Japan Family Tour Summer with Hiroshima: Anime, Samurai, Ninja & Culture

Day 1

Tokyo Narita Airport

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

Hotel Mystays Premier Narita or similar class
Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class (NOTE 1 & 2)

NOTE 1: If you wish to stay in the center of Tokyo for the first night instead of Hotel Mystays Premier Narita, we can arrange for you to stay at Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro (or similar class). In this case, airport transfer is not included. We will provide you directions to get to your hotel in advance, or we can arrange shared shuttle service for you at US$90.00 per person per way.

NOTE 2: If you will be flying into Haneda Airport (HND) instead of Narita International Airport (NRT), we can arrange for you to stay in the center of Tokyo (Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class) instead of Hotel Mystays Premier Narita. In this case, meet-and- greet and airport transfer are not included. We will provide with full instructions to get to the hotel in advance, or we can arrange shared shuttle service for you at US$75.00 per person per way.

NOTE 3: The meet-and-greet is ONLY available for flights arriving in Terminal 1 & 2 after 11:00 AM. For guests arriving in Terminal 3, airport pickup is not included, but 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

Tokyo (Odaiba - National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation - DiverCity Tokyo Plaza - Gundam Statue - DECKS Tokyo Beach - / Samurai & Ninja Experience / Ikebukuro - Sunshine City - One Piece Mugiwara Store Ikebukuro)

After breakfast, we tour Odaiba, which offers amusements that everyone in the family can enjoy. Visit the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, also known as the Miraikan which has exhibits related to the future of the sciences, space exploration, and technology. Browse DiverCity Tokyo Plaza - an entertainment space and shopping complex that includes shops related to anime, gaming, and Japanese pop culture. In front of the plaza is a life-sized Unicorn Gundam, a transforming suit of armor made famous in the Gundam anime franchise. It really transforms at set times throughout the day! Explore the shops of DECKS Tokyo Beach, a shopping center with a ship motif, with nearly a hundred shops and restaurants. You will have the option to visit Tokyo Joypolis - an indoor entertainment center with attractions including various rides and games. From there, we enjoy a Samurai and Ninja Experience, where you can learn about the history and culture of the samurai - fearsome noble warriors during Japan's Edo period. Immerse in samurai and ninja culture as you study their techniques and customs, with opportunities for you to step into that historic period. We then explore Ikebukuro, starting with Sunshine City – a massive shopping and entertainment center, containing a broad variety of fashionable and amusing boutiques. We visit the One Piece Mugiwara Store Ikebukuro, where fans of the One Piece manga and anime series will find one-of-a-kind merchandise for Monkey D. Luffy and the crew of the Thousand Sunny, plus other popular One Piece characters. While exploring Sunshine City, keep an eye out for other unique and interesting stores that you may find interesting.

Breakfast

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class

NOTE: Please be aware that optional experiences have added costs that are not included in the tour price.

Day 3

Tokyo (Ghibli Museum / Shibuya - Shibuya Scramble Crossing - Shibuya Parco - Nintendo Tokyo - Pokémon Center Shibuya / Akihabara)

Today we will be going to the Ghibli Museum. The Ghibli Museum has various exhibitions based on the works by Studio Ghibli, offering a look into their animation and film production process. This includes the work desk of Hayao Miyazaki, some of his sketches, and an original short film that cannot be seen outside of the museum. The museum grounds have been decorated to reflect the child-like whimsy associated with their studio, so wandering around feels like you’ve stepped into a Ghibli film. The tour continues to Shibuya, known for the Shibuya “Scramble Crossing” which, at the right signal, floods the intersection with oncoming businesspeople, shoppers, and travelers, converging from all directions in a great rush of people that somehow feels both hectic and orderly. We go from there to Cyberspace Shibuya, on the 6th floor of the Shibuya Parco shopping center, well known for its anime and video game stores. Browse the Nintendo Tokyo Store, which is one of the few stores in the world to sell officially licensed Nintendo merchandise, which include Mario, Zelda, Kirby, Splatoon, and Animal Crossing. You can also visit the Pokemon Center Shibuya, which contains official merchandise for the lovable Pikachu, Eevee, and other popular Pokemon. Then we continue to Akihabara - the anime otaku capital of the world. This flashy, colorful district is full of anime stores like Animate, Gamers, and Kotobukiya, gamer stores like Super Potato and Trader, manga hubs like Melonbooks and Book-Off, cheap electronics shops like Bic Camera and Yodobashi Akiba, and other hobby stores. Buy a Shinto blessing on your electronics at Kanda Myojin Shrine, test your gamer skills at a Taito Station or GiGO Arcade, try your luck at the Gachapon capsule toy dispensers, sit down for some ramen at a local shop, or look for a themed cafe. After the day’s tour ends, you are free to remain longer in Akihabara, returning to your hotel on your own afterward.

Breakfast / Lunch

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class

Day 4

Tokyo (Tsukiji Outer Market / Drive by Imperial Palace / Sushi Making Experience / Asakusa Sensoji Temple / Tokyo Skytree)

Today, you will visit Tsukiji Outer Market – a bustling outdoor street market known for its fresh and delicious seafood, produce, and kitchenware. From there, we drive by the Imperial Palace, which offers splendid views of the meticulously maintained front lawn and garden areas, the moat, and the old stone walls. Next, enjoy a fun and simple Sushi-Making Experience, where you can enjoy creating your own sushi, and eating it afterwards! Then, we visit Tokyo’s oldest temple complex – Asakusa Sensoji Temple, featuring the Kaminarimon Gate, in which hangs an enormous red lantern. Leading up to the temple is Nakamise Street, which is lined with shops selling all manner of Japanese souvenirs. At the end of the day, we ascend Tokyo Skytree to the observation deck (Tembo Deck), which offers a panoramic 360-degree view of the Tokyo cityscape.
Note: For Sushi Making Experience, if you are vegetarian, on gluten-free diets, have seafood allergy, or don't eat raw fish, please contact us for other ingredient options.

Breakfast / Lunch

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class

Day 5

Mt Fuji, Hakone (Hakone Ropeway / Owakudani), Shinkansen Bullet Train Ride

We will depart from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji on our private coach. Along the way, enjoy the changing scenery, from thick vegetation to lowlands to rolling clouds. Stop at Mt. Fuji 5th station (depending on weather) to admire the world famous peak. Next, we will travel to Hakone, which is among Japan's most popular hot- spring resorts, and view the forested slopes of Hakone National Park. We will take a 20 minute ropeway ride from Togendai to Owakundani. Most of the area around Owakundani is considered an active volcanic zone since its creation from the eruption of Mount Hakone some 3,000 years ago. Now, you can experience hot springs and hot rivers there, where sulfurous fumes still linger. Owakundani also has splendid views of Mount Fuji in good weather. Next, take a Shinkansen bullet train ride for experience, which can reach speeds of up to 300 km/hr. We will stay at the Onsen Hotel at Hamanako Kanzaiji Onsen, where you will have dinner and can soak in the therapeutic waters of a spa bath.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Grand Mercure Lake Hamana Resort & Spa or similar class

Day 6

Koka (Koka Ninja Mansion / Miho Museum), Kyoto (Fushimi Inari Shrine)

After breakfast at the hotel, our group will visit the Koka Ninja Mansion. This mansion used to be resided in by ninja, equipped with many ingenious traps and devices, designed to prevent intruders and to provide a means of escape in times of need. Then proceed to Miho Museum, a stunning architecture that accentuates the surrounding nature while exhibiting a variety of items from different ancient civilizations. It was designed by the renowned architect, I. M. Pei, and is named after Koyama Mihoko, one of the richest women in Japan and the founder of the museum. Moreover, the museum has been listed as one of the "1000 Places to See Before You Die". We will then continue to Kyoto, a historical city that was spared from air raids and saved from the atomic bomb during World War II for its cultural and historical value. The tour will continue to the scenic and historic Fushimi district to see the stunning vermilion-colored Fushimi Inari Shrine. This architectural wonder boasts an approximately 2.5-mile (4- km) tunnel of torii gates, showcased during a critical scene of the hit film 'Memoirs of a Geisha'. We will stay two nights in Kyoto.

Breakfast

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel or similar class

Note: If Miho Museum is close, we will visit Kyoto National Museum or Sagawa Art Museum instead.

Day 7

Kyoto (Arashiyama - Sagano Bamboo Forest - Togetsukyo Bridge / Golden Pavilion / Green Tea Ceremony with a Maiko / Gion Geisha District)

Then we will tour the Arashiyama district. Proceed through a dense bamboo grove, past several small shrines, tea shops, and private houses before arriving at the Togetsukyo Bridge over Hozu River. Visit Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, so known because it is covered with 18-karat gold leaf. This three-story structure was originally built by the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in 1397. Next, you will enjoy a relaxing Green Tea Ceremony. This activity was once only available for the social elite. Today, it will be even more special as your host will be an apprentice Geisha, known as a Maiko. 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.

Breakfast / Dinner

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel or similar class

Day 8

Kyoto (Kiyomizu Temple), Nara (Todaiji Temple / Deer Park), Osaka (Osaka Castle / Dotonbori - Shinsaibashi)

Today, we will visit the famous Kiyomizu Temple, best known for its wooden stage that juts out from its main hall, 13 meters above the hillside below. The stage affords visitors a nice view of the numerous cherry and maple trees below that erupt in a sea of color in spring and fall, as well as of the city of Kyoto in the distance. From there we continue to Nara, the oldest capital city of Japan. We will visit Todaiji Temple, the largest wooden building in Japan. The temple also houses the largest bronze statue of Buddha at 16.3 meters high, and the surrounding park is filled with over 1,000 Sika Deer. In the afternoon, we will travel to Osaka by private coach. We will visit Osaka Castle; whose construction began in 1583 on the ruins of the Ishiyama Honganji Temple. The castle was the largest of its time and played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century. Our last visit for the day is Dotonbori, which runs parallel to the Dotonbori canal. A popular shopping, entertainment, and food district, Dotonbori is known for the hundreds of neon and mechanized signs that line the street, including the famous Glico Running Man and Kani Doraku Crab signs.

Breakfast / Lunch

Hotel Elsereine Osaka or similar class

Day 9

Himeji (Himeji Castle), Kurashiki (Canal Area)

Today we take a 2-hour ride by private coach to Himeji to visit the Himeji Castle. It is known as "White Egret Castle" and "White Heron Castle" because of its brilliant white exterior, resembling a bird taking flight. Himeji Castle is the largest and most visited castle in Japan, and is one of the few remaining original castles in Japan. This splendid example of traditional architecture was declared one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan. Next is a visit to Kurashiki. In merchant days, this scenic town thrived as a port for rice shipments. Several old rice granaries and examples of historic architecture still remain, in addition to the stone lined canal. In the afternoon, we will continue our journey to Hiroshima.

Breakfast / Lunch

Hiroshima Grand Prince Hotel or similar class

Day 10

Hiroshima (Peace Memorial Park / A-Bomb Museum / Miyajima - Itsukushima Shrine), Shimanami Kaido (Scenic Driving)

Today we will visit the Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Museum. After lunch, we will take a short ferry ride to the island of Miyajima. At high tide, the famed vermilion torii gate of the Itsukushima Shrine looks like it's floating in the middle of the sea. The shrine complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Miyajima has been selected as one of Japan's three most scenic places (nihon sankei). In the afternoon, we will drive through the Shimanami Kaido to Shikoku Island. The Shimanami Kaido is a 60 kilometer long toll road that connects Japan's main island of Honshu to the island of Shikoku, passing over six small islands in the Seto Inland Sea. It is also known as the Nishiseto Expressway.

Breakfast / Dinner

Imabari Kokusai Hotel or similar class

Day 11

Oboke Gorge (Oboke Gorge Boat Ride), Takamatsu (Ritsurin Park), Kobe (Wagyu Beef Dinner)

After breakfast, we continue our journey to Oboke Gorge, one of three hidden mountain regions of Japan. Oboke is the valley located upstream of the Yoshino-gawa River. "Boke" means "dangerous to walk along," and Oboke (big boke) was named for its jagged V-shaped rocks and narrow path which, no matter how carefully or slowly you walk, makes walking dangerous. Enjoy a relaxing boat ride and take in the panoramic view of the valley. In Takamatsu we will visit Ritsurin Park, a masterpiece of Japanese landscape 100 years in the making. This sprawling park features beautiful ponds and pavilions, with Mt. Shiun as the perfect backdrop. From there, our private coach takes us across Awaji Island through a series of spectacular bridges. In the evening we continue to Kobe, where we will savor the world famous 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 12

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.