14 Day Japan Luxury 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! Then, enjoy the natural atmosphere of the Meiji Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. While at the shrine, you can participate in a Shinto ceremony with a priest or miko (priestess). 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.

Breakfast / Sushi Lunch

Hotel Mandarin Oriental Tokyo or similar class

NOTE: For the sushi making experience, alternative ingredients are available. Please contact us for more information.

After breakfast, we will go to the Imperial Palace and see the beautiful East Garden. This is the current residence of Japan’s Imperial Family and a historic landmark. We will also 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 then 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

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 dinner at your hotel.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner at Hotel

Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort and Spa 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 dinner tonight at the hotel.

Breakfast / Dinner at Hotel

Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort and Spa 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 yoru hotel in Kyoto. Please pack your essentials for 4 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

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.

Breakfast / Dinner at Ryokan

Kurashiki Yuga Onsen Santoka or similar class

Travel to nearby Aioi to meet with a swordsmith and observe the process of making Japanese swords. Then visit 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 western residence. Here, visitors can enjoy many varieties of Japanese gardens from the awe-inspiring classic featuring a pond and waterfall to wilds of the bamboo garden to the tea, pine tree, and flower gardens. While this is not an exhaustive list of the types of Japanese gardens, hopefully it will give you an idea of their versatility. For dinner, you will be able to enjoy the famously delicious and tender Kobe beef. Unlike the pale imitations found abroad, in Japan there are strict regulations on what can be considered true Kobe beef. These regulations guarantee a much higher quality in Kobe beef.

Breakfast / Kobe Beef Dinner

The Ritz-Carlton Osaka or similar class

Today, we will travel to Nara and visit the 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. 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 the colorful, neon-lit entertainment district of Dotonbori. This area is popularly known for being the heart of the city, filled with eye- catching billboards and numerous restaurants.

Breakfast / Lunch

The Ritz-Carlton Osaka 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. 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. Continue to explore Kyoto, traveling to Nijo Castle, a designated UNESCO world heritage site and a perfect architectural example of castles from the feudal era of Japan.

Breakfast / Dinner

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto or similar class

Begin your 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 tour Kiyomizu-dera, a famous temple in Japan that is best known for its large wooden stage that overlooks a hillside of natural scenery. 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