JAPAN – Highlights with Cherry Blossom

On our second day, we will take a one-day excursion to Mt Fuji and the Kawaguchiko area. First, we will take the Fuji Subaru line road to Mt. Fuji’s 5th station by bus. Mt Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan and it is one of the country’s most famous symbols with its iconic shape. Our lunch today is ‘houtou’, a hearty local noodle dish that is cooked in miso-based soup.

Next, we will take the Panoramic Kachi Kachi Ropeway to an observation deck near the peak of Mt Tenjo. From the observation deck, which sits more than 1000 meters above sea level, you can see panoramic views of the lake below and of Mount Fuji. After enjoying a pleasant 20-minute cruise on Lake Kawaguchi, we will return to Tokyo.

Today we will get on the super-fast shinkansen to Kyoto. Our first visit in Kyoto is to the impressive Fushimi Inari Taisha, a shrine that is especially renowned for its stone fox statues as well as the thousands of orange torii gates lined up along the pathway to Mt Inari. We then proceed to a sake brewery, where you will learn about the sake-making process, and of course, get the chance to taste some great rice wine.

Then we head to Nara, which was the first permanent capital in Japan in the 8th century. In Nara, we visit the Todaiji Temple and Nara Park which is famous for its many tame deer. You can feed them special crackers called Shika-sembei if you want. In the late afternoon, we go back to Kyoto to check in at our hotel.

First, we will go to the Ryoanji Temple, a Zen temple known for its mysterious-looking stone garden. The nearby Kinkakuji Temple is our next stop, it is known as the Golden Pavilion for its brilliant exterior that will surely captivate you.

The Nishijin textile style is a traditional silk weaving technique in Kyoto that is used for making kimono, a traditional Japanese garment. We visit the Nishijin Textile Center to learn more about Nishijin textile weaving. You will also have a chance to enjoy a kimono fashion show and go shopping. After lunch, you will experience a real tea ceremony, where you will also get to try real matcha tea with Japanese sweets!

The Gion area is Kyoto’s most famous geisha district. It is filled with shops, restaurants, and ochaya (tea houses). While walking through a street lined with preserved machiya houses, you might come across real geisha or maiko in the evening.

Today we will discover Arashiyama, a popular and pleasant district in the western outskirts of Kyoto. This area has been a popular destination since the Heian Period (794-1185). We will visit the Tenryuji Temple, which is known for its Japanese landscape garden with various plants and a pond. We will also enjoy a pleasant walk through the famous bamboo grove nearby and past the many small shops and restaurants around Arashiyama.

The Nishiki Market is a narrow shopping street lined with more than 100 shops and restaurants. This foodie destination is also known as Kyoto’s Kitchen. The lively market specializes in all things food-related, such as fresh seafood, sushi, Japanese sweets, pickles, cookware, etc. Find your favorite food for lunch here! Then we will visit Nijo Castle, which was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867). Afterward, we will head back to the hotel.

In the morning we proceed to Kyoto station to get on the shinkansen bound for Hiroshima. We will take a ferry to the sacred Miyajima island, where we’ll see the famous Itsukushima Shrine and the elaborate torii gate that seems to float in the sea. Try tasty local foods such as momiji manju (Japanese maple-shaped cake with red bean paste), oysters, and okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake).

In the afternoon, we will return to Hiroshima city. Hiroshima is known all over the world as the first city to suffer an atomic bomb disaster. It is an impressive experience to visit the Peace Memorial Park and museum, as well as the Atomic Bomb Dome. Although you can’t really feel the aftermath of the disaster in Hiroshima anymore today, the museum tells you what really happened here in 1945. After visiting the museum and Peace Park, we will return to Kyoto by bullet train.

It is already time to go back home with many unforgettable memories and lots of souvenirs. A transfer is not included, but if you would need an airport transfer we can arrange one for you. Thank you very much for coming to Japan and we hope to see you again!