Japan Nature and Wildlife Tour

Arrival at Tokyo Narita or Haneda Airport

Upon arrival, proceed through customs and meet your driver just outside the exit gate, they will be holding an “All Japan Tours” sign for easy visibility. Proceed to your hotel by private car. Upon arrival at the hotel, you will be free for leisure.

Tokyo

The day begins with a tour of the Tsukiji Outer Market, filled with shops and restaurants where you can try fresh seafood and shop for food-related goods. Next, visit the beautiful landscape garden of Hamarikyu which features seawater ponds that change level with the tides, then board a Sumida River Cruise and enjoy views of the city’s skyline and bridges. Next, travel to Asakusa Sensoji Temple. Enter by way of the Kaminarimon “Thunder Gate”, underneath one of Japan’s largest paper lanterns. Don’t forget to look up to see the dragon sculpture under the lantern! Walk through the Nakamise Market – a street lined with shops selling traditional goods of all kinds, before approaching Sensoji Temple. Take some time to explore Tokyo’s oldest temple and shrine complex. Finally, take part in a Ninja Samurai lesson, where you'll learn the history and habits of Japan's most fearsome Edo-era warriors. After, return and rest at your hotel for the evening.

Tokyo

Today, enjoy a full day of delight among Tokyo's cute animal friends. Tokyo is home to a number of adorable pet and animal cafes where you can enjoy tea or coffee, and even eat a light meal in the company of cats, dogs, rabbits, owls and other birds, even reptiles! This will be a heavenly experience for people who can't get enough of wildlife! After a day enjoying the company of animals, return to your hotel for a relaxing evening.

Tokyo - Shiroishi - Tokyo

Today we travel by public transit to Shiroishi, which is home to Zao Fox Village, a special wildlife preserve for six different kinds of foxes including the Japanese red fox, Ezo Red Fox, silver fox, cross fox, and even the arctic fox. It is one of the easiest ways to meet a fox in Japan, and with over a hundred foxes roaming around, you'll be sure to see one of these cute critters in their natural habitat. After, return to the hotel for a comfortable evening.

Tokyo - Yudanaka Onsen

In the morning, you'll make your own way to Tokyo Station for a trip to Nagano by the speedy, comfortable bullet train. On arrival, meet your guide for a visit via public transit to the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park in Yudanaka. You'll meet the curious Japanese macaques, otherwise known as the world's cleanest monkeys, who can be seen communally bathing in the local hot springs. You can enjoy the sight of the snow monkeys helping clean one another and relaxing, then travel to your onsen ryokan accommodation to have your own relaxing soak at the hotel hot spring. You'll also be treated to a dinner of traditional kaiseki cuisine.

Note: We will courier your big baggage from Tokyo to your hotel in Hiroshima. Please pack your essentials for 3 nights in a small bag to carry with you.

Yudanaka Onsen - Kanazawa

In the morning, you'll make your own way from your hotel to Yudanaka Station to take the Nagano Dentetsu Line to Nagano Station, where you'll board a bullet train to Kanazawa. When you arrive at Kanazawa Station, you'll travel to your nearby hotel on foot, then enjoy free leisure time to explore the city in the afternoon.

Kanazawa

Today, in Kanazawa, we first visit 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 we'll visit a Ninja Temple, which features ninja-like defenses such as hidden rooms, secret tunnels, a maze of corridors, and even some cunning traps. 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. Then, visit the Kaga Yuzen Traditional Industry Center. Kaga Yuzen is a type of silk fabric made for Kimono. You can see many Kimono on display here which use this fabric.

Kanazawa - Hiroshima

After breakfast, make your own way to Kanazawa Station on foot and board the JR Express train to Osaka Station, then transfer to a bullet train, which takes you to Hiroshima. Upon arrival at Hiroshima Station, make your own way on foot to your hotel. After checking in, you will have free leisure time in the afternoon to explore Hiroshima to your heart's delight. Finally, head back to the hotel for a comfortable evening.

Hiroshima

Today is a full day guided tour of Hiroshima, beginning with the Peace Memorial Park. The stately Peace Park is easily the city's biggest landmark and consists of the Peace Memorial Museum, the A-Bomb Dome, and the Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims. Afterwards, we will travel to Miyajima, where we will see Itsukushima Shrine. The shrine is partly built over water, and features a large torii gate that appears to “float” over the sea during high tide. After, return to your hotel for a relaxing evening.

Hiroshima - Okunoshima - Kyoto

After breakfast, we travel by public transport to Okunoshima "Rabbit Island", where you can see hundreds (possibly thousands) of adorable bunnies roaming freely across the island. Where the rabbits originally came from is shrouded in mystery, but they add an atmosphere of cuteness around the whole island. Upon your return to Hiroshima Station, you leave your guide and make your own way to Kyoto Station via bullet train. Upon arrival in Kyoto, head on foot to your nearby hotel, where you are free for leisure for the rest of the evening.

Note: We will courier your big baggage from Hiroshima to your hotel in Kyoto. Please pack your essentials for 1 night in a small bag to carry with you to Kyoto.

Kyoto

Your first full day in Kyoto is a guided tour of the city, which start at Fushimi Inari Shrine. This iconic shrine features an approximately 2.5-mile tunnel of scarlet torii gates and statues of foxes. Next, tour Kiyomizu-dera, a famous temple in Japan that is best known for its large wooden stage that overlooks an idyllic forest scene of cherry trees and maples. Leading up to the temple are Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka, these streets are filled with preserved buildings that remind us of Japan’s past. Many of the buildings are selling souvenirs and Kyoto- specific wares. We will end our day in the Gion Geisha District, where its streets are lined with ochaya (teahouses) where the fortunate may see Geisha or Maiko walking the side streets.

Kyoto

Continue to explore Kyoto, traveling to Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site from Japan’s feudal era, and palatial former residence of the Tokugawa shogun. The opulent buildings and elegant interior are well preserved – the foremost example of Edo-era castle architecture. Next visit the Golden Pavilion, a famous temple covered in shimmering gold leaf, crowned in a delicate phoenix. Then we will tour the Arashiyama district. First is a visit to see Tenryuji Temple where you can catch a glimpse of the traditional landscape garden design. Then proceed through a pathway bordered by a dense and mysterious grove of towering bamboo stalks. Finally, head over to the Iwatayama Monkey Park – an open area where hundreds of monkeys roam freely. After enjoying the playful macaques, return to the hotel for a relaxing evening.

Kyoto - Nara - Kyoto

After breakfast, travel to Nara, an ancient capital city of Japan, and visit Isuien Garden. This is a traditional Japanese Garden with a scenic view structured using “shakkei” or borrowed scenery, fusing the background with the trees within the area. Then, we will visit one of Japan’s most famous temples and a landmark of Nara, Todaiji Temple. Inside the main hall - one of the largest wooden buildings in Japan - sits a massive seated Buddha. Outside the temple, interact with the wild deer of Nara Deer Park. There are special deer crackers available at every corner of the area. These deer are some of the most courteous in the world; some have learned how to bow politely to ask for a cracker. Our last destination for the day will be Kasuga Grand Shrine, the family shrine for the powerful Fujiwara clan during the Nara and Heian periods, with unique architectural traits and an area filled with various styled lamps.

Tour Ends

After breakfast, you will be free for leisure in the morning until your departure to the airport. You will meet your driver at the hotel for transfer to the airport.