Day 1 (9/2) - Arrive in Osaka
Arriving in Osaka late at night. Someone will assist you with exchanging vouchers to JR Passes, and an airport pickup will be arranged.
Activities:
- N/A
Planner's Notes: If the timing of your arrival is too late for a guide to meet up with you, we will ask your guide on the following day to assist you with passes before heading out to Nara.
Day 2 (9/3) - Osaka
This day will be completely dedicated to visiting Nara with your guide. The activities for this day are listed below (based on your suggestions), however if there is time, your guide will also most likely want to show you other places like Naramachi for food, or other locations of interest in the area.
Activities (guided):
- Todaiji Temple
- Nara Park
- Kofukuji Temple
- Sarusawa Pond
- Tokondo Hall
Planner's Notes: n/a.
Day 3 (9/4) - Kyoto
Today will be the first day dedicated to seeing some of the highlights of Kyoto. A car will pick you up from your hotel in the morning and take you to your hotel in Kyoto before starting your day of activities.
Activities (guided - private car):
- Gekkeikan Sake Museum Tour
- Kiyomizudera Temple
- Fushimi Inari
Planner's Notes: We can alter these activities to your liking, however we've prioritized and focused on delivering the classic highlights.
Day 4 (9/5) - Kyoto
We've left this day unplanned, so that you can have a 'free day' before more planned activities.
Activities (guided):
- N/A
Planner's Notes: n/a.
Day 5 (9/6) - Kyoto
Today I wanted to deliver another highlight that many people enjoy seeing, but I also wanted to include a spot in Kyoto that many people don't really visit often that has a unique history. The day will start at the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji), but then take you to the Arashiyama area of Kyoto. There is a very famous bamboo grove there, as well as one of Japan's most famous zen gardens. I'd lastly like your guide to take you Otagi-Nenbutsuji Temple, and Iwatayama for a short hike to get the best view of Kyoto from the top of the mountain.
Activities (guided - private car):
- Kinkakuji Temple
- Arashiyama area
- Tenryuji Temple
- Bamboo Thicket
- Zen Garden
- Iwatayama Monkey Park (short hike)
- Otagi-Nenbutsuji Temple
Planner's Notes: Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes on this day. The 'hike' of Iwatayama isn't intense by any means (you don't need hiking boots), but can get a little dirty if it has rained the day before. Wearing comfortable shoes will be important. Iwatayama is a sanctuary for monkeys. They are very friendly, and typically will not approach you.
Day 6 (9/7) - Himeji
Today will be a journey from Kyoto to Hiroshima. As requested, we'll arrange a quick stop at Himeji for a tour of Himeji Castle along the way.
Activities (partially guided):
- Himeji Castle
Planner's Notes: I suggest using the lockers at Himeji Station for any bags that you will be taking with you for this stop, while visiting the castle.
Day 7 (9/8) - Hiroshima
This day will be completely dedicated to the classic sites of Hiroshima. Your guide will take you to the locations below.
Activities (guided):
- Peace Memorial Park
- A-Bomb Dome
- Peace Memorial Museum
- Ferry to Miyajima
- Itsukushima Shrine
- Daihouji Temple
- Mt. Misen Ropeway (time pending)
Planner's Notes: Kayaking is possible on this day, but is something that has not been accounted for in our planning. If you would like to do kayaking, my suggestion is to go early in the morning while the tide is high, and you can actually kayak through the massive torii gate on the water in from of Itsukushima Shrine. Please let us know if you wish to add this, and we can contact the supplier we typically use for these experiences. If you do, you will have to wake up quite early to meet your kayaking guide, and then we'll have you meet your tour guide at the nearest station for them to take you to the other sites listed above, however it may not be possible to visit all of the sites in Miyajima due to time constraints.
Day 8 (9/9) - Tokyo
Unplanned day.
Activities:
- N/A
Planner's Notes: Departing in the morning for Tokyo. The journey from Hiroshima to Tokyo will take roughly 4 and a half hours.
Day 9 (9/10) - Tokyo
Today's highlight will definitely be TeamLab Planets, however your guide will also take you to some of Tokyo's more classical highlights as well. Starting in the Asakusa district with Sensouji, and the Nakamise area. I'd like to design this portion of the day to include a couple of food things as well. This particular area is great for traditional treats and is one of the few places in Tokyo where you can enjoy "street food" as well. From there, you can take a boat from Asakusa to Odaiba Pier to visit TeamLab Planets.
Activities (guided):
- Sensouji Temple
- Nakamise Food Stalls
- Tokyo Bay boat to Odaiba Island
- TeamLab Planets
Planner's Notes: On the way back, you can take the Yurikamome train back to Tokyo's main wards. The train is one of the only in the nation that is completely automated.
Day 10 (9/11) - Hakone (day trip)
Hakone is the most popular resort town in Japan. It is most likely due to its proximity to Tokyo and the amazing onsen in the area. The planned spots are listed below, however if you would like to add anything to this let me know. Also, I put in hot springs tentatively, however I do realize that the majority of people visiting Japan are not comfortable with going to a public bathhouse, so it isn't something that you need to decide on immediately. You can let your guide know the day of if you wish to visit one, and they will be able to accommodate you.
Activities (guided):
- Hakone Shrine
- Owakudani Volcanic Valley
- Ropeway trip with viewpoint of Mt. Fuji (weather permitting)
- Lake Ashi Boat Cruise
- Amazake Chaya (time permitting)
- Onsen Hot Springs visit (depending on if you want to visit one while there)
Planner's Notes: Mt. Fuji's visibility from here is completely based upon the weather on the day that you are visiting.
Day 11 (9/12) - Tokyo
Unplanned day.
Activities:
- N/A
Planner's Notes: n/a.
Day 12 (9/13) - Tokyo (departing from HND)
Private car will pick you up from your hotel to take you to Haneda Airport for your departing flight. I am currently thinking that if your flight departs around 10AM that we should aim to have someone pick you up around 7AM, or perhaps even a bit earlier.
Activities:
- N/A
Planner's Notes: n/a.
