9 Day Hiroshima

DAY 1 TOKYO

Check into your Tokyo hotel.

DAY 2 TOKYO

Drive by National Diet Building
This is the center of the Japanese Government. Don’t let the impressive Western-style architecture fool you–this building is constructed almost entirely out of pure Japanese materials.

Drive by Imperial Palace
Formerly known as Edo Castle, this palace is the residence of the Emperor of Japan.
The grounds are lush with green foliage and provide a relaxing spot for Tokyoites and visitors alike.

Tsukiji Outer Market
Japans no.1 place for seafood with over 400 shops including fresh fish retailers, grocers, and restaurants. Enjoy shopping and try some local food while exploring this one-of-a-kind location.

Drive by Kabukiza
A classic Japanese-style theater where traditional Kabuki performances are held.

Tokyo Skytree Town
Enjoy freely exploring Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Solamachi which features many traditional Tokyo shops, an aquarium, planetarium, and more.

Senso-ji Temple & Nakamise Shopping Street
Senso-ji, Tokyos oldest temple, offers plenty to see including the bright red Kaminarimon Gate, a statue of the god of thunder, and a five-story pagoda. The bustling street known as “Nakamise” stretches for about 250 m from Kaminarimon Gate to Senso-ji Temple and is filled with a plethora of shops.

Stay at a Hotel in Tokyo city.

DAY 3 TOKYO – NIKKO – TOKYO

Nikko Toshogu Shrine
Tour the UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its lavish decorations and ornate details. This 400-year-old shrine houses the remains of Edo period’s founder, Ieyasu Tokugawa. Enjoy seeing the traditional beauty of the main hall, as well as the sleeping cat and 3 monkey carvings.

Enjoy a Japanese-style lunch.

Lake Chuzenji
Created by an eruption of Mt. Nantai, Lake Chuzenji is a symbol of Nikko.

Kegon Falls
Known as one of Japan’s 3 great waterfalls, Kegon Falls towers an impressive 97 meters and gushes water from Lake Chuzenji.

Hanyu Area
The Hanyu area is a rest area along the highway which creates a close representation of an Edo Period town.
See the beautiful structures and famous long-established shops dating back to the Edo Period, and enjoy shopping for souvenirs.

Tour will conclude at Shinjuku station early evening. Overnight in Tokyo city.

DAY 4 TOKYO – MT FUJI – HAKONE

Mt. Fuji 5th Station
The bus will head up to the 5th Station along the Subaru Line.
The 5th Station is situated at 2,300 meters (7,546 ft) above sea level. At this height, participants will be amazed at spectacular, breathtaking views from above the clouds.

Enjoy lunch.

Lake Ashi Cruise
This crater lake along the southwest wall of the caldera of Mt. Hakone was formed by a powerful volcanic eruption nearly 3,000 years ago, and provides postcard views of Mt. Fuji towering 30 km northwest. Admire the superb view of Mt. Fuji from aboard a ship.

Komagatake Ropeway
Take a 7-minute ropeway ride to the peak of Mt. Komagatake. A total of 50 minutes will be spent here, including time to walk around at the peak. Take a cableway ride up to the spiritual Hakone Shrine Mototsumiya (original shrine) that nestles at the mountaintop.

Arrive at Hotel in Hakone.

DAY 5 HAKONE – KYOTO – NARA – KYOTO

Depart your Hakone accommodation and travel from Odawara to Yokohama on the Shinkansen bullet train (trip time: 15-20mins).

Enjoy lunch.

After lunch, travel from Kyoto to Nara by bus.

Todai-ji Temple (Great Buddha)/Nara Park
A World Heritage site. This is the symbol of the Nara Period and one of the world’s largest wooden structures. Its huge main hall and bronze Great Buddha are impressive to behold.

Kasuga Taisha Shrine
This Nara Period shrine is designated as a World Heritage Site. The deer of Nara Park are thought to be the shrine messengers.

Nara Nagomikan
The largest souvenir shop in Nara. Enjoy yourself in this spacious shop and look for the perfect souvenir.

Travel back to Kyoto city and overnight.

DAY 6 KYOTO

Depart your Kyoto hotel in the morning.

Nijo Castle
A World Heritage site. Tour the historical castle completed in 1626, which was built to provide lodging for Tokugawa Shogun and as a palladium for Kyoto Imperial Palace. The impressive, elaborate carvings and decors in the Ninomaru Palace are a must-see.

Visit Kinkaku-ji Temple
A World Heritage site. The wooden architecture is covered in thin layers of pure gold and is surrounded by a beautiful pond.

Kyoto Imperial Palace (Except Mondays)
See the Kyoto Imperial Palace, which was used as the Emperor’s residence until about 150 years ago.

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (Mondays (and Tuesdays when Monday is a national holiday))
Famous for housing the God of scholarship. This shrine’s main hall is a designated national treasure. The shrine is especially great to see during the plum blossom and autumn leaf seasons.

Enjoy a Japanese/Western Lunch.

Heian Shrine
Don’t miss the characteristic red architecture of this beautiful shrine built to celebrate the 1100 year anniversary of the founding of the city of Kyoto.

Sanjusangen-do Temple
Visit the world’s longest wooden structure, housing 1,001 life-size statues of Buddhist Kannon deities dating back to the 13th century.

Visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple
The view of Kyoto from the World Heritage Site Kiyomizu-dera is superb. The historic shopping lane that leads to the temple adds to a wonderful experience.

Tour will conclude early evening. Overnight in Kyoto city.

DAY 7 KYOTO – HIROSHIMA – KYOTO

In the morning travel from Hiroshima to Miyajima port, then take the ferry to Miyajima island.  

Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima
A World Heritage site. Established in the 6th century, this shrine is one of Japan’s finest,
and is famous for its beautiful Shinden-zukuri style structure (architecture representative of a nobles’ residence in the Heian period). The contrast of the green of Mount Misen behind the lacquered shrine pavilion and the blue of the Seto Sea is beautiful and evocative of the underwater palace of Ryugujo. Lunch not included.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Museum
This large-scale park was established in 1949 after the Pacific War ended, and is visited by countless visitors as a symbol of peace. The museum within the park is an Important Cultural Property of Japan, and was built to remind future generations of the terror wrought by atomic bombs.

Atomic Bomb Dome
The Atomic Bomb Dome is a symbol of the disastrous atomic bombing during WWII, the first atomic bombs used in human history, and has been preserved as it was to promote peace and elimination of atomic weapons around the world.

Travel by bullet train from Hiroshima back to Kyoto city and overnight.

DAY 8

Free day.

DAY 9

Transfer back to Kansai/Itami Airport or continue on in Japan.