Japan Tour of Picturesque Nature, Imperial Glory, and Cultural Depth

En route to Tokyo, anticipation will build as you gear up for a vacation in a country unlike any other. Japan’s capital city is a destination overflowing with traditional charm and modern allure, boasting a dense collection of heritage sites sharing insight into the traditional Japanese culture and skyscrapers characteristic of its sophisticated technological and economical advancements. Tokyo is a dreamscape of luminescent billboards and atmospheric districts splashed in color and dotted with palatial architecture that you will have the pleasure of exploring in the days to come.

Your first afternoon in the Japanese capital will be free to enjoy the simple pleasures of Tokyo, whether that be during a light stroll around its humming districts to find hidden eateries or during a picnic in the luxuriant parks that breathe life into the high-tech cityscape. Regardless of how you choose to spend your first moments in Japan, you will be thrilled to find yourself enjoying the foreign sights and sounds that will introduce you to the local culture.

You will meet your tour guide at your hotel in the morning and head beneath ground to the Tokyo subway where you will zip around the cityscape to spectacular landmarks, starting with the impressive Meiji Jingu Shrine. Dressed in jewels and surrounded by luxuriant forest, the empirical site emanates a royal ambiance reminiscent of the former Japanese eras. The Imperial Palace Gardens are yet another ode to the empirical glory of Japan’s ruling parties during a time before our own, striking in their landscaped design and boasting ancient stone bridges.

You will submerge yourselves in Japanese culture today, beginning with a visit to the Sumo Stable, where you will watch as the famous Japanese wrestlers prepare and train for their tournaments. Stepping outside, you will continue to the eclectic and luxurious stores speckling Omotesando and Aoyama Streets before visiting the visionary exhibits in the TeamLab Borderless. In the evening, a professional chef will share the secrets to sushi-making while you prepare an assortment of staple Japanese dishes, using delicious, fresh seafood, that you will tuck into for dinner.

From Tokyo, you will head deeper into the Japanese countryside and escape the tourist crowds as you make your way to a destination flung off the beaten path, Hakone. After unpacking your belongings at your accommodation, you will visit the Hakone Open Air Museum to admire the elaborate displays and evocative artwork preserved within its walls. Emblematic pieces from some of Japan’s talented artists and even the works of Picasso can be found hanging from the walls of the beloved museum, a treasure trove of historical discoveries worth exploring.

Though your day is at leisure, there are a few experiences you may wish to consider after tucking into breakfast this morning. Such highlights include a trip to the summit of Komagatake with impeccable views of the snowy peaks of Mount Fuji, a gentle cruise across the sparkling waters of Lake Ashi, and a light stroll along the Edo-period Tokaido historic road. Each experience, should you choose to partake in one or more, will share more of Japan’s shrouded heritage while allowing you to soak up the stunning wilderness scenes that will circle you.

You will head for Kyoto on the seventh day of your vacation, a spectacular Japanese city surrounded by emerald hills and flecked with stunning sites yearning to be explored during your stay. You will make the trip on board a Shinkansen, a Japanese bullet train, and the images of Japan’s rolling countryside will blur in and out of vision from the windows of the speedy vehicle. Arriving in Kyoto, you will check into your delightful suite before touring the downtown district to sample an assortment of tantalizing snacks and delicacies.

Discover the beauty of Kyoto’s surrounding landscapes this morning on a charming Hozugawa river cruise that will share idyllic scenes of the lush greenery soundtracked by melodies of birds chanting from the thicket. These scenic moments will be elevated as you hop off and enter the Tenryu-Ji Gardens, an immaculately landscaped site surrounding the great temple of the same name. Strolling along the Bamboo Grove that sweeps from behind the temple, you will catch glimmers of the light pouring in through gaps in the rising plantlife before settling in at an izakaya, a traditional Japanese bar, for dinner.

After breakfast, you will visit one of Japan’s most mesmerizing and sacred shrines, the Fushimi Inari Shrine. The site, composed of 10,000 dazzling orange torii gates, is a staggering feat of construction that weaves through Kyoto like a colorful snake laying between the emerald trees. After strolling the impressive site, you will arrive at a local tea house and relish a traditional Matcha tea ceremony prepared by a master tea artist. With each sip of the steamy brew, you will feel more relaxed and vitalized while you listen to translated stories shared by your host.

You may spend your final day in Kyoto as you please, enjoying the humble local traditions or visiting a few more significant heritage sites dotting its lively districts. From the geisha district of Gion, a district dressed in color and flooded with a vibrant atmosphere, to the golden temples hovering above water, Kyoto is an endearing destination that boasts many marvelous opportunities to uncover Japanese culture. Its many charms will allow you to submerge yourself in the local lifestyle of the Kyoto people.

Making your way to Osaka today, you will stopover at the magnificent Nara Park, a wilderness haven where deers roam freely through the forest and birds sing from the trees. The world’s largest wooden structure, the Todai-Ji Temple, is a spiritual complex that stands within Nara and houses Japan’s second-largest bronze Buddha. Admire the ancient architectural wonder before you meet a traditional Uchiwa, a traditional Japanese fan maker, and watch as they demonstrate the artisanal craftsmanship that dates back centuries.

Cup noodles are a humble yet staple delicacy in Japan, and this iconic food was invented in Osaka, an origin story that will come to life as you visit the Osaka Cup Noodle Museum. Afterward, you will peruse the buzzing Doguya-suji Arcade en route to the Osaka Castle. A significant piece of history in Japan’s samurai heritage, the Osaka Castle, is a marvelous display of the country’s warring past that was a proving ground for samurai. Returning to Osaka city later today, you will soar to the top of the Umeda Sky Building to capture unparalleled panoramas of the cityscape.

As the sunshine blankets Osaka in the morning, you may settle in at the dining hall for a sumptuous Japanese breakfast. Though you will return home later today, you will take with you a collection of incredible memories captured during your time spent in Japan. From the remarkable historic encounters at sacred spiritual sites peppering each destination to the indulging culinary treats you will have savored at exquisite restaurants, you will embark for home, having explored the best of Japan from Tokyo to Osaka.