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Overview

Tailor made trip to Japan

The Tokaido Road is the stretch of road which connected over four centuries Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto, and on which are concentrated the most beautiful wonders of Japan. You'll begin this tailor made journey with the visit to Tokyo, arguably the most dynamic metropolis in Asia and that will charm you with all its excesses. Imperial Palace, gigantic shopping malls and beautiful parks are just a few of the many attractions of the capital of Japan. You will head next to Hakone to enjoy breathtaking views of the legendary Mount Fuji and the sweetness of its hot springs and thermal baths, as well as the lunar landscape of the Owakudani valley.
The trip takes you eventually to Takayama, in the heart of the Japanese Alps, to admire one of the places that has best been preserved its authentic architecture of yesteryear. This tailor made trip will conclude with the visit of the Kyoto area, Nara and Himeji Castle. Kyoto, a former capital of Japan, with some 2,000 temples, gardens and castles, is an enchanting place that no superlative can describe and that will for sure astound you; geishas, the traditional district of Gion and shrines deploy all their splendour, which will be engraved in your memories.
This is a trip to the edge of the world, to meet the fascinating and exceptionally rich culture of a country filled with inexhaustible treasures, that will feed the most insatiable appetite of discovery, along with a private guide who leads this tailor made itinerary to satisfy you fully.

Feel free to contact our Japan expert at Uniktour to get more information about this tailor made trip to the far side of the world!

Itinerary

Day 1| International flight
Departure from Canada and flight to Japan

Day 2| Tokyo
You land at the international airport of Narita. Meet and greet with your English-speaking travel coordinator and transfer to your hotel. Evening under own arrangements. (French-speaking coordinator also available, please contact us for more information). Tokyo offers multiple possibilities in every field that can't be evened anywhere in the world; from the fun karaokes hidden behind the glass windows to the giant shopping centers, design restaurants, countless monuments and traditional neighbourhoods. Actually, the capital of Japan is fascinating in more ways than one: giant outdoor TV screens, blinking neon lights, hi-tech shops are just a few features of this metropolis where tomorrow happens today. The old city called Shitamachi is still standing since the 19th century despite the fires and earthquakes, and lives together with the modern town. Ancient temples, geisha districts and traditional stalls in the streets face the towering high rises.

Day 3| Tokyo
After breakfast, you'll your guide who will bring you to a day of sightseeing in Tokyo. Start off with the Tsujiki Fish Market and Hamarikyu Park, important milestones of the city. Even if hundreds of places are worth a shot to discover the extraordinary diversity of Japanese food, the buzzing and restless traditional market of Tsujiki is the most spectacular of all. Over 450 species of seafood, fish, and seashells only wait to whet your appetite on the countless stands. Or enjoy the delicious sushi for your lunch in Uogashi Yokocho Street, filled with fish shops and restaurants. The well-known Hamarikyu Park, typical of the Edo and Tokugawa shogun eras, is located nearby. In the afternoon, boat cruise on the Sumida River in Asakusa district management.
After this quiet break, visit to the Sensoji temple, better known as the Asakusa Kannon Temple. The main building is dedicated to Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion, and is flanked by a five-story pagoda. You will end this discovering day with a tour of Edo-Tokyo Museum that presents the history and lifestyles of the city through large-scale models. Teien Museum is an art building deco erected in 1933 and displaying several collections loaned by other museums or collectors. Back to the hotel later in the day.

Day 4| Tokyo
Start in style with the visit of the Imperial Palace, formerly Edo Castle, still belted by his original ditches. Superb old gates and watchtowers punctuate the walls at regular intervals. The Nijubashi, an elegant double-arched bridge, leads to the main entrance. The East Garden (Higashi Gyoen) houses the remains of the first Edo Castle. Different varieties of flowers embellish the garden year-round offering visitors a place to relax. Continue to the Meiji Shrine, or Meijijingu, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and his descendants. This is a particularly interesting example of Shinto architecture. A building in the back of the sanctuary exhibits the Treasury, a collection of precious artefacts relating to the imperial deity and his cult. Make a 180 ° turn with the district of Shibuya, the cradle of contemporary Japanese popular culture. In this lively district with many shops, bookstores, bars, restaurants, cinemas, concert halls, amusement arcades, the general motto is "fun". A few steps away, Yoyogi Park and Harajuku district is the hangout of the young eccentric style that gather to see and be seen. In between, Koen-dori Street has a more family atmosphere with its department stores and fashion boutiques.

Day 5| Tokyo - Hakone
Transport in fast train with your local guide towards Hakone after breakfast. Transfer to the hotel. Hakone, 1,5 hr by train from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, is known for its hot springs. The town is perched in the beautiful mountainous region of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. From Togendai, you'll enjoy a relaxing moment after boarding for a cruise on Lake Ashinoko. This large lake with a circumference of 21 km and located 725 meters above sea level is one of the main attractions of Hakone, and a popular destination for fishing or boating. It is also known for perfectly reflecting Mount Fuji on a clear day. Mount Fuji, peaking at 3,776 meters, is not only the highest mountain in Japan, but also the first symbol of the country. The cablecar at Sounzan brings you to Owakudani - nicknamed the Great Boiling Valley, which plunges into the crater of Mount Kamiyama where geysers of steam and sulfur spring from hidden cracks in the rock. The smell of sulfur fumes spread throughout the gorge forming a lunar landscape, with Mount Fuji in the background. Stay in a traditional ryokan (public baths) at the end of the day.

Day 6| Hakone - Takayama
After breakfast, transportation by train shinkansen, then local train to Takayama. Transfer to the hotel and visit to the Hida Folk Village in the afternoon. Takayama is a small quiet town in the heart of the Japanese Alps and famous for its traditional architecture and the carpenters. The city is also known for his legendary festivals held twice a year, in spring and autumn, where you can see spectacular parades of floats built wood using the techniques of the time.

Day 7| Takayama - Shirakawago - Takayama
Visit Takayama in the morning. Transport in the early afternoon in a private vehicle to Shirakawago and visit to a traditional village. Nestled in the mountains, Shirakawa-go is a quiet village crossed by a river and surrounded by rice fields. It is a World Heritage of Humanity since 1995, with its traditional houses built in the gassho-zukuri style. The main characteristic of these wooden houses is their sloping thatched roof, mimicking hands in prayer (gassho) to support the weight of snow, abundant in this region. These are big houses of 18m long and 10m wide on four floors, where several generations live together. The top floor is traditionally reserved for silkworms breeding. Back to Takayama in the afternoon.

Day 8| Takayama - Kyoto
Transport by local train with your guide towards Nagoya, and fast train to Kyoto (the last segment is done without the guide). Arrival and welcome by your English speaking guide at Kyoto Station and transfer to your hotel. Kyoto is one of the most traditional cities in Japan due to its impressive concentration of temples and shrines (nearly 2,000), most of them of major historical and religious importance. Other charms of the city are the presence of beautiful Zen gardens and the prevalence of a sophisticated culinary tradition (kaiseki). But as it's the case in many parts of Japan, modernization and concrete buildings took over in the past years, closely neighbouring old traditional houses (machiya). Visit of the Gion district, Nijo Castle and Maruyama Park. The Gion district often comes to mind when talking about Kyoto. In the streets with houses evoking the architectural perfection of ancient Japan and the elegant maiko (apprentice geisha), you will find a unique atmosphere. This area also brings together many shops selling a variety of items, typical of the art tradition of the city. Uptown, the Kyoto Imperial Palace and Nijo Castle almost face each other, symbol of power at stake in this ancient capital.

Day 9| Kyoto
The day will be devoted to the discovery of the most beautiful temples and gardens located in the northern part of Kyoto. You will visit this morning the Kinkakuji and Ryuanji temples.
Kinkakuji Temple, or "Golden Pavilion", was originally the holiday residence of an Ashikaga shogun, generalissimo of the Muromachi Era (1336-1573). After he died, it was transformed into a temple. A wonderful garden extends to the golden leaf coated pavilion, perfect replica of the original building destroyed in 1950 by an arsonist monk and rebuilt in 1955. Ryoanji Temple is famous for its garden, a perfect example of karesansui inspiration. Fifteen rocks emerging from a sea of white sand: simplicity and purity are an expression of the Zen Buddhism.
In the afternoon, visit the temples and bamboo forests located in Arashiyama and Sagano areas. During the Heian period (794-1192), Arashiyama was the favourite hangout of the Imperial Court. The landscape still bears traces of that time and even today visitors can walk through a bamboo forest, admire the cherry blossoms in spring and the red maple trees in autumn, and join in the celebration of full moon.

Day 10| Kyoto
Visit of the temples of Tofukuji, Sanjusangendo and Kiyomizudera. The Sanjusangendo temple, rebuilt in 1266, is famous for its wooden statue of the Bodhisattva Kannon with eleven faces, and listed as National Treasure. It is surrounded by 28 statues of his guards and a thousand smaller ones reproducing the same Bodhisattva. Moreover, with its 118 meters long, it's the longest wooden building in the world. Founded in the late 8th century, the temple Kiyomizudera is located at the foot of Higashiyama Hill. The main building, also listed as National Treasure, was rebuilt in 1633 by the Tokugawa shoguns. Its deck, supported by 139 giant piles 15 feet high, overlooks a ravine and offers a magnificent panorama of the city. Walk along the path of the philosophers and explore the different temples and gardens. Arrival at Ginkaku temple and visit of the site. Ginkaku temple or "Silver Pavilion" was built in 1489 as a holiday residence for the the Ashikaga Yoshimasa Shogun, who wanted to cover it with silver foil. A dream that didn't come true as it became a Buddhist temple after his death. This pavilion is also classified as National Treasure. His garden is a fine example of Karesansui (rock garden). In the afternoon, visit the Fushimi Inari Taisha temple. The Fushimi-Inari Shrine is one of the most famous Shinto shrines in the country. It retains most attention by the presence of countless small torii (a kind of portico) offered by the believers. They stand on the hill, forming a tunnel of 4 km long. By late afternoon, we recommend to stop by the Kurama Onsen spas before you head back to your hotel.

Day 11| Kyoto - Nara - Kyoto
Day trip to Nara and visit of the Giant Buddha at the Todaiji Temple. Originally built in the early 8th century, this temple is universally known for its Daibutsu, a bronze statue of Buddha, 16.2 meters high, and the largest bronze statue in the world. The Daibutsu was completed in 752. The main building is the largest wooden building in the world with its 48.6 meters high, 57.3 meters long and 50 meters wide. Nara was once the capital of Japan between 710 and 794, and 2010 is the year of the celebration of 1300 years of the ancient capital.

Day 12| Kyoto - Himeji - Kyoto - Osaka
Transport by train Shinkansen to Himeji and visit of the castle. Originally built in the 14th century, the castle of Himeji is not only beautiful, but also a rare example of origin and not rebuilt. In that capacity it has been granted World Heritage Site by Unesco. The complex consisting of the main tower with five levels and three smaller towers offers a splendid vision and can be appreciated aesthetically as well as architecturally. The castle is nicknamed Hakujoro or White Heron Castle due to his resemblance, from a distance, with one of these birds that would have graciously settled in the plain. As many films have been shot in this beautiful setting, the building may look familiar. Back in the afternoon in Kyoto, and free time to make other visits or get souvenirs. Evening transfer to Itami Airport in Osaka and transfer to the hotel by the airport.

Day 13| Osaka - International flight
Flight back to Canada (a connection at Narita airport in Tokyo may be necessary). Arrival in Canada in the evening.

Budget

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Overview

Japan is located in northern-east Asia, between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan. Its closest neighbours are China, and the Koreas. The country is composed of four main islands: Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku and over 3000 smaller islands around. The Ryukyu Islands, including Okinawa, are a chain of islands south of Kyushu. The capital is Tokyo, and the total population of Japan roughly rises to 127.4 million people.

Geography

Japan is a volcanic archipelago with an important seismic activity. About 75% of the country is forested, mountainous, and inappropriate for agricultural, industrial, or human settlement. This is because of the generally abrupt rises, climate issues and risk of landslides caused by earthquakes, instable ground and heavy rainfall. As a consequence, an extremely high population density is mainly concentrated in coastal areas. Since World War II, however, as Japanese society has become overwhelmingly urban, industrial, and internationalized, climatic and geographical effects have become much less significant. Honshu is composed of two main coastal plains; the Kanto plain in the north and the Kansai plain in the south, over which the 70 million megalopolis is spread, and within the middle of the island, the -Japanese Alps- are the 1800km long spine of the country. Tokyo, Nagoya, Yokohama and Osaka are the main cities, Kyoto and Nara being the historical centers. Hokkaido, the northern island, homes one of the oldest forests of Japan and is inhabited with an important wildlife such as bears or small mammals. With its intact nature, Hokkaido is a haven for green tourism aficionados.
On Kyushu, the lunar landscapes of Mount Aso and the surrounding hot water springs are reminiscent of the volcanic nature of the island. Nagasaki, atomic martyr of World War II, still has the charm of the past with its shrines hanging on the hills slopes. Shikoku is the most isolated and traditional island of the archipelago. Rice supplier of Japan, its terraced paddy fields are characteristic stunning landscapes, as well as the typical fishermen harbours and the steep overhangs in the southern part.

Culture

With an ageless-old culture, Japan is the ultimate cornu copia for art and traditions lovers. Between the elegant architecture of ancient castles, the immemorial stories of the shogun eras, the stylish home crafts, the beauty of a vivid and colourful nature and the vanguard fantasies of tomorrow, the Land of the Rising Sun has more to offer than any other country in the world. This vibrant nation is a dream come true whatever your interests are. As for traditional culture, one can spend weeks in cities such as Kyoto and Nara, gorging on temples, shrines, kabuki, ō (sophisticated dance-drama), tea ceremonies and museums packed with treasures from Japan's rich artistic heritage. But when it comes to modern culture and technology, Japan's cities are an absolute wonderland - an easy peek into the future of the human race, complete with trend-setting cafés, high-tech shopping centers and fabulous restaurants. Outside the cities, a magical nature coats the length and breadth of the archipelago; blossoming cherry trees, green bamboo forests, terraced paddy fields and imposing snow-capped mountains filled with legends pave every inch of Japan. From the coral reefs of Okinawa to the ski-resort of Niseko, Japan has more than enough amazing landmarks to compete with its cultural treasures. Then there's the food: whether it's impossibly fresh sushi in Tokyo, perfectly battered tempura in Kyoto, or a hearty bowl of rāmen in Osaka, eating is a proper art to fully enjoy in Japan.

Climate

There are a lot of climatic differences between the southern islands (Kyushu, Shikoku) and Hokkaido in the north. In southern Japan, a subtropical climate leads to a wet season happening between June and July. The summer is humid in the whole country with tropical storms and typhoons (sharp winds, torrential rain) occurring between August and October.
The temperatures are a bit cooler in Hokkaido, where winter is very cold and snowy in the north, as well as on the west coast of Honshu, due to the icy Siberian winds sweeping through the Sea of Japan. The east coasts and Kyushu benefit from a warm climate and bright sunny days during that season. Fall and spring are the best times to travel to Japan, as both are enjoyable with mild temperatures and rare rainfall.