Japan’s Capitals

Japan’s Capitals – Day 1 – Arrival in Tokyo

Upon your arrival at Tokyo Airport, one of our representatives will meet you and assist you with boarding the right train or shared shuttle bus to your hotel.

The rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight in Tokyo

Distance and journey time:
Narita International Airport (NRT) to Tokyo City (95km): approx. 90mins
Haneda International Airport (HND) to Tokyo City (25km): approx. 50mins

Japan’s Capitals – Day 2 – Tokyo (B)

This morning your guide will meet you at your hotel to take you to a full day of sightseeing in Tokyo, utilising the city’s efficient train system.

The day will begin with a stroll through Hama-Rikyu Teien, the former private garden of an Edo Period lord. Take a break in the tea house known as ‘Nakajima No Chaya’ which stands elegantly in the park’s lake. Here, you will have the chance to get a taste of matcha, or Japanese green tea.

You will then have the opportunity to see Tokyo from a different angle as you take the boat cruise along the Sumida River.

Next stop will be Asakusa, a part of Tokyo’s shitamachi, or old town. Asakusa is the city’s oldest Geisha district and also the home to Senso–ji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple. The streets around Senso-ji feature many traditional shops that sell Japanese crafts and souvenirs and are a delight to wander through.

In the afternoon, head across Tokyo to Omotesando, commonly referred to as Tokyo’s Champs-Elysee. This broad, tree-lined avenue boasts a multitude of fashion flagship stores designed by internationally renowned architects.

Before the tour ends, take time to explore Meiji Shrine, which is Tokyo’s most famous shrine, dedicated to the spirit of the late Emperor Meiji.

Note: The order of this itinerary may change depending on the location of your hotel.

Overnight in Tokyo

Start (guided tour): 09:00
Duration: 8hrs
*including pick-up/drop-off and transfer times

Japan’s Capitals – Day 3 – Tokyo, Day Trip to Kamakura (B)

Today you will visit the humble yet historical town of Kamakura. In the morning, your guide will pick you up from your hotel to show you some of its prized tourist spots.

You will first visit Engaku-ji Temple, the second of the five great Zen temples in Kamakura. Aside from having a number of historical artefacts, the temple also features a Japanese tea house where visitors can enjoy a cup of green tea, amazake (sweet sake) or some Japanese confectionery.

Your next stop will be at Kotoku-in Temple to visit the Daibutsu, the second biggest bronze Buddha in Japan, standing at 13 meters tall. Go inside the statue to learn more about the Great Buddha and the details in its construction.

A short walk from Kotoku-in is Hase-dera Temple, famous for its wooden statue of Kannon and hundreds of stone statues of Jizo. Inside the vast temple grounds, you will also find a small cave, believed to be built by the legendary Kukai, and a wooden veranda, where you can have a nice view of the ocean.

Travel back to the center via the century-old railway, Enoden, and get off at Kamakura Station. From there you will proceed to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, passing through the busy streets of Komachi-dori. The shrine is dedicated to Hachiman, the Shinto god of the samurais and the patron saint of the founder of Kamakura.

After the tour, you have the option to be escorted back to Tokyo by your guide or to disband at Kamakura Station.

Note: The Giant Buddha will be covered by scaffolding from 13^th January 2016 to 10^th March 2016 due to regular inspection and maintenance.

Overnight in Tokyo

Distance and journey time:
JR Tokyo Station to JR Kita-Kamakura Station (52km): approx. 54mins
JR Kamakura Station to JR Tokyo Station (54km): approx. 61mins

Start (guided tour): 09:00
Duration: 8hrs
*including pick-up/drop-off and transfer times

Japan’s Capitals – Day 4 – Tokyo – Kyoto (B,D)

It’s time to leave Tokyo behind and start your journey to Kyoto, Japan’s reigning cultural capital and home to 2,000 shrines and temples, including 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You will be boarding the top-of-the-line Nozomi, theshinkansen (bullet train) capable of reaching the speed of up to 330kph.

The rest of the day is at leisure until your scheduled cultural activity in the afternoon.

Meet your local guide at the designated meeting spot in Nishiki Market from where you will embark on a tour that will delight your senses.

You will first have a guided tour in the mile-long Nishiki, passing by some interesting food stalls and learning about the local Japanese produce, while your guide assists you in buying the right ingredients that you will need in your cooking class. Your guide will then take you to the backstreets to visit a former sake brewery and have the chance to sample the local brew before heading to the cooking class venue. (Note: In case the brewery is closed, the admission ticket to the brewery is offered so that clients can visit on other days during their stay in Kyoto).

Your cooking class will take place in a machiya, a well-restored wooden house that is typical for Kyoto. This afternoon, you will learn how to make rolled sushi, miso soup and salad, with a seasonal fruit for dessert. After your class, you will have the chance to sit down and share the meal with your teacher.

The activity finishes at the venue, with the rest of the evening free at leisure.

Overnight in Kyoto

Start (cultural activity): 14:30
Duration: 3.5hrs

Japan’s Capitals – Day 5 – Kyoto (B)

Today you explore the former imperial capital with a knowledgeable local guide, utilising Kyoto’s comprehensive bus system to visit some of Kyoto’s World Heritage Sites.

You will start your day with a visit to Nijo Castle. This ornamental castle was built by the founder of the Edo Shogunate as his Kyoto residence and is surrounded by stunning gardens. The main building was completed in 1603 and is famous for its Momoyama architecture, decorated sliding doors, and ‘chirping nightingale floors’.

Continue on to Ryoan-ji Temple, the site of Japan’s most famous rock garden. Originally served as an aristocrat’s villa during the Heian Period, the site was later on converted into a Zen Buddhist temple in the year 1450. Now, it belongs to the Myoshinji School of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism.

You will also visit Kinkaku–ji, or the Golden Pavilion, which was originally built as a retirement villa for the Shogun. After his death, it became a Buddhist Temple at his request and is now one of Kyoto’s most famous temples.

Next in the list is Kyomizu-dera, or ‘pure water temple’. From the 13-meter high veranda jutting out from the main hall, you can enjoy amazing views of the whole of Kyoto whilst pondering the fact that both the main hall and the veranda were built without the use of nails.

Before the tour ends, stroll through the atmospheric Higashiyama district, where busy lanes lead up to Kiyomizu and are filled with quaint shops selling souvenirs such as Kyomizu-yaki pottery, sweets, and pickles.

Note: Kiyomizu Temple is currently undergoing partial renovations.

Overnight in Kyoto

Start (guided tour): 09:00
Duration: 8hrs
*including pick-up/drop-off and transfer times

Japan’s Capitals – Day 6 – Kyoto, Day Trip to Nara (B)

Today is a self-guided day.

Suggested Self-Guide Itinerary:
This morning you will have the chance to go out of town and travel to Nara with your included train tickets. For 74 years during the 8^th century, Nara was Japan’s capital and many of the temples and shrines built at that time still remain.

Nara is just a small town, with most of its main tourist spots located around Nara Park, where you can encounter quite a great number of tamed deer. You can visit Todaiji Temple, the world’s largest wooden building and home to Japan’s largest Buddha, and Kasuga Taisha, Nara’s most celebrated shrine.

Overnight in Kyoto

Distance and journey time:
Kyoto Station to Kintetsu Nara Station (39km): approx. 35mins *via Limited Express train

Japan’s Capitals – Day 7 – Departure from Kyoto (B)

The rest of the day is at leisure until your scheduled transfer via shared shuttle van to Kansai International Airport.

Distance and journey time:
Kyoto to Kansai International Airport (KIX) (94km):  approx. 2hrs