UNESCO World Heritage Japan Luxury Private Tour

Welcome to Tokyo

Welcome to Tokyo! We will arrange your private transportation from the airport to Nikko. Please look for the guide with the All Japan Tours sign.
Tonight, enjoy Onsen and Kaiseki dinner in the Ryokan.

Nikko (Toshogu Shrine - Shinto ceremony with a Shinto priest or miko - priestess / Rinnoji Temple / Futarasan Shrine / Iemitsu Mausoleum)

This morning, travel north from Tokyo to Nikko where you will visit the lavishly decorated Toshogu Shrine. This is the final resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate that ruled Japan for over 250 years, until 1868. Here, you can experience a traditional Shinto ceremony performed by a priest or priestess. Nearby is Rinno-ji - home to the Three Buddha Hall a Treasure House with an important collection of Buddhist art. Then continue on to Futarasan Shrine home to the Shinkyo Bridge, which spans over the Daiya River. Finally, go over to the Iemitsu Mausoleum, which enshrines the 3rd Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu.

Tokyo (Asakusa Sensoji Temple & Nakamise Street)

Today, travel to Asakusa – a grouping of sacred buildings belonging to two separate religions. Here, you will see Japan's two main religions living together in harmony. This is an active place of worship where you can see the largest paper lantern in Japan. One piece of this area is Asakusa Kannon Temple, or Senso-ji, one of Tokyo's oldest and most famous temples. The first section of the temple that most people will visit is the Kaminarimon, Kaminari Gate, which serves as the entrance to the market. This temple belongs to its own independent sect of Buddhism.You will also be able to explore the Nakamise Market, which is located right after the temple's outer gates. This is a traditional-style shopping street with several centuries of history.

Tokyo (Tsukiji Outer Market / Imperial Palace Ground Tour / Meiji Shrine / Nezu Museum)

After breakfast, make your way to the Tsukiji Outer Market, filled with shops and restaurants where you can try fresh produce and other food-related goods. Next, from 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM join a special guided tour of sections of the Imperial Palace. Our first stop on this tour will be to enjoy the natural atmosphere of the Meiji Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. At the Nezu Museum, you can enjoy a collection of pre-modern Japanese and East Asian art that Nezu Kaichiro put together. After bombing in World War II destroyed some of the collection, Nezu Kaichiro’s son continued to add to it to ensure that his father’s collection remained impressive.

Mt Fuji (Fuji Visitor Center / 5th Station - Depending on the weather condition / Lake Kawaguchi / Itchiku Kubota Art Museum)

Today, travel to the Fuji Visitor Center, where travelers can learn more about the formation and environment of Mt. Fuji with a special video screening. If the weather is in our favor, we will travel to Mt. Fuji’s 5th station, the most popular and convenient spot to enjoy views of the iconic mountain. Next, we will visit Lake Kawaguchi, one of the Fuji five lakes with the best views of the sacred mountain and autumn leaves during fall. Afterwards we will tour the Kubota Itchiku Art Museum and view the Tsujigahana silk dyed artworks, regarded as one of the lost arts of Japan.

First Class Bullet Train to Kanazawa, Kanazawa (Kenrokuen Garden / Nagamachi Samurai District - Nomura House)

In the morning, transfer to Tokyo Station and board the bullet train to Kanazawa (Green car train tickets included). After you arrive, you can go to Kenrokuen Garden, regarded as one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Stroll along the garden and enjoy the view of trees, stones, bridges and teahouses. Then step back through time in the Nagamachi Samurai District where many old samurai residences remain at the foot of the former Kanazawa Castle. One such house, the Nomura family residence, has been fully restored and filled with artifacts of the time period to reflect the samurai class.

Note: We will ship your large luggage to your hotel in Hiroshima (Included for up to one piece of baggage per person). Please pack your essentials for 2 nights in a small bag to carry with you.

Shirakawago (Shiroyama Viewpoint / Gassho-zukuri Minkaen / Soba Making Experience)

Today, travel to the UNESCO World Heritage site in the rural area of Shirakawa-go. Ogimachi Village is the main attraction, we will walk past thatched roof farm houses and cultivated fields and see unspoiled Edo period wooden buildings. Once there, we will go to the Shiroyama Viewpoint, and also Gassho-zukuri Minkaen, which is an open-air museum of farmhouses and structures relocated to this area. Wada-ke House is the largest farmhouse in the area, which belongs to the village leader, is now open for visitors to have a look inside these buildings. Then join in a Soba-Making Experience, to learn how the locals produce soba noodles, then enjoy the delicious soba lunch you made!

First Class Express Train to Osaka, Then Board the First Class Bullet Train to Himeji, Himeji (Himeji Castle / Kokoen Garden), Continue to Hiroshima by First Class Bullet Train

In the morning, transfer to Kanazawa Station and take the JR express train to Osaka. From Osaka, board the bullet train to Himeji (Green car train tickets included). While in Himeji, visit the picturesque Himeji Castle, one of the original surviving twelve castles of Japan. It is known as "White Egret Castle" and "White Heron Castle" because of its brilliant white exterior, which resembles a bird taking flight. Then visit the nearby Kokoen Garden which is a relatively recently constructed Japanese style garden, opened in 1992 on the former site of the feudal lord's west residence. In the afternoon, continue to Hiroshima by bullet train.

Hiroshima (Peace Memorial Park & Museum / Miyajima Island - Itsukushima Shrine)

After breakfast, transfer to Odawara Station and board the bullet train to Osaka (business class "Green car" train tickets included). Our main destination is the Peace Memorial Park. The Peace Park consists of the Peace Memorial Museum, the A-Bomb Dome, and the Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims. The Peace Park is one of the most significant features of the city, devoted to the events that occurred on August 6, 1945. Then you can travel to Miyajima Island, where you will see Itsukushima Shrine. It is famous for being uniquely built over water, and its large torii gate that appears to “float” over the sea during high tide.

First Class Bullet Train to Kyoto, Kyoto (Visit to a Traditional Wooden Townhouse to learn about Kimono, Green Tea Ceremony, Origami, Calligraphy and the art of Ikebana)

In the morning, transfer to Hiroshima Station and board the bullet train to Kyoto. While in Kyoto, visit a traditional wooden townhouse to earn about the five great arts of Japan - Kimono, Green Tea Ceremony, Origami, Calligraphy, and the art of Ikebana.

Note: We will ship your large luggage to your hotel in Kyoto (Included for up to one piece of baggage per person). Please pack your essentials for 1 night in a small bag to carry with you.

Kyoto (Shimogamo Shrine / Kyoto Imperial Palace / Kiyomizu Temple / Gion Geisha District - Kyoto Kaiseki Cuisine with Geisha Perfomance)

You will then visit the Shimogamo Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to the time before Kyoto was established as Japan’s capital in 794. The shrine is surrounded by the Tadasu forest, inside which you can find trees dating back 600 years. Next, visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace. This was the former residence of Japan’s Imperial Family until 1868, during which the capital moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. Then we will tour Kiyomizu-dera, a famous temple in Japan that is best known for its large wooden stage that overlooks a hillside of natural scenery. We will end our day in the Gion Geisha District, where its streets are lined with ochaya (teahouses), exclusive establishments where guests are entertained by Geisha and Maiko. Here, we will enjoy traditional Kyoto Cuisine during a special Geisha Performance.

Kyoto (Toji Temple / Nijo Castle / Golden Pavilion / Ryoanji Temple)

Continue to explore Kyoto, traveling to Toji temple, which guarded the east entrance to the old capital, with well-preserved structures from the Edo period including a five-story pagoda. Nijo Castle, a designated UNESCO world heritage site and a perfect architectural example of castles from the feudal era of Japan. Next, we will visit the Golden Pavilion covered with 18-karat gold leaf. This three-story structure was originally built by the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in 1397. We will end today with Ryoan-ji Temple, which is the site of the most famous rock garden in Japan.

Koyasan (Kongobuji Temple / Garan / Reihokan Museum / Koyasan Pilgrimage Trails - 90 minutes short hike from Daimon Gate to Gokurakubashi Station)

After breakfast, go from Kyoto to Koyasan, and tour the Kongobuji Temple constructed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to commemorate his mother after death. The Banryutei Rock Garden behind Kongobuji Temple is the largest Zen garden beautifully composed to represent dragons emerging from clouds in the sky. Next, we can go to the Reihokan Museum, which exhibits many of Koyasan's preserved cultural and religious treasures. After, we can take the Koyasan Pilgrimage Trails in a 90-minute hike from Daimon Gate to Gokurakubashi Station. Tonight, you will be staying at one of the local temples at Koyasan where you can eat experience a special dinner with the monks.

Koyasan (Early Meditation with Monks / Enjoy a Okunoin Cemetery Tour with a Monk)

Rise in the morning for an early session of meditation with the monks, then enjoy a tour of the Okunoin Cemetary with one of the monks as your guide. In the afternoon, take the train to Nara, and spend your evening freely exploring charms of the old city.

Nara (Todaiji Temple / Nara Park / Kofuku-ji Temple / Yakushi-ji Temple)

Today, we will visit one of Japan’s most famous temples and a landmark of Nara, Todaiji Temple. Outside the temple, interact with the wild deer of Nara Deer Park. There are special deer crackers available at every corner of the area. Then visit Kofuku-ji Temple, a family temple to the Fujiwara clan during the ancient period of Japan. This is also the site of the 2nd tallest five story pagoda in Japan. Finally, you can visit Yakushi-ji Temple, one of Japan's oldest temples dating back to the late 7th century, build by Emperor Tenmu, in hopes for the recovery of his wife from an illness (who outlived her husband and succeeded him as Empress Jito).

Tour Ends

After check-out, private transfer to Osaka Kansai Airport for your departure flight.