Japanarama: World Heritage Japan

Arrive at Narita Airport and meet your local representative, who will assist with your airport bus transfer to your hotel.  Arrive at your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Enjoy a day at leisure.

After breakfast, transfer to the tour desk to join a day excursion to Mt Fuji.  Travel by coach to Mt. Fuji, head up to the 5th Station along the Subaru Line. The 5th Station is situated at 2,300 meters (7,546 feet) above sea level. At this height, you will be amazed at spectacular, breathtaking views from above the clouds.  After a Japanese style lunch, continue to Lake Ashi, enjoy a cruise, spend a relaxing time while gazing at the beautiful lake and Mt. Fuji.  Then take a 7-minute ropeway ride to the peak of Mt. Komagatake. A total of 50 minutes will be spent here, including time to walk around at the peak. Take a cableway ride up to the spiritual Hakone Shrine Mototsumiya (original shrine) that nestles at the mountaintop. Enjoy the scenery of Lake Ashi spread out below.  Return to Tokyo after the tour.  The tour will end upon arrival near Shinjuku station.  Enjoy the evening at your leisure.

After breakfast, transfer to the tour desk to join the morning Tokyo city tour.  Visit the Imperial Palace, admire the view of this National Garden that was formerly a private garden of the Royal Family.  Enjoy the view of Nijubashi Bridge, as well as the view of the Imperial Palace itself.  Drive by the National Diet Building, the center of Japanese Government.  Head to the Tokyo Tower main deck for a 360-degree panoramic view from its main observatory.  Continue to Senso-ji Temple, the oldest temple in Tokyo, and Nakamise Shopping Street.  A drive by Kabukiza, a classic Japanese-style theater and arrive at Tokyo Station, where your tour will end here. You will have the rest of the day at your leisure.  Your tour guide will give you details on how to make your own way back to your hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to Tokyo station to take Shinkansen (bullet train) to Kanazawa.  Upon arrival in Kanazawa, meet with the representative and transfer to a hotel.  In the afternoon pick up from hotel to join a coach tour.  Visit a former residence of a samurai family from the Kaga Domain.  Admire the traditional architecture and gaze at the beautiful Japanese garden. Continue to Kenrokuen Garden, this beautiful garden is considered one of the top three Japanese gardens, offering amazing seasonal views all year round.  Next, visit Higashi Chaya-ga, a wooden-latticed exteriors of teahouses line both sides of the stone-paved street here where something from the Edo period (1603-1868) still lingers in the air. This area is an Important Traditional Building Preservation District.  The tour ends at Kanazawa Station, enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.

After breakfast, pick up from the hotel and explore Shirakawago, a village known for its distinctive ‘Gassho-zukuri’ style homes. Begin at Shirakawago Observatory, enjoy an elevated view of the World Heritage registered thatch-roofed village of Shirakawago.  Then visit Wada Residence, a traditional thatch-roofed farmhouse, also registered as a World Heritage Site. Look around and be fascinated by the culture and history of the village. From Shirakawago, travel to Takayama by bus.  Visit Yatai Kaikan (Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall) popular facility displays some of the colorfully decorated festival floats used in the famous Takayama Festival. Enjoy seeing the many intricately made floats.  Continue to Kusakabe Heritage House, enjoy a visit to this historical Japanese-style townhouse and view a range of exquisite folk art and traditional handicrafts. Our last stop is Kami-Sannomachi, located in the heart of the castle town, the old streets of this area – which originally developed as a merchant town – retains traces from the Edo period (1603-1868).  The tour ends in Kanazawa Station, enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.

After breakfast, pick up from the hotel and transfer to Kanazawa station and travel by train to Kyoto.  Upon arrival in Kyoto meet your local representative and transfer to your hotel.  Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Pick up from your hotel and transfer to the tour desk to join a full day tour of Kyoto.  The tour starts with a visit to Nijo Castle, followed by a visit to Kinkakuji Temple, home of the Golden Pavilion.  Then travel to the Kyoto Imperial Palace.  After a Western-style lunch visit Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Sanjusangendo, the world’s longest wooden structure, housing 1,001 life-size statues of Buddhist Kannon deities dating back to the 13th century.  Return to your hotel at the end of your tour.

Spend the full day at leisure exploring Kyoto on your own.

Enjoy free time before you transfer to Osaka International airport to board your return flight back to Canada.

B – Breakfast     L – Lunch