BON VOYAGE
“When you look at Japanese Traditional Architecture, you have to look at Japanese culture and its relationship with nature. You can actually live in a harmonious close contact with nature – this is very unique to Japan.” – Tadao
INCLUDE
- All Transfers
- Bullet Train from Tokyo – Hakone
- Motorcoach drive from Hakone – Tokyo
- All Hotel accommodations including breakfast daily – Intercontinental Tokyo Bay Hotel & Laforet Club Hotel
- All meals as stated in the tour description
- Limited beverages with meals included
- All tours / entrance fees as described including the full day tour in Kyoto
- Luggage porterage
Itinerary
Tokyo Welcome to Tokyo!
Upon arrival into Tokyo, you will be met outside of the baggage hall at the airport and transferred to the Intercontinental Tokyo Bay Hotel. This evening meet Sanjay for a welcome to Japan reception.
Meiji Shrine
After breakfast at the Intercontinental Tokyo Bay hotel, you will depart for a full-day tour of Tokyo. Our first visit will be to the Meiji Shrine. Meiji Shrine (明治神宮, Meiji Jingū) is a shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. Located just beside the JR Yamanote Line’s busy Harajuku Station, Meiji Shrine and the adjacent Yoyogi Park make up a large forested area within the densely built-up city. The spacious shrine grounds offer walking paths that are great for a relaxing stroll. The shrine was completed and dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and the Empress Shoken in 1920, eight years after the passing of the emperor and six years after the passing of the empress. The shrine was destroyed during the Second World War but was rebuilt shortly thereafter. Emperor Meiji was the first emperor of modern Japan. He was born in 1852 and ascended to the throne in 1867 at the peak of the Meiji Restoration when Japan’s feudal era came to an end and the emperor was restored to power. During the Meiji Period, Japan modernized and westernized herself to join the world’s major powers by the time Emperor Meiji passed away in 1912. Following our visit to the Meiji Shrine, we will depart for the Roppongi Hills Observatory where you will have the opportunity to go up to the top of the observatory for a view of all of Tokyo. Hopefully it is a clear day and you can see Mount Fuji in the distance.
Tokyo City View
Tokyo City View, an observation facility located in the center of one of the world’s metropolis, Tokyo, features an indoor observation deck 250 meters above sea level and a Sky Deck outdoor observation deck 270 meters above sea level.
52F – Indoor Observation Deck
The indoor observation deck features the new Sky Gallery, a distinctly urban museum-quality gallery space designed to host events and exhibitions in harmony with the dramatic views.
Rooftop Sky Deck
The open-air rooftop Sky Deck is a special space that gives visitors a chance to feel the firmament, wind and enjoy view starry night gazing in the middle of the city.
Imperial Palace
The Tokyo Imperial Palace is our next stop where you will see the grounds and area of the primary residence of the Emperor of Japan. The tour will take you past the present palace (Kyūden), a modest low-rise building completed in 1968 that replaced the one built in 1888, which was largely destroyed during WWII. The Tokyo Imperial Palace is the primary residence of the Emperor of Japan. It is a large park-like area located in the Chiyoda ward of Tokyo and contains buildings including the main palace, the private residences of the Imperial Family, an archive, museums and administrative offices. The Imperial Palace occupies the site of the original Edo-jō, the Tokugawa shogunate’s castle. In its heyday this was the largest fortress in the world, though little remains today apart from the moat and stone walls. Most of the 3.4-sq-km complex is off limits, as this is the emperor’s home, but join one of the free tours organised by the Imperial Household Agency to see a small part of the inner compound.
Lunch will be a local restaurant. Asakusa
Following lunch, visit Asakusa. Asakusa retains the vibe of an older Tokyo, with traditional craft shops and street food stalls along Nakamise street near the ancient Sensō-ji temple. Enjoy a traditional tea ceremony before going back to the hotel.
Dinner will be at a local restaurant. Optional Night Tour – Shinjuku’ (additional charge applies)
After sunset, there is no lack of activities to enjoy in Tokyo. Sight-seeing, partying, dining or just chilling out, there is always something for everyone to do. As dusk falls, the sprawling metropolis of Tokyo transforms into a city of bright lights. Experience Shinjuku – the busiest train station in the world! Shinjuku, Tokyo’s entertainment town, is where locals go to grab a bite and a drink after dark. We’ll meander through Omoide Yokocho, a collection of alleyways full of tiny bars and eateries. Get a peek at the different types of food joints the locals usually eat at, from yakitori restaurants and soba shops to cafes and bars. Should you like to come visit again on your own time, Omoide Yokocho can be a great place to sit and eat elbow-to-elbow with the businessmen and see how they unwind after working hours. Our tour takes us onward to Kabukicho, an area full to the brim with over 3,000 shops, restaurants, nightclubs, karaoke and the like. Awash in bright neon lights, Kabukicho is one of Tokyo’s most photogenic areas. With streets filled with people and music blaring from every corner, you’re sure never to have a boring evening in Kabukicho!
Tokyo Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast at the hotel, depart for the full Japanese experience. This morning we will start with a Japanese Calligraphy lesson.
Calligraphy Lesson
Learn the art of Japanese calligraphy in this hands-on dynamic session. This program is dedicated to the area of Japanese culture which created ‘hiragana’ and ‘katakana’ from Kanji, (traditional Chinese characters, introduced from China). Following this, participants will experience creating actual calligraphy. Guests will prepare the liquid ink traditionally from an ink stick then practice writing whatever they wish, such as Kanji characters equivalent to the sound of your name. After some practice and concentration, participants will create a unique calligraphy piece – the perfect original souvenir of your visit to Japan. Then it is time to learn how to make Sushi! You will learn how to make the various types of Sushi. Lunch will be served following our Sushi making class!
Sake Tasting (Japanese Liquor)
We will discover the world of sake at this unique sake tasting. Learn from an expert sake sommelier and how to pair sake with Japanese snacks. In this session, you will take different types of Japanese Sake paired with snacks and feel the depth of the Japanese Sake. Following Sushi & Sake, there will be time for relaxation at Shinjuku Gyoen or other park before our Taiko performance experience. Taiko is a Japanese traditional drum. Everybody, even one who has no experience in music, can enjoy this program using the whole body as if playing sports. This lesson starts with live demonstration of Japanese drum model performance by Lecturers. Then experience a Japanese Drum. There are many ways in taiko performances and expressions.
Dinner will be at a local restaurant.
Tokyo – Hakone Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning after breakfast, we depart from Tokyo by bullet train to Odawara.
Lake Ashi
The Shinkansen, meaning new trunkline, but colloquially known in English as the bullet train, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan. Initially, it was built to connect distant Japanese regions with Tokyo, the capital, in order to aid economic growth and development. The Bullet Train offers an experience like no other with speeds reaching up to 320 km/hr! Upon arrival, we will have cruise around Lake Ashi and go up the Owakudani Ropeway for the spectacular views of Mount Fuji. A Teppanyaki Lunch with Wagyu Steak will be served at a local restaurant. Late afternoon, check into the Laforet Club Hakone hotel for your stay. Relax in the natural hot springs before enjoying dinner at the hotel with the group.
Hakone – Tokyo Breakfast
This morning after breakfast, you will be transferred by motorcoach from Hakone to Tokyo to board the Azamara Quest for your journey to Hong Kong. Lunch will be onboard the Azamara Quest.
At the Sea
Spend the day sailing in style aboard your boutique hotel at sea. Indulge in a treatment at Sanctum Spa, stay ship shape with a class at our fitness center, or lounge the day away on our sunny pool deck.
Kyoto Lunch
After disembarking the Azamara Quest in Kyoto, join Sanjay for a full day exploration of this incredible city. On this full-day adventure you will get to explore the best of the UNESCO certified and other historical sites of ancient Kyoto. The first stop will be Kiyomizu-dera Temple. From this, reach the most famous UNESCO sites in Kyoto, where you can take in a panoramic views of the city below from the temple’s position high on Higashi-yama hill.
Kiyomizudera (清水寺, literally “Pure Water Temple”) is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. It was founded in 780 on the site of the Otowa Waterfall in the wooded hills east of Kyoto, and derives its name from the fall’s pure waters. The temple was originally associated with the Hosso sect, one of the oldest schools within Japanese Buddhism, but formed its own Kita Hosso sect in 1965. In 1994, the temple was added to the list of UNESCO world heritage sites.
Then visit Sanju-san-gen-do Temple, known for the 1001 statues, specifically the Thousand Armed Avalokiteshvara statue, before moving on to Fushimi Inari Taisya-Senbon (Thousand) Torii. This stop on gives you a chance to visit the Inari Shrines, which host the guardian Gods for business success, familial well-being, traffic safety and improvement in performing arts, as well as allow you a photo opportunity at the Thousand Torii Gates. Sanjūsangen-dō is a Buddhist temple of the Tendai sect in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto, Japan. The temple was founded in 1164 by Taira no Kiyomori for the cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa. It is officially known as Rengeō-in and belongs to the Myōhō-in temple complex.
Following this visit, you will enjoy a break at Arashiyama where you will enjoy Japanese style lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, the day continues with visits to Togetsu-kyo Bridge, Sagano Bamboo Forest and Tenryu-ji Temple. All three of these locations offer some of the most picturesque views of the surrounding city. The final stop of your day will be at Rokuon-ji Temple, known locally as Kinkaku-ji or the Golden Temple.
Price
VERY LIMITED INVENTORY
Important information
- The Japan Pre Package must be booked prior to July 1, 2019
- Full payment is due at the time of booking
- The Japan Pre Package cancellation schedule is:
- April 2 – June 3, 2019 (25% of the total cost)
- June 4 – August 1, 2019 (50% of the total cost)
- August 2 – date of travel (100% non refundable)
- Tour is based on a minimum of 20 couples
- The itinerary, hotels, and tours are subject to change
In the case the travel dates coincide with religious holidays and national celebrations, some monuments and sites may be closed without prior notice or due to other unforeseen circumstances including weather conditions. The order of the tour may be changed without notice.