Essential Japan: Tradition and Modernity

DAY 1: TOKYO
Arrival in Tokyo, meeting with the English-speaking assistant, and private transfer to the hotel.

Accommodation for 4 nights, with breakfast.

Tokyo is a city of contrasts. Famous for its pioneering modernity, iconic neon landscapes, and tall skyscrapers, it's dotted with parks, shrines, temples, and adored gardens. This characteristic further distinguishes its ancient heritage, evident in the temples and shrines scattered and distant from the energetic centers.


DAY 2: TOKYO
Breakfast at the hotel and tour by public transport with a private English-speaking guide.

Visit the Imperial Palace Gardens, where the honmaru (main circle) and ninomaru (secondary circle) meet, former inner circles of Edo Castle, exemplifying the defensive structure of Japanese castles. Then stop for photos at the Imperial Palace.

Continue to Hamarikyu Garden, where the traditional green landscape contrasts with the skyscrapers of the Shiodome district. Then, visit Sensoji Temple, a very popular Buddhist temple, with a walk along Nakamise Street.

Finally, visit the Tokyo SkyTree Tower, a television broadcasting tower with a height of 634 meters and being the tallest structure in Japan.


DAY 3: TOKYO
Breakfast at the hotel and free morning for independent activities.

In the afternoon, take a public transportation tour with a private English-speaking guide to the Meiji Shrine and Harajuku. This neighborhood is famous for being home to Takeshita Dori and its adjacent streets, filled with fashion stores, boutiques, and restaurants, attracting many teenagers who are attentive to fashion and the latest trends.

Continuation to Shibuya, the epicenter of fashion and art trends in the country. Its famous chaotic but surprisingly organized intersection captures the vibrant essence of the city. Another famous landmark in Japan is the Hachiko statue, a tribute to the devoted Akita dog that waited at Shibuya Station every day for its owner, even after his death.


DAY 4: TOKYO
Breakfast at the hotel. Free day for independent activities.

Optional activity suggestion (not included):

• Tour to the Tsukiji Outdoor Market, with sushi cooking class.
  
  

Note: After check-out, the bags (only one 23 kg suitcase per person) will be sent to Kyoto. While staying in Kanazawa, you will be allowed to bring only one small suitcase, enough for three nights.


DAY 5: TOKYO - NAGANO - KANAZAWA
Breakfast and hotel check-out. Private transfer to Tokyo Station to board a bullet train bound for Nagano.

Arrival and private tour with an English-speaking guide to Monkey Park, located in Joshinetsu Kogen National Park. This park is home to approximately 200 wild monkeys, who take advantage of the hot springs to keep warm during the winter.

Return to Nagano Station to board a bullet train bound for Kanazawa. Arrival and private transfer to the hotel.

Accommodation for 2 nights, with breakfast.


DAY 6: KANAZAWA
Breakfast at the hotel and private tour of Kanazawa, with private transportation and English-speaking guide.

Visit the Omicho Market, famous for its seafood, the Kenrokuen Garden, considered one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan, and the Kanazawa Castle Park, home of the Maeda family, who ruled the Kaga Domain.

Then, visit the Kanazawa Yasue Gold Leaf Museum, with art and craft pieces adorned with gold and gold leaf on display, and the Higashi Chaya district, a former geisha district, built nearly 200 years ago.


DAY 7: KANAZAWA - KYOTO
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, private transfer to Kanazawa Station.

Board a bullet train bound for Tsuruga, followed by an express train to Kyoto.

Arrival in Kyoto, meeting with the English-speaking guide for a private tour. Visit the Kiyomizu Temple, located at the Otowa Waterfall and whose name derives from the waterfall's waters. Passage through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, streets that are part of the path that leads to the temple.

Finally, hike in the charming Gion District. Known as the arts and entertainment district, Gion is famous for its elegant and traditional geishas (or, more correctly, geikos), which have enchanted visitors for centuries.

Arrival at the hotel in Kyoto and accommodation for 4 nights, with breakfast.


DAY 8 TO 10: KYOTO
Breakfast at the hotel. Free days for independent activities.

Suggested optional activities (not included):

• Knife making workshop at Kanetaka Hamono, where participants learn about the artisanal process and the traditional techniques of Japanese master blacksmiths.
• Private tea ceremony, conducted by a master, that presents the rituals and philosophy of ancient practice.
• Tour to learn about samurai and ninja culture, with visits to historic sites and activities that illustrate the history and customs of these warriors.
  
  
  

DAY 11: KYOTO - KINOSAKI ONSEN
Breakfast and hotel check-out. Private transfer to Kyoto Station for boarding an express train bound for Kinosaki Onsen.

Arrival and private transfer to the hotel. Accommodation for 2 nights, with breakfast.

Kinosaki Onsen is a charming traditional thermal village whose history dates back to the year 800, when its hot springs were discovered. At night, guests at ryokans (traditional Japanese hotels) usually stroll around the city dressed in yukata and geta (wooden sandals), visiting the various public baths and ancient arcades that give the village a special charm.


DAY 12: KINOSAKI ONSEN
Breakfast at the hotel. Free days for independent activities.

Suggestions for independent activities (not included):

• Visit to the OKESHO Market and Restaurant: Founded in 1925, Okesho has a history marked by the resilience of the owning family, who started the business after the earthquake that devastated the region. The market offers fresh fish every morning and evening, keeping alive the tradition and quality that spans almost a century.
• Tajima meat tasting at the specialized restaurant: Irori Dining Mikuni, located on the second floor and decorated in wood that refers to traditional Japanese architecture, provides a quiet environment for meals. At lunch, visitors can choose from a variety of Tajima meat dishes, such as the Tajima Beef Curry Set and the Tajima Beef Steak Set. For dinner, the chef prepares delicate menus that require prior reservation.
• Kinosaki Onsen SPA experience: relaxation treatment that includes full body massage and facial mask, providing a moment of luxury and well-being.
  
  
  

DAY 13: KINOSAKI ONSEN - WADAYAMA
Breakfast and hotel check-out. Self-drive to Kinosaki Onsen Station for boarding an express train bound for Wadayama.

Arrival and private transfer to the hotel. Accommodation for 2 nights, with breakfast.

Wadayama is a city renowned for its scenic beauty and its rich historical and cultural heritage. Surrounded by mountains, the region offers opportunities for outdoor hiking and cycling. The city also stands out for its traditional festivals, local crafts, and tranquil rural landscapes.


DAY 14: WADAYAMA
Breakfast and bike tour with private English-speaking guide.

Visit the Takeda Castle Ruins, also known as Japan's “Castle in Heaven”. Perched atop a mountain, the ruins offer spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, often shrouded in clouds that create a magical sense of fluctuation.


DAY 15: WADAYAMA - OSAKA
Arrival and private transfer to the hotel. Accommodation for 2 nights, with breakfast.

Osaka is the second largest metropolitan area in Japan, second only to Tokyo. Over the centuries, it served as one of the most important economic engines in the Kansai region. Before its reconfiguration as Osaka, the city was known as Naniwa and, in ancient times, it was the first capital of Japan before the capital was transferred with each new ruler, ceasing in the Nara Period.

Optional activity suggestion (not included):

• Osaka food tour, known as “Japanese Cuisine”.
  
  

DAY 16: OSAKA
Breakfast at the hotel. Free day for independent activities.

Optional activity suggestion (not included):

• Visit to the Universal Studios Japan park, it was the first Universal Studios theme park built in Asia.
• Visit to Super Nintendo World, With an entirely new attraction area, Nintendo comes to life in an immersive and engaging way for visitors.
  
  
  

DAY 17: OSAKA - TOKYO
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, private transfer to Osaka station to board a bullet train bound for Tokyo.

Arrival and private transfer to Haneda or Narita airport.