10-Day Japan Highlights Tour from Tokyo with Kyoto and Hiroshima

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Day 01

Arrival in Tokyo

• Welcome to Tokyo! Walk right into the easy smile of our representative, who will be at the airport to greet you and assist with your transport to the hotel. Step out to feel the beat of one of the world's most modern cities or, if you wish to save the experience for later, you are welcome to kick back at your accommodation. In any case, make sure you meet your tour leader at 6 pm to get an inside view of the tour and complete a few pre-tour formalities.

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Day 02

Asakusa, Meiji-Jingu and Taiko Drums

• Braid together a sense of wonder and reverence as you start the morning in Asakusa District. Mingle with the hopefuls who cup the smoke rising from an incense vat and toss coins as a symbolic gesture of non-attachment at Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo's most famous shrine dating back to the 7th century. Negotiate the warren of lanes whose tourist accoutrements seem strangely at odds with the nature of the place, but become significantly more understandable after learning its history.
• Stop at Asakusa Shrine, a perfect example of an Edo Era-style shrine, and then make your way through a forested area specked with blue irises that usher you into the folds of the most famous shrines of them all, Meiji-Jingu.
• Get a sense of history, etiquette, and much more as you visit these sites, and cap it all off in the evening by giving your arms and body a workout as you try your hand at learning how to play the intensely satisfying Taiko drums.

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Day 03

Asama Shrine and Lake Kawaguchi

• Begin the day by drifting through the dreamy glades and tall cedars that stand sentinel to Asama Shrine.
• Wander around the shrine's complex, flitting between myths, legends, and history, with occasional glimpses of Japan's most famous mountain as it slips in and out of view as if in a childish game of hide and seek. Indulge in the game yourself as you seek the best spots to view the mountain, and then descend to Lake Kawaguchi for some additional sightseeing.
• Once you've covered the ground for today, find out - even if only a fraction - what it means to be Japanese as you sink into a traditional-style inn, complete with an onsen and traditional food.

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Day 04

Kanazawa and Higashi Chaya District

• Spend a relaxed morning as you await your departure to Kanazawa on board that quintessential Japanese experience - the Shinkansen, or bullet train. As soon as you get to your destination, head for the covered Omicho Market, where shops and stalls stand cheek-to-jowl and display an array of fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers, and clothing, among other things. Existing since the Edo period, the most decidedly popular item on sale here is fresh seafood, so make sure you exercise your taste buds either at a stall or at one of the more popular and busy restaurants here.
• Head for the Higashi Chaya District next and walk right into a world that screams "OLD" from the outset. Indeed, the narrow pedestrian way lined by two-storied wooden buildings with lattice on the bottom remains, for the most part, just as it was 200 years ago.
• Explore this quaint section of an ageless Japan, get an insight into the life of a Geisha - contemporary and ancient - and perhaps even watch a performance if you're fortunate enough.

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Day 05

Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen

• Pull the covers off a Kanazawa dawn and travel to the fairy-tale setting of Shirakawa-go, a tiny hamlet snuggled in the folds of the Japanese Alps. Climb on board the observation deck and get a bird's-eye view of the wooded expanse, rice fields, and the slanted thatched roofs that are a feature of the village before walking along the paths, observing the slow pace of life, and learning about the fascinating architecture and history that make it such a traveller's favourite.
• Return to Kanazawa and unravel other attractions of the area, including Myoryuji Ninja Temple, the 16th-century Kanazawa Castle, and the exquisite Kenrokuen Garden that truly is a work of art.
• Pay your respects at Oyama Shrine, dedicated to the first lord of the Maeda clan, and then take your final strides through the Nagamachi Samurai District, which still retains narrow canals, cobble-stoned pathways, and a glimpse into the old world, especially at the Nomura Samurai Family Residence.

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Day 06

Kyoto, Kiyomizu Temple and Gion Evening

• Travel for approximately 2.5 hours on the southward-bound express train to Kyoto this morning. On arrival, take things at a fairly relaxed pace as you stroll about the neighbourhood. Let the day lengthen as you drop by the grounds of Otowa Waterfall, whose water filters down to the 8th-century Kiyomizu Temple, which itself lies couched in cherry blossom and maple trees. Take in the Shinto shrines as you walk around the premises, as well as the main hall that reveals a view of downtown Kyoto.
• Later, as the evening settles down in the city, hitch your togs up and prepare to walk along the Gion area, renowned for its maikos (geisha in training) and geishas.
• Keep the Kama Gawa River for company as you stop en route at some of the famous sites that include Yasaka Shrine and Minami-za Kabuki Theatre until you finally end up for dinner with a Geisha or Maiko.
• Get an insight into the lives of these women, their place in history, how they've evolved to suit the contemporary world, and what the future holds for them.

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Day 07

Kinkaku-ji and Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

• Start the day by walking along the gardens of Kinkaku-ji Temple, which sits on the edge of a shimmering pond and seems protected by the warm embrace of Japanese maples and pine trees. Originally built in the 14th century, its gilded exterior is its immediate attraction, but the technical finesse of its structure and its storied past give it more substance than is immediately evident.
• Discover these elements of the temple and then move on to another visual treat as you cross over to the iconic Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.
• Step off and glide at an easy pace as you make your way from Tenryu-ji Temple and walk through a mystic world of emerald green bamboo that stands silently and invariably invites an involuntary grab at your camera.
• Take the afternoon off and discover more of Kyoto on your own. Take pointers from your tour leader as to what's available and what can be done. Your tour leader will be happy to assist.

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Day 08

Fushimi Inari and Hiroshima History

• Dive into a blur of vermillion-coloured Torii gates this morning as you visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, and then walk along the cobbled pathway past the many figurines and statues of foxes that are considered to be the messengers of the God of rice and harvest.
• Make a wish at a pair of stone lanterns and linger awhile on your way back in this strange but visually satisfying ambience before boarding the Shinkansen to Hiroshima. On arrival in the city, make a beeline for Hiroshima Castle, which acts as a museum and makes for a great starting point for understanding the history of the city.
• Later in the day, pay a visit to the Peace Memorial Park to pay homage to the victims of the infamous event that unfolded on 6th August 1945. Learn about the brutal effects of the bombing, its aftermath, and the story of Sadako Sasaki, along with thousands of other children, and her association with the Tower of a Thousand Cranes.

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Day 09

Miyajima, Itsukushima Shrine and Mt. Misen

• Watch the famous vermillion-coloured Torii Gate emerge out of the Seto Inland Sea and take shape as you approach the sacred island of Miyajima this morning. Disembark and soft-foot it through the walkways and bridges that link the sections of Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, which seemingly floats on water, especially during high tide.
• Explore the several halls of the shrine and the gardens, keeping an eye out for the occasional wild deer. If you're lucky enough, you might encounter a stage performance of traditional dance and music. Get your heart ticking up a notch during the latter half of the day as you negotiate a hike up to Mt. Misen.
• Get rewarded with beautiful views once you get to the top and perhaps even listen to the stories of Kobo Daishi, founder of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, who frequented the place during his years of pilgrimage.
• Close the day out by taking the short ferry ride back to Hiroshima and then lighting up the night over a last dinner.

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Day 10

Departure from Japan

• After 10 days of enriching your life with experiences that are sure to last a lifetime, it is now time to say sayonara to Japan. We hope you had as much fun in this beautiful land as we did. As you travel back home, we wish you good luck and hope to see you again soon.