Japan Tour Spirit

Destinations

Tokyo / Hakone / Mt Fuji / Matsumoto / Takayama / Shirakawa-go / Kanazawa / Kyoto / Uji / Nara / Osaka / Himeji / Kurashiki / Hiroshima / Shimanami Kaido / Takamatsu / Naruto / Koyasan / Kumano / Ise Shima

Simple itinerary

• Day 1 Arrival in Tokyo
• Day 2 Tokyo
• Day 3 Tokyo – Hakone – Mt. Fuji – Onsen
• Day 4 Matsumoto – Takayama
• Day 5 Takayama – Shirakawa Go – Kanazawa – Kyoto
• Day 6 Kyoto
• Day 7 Kyoto – Uji – Nara – Osaka
• Day 8 Himeji – Kurashiki – Hiroshima
• Day 9 Hiroshima
• Day 10 Hiroshima – Shimanami Kaido – Takamatsu
• Day 11 Naruto
• Day 12 Koyasan
• Day 13 Kumano
• Day 14 Ise Shima
• Day 15 End of the Trip

Trip description

Travel through the spiritual side of Japan visiting centuries-old sites and scenic trails.

Japan may be known for its technological advances, but its culture dates back to religious practices that influenced modern society. On this tour we will travel to many picturesque, spiritual and historical places in Japan. Many of the spiritual sites are located in places surrounded by nature. This means that you will be rewarded with panoramic views that will invoke a sense of calm. Immerse yourself in the environment as you will have the opportunity to experience the lifestyles and cultures first hand.

We start in Tokyo with a private guide and driver to help navigate through cultural landmarks, trendy neighborhoods, and various shopping districts. Learn how to make your own sushi from a professional sushi chef and savor your delicious creations. Explore attractions such as the Asakusa district with an atmosphere of old Tokyo, the largest and busiest fish market in Japan, the historic Imperial Palace, and the famous Tokyo Tower.

We will continue traveling to Hakone where majestic landscapes of Mt. Fuji can be seen. Visit the spectacular Black Crow Castle (Matsumoto Castle) on the way to Takayama, nestled among the Japanese Alps. Due to their remote location, these places are beautifully preserved and developed their own culture that is unique from the rest of Japan. Visit the charming town of Shirakawa-go and understand the architectural style of gassho-zukuri. In Kanazawa, take a walk through the beautiful Kenrokuen Garden and see what six attributes make a perfect landscape. They will spend two days in Kyoto, the traditional center of Japanese culture. After Kyoto we will cross to Osaka, the second largest metropolitan city in Japan. Experience the nightlife surrounded by bright neon signs.

Visit the famous Himeji Castle and the Kurashiki Photogenic Canal area. In Hiroshima, visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, then head to Miyajima to see the famous vermilion Torii Gate of Itsukushima Shrine. At high tide, the gates seem to float in the sea. Then drive along Shimanami Kaido, a 60-kilometer toll road that connects the main island of Honshu in Japan with the island of Shikoku, passing through six small islands in the Seto Inland Sea. Most of Shikoku has not yet been touched by mass tourism. This is a place of immense natural beauty, full of colorful legends and history, dotted with 88 pilgrimage temples.

The journey will continue to many spiritual sites. Take a ferry to Wakayama and visit Koyasan. You will have a chance to experience temple stay and eat Shojin Ryori (vegetarian) dinner. In the morning, you will join the monks in their meditation practice to better understand their spiritual customs. In Kumano, we will walk and breathe at the trail sites along temples and shrines, among other important structures on the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trail. From these sacred grounds you can see the highest waterfall in Japan, Nachi Fall. The waterfall deity is said to be enshrined in the main shrine. Ise Grand Shrine is one of the most important shrines in Japan and is rebuilt every twenty years to symbolize death and rebirth. It is surrounded by 300-year-old cedars and intact foliage. After visiting the mountains and temples, we will visit one of Japan’s lesser-known treasures, where pearl collecting officially started into an art and trade.

Keep in mind:

All prices are per person, based on a double room (double on request) or triple.

International flights are not included in our tours, this allows you the flexibility to choose your own departure and get the best value for your money!

We can arrange international flights for US customers, please ask for details if required.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1
Arrival at Narita airport
Welcome to Tokyo! An OOT representative will meet you at the arrival gate with a “Only One Travel” sign.

Narita Excel Hotel Tokyu or similar class
Tobu Hotel Levant Tokyo or similar class (NOTE 1 and 2)

NOTE 1: If you want to stay in central Tokyo for the first night instead of Narita Excel Hotel Tokyu, we can arrange for you to stay at Tobu Hotel Levant Tokyo (or similar class). In this case, the airport transfer is not included, but we will provide you with directions to get to your hotel in advance.

NOTE 2: If you are flying to Haneda Airport (HND) instead of Narita International Airport (NRT), we can arrange for you to stay in central Tokyo (Tobu Hotel Levant Tokyo or similar class) instead of Narita Excel Hotel Tokyu. In this case, airport transfer and meetings are not included, but we will provide you with full directions to the hotel in advance.

NOTE 3: The meet and greet is ONLY available for flights arriving at Terminal 1 and 2 after 11:00 AM. For guests arriving at Terminal 3, airport pick-up service is not included, but we will provide directions to your hotel in advance.

NOTE 4: If you want to stay more nights before the tour starts, please contact us to book hotel accommodation.

Day 2

Tokyo (Asakusa Sensoji Temple / Sushi Making Experience / Tsukiji Outer Market / Imperial Palace / Tokyo Tower)

Today, you will be taken to the Asakusa Kannon Temple, an active place of worship where you can see the largest paper lantern in Japan. You can also explore the Nakamise Market, which is located just past the outer gates of the temple. It is a traditional style shopping street with centuries of history. You will then have the opportunity to enjoy a sushi experience with a professional sushi chef. Whatever you prepare, you can eat! Then, we will head to the Tsukiji Outer Market, where various restaurants and shops line the streets. Then, pay a visit to the Imperial Palace, the former site of Edo Castle and the current residence of the Imperial Family of Japan. In the afternoon, we will visit the tallest self-supporting steel tower in the world. At 333 meters high, the Tokyo Tower is 13 meters taller than its model, the Eiffel Tower. From the main platform of the observatory, you can get a panoramic view of the city from 150 meters high.

Note: For Sushi Making Experience, if you are vegetarian, have gluten-free diets, have a shellfish allergy, or don’t eat raw fish, contact us for other ingredient options.

Breakfast lunch
Tobu Hotel Levant Tokyo or similar class

Day 3

Hakone (Hakone Ropeway / Owakudani), Mt Fuji

We will depart from Tokyo to Hakone in our luxurious private car. We will tour Hakone by taking a 20 minute cable car from Togendai to Owakundani. Most of the area around Owakundani is considered an active volcanic zone since its inception from the eruption of Mount Hakone some 3,000 years ago. Now, you can experience hot springs and hot rivers there, where sulfurous vapors still linger. Owakundani also has splendid views of Mount Fuji in good weather. From Hakone, we will proceed to Mount Fuji. Along the way, take in the changing scenery, from thick vegetation to lowlands to billowing clouds. We will make a stop at the 5th station Mt. Fuji (depending on the weather) to admire the world famous peak. We will stay at the Onsen Ryokan in Yatsugatake, where you can soak in the therapeutic waters of a hot tub and enjoy a traditional Japanese Kaiseki banquet dinner.

Breakfast lunch dinner
Yatsugateke Royal Hotel or similar class

Day 4

Matsumoto (Matsumoto Castle), Takayama (Old Town / Takayama Jinya)

Today we will head to Matsumoto, where we will visit Matsumoto Castle, or Black Crow Castle, which dates back more than 400 years. Then, we will continue to Takayama. This city is nestled among the Japanese Alps and is known as “Little Kyoto” for its preserved historical structures and surroundings. Due to its remote position in the mountains, it was isolated from the rest of Japan for most of its history and thus has maintained a unique and traditional atmosphere. We will explore the old town of Takayama. Along the way you will notice the huge cedar signs hanging from the eaves of various stores, indicating that the stores sell sake. Then visit Takayama Jinya, the only traditional local government office in existence and a fine example of a miniature palace containing offices, an interrogation room with torture devices, and a 440-year-old rice barn.

Breakfast lunch dinner
Hotel Associa Takayama Resort or similar class

Day 5

Takayama (Morning Market), Shirakawa-go (Shiroyama / Gassho-zukuri Minkaen Lookout), Kanazawa (Kenrokuen), Shinkansen Bullet Train Ride from Maibara to Kyoto

This morning we will enjoy the city’s lively market before heading to the World Heritage site in rural Shirakawa-go. In this very photogenic village, we will walk past the thatched-roof country houses and cultivated fields and see the wooden buildings from the Edo period. Once there, we will also go to the Shiroyama Lookout, which allows us to have a panoramic view of Shirakawa-go from higher ground. From Shirakawago, we will depart for Kanazawa to visit Kenrokuen Garden, one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan. The name “Kenrokuen” literally means a garden that combines the 6 attributes of a perfect landscape: space, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, elements of water and panoramic views. Here you’ll find Japan’s oldest fountain and Kotoji-toro, the two-legged stone lantern that is iconic of Kenrokuen and Kanazawa. Next, experience a Shinkansen bullet train ride from Maibara to Kyoto, which can reach speeds of up to 300km / h. We will stay two nights in Kyoto, a historical city. During World War II, it was saved from air raids and the atomic bomb for its cultural and historical value.

Breakfast lunch
Grand Prince Hotel Kyoto or similar class

Day 6

Kyoto (Kiyomizu Temple / Nishijin Kimono Show / Golden Pavilion / Arashiyama – Tenryuji Temple Zen Garden – Sagano Bamboo Forest – Togetsukyo Bridge / Gion)

Today we will begin our tour of Kyoto, which was once the capital of Japan and is still considered its cultural center. First is a visit to the famous Kiyomizu Temple, best known for its wooden stage that juts out from its main hall, 13 meters above the slope below. The setting offers visitors a beautiful view of the many cherry and maple trees that open below into a sea of ​​color in spring and fall, as well as the city of Kyoto in the distance. At the Nishijin Textile Center, you can see kimono displays and even see a kimono parade. Visit the Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) covered in 18 karat gold leaf. This three-story structure was originally built by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in 1397. Then we will visit Arashiyama to see Tenryuji Temple where you can get a glimpse of the traditional Zen landscape garden design. Then proceed through a dense bamboo forest, passing by several small shrines, tea shops and private houses before reaching the Togetsukyo Bridge over the Hozu River. Finally, we will tour Gion, the old neighborhood of Geisha and Pontocho, whose cobbled alleys vibrate with nightlife.

Breakfast dinner
Grand Prince Hotel Kyoto or similar class

Day 7

Kyoto (Fushimi Inari Shrine), Uji (Green Tea Ceremony), Nara (Todaiji Temple / Deer Park), Osaka (Dotonbori – Shinsaibashi)

The day begins with a visit to the picturesque and historic Fushimi district. We will visit the impressive vermilion-colored Fushimi Inari Shrine, whose 4 km tunnel of scarlet torii gates was featured in the movie Memoirs of a Geisha. This resort surrounds a bamboo wilderness that includes mountains, streams, and ponds, the perfect backdrop for a scenic hike. From there we continue to Uji where we will experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. From Uji, our coach leaves for Nara, the oldest capital of Japan. We will visit the Todaiji Temple, the largest wooden building in Japan. This temple is also home to the largest bronze statue of the Buddha at 16.3 meters high, and the surrounding park is filled with more than 1,000 Sika deer. Our last visit for this trip is Dodonbori, which runs parallel to the Dotonbori canal. A popular shopping, entertainment, and food district, Dodonbori is known for the hundreds of neon and mechanized signs that line the street, including the famous Glico Running Man and Kani Doraku Crab signs.

Breakfast lunch
Hotel Elsereine Osaka or similar class

Day 8

Himeji (Himeji Castle), Kurashiki (Canal Area / Ohara Museum of Art)

Today we take a 2 hour ride on a private bus to Himeji to visit Himeji Castle. It is known as “White Egret Castle” and “White Heron Castle” due to its bright white exterior, which resembles a flying bird. Himeji Castle is the largest and most visited castle in Japan, and is one of the few original castles left in the country. This splendid example of traditional architecture was declared one of the first UNESCO World Heritage sites in Japan. The following is a visit to Kurashiki. In the past, this picturesque town prospered as a port for rice shipments. Several old rice barns and examples of historic architecture still remain, in addition to the stone-lined canal. We will also visit the Ohara Museum of Art, considered the first Western art museum in Japan. It is a private museum consisting of three adjacent buildings next to the canal. In the afternoon, we will continue our trip to Hiroshima for two nights.

Breakfast dinner
Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima or similar class

Day 9

Hiroshima (Peace Memorial Park – A-Bomb Museum / Miyajima Island – Itsukushima Shrine)

Today our travels will continue with a visit to the Peace Memorial Park, the iconic Hiroshima memorial landmark for those killed in the infamous Hiroshima bombing on August 6, 1945. There we will also enter the A-Bomb Museum where documents are located, artifacts and videos are displayed throughout the museum. After lunch, we will take a short ferry ride to Miyajima Island; the cherry blossoms on the island are a spectacular sight. At high tide we can see that the famous vermilion torii gate of the Itsukushima Shrine seems to float in the middle of the sea. The shrine complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while Miyajima has been selected as one of the three most scenic places in Japan (nihon sankei).

Breakfast lunch
Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima or similar class

Day 10

Shimanami Kaido (Scenic Observatory / Kirosan), Takamatsu (Shikoku Mura Village / Ritsurin Park)

In the morning, we will drive through the Shimanami Kaido to Shikoku Island. The Shimanami Kaido is a 60-kilometer toll road that connects the main island of Honshu in Japan with the island of Shikoku, passing through six small islands in the Seto Inland Sea. It is also known as the Nishiseto Highway. We will stop at the Kirosan Observatory from where you can see the Kurushima Kaikyo bridges that are located between hundreds of islands that are beautifully scattered throughout the Seto Inland Sea. The modern observation deck was cleverly designed and built midway into the slope of the hillside so as not to spoil the natural environment. Then we head to Takamatsu with a stop at Shikoku Mura Village. Shikoku Mura (Shikoku Village) is an open-air museum located at the base of Yashima. This pleasant hillside park preserves and displays traditional buildings and structures that have been moved here from all over the island of Shikoku. Then visit Ritsurin Park, a Japanese landscape masterpiece 100 years in the making. This extensive park has beautiful ponds and pavilions with Mt. Shiun as the perfect backdrop.

Breakfast lunch
JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu or similar class

Day 11

Naruto (Whirlpool Whirlpool Watching Tour / Shikoku Pilgrimage Route – Ryozenji to Gokurakuji <1.2 KM / 0.75 mi> / Tokushima Ferry to Wakayama, Koyasan (Temple Accommodation – Shukubo / After Vegetarian Dinner, Visit Cemetery Okunoin at night)

We continue our journey today in Naruto. Naruto is known for his whirlpools of eddies, we will take a little boat and stand next to the eddies. Naruto is also the starting point for the Shikoku pilgrimage, which leads around the island to visit 88 temples throughout Shikoku associated with the famous Buddhist monk, Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism. The Ryozenji Temple of Naruto is the first temple of the pilgrimage. We will travel on foot for approximately 1.2 km (0.75 miles) from Ryozenji Temple to Gokurakuji Temple. From Shikoku Island, we will board a ferry to Honshu Island, where we will stay at a monastery in Koyasan with authentic vegetarian Buddhist meals. We will experience life a lot like a monk would in Japan. Koyasan is the center of Shingon Buddhism, a Buddhist sect that was introduced to Japan in 805 by Kobo Daishi, one of the most important personalities in the religious history of Japan. The temple complex of more than 100 temples is located on top of a mountain, surrounded by cedars and mountain peaks. After a vegetarian dinner at the temple, you will have the option to follow your guide in the evening to Okunoin’s Tomb. It is the largest cemetery in Japan, where the founder of Shingon Buddhism is said to be in eternal meditation.

Breakfast lunch dinner
Koyasan Sekishoin or similar class

Day 12

Koyasan (Early Meditation with Monks / Okunoin Temple / Kongobuji Temple / Danjo Garan)

Today the activities begin with reflection as we meditate with the Koyasan monks. Then we will go to Okunoin Temple which is surrounded by many tombstone marks, most of which are old and worn. The tomb is also the resting place of the founder of Shingon Buddhism in Japan, Kobo Daishi. Then there is the Kongobuji Temple, which was originally built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of Nobunaga’s generals during the time of the wars. The temple also has the Ohiroma Hall, a special room designated for ceremonies and rituals with tatami floors and elegantly designed sliding doors. The pilgrimage ends at Danjo Garan, a temple complex that also belongs to the original Kobo Daishi foundations. Painted in bright vermilion, one of the pagoda structures called Konpon Daito stands out from the crowd.

Breakfast lunch dinner
Katsuura Onsen Hotel Nakanoshima or similar class

Day 13

Kumano (Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trail – Daimonzaka to Nachi Fall <2.2 KM / 1.3 mi>, on the way visit Seigantoji Temple and Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine)

This morning we headed to the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where pilgrims walked the forest trails for over 1000 years. The Kumano region is the mountainous part of the southern Kii Hanto, the largest peninsula in Japan, where the sacred trails are still used for pilgrimage to the three great Kumano shrines. We will hike along a short section of the Daimon-zaka Trail and visit the 133-meter-high Nachi Waterfall, whose vertical stream that falls over the edge of the cliff into the virgin forest is said to be the highest in Japan. We slowly climb the pilgrim’s steps to visit Seigantoji Temple, originally built in 1590, and a very picturesque 3-story vermilion pagoda that creates a perfect image of Japanese tranquility.

Breakfast lunch dinner
Toba Grand Hotel or similar class

Day 14

Ise Shima (Ise Grand Shrine / Okage Yokocho District / Mikimoto Pearl Island)

The pilgrimage continues to Ise Shima where the Ise Grand Shrine is located. The Ise Grand Shrine has a history of two thousand years, is the most important Shinto shrine in Japan and serves as the center of all Shinto shrines throughout the country. Situated near the banks of the Isuzu River, the shrine is surrounded by Japanese cedars, some 800 years old. The inner sanctuary is considered the abode of Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun, the deity of whom it was considered a descendant. At Okage Yokocho Street we can experience the urban landscape of a bygone era, where the buildings leading to the inner sanctuary reproduce the architecture and atmosphere that surrounded the Ise pilgrims during the Edo Period (1600-1868). Our next stop is Mikimoto Pearl Island, where in 1893, Kokichi Mikimoto first perfected the cultured pearl production technique and started a global industry. Here we see ‘Ama’, pearl divers, demonstrate their skills, observe how cultured pearls are produced, and see an incredible collection of million dollar treasures made from pearls.

Breakfast lunch
Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport or similar class
Elsereine Osaka Hotel or similar class (NOTE 5 and 6)

NOTE 5: If you want to stay in downtown Osaka for the last night instead of Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport, we can arrange for you to stay at Hotel Elsereine Osaka (or similar class). In this case, the airport transfer is not included, but we will provide you with full instructions so that you can get to the airport in advance.

NOTE 6: If you are flying from Itami Airport (ITM) instead of Kansai International Airport (KIX), we can arrange for you to stay at Hotel Elsereine Osaka (or similar class) instead of Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport. In this case, the airport transfer is not included, but we will provide you with full instructions so that you can get to the airport in advance.

Day 15
Tour ends
After breakfast, our tour officially ends. Check out time is at 11am. M. And Osaka Kansai Airport can be reached in three minutes on foot.

NOTE 7: If you want to stay longer in Japan, please contact us to reserve hotel accommodation.