Classic Japan with the Best of the Japanese Alps

At your arrival at Narita Airport in Tokyo, a welcoming service will greet you at the airport arrival gate and escort you to the shuttle bus to your hotel.

Itinerary will be adjusted according to your flight schedule.

Accommodation in Tokyo Option 1: Hilton Tokyo

Hotel Accommodation in Tokyo Option 2: Park Hotel Tokyo

Accommodation upgrade in Tokyo: Mandarin Oriental Tokyo

Today you will tour the city with your private guide. Tokyo is the center of modern Japan, and you will explore the main sights of the city, getting a thorough introduction to a typical Tokyoite life by public transportation, one of the best subway systems in the world. Tokyo is a huge metropolis, which has surprises in store for us at every street corner. This is an exciting, vibrant and bustling city, where everything and everyone moves on high speed. At night, Tokyo reveals yet another side to it with its neon signs brightening the sky, thousands of lively restaurants and bars, and colorful entertainment districts (which you can explore independently).

A special schedule for art lovers! Your guide will take you (by public transportation) to some of the leading modern and contemporary art museums in Tokyo and Japan, along with some sightseeing spots as time allows. Your guide is an art specialist who will explain more about contemporary art in Japan.

Today you will leave the Mega metropolis that is Tokyo by train and venture deep into Japan’s magnificent countryside to see the famous “snow monkeys”, wild monkeys that come to warm up in an open air man-made hot spring. To see the monkeys, you will first walk a path in an enchanted forest, familiarizing yourself with the Japanese Alps scenery.

Once you have arrived, the monkeys of all ages will captivate your heart. In the evening, you could enjoy one of the highlights of any visit to Japan- the hot springs in your hotel, and walk around the near by town and soak in some more of Japan’s rural life.

Accommodation in Yudanaka: Ryokan Yudanaka View

Today you will leave Yudanaka by a private car and driver and move deep into the Japanese Alps. En route, you will stop in Matsumoto, a typical castle-town. Matsumoto is famous for its black “crow castle,” one of the very few original castles which have remained complete from the feudal era. Along with the castle, you will visit Nakamachi – an atmospheric preserved district with a small market, interesting galleries and other hidden treasures. From Matsumoto you will continue along a beautiful road with breathtaking views of the mountains, the river and large impressive dams until Takayama.

Takayama is a small town which has kept the charms of olden days with preserved areas from the feudal period, allowing you to soak in an atmosphere reminiscent of past centuries. If time permits, you can see some of the sights the town has to offer, before heading to the hotel. In the evening, you can indulge in one of Takayama’s delicacies – Hida beef, a high quality marbled beef equal to the famous Kobe beef.

Accommodation in Takayama: Hotel Associa Takayama Resort

Accommodation upgrade in Takayama: Wa no Sato Ryokan

Continuing your journey in Kyoto with your private guide by public transportation, you will be exposed to the fundamentals of esthetics, Zen, architecture, horticulture through visits to famous places such as the distinguished stone garden at Ryoanji temple, the spectacular Golden Pavilion, and the Shogun’s castle, and a downtown market, as well as walking along picturesque streets trying to get a glimpse of a Geisha rushing on her way to work.

Sayonara, Mata Ne! See you again!

Itinerary will be adjusted according to your flight schedule.

Today, you will start your way back home. A private car will pick you up for a private transfer to Kansai AP. We wish you a pleasant and safe trip.