Traditions of Japan

Day 1 - Tokyo, Japan
Check-in to your choice of hotel, the deluxe Keio Plaza Hotel or the luxurious Park Hyatt Tokyo - both perfectly situated in Shinjuku, one of the city’s most popular districts for world-class shopping, great dining, and diverse entertainment.

Day 2 - Tokyo / Privately Guided Sightseeing
Tokyo is planted squarely in the 21st century and modern in every respect. But delve deeper and you’ll find ancient sites and age-old traditions - a fascinating contrast which you’ll explore today with your private car, driver, and guide. Your visit to the picturesque Imperial Palace Plaza offers insight into the private lives of Japan’s Imperial family. Later, stroll among the vendors of the bustling Nakamise Arcade to Asakusa Kannon Temple, the oldest in the city, as your guide offers insight into the spiritual and cultural traditions that shape the city and its residents. Then take in the breathtaking views from the new Roppongi Hills City View Observatory before returning to your hotel. The balance of your afternoon and evening are at leisure. Meals B

Day 3 - Tokyo – Privately Guided Nikko Excursion
Japan’s vaunted rail system is a marvel of comfort and efficiency. This morning, join your personal guide and walk to close-by Shinjuku Train Station to begin your full-day excursion to Nikko#WHS#. Marvel at the 17th-century Toshogu Shrine, a magnificent complex set against the wooded splendor of Nikko National Park. Continue on to tranquil Lake Chuzenji and the beautiful Kegon Waterfall before returning to Tokyo by train early in the evening. Meals B

Day 4 - Tokyo / Matsumoto / Takayama
A morning train ride brings you to Matsumoto for a private sightseeing tour through one of Japan’s most impressive castles. Matsumoto Castle is a wonderful example of a Hirajiro – or a castle built on a plain rather than on a mountain or hilltop. Constructed in the early 1600’s, the castle’s imposing black stone walls rise impressively from an expansive moat that surrounds most of the castle grounds. You also visit the Ukiyoe Art Museum to see one of the country’s most respected collections of traditional woodblock prints. Continue onward into the lovely Japan Alps to the enchanting town of Takayama. Enjoy dinner and a peaceful overnight at the deluxe Associa Takayama Resort. Meals B,D

Day 5 - Explore Takayama / Private Shirakawago Excursion
This picturesque mountain town was revered during the Edo period for the great skill of its carpenters, and many fine homes and shops were built during this time. Today, Takayama’s old town is wonderfully preserved with centuries-old wooden buildings and even entire streets of homes dating to the 18th and 19th centuries. Today’s privately guided sightseeing includes Takayama Jinya, a complex of 17th century buildings that once housed officials of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Visit the Festival Floats Exhibition Hall to see parade floats that have been used for centuries during the city’s renowned spring and autumn festivals. Some of these grand floats, dating back hundreds of years, are decorated with Karakuri Ningyo – sophisticated mechanical figures that can move and dance – testament to the skill of Takayama’s long-ago craftsmen.

Then journey into Shirakawago#WHS#, a peaceful mountain region of rural villages. In Ogimachi, you’ll see marvelous examples of Gassho-Zukuri, or ‘Joined Hands Farmhouses’. Designed to survive heavy winter snowfalls, these charming homes – some more than 200 years old – have steeply pitched thatched roofs that resemble two hands held together in prayer. Return to Takayama where your evening is at leisure. Meals B

Day 6 - Takayama / Kyoto – Gion Walking Tour
Depart by express train this morning for Kyoto, where you’ll be escorted to your luxury hotel, the Hyatt Regency Kyoto in the heart of the city. Take advantage of your hotel’s prime location to step out on your own in the afternoon. Kyoto has long been revered as the artistic, spiritual and cultural heart of the country – and a stroll through the friendly streets is a delightful experience. This evening, your guide will lead you on a memorable walking tour in Gion, the city’s ancient entertainment district where Kabuki and Geisha traditions began centuries ago. Exploring with your guide through the narrow streets lined with traditional wooden buildings, you’re likely to see a Maiko – an apprentice Geisha – hurrying on her way to music, dance or conversation lessons. Meals B

Day 7 - Kyoto / Full Day Privately Guided Sightseeing
Join your guide this morning to discover Kyoto’s most revered sights, beginning at Kinkaku-ji Temple#WHS#, the Golden Pavilion. Established in the 14th century but rebuilt after a devastating fire, this much photographed golden temple is perfectly situated by a tranquil pond and surrounded by beautiful gardens and forested hills. Then tour the impressive, vermilion-hued Heian Shrine and Nijo Castle, famous for its ‘Nightingale Floors’ that chirp like birds when walked upon – a clever security measure to protect the Shogun from would-be assassins! In the afternoon, we’ve made special arrangements for you to visit with a Kyoto family. Experience a traditional tea ceremony and learn about Japanese culture and daily life – perhaps cooking, flower arranging (Ikebana), calligraphy, or the elaborate and complex process of donning a kimono. Meals B

Day 8 - Kyoto – Day at Leisure
Enjoy this day to explore at your own pace. With more than 1,000 years of history – and home to 20% of Japan’s designated National Treasures – there’s no shortage of sites to see or things to do in this sophisticated city, from peaceful Zen gardens and Shinto shrines to landscaped parks and vibrant commercial districts filled with cafes, eateries, and boutiques.

Day 9 - Kyoto
Our program finishes this morning. Or, explore more of Japan and Asia with our flexible and affordable FreeStyle Add-ons. Meals B

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Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
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