8Days Hiden Nippon. Tour information:

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "8Days Hiden Nippon. Tour information:"

Felix Ryan
5 years ago
Views:

1 8Days Hiden Nippon Tour information: Tour ID: EXT-002-EN Theme: Japan Exclusive Tours Season: Round Year Start: Tokyo Finish: Tokyo Group size: 2-6 Travel style: iluxjapantours Summary TOURS DESTINATIONS Tokyo - Kanazawa - Shirakawa-go - Takayama - Kiso Valley - Matsumoto TOUR DESCRIPTION Hiden: Nippon is ILJT s invitation for you to explore the depths of Hidden Japan. An intensive yet stress-free program executed with flair, this program is meant for those of you who want to escape the banality of modern-day life and experience a dreamlike trip to the past. The itinerary is carefully crafted to immerse you in an illusion of a time slip. You will stay in luxury traditional inns that do not forego daily convenience, but capture the essence of classic Japan. You will visit an old merchant district, a village settlement in the mountains, and a post town in the middle of an important trade route of the Edo Period, all in their pristine, erstwhile glory. The veritable time-travel segment of the trip is preceded and followed by visits to major Japanese castles, which themselves are bookended by stays in the modern metropolis of Tokyo, allowing you a seamless transition in and out of the sequence. By the end of the trip, you will have lived through many eons in the matter of eight days. For serious travelers who want to enjoy an uncompromised Japan, there can be no better alternative to Hiden: Nippon. Get on board and travel in style across the heart of Japan! TOUR HIGHLIGHTS Embark on a quasi-time travel across the heart of Japan Enjoy quality meals of amazing variety, including famous dishes such as Hida beef and sushi See one of the three most beautiful landscape gardens in Japan Go to a remote village designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site Learn about the ins and outs of a ninja temple full of tricks and traps Explore a carefully preserved merchant district and an antiquated post town Stay at traditional inns that combine the best of both worlds in terms of comfort and ambience Visit the beautiful, well-preserved flatland castle in Matsumoto View the evening skyline of the largest city in the world from a cruise around Tokyo Bay...And many more!

2 Itinerary Day1: Tokyo Arrival at Narita International Airport transfer to Tokyo hotel check-in free time dinner Your driver and guide will be waiting to greet you at the airport. You will be transferred to Tokyo using a private car, whereupon you will check into your hotel. You will then be given a briefing and a rundown on your itinerary. After the exhausting flight to Japan, you will have some time to yourselves. Drop your luggage, catch a breather, adapt to the surroundings, maybe call your family and friends at home to share your excitement. In case you have not already done so, the first day is a good opportunity to exchange your currency for yen and rent a mobile/wi-fi router. 18:00-20:00 - Dinner In the evening, you will enjoy a teppanyaki dinner of authentic Kobe beef. You will be dining in a luxurious restaurant with views of nighttime Tokyo. After that, you will return to the hotel to have a good night s rest. Day2: Tokyo Asakusa Tsukiji (lunch) Ginza Marunouchi & Otemachi Tokyo Tower dinner hotel in Tokyo 10:00 - Day start Your driver and guide will be expecting you at the hotel lobby. On this day, you will drive around the defining spots of Tokyo. 10:30-12:00 - Asakusa Your first destination is Asakusa. This is where you can see many iconic landmarks of Tokyo, including Tokyo SkyTree, the tallest building in Japan, and Senso-ji - the oldest and busiest temple in the city, where visitors go to be purified by the sacred smoke from the burning incense. The street leading up to the temple is filled with countless traditional shops selling handmade Japanese souvenirs, among other things. Go wild with your shopping!

rice. The taste is largely affected by the texture and freshness of the fish, which makes Tsukiji one of the best places to eat high-quality

3 We will then drive to Tsukiji, the largest fish market in the world. 12:30-14:00 - Tsukiji (lunch) For lunch, you will have sushi, a world-renowned Japanese dish of raw fish eaten with bite-sized balls of vinegared rice. The taste is largely affected by the texture and freshness of the fish, which makes Tsukiji one of the best places to eat high-quality sushi. Professional sushi chefs will serve you finely prepared sushi rice with the freshest fish directly from the market. You can also use the excess time after lunch to check out the market area and shop for seafood products.

4 14:00-15:00 - Ginza After that, we will drive around Ginza, a prosperous and lively urban center right across from Tsukiji. The area is lined with renowned department stores and luxurious boutiques and restaurants, making it a highly popular shopping district. There are also impressive works of architecture that make for great pictures, such as the Kabuki-za theater. The famous Miitsukoshi and Tokyu Hands department stores are particularly good places for a short shopping spree. The district of Ginza is located east to the central station of Tokyo. Driving along, we will arrive at the other side of Tokyo station, Marunouchi and Otemachi. 15:00-16:00 - Marunouchi & Otemachi Marunouchi is an interesting place to see in due to the contrast in atmosphere around it. On one side you will see Tokyo station, retrofitted on the west side to resemble its antebellum appearance. On the other side you will see the Imperial Palace, residence of the Emperor of Japan. Marunouchi and its neighboring district of Otemachi themselves are highly developed financial centers, with major companies such as MItsubishi having their headquarters there. We will drive around the vast grounds of Tokyo Imperial Palace, and on certain days and certain seasons it will be worth taking a look inside the beautiful East Garden of the Palace itself. 16:15-17:45 - Tokyo Tower Late in the afternoon, we will drive to Tokyo Tower. This red and white structure, which is modeled after the Eiffel Tower, serves as a landmark of the city, a broadcast tower, and an observatory for visitors. The tower stands out among the skyscrapers in the city, both during daytime and when it lights up in the evening. You will experience a bird s eye view of the metropolis from its observation deck at 150 meters above ground.

5 17:45-19:45 - Dinner You will have dinner at a kaiseki restaurant close to Tokyo Tower. Kaiseki is a Japanese-style haute cuisine, serving a multitude of traditional Japanese dishes with careful emphasis on preparation and presentation. The resulting meal is a delightful combination of wonderful aesthetics and incredible flavor. This particular kaiseki course will put a focus on Japanese tofu. As you enjoy your dinner, you will be able to see Tokyo Tower lighting up and glowing against the evening sky. Coupled with the beautiful gardens of the restaurant, this exquisite view will make it an enjoyable, relaxing dinner for you. 20:00 - Back at the hotel in Tokyo At the end of the day, we will drive back to your hotel in Tokyo. Rest up well, as you will check out of the hotel on the next day to arrive all the way on the other side of Japan, Kanazawa. Day3: Kanazawa Hotel check-out transfer to Kanazawa lunch Kanazawa Castle Kenroku-en hotel check-in dinner hotel in Kanazawa 09:30 - Day start Your driver and guide will be waiting for you at the lobby. You will check out of the hotel and be transferred to Tokyo station, where you will catch a shinkansen (bullet train) to Kanazawa, the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture..

12:00 - Arrival at Kanazawa You will meet up with your driver in Kanazawa. As you will arrive at around noon, the first activity of the day will be lunch.

6 12:00 - Arrival at Kanazawa You will meet up with your driver in Kanazawa. As you will arrive at around noon, the first activity of the day will be lunch. 12:30-14:00 Lunch For lunch, you will be served a course of local delicacies of the Kaga region, which is the old name of the province that Kanazawa was part of. The hotel restaurant boasts a nice view of its Japanese garden from its windows, allowing you to relax and enjoy the atmosphere. Other than serving food from the best local ingredients, the dishes are prepared in a way that aesthetically represents the current season, making your first lunch in Kanazawa a delightful experience. 14:15-15:15 - Kanazawa Castle After lunch, we will go to Kanazawa Castle, previously property of the Maeda clan which was the wealthiest daimyo family that was only next to the shogun in terms of assets. The castle buildings had burnt down time and again, leaving only the gate and storehouses as the only structures that remained before reconstruction efforts began. Today, you can see the turrets and the main entrance gates, as well as the landscape garden featuring a beautiful pond. 15:15-17:15 - Kenroku-en Kenroku-en is just across from Kanazawa Castle, connected by a bridge. Kenroku-en is a massive landscape garden, and it is commonly referred to as one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan, along with Koraku-en and Kairaku-en. Originally the outer garden of the castle, Kenroku-en features many tree groves, such as plum and pine trees and naturally, cherry trees. It also features a tea house, where you can relax,

and a beautiful pond with a small island in the middle. The beauty of the garden is such that it is said to have inspired the famous poet Basho to write some of his famous haikus.

7 and a beautiful pond with a small island in the middle. The beauty of the garden is such that it is said to have inspired the famous poet Basho to write some of his famous haikus. 17:30 - Check into the hotel in Kanazawa At the end of the day, we will drive you to your hotel in Kanazawa. Check in, drop your luggage, and rest for a while. Your driver and guide will then pick you up for dinner. 18:30-20:30 Dinner Dinner will be a full kaiseki course at a restaurant by the banks of Sai River. The food will be prepared in delicate portions, which allows you to fully enjoy the colorful variety of dishes that you will be served.

Day4: Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go, Takayama Hotel check-out Ninja-dera Omi-cho (lunch) transfer to Shirakawa-go Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go transfer to Takayama hotel check-in dinner hotel in

8 Day4: Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go, Takayama Hotel check-out Ninja-dera Omi-cho (lunch) transfer to Shirakawa-go Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go transfer to Takayama hotel check-in dinner hotel in Takayama 10:00 - Day start Your driver and guide will be expecting you at the lobby. You will check out of the hotel and explore two other major spots in the city before leaving Kanazawa. 10:30-12:00 - Ninja-dera Your first destination is the Myoryu-ji, more commonly known as the Ninja Temple (Ninja-dera). This place is so called not because of its association with ninjas; in fact, the temple was not built by or for ninjas at all. Rather, it is because of its function as a hideout for a samurai family in the past. For this purpose, the temple has a deceiving appearance on the outside, while the interior is actually riddled with traps and secret passageways. 12:15-13:45 - Omi-cho (lunch) We will visit Omi-cho, a fish market also known as the Tsukiji of Kanazawa. You will find many varieties of fresh sea products here, taken from the Sea of Japan. As with Tsukiji, you will have fresh sushi for lunch here. You can expect a distinct experience from that in Tsukiji due to the difference in seasoning and the region in which the fish are caught. After lunch, we will depart for Takayama. 15:00 - Arrival at Shirakawa-go On the way to Takayama, we will make a stop at Shirakawa-go, a region located among remote mountains.

9 15:00-17:00 - Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go The Historic Village of Shirakawa-go is one of Japan s several UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This small village retains much of the classic architecture of old Japan, characterized by their steep roofs that resemble two hands joined in prayer, hence the name gassho-zukuri (prayer-hands construction). The roofs are designed as such to withstand the heavy snowfall during winter, and are extremely robust. Due to the materials used, these buildings are extremely prone to fire, and preventive measures such as hydrants and sprinklers are installed rather generously. The atmosphere of the village evokes a sense of nostalgia. There are farms and clear streams, as well as a local temple and house museum. You can go up the observatory just a short climb away to capture the whole image of the picturesque village in the middle of the mountains. We will resume the journey to Takayama late in the afternoon. 18:00 - Arrival and check-in at Takayama You will stay at a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) in Takayama. A ryokan has a different atmosphere compared to western hotels. This luxury ryokan is designed to allow you to fully immerse yourself in a Japanese lifestyle without compromising comfort and practicality. You will appreciate the fine oriental décor and friendly staff clad in traditional Japanese garb. 19:00-21:00 - Dinner Dinner will be served in accordance to the ryokan s nightly menu. Enjoy the meticulously prepared homestyle dinner after the intensive day! Day5: Kiso Valley, Takayama Hotel check-out San-machi (Old Town) lunch Takayama Jin ya transfer to Kiso Valley hotel check-in dinner hotel in Kiso Valley

10:00 - Day start You will check out of the ryokan in the morning, and leave for Kiso Valley after a daytime excursion in Takayama. Your driver and guide will pick you up at the lobby.

10 10:00 - Day start You will check out of the ryokan in the morning, and leave for Kiso Valley after a daytime excursion in Takayama. Your driver and guide will pick you up at the lobby. 10:30-12:00 - San-machi (Old Town) The first highlight of Takayama is its Old Town district. This vast area is a preserved merchant district, with houses dating back to the 17th century. The streets are lined up with stalls and shops, some of them vending a variety of popular snacks using the local Hida beef, others selling traditional household goods, and yet others displaying an array of classic arts and crafts. There are also sake breweries to be found in the district, where you can enjoy a wine-tasting session, comparing between sake (Japanese rice wine) of differing levels of dryness and sweetness. 12:00-13:30 - Lunch For lunch, you will have a meal of grilled Hida beef. The local beef of the Hida region - which also encompasses present-day Takayama - is known to rival Kobe beef in terms of quality. The meat is grilled and served with a special sauce called houba miso, which is made by roasting red soybean paste (miso) on a magnolia leaf (houba). The rich taste of the beef is thus complemented by the thick, savory flavor of the miso sauce.

11 13:45-15:00 - Takayama Jin ya After lunch, you will visit Takayama Jin ya, an old governmental building that now serves as a museum. Takayama Jin ya was built to be an office of the Tokugawa Shogunate, which had intended to establish its direct influence in the region. At the entrance, you can still see the Shogun s emblem of three hollyhock leaves. Inside, you will see a large collection of artifacts belonging to the past daimyo (feudal lords) and an exhibition of the building s features, including the excellent timberwork that has held the building together since its last reconstruction in the 19th century. Afterward, we will leave for the Kiso Valley, located deep within the Japanese Alps. 17:30 - Arrival and check-in at Kiso Valley Upon arrival, you will check into an exclusive home-style ryokan, where only one group of guests can stay on any given day. It features an outdoor onsen (hot spring bath) with a view of its serene garden and waterfalls. After checking in, feel free to unwind for a while until dinner is served. 18:00-20:00 - Dinner You will feast on another ryokan-style meal for dinner. Clad in your yukata (traditional Japanese garment), sit around the table and enjoy the classy home cooking! Day6: Kiso Valley, Matsumoto Hotel check-out Tsumago-juku lunch transfer to Matsumoto Matsumoto Castle hotel check-in dinner hotel in Matsumoto 09:00 - Day start

Checking out of the inn in the morning, we will drive to Tsumago-juku, one of the post towns of Nakasendo, one of Edo s five routes which ran along the Kiso Valley.

12 Checking out of the inn in the morning, we will drive to Tsumago-juku, one of the post towns of Nakasendo, one of Edo s five routes which ran along the Kiso Valley. 09:30-11:00 - Tsumago-juku Tsumago is meant to be explored in leisure. The whole post town, which has been carefully maintained to preserve its atmospheric quality, embodies the spirit of living in the Edo Period. Strolling along the trails, you can soak in the ambience and appreciate the classic architecture that blends into its surrounding nature. Aside of several landmarks, such as the main inn which used to be a resting station for feudal officers and the museum displaying historical information about the trade route, there are also many tourist-friendly shops run by the local residents of this quaint little town. Take your time to explore the length of Tsumago, and after the sightseeing, have a great time shopping! After the morning stroll at this picturesque post town, we will leave Kiso Valley for Matsumoto. 13:30 - Arrival at Matsumoto We will arrive at Matsumoto just in time for lunch. It is time to enjoy your first meal after the morning walk and two-hour drive. 13:45-15:15 - Lunch For lunch, you will have a Shinshu-style kaiseki meal. The dishes will heavily feature ingredients harvested from the Shinshu region - now known as Nagano. Enjoy the first-class service in this restaurant, whose building itself is registered as a national treasure of Japan. 15:30-17:00 - Matsumoto Castle You will visit Matsumoto Castle, also known as karasu-jo (Crow Castle) due to its black color. It is one of the best preserved castles in Japan, with its structures maintaining much of their wooden construction instead of being rebuilt with iron and concrete. The castle is located on a flatland instead of a hill, even though the city is surrounded by mountains.

13 Enjoy a walk around and inside the castle building. The view of the black castle with its turrets and massive moat against the backdrop of the blue sky and mountains is impressive especially in spring, when the many cherry trees are in full bloom. 17:15 - Check into the hotel at Matsumoto At the end of the day, we will drive to a high-class ryokan in Matsumoto. This will be your last stay in a ryokan for the trip. You can check in, drop your luggage and relax until dinner time. 18:00-20:00 - Dinner As with the previous two days, you will be served ryokan-style course meal for dinner. Enjoy the flavor of Matsumoto! Day7: Tokyo Hotel check-out transfer to Tokyo lunch hotel check-in free time dinner hotel in Tokyo 10:00 - Day start Your driver and guide will be expecting you at the lobby. You will check out of the ryokan and be transferred to Nagano station, where you will ride a shinkansen back to Tokyo. 13:00 - Arrival at Tokyo You will meet up with your driver in Tokyo. As you will arrive at Tokyo around noon, we will take you to the restaurant immediately for lunch. 13:00-14:30 - Lunch

14 You will have lunch in the only restaurant in Japan where you can have a perfect view of the Imperial Palace. The menu is sukiyaki, a Japanese dish of thinly sliced, sweetly simmered meat dipped in a beaten egg before being eaten. 15:00 - Check into the hotel in Tokyo You will then check into your hotel in Tokyo. As this will be your last night, you will have the rest of the day to yourselves until dinner time. You can relax and chill after the long distance transfer from Nagano, or go shopping for souvenirs to take home. 19:00-21:00 - Cruise dinner To celebrate the last night, your will go on a dinner cruise. You will be served a full course meal of either regional delicacies from throughout Japan or high quality French cuisine. The two-hour ride on the luxurious yacht will take you around the Tokyo Bay area, where you can enjoy the illusory glow of Tokyo s skyline at night.

21:30 - Back at the hotel in Tokyo Finally, you will once again return to your hotel. Have a good rest, and make sure you are fully prepared for you flight on the next day.

15 21:30 - Back at the hotel in Tokyo Finally, you will once again return to your hotel. Have a good rest, and make sure you are fully prepared for you flight on the next day. Day8: Tokyo Hotel check-out transfer to Narita International Airport You have reached the end of your adventure to unravel Hidden Japan. Your driver and guide will pick you up at the hotel lobby and we will say our goodbyes at Narita International Airport. Have a safe flight home! Pricing 2 pers: 3 pers: 4pers: 5 pers: 6-8 pers: USD 9167 USD 7537 USD 6722 USD 6231 USD 6013 ***Price are subject to change without prior notice. Find out about the best prices from us. Price Includes 5-star hotel with breakfast (days 1, 2, 3, and 7) Traditional inn with onsen, breakfast, and dinner (days 4, 5, and 6) Airport transfer on arrival (private car) with a briefing session Airport transfer for departure (private car)

16 Dedicated escort and private car with driver everyday Lunch on days 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 Dinner on days 1, 2, 3, and 7 Entrance tickets Two shinkansen rides (Tokyo - Kanazawa, Nagano - Tokyo) Price does NOT Include Air tickets to Japan (separate charges based on seasonal ticket price & airline) Insurance in Japan Transportation on free days Any additional meals, transportation, and entrance tickets outside the ones included Personal expenses, such as laundry and phone bills ***Purchase of flight ticket to Japan and visa application is available upon request. Price base on seasonal ticket price & desired airline. Find out about the best prices and get useful tips from us.

7 Days Tokaido Express

7 Days Tokaido Express Tour information: Tour ID: CLT-002-EN Theme: Japan Classic Tours Season: Round Year Start: Tokyo Finish: Osaka Group size: 2-15 Travel style: Youth in Action Summary Tours Destinations