Japan’s Must-Sees

In flight.

You will arrive at Narita Airport in the afternoon and take a private transfer to your hotel. Then, you will leave your hotel on foot to enjoy your first Japanese meal (not included) in the bustling Kabukicho district where your hotel is located.

Afterward, if you feel like it, you can stroll through the small Golden Gai area. This pedestrian neighborhood with very narrow streets is a fragment of old Tokyo that has miraculously survived urban development. You can extend your evening in one of its tiny bars or return to the hotel which is just next door.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free day. You will benefit from your guide’s advice to make the most of this day.

Breakfast at the hotel.

The day will start with a visit to Asakusa, the neighborhood that has best preserved the architectural heritage of the Edo period, and you will visit the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo, Senso-ji. You will then head to Ginza to admire the modern architecture of its many luxury stores. Dinner is free. Afterwards, you will visit the largest Shinto shrine in Japan, Meiji-jingu Shrine, a true oasis of peace in the middle of the city. To finish, you will stroll through one of the most crowded and amazing streets in Tokyo: Takeshita Street. Keep an eye out, and you will see some rather unusual looks that stand out from the ordinary!

Return to the hotel around 5:30 PM. Dinner is free. Then, a night out in Shibuya to see the busiest intersection in the world, “Shibuya Crossing,” and the atmosphere there is not to be missed.

Breakfast at the hotel.

You will start your day with a approximately twenty-minute walk in the Shinjuku district to reach the observatory of the Metropolitan Government Building. This observatory is located on the 45th floor and offers a magnificent view of the city.

After the visits, the rest of the day is free; spend the rest of the day as you wish. You will receive advice from your guide to make the most of this free afternoon. For those who wish, you can go to the Ueno district to start, then to Akihabara to play in one of its multi-story arcades or have tea in one of its theme cafes.

The luggage will be sent from the hotel in Tokyo to the hotel in Takayama by a courier service. One piece per person is available. Please prepare a small carry-on bag.

Breakfast is included at the hotel.

You will take the train from Tokyo Station in the morning to Takayama. Takayama is a well-preserved town, surrounded by a mountainous landscape. Dinner is included at your ryokan. Enjoy your evening exploring the old town at your own pace.

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning, you will visit the Hida folkloric village, which is a replica of a farmer’s village from the Edo period with its steep thatched roofs. You will learn about traditional life.

Free afternoon. You can explore the city on foot or by tourist bus (at your own expense). There are several historical sites and museums to visit: the old district of Sanmachi Suji, Takayama Jinya, Kusakabe and Yoshijuma Heritage House, Takayama Museum of History and Art, Sakurayama Hachimangu Temple, Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall, etc. Your guide can advise you on itineraries based on your interests. Plan your travel to ensure you return in time for the dinner included at your ryokan.

The luggage will be sent from the hotel in Takayama to the hotel in Hiroshima by a courier service. One piece per person is available. Please prepare a small carry-on bag.

Breakfast at the hotel.

You will leave Takayama by train to Hiroshima in the morning, but you will stop in Himeji to visit its famous feudal castle. It is one of only twelve wooden castles in Japan, built in 1609; it has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. After that, you will continue by train to Hiroshima, arriving in the late afternoon.

Dinner and free evening.

Breakfast at the hotel.

This day is dedicated to visiting Miyajima Island, which is less than an hour from Hiroshima by train and is considered one of the three most beautiful places to visit in Japan. You can visit the Itsukushima Shrine and its floating torii gate, as well as the five-story pagoda. You will then have the afternoon free to hike or take the cable car up Mount Misen. There are also several other temples, museums, and gardens to explore on the island. Departure from the island around 4:30 PM.

Dinner and free evening.

Your luggage will be sent from the hotel in Hiroshima to the hotel in Kyoto by a courier service. One piece per person is available. Please prepare a small carry-on bag.

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning, you will visit the Peace Memorial Museum with a French audio guide. Then, you will stroll through the memorial park to discover, among other things, the Genbaku Dome, the building closest to the hypocenter that survived the atomic bomb. You will then visit the Imperial Palace with its gardens and pagoda. Departure for Kyoto in the late afternoon by train.

Dinner and free evening.

Breakfast at the hotel.

You will visit the main temples of Kyoto, starting with Fushimi Inari and its thousands of torii gates forming a path through the mountain. Then, after tasting Japanese street food, you will head to Sanjusangen-do Temple to discover its great hall housing 1001 statues of Buddhist deities. Afterwards, you will stroll through the Higashiyama district to the Zen temple Kenninji. Perhaps you will catch a glimpse of real geishas who are still present in Kyoto.

Dinner and free evening.

Breakfast at the hotel.

You will spend the day in the Arashiyama district. You will stroll through the famous forest of giant bamboo before heading to the Iwatayama Monkey Park. Then, you can take your time walking around according to your pace and interests to enjoy the cafés, shops, and visit other temples. After that, you will leave Arashiyama in the late afternoon.

Dinner and free evening.

Luggage will be sent from the hotel in Kyoto to the hotel near Narita Airport by a courier service. One piece per person is available. Please prepare a small carry-on bag for the night.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning visit to the famous Golden Pavilion and its garden. You have the rest of the day to enjoy, at your own pace, the time you have left in Japan.

Dinner and free evening.

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure in the morning for the airport. Return to Montreal.