Samurai, Gardens & Arts: Autumn Tour

Day 1

Osaka Kansai Airport

Welcome to Osaka! You will be met at the arrival gate by an AJT representative holding an "All Japan Tours" sign.

Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport or similar class
Hotel Elsereine Osaka or similar class (NOTE 1 & 2)

NOTE 1: If you wish to stay in the center of Osaka for the first night instead of Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport, we can arrange for you to stay at Hotel Elsereine Osaka (or similar class). In this case, airport transfer is not included, but we will provide you directions to get to your hotel in advance.

NOTE 2: If you will be flying into Itami Airport (ITM) instead of Kansai International Airport (KIX), we can arrange for you to stay in the center of Osaka (Hotel Elsereine Osaka or similar class) instead of Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport. In this case, airport transfer and meet- and-greet are not included, but we will provide with full instructions to get to the hotel in advance.

NOTE 3: The meet and greet is ONLY available for flights arriving in Terminal 1 after 11:00 AM. For guests arriving in Terminal 2, airport pickup is not included, but and we will provide you with directions to get to your hotel in advance.

NOTE 4: If you wish to stay extra nights before the tour starts, please contact us to book hotel accommodations.

Day 2

Awaji Island (Kiseki- no-Hoshi Botanical Museum / Water Temple), Takamatsu (Ritsurin Garden)

Your travels will begin with a visit to Awaji Island where we will explore the Kiseki no Hoshi Botanical Museum. The museum has various exhibits that are meant to be experienced by your 5 senses and show a lifestyle of coexistence. There are 8 unique areas utilizing various plants. Afterwards we will head to the Water Temple, which was designed by the famed Tadao Ando. With pools of water secured by concrete, a set of stairs in the middles heads towards a sacred temple down below. Then, we will travel by coach to the Japanese-style garden, Ritsurin Koen in Takamatsu. The garden has both Western-style and Japanese style sections available. After taking in the beautiful hillside and garden scenery, we will spend one night in Takamatsu.

Breakfast / Lunch

JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu or similar class

Day 3

Naoshima (Benesse House / Chichu Art Museum / Lee Ufan Museum)

This morning, we will take a ferry to Naoshima, a small island with a lot of modern art. The Naoshima Benesse House is known for Japanese contemporary art and the environmental context in which the art is set. The famous giant pumpkin set on a pier is an iconic landmark for Naoshima. After visiting the Benesse House, we will visit Tadao Ando's art exhibitions in the Chichu Art Museum, which often features a room with a giant black sphere and a square roof opening that creates visual effects with shapes and shadows. Next is the Lee Ufan Museum, a contemporary and modern art museum based on a collaboration of Lee Ufan with Tadao Ando, the architect. Once we visit and explore the museum, we will leave Naoshima by ferry to arrive in Uno.

Breakfast

Hotel Granvia Okayama or similar class

Day 4

Kurashiki (Canal Area / Ohara Museum), Hiroshima (Miyajima - Itsukushima Shrine)

Today will begin with a visit to Kurashiki's Canal Area, a romantic view point where one of Edo's original canal's can be enjoyed by the public. This canal was once utilized by rice storehouse merchants for transporting their goods around Kurashiki. After enjoying the Edo-like atmosphere, we will move onto the Ohara Museum. The first Western museum to open in Japan has Japanese works of art as well, however you can find works by artists like Picasso and El Greco sharing the same museum. The museum has sections for Egyptian and Chinese art aside from pieces of art done by Japanese artists who painted in Western- styles. After viewing the multicultural works of art, we will visit HIroshima's Miyajima Island where the elegant and noble Itsukushima Shrine is located. The famous torii gates are said to float above the water when high tides cover their base.

Breakfast / Lunch

Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima or similar class

Day 5

Hiroshima (Peace Memorial Park - A-Bomb Museum), Iwakuni (Kintaikyo Bridge), Yamaguchi (Akiyoshido Cave)

Today our travels will continue with a visit to the Peace Memorial Park, the iconic landmark of Hiroshima's memorial for those who passed away due to the infamous Hiroshima bomb that dropped in August 6th, 1945. There, we will also enter the A- Bomb Museum where documents, artifacts, and videos are displayed throughout the museum. From the museum, we will head out to Iwakuni's Kintaikyo Bridge. The bridge is compromised of 5 arches that have concrete bases, which allow the public to cross over the Nishiki River. The historical worth of the bridge can go back as far as 400 years, and is one of the most famous bridges in Japan. Afterwards, we will visit the eerie but enchanting limestone caves of Yamaguchi, the Akiyoshido Cave. Tonight, we will stay at the Onsen Hotel in Yumoto Onsen, where you can soak in the therapeutic waters of a spa bath and feast on a traditional Japanese Kaiseki banquet dinner.

Breakfast / Dinner

Yumoto Kanko Hotel Saikyo or similar class

Day 6

Nagato (Motonosumi-Inari Shrine), Hagi (Former Castle Town - Kikuya Residence / Hagiyaki-Kaikan)

Today we will be heading to Nagato and from there we will head to the Motonosumi Inari Shrine. It has been listed by CNN as one of the top 31 most beautiful places in Japan. There are 123 red torii gates going down a mountain side towards the Sea of Japan with beautiful greenery surrounding them. From there we will be towards to Hagi, a former castle town that prospered during the Edo Period (1603-1869). There we will be paying a visit to one of the old residences that was once owned by a samurai family turned merchants. The Kikuya Residence has over 350 years of history with an avant garde interior design. Then we will head to the Hagiyaki Kaikan where we will learn and see the famed Hagiyaki pottery.

Breakfast / Dinner

Matsue Shinjiko Onsen Hotel Ichibata or similar class

Day 7

Izumo (Izumo Grand Shrine), Matsue (Matsue Castle / Horikawa Boat Tour / Former Samurai District - Buke Yashiki)

Our first stop of the day will be in Izumo for the Grand Shrine. The Izumo Grand Shrine is one of the most important Shinto shrines in Japan. It is said that the main deity enshrined at the shrine is Okuninushi who, according to the creation myths, created the land of Japan and rule ancient Izumo. He is also the deity that represents good relationships and marriage. Afterwards we will be heading to the nearby Matsue. There we will be going to Matsue Castle, which is one of the twelve original castles in Japan. Next we will be going on the Horikawa Boat Tour around the moat of Matsue Castle. On the cruise you will experience the scenic views of the area while traversing under various bridges. After the boat tour we will end the day with visiting the former Buke Yashiki (samurai district) where some samurai mansions have been preserved.

Breakfast / Dinner

Matsue Shinjiko Onsen Hotel Ichibata or similar class

Day 8

Matsue (Adachi Museum of Art), Tottori (Tottori Sand Dunes), Kinosaki Onsen

Before leaving Matsue we will be first going to Adachi Museum of Art. The museum was founded by Adachi Zenko in 1990 in order to create a world that combined both artwork and gardens together. He hoped to expand people’s perceptions and interests in Japanese Art. You can only view the gardens from the Adachi Museum of Art building as you enjoy paintings and artwork dating back to the twentieth century. Next we will be heading towards Tottori where the largest sand dunes in Japan are located. While there we will be going to The Sand Museum where large sand sculptures are displayed all year round with the theme changing on an annual basis. At the Tottori Sand Dunes there are various activities available for you to try out. After we will head to Kinosaki Onsen (hot spring) located on the coast of the Sea of Japan. It is one of the top hot spring locations in the Kansai Region. You will have the chance to enjoy the onsens and stroll around the old fashioned town.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Kawaguchiya Kinosaki Riverside Hotel or similar class

Day 9

Asago (Takeda Castle Ruin), Himeji (Himeji Castle / Kokoen Garden), Kobe (Wagyu Beef)

The tour begins with travelling to Asago where the Takeda Castle Ruins are located. Situated at 353 meters above sea level, the castle is listed as one of the top 10 castles in Japan. The Takeda Castle Ruins have been referred to as “Japan’s Machu Picchu.” Next we will head south towards Himeji where another one of the twelve original castles is located. Himeji Castle is one of the best preserved feudal castles in Japan. It is known as White Heron because of its majestic white appearance. To the west of Himeji Castle’s main entrance is the Kokoen Garden. There are a total of nine gardens that are separated by walls. They feature the various gardening styles of the Edo Period even though it was created in 1992. Then we will traverse to Kobe to experience the famous mouthwatering Wagyu Beef.

Breakfast / Dinner

Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport or similar class
Hotel Elsereine Osaka or similar class (NOTE 5 & 6)

NOTE 5: If you wish to stay in the center of Osaka for the last night instead of Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport, we can arrange for you to stay at Hotel Elsereine Osaka (or similar class). In this case, airport transfer is not included, but we will provide full instructions for you to get to the airport in advance.

NOTE 6: If you will be flying out from Itami Airport (ITM) instead of Kansai International Airport (KIX), we can arrange for you to stay at Hotel Elsereine Osaka (or similar class) instead of Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport. In this case, airport transfer is not included but we will provide full instructions for you to get to the airport in advance.

Day 10

Tour Ends

After breakfast, our tour officially ends. Checkout time is 11 am and Osaka Kansai Airport can be reached in a three minute walk.

Breakfast

NOTE 7: If you would like to stay longer in Japan, please contact us to book hotel accommodations.