13 Day Japan Autumn Leaves Private Group Tour

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

Hotel Mandarin Oriental Tokyo or similar class

In the early morning, you will be picked up at your hotel for your tour of fish markets. Tour the famous Tuna Auction, enjoy an exclusive talk with an insider in the Tuna industry, and access the wholesale area of the Toyosu Fish Market area that many travelers are not able to experience. You can also experience the filleting of these premium fish. Next, learn how to create your own sushi with a professional sushi chef. Whatever you make, you will get to eat for lunch! Next, we will go to the Imperial Palace – the current residence of Japan’s Imperial Family and a historic landmark. Here, you can see the beautiful East Garden which features a number of Ginko trees that turn a lovely shade of gold in the fall. Stroll through the Takeshita district of Harajuku and surround yourself with fascinating shops and the latest fashion trends. Harajuku is especially known for its more eccentric fashions, but cute and conventional items can be purchased here as well. Not in the mood for shopping? Not to worry – Harajuku also is a great place for people watching! 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. Finally, stroll along Icho Namiki – Ginko Avenue. Lined with Ginko trees trimmed into a unique shape, the avenue is painted gold with leaves in autumn.

Breakfast / Sushi Lunch

Hotel Mandarin Oriental Tokyo or similar class

NOTE: For Sushi Making Experience, if you are a vegetarian, on a gluten-free diet, have a seafood allergy, or don’t eat raw fish, please contact us for other ingredient options.

Today, venture to the garden outside of Tokyo Dome known as Koishikawa Korakuen. This is one of Tokyo’s oldest and best gardens – featuring 3 ponds and many types of trees. Due to the variety of trees, the colors of the garden in fall are equally varied – ranging from gold to deep red. Then, visit the Edo Tokyo Museum which exhibits life size replicas as well as miniature models of structures during the Edo period in Japan. Then, experience panoramic views of the city at 350 meters high at the Tokyo Skytree. These are the highest observation decks in Japan, and the tower is one of the tallest structures in the world. You will be taken to Asakusa Kannon Temple, an active place of worship where you can see the largest paper lantern in Japan. 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. For dinner, you will be joined by a Sumo wrestler at a Chanko Nabe Restaurant. Chanko Nabe is a dish made famous for being commonly eaten by Sumo wrestlers.

Breakfast / Interact and have Dinner with a Sumo Wrestler at a Chankonabe Restaurant

Hotel Mandarin Oriental Tokyo or similar class

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. At the top of a winding road, we will stop and visit the Kegon Waterfall. This is ranked as one of Japan's three most beautiful falls. At just under 100 meters (318 ft), it is also one of the tallest in Japan. You will finish your day-trip with a visit to the lake which feeds Kegon Falls: Chuzenjiko. This scenic lake is located at the foot the sacred volcano in Nikko, Mount Nantai.

Breakfast / Lunch

Hotel Mandarin Oriental Tokyo or similar class

Travel to the land at the base of Mt. Fuji where, if the weather is in our favor, we will travel to Mt. Fuji’s 5th station. This is the most popular and convenient spot to enjoy views of the iconic mountain. Afterwards we will tour the Kubota Itchiku Art Museum and view the Tsujigahana silk dyed artworks, regarded heavily as one of the lost arts of Japan. You will the transfer to Hakone for the night. Tonight, relax in the onsen hot spring and enjoy a traditional kaiseki dinner at your hotel.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner at Ryokan

Gora Kadan or similar class

In the morning, you will board a Lake Ashi Cruise where you can enjoy and appreciate Hakone’s natural scenery. We will take a 20- minute ropeway ride from Togendai to Owakudani. Along the ropeway, weather permitting, there will be great views of Mt. Fuji in the distance. While in Owakudani, visitors will have the chance to see hot springs and sulfurous fumes along the trails of an active volcanic zone. Next, we will visit the Hakone Open Air Museum which successfully attempts to create a harmonic balance of nature and art by exhibiting various sculptures on its grounds in combination with views of the surrounding valley and mountains. Once again, you will be able to enjoy the onsen and a kaiseki meal for dinner tonight.

Breakfast / Dinner at Ryokan

Gora Kadan or similar class

After breakfast, you will transfer to Odawara Station and board the first-class bullet train to Hiroshima. In Hiroshima, we will visit 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.

Breakfast / Lunch

Sheraton Grand Hiroshima Hotel or similar class

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

We will travel to Miyajima, where we will see Itsukushima Shrine. The shrine is famous for being uniquely built over water, and its large torii gate that appears to “float” over the sea during high tide. Stop by Senjokaku Hall, an incomplete structure dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Then, we will tour the Daisho-in Temple, one of the most important Buddhist temples of the Shingon sect. It is located at the base of Mount Misen, which is where we will experience a scenic ropeway ride. At the top, you will get spectacular views of the Seto Inland Sea and, on clear days, you may be able to see as far as Hiroshima city.

Breakfast

Sheraton Grand Hiroshima Hotel or similar class

After breakfast, you will transfer to Hiroshima Station and board the first-class bullet train to Osaka. Once in Osaka, you can visit Osaka Castle, which was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in aims for it to be the center of a new, unified Japan. We will travel to Nara and 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.

Breakfast / Lunch

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto or similar class

This morning, we will tour the lovely Arashiyama district. First is a visit to see Tenryuji Temple where you can view the traditional landscape garden design. Then proceed through a dense bamboo grove, past several small shrines, tea shops, and private houses before arriving at the Togetsukyo Bridge over Hozu River. Here, you can enjoy a flat- bottomed boat cruise along the Hozugawa River to get a unique view of Arashiyama’s natural beauty. 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. Then 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.

Breakfast / Dinner

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto or similar class

Begin today's tour of the historic city of Kyoto at 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'. From there, head to the Fushimi Sake District – known for its clear waters and home to over 40 traditional sake breweries. Along with a local sake expert, you will tour the breweries of the area to learn more about the unique flavor profiles of a wide variety of Sake. We will then visit a traditional home to learn some of the iconic traditional arts of Japan – Calligraphy and Ikebana.

Breakfast / Lunch

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto or similar class

You will begin your day at Myoshin-ji. This temple has several sub-temples on its grounds, making it one of the largest temple properties in Japan. You will be able to see many beautiful temples and gardens here – not all are open to the public. You will be able to explore one of these private gardens in the company of a garden designer. During your tour of the garden, you will be able to learn the principles of building a Japanese garden, how to maintain them, and any additional questions you may have. Then, 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. You will then be able to wear the traditional clothing of Japan, Kimono, which are still widely popular to wear for important and formal events. It is also common to don the Kimono when visiting Kyoto to further enjoy the traditional atmosphere of the city. Then, we will travel to Kodaiji Temple, which is a lavish temple built in the memory of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Here, we can experience Zen meditation. Next, you will enjoy a relaxing Green Tea Ceremony. This activity was once only available for the social elite. 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 in the company of a beautiful Maiko – a geisha in training.

Breakfast / Dinner - Kyoto Kaiseki Dinner with Maiko

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto or similar class

After breakfast, you will be free for leisure in the morning until your departure to the airport via private coach.

Breakfast