Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo, Airport pick-up
Welcome to our Japan private tours! On your arrival at the airport in Tokyo, a representative will hold a welcome board to pick you up. He/she will also help you take the airport shuttle bus, which will take you to your hotel. Check into the hotel on your own, and the rest time is free for you. Accommodation: Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier (4 stars)
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Day 2: Tokyo city highlights tour
Today you'll take the public transport to have a morning walking tour in Tokyo with your private guide. You'll visit Meiji Shrine dedicated to the Emperor Meiji. It's also a sacred place for traditional Japanese weddings. Next, you'll visit Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo's oldest temple. You can walk along Nakamise Shopping Street, which has provided visitors to the Senso-ji with a variety of tasty local snacks and souvenirs for centuries. Finally you'll go to The Tokyo SkyTree, a tower with a height of 634 m (2,080 ft). Our visit there includes SkyTree's Tembo Observation Deck, where you can get a bird's view to Tokyo. In the afternoon, you can go shopping, taste delicious foods and explore Tokyo freely. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier (4 stars)
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Day 3: A free day for you to explore Tokyo
Tokyo might be the most dynamic modern city in the world. The contrasts between old and new, traditional and modern things there make Tokyo an exciting tourist destination. You'll continue your private tours of Japan to Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Harajuku areas, which all are the most popular shopping and entertainment districts in Tokyo, and the centers of Japanese youth culture and fashion. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier (4 stars)
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Day 4: Drive to Mt. Fuji for a full day tour, Overnight stay at Hakone
After breakfast, you'll go to Mount Fuji by car with our English speaking driver after being picked up from the hotel. About 2 hours later, we'll get to Mount Fuji 5th station, which is 2,305 meters high (Or highest as possible when the road is closed due to the weather). It is a leisure platform on the hillside with snack bars and shops, as cars can only climb to this site. Then you will take a cruise on the Lake Ashi, the beautiful volcanic lake back to Mt. Fuji, with charming landscapes all year round. At the same time, the driver will wait for you at the parking lot. You will take Mt. Komagatake Ropeway on your own and meet the driver at the agreed spot. On the ropeway, you can overlook blue Lake Ashi & majestic Mt. Fuji clearly if the weather is good. After that, you'll be sent by the driver to the Japanese hot spring hotel in Hakone, where you can enjoy an Onsen (Japanese hot spring bath) after checking in. Dinner is arranged in the hotel today. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: The Prince Hakone Lake Ashinoko (4 stars)
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Day 5: Take Shinkansen (bullet train) to Takayama, Explore Takayama
In the morning, you need to go to Odawara Station on your own and board a Shinkansen bullet train for Takayama, an old and tranquil city called "Little Kyoto". (You will need to connect the express train in Nagoya, the total train time is around 4 hours). Check into the hotel by yourself. The Japan private tours in Takayama are arranged on your own. You can walk in the city, to visit Takayama Festival Float Exhibition Hall, where 11 shrine floats (Yatai) used for the parade of Takayama Festival in autumn are on display. You can adventure to Takayama Jinya and Old Town as well, to get the feel of ancient Japan hundreds years ago. Before going back to the hotel, you may taste the sake, traditional Japanese wine, at the famed local Sake Brewery. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Takayama Green Hotel (4 stars)
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Day 6: Go to Shirakawa-go, stay overnight at Kanazawa
You need to arrange your own itinerary today. If you need any help, please contact us at any time. You may stroll around the morning market in Takayama after breakfast. Then take the bus (around 1 hour) to Shirakawa-go, the most beautiful village in Japan, which is famous for traditional Gassho-zukuri farmhouses. Even some farmhouses can be traced back to 250 years ago. Gassho-zukuri means "Praying Hands" in Japanese and these houses were created by villagers to withstand cold winter and snow. It is also a building form suitable for the large family. The roofs are tilted in 60-degree to prevent snow, which looks like two palms close together, thus the name. After that, take the bus to Kanazawa (around 1.5 hours) and check in hotel. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Mitsui Garden Hotel Kanazawa (4 stars)
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Day 7: Kanazawa leisure day
You need to make your own plan of the private tours of Japan today. Kanazawa is one of the most beautiful and best preserved historical city in Japan. In the morning, you may have an interesting cooking lesson to learn to cook Sushi, Tempura or local Kanazawa cuisine (If you're willing to try this class, we can make a reservation for you). In the afternoon, you can continue to visit Kanazawajo built in 1580 AD, Kenrokuen Garden out of Japan's three famous gardens, and Higashi Chaya District in Edo style, etc. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Mitsui Garden Hotel Kanazawa (4 stars)
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Day 8: Take express train to Kyoto, Kyoto city tour
Take the express train for about 2 hours on your own to get to Kyoto. Upon arrival, you will see an English speaking guide at Kyoto station, and then begin your Japan private tours in Kyoto by public transport. At first you'll visit the old Kiyomizu Temple, which is a World Cultural Heritage since 1994. It is also a popular place of pink sakura in spring and red maples in autumn. You'll also go to famous Kinkaku-ji, an ancient temple that tourists are not allowed to enter. Even so it is still a must-see and attracts a large number of visitors to watch it from outside. After that, you'll head to Arashiyama for a quiet and relaxing afternoon, to stroll through bamboo groves and take pictures on Togetsu-Kyō. There are also not a few delicious dessert shops and wonderful scenery around Togetsu-Kyō Bridge. If you come here in the maple season, you'll be surprised by the amazing landscapes. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto (4 stars)
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Day 9: A free day for you to explore Kyoto
Today you can continue to try local cuisines, adventure in temples and shrines of Kyoto freely. Strolling in Ninenzaka and Sannen-zaka is a great choice. Gion area is also hot, where you can visit Yasaka Shrine, Hanami- kōji, Philosopher's Path and other popular attractions. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto (4 stars)
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Day 10: Morning visit in Kyoto, Drive to Osaka with a stop in Nara
After breakfast and hotel pick-up, we will firstly drive to Fushimi Inari Shrine with an English speaking driver. This is a very hot attraction for foreigners, famous for thousands of vermilion torii gates. Then we'll go on our private tours of Japan to Nara, the outskirts of Kyoto. Nara was Japan's first capital during 710-784 AD and is a UNESCO World Heritage now. We'll visit The Todaiji with world's largest wooden building and one of the hugest Buddha statues in Japan. Next to Todaiji Temple, there are over 1,000 lively deer in Nara Park. The last stop in Nara will be Kasuga Taisha, one of Japan's best known shrines. Afterwards, drive to Osaka and check in the hotel. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel New Hankyu Osaka (4 stars)
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Day 11: Enjoy a relaxing free day in Osaka
Today is a free day for you to travel in Osaka on your own. Here are two routes for you to refer. A: Osaka Castle (2 hours) → Kuromon Market (2 hours) → Shinsaibashi (1 hour) → Umeda Sky Building (2 hours) B: Universal Studios Japan (6-8 hours) Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel New Hankyu Osaka (4 stars)
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Day 12: Departure from Osaka
Go to Osaka Airport (Itami or Kansai) by shuttle van for your departure flight. Wish you enjoy your journey home! Meals: Breakfast
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