2
day
Day 2. Tour of Tokyo
07:00-09:00
Breakfast in the hotel.
09:50
Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby.
10:00- 18:00
Tour of Tokyo.
Full description
The tour begins with a trip to the Imperial Castle and the Government Quarter. Japanese matsu pines grow in the Imperial Palace’s park and carps, a sacred fish in Japan, can literally be seen in the channel that surrounds the Palace.
Then, you will move to Ginza, Tokyo’s most luxurious district. This region, adjacent to the Imperial Palace, has been the city's historical center since Japan opened up to the outside world. The symbol of Ginza is the Waco building, the luxury department store, and the Art Nouveau masterpiece. It is located at Ginza Forth Crossing, Tokyo's Times Square. The hieroglyphs "Gin-Za" mean "Silver Workshop" because they minted silver coins there back in medieval times. The world's leading fashion flagship stores, such as Chanel, Dior, Mikimoto, Cartier, and Louis Vuitton, lined up on Ginza Dori Street. All these architectural landmarks were designed by the most famous architects in the world. Ginza is also home to many traditional Japanese shops and luxurious restaurants that have existed here for several decades. Technology fans can enjoy visiting the Nissan Expo Center or check out the variety of gadgets in the Sony Building.
After that, you will visit Shinjuku, Tokyo's downtown. From the 45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Building, designed by Kenzo Tange, you will enjoy a stunning view of the city below. On a cloudless day, you can even see Mt. Fuji's silhouette!
Then, it would be the right time to visit the new – world's tallest TV tower – Tokyo Sky Tree. Climb up to the observation deck at an altitude of 345 meters! The tower's four elevators make 600 meters per minute, and each elevator symbolizes one of the four seasons. Interestingly, the height of the tower – 634 meters – is very symbolic. The sequence of these numbers in Japanese is rendered as "mu," "sa," and "si," which is phonetically consonant with "Musashi," which was the ancient name of the site's area.
3
day
Day 3. Excursion to Kamakura
07:00-09:00
Breakfast in the hotel.
09:50
Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby.
10:00- 18:00
Excursion to Kamakura.
Full description
Kamakura is the medieval military capital of Japan. It was founded by Minamoto Yoritomi, the first shogun of Japan. The era when Kamakura was the capital gave its name to the historical period of the same name in the history of Japan.
After meeting the guide at the reception, you will start your excursion to Kamakura, the ancient military capital of Japan. The city is located on the Pacific coast and surrounded by picturesque mountains, making it an impregnable fortress for enemies. You will see the Shinto shrine Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, which is dedicated to the god of war. Then, you will walk the famous Wakamiya Oji road, which splits the city and leads to the shrine. The road runs between two ponds: one is called "Genji," which means life, and another is "Heike," which means death.
The next spot, the Kotoku family temple, includes the Great Bronze Buddha Daibutsu, which is 13.5 meters high. The shrine was created in 1252 and survived severe fires, powerful earthquakes, and tsunamis. Then, you will see the three-level Hasedera temple. On top of a sacred hill is the famous gilded sculpture of the eleven-faced goddess Kannon, the tallest wooden sculpture in Japan, 9.5 meters high. Buddhist monks carved The sculpture from a single trunk of a camphor tree. You will get back to your Tokyo hotel after the tour is finished.
4
day
Day 4 Transfer to Kyoto and tour of Kyoto.
06:45-07-45
Breakfast in the hotel.
08:00
Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby.
08:20
Transfer to the station Tokyo.
09:00
Travel by high speed train to Kyoto.
11:20
Arrival in Kyoto, meeting with the guide at the train carriage.
11:40-18:00
Tour of Kyoto.
Full description
Kyoto is the ancient imperial capital of Japan, one of the oldest cities in the country, the entire historical part of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kyoto was founded in the 8th century and served as the Imperial residence for almost twelve centuries. Among its numerous temples and sacred sites in Kyoto, one can highlight the Sanjusan-gendo temple, built back in 1164. Even today, it is the longest wooden structure in the world. In the long central hall, in the twilight, there are 1001 statues of the goddess Kannon the Merciful. You will have a lunch break then at a traditional Japanese restaurant.
Another Kyoto gem is the Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion, an elegant three-level temple with its roof covered with thin sheets of gold. The building is also topped with a traditional bronze phoenix. The temple is located in a magnificent garden from the Muromachi period. Nearby is the world-famous Zen rock garden of Ryoanji: fifteen stones seem to be randomly scattered on the white gravel, but from any point only fourteen are visible...
The Silver Pavilion, Ginkaku-ji, is another architectural masterpiece. The temple is gracefully reflected in the adjacent lake, making it a classic Kyoto view... Finally, you will walk down the open veranda of Kiyomizudera, or the Temple of Pure Water. You will enjoy a stunning Kyoto panoramic view. The local legend says that if you take three sips from the adjacent spring, your wish will come true! You will wrap up your Kyoto’s experience by visiting the legendary Geisha Gion quarter, which has been a center of entertainment since ancient times. You will come back to your Kyoto hotel after the tour is finished.
5
day
Day 5 Excursion to Nara and transfer to Tokyo.
07:00-09:00
Breakfast at the Ryokan and check out.
09:50
Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby.
10:00-16:00
Excursion to Nara.
16:10
Transfer to Kyoto station.
16:30
Traveling by high speed train to Tokyo...
18:50
Arrival in Tokyo and transfer to the hotel.
Full description
The city is very close to Kyoto, just half an hour away. During its foundation, several majestic temples have been built here. For example, the Todaiji Temple, which was completed in 725. This is one the greatest wooden structures on Earth. Todaiji now is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This temple is dedicated to the Buddha of Infinite Light incarnation, embodied in the sun. Inside, there is a giant bronze Buddha statue, the largest in Japan.
In the 5th century AD, Japan borrowed a lot from China and Korea in terms of civilizational development. Religion was one of these gifts from Asia's mainland. Japanese have also borrowed writing, architecture, and even urban planning that dominated the Chinese Tang Dynasty style back then. This is why Nara, as Japan's first permanent capital, was built on the model of Changyan, the capital of China at the time.
Near Todaiji, another Buddhist temple, Kofukuji, is located; it was built in the 7th century. Its pagoda, Goju-no-to, is one of the tallest in the country. This "skyscraper of the past" is 55-meter high! The Goju-no-Pagoda is the most famous graphic symbol of Nara.
Thanks to Nara's compact site, people usually come here for just a day, which is enough to see all the sights. Of course, the Kasuga Taisha Shinto Shrine is also worth your attention. At the entrance to the temple, there is a wisteria tree, whose age is estimated to be 800 years! Inside, on the temple grounds, is a Japanese cedar tree, which is around ten centuries old! All year round, the temples in Nara host various Buddhist and Shinto religious festivals.
You will be transferred by car to the railway station, where you will board the Shinkansen super express to Tokyo. Upon arrival in Tokyo, you will check in to your hotel.
6
day
Day 6 Free day in Tokyo.
You can take additional excursions
Full description
Enjoy you free day in Tokyo!
7
day
Day 7 Free day in Tokyo.
You can take additional excursions
Full description
Enjoy your free day in Tokyo!
8
day
Day 8 Transfer to Narita Airport and departure from Tokyo
00:00 - 24:00
Breakfast at the hotel, check-out and transfer by car to Narita airport.
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