Just $2,875* with 10-nights hotel, All tours, Bullet Train, transfers, daily breakfast, ground transportation and more!
*Does not include international air

I've been talking up our last trip to Japan for the last several years. It was absolutely amazing in so many ways. So here you have a repeat of our 2016 trip with very few changes. Although it is known as an expensive destination, with the power of our group rates and great air contract we are very pleased at the affordablity of this offering.

We depart the US on May 28th and arrive in Japan on May 29th. We will have 4-nights in Tokyo to experience this amazing city.

Tradition collides with pop culture in Tokyo, where you can reverently wander ancient temples before rocking out at a karaoke bar. Wake up before the sun to catch the lively fish auction at the Tsukiji Market, then refresh with a walk beneath the cherry blossom trees that line the Sumida River. Spend some time in the beautiful East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, then brush up on your Japanese history at the Edo-Tokyo Museum. Don’t forget to eat as much sushi, udon noodles, and wagashi (Japanese sweets) as your belly can handle.

TOKYO TOURS:

With this trip all the tours are included. Click here to see the tours which we may tweek just a bit. This is a perfect time of year for enjoying spring. This itinerary will bring you to the most scenic places to enjoy mother nature.

We'll start off with a full day Tokyo tour with stops to four of Tokyo's popular sightseeing spots: Tokyo Tower, the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, Sumida River Cruise, and Asakusa Kannon temple.

The next day we'll take a tour to Nikko. It is a town at the entrance to Nikko National Park, most famous for Toshogu, Japan's most lavishly decorated shrine and the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. Nikko had been a center of Shinto and Buddhist mountain worship for many centuries before Toshogu was built in the 1600s, and Nikko National Park continues to offer scenic, mountainous landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, hot springs, wild monkeys and hiking trails.

You will also enjoy a free day with some of our suggestions including a wonderful bike ride along some scenic trails that we enjoyed on our last trip or a hop on/ hop off tour.

 After our 4-days in Tokyo we will board the bullet train for the 3-hour ride to Kyoto. In route we will visit Mt Fuji, Japan's tallest mountain and active volcano. We will take a boat ride on Lake Ashinoko and experience the Komagatake Ropeway. This tour is also included in your package.

Kyoto has been awarded the "World's Best City" award for 2015 by Travel and Leisure magazine! It served as Japan's capital and the emperor's residence from 794 until 1868. It is now the country's seventh largest city with a population of 1.4 million people and a modern face. Over the centuries, Kyoto was destroyed by many wars and fires, but due to its historic value, the city was dropped from the list of target cities for the atomic bomb and spared from air raids during World War II. Countless temples, shrines and other historically priceless structures survive in the city today. We will offer several different tours to visit the most important places and world heritage sites. One of these sites is called Daigo-ji Temple ( see photo below). This special place spreads across Daigo-san Mountain and is well-known as the "Temple of Flowers". In 874, Godai Hall was built at the top of the mountain by Buddhist monk Shobo. Later, the garan (main complex), small buildings, and five-story pagoda were constructed at the foot of the mountain. The five-story pagoda, Goju-no-to is now the oldest building in Kyoto having survived the Onin War in the 1400's.

KYOTO TOURS:

Arashiyama a pleasant, touristy 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. Arashiyama is particularly popular during the cherry blossom and fall color seasons. Arashiyama's famous bamboo groves and pleasure boats that are available for rent on the river. One of the most enjoyable and convenient ways to travel around the Sagano area is by rental bicycle, which are available for around 1000 yen near the train stations. Cycling through rural residential areas and past fields while traveling between temples can be one of the most enjoyable parts of a visit to Arashiyama. There is also an attractive preserved town area near the Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple.

Then we will take a ride on the Sagano Scenic Railway 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 seven kilometer journey and giving passengers a pleasant view of the scenery as they travel from Arashiyama through the forested ravine and into rural Kameoka.

From there we will take a little hike to a place called Monkey Park Iwatayama. Located in the Arashiyama mountains, the entrance to the monkey park can be found just south of the Togetsukyo Bridge. After hiking uphill for about ten minutes, visitors will find an open area with over a hundred monkeys roaming freely. There are also nice views down onto the city.

The day is not over! From here we'll visit Saga-Toriimoto Preserved Street. Much of this street along the way to the Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple has been preserved in the style of the Meiji Period (1868-1912). Many of the buildings are traditional machiya ("town houses") that served as private residences but have since been converted into shops and restaurants.

Full day Kyoto highlights and Nara
Discover the history and religions of ancient Japan during this 10-hour exploration of Kyoto and Nara. SeeKyoto's UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kinkaku-ji and Nijo Castle, along with its Imperial Palace. Then drive from Kyoto to Nara to explore its own World Heritage site, Todai-ji Temple (including Great Buddha Hall), plus Kasuga Shrine. You'll also visit Nara's deer park and have a chance to feed and pet wild deer. Your Nara and Kyoto visit includes a guide, coach transport and all entrance fees (excluding treasure hall).

 

Eastern Kyoto Full Day
Today we have number of stops starting off with The Philosopher's Path which starts just outside the approach to Ginkakuji and follows a canal. It is especially beautiful during the cherry blossom season. We'll visit the historic shopping streets of the Higashiyama District. Our tour will also take in the Kiyomizudera Temple and Eikando a large temple that is especially nice to visit in autumn when the leaves change.

FREE DAY
We will also have another free day in Kyoto with some other suggestions including a nice walk up to the Fushimi Inari Shrine where you can enjoy a torii path across the mountain (When the wish is fulfilled the torii that wrote the name was built). It's a beautiful trail winding up a hill past several small temples.

This will certainly be an amazing trip. A $200 deposit will lock in your spot.

TRIP INCLUDES:

• 4 Nights double occupancy in Tokyo - 6 nights in Kyoto
• Daily breakfast
• All tours listed in write-up
• Bullet Train from Tokyo to Kyoto
  
• Ground Transportation for Transfers

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT (your own room, otherwise we will match you up with a roommate): $1,075

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AIR: Individual air is hundreds of dollars less than what we were offered as a group so there will be no group air on this trip. We are recommending the following air on Japan Airlines:

Flight:Japan Airlines 015 Departure: Los Angeles 28MAY /1330 Arrival:Tokyo Haneda 29MAY/1725
Flight:Japan Airlines 060 Departure: Osaka Kansai 8 June /1745 Arrival:Los Angeles 8JUNE/1205

Last time we checked this air was running just over $1,000. The sooner you purchase the better the rate.
Click here for Japan Airlines and the flights you want

Check out the photos from our last trip

Highlights of Tokyo video from our last trip

Highlights of Kyoto video from our last trip

MEET YOUR TOUR LEADERS
Ron Wise and Marie Yunez will be your host and hostess on this trip. Of course we will also have our local guides every day. They have both been on multiple SIP trips and I have full faith that you'll be in good hands.

OUR HOTELS:

TOKYO

HOTEL GRAND NIKKO TOKYO LE DAIBA - 4 star!

Website - Tripadvisor Review
Grand Nikko Tokyo Le Daiba is in Odaiba, across Rainbow Bridge from central Tokyo. It has luxurious accommodations and features 6 dining options, an outdoor swimming pool and a sauna.

The spacious rooms feature an elegant European style and include free wired internet access. Guests can enjoy views of Tokyo Bay in some rooms.

The Grand Nikko Le Daiba Hotel is right next to Daiba Monorail Station, which provides direct access to the Shiodome area in 13 minutes. Tokyo Big Sight Exhibition Centre is 10 minutes away by monorail. The hotel provides a complimentary shuttle service to Tokyo Disney Land.

A variety of shops are directly under the hotel. Guests can exercise at Le Club Fitness Centre for an extra fee, or appreciate the works at Art Gallery 21. Teppanyaki Restaurant Hamayu and Star Road Dining and Bar offer spectacular skyline views from the 30th floor. Sushi, Chinese cuisine and several bars and cafes are also available.

KYOTO

NEW MIYAKO HOTEL - 4 star

Website - Tripadvisor Review

Right in front of Kyoto Station, New Miyako Hotel features air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi. The hotel has a beauty salon, a convenience shop and 6 dining options.

The air-conditioned rooms come equipped with a flat-screen TV and a refrigerator. Private bathrooms feature a shower, bathtub and toiletries. Room service is available.

Guests at Hotel New Miyako can find souvenirs in shopping mall Miyako Avenue, or participate in local craft workshops.

Buffet restaurant Le Plaisir caters international dishes, while Shisen serves Chinese Szechuan cuisine. Restaurant Kyoyamatoya features a history of over 100 years, serving Japanese seasonal dishes. New Miyako Hotel is just a 5-minute walk from Kyoto subway station. It is a 15-minute walk from both the City Bus Terminal and Nishi Hongan-ji Temple.

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