Welcome to Japan! Upon arrival, transfer by coach (SHUTTLE BUS) to the hotel.

At 18:30, there will be a meeting with the guide. Late in the afternoon, embark on a fascinating exploration of this country by taking a trip on the metro (tickets included) to the Shinjuku district. Witness the crowds in one of Tokyo’s most important nightlife districts. Dinner is included, and return to the hotel by metro with our guide.

In the morning, join a 5-hour trip with the guide to explore this amazing city. Experience its hustle and bustle and extremely modern districts that coexist with quiet, peaceful areas. Make a brief stop at Zojoji Temple to capture a beautiful photograph of the Tokyo Tower. Pay attention to the hundreds of Jizos, traditional stone protecting deities that guide us on our travels, empower the weak (such as children), and those in dangerous places, dressed in hats, robes, and windmills. Then head to the junction of Shibuya, a junction that is said to be the most crowded in the world. The Meiji Temple is dedicated to the Emperor Meiji, his wife, and their spirits. Continue on the bus along the elegant street of Omotesando. Edge the most beautiful part of the Imperial Palace and the gardens. Stop to visit the famous Nijubashi Bridge. Pass through the district of Akihabara, the “electric town,” with icons from popular Japanese Manga and Anime culture. Then see Kokugikan, the Sumo stadium, home of this Japanese sport. Also, visit the Buddhist temple of Sensoji, the oldest and most important temple in Tokyo, with its 55-meter high pagoda. Finally, have some free time to visit the traditional commercial street of Nakamise in the Asakusa district. Lunch is included in a local restaurant. Return to the hotel. Enjoy free time in the afternoon.

Note: During the Japanese Olympics, accommodation may be provided near Narita airport.

DAY 3. Tokyo – Hiroshima:

After breakfast, transfer to the station to take the BULLET TRAIN to HIROSHIMA. It takes four hours, more or less, to travel the 800 kilometers between both cities. Arrival in Hiroshima, a city sadly known for the atomic bomb that fell on it in 1945 and leveled the city. Stroll around the Peace Memorial, the Dome of the bomb, and visit the impressive Museum of Peace. After the war, seek peace by embarking on a ferry to the island “where men and gods live together,” with the sanctuary of ITSUKUSHIMA dedicated to the guardian of the seas, built partially over the sea. Time to visit the temple, stroll around its pretty center, and have lunch. Return to our hotel in Hiroshima. Dinner is included. Note: The order of the visits in Hiroshima may vary without affecting their content.

Day 4. Hiroshima – Matsuyama:

Today take a ferry to Shikoku Island, on a pleasant crossing that lasts two hours and a half and see the many islands that make up Japan. In MATSUYAMA, take the cable car up to its impressive castle. Afterwards, visit ISHITEJI, a beautiful Buddhist temple and a place of pilgrimage. Lunch is included. In the late afternoon, visit DOGO ONSEN (admission included), a traditional Japanese bath facility built in the 19th century.

 Matsuyama – Kotohira – Takamatsu – Naruto – Kobe:

Depart for KOTOHIRA, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the God of sailors and a place of pilgrimage, reached by climbing 785 steps. In TAKAMATSU, visit RITSURIN, one of Japan’s prettiest gardens, with lunch included. Continue to NARUTO, crossing an impressive bridge over the sea. Admire the construction, walk on its glass floor with the sea 45 meters below, and proceed through beautiful scenery and long bridges between islands over the sea. Arrival in KOBE, accommodation.

DAY 6. Kobe – Osaka – Mount Koya:

In Kobe, we visited the Earthquake Memorial Museum, a place to remind us of the tragic seismic event that devastated the city in 1995 and its perfect reconstruction. Note: On some dates, the Earthquake Museum may be changed to the Sake Museum or a climb up Kobe Tower. We continue to Osaka. We depart from this city to visit MOUNT KOYA, one of Japan’s sacred mountains and Japan’s main center of Shingon Buddhism. There are 120 shrines and monasteries on this mountain, which is a magical place of pilgrimage. We will visit Okuno Mausoleum, a spiritual place and an immense cemetery in the wilderness that has more than 200,000 graves. We will visit Kongobuji temple, built in 1593.

We will spend this night at a Buddhist monastery. The monks will offer us a Zen meditation session (Ajikan). Dinner is included (vegetarian food). There is a religious ceremony at the temple early in the morning if you wish to attend it.

Note: We consider the sojourn at the monastery as an experience of great existential value. The rooms at this place are modest, without bathrooms, in the traditional Japanese style with tatamis. Bathrooms are communal.

DAY 7. Mount Koya – Kyoto:

Japanese breakfast at the temple. Then we leave early for KYOTO, to spend the whole day in the city, which was the capital of Japan between 794 and 1868 and home to the Imperial Court. During World War II, the city was the only major Japanese city to escape bombardments, and so it still preserves its wealth of artistic heritage; the famous protocol restricting greenhouse gas emissions was signed in Kyoto in 1997.

The visit includes a trip to one of the most important parts of the city. We will see the marvelous Shinto Shrine of Fushimi Inari, the Imperial Palace, and Kinkakuji temple, “the golden pavilion” and its wonderful gardens.

Free time before visiting GION, a busy traditional quarter famous for its Geisha. Free time.

Note: If you already visited Kyoto on your circuit, our guide will offer you information and advice on visiting the other parts of the city unaccompanied.

DAY 8. Kyoto – Tsumago – Matsumoto – Nagano:

We set out for TSUMAGO, passing attractive country scenery on our way. This small village with its wooden houses is one of the prettiest places in Japan. Free time to explore, and lunch is included. Then we continue to MATSUMOTO, a tourist city, where we will visit the impressive 16th-century castle, known as the “Crow Castle.” Free time to explore this bustling tourist city. We continue to NAGANO, accommodation.

DAY 9. Nagano – Monkey Park – Kusatsu – Ikaho Onsen:

In NAGANO, we will see the Zenko-ji, a place of pilgrimage with the first Buddhist image in Japan. Our travelers will be included in the Gomakuyo ceremony to bring luck. After this, we will travel to the beautiful Japanese Alps, and in the mountains, we will go to the JIGOKUDANI Monkey Park, where we will include lunch and stroll amidst its forests with its rivers and spa waters where colonies of Japanese macaques live and bathe. After this, very beautiful high mountain scenery (we go up to 2,172 meters), passing semi-active volcanoes. KUSATSU, an attractive spa town, its main square full of life. We will include attendance at a Yumomi show, with its actresses and singing telling us about the traditional method used to cool the spa waters. We follow this with a walk in the city park which has the open-air Onsen. Then on to IKAHO, a picturesque spa town where we will stroll in its ancient center with its staircase streets. We will stay at a RYOKAN, a Japanese-style hotel where we will continue to enjoy its baths. Traditional Japanese dinner included.

NB: In the autumn, depending on the amount of fruit in the mountains, the movement of the monkeys is unpredictable. If the macaques do not come down to the park, it may be closed. The visit to Kusatsu and the Yumoni show are canceled due to the weather from November to April.

DAY 10 Ikaho – Nikko – Tokyo:

We continue on our way to NIKKO, and in this fantastic town, we will visit the impressive Nikko-Toshogu Temple with its room with the sound of a dragon. We will also see the Taiyuinbyo mausoleum, an impressive place full of peace. After this, a stroll by the river in Kanmangafuchi, Hundreds of Jizos watch us! We will have free time in the center before leaving for TOKYO once more. Arrival in Tokyo at around 18.30 in the evening. End of our services. Please, check the time of your flight in case you might need an additional night.