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Backroads of Japan
12 days, Tokyo to Kyoto
Itinerary
Day 1Tokyo
Arrive at any time.
There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Day 2Tokyo
Take a CEO-led walking tour of eclectic modern Tokyo from the hub of Shinjuku to Shibuya through Yoyogi Park and Harajuku.
Orientation Walk
Let your CEO guide you around eclectic and modern Tokyo.
Free Time
Explore more of sprawling Tokyo.
Optional Activities - Day 2 HideShow
Harajuku Visit
FreeThe Harajuku district is known as the centre of Japanese youth culture and fashion. Here, find dozens of shopping and dining options including independent boutiques and larger international luxury stores.
Day 3Tokyo
Enjoy a free day to experience the city or venture out to Mt Fuji.
Your Discover Moment
There's plenty to see and do in Tokyo, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like visiting the Tsukiji Fish Market, checking out Ueno Park, and visiting Tokyo Skytree. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!
Optional Activities - Day 3 HideShow
Yoyogi Park Visit
FreeTake advantage of Yoyogi Park’s picnic areas, bike rental shops and bike paths; this is one of the largest parks in the city and a perfect place to spend an afternoon. Both locals and travellers are drawn to the park in the warmer months during cherry blossom season to see the delicate pink blossoms.
Sensō-ji Temple Visit
FreeExplore Sensō-ji Temple, a colourful Buddhist temple and the oldest temple in the entire city. Leading up to the temple the street is lined with shops selling yummy food and great souvenirs.
Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingū) Visit
Free-1000JPY per personVisit this shrine dedicated to the 123rd emperor of Japan, Emperor Meiji and his wife. The shrine is a great place to escape the bustle of the city and wander the grounds along the wide walking paths.
Mt Fuji Day Trip
5200JPY per personEscape the city and take a day trip to Mt Fuji. Explore the area around the mountain, stop to take some photographs, and if the weather cooperates maybe even see the peak.
Tsukiji Fish Market
FreeVisit the Tsukiji Fish Market, formerly known as the biggest fish and seafood market in the world, to get an idea of how important this industry is in Tokyo.
Day 4Tokyo/Nagano
Journey to the Japanese Alps and Nagano, host city of the 1998 Winter Olympics. Visit the historic Zenkoji Temple.
Bullet Train
Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.
Zenkō-ji Temple
Visit the Buddhist temple of Zenkō-ji, one of the last remaining pilgrimage sites. Built in the 7th century, the city of Nagano was built around the already standing structure.
Day 5Nagano/Matsumoto
Discover the world-famous Jigokudani Monkey Park and watch Japanese snow monkeys bathing in the natural hot springs. Continue to Matsumoto.
Matsumoto is a quaint castle town featuring one of Japan's most treasured castles.
Jigokudani Monkey Park Visit
Visit the Jigokudani Monkey Park, where wild snow monkeys can be seen bathing in the natural hot springs. The pool where most of the monkeys soak is man made, fed by the hot springs. Along the walking paths up to the pools other monkeys tend to stop and watch visitors curiously.
Local Train
Climb aboard, take your seat, and get around like the locals do.
Day 6Matsumoto/Takayama
Explore Matsumoto's breathtaking 'Black Crow' Castle and continue to the traditional alpine market town of Takayama, known as 'Little Kyoto'.
Visit one of Japan's most treasured castles maintaining it's original wooden interior and stone exterior. Explore the castle where 16th century samurai once roamed.
Continue past the mountains, rice fields and traditional homes to Takayama. Discover the traditional Japanese way of life in a family-run guesthouse.
Matsumoto Castle
Stop at the castle of Matsumoto one of Japan's most treasured castles, maintaining it's original wooden interior and stone exterior. Explore this castle where 16th century Samurai once roamed before venturing out with the group to wander Matsumoto's ancient streets and or dine in a traditional storehouse.
Local Bus
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Free Time
Start exploring Takayama.
Optional Activities - Day 6 HideShow
Japanese Onsen (Hot Spring) Visit
FreeA feature of the inn we are staying at – don’t miss a visit to the traditional onsen. Delight in a restorative soak in the healing waters.
Day 7Takayama
Visit the Hida No Sato traditional folk village, sake breweries and craft shops. With free time walk through the forest, go for a bike ride or relax at an onsen spa.
Visit the ‘Praying Hand’ houses, huge thatched homes and well-preserved Edo samurai era dwellings nestled beneath the mountain peaks. From the Hida No Sato Folk Village to saki tasting at local traditional brewery Takayama offers a great opportunity for exploration.
With free time in the afternoon opt to walk a forested trail, go for a bike ride, have a nap on the Tatami mats at the Ryokan or relax in a Japanese Onsen (hot spring) before enjoying a traditional dinner together as a group.
Hida no Sato (Hida Minzoku Mura Folk Village) Visit
Visit the Hida Folk Village, an outdoor museum where various buildings from the 1600s are open to tour. The steep, thatched roofs of the farmhouses are said to resemble praying hands. Take a peek inside to see tools and furniture from the original village.
Sake Street Visit
Stroll down this quaint road, lined with sake breweries and vendors, and learn more about this typical Japanese beverage made from fermented rice. Have a sample or two to test it out.
Free Time
Get out and explore or head to the hot springs for a relaxing soak.
Optional Activities - Day 7 HideShow
Biking
200-1000JPY per personHop onto a bike and explore the landscape and rural streets.
Japanese Onsen (Hot Spring) Visit
FreeA feature of the inn we are staying at – don’t miss a visit to the traditional onsen. Delight in a restorative soak in the healing waters.
Meals included:
DinnerDay 8Takayama/Kurashiki
Travel to picturesque Kurashiki, retaining its old world charm with black and white buildings.
Get a real glimpse of old Japan at Kurashiki, a picturesque town in central Japan which has retained much of its old world charm with beautifully preserved black and white walled merchants’ homes and storehouses.
Many of the storehouses have been converted into museums, souvenir stores, boutiques and cafés. Most famous among the museums are the Ohara Museum of Art and the Museum of Folkcraft.
Bullet Train
Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.
Free Time
Start exploring this charming city.
Optional Activities - Day 8 HideShow
Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft
700JPY per personVisit the first museum to be created in one of Kurashiki's converted storehouses and learn more about Japan's history. The museum displays everyday items from across Japan including textiles, ceramics and lacquerware.
Ohara Museum of Art Visit
1300JPY per personTake a tour of The Ohara Museum of Art, the first permanent collection of western art in Japan. The museums exhibits paintings from the Italian Renaissance and the Dutch and Flemish painters of the 17th century. 20th century art is included in the pieces on display.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 9Kurashiki
Enjoy a bike tour through the Kibi Plains, surrounded by rice fields and ancient burial grounds. On this scenic ride, glide past shrines and temples and get a glimpse of rural Japanese life.
Bicycle Tour of the Kibi Plains
Head out by bicycle through the Kibi Plains. This amazingly scenic bicycle route passes by rice fields, ancient burial grounds, shrines and temples.
Free Time
Spend more time wandering the quaint riverside streets of Kurashiki.
Day 10Kurashiki/Kyoto
Travel to Kyoto for two nights in the traditional heart of Japan. Arrive in the afternoon and hike up Fushimi Inari through 10,000 stunning torii gates.
Journey to Kyoto and visit some of the most magnificent temples in the country, dating back centuries. There are said to be 2,000 temples, shrines, palaces, museums and traditional gardens in Kyoto.
Bullet Train
Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine Visit
Visit the Fushimi Inari shrine, located just outside of Kyoto. Walk under the thousands of iconic torii gates (as seen in the film Memoirs of a Geisha) and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. The shrine itself is at the base of the Inari mountain but includes many trails up to smaller shrines in the area.
Day 11Kyoto
Visit the impressive Kiyomizu-dera, and take in the breathtaking Chion-in temple. This afternoon, enjoy free time in this lovely city. Experience some of the many great walks through zen gardens, teahouses, shrines and shops and maybe even spot a real-life geisha.
Spend the morning discovering Buddhist, Zen, and Shinto nuances in some the beautiful Kiyomizu Temple (Love Temple) and the breathtaking Chion-in Temple.
Opt to explore more zen gardens, palaces, and temples in Kyoto or venture to nearby Osaka. Another option further afield is to visit the peaceful gardens and ancient temples of Nara, home of Japan's largest Buddha.
Kiyomizu Temple Visit
Visit the Kiyomizu Temple, a Buddhist temple in Kyoto and part of Kyoto's UNESCO listed sights. Originally built in 798, the current structures were built in 1633 without the use of a single nail.
Chion-in Temple Visit
The Chion-in Temple is the headquarters of the Jodo-Shu Sect of Buddhism. Visit the temple to marvel at the beautiful architecture and learn more about this form of Buddhism.
Free Time
Explore the city or head further afield.
Optional Activities - Day 11 HideShow
Gion Walk
FreeWalk through Gion, Kyoto's most famous geisha district. Visit shops, restaurants and ochaya (teahouses), where geiko (Kyoto dialect for geisha) and maiko (geiko apprentices) entertain.
Philosopher's Walk
FreeThis stone path through the northern part of Kyoto's Higashiyama district follows a canal lined by hundreds of cherry trees. These trees come to life during a period known as "Hanami", generally from the end of March to early May. Their iconic pink blossoms are one of the most famous symbols of Japan.
Day Trip to Osaka
Take a train excursion to the creative, funky and bustling metropolis of Osaka. The city is known for its friendly locals and delicious cuisine. Head to the Osaka Aquarium, one of the best in the world, or visit the castle Osaka-jō.
Day Trip to Nara
Take a train excursion to the peaceful gardens and ancient temples of Nara, home of Japan's largest Buddha, and a number of cute and docile deer that are the sacred symbol of the Kasuga Taisha shrine.
Nijo Castle and Gardens Visit
600JPY per personVisit the Nijo Castle, the residence of the first shogun of the Edo Period built in 1603. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the property is divided into three areas: the Honmaru (main circular fortification), Ninomaru (secondary circle of defense), and the gorgeous gardens that surround both.
Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion Visit
500JPY per personExplore Kinkaku-ji or the Golden Pavilion, named for the temple’s top two floors that are covered in gold leaf. The temple is surrounded by trees and sits on a reflective pond, making this must-see in Kyoto a perfect place for photos. While the temple can be busy, there are gardens around the area to explore once you’ve had enough of the view.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 12Kyoto
Depart at any time.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.