Himeji, Okayama, Kurashiki, Matsue, Izumo & Hiroshima Private Tour

Kyoto or Osaka - Himeji - Okayama

Meet your guide at your hotel in Kyoto or Osaka and travel to Himeji by bullet train. Your first stop will be 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, you will transfer to Okayama via bullet train.

Note: We will ship your large luggage to your hotel in Okayama. Please pack your essentials for 1 night in a small bag to carry with you.

Okayama - Kurashiki - Okayama

Once again, you will be fully guided as you travel between Okayama and Kurashiki. Travel to the Canal Area in Kurashiki – this location was very important along the distribution route of rice during the Edo period. Today it is a scenic area where visitors can walk along the canal and see the old storage units, along with buildings from the Edo period. We will also visit the Ohara Museum of Art, which is considered the first museum of Western art in Japan. It is a private museum consisting of three adjacent buildings next to the canal. Upon your return to Okayama, you may tour Korakuen Garden, a landscape garden and the main attraction of the city. It is one of three most famous gardens in Japan, featuring a large pond, walking paths, and many different types of trees.

Okayama - Yasugi - Matsue

Today, you will travel will your guide and visit Yasugi and Matsue via public transportation. In Yasugi, visit the Adachi Museum of Art. Here, you will be able to see the award-winning garden which is the creation of Adachi Zenko. He hoped that viewing the garden and art together would pique people’s interest in Japanese art. In Matsue, travel on to one of the islands in the lake to visit Yushien Garden. While the garden features many traditional landscape elements, it is famous for its collection of 250 types of peonies. Some are kept outside in traditional, protective, bamboo coverings, but far more are kept inside in the lovely indoor garden. After enjoying so many beautiful sights, continue your relaxation at your hotel where you can soak in the onsen hot spring and enjoy a traditional Kaiseki dinner in the Ryokan.

Note: We will ship your large luggage to your hotel in Hiroshima. Please pack your essentials for 2 nights in a small bag to carry with you.

Matsue

Continue to explore the castle town of Matsue, beginning with the castle itself. This is one of only a dozen original castles in Japan, meaning that its main tower has survived to this day through fires, earthquakes, and the anti-feudal demolitions of the Meiji Period. It is sometimes called the "black castle" after its darkly-colored, austere exterior. You can also enjoy a lovely cruise around the moat of the castle to get more interesting views of the castle and surrounding area. Visit the home of Lafcadio Hearn, one of the first western authors of Japanese culture. Hearn's former residence is now open to the public along with a museum located next door that is dedicated to his work and person. Take a walk down the streets of the old samurai district where samurai families used to live. One of the homes, Buke Yashiki, has been restored and filled with artifacts making for a very interesting time capsule of samurai life. After your tour, you will once again be able to enjoy the onsen and kaiseki dinner at the Ryokan.

Matsue - Izumo - Hiroshima

Travel to Izumo via public transportation with your guide. In Izumo, you will visit the Izumo Grand Shrine. Considered to be the oldest in all of Japan, it has been in existence since at least the early 700’s but unfortunately, there are no records of it being built. Due the shrine’s age pre-dating the introduction of Buddhism to Japan, the architecture of the building is a purely Japanese style called Taisha-zukuri. The shrine is home to the famous Kamiari Festival where Shinto’s 8-million deities have an annual meeting at the shrine. After your tour of this ancient shrine, you will transfer to Hiroshima station.

Hiroshima

Today, you will explore the city of Hiroshima and nearby Miyajima Island with your guide. Our first destination of the day 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. Afterwards, we will travel to Miyajima, where we 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.

Tour Ends

After breakfast, your tour will officially end. You will be free to make your way to your next destination at your leisure.

Note: If you would like further transportation to be included, please contact us for the arrangements.