Itinerary
- Day 1
Germany to Tokyo
- Day 2
Osaka to Kyoto
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Coach transfer from Osaka/Kansai airport to Kyoto hotel
- Exploration of old imperial city Kyoto
- Day 3
Kyoto
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (First group dinner with typical Japanese cuisine)
Included Activities
- Visit Arashiyama bamboo grove
- Explore Tenryuji Zen Temple UNESCO World Heritage Site with gardens and teahouses
- Visit Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion
- Visit Gosho imperial palace or Nijo Castle
- Introduction to Noh theater with guide explaining masks, costumes, and history
- First group dinner with typical Japanese cuisine
Optional Activities
- Walk through Nishiki market to explore Japanese cuisine
Landmarks Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Tenryuji Zen Temple Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion Gosho Imperial Palace Nijo Castle Nishiki Market 
- Day 4
Kyoto to Nara
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Stop at Fushimi-Inari Shrine to walk through shrine gate galleries
- Visit Todaiji Temple Great Buddha Hall UNESCO World Heritage Site with 8th century bronze Buddha
- See free-roaming sika deer in Nara
- Visit Yakushiji Temple with pagodas and Buddhist sculptures
- Visit Kyoto's futuristic railroad station building
Optional Activities
- Japanese evening with geisha dances and shabushabu food
Landmarks Fushimi-Inari Shrine Todaiji Temple Yakushiji Temple 
- Day 5
Kyoto to Koya-san
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Vegetarian dinner in temple hostel)
Included Activities
- Visit Sanjusangendo temple hall with 1,001 wooden statues of Kannon
- Walk through Japan's most famous cemetery at Koya-san with ancient tombs and cypress trees
- Stay overnight with monks in temple accommodation
Landmarks Sanjusangendo Koya-san 
- Day 6
Koya-san to Kagoshima
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Listen to monks chanting and participate in daily Shingon ritual prayer
- Vegetarian breakfast with monks
- Day 7
Kagoshima
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Isotei-en landscape garden with views of Sakurajima volcano
- Ferry crossing to volcanic island of Sakurajima
- Bus excursion to Chiran with samurai gardens
- Visit Kamikaze pilot museum
Landmarks Sakurajima Isotei-en Garden - Day 8
Kagoshima to Nagasaki
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional restaurant with dishes from Arita)
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Dazaifu Tenmangu Grand Shrine with bridges, gardens and outbuildings
- Explore Arita pottery region
- Lunch in traditional restaurant with Arita dishes
- Visit pottery village of Okawachiyama
- Visit Hatama clay factory
Landmarks Dazaifu Tenmangu Grand Shrine Arita Okawachiyama - Day 9
Nagasaki
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Asakusa district by streetcar
- Visit Sofukuji temple in Ming period style
- Visit Dejima artificial peninsula, former Dutch trading post
- Tour Glover Garden settlement with colonial villas
Landmarks Sofukuji Temple Dejima Glover Garden Chinatown, Nagasaki - Day 10
Nagasaki to Hiroshima
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Japanese pizza okonomiyaki in local restaurants)
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit sacred island of Miyajima with Itsukushima Shrine gate
- Visit Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Dome
- Visit Peace Museum
- Dinner exploring okonomiyaki restaurants
Landmarks Miyajima Itsukushima Shrine Peace Park Atomic Bomb Dome Peace Museum 
- Day 11
Hiroshima to Takayama
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Himeji "White Heron Castle" UNESCO World Heritage Site
Landmarks Himeji Castle 
- Day 12
Takayama to Shirakawa-go
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Takayama morning market
- Visit old provincial administration building
- Stroll through Takayama old town with sake breweries and miso stores
- Walk through UNESCO World Heritage Site village of Shirakawa-go with thatched farmhouses
Landmarks Shirakawa-go 
- Day 13
Shirakawa-go to Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Matsumoto historic castle complex ("Crow Castle")
- Scenic bus ride through Japanese Alps
- Onsen (hot spring bath) at ryokan
Optional Activities
- Alternative on travel date 21.10: walk in scenic Kamikochi Alpine high valley instead of Matsumoto
Landmarks Matsumoto Castle Fuji-san Kamikochi 
- Day 14
Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park to Tokyo
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Morning boat trip through Hakone mountain world
- Visit Hasedera Temple with enchanting gardens and thousands of statues
- Visit Great Buddha of Kamakura
Landmarks Hakone Kamakura Hasedera Temple Great Buddha of Kamakura 
- Day 15
Tokyo
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Asakusa district tour with Sensoji Temple and scarlet lantern
- Visit Meiji Shrine with cedar and cypress park
- Explore Harajuku fashion district and Takeshitadori shopping street
- Visit Shibuya district and world's busiest intersection
- Learn story of Hachiko, world's most loyal dog
- Visit Tocho viewing platform in Shinjuku
Optional Activities
- Visit SKYTREE, the most modern television tower
Landmarks Asakusa District Sensoji Temple Tokyo Skytree Meiji Shrine Harajuku Takeshitadori Shibuya District Shibuya Crossing Shinjuku Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (Tocho) 
- Day 16
Tokyo
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ueno Park with cultural institutions and art university
- Visit Museum of Western Art, Tokyo's only UNESCO World Heritage Site, with curator meeting
- Stroll through Ameya-yokocho open-air market
Optional Activities
- Entertaining dinner with show by real professional sumo wrestlers
Landmarks Ueno Park Museum of Western Art Ameya-yokocho - Day 17
Tokyo
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Final group dinner with typical Japanese evening cuisine)
Optional Activities
- Bus excursion to Nikko with Toshogu Shrine UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Visit Kegon waterfall (97 m high) on Lake Chuzenji
Landmarks Nikko National Park Toshogu Shrine Lake Chuzenji Kegon Waterfall - Day 18
Tokyo to Germany
