2023 Early Summer Hydrangea in Japan Tour (9d/8n)

Welcome to Tokyo! You will be greeted by an English-speaking assistant at the airport who helps you get on the bus to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you can spend the afternoon and evening freely in Tokyo.
Shinagawa Prince Hotel or similar
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Departure at 9 am.

Today will be a full day of sightseeing in Tokyo! We go to the Shitamachi Museum which interactively shows visitors what the life of the common people downtown was like in the Edo Period.

Next we go to the Imperial Palace, which is located on the former site of Edo Castle. It is the residence of the present Emperor and Empress. We stop at Nijubashi to take photos.

Then we proceed to Asakusa where a Sumo wrestler is waiting to show you around town. The Sensoji Temple, the Five-Story Pagoda, and the traditional Nakamise shopping street.

Today’s lunch is a Chankonabe! This hearty one-pot dish contains vegetables, fish, and meat and is commonly eaten by sumo wrestlers.

Then we move to Shinjuku, which is one of the liveliest and most bustling areas in Tokyo. We go up to the observation floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building to overlook the city of Tokyo from 202 meters above the ground. Next, we visit charming Omoide-yokocho, a mysterious-looking warren of winding alleyways with many tiny yakitori restaurants.

Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba or similar
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Departure at 8 am.

After a drive of 1 hour, we arrive in Kamakura, an ancient city that developed Japanese history and culture. The first place to stop by is the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, the geographical and cultural center of the city of Kamakura.

Next, we go to the Kotokuin Temple, which is famous for the impressive bronze statue of the Great Buddha of Kamakura.

Then we proceed to Meigetsu-in Temple and Hasedera Temple. Both temples are famous for their beautiful hydrangeas. About 2,500 hydrangeas grow in colonies in the precinct. In the Hasedera, there is a lookout point with a great view of the sea and cityscape of Kamakura.

Let’s take a break in Komachi Street while we drink a cup of green tea. Then we go on to Hakone area where you will spend the night in a relaxing hot spring hotel.

Hakone Hotel Kowakien or similar
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Departure at 8 am.

Today’s excursion starts from Hakone, a nature-rich resort that features beautiful Lake Ashi where you will enjoy a cruise. You will then take a cable car to see the volcanic activity area up close in Owakudani with hydrogen sulfide steam billowing from the cracks. You can buy a boiled black egg here that is said to elongate your life by 7 years.

Then we proceed to Mt Fuji, which is Japan’s highest peak at 3776m. The mountain has been appreciated for ages because of its perfect conical shape. Weather permitting, you will go as high as the 5th station by bus to have a great view from above. On the way to our next destination, we will make a stop in Lake Kawaguchi to take beautiful pictures of the magnificent Mt Fuji.

Then we then head out to Suwa and visit a Japanese home for dinner. If the sky is clear, let’s look up at the sky. You may see a star-filled night sky in this rural area!

Aburaya Ryokan or similar
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Departure at 8.30 am.

We start driving through central Honshu towards the southern Japan Alps. We transfer to a local bus and the Central Alps Komagatake Ropeway, and then we will visit Senjojiki Curl – a bowl-shaped terrain that took on its shape during the Ice Age. In early summer, the area’s flower gardens with lovely blooming alpine plants look like a colorful jewelry box.

Before arriving in Ena, we will stop by one of the post towns that connected Edo (now Tokyo) with Kyoto during the Edo period. We visit one of the most well-preserved towns on the route, Magome.

You will stay in Ena tonight. Please enjoy a hot spring bath and a local dinner, after which you will sleep Japanese-style on a futon.

Enakyo Grand Hotel or similar
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Departure at 8 am.
Today, you will experience two very different train rides, a very idyllic local train called ‘Akechi Train‘, and the Japanese super express train, the – Bullet Train. First, we ride the Akechi Train from Ena to Akechi. Let’s enjoy the rural scenery in a relaxed manner! After walking around Akechi Town, we drive to Nagoya Station, from where we ride the shinkansen bullet train to Japan’s ancient capital city Kyoto. We will take a walk in the Gion district before checking in at the hotel in the evening. Gion, a centuries-old entertainment district, truly comes alive at night. We take you on a walk through the old tea house district, explain the customs of the geisha and apprentice maiko and help you discover this hidden world. Here we might even have a chance to catch a glimpse of the girls in full costume rushing off to an appointment.
Kyoto Tokyu Hotel or similar
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Departure at 8 am.

Today, our first stop is the Saihoji temple which is famed for its moss garden and is commonly referred to as Koke-dera (moss temple). At the Nishiji Textile Center, ladies wearing kimonos show you beautiful seasonal designs and patterns of kimonos and sashes. Then you will experience a real tea ceremony. The Japanese tea ceremony, also called Sado or Cha-no-yu, has more than 400 years of history. Then we hop on the bus to visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine. This shrine is renowned especially for its stone fox statues as well as the thousands of closely spaced vermillion torii gates. Our next stop, the Mimurotoji Temple, is known as the temple of flowers representing Kyoto, and an impressive 10,000 Japanese hydrangeas bloom here in June. Enjoy the lovely garden with illuminated hydrangeas in the evening!
Kyoto Tokyu Hotel or similar
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Departure at 8 am

Today we head to Nara which was the first capital of Japan, from 710 -794 AD. In Nara, we visit the Todaiji Temple which houses one of the world’s largest bronze statues of Buddha in the Great Buddha Hall, one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. Nara Park is very famous for its many free-roaming deer. You can feed them special crackers that are sold in the park. Some deer will bow to you to get a cracker! In the afternoon, we drive to Osaka which is very famous for its delicious cuisine and unique street food culture. When we arrive in Osaka, we will make a short photo stop at Osaka Castle, the city’s symbol.

Then we will visit the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living where you are introduced to the living spaces and lifestyles of the people of Osaka. Before we check-in at the hotel, we stop by Dotonbori. This area was a theater district a long time ago, but now it is a popular entertainment and nightlife district with big illuminated signboards and many unique Osaka street food.
Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka or similar
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This is the end of the tour, so unless you booked extra days at the end of the tour it is time to go back home with unforgettable memories and lots of souvenirs. You will leave for Kansai Airport by bus. Thank you very much for coming to Japan and we hope to see you again! If you’d like to extend your trip, you can contact us to get help with planning your extended itinerary.
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