Best Beyond Discoveries

This tour provides seasoned travelers and first time visitors to Japan a deeper insight into the art and history of Japanese culture. This special itinerary includes the popular must see sights in Tokyo, Kyoto, Naoshima and Hiroshima, but will also include the hidden gems of Matsue, Tottori and Hagi. By traveling on our private coach bus, you can see destinations that the common traveler cannot get to by train alone. You will also have a professional and knowledgeable English-speaking guide by your side throughout this journey. If you are interested in Japan’s art and history, popular destinations, and hidden gems, consider this unique tour to Japan.

Explore the popular attractions throughout Japan that have made the country so famous today. Starting your tour in Tokyo, visit the Tsukiji Outer Market and the oldest temple in Tokyo, Asakusa Senso-ji Temple. Learn to make your own sushi for lunch with a professional chef before traveling to Hakone and Mt. Fuji. Stay overnight near the area at a Japanese-style hotel, where you will have the chance to bathe in the hotel's hot spring. Once you reach Kyoto, visit the highlights with your guide, including Kiyomizu Temple, the bamboo forest, and the Fushimi Inari Shrine, known for its thousand vermillion torii gates. Make your way through Nara and Osaka to reach Hiroshima, a city known for its tragic history. Today, the city thrives with shopping malls, gardens, and the unforgettable Peace Memorial Museum.

For those longing to see past the popular sites and attractions, this tour also visits several hidden-gems, providing valuable insight into Japan's history and culture. While famous among Japanese natives, some sites included on this tour are difficult to reach for the average foreigner. Visit the Motonosumi Inari Shrine is significant for its impressive tunnel of 123 red torii gates situated along a coastal cliffside that is surrounded by the Sea of Japan. Explore the Tottori Sand Dunes, the largest sand dunes in Japan which were cultivated thousands of years ago. The Takeda Castle Ruins, often called the “castle floating in the sky”, offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and town below.

Art enthusiasts will have their interest peaked by traveling to the famed Naoshima, a small art island solely dedicated to art exhibits and museums. Stop at the Miho Museum, best known for its elaborate architecture that accentuates the surrounding natural environment while featuring exhibits from different ancient civilizations. Another popular form of art in Japan comes in the form of landscaping. Visit some of Japan’s magnificent gardens, including the large Kiseki no Hoshi Botanical Museum, the famous Ritsurin Garden, the celebrated garden of the Adachi Museum of Art, and the charming Kokoen Garden.

For those wanting to see the highlights of Japan, while also looking for an escape from the crowds of tourists, this tour is a wonderful option. All Japan Tours saves you the hassle and takes care of planning an intricate itinerary, booking comfortable accommodations, arranging activities such as a tea ceremony with a maiko (apprentice geisha), and taking care of the transportation. For history buffs, art enthusiasts, and the common traveler alike, this tour appeals to a wide- range of interests.