JAPAN

We will start our acquaintance with Japan from its capital and a large metropolis – Tokyo. Tokyo lost its status as a city back in 1943, and since then it has been called Tokyo Metropolis. The Tokyo Metropolis consists of 23 special wards, which have a unique status of adjacent settlements, and even small islands in the Pacific Ocean!

We will visit the main Shinto shrine — Meiji, stroll through the beautiful park with gardens — Shinjuku Gyoen, and then head to the Asakusa district, where we will see the oldest Buddhist temple in the capital — Senso-ji. We will stop by Hachiko Square, where a loyal dog waited for its owner for years, and see the busiest intersection in the world at Shibuya Station. We will go up to the observation deck on the roof of the city hall to see Tokyo from above, and walk through the vibrant Harajuku district, where local fashionistas and cosplay enthusiasts gather.

In the morning, we check out of our hotel. A short move to Hakone awaits us. Today we will leave the stone jungle of Tokyo and head to admire the nature of Japan in Hakone-Fuji National Park. On the way, we will drop off our things at the hotel and immediately set off for a cruise on Lake Ashi. Here you can taste an unusual dish – black longevity eggs, which are boiled in the hot springs of the Great Boiling Valley Owakudani.
We will see the Hakone Shrine and ride the cable car, from where, in good weather, there are wonderful views of Japan's main landmark – Mount Fuji!

And after a busy day, we will relax in the hot springs located directly in our hotel. We will spend tonight in a traditional Japanese inn – Ryokan. One of the first Ryokans officially appeared in Japan in 1750, and the first houses for travelers, the ancestors of modern Ryokans, date back to the 8th century. Guest rooms are built using traditional Japanese methods: the floor in the room is covered with tatami – Japanese mats made of rice straw, and the room doors are sliding fusuma – in the form of a wooden frame covered with paper on both sides. Instead of the beds we are used to, we will sleep on traditional futon beds – mattresses placed directly on the tatami.

Today we will learn what the super-fast trains "Shinkansen" are. We are heading to Kyoto.

Kyoto was the residence of Emperors and the capital of Japan for 1000 years, so a great historical and cultural heritage has been preserved here.

We will visit one of the most beautiful Buddhist temples, Kinkaku-ji or "Golden Pavilion," the mysterious garden of 15 stones at Ryoan-ji — in this mysterious garden, only 14 stones are always visible, one of them always disappears from sight.

We will immerse ourselves in Japanese history and culture by visiting Fushimi Inari Shrine – one of the historical symbols of Japan, which has more than a thousand traditional red Torii gates; we will visit the geisha and entertainment district in Gion.

We will see the Sagano Bamboo Grove – a beautiful place for solitude, where one can fully enjoy silence and tranquility.

After breakfast, we travel to Osaka, leave our things at the hotel, and go to explore the city.

Osaka is a major commercial center of Japan, a city of "white-collar" workers and office employees. During World War II, the city was almost completely destroyed, so now the city is dominated by modern skyscrapers. The few historical landmarks that exist today in Osaka are restored copies.

The symbol of the city is the famous five-story Osaka Castle, which withstood a siege by a 200,000-strong army in 1614. Inside the castle is an interesting museum that tells about the events of that time.

In the evening, we will head to the colorful shopping street Dotonbori, which is filled with numerous restaurants and bars under the glow of neon lights. After the workday ends, many office workers come here to have a few shots of sake and then head to gaming halls with prehistoric arcade machines to relieve stress. From the outside, it looks quite amusing when white-collar workers change their shirts for t-shirts and have dance battles on the arcade dance machine!

After breakfast, we will head to Nara – the ancient capital of Japan and the city of deer!

We will visit the iconic Todai-ji temple, which is the largest wooden structure in the world, and under its arches sits a 15-meter Buddha. We will stroll through Nara Park, where we will meet the interesting and cheeky deer. They are very tame, and we will be able to feed and photograph them.

In the evening, we return to Osaka.

Today we have a free day... but it's very busy! If you wish, you can relax at the hotel and catch up on sleep 🙂 Or get up early and choose one of the two proposed activities: head to the city of Hiroshima or get a dose of adrenaline at Universal Studios*.

*Tickets to the amusement park are paid separately!

Universal Studios is a huge amusement park located in the Japanese city of Osaka, an alternative to the famous Disneyland. It has a vast number of attractions and shows divided into several themed areas. The attractions in the park are based on popular movies: "Terminator," "Jurassic Park," "Waterworld," "Jaws," "Shrek," "Spider-Man," "Back to the Future," "The Mummy," and many others. Additionally, the park has a separate area with decorations from the Harry Potter film. Here you can stroll through Hogwarts Castle, see "Diagon Alley," and many other places from the popular movie.

If you are not a fan of amusement parks, we suggest you visit the "Peace Park" in the city of Hiroshima today. This park is dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to suffer from a nuclear attack.

We will also have time to see the famous red gates – the torii of the Itsukushima Shrine, located on Miyajima Island, near Hiroshima. This temple complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the evening, we return to Osaka by high-speed train.

Moving to the city of Himeji.
Today we will see one of the most popular tourist castle complexes in Japan – “Himeji Castle.” Himeji Castle is a neat structure on top of a mountain, which, due to its refined lines, reminded the Japanese of a beautiful white bird. The castle has been very well preserved to this day, so it is often used as a filming location during the shooting of historical films. At the foot of the castle is the Kokoen garden complex, which was built in 1992 to commemorate the centenary of the founding of the Himeji municipality.

In the evening, we return to Osaka.

We have breakfast and pack our things. Our journey is coming to an end. We check out of the hotel and take a train to the airport.
If we have free time (depending on the departure time), we can spend time buying souvenirs.