations in Tokyo for its lively atmosphere and incredible sushi.et on the banks of Tokyo Bay, with great views of the city skyline,Odaiba Seaside Park is a man-made landscaped park and beach. It’s popular with locals and tourists.Shibuya Sky Observation Deck on the rooftop, observe Tokyo from the "Sky Edge," where you can look down at the cityscape without any obstruction.  one of Japan's unofficial landmarks, the Hachiko statue in Shibuya is a homage to the faithful Akita dog who waited at Shibuya Station every day for his master, even after his death. Today, it’s one of the most popular meeting places in Tokyo.

West Lake Village is located in the "West Lake" a display of Japan's original scenery thatched cottage village. From the village you can see Mount Fuji in the distance, and the pointed roofs are covered with thick thatch. The village brook murmuring, birds singing flowers, seems to have come to Xanadu.Head to Oshino Hakkai is a touristy set of eight ponds in Oshino, a small village in the Fuji Five Lake region, The eight ponds are fed by snow melt from the slopes of nearby Mount Fuji that filters down the mountain through porous layers of lava for over 80 years, resulting in very clear spring water that is revered by the locals.The Narusawa Hyoketsu Ice Cave is located at the east entrance to the Aokigahara Jukai "sea of trees" forest, and is regarded as one of the tourist spots within the Fuji Five Lakes area that can be visited throughout the year. Over 1150 years ago, during year 6 of the Jogan era (864 a.d.), Nagaoyama, a flank volcano of Mt. Fuji erupted. The red hot lava flow (Aokigahara Maruo) descended between ancient parasitic volcanoes, creating this two-tunnel type cave.Arakurayama Sengen Park is one of the world-famous viewing spots of Mount Fuji. In springtime, the cherry blossoms in bloom create a spectacular view of a five-storied pagoda and Mount Fuji unique to Japan. Not only does the park offer splendid views of the mountain in respective seasons, but it also serves as a popular viewing spot for the beautiful night scenery of Fujiyoshida City.

Hakone is the most popular tourist attraction in the Kanto region. "Hakone Day Tour" will take you to Lake Ashino to take the "Hakone Pirate Ship" to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Mt. Fuji and the lake, and then take the "Hakone Ropeway" to Owakudani. The scenery along the way is pleasing to the eye . Owakudani, left over from a volcanic eruption 4,000 years ago, in addition to being able to see the crater, now still has bursts of white smoke and the smell of sulfur. In Owakudani, you can buy the legendary black jade, which can prolong life. It is said that eating one can prolong life by 7 years! 

Shinkansen/Bullet train experience between Odawara and Kyoto（Ticket Included）

Kiyomizu-dera:Founded in 778, Kiyomizu-temple is one of Kyoto's oldest monasteries and was added to the World Heritage List in 1994. The Shimizu stage hanging in front of this hall is a precious cultural relic of Japan, surrounded by green trees. In spring, cherry blossoms are in full bloom, which is one of the famous places for appreciating cherry blossoms in Kyoto. In autumn, it becomes a holy place for appreciating maple trees.

Hanamikoji Dori:Hanamikoji Geisha District In The Evening The best place to see geisha in Kyoto is Hanami-koji on the south side of Shijo-dori. A stroll through in the evening will usually yield at least one sighting.

Nijo Castle:Nijo Castle was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867). His grandson Iemitsu completed the castle's palace buildings 23 years later and further expanded the castle by adding a five story castle keep. After the Tokugawa Shogunate fell in 1867, Nijo Castle was used as an imperial palace for a while before being donated to the city and opened up to the public as a historic site. Its palace buildings are arguably the best surviving examples of castle palace architecture of Japan's feudal era, and the castle was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1994.

Kimono and Tea Ceremony Experience:Kyoto Tea Ceremony in Japan is one of the best and memorable experiences you can have! Kimonos would normally be worn during traditional tea ceremonies.  Our expert tea master and host, and friendly staff will demonstrate the process during the tea ceremony while explaining the significance behind it the steps and the tools. You will get to learn about tea ceremony history, Kyoto, and tea ceremony etiquette.  During the tea ceremony, you will not only observe how to make matcha green tea but you will also be guided on the process of making your own by the tea master. You will be using high-quality matcha powder that will produce a brilliant cup of green matcha.

Filled with over 1000 years of history and culture, Arashiyama used to be a place of Japanese aristocracy, and has remained a highly relevant destination while keeping its pristine natural beauty. In this half day walking tour, get to visit different important spots in Arashiyama, such as the Tenryuji Temple, recognized for its sprawling gardens and stunning views.Drop by the iconic Sagano Bamboo Forest and listen to the unique sounds of the wind before your last stop at the Togetsukyo Bridge.Okochi-Sanso The main house here is one of the finest examples of traditional Japanese residential architecture anywhere and the teahouse is a wabi-sabi gem.

Kinkaku-ji Temple:With its gleaming gold tiers reflected in the lake below and a backdrop of forests and twisted pines, Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion) is an enchanting sight.  Dating back to the 14th century, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of Kyoto’s most popular attractions and among Japan’s most visited temples.

Fushimi Inari Taisha/Red Torii Gates:Fushimi Inari Shrine/Red Torii Gates is an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari, which stands at 233 meters and belongs to the shrine grounds. Fushimi Inari is the most important of several thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Foxes are thought to be Inari's messengers, resulting in many fox statues across the shrine grounds. Fushimi Inari Shrine has ancient origins, predating the capital's move to Kyoto in 794.

Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum:The Fushimi district of Kyoto is one of the foremost sake-brewing areas in all of Japan. The Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum is a space where visitors can sense the spirit of Fushimi, its history and sake culture; and of Gekkeikan, a company that has led the development of sake-brewing in this area. After visiting the Museum, enjoy tasting a range of sakes brewed with the underground water that is Fushimi's natural bounty, using traditional techniques honed through our history of challenge and creativity.

Nara Park:Nara Park is a large park in central Nara. Established in 1880, it is the location of many of Nara's main attractions including Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha, Kofukuji and the Nara National Museum. It is also home to hundreds of freely roaming deer.Considered the messengers of the gods, Nara's over 1000 deer have become a symbol of the city and have even been designated as a natural treasure. Deer crackers are for sale around the park, and some deer have learned to bow to visitors to ask to be fed. Nara's deer are surprisingly tame, although they can be aggressive if they think you will feed them, so make sure not to tease them with food.

Todai-ji Temple:Todaiji is one of the most impressive temples in Japan, and plays a major role in Japanese history through the ages. You approach Todaiji Temple through the Nandaimon (Great Southern Gate), where you are confronted by the fierce Nio figures that guard the approach to the Great Buddha. Carved by famous sculptors Unkei and Kaikei, around the 12th century AD, they are two of the finest examples in Japan. The Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall), one of the world’s largest wooden structures, is breathtaking in its scale and architecture. Standing in front of the hall, you will see a large octagonal bronze lantern: one of the temple’s oldest treasures. 

Himeji Castle:Himeji Castle, also known as White Heron Castle (Shirasagijo) due to its elegant, white appearance, is widely considered Japan's most spectacular castle for its imposing size and beauty and its well preserved, complex castle grounds. The castle is both a national treasure and a world heritage site. Unlike many other Japanese castles, it was never destroyed by war, earthquake or fire and survives to this day as one of the country's twelve original castles.

Okayama Castle:Okayama Castle, also known as "crow castle" due to its black exterior, was built in 1597 in the style of the Azuchi-Momoyama Period. The original castle was destroyed in the last year of World War 2, but a reconstruction was made in 1966. The castle is located on the Asahi River, which was used as a moat. Korakuen Garden is located just across the river.

Okayama Korakuen Garden:Korakuen is a beautiful landscape garden and Okayama's main attraction. Along with Kanazawa's Kenrokuen and Mito's Kairakuen, Korakuen is ranked as one of Japan's three best landscape gardens.

Atomic Bomb Dome:In December 1996, it was registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site as a building that conveys the devastation of nuclear weapons at the 20th UNESCO World Heritage Committee Merida Conference.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park:Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park ( Heiwa Kinen Kōen) is one of the most prominent features of the city. Even visitors not looking for it will likely stumble upon the large park of over 120,000 square meters. Its trees, lawns, and walking paths are in stark contrast to the surrounding downtown area. Before the bomb, the area of what is now the Peace Park was the political and commercial heart of the city. For this reason, it was chosen as the pilot's target. Four years to the day after the bomb was dropped, it was decided that the area would not be redeveloped but instead devoted to peace memorial facilities.

Itsukushima Shinto Shrine:The centuries-old Itsukushima Shrine (Itsukushima Jinja) on Miyajima is the source of both the island's fame and its name. Formally named Itsukushima, the island is more popularly known as "Miyajima", literally "shrine island" in Japanese, thanks to its star attraction. The shrine is known worldwide for its iconic "floating" torii gate.

Kintai Bridge:A HISTORICAL WOODEN ARCH BRIDGE in the city of Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, the Kintai Bridge was built in 1673. With a series of five wooden arches, the bridge spans the Nishiki River. It is located at the foot of Mt. Yokotama, which is topped with the famous Iwakuni Castle. The castle was built in 1601 and overlooked a series of wooden bridges, all destroyed by spring floods before the Kintai bridge was completed.

Shukkeien Garden:Shukkeien can be translated into English as "shrunken-scenery garden", which is also a good description of the garden itself. Valleys, mountains and forests are represented in miniature in the garden's landscapes. Through careful cultivation of the land and vegetation, the garden mimics a variety of natural formations and scenic views.

Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter:Canals were built to allow boats and barges to navigate between the city's storehouses and the nearby port. A central section of the city's former canal system has been preserved in the Bikan Historical Quarter.The weeping willow trees that line the canal and the stone bridges that cross over the water make for a picturesque scene.

Ohara Museum of Art:The Ohara Museum of Art was Japan's first museum of Western art. It is a private museum consisting of three adjacent buildings next to the canal and a separate building located in Ivy Square.The Main Gallery building was constructed when the museum was founded, and features most of the museum's highlights. On display are masterpieces of Western art by Picasso, El Greco, Gauguin, Modigliani, Rodin, Klee, Pollock and Kandinsky among others. The artists in the collection span a wide variety of periods and nationalities.

Osaka Castle（Distant view）:The construction of Osaka Castle (大阪城, Ōsakajō) started in 1583 on the former site of the Ishiyama Honganji Temple, which had been destroyed by Oda Nobunaga thirteen years earlier. Toyotomi Hideyoshi intended the castle to become the center of a new, unified Japan under Toyotomi rule. It was the largest castle at the time.

Shinsaibashi:This has been a bustling center of retail since the mid-18th century when famed kimono shop Matsuya opened what later became Daimaru Department Store. The development of Shinsaibashi-suji parallels the growth and change in its host city Osaka . Walk down Shinsaibashi-suji to experience Japan's love of consumer retail. Head south down Shinsaibashi-suji to reach the neon-lit Dotonbori Bridge for a break from the shopping hustle and bustle.

Dotonbori:Both sides of the Dotonbori River are filled with eating and drinking establishments. Walk the promenade to find the famous Kani Douraku restaurant, which prominently displays an enormous crab above its entrance. Open-air ramen stands are scattered throughout the area, filling the air with a appetite-whetting aroma. If you continue towards Shinsaibashi , you'll find a range of bars and drinking establishments.

Street food experience:Japanese Street Food Tour with private English-speaking tour guide--Get the chance to try more than 10 different amazing tastes! Takoyaki, Shioyaki, Kobe Beef, Okonomiyaki, Yakitori, Taiyaki, Yakisoba, Ikayaki, etc.

Enjoy your free time until your guide comes to escort you to the airport for your onward flight.