9 Days Deep Japan - True Experience | Small Group Travel

Day 1 Tokyo | Arrive in Japan & Check-in Hotel

Welcome to Japan! We will have transportation services to take you to your hotel. Please refer to your tour app for more information.
Rest at the hotel and be ready to start your exciting tour tomorrow.

**INFORMATION**
From Narita Airport to downtown hotel in Tokyo - about 90 mins(Bus)
From Haneda Airport to downtown hotel in Tokyo - about 30 mins(Bus)

Day 2 Tokyo | Trendy Tokyo Spots ＆ Historic Asakusa

We start off our tour with the old town district of Asakusa where you can purchase traditional Japanese souvenirs at the Nakamise area and explore Senso-ji Temple, the oldest and the most popular temples in Tokyo.

The tour will then head to Nezu Museum which is home of a diverse collection of Japanese and Asian premodern art. Today over 7,400 works including 7 National Treasures, 88 Important Cultural Properties, and 94 Important Art Objects are exhibited in the museum.

After learning the history of Japan, we will stop for a kaiten sushi lunch and we will then make our way to the famous Shibuya Crosswalk to be part of the thousands who cross daily. This crosswalk gathers as much foot traffic as New York City, and crossing is an experience unlike any other.

Day 3 Kawagoe & Kusatsu | Stroll the Little Edo and Famous Onsen Town

Our first stop this morning will be Kawagoe where it’s known for its old clay warehouses and merchant homes, called Kurazukuri. Traditional Japanese sweet shops line Meiji-era Candy Alley. We will have a Japanese Sweets workshop and create a handmade Nerikiri.

Afterwards, our tour continues to Kusatsu in Gunma prefecture. Kusatsu is known for its hot-springs resorts with large volume of high quality hotspring warter. You will see the steamed spring-source in the center of the town.

Day 4 Nagano & Takayama | Fresh Local Cuisine & Japan's Original Castles

Today we will start visiting Azumino Wasabi Farm. While it has long been a favorite of Japanese tourists for its picturesque beauty, the farm is also famous for the wide-array of culinary delights offered by its restaurants and shops. Why don't you try wasabi soba(buckwheat noodles, a local specialty) , wasabi tempura (deep-fried prawns and vegetables) and wasabi ice cream? You wil find them surprisingly delicious.

Before arriving in the city of Takayama, your group will be visiting Matsumoto Castle, also named the Crow Castle due to the unique black color of the building. Considered one of the three premier castles in Japan, the castle has never been destroyed with its initial buildings still intact since construction. The castle tower is Japan’s oldest existing castle tower and is a designated national treasure.

Takayama is home to what is regarded as one of the three most beautiful festivals in Japan, the Takayama Festival. During the festival, ornately decorated floats are paraded through the streets and are a highlight of the festival itself. Enjoy strolling the beautifully preserved old town and taste notable Hida Beef dishes.

Day 5 Hida & Gokayama | Immerse in Traditional Japanese Culture & UNESCO Historic Village

We’ll begin our day in Takayama with a visit to the morning market, one of the many areas in the city with buildings and shops more than 300 years old. Enjoy exploring the area by visiting the numerous vendors and important sightseeing spots. We recommend trying Hida Nikuman (beef buns) or Gohei-Mochi while at the market.

Before leaving Takayama, let's make traditional Japanese snack, Senbei (rice crakers). Make various flavors along with the shapes.

Stop by a pleasant riverside town called Hida Fukukawa just 15 minutes away from Takayama. The historic, canal-lined streets have a wonderfully calm atmosphere, thanks partly to the small canals full of carp that flow through the streets.

Day 6 Kanazawa | Immerse in Traditional Japanese Culture

Today, we will spend a time in Kanazawa to discover its deep history.

Our first stop is Nomura Clan Samurai Home which is complete with a tea-ceremony room, a small enchanting garden and artifacts from the Edo Periodo. This beautiful lush garden was listed in 2003 by the Journal of Japanese Gardening as one of the three top gardens in Japan.

Afterwards, we will visit Kaburaki Kutani Porcelain Museum to find fine antique pieces. Kutani-yaki is a traditional style of porcelain which is known for its vivid color and highly detailed and elaborate designs of flowers and birds. It will be the perfect souvenir.

It's time to explore the local kitchen, Omicho Ichiba. There are 186 different stores providing various fresh seafood from the Japan Sea at an affordable price. Try their specialty crab, shrimp, and yellowtail amberjack for your lunch.

The final spot in Kanazawa is Kenrokuen Garden which is classified as one of Japan's "three most beautiful landscape gardens." This spacious garden features a variety of flowering trees; plum trees, cherry trees, maple trees, which provide the garden with a different look for each season.

Day 7 Kyoto | Breathtaking Maiko Show & Bamboo Forest

Our day in Kyoto will start off with a spirited rickshaw ride through the serene Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Experience what it was like to get around the city back in the day as you enjoy the relaxing scenery.

Next, the group will make its way to Nijo-jo Castle, built as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo government. The castle has many cultural treasures including Chinese Gate, and is designated a national treasure for its splendid architecture and interior decoration.

We continue the tour with a kaiseki lunch accompanied by a maiko performance. Maiko is an apprentice to Geisha and the meal is a great chance to take photos and learn about Kyoto's traditional culture.

Our last stop of the day will be the ancient street of Ninenzaka. The street is filled with shops and souvenir stands as well as a great place for photos and to see what Japan looked like many years ago. We then proceed to the hotel. You will also have the option to see the colorful Kyoto Station light show projected on the grand staircase.

Day 8 Nara | Meet & Greet the friendly Deer of Nara

The tour will then head to Nara to explore Todaiji Temple and the Deer Park. Todaiji Temple is considered one of the largest wooden buildings in the world and holds the largest Buddha statue in Japan, a truly impressive sight to behold. A short walk over and you will stand among the deer of the Nara Deer Park. Considered divine, the deer are adored by people all over the world.

We head back to Kyoto and stopped by at a sake museum for some sampling and to learn the history of Japan's national drink.

The rest of the day will be spent at Fushimi Inari Shrine, home of the famed thousand torii gates. Explore the area by either making your way through the torii gates to the Omokaru Stone or watch the local priests performing prayers every so often.

Day 9 Osaka | Tour Disbands & Depart from Japan

Your pleasant and memorable Japan tour ends today. The tour will disband after breakfast. Fly home with cherished memories or enjoy your extended stay in Japan. **INFORMATION** From downtown hotel in Osaka to KIX Airport - about 70 mins (Bus) From downtown hotel in Osaka to ITM Airport - about 30 mins (Bus)