Essence of Japan

•   Unique cultural experience at an authentic Japanese ryokan, featuring an overnight stay and a special dinner

Day 1: Arrive Tokyo
Tour begins: Hotel Seiyo Ginza at 6:30 PM. A transfer is included from Tokyo Narita Airport and Hacenda Airport to the Hotel Seiyo Ginza for your three-night stay in the heart of Tokyo. Designed to reflect the hospitality of an elegant private home, your accommodations are ideally located in Ginza. Meet your fellow travelers at our welcome dinner. Meals D
Overnight: Hotel Seiyo Ginza, Tokyo
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Discover the Sights of Tokyo
Tokyo is a visual feast of centuries-old traditions and modern-day sophistication. Past meets present today as Tauck hosts you on a guided city sightseeing excursion that includes the Imperial Palace, Edo Tokyo Museum, Asakusa Kannon Temple and the Nakamise Shopping Arcade. Get an authentic taste of life in this dynamic city at a hands-on sushi-making demonstration at lunch. Meals BL
Overnight: Hotel Seiyo Ginza, Tokyo
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 3: Dancing at Meiji Shrine / Ginza
No matter how fast-paced and trendy, life in Tokyo reflects a reverence for cultural traditions than transcends generations. You'll experience it when you take off your shoes for a visit inside the Meiji Shrine today, honoring the spirits of the Emperor Meiji and his Empress Shoken with eternal serenity and tranquil manicured gardens. You'll hear it at a special performance showcasing age-old Shinto music with the ancient Kagura dance. You'll feel it when you stroll through the streets of Ginza, where the latest designer goods are sold by kimono-clad shopkeepers who bow their greetings to you. And you'll taste it during tonight's dinner at a Japanese restaurant renowned for serving time-honored culinary dishes and a mix of more modern fare. Meals BLD
Overnight: Hotel Seiyo Ginza, Tokyo
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4: Fuji-Hakone National Park
Speed into the countryside aboard Japan's renowned Bullet Train, the Shinkansen, reputed to be Asia's fastest train, to a a place where time slows down. Your destination is the hilly hot-springs town of Hakone in Fuji-Hakone National Park, bursting with scenic beauty and natural treasures. Visit the Hakone Open-Air Museum to view its harmonious collection of sculpture from the post-Rodin period and art by Pablo Picasso, Renoir and Miro. Cruise the waters of sparkling Lake Ashi - weather permitting, savor a glimpse of Mt. Fuji - and experience a gondola ride on the Hakone Ropeway over the mountains. Continue on to your hotel. The Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort & Spa boasts panoramic views of historic Gora Valley and is well known for its onsens (hot springs). Meals BLD
Overnight: Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort & Spa, Hakone
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5: Hakone / Japanese Alps
An early morning departure takes you on a drive through the Alps of Japan, towering some 9,000 feet over the landscapes below. Rice farms dominate the valleys, while lush forests blanket the mountains. Visit the Itchiku Kubota Museum, showcasing Japanese textiles and kimonos of the artist after whom the museum is named, and tour beautiful Matsumoto Castle. Continue on to your mountain resort in the 16th-century town of Takayama where a multi-course regional feast awaits at dinner tonight. Meals BLD
Overnight: Hotel Associa Takayama Resort, Takayama
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6: Historic Takayama
Takayama is renowned for its remarkably preserved Edo-period merchants' shops and houses, quaint village streets and sake. Take a walking tour of the town, visiting the farmers' morning market, the Festival Float Museum and the historic Takayama Jinya. There are more than 2,000 different brands of sake produced throughout Japan. Taste a representative sampling today when you visit a local sake brewery. The remainder of the day is free; there are wonderful museums, boutiques and antique shops to explore, bikes to ride and hot springs to relax in. Dine as you please for lunch and dinner. Meals B
Overnight: Hotel Associa Takayama Resort, Takayama
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7: Shirakawa-go / Ryokan
Journey into the mountains to Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is well known for its villages of thatched gassho-zukuri (praying hands) farmhouses. Visit a private 300-year-old family home and stroll through the historic village of Ogimachi, the largest village with 59 intact gassho houses. Continue north past picturesque fishing villages and farms to your Japanese ryokan-style hotel, embodying both luxury and simplicity. Become immersed in an array of Japanese customs while you are here; soak in rejuvenating communal baths; don traditional dress for a typical dinner and sleep atop a futon. Meals BLD
Overnight: Kagaya Hotel, Wakura Onsen
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8: Kanazawa / Kyoto
Learn about rice farming from a local farmer when you go inside his private home en route to Kanazawa today, a great opportunity to continue discovering the essence of Japan! Kanazawa welcomes you with winding cobblestone streets, samurai residences, Geisha houses, museums, gardens, a flower-filled open-air market - and a tempura lunch compliments of Tauck. Walk it off on a stroll through Kenroku-en Garden, ranked among the country's top three gardens; translated, its name means “a refined garden incorporating six attributes: spaciousness, careful arrangement, seclusion, antiquity, elaborate use of water and scenic charm.” Samurais have made their homes in this village since the Edo Period; see how these exalted Japanese warriors lived back then when you visit the family of the Nomura Samurai House - don't forget to remove your shoes upon entering. Then it's off to explore the 300-year-old Omicho Market, a feast for the senses with 200 stalls selling seafood, vegetables, and fruit. Leave the sea-swept Noto Peninsula behind when you board a train for your journey south to Kyoto, the former capital of Japan for 1,000 years. Spend the next four nights at The Westin Miyako, Kyoto. Located amidst a tranquil garden setting in the heart of the city, your accommodations put you within easy walking distance of major sights. Meals BLD
Overnight: The Westin Miyako, Kyoto
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9: Enchanting Kyoto
A full day of city sightseeing begins with a visit to Kinkakuji Temple; this Golden Pavilion was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore Nijo Castle, best known for its ornate interiors and nightingale floors; built of Japanese cypress by the first Tokugawa shogun in 1603, it is a wonderful example of Momoyama architecture. Have dinner on your own tonight; Kyoto offers an abundance of fine restaurants to choose from with a diverse array of international cuisine. Meals BL
Overnight: The Westin Miyako, Kyoto
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 10: Temples of Tranquil Nara
Tour Sanjusangendo Temple, home to 1,001 wooden cyprus statues of Kannon-Bosatsu dating back to the 13th century. Continue on to Nara, where you'll savor an unforgettable glimpse of old Japan on visits to ancient temples, shrines and gardens and during lunch at a Japanese restaurant. See the Daibutsu (Great Buddha) at the Todai-ji Temple in Nara Park; at more than 50 feet high, the huge statue is the largest bronze Buddha in all of Japan. Stroll the wooded grounds of the stunning vermilion-colored Kasuga Grand Shrine, adorned with some 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns, before returning to Kyoto for free time. Meals BL
Overnight: The Westin Miyako, Kyoto
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 11: A Day at Leisure in Kyoto
Kyoto abounds with a rich legacy of ancient treasures, cultural gems and natural beauty that spans the centuries. “Take the plunge,” Kyoto-style, today on a visit to Kiyomizu Temple; the expression comes from the great views you will see from the cliff-top verandah off the main hall. Try your hand at calligraphy and Origami, the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, when you visit a private home for a tea ceremony with your local hosts. The afternoon is free for you to enjoy Kyoto as you wish. Join us for a special farewell dinner tonight featuring a memorable Geisha and Maiko (Geisha in training) performance, reflecting the true essence of Japanese culture. Meals BD
Overnight: The Westin Miyako, Kyoto
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 12: Journey Home
Tour ends: Osaka’s Kansai or Itami Airport. A transfer is included for the 1 1/2 hour trip from your hotel in Kyoto to the airports in Osaka; allow a minimum of 21/2 hours for flight check-in.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Don't miss our current specials: Tauck Tour Deals Traveling with a group of friends or family can add to the joy of any journey. Book a group of 10 on any Tauck land journey or cruise and the 11th guest travels FREE. Book a group of 8 on any Tauck Bridges family adventure and the 9th guest travels FREE Tauck Single Specials For those seeking singles tours, we are pleased to offer special values on select departures to our guests who choose to travel solo. You can travel with peace of mind, knowing that you are among like-minded travelers and will have all the day-to-day details handled for you! While everyone is welcome, on these select dates we offer special arrangements to those traveling solo at a reduced cost. Tauck Single Specials in North America Best of the Canadian Rockies Michigan's Lakes & Mackinac Island Charleston/Savannah Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia San Fransisco, Sonoma & Napa Valleys Tauck Single Specials in Europe A Week in Ireland A Week in Spain Mediterranean Discovery Istanbul and the Black Sea Treasure of the Mediterranean Cruising Mediterranean Shores The Blue Danube Holland Belgium in Spring Strasbourg to Prague Serenade The Rhine and Moselle Budapest to Amsterdam by Riverboat Budapest to the Black Sea Classic Italy Bellissima Northern Italy Italian Lakes, Venice, Florence and Rome A Week in Paris and Provence Tauck Singles Specials in Latin America Panama Canal & Costa Rica
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
9/3/2010 - 9/15/2010	$5,990
9/10/2010 - 9/22/2010	$5,990
9/17/2010 - 9/29/2010	$5,990
9/24/2010 - 10/6/2010	$7,290
10/1/2010 - 10/13/2010	$5,990
10/4/2010 - 10/16/2010	$5,990
10/8/2010 - 10/20/2010	$7,290
10/15/2010 - 10/27/2010	$5,990
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Flying to Japan To ease the effects of jet lag, please consider traveling to Tokyo, Japan, a day early. Tauck can book your international flights for travel originating in the United States, including arranging an additional night at the Hotel Seiyo Ginza, giving you time to rest and relax before your journey begins. Ask for details upon booking. 1. Arrive Tokyo Tour begins: Hotel Seiyo Ginza at 6:30 PM. A transfer is included from Tokyo Narita Airport and Hacenda Airport to the Hotel Seiyo Ginza for your three-night stay in the heart of Tokyo. Designed to reflect the hospitality of an elegant private home, your accommodations are ideally located in Ginza. Meet your fellow travelers at our welcome dinner. Meals D 2. Discover the Sights of Tokyo Tokyo is a visual feast of centuries-old traditions and modern-day sophistication. Past meets present today as Tauck hosts you on a guided city sightseeing excursion that includes the Imperial Palace, Edo Tokyo Museum, Asakusa Kannon Temple and the Nakamise Shopping Arcade. Get an authentic taste of life in this dynamic city at a hands-on sushi-making demonstration at lunch. Meals BL 3. Dancing at Meiji Shrine / Ginza No matter how fast-paced and trendy, life in Tokyo reflects a reverence for cultural traditions than transcends generations. You’ll experience it when you take off your shoes for a visit inside the Meiji Shrine today, honoring the spirits of the Emperor Meiji and his Empress Shoken with eternal serenity and tranquil manicured gardens. You’ll hear it at a special performance showcasing age-old Shinto music with the ancient Kagura dance. You’ll feel it when you stroll through the streets of Ginza, where the latest designer goods are sold by kimono-clad shopkeepers who bow their greetings to you. And you’ll taste it during tonight’s dinner at a Japanese restaurant renowned for serving time-honored culinary dishes and a mix of more modern fare. Meals BLD 4. Fuji-Hakone National Park Speed into the countryside aboard Japan’s renowned Bullet Train, the Shinkansen, reputed to be Asia’s fastest train, to a a place where time slows down. Your destination is the hilly hot-springs town of Hakone in Fuji-Hakone National Park, bursting with scenic beauty and natural treasures. Visit the Hakone Open-Air Museum to view its harmonious collection of sculpture from the post-Rodin period and art by Pablo Picasso, Renoir and Miro. Cruise the waters of sparkling Lake Ashi – weather permitting, savor a glimpse of Mt. Fuji – and experience a gondola ride on the Hakone Ropeway over the mountains. Continue on to your hotel. The Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort & Spa boasts panoramic views of historic Gora Valley and is well known for its onsens (hot springs). Meals BLD 5. Hakone / Japanese Alps An early morning departure takes you on a drive through the Alps of Japan, towering some 9,000 feet over the landscapes below. Rice farms dominate the valleys, while lush forests blanket the mountains. Visit the Itchiku Kubota Museum, showcasing Japanese textiles and kimonos of the artist after whom the museum is named, and tour beautiful Matsumoto Castle. Continue on to your mountain resort in the 16th-century town of Takayama where a multi-course regional feast awaits at dinner tonight. Meals BLD 6. Historic Takayama Takayama is renowned for its remarkably preserved Edo-period merchants’ shops and houses, quaint village streets and sake. Take a walking tour of the town, visiting the farmers’ morning market, the Festival Float Museum and the historic Takayama Jinya. There are more than 2,000 different brands of sake produced throughout Japan. Taste a representative sampling today when you visit a local sake brewery. The remainder of the day is free; there are wonderful museums, boutiques and antique shops to explore, bikes to ride and hot springs to relax in. Dine as you please for lunch and dinner. Meals B 7. Shirakawa-go / Ryokan Journey into the mountains to Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is well known for its villages of thatched gassho-zukuri (praying hands) farmhouses. Visit a private 300-year-old family home and stroll through the historic village of Ogimachi, the largest village with 59 intact gassho houses. Continue north past picturesque fishing villages and farms to your Japanese ryokan-style hotel, embodying both luxury and simplicity. Become immersed in an array of Japanese customs while you are here; soak in rejuvenating communal baths; don traditional dress for a typical dinner and sleep atop a futon. Meals BLD 8. Kanazawa / Kyoto Learn about rice farming from a local farmer when you go inside his private home en route to Kanazawa today, a great opportunity to continue discovering the essence of Japan! Kanazawa welcomes you with winding cobblestone streets, samurai residences, Geisha houses, museums, gardens, a flower-filled open-air market – and a tempura lunch compliments of Tauck. Walk it off on a stroll through Kenroku-en Garden, ranked among the country’s top three gardens; translated, its name means “a refined garden incorporating six attributes: spaciousness, careful arrangement, seclusion, antiquity, elaborate use of water and scenic charm.” Samurais have made their homes in this village since the Edo Period; see how these exalted Japanese warriors lived back then when you visit the family of the Nomura Samurai House – don’t forget to remove your shoes upon entering. Then it’s off to explore the 300-year-old Omicho Market, a feast for the senses with 200 stalls selling seafood, vegetables, and fruit. Leave the sea-swept Noto Peninsula behind when you board a train for your journey south to Kyoto, the former capital of Japan for 1,000 years. Spend the next four nights at The Westin Miyako, Kyoto. Located amidst a tranquil garden setting in the heart of the city, your accommodations put you within easy walking distance of major sights. Meals BLD 9. Enchanting Kyoto A full day of city sightseeing begins with a visit to Kinkakuji Temple; this Golden Pavilion was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore Nijo Castle, best known for its ornate interiors and nightingale floors; built of Japanese cypress by the first Tokugawa shogun in 1603, it is a wonderful example of Momoyama architecture. Have dinner on your own tonight; Kyoto offers an abundance of fine restaurants to choose from with a diverse array of international cuisine. Meals BL 10. Temples of Tranquil Nara Tour Sanjusangendo Temple, home to 1,001 wooden cyprus statues of Kannon-Bosatsu dating back to the 13th century. Continue on to Nara, where you’ll savor an unforgettable glimpse of old Japan on visits to ancient temples, shrines and gardens and during lunch at a Japanese restaurant. See the Daibutsu (Great Buddha) at the Todai-ji Temple in Nara Park; at more than 50 feet high, the huge statue is the largest bronze Buddha in all of Japan. Stroll the wooded grounds of the stunning vermilion-colored Kasuga Grand Shrine, adorned with some 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns, before returning to Kyoto for free time. Meals BL 11. A Day at Leisure in Kyoto Kyoto abounds with a rich legacy of ancient treasures, cultural gems and natural beauty that spans the centuries. “Take the plunge,” Kyoto-style, today on a visit to Kiyomizu Temple; the expression comes from the great views you will see from the cliff-top verandah off the main hall. Try your hand at calligraphy and Origami, the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, when you visit a private home for a tea ceremony with your local hosts. The afternoon is free for you to enjoy Kyoto as you wish. Join us for a special farewell dinner tonight featuring a memorable Geisha and Maiko (Geisha in training) performance, reflecting the true essence of Japanese culture. Meals BD 12. Journey Home Tour ends: Osaka’s Kansai or Itami Airport. A transfer is included for the 1 1/2 hour trip from your hotel in Kyoto to the airports in Osaka; allow a minimum of 21/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

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