Japan
Experience the best of Japan on this in-depth authentic journey. Spend three weeks exploring castles, sampling street food, and meandering through picturesque gardens. Save some time to unwind in a regenerative hot spring bath.
April 9 - 13 | Tokyo
April 13 - 15 | Yamashiro Onsen
April 15 - 17 | Osaka
April 17 - 19 | Miyajima
April 19 - 21 | Matsuyama
April 21 - 23 | Iya Onsen
April 23 - 27 | Kyoto
April 27 - 29 | Mishima
April 29 - 30 | Tokyo
April 30 | Departure
Scenset Office: will be provided
Tokyo Partner Office (Destination Asia) - For any assistance you may require, please contact:
- will be provided (domestic number)
- will be provided (international number)
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri during business hours
- Sat, Sun & Public Holidays: Closed
For emergencies outside of business hours, please contact:
- will be provided (domestic number)
- will be provided (international number) – English Speaking Only
WhatsApp ID: DA Japan
Please state your Booking Reference Number to the Operator: R18184
As April progresses, the temperature gets warmer, and days brighter. Cherry Blossom season is in full effect as trees begin blooming with the warmer weather.
The high average temperature can go up to 19°C (66°F), and the lowest averages 10°C (50°F) in the morning and at night.
In Japan, there is always a chance of rainfall. In April, the average monthly rainfall is about 110 mm (4 inches). Pack accordingly!
- You are currently exempt from requiring a tourist visa with a Dutch passport. Please see here for updates.
- Fully vaccinated travelers having a booster dose don’t need a negative COVID-19 test result before traveling to Japan.
- Vaccinated travelers without a booster dose must have a negative pre-departure COVID-19 test result before traveling to Japan.
As of October 2022, Japan has lifted the ban on entry and visa-free travel has resumed (where applicable).
A valid vaccination certificate (3 shots) or a negative Covid-19 test certificate (taken within 72 hours before departure) is needed to enter Japan.
Please click here for full details.
Masks are required indoors (hotels, trains, planes, subways, cars, buses, restaurants, shops, etc.) except when eating or drinking.
Outdoors, follow the local custom. Wear a mask if others are wearing them or if requested, for example at a temple or shrine. This is important and prevents putting your guide in a difficult situation.
If others aren't wearing masks outdoors, you don't have to either.
These guidelines are for reference only. Scenset holds no responsibility for travel restrictions. Travelers are responsible for ensuring the right documentation to travel.
If you have the Japan Rail Pass, you need to use the seat reservation ticket and your pass. You can still use the pass without a seat reservation ticket if you board the non-reserved carriage. (applicable trains only)
If you do not have the Japan Rail Pass, you will have both of the below depicted tickets or both of the below tickets combined onto one piece.
If you are being met on the platform by a driver or guide/assistant, please be sure to leave the train at the nearest door as you will be met there. Please check each end of the carriage if you do not immediately see them.
Japan has an excellent overnight baggage forwarding service that you may want to use when you have long travel days. You can arrange this at hotel receptions.
Please show the reception staff the address of the hotel you want to send it to and they can fill in the forms for you. If you do this in the morning, the bags will be delivered to your next hotel the following day.
You will need to take an overnight bag with you for your one night stay.
Clothing:
- Light jackets or sweaters for cool evenings
- T-shirts or light shirts for warmer days
- Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers
- Socks and underwear
Travel essentials:
- Passport
- Travel itinerary, tickets, and reservations
- Portable charger for electronic devices
- Universal power adapter
- Camera and/or smartphone with extra memory card
- Cash and credit cards
- Travel insurance documents
Miscellaneous:
- Small daypack or backpack for daily excursions
- Hat or cap for sun protection
- Sunglasses
In general, tipping is not necessary in Japan. Guests do not have to tip restaurant staff, bellmen, taxi drivers, or housekeeping.
While not expected, guides and drivers will always appreciate a tip for their services. Amounts are not fixed, but any number beginning with 4 should be avoided for superstitious reasons (4 is pronounced the same as "death" in Japanese). Tips should be passed along in a plain, white envelope with no markings/ribbons on it.
Generally speaking, a gratuity in the region of per day for a guide, and a day for a driver is sufficient.
We have designed a great playlist for you to enjoy before and during your trip to Japan!
- Japan is a curated selection of popular music from Japanese artists; straight off the streets of Tokyo!
One of the world’s most cutting-edge capitals, Tokyo is a city of contrasts. Famous for its sprawling neon-lit landscape it is also home to expansive parkland, peaceful shrines and temples, and lovingly tended gardens. On the surface, Tokyo is a mix of digital trends and conspicuous consumption, but dig deeper and you will find a city rooted deeply in the traditional culture. Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples stand close to skyscrapers as a reminder of a more contemplative time.
Upon arrival in Tokyo, an English-speaking assistant will greet you at the arrivals hall and escort you to your private transfer.
As the Welcome Pack has already been sent to Narita, please be advised that it will now be delivered to your hotel by Monday, April 10th. Unfortunately, we are unable to adjust the delivery time. Therefore, we suggest that you inquire with the hotel staff about the delivery time after you return from your tour on this day.
Please note that the car can accommodate up to 1 large suitcase per person.
Confirmed by scenset
All transportation today will be done via public taxis, trains, and subways.
No transportation has been pre-arranged for today's schedule. This is to be paid directly.
All times indicated are approximate and are subject to change between 15-20 minutes either way due to general traffic conditions. Please be ready and waiting in reception at least 15 minutes prior to the stated departure time.
Take a full-day tour of this fascinating city with a local guide. The day begins with a visit to Asakusa, Tokyo’s old town where you can soak in the atmosphere of the Tokyo of old. Visit Sensoji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, and wander down Nakamise, a shopping street that has been providing temple visitors with a variety of traditional, local snacks and tourist souvenirs for centuries. Travel across town to Meiji Shrine, a shrine dedicated to the deified spirit of Emperor Meiji and a popular place for traditional Japanese weddings.
In the afternoon, you'll get a more contemporary view of the city by visiting three of Tokyo's most iconic neighborhoods: Shibuya, Harajuku, and Akihabara.
Meeting Point: Hotel lobby
Meeting Time: Morning
Guide: will be provided
Contact Number: will be provided
Confirmed by scenset
The Ghibli Museum is the animation and art museum of Miyazaki Hayao's Studio Ghibli, one of Japan's most famous animation studios. They have produced many feature-length films with worldwide distribution such as My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea. Located in Mitaka, just outside of central Tokyo, the museum is a must-see for fans of the films. The museum itself is whimsically designed in the distinct style of the studio's films, and many of their famous characters are there, including a life-sized robot from Castle in the Sky on the rooftop garden.
Guide: will be provided
Contact Number: will be provided
This tour will immediately commence after your morning tour with the guide. The tour will conclude in the late afternoon.
Confirmed by scenset
You would have a guide in each location, so in Tokyo, it would be one individual, someone else for Kyoto, etc. For Shikoku you would likely have someone accompany you for that portion of the trip, as they are deeply knowledgeable about the whole region.
Palace Hotel
Deluxe King Balcony
- Breakfast included
Japanese cuisine is not only refined sushi and tempura, but it has a wide range of equally delicious, more casual dishes that the locals love. Discover these delicacies with a local guide. Today's tour will take you to a famous foodie spot not too far from your hotel. You will be sure to try delicious yakitori, chicken grilled on skewers. Most yakitori restaurants also serve a selection of other Japanese comfort dishes. Depending on where you are, other Japanese delights await you this evening. Sashimi, monjayaki or okonomiyaki, crispy Japanese fried chicken and braised vegetables and seafood are among the dishes you might try tonight.
Meeting Point: Hotel lobby
Meeting Time: Around 5:30pm
Guide: will be provided
Contact Number: will be provided
Duration: 4 hours
Confirmed by scenset
Palace Hotel
Deluxe King Balcony
- Breakfast included
Enjoy a day at leisure. Below are some suggestions of things to do and see around Tokyo.
Any entries or tickets will be provided directly. Please check visiting hours and if reservations are necessary in advance.
In Shibuya one can witness (and experience) the world's busiest intersection, as well as one of Japan's most endearing symbols of loyalty - the statue of Hachiko.
The Shibuya scramble is located in the heart of Shibuya's shopping district. Due to its proximity with many popular stores, Shibuya Station, and the location of countless delicious eating spots, the intersection regularly sees thousands of people cross each time the traffic lights turn red and the pedestrian lights turn green.
Also located in Shibuya is the bronze statue of the dog Hachiko. Hachiko was well known for his loyalty in waiting for his master for nearly 10 years, arriving at the station daily in anticipation of his master's return from work.
Soon after, a statue was erected in his honor. Unfortunately the statue was melted down during World War II, but the current replica was commissioned shortly after.
Harajuku’s Takeshita Street - This narrow, crowded street is lined with shops that sell the latest fashion trends, sweets, and other interesting items. It is in this area that some of the outrageous fashion that Japan is known for originates.
As the trendy streets of Harajuku end, the amazing architecture of Omotesando begins. With seemingly endless modern, cutting-edge architecture, great shopping, and delicious restaurants, Omotesando is Tokyo’s Champs-Elysées Boulevard. Many of the buildings along this street were designed by Pritzker Prize winning architects such as Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa.
Kichijoji is a trendy neighborhood located just west of central Tokyo in the same area as Ghibli Museum. It is considered by many as the best neighborhood to live in in Tokyo. It offers a good balance of commercial business and nature, namely Inokashira Park, within a relatively small space.
There are three popular shopping areas in Kichijoji.
Sunroad
- Hours vary by shop, generally open during the daytime and evening
- The Sunroad Shopping Arcade is a single, covered shopping street that starts almost immediately north of Kichijoji Station. A wide variety of shops line both sides of the street, giving one a feel of being in a local neighborhood.
Harmonica Yokocho
- Hours vary by shop, generally open in the late afternoon and evening
- Harmonica Yokocho (lit. harmonica lane) is named for its network of narrow lanes resembling the cross section of a harmonica. It is located immediately north of Kichijoji Station and crammed with dining establishments, bars and shops.
Daiyagai
- Hours vary by shop, generally open during the daytime and evening
- Daiyagai is a covered shopping street parallel to the station just beyond Harmonica Yokocho. The shops here offer a variety of goods from cooked food to daily necessities and fashion. One of the more popular shops is a butcher shop and steak restaurant.
You have a dinner reservation this evening for 2 guests at Ginza Kojyu Restaurant. This dinner is to be paid for directly. Transportation to and from the restaurant is to be arranged independently.
Reservation Time: Evening
Address: 5-4-8 Ginza, Carioca Building 4th Floor, Tokyo-Chuo
Reservation made by Palace Hotel Concierge Team
Palace Hotel
Deluxe King Balcony
- Breakfast included
During the Edo Period, Kanazawa served as the seat of a powerful feudal clan, second only to the Tokugawa in terms of rice production and fief size. Accordingly, Kanazawa grew to become a town of great cultural achievements. During World War II, Kanazawa was Japan's second-largest city (after Kyoto) to escape destruction by air raids. Consequently, parts of the old castle town, such as the Nagamachi samurai district and chaya entertainment districts, have survived in good condition.
An assistant will help with your baggage transfer at the hotel prior to your private car transfer to Tokyo Station (from Tokyo to Osaka, your luggage should be arriving the next day). Please make sure to keep your train tickets for the rest of your trip with you.
You will be able to forward one large suitcase per person to your accommodation in the next hotel. Luggage transfer is overnight, so please keep this in mind.
Please be sure to pack an overnight bag for the two nights you are staying in Kanazawa as you won't have access to the rest of your belongings until you get to Osaka.
There is no need to forward your luggage yourself because it is included in your trip.
Luggage Pick-Up Time: in the morning
Confirmed by scenset
A private transfer will take you to Tokyo station where you will take the bullet train to Kanazawa (Green class, reserved seats). Upon arrival, an english speaking guide will take you on a half day tour.
Meeting Point: Hotel lobby
Departure Time: Morning
Confirmed by scenset
Most transfers will be via train. In this scenset, one assistant would put you on the train in one location, and another assistant would be waiting for you on the platform upon arrival. It's such an efficient system that the assistants will know exactly where you're sitting, and which doors you will exit. For any of the vehicle transfers (mainly to/from Shikoku, and a couple between smaller destinations) these would be by private vehicle and driver. You wouldn't be responsible for any driving on this journey.
Meet your guide and depart for your tour today. The highlight of any visit to Kanazawa is Kenroku-en garden. Ranked one of the top three in Japan, its breathtaking beauty shines through in any season. You will also visit the Nagamachi Samurai district and the Nomura Samurai House—a traditional Japanese home with a tea-ceremony room, an interior courtyard garden, and artifacts from the Edo period. After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel in Yamashiro Onsen.
Meeting Point: Upon disembarkation at Kanazawa Station on the platform
Meeting Time: Around midday
Guide: will be provided
Contact Number: will be provided
Duration: Approximately 4.5 hours
Confirmed by scenset
Enjoy a day at leisure.
Reach Shirakawa-go region from Yamashiro-Onsen (2 hours). Your guide will show you around the village, famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old. Gassho-zukkuri translates as ‘Praying Hands’, as the farmhouses' steep thatched roofs resemble the hands of Buddhist monks pressed together in prayer and are designed to withstand the heavy snows which fall in the region. You’ll have the chance to step inside one of these to see how the Japanese of old lived. You will also enjoy a delicious lunch of ‘hoba-yaki’, meat or fish grilled on a magnolia leaf (usually with a sweet local miso) over an open flame.
Beniya Mukayu
1 Room with Open air bath
- Breakfast & Dinner included
The historical commercial capital of Japan, Osaka is Japan’s third largest metropolis and it has been the economic powerhouse of the Kansai region for centuries. Osaka first gained prominence when a powerful warlord built the country’s most magnificent castle in the 16th century. To develop resources for his castle town, the ruler persuaded merchants from other parts of the nation to resettle in Osaka and it became an important distribution center. As the merchant class prospered, the town grew and traditional arts such as kabuki and bunraku flourished. With the legacy of the city’s commercial beginnings still intact, Osaka is renowned as a hub for international business. It is also famous for its local cuisine, large aquarium, underground shopping arcade, and its popular Universal Studios amusement park.
Upon check-out at Beniya Mukayu, a hotel shuttle bus will take you to Kagaonsen station where you will take a Limited express train to Osaka (Standard class, reserved seats). A private transfer will take you to your accommodation to drop your luggage before starting an afternoon tour.
Meeting Point: Hotel lobby
Departure Time: Late morning
- The hotel staff can direct you to the shuttle bus
Meeting Point (Osaka): Upon disembarkation at Osaka Station on the platform
Pick-Up Time: Early afternoon
Confirmed by scenset
Your guide will meet you at your hotel to take you on a half-day tour of Osaka. Start your day visiting the magnificent Osaka Castle. The castle is one of Japan's most famous and played a major role in the unification of Japan during the 16th century. It has been completely rebuilt, faithful to its scenset appearance, after its destruction during World War II; the inside serves as a museum of Osaka history.
Finally, you will visit the tallest building in Japan, Abeno Harukas. The top three floors of the building are dedicated to an observatory offering 360-degree views across the entire metropolis.
Meeting Point: Hotel lobby
Meeting Time: Afternoon
Guide: will be provided
Contact Number: will be provided
Confirmed by Scenset
Osaka is one of Japan’s most vibrant cities and is especially known for its food. Your guide will introduce you to the splendors of Osaka’s casual cuisine and the culture of kuiadore, or "eating oneself to bankruptcy"!
Colorful eateries and bars line the streets: hole-in-the-wall takoyaki stands and ramen bars rub shoulders with upscale eateries serving the finest wagyu beef. Everywhere, people young and old are out to enjoy the culinary pleasures of the nation’s soul food kitchen. You’ll have the chance to sample a variety of local foods, including the famous and ubiquitous takoyaki (commonly known as “octopus balls”), okonomiyaki (a kind of savoury pancake), and kushikatsu (skewered meats and vegetables).
- The cost of these - and one drink per person - is included. If you prefer, your guide can also take you to a huge variety of other establishments, from ramen noodles to izakaya bars.
This tour will immediately commence after your afternoon tour with a guide. The tour will conclude in the late evening.
Confirmed by Scenset
Enjoy a day at leisure in Osaka.
For incredible views over Osaka, head to the Umeda Sky Building. This building consists of two tours joined by an observatory on the 39th floor. This futuristic building is a fantastic way to observe Japan's second largest city.
Conrad Osaka
Deluxe King Room
- Breakfast included
Today a private transfer will take you to Shin-Osaka station where you will take the bullet train to Hiroshima. Upon arrival, a driver will meet you at the arrival platform and escort you to your accommodation on nearby Miyajima to drop off your luggage before touring.
Meeting Location: Hotel lobby
Departure Time: Morning
Meeting Point (Hiroshima): Upon disembarkation at Hiroshima Station on the platform
Pick-Up Time: Late evening
Confirmed by scenset
This small island is most famous for its giant torii gate, which at high tide seems to float on the water and is ranked as one of Japan's three best views. While officially named Itsukushima, the island is more commonly referred to as Miyajima, Japanese for shrine island. This is because the island is so closely related to its key shrine, also built over water.
Miyajima is a romantic place, best enjoyed by staying overnight at one of the island's ryokan. While there are usually many day tourists, in the evening the area becomes much quieter and more peaceful. There are also wild deer on the island that have become accustomed to people. During the day the deer wander around the same sites as the tourists, and in the evening they sleep along the walking paths.
Your guide will meet you at your hotel to take you on a half-day tour to Miyajima, the sacred island in Hiroshima Bay. From Hiroshima, a short ferry ride will take you to Miyajima Island. A small sacred island located in the Inland Sea, it has been a holy place of Shintoism since the earliest times. Here you will find perhaps the most photographed site in Japan: The Floating Torii Gate. The harmoniously arranged buildings reveal great artistic and technical skill, and have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will have time to explore the island and its many shrines and temples and sample local goodies like maple leaf-shaped cakes.
Meeting Point: Hotel lobby
Meeting Time: In the afternoon
Guide: will be provided
Contact Number: will be provided
Duration: 4 hours
Confirmed by scenset
Kurayado Iroha
Mountain View Japanese room
- Breakfast & dinner included
Confirmation: will be provided
Your guide will meet you at your hotel to take you on a tour of Hiroshima. Start at the Peace Memorial Park, the area that was ground zero for the atomic bomb on August 6, 1945. After the bombing, the Memorial Park was created and dedicated to those who lost their lives in the attack. Stroll through the park and discover the many memorials, monuments, and statues in the park before heading into the museum itself.
Next, visit Shukkeien Garden, which can be translated into English as "shrunken-scenery garden", which is also a good description of the garden itself. Valleys, mountains, and forests are represented in miniature in the garden's landscapes.
Meeting Point: Hotel lobby
Meeting Time: Morning
Guide: will be provided
Contact Number: will be provided
Duration: 4 hours
Confirmed by scenset
Kurayado Iroha
Mountain View Japanese room
- Breakfast & dinner included
Today your driver will meet you at your hotel and escort you to the train station by private car. From Hiroshima station you will take the bullet train to Okayama where you will change onto the Limited express train to Matsuyama.
Meeting Location: Hotel lobby
Departure Time: Morning
In Matsuyama, you will be making your own way to the hotel by taxi.
Confirmed by scenset
Matsuyama is the largest city on Shikoku and the capital of Ehime prefecture. A town rich in culture, Matsuyama has something to offer everyone. Its most popular attractions are its historic castle, which remains one of the few scenset castles remaining in Japan (i.e. castles which have not undergone any renovations or alterations since the end of Japan’s feudal era). Popular with the domestic market is Dogo Onsen, which is one of the oldest bathhouses in Japan. For centuries, Dogo Onsen has attracted high-caliber guests, not least members of the Imperial Family, which is perhaps why it has been alluded to in classical Japanese literature since the early 1900s. The bathhouse also loaned its interior to animator Hayao Miyazaki, who used it as the setting for his epic Spirited Away.
Enjoy a day at leisure in Matsuyama.
Hotel Tsubakikan
Japanese Style Room
- Breakfast & dinner included
Today make your way to Matsuyama station where you will take the limited express train to Oboke. From Oboke station, you will be met by a driver at Oboke station exit upon arrival, who will take you to your hotel by Shuttle bus.
Please arrange transportation to the Matsuyama Station independently through the Front Desk. It is about a 20 minute taxi ride from your hotel to the train station.
Suggested Departure Time: Morning
Meeting Point (Oboke): Upon exit of Oboke Station
Pick-Up Time: Afternoon
Confirmed by scenset
The secluded area around Oboke is surrounded by mountains, which will be covered in bright spring colors in April. Explore on casual hikes or by riding the cable car through the hills. The crisp mountain air is especially inviting for an onsen, the traditional Japanese thermal baths located in this area. After days of traveling, a pause to luxuriate is just what you'll need.
Iya Onsen Hotel
Japanese Room with Open Air Bath
- Breakfast & dinner included
Confirmation: will be provided
Iya Onsen Hotel
Japanese Room with Open Air Bath
- Breakfast & dinner included
Kyoto is the nation’s former capital and was the residence of the emperor from 794 until 1868. With 2,000 religious buildings, including 1,600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines, as well as palaces, gardens, and associated architecture, it is one of the best-preserved cities in Japan and has 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Kyoto represents the “Japan of old” and beyond the high-rise skyscrapers built as a monument to progress, the real monument to Japan’s historical and cultural past can be found in the city’s narrow alleyways where tea houses abound and kimono-clad geisha hurry around.
Today a shuttle bus transfer will take you to Oboke station where you will take the limited express train to Okayama. The Front Desk will direct you to the shuttle bus. You will board the hotel shuttle bus in the morning. Here, you will change onto the bullet train to Kyoto. Upon arrival, a private transfer will take you to your accommodation.
Meeting Point (Kyoto): Upon disembarkation at Kyoto Station on the platform
Pick-Up Time: In the afternoon
Confirmed by scenset
Luxury Hotel Sowaka
Deluxe Room, Open-air Bath, Courtyard View
- Breakfast included
Confirmation: will be provided
A celebrated site, the world-famous Fushimi Inari Shrine sees millions of visitors every year. Thousands of bright red torii gates line the mountain trail of Fushimi Inari Shrine. Walking through the truly unique vermillion gate pathway is a visually stunning experience.
Throughout the day, visit more of the most important temples around Kyoto such as Sanjusangendo, Kiyomizu-dera, and Kinkakuji, ending in a visit to the first "flower town" of geishas, Kamishichiken. It's every bit as charming as its more touristy cousin Gion, with the added bonuses of fewer crowds and excellent photo opportunities.
Meeting Point: Hotel lobby
Meeting Time: In the morning
Guide: will be provided
Contact Number: will be provided
Duration: 8 hours
Confirmed by scenset
Luxury Hotel Sowaka
Deluxe Room, Open-air Bath, Courtyard View
- Breakfast included
Head to the Arashiyama district, a pleasant district in the western outskirts of Kyoto. The area has been a popular destination since the Heian Period (794-1185), when nobles would enjoy its natural setting.
Take a walk through Arashiyama’s famous bamboo groves, which are particularly attractive when there is a light wind and the tall bamboo stalks sway gently back and forth. Visit some of the most important and scenic shrines, temples, and villas hidden among the bamboo forest before a traditional vegan Buddhist lunch.
Head to Arashiyama Monkey Park. After hiking uphill for about 15 minutes, you will find an open area with over a hundred monkeys roaming freely. There are also nice views down onto the city.
Meeting Point: Hotel lobby
Meeting Time: Morning
Guide: will be provided
Contact Number: will be provided
Duration: 8 hours
Confirmed by scenset
End your day with a ride on the Sagano Scenic Railway, also known as the Romantic Train. It is a sightseeing train line that runs along the Hozugawa River between Arashiyama and Kameoka. Its charming, old-fashioned trains wind their way through the mountains at a relatively slow pace, taking about 25 minutes to make the short journey and giving passengers a pleasant view of the scenery as they travel from rural Kameoka through the forested ravine and into Arashiyama.
Confirmed by scenset
Luxury Hotel Sowaka
Deluxe Room, Open-air Bath, Courtyard View
- Breakfast & lunch included
Enjoy a day at leisure. Below are some suggestions of things to do and see around Kyoto.
Any entries or tickets will be provided directly. Please check visiting hours and if reservations are necessary in advance.
Much of this street along the way from the Otaji Nenbutsuji Temple has been preserved in the style of the Meiji Period (1868-1912). Many of the buildings are traditional machiya that were once private residences but have been changed into shops and restaurants.
Jojakkoji Temple: Founded in 1596, this mountainside temple is filled with small, attractive buildings, gates and a quiet atmosphere. Its many maple trees and moss are located next to the paths and stairs all around the grounds.
Nisonin Temple: Slightly larger and more imposing than Jojakkoji, Nisonin Temple is another hillside temple. The reflective atmosphere of the grounds are enhanced by the trees that create an almost tunnel-like entrance to the temple. It was founded in the 1000s and offers excellent views of Kyoto.
Gioji Temple: More off the road and hidden into the hills, Gioji Temple is a personal favorite. Its moss garden offers a great alternative to the more famous Kokedera and is usually less crowded and thus more peaceful. Many of the temple buildings still have thatched roofs, contributing to a feeling of times gone by.
While many religious sites have a somber tone, Otagi Nenbutsu-ji is a fun twist on the Japanese temple experience. Here you'll find well over 1,000 small stone statues, called rakan, often depicting humorous and lighthearted disciples of the Buddha.
Luxury Hotel Sowaka
Deluxe Room, Open-air Bath, Courtyard View
- Breakfast included
The largest of the Fuji Five Lakes, Lake Kawaguchiko is a hot spring resort town with many tourist attractions and amazing views of Mount Fuji. The best views of Mount Fuji can be enjoyed from the lake's northern shores and are particularly breathtaking during the cherry blossom season around mid-April.
Today a private transfer will take you to Kyoto station where you will take the bullet train to Mishima. Upon arrival, a private transfer will take you to your accommodation at Lake Kawaguchiko.
Meeting Location: Hotel lobby
Departure Time: Morning
Meeting Point (Mishima): Upon disembarkation at Mishima Station on the platform
Pick-Up Time: Late morning
Confirmed by scenset
One of the nicest spots for cherry blossoms is the seaside promenade near the Kawaguchiko Music Forest. Among the wide range of other tourist attractions available around Lake Kawaguchiko are hot spring baths, various museums, the Fuji Q amusement park, boat tours, and a ropeway leading onto a small mountain next to the lake.
Hoshinoya Fuji
D Cabin
- Breakfast & dinner included
Head back to Tokyo for one last night in Japan before heading to the airport for your flight home.
Today a private transfer will meet you in the hotel lobby in the morning and take you to Odawara station where you will take the bullet train to Tokyo. Upon arrival, a private transfer will take you to your accommodation.
You will be met by your driver in the hotel in the morning and transferred to the station. Your driver will drop you off at the train platform. If you cannot find the driver, please inform the hotel that you are waiting for a pre-arranged private transfer.
Please show the front desk/concierge the following message in Japanese and the hotel staff will guide you to your car.
ホテルのスタッフの皆様；お客様の車を予約しております。恐れ入りますが、車寄せまでお客様をご案内していただけますでしょう
か？
Meeting Point (Tokyo): Upon disembarkation at Tokyo Station on the platform
Pick-Up Time: Around midday
Confirmed by scenset
Palace Hotel
Deluxe King Balcony
- Breakfast included Hotel
Enjoy a private transfer to Narita Airport.
You will be met by your driver at the hotel in the early morning and transferred to the airport. If you cannot find the driver, please inform the hotel that you are waiting for a pre-arranged private transfer. Please show the front desk/concierge the following message in Japanese and the hotel staff will guide you to your car.
ホテルのスタッフの皆様；お客様の車を予約しております。恐れ入りますが、車寄せまでお客様をご案内していただけますでしょう
か
Confirmed by scenset
scenset invests in making the world a better place. scenset will offset the fuel you will use during the trip. On top of that, we will offset an extra 10% to make your trip a carbon-positive experience.
Currently, we support Gold Standard Climate+ Projects from the Gold Standard Foundation.