INSPIRED JAPAN SUMMER ADVENTURES

The Tokyo Sky Tree was phenomenal and we were really lucky that it was such a clear day! The museum for emerging science was amazing and the robots were fascinating, the kids loved it.

Thanks so much for sorting a reservation at the Pokémon café, there was such a long queue of people without a booking and we could skip straight to the front which was great.”

A two-week summer tour of Japan provides the opportunity to explore three islands and experience the breadth of culture Japan has to offer. In addition the highlights of Tokyo and Kyoto, spending longer in the country gives you the opportunity to visit Koyasan, the headquarters of Shingon Buddhism, and stay overnight in a temple there, cross between the islands on the longest span bridge in the world and absorb the stunning natural beauty of Shikoku. Read on for an example itinerary for your summer adventure.

DAY 1

Your International flight arrives in Tokyo and your English speaking guide will meet you and accompany you to your hotel. If you have a morning arrival you may want to start exploring the city in the afternoon and your guide will be on hand to make suggestions. Overnight at the Imperial Hotel Tokyo.

DAY 2

Your guide will meet you after breakfast and accompany you on your tailor-made itinerary, which we will have agreed with you before you travel. This may include starting at the famous Tsukiji fish market, or beginning your journey of discovery around the most important heritage sites, temples and gardens that are dotted throughout the city. Your time in Tokyo will allow you to soak up the local character of the different districts, enjoy lunch in a carefully selected restaurant, visit museums and attractions that suit your interests. After a packed day in Tokyo, you can retire once more to the Imperial Hotel, experiencing service and comfort that has welcomed royalty and heads of state for over 120 years with impeccable Japanese hospitality.

DAY 3

Bidding Tokyo goodbye, you’ll take a bullet train via Nagoya and your guide will greet you on the platform in Ise-city, Mie. They will accompany you to Ise Jingu and the many other Shinto shrines in the area, where more than 1500 rituals are conducted each year, before organising a private car to transport you to Kumano city, Mie, where you can enjoy a hot spring bath at the Hotel Kumano Club, your base for the night.

Day 4

The next morning will see you venture out of the city, to visit the rice paddy regions at Maruyama Senmaida and walk part of the Kumano Kodo, the ancient pilgrimage routes, all accompanied by your guide. If of interest, you can experience staying overnight at the temple lodging in Koyasan, getting a glimpse of the monastic lifestyle, enjoying simple, traditional cuisine and attending morning prayers. Overnight in the old working monastery Fudo-in at Koyasan.

Day 5

Having gained an insight into the lifestyles of Buddhist monks, your guide will introduce you to the most important temples in the area, notably in Koyasan, Garan and Kongobuji. They will provide in-depth knowledge allowing you to appreciate the temples beyond their architectural beauty. This can be combined with local excursions into the beautiful local countryside including the foothills of Mt. Koya. You will retreat to the Sanso Amanosato, a beautiful property which offers delicious local cuisine, options for glamping in a tent in front of your bedroom - wonderful for the kids to sleep under the stars!

Day 6

Before heading to Kyoto, you’ll take a day to venture to the historic city of Nara. The old city, which stood as the Imperial Capital of Japan 1300 years ago, offers eight spectacular temples, shrines and ruins which conjointly form another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Plenty of opportunities to get close to local wildlife here, including Nara’s sacred deer. We’ll organise a private car to pick you up and take you to your hotel in Kyoto once you’ve taken in Nara’s highlights. Overnight at Hotel Nazuna Nijo in Kyoto.

Day 7

Your guide will meet you at your hotel before taking you on a journey into the heart of the history of Kyoto, exploring the 400-year-old Nijo Castle, the landscaped gardens and the Buddhist temples: Kinkaku-ji, with its magnificent Golden Pavilion, and Kiyomizu-dera, which takes its name from the waterfall it is constructed around. The central location of the Nazuna Nijo allows you to readily explore Kyoto before retreating into the peaceful sanctuary of the traditional Japanese inn for a delicious meal.

Day 8

Having explored many of the World Heritage Sites, the final day in Kyoto provides the opportunity to choose from a number of experiences. Clients have enjoyed learning about samurai traditions at a personal workshop where you can dress and participate. There are also opportunities to learn more about Japanese Geisha culture, or visit local studios and craftspeople. Final over-night at Nazuna Nijo.

Day 9

You’ll depart with your guide by private transfer to one of the most spectacular historical gardens in Japan, Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu City, via Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, the longest span bridge in the world. We’ll arrange to see the Naruto whirlpools and Tokushima Port along the way, before arriving at Hotel Kotohira Kadan, Kagawa.

DAY 10

The journey to Hiroshima continues with your private guide via Kotohira-gu, the most prominent of the Kompira shrines. In the afternoon we’ll stop at Imabari city to visit the castle surrounded by its unusual seawater moat, before completing the journey to arrive in Matsue city, and overnighting at the Hotel Minami-kan, which sits on the shore by Lake Shinji-ko, Shimane.

DAY 11

The following morning you’ll visit Matsue Castle. Known as the black castle, it is one of the last remaining wooden medieval castles in Japan and makes for a great contrast to Izumo Taisha, one of the most famous and most important shrines in Japan, which we recommend visiting the same day before returning to your hotel.

DAY 12

A morning at leisure is followed by an internal flight to Tokyo. The penultimate day in Japan presents an opportunity to explore Tokyo once again, perhaps visiting the Tokyo National Museum, which specialises in traditional Japanese art, or climbing Tokyo Tower for a final view of the bustling capital before enjoying Tokyo’s internationally acclaimed cuisine one last time. Your final night in the Imperial Hotel Tokyo provides the perfect location to explore Tokyo, ideally placed for a streamlined journey to the airport the following morning.

Inspired Japan tours are tailor-made to suit your requirements and this is just an example of the experience we can arrange for you. Please contact us to discuss your precise interests and we will be pleased to put together a personalised itinerary.