Country Discovery
Japan
Country Discovery
Japan
Day 1
We meet our travel companions as we check-in in our hotel in Tokyo. The meeting time is at 6pm, so we have enough time in the evening to get our first taste of Japan in a local restaurant and take a walk around the city.
And before going to bed, we start off the trip strong with a visit to the highest viewpoint in the world, the Tokyo Skytree. There's no better way to get a feeling of the city than from 630 meters!
The flight to Tokyo and transportation from the airport are not included in the price to grant you full flexibility when to arrive.
Day 2
Today is all about the historical parts of the city. We start in the morning with the oldest and most impressive Buddhist temple in Tokyo, Senso-ji. The area around the temple, Asakusa, is filled with small shops and tasty street food, and we are definitely stopping for a bite (or two!).
We then head to Ueno Park for a walk among its beautiful nature and for a relaxing lunch in the area.
In the afternoon we visit the shopping district of Ginza and the Imperial Palace, still the main residence of the imperial family today.
After a quick shower in the hotel, we prepare to spend the evening in the night-life center of Tokyo: Shinjuku! Will we visit one of the buzzing clubs here or sing our hearts out at a Japanese karaoke? The choice is ours!
Day 3
We kick-off the day with a visit to teamLab Planets, a one-of-a-kind museum mixing digital arts and nature that will leave us astonished. From there we walk across the Rainbow Bridge to enjoy a city landscape landscape from the Tokyo Bay and see two familiar sights: a giant Gundam statue and the Statue of Liberty! That's right, you are not reading the New York Discovery itinerary, Tokyo has a large replica of the Statue of Liberty 🤔.
For lunch, we'll fill our stomachs in the famous Tsukiji Market, the best place in Tokyo for fresh seafood and traditional dishes. Here, you can find anything from Octopus-mashed crackers to original Matcha tea and lattes, there's something for everyone's buds.
We spend the afternoon in Akihabara, the extravagant neighborhood famous for giant electronic stores, cat cafes and anything Anime and Manga related. If your childhood included Pokémon, arcade games and gameboys, Akihabara will be a throwback to those sweet days.
In the evening we visit Shibuya, the epicenter of modern Japanese culture. We'll walk through the famous street crossing at night and visit the shopping and cultural districts around. Another chance to try local bars and karaokes!
Day 4
Few sights are as iconic and recognizable as Mount Fuji, the mountain in everyone's imaginary. Lucky for us, Japan's amazing public transportation allows us to reach it as a day trip from Tokyo! We leave early to catch a train to Lake Kawaguchi, the prime spot to enjoy breathless views of Fuji.
Depending on the season, we will be delighted with Spring Sakura or colorful Autumun foliage in the parks surrounding the lake. Some of us might fancy a relaxing bike ride among fields of tulips, roses and other flowers, as we circle around the lake to get different views of Mt. Fuji.
Before heading back to Tokyo we hike through the Arakurayama sanctuary. At the top, an iconic Pagoda with Fuji in the background rewards us for the fatigue to get there.
We take things easy in the evening, tomorrow morning we leave Tokyo for the second part of the itinerary. A well deserved dinner and off to bed!
Day 5
Today takes us to the old capital of Japan, Kyoto. We catch the famous Shinkansen train, covering the 450km between Tokyo and Kyoto in only 2:10hr, one of the marvels of Japanese technology. After checking-in in our accomodation for the next 5 days, we head to Nishiki Market for lunch. It's the oldest food market in town, dating back 400 years!
With full bellies, it's time to explore our first temple in Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera. It's a large complex nested in the forests around the city, welcoming us for a peaceful afternoon stroll in the nature. We then head back to the hotel early to get some rest and a warm shower after the long day behind. Tonight, we visit a local restaurant to try Kyoto's cusine and then get lost in the city's nightlife!
Day 6
Today we explore the more naturalistic part of Kyoto, Arashiyama. We first visit the Iwatayama Monkey Park, hiking up to the mountaintop surrounded by wild monkeys. Don't worry, they don't bite! We'll even have a chance to feed the monkeys and make friends with them for some nice pictures. We then rent boats for a trip around the Katsura river, exploring the local waterfalls and typical houses on the shore.
For lunch we enjoy a unique experience, eating a true buddhist meal in the Tenryu-ji temple in the ways of the monks, all sitting together on the ground. In the afternoon we have two more must-see highlights, the stunning Bamboo forest and Kinkaku-ji, the golden temple.
Like the day before we explore the cuisine of Kyoto at another local restaurant and spend the night at the most famous Karaoke place in the city, we have a room all for ourselves and unlimited drinks!
Day 7
We start the day with the largest Inari shrine in Japan, Fushimi Inari Taisha. Given its popularity, we start our visit early in the morning to avoid the large crowds of people looking for the perfect shot among the orange gates. We allow ourselves enough time to fully explore the sanctuary, which takes up to 3 hours. From there, we walk to Gion, a traditional neighborhood where we can see Geishas strolling by even today.
After lunch, we visit the Hokan-ji Temple, home to the most iconic pagoda of Kyoto and equally liked by the crowds of tourists. Satisfied with the perfect shot, we attend a true tea cerimony reserved for us. For one hour, we will unwind and learn everything about the ancient art of making Matcha tea from pure green tea leaves. At the end we each taste our own creation, accompanied by some sweet Mochis to ease the bitter taste of Matcha.
Day 8
Today, we embark on a journey to explore two vibrant cities, Osaka and Kobe. In Osaka, known as the 'Nation's Kitchen', we begin our day at the lively Dotonbori district, famous for its extravagant neon lights and mouth-watering street food. We won't miss the chance to try local specialties like Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki! We then visit the majestic Osaka Castle, a symbol of the city's rich history and architectural grandeur.
Before sunset, we hop on a train to Kobe, a city renowned for its scenic beauty and delicious Kobe beef. Our first stop is the Kobe Harborland, where we enjoy a leisurely stroll along the waterfront and take in the picturesque views of the port area. As the day comes to a close, we indulge in a premium A5 Kobe meat dinner at a local restaurant, savoring every bite of this world-famous delicacy.
Day 9
Today, we venture to Nara, a city steeped in ancient history and cultural heritage. Our first stop is the Nara Park, home to hundreds of freely roaming deer considered as divine messengers in Shinto religion. We feed the friendly deer and capture memorable moments in the serene surroundings of the park.
Next, we visit the iconic Todai-ji Temple, housing the Great Buddha Hall, which boasts one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in the world. The magnitude of the statue leaves us in awe of the craftsmanship and religious significance.
After a traditional Japanese lunch, we explore the charming streets of Naramachi, a preserved merchant district offering insights into Nara's past. Here, we browse artisan shops and try local snacks, like the famous Mochis.
Our day concludes with a visit to the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, renowned for its thousands of lanterns illuminating the pathway to the sacred grounds.
Day 10
It's time to leave Kyoto and embark on another Shinkansen towards our next step, Hiroshima. Our first destination has to be the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, dedicated to the memory of the atomic bombing during World War II. Here, we pay our respects at the Atomic Bomb Dome, a haunting reminder of the devastation caused by the nuclear explosion.
Continuing our exploration, we visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, where exhibits and testimonies provide insight into the impact of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and its inhabitants.
After a heart-wrenching morning, we lift our morale with a visit to Miyajima Island, famous for its iconic Itsukushima Shrine and floating torii gate. We stroll along the island's scenic trails, admiring the lush forests and tranquil seaside views, and return to Hiroshima in time for dinner.
Day 11
Our penultimate day begins with a visit to Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Japan's most spectacular feudal castles. We marvel at the castle's elegant white facade and intricate defensive structures, learning about its rich history and strategic significance.
After exploring the castle grounds, we journey back to Tokyo for our final evening in the capital. We spend our last in Japan with a farewell dinner, a chance to share the best memories from the trip and get ready for a night out partying one last time together!
Day 12
Our adventure in Japan comes to a close today as we bid farewell to this captivating land of tradition, innovation, and natural beauty. It won't be long before we will back, however. Japan steals your heart like no other countries, forcing you to come back to its beauty once more. Until we meet again!
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