zBackroads & Teahouses of Japan

Check in to your Deluxe Room at the city-center Hilton Hotel.

Your day begins with a guided stroll through Hamarikyu Garden, a lovely oasis surrounded by the city’s skyscrapers. Refresh with a cup of macha in a teahouse set on a garden island and then enjoy a cruise along the Sumida River. Step off in Asakusa, one of the city’s oldest districts, to visit Asakusa Kannon Temple and the bustling Nakamise Arcade. Enjoy a hands-on class in the preparation of both nigiri and maki sushi and then sit down to a congenial lunch. Tour the Meiji Shrine before returning to your hotel for a free evening. Meals B,L

Travel by rail to Kamakura to visit Jochiji Temple, founded in 1283. A pleasant 2-hour hike along a carefully tended forested trail offers lovely views of the sea. Visit a small Shinto shrine as you make your way to Kotokuin Temple, home to Kamakura’s famous giant bronze Buddha. Marvel at the gilded statue of the Goddess of Mercy at Hase-dera Temple before returning to Tokyo. Meals B,L

With forested slopes and the image of Mt. Fuji reflected in the waters of Lake Ashi, this is one of Japan’s most spectacular regions, and we’ve made special arrangements for you to experience its beauty... Ascend by cable car over steaming mineral pools to Mt. Owakudani, cruise on Lake Ashi and hike along one of the last remaining sections of the Old Tokaido Highway. Sample rice wine in an Edo-era tea house and overnight at the Fujiya Hotel. Meals B,L,D

Ride the world-famous Bullet Train to Kyoto arriving in time for lunch and a guided afternoon walking or biking tour through the Gion district where Geisha traditions began long ago. Delight in the weeping willows and quaint tea houses that line the Shirakawa Canal and visit the beautiful gardens of the Imperial Palace Park. Continue along the Kamogawa River, lined with cherry trees abloom in the spring, and overnight at the Brighton Hotel. Meals B,L

Your exploration of Japan’s spiritual heart begins fittingly with our special Zen meditation experience at a Buddhist temple. Then visit Nijo Castle with its remarkable Nightingale Floor, designed to “chirp” a warning if would-be assassins intruded into the Shogun’s quarters! Visit the vermilion-hued Heian Shrine and marvel at the exotic foods and wares of the bustling Nishiki Market. Enjoy magnificent views from the terrace of Kiyomizu Temple before returning to your hotel.
Meals B,L

Today’s full-day excursion showcases the historic temples of Japan’s first capital including Todaiji, the world’s largest wooden building, and Kasuga Taisha, founded in 768 and famous for its hundreds of bronze and stone lanterns. At Fushimi Inari Shrine, featured in the movie Memoirs of a Geisha, you’ll walk through its 10,000 red torii gates to the summit for amazing views over the wooded hills. Return to Kyoto where your evening is free. Meals B,L

Your journey with us ends this morning. Meals B