NEW YORK - TOKYO

ANA

Flight 6453 Departure at 11:05am from Newark Liberty, EWR

Arrive at Tokyo Narita 01:55pm next day

Operated by

United Airlines

Total Trip Duration: 13h 50m

TOKYO

Arrival in Tokyo Narita at 6:20 pm. Meeting with the local tour guide.

Narita airport is about 1 hour and a half from central Tokyo. Transfer to Keio Plaza Hotel 4 *. Overnight

in the hotel.

TOKYO

Breakfast at the hotel. Full day dedicated to Tokyo visits. Japanese lunch grilled fish and yakitori at Gompachi Shibuya Restaurant. Stroll through the popular shopping and entertainment area around Shibuya Station. Shibuya Shibuya is one of Tokyo's most colorful and crowded neighborhoods, filled with shops, restaurants, and nightclubs serving swarms of visitors who come to the neighborhood every day. Shibuya is a hub for fashion and youth culture, and its streets are the birthplace of many of Japan's fashion and entertainment trends. A major Shibuya landmark is the large intersection in front of the station's Hachiko exit. The intersection is heavily decorated by neon advertisements and giant video screens and is overrun by pedestrians every time the light of the passage turns green.

The next visit is to the Meiji Shrine.

MEIJI SANCTUARY

Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingū) is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his

consort, Empress Shoken. Located right next to the busy JR Harajuku station

Yamanote Line, Meiji Shrine, and adjacent Yoyogi Park form a large wooded area

within the densely populated city. The large spaces of the sanctuary offer ideal trails for

a relaxing walk. The shrine was completed and dedicated to Emperor Meiji and

Empress Shoken in 1920, eight years after the emperor's death and six years after his death

of the empress. The sanctuary was destroyed during the Second World War but was little rebuilt

after. Emperor Meiji was the first emperor of modern Japan. He was born in 1852 and rose to

the throne in 1867 at the height of the Meiji Restoration when Japan's feudal era ended e

the emperor returned to power. During the Meiji period, Japan modernized, and yes

Westernized to join the major powers of the world when Emperor Meiji died in 1912.

The entrance into the sanctuary grounds is marked by a massive torii. The approximately 100,000 trees

that make up the Meiji Jingu Forest were planted during the construction of the shrine

and were donated by regions across the country. In the middle of the forest, also the buildings of Meiji

Jingu is an oasis of tranquility compared to the surrounding city. Visitors to the shrine can

take part in typical Shinto activities, such as making offerings in the main hall, shopping

amulets, or writing their wishes on the ema votive tablets. Meiji Jingu is one of the most shrines

popular in Japan. On the first days of the new year, the shrine regularly welcomes more than three

million of visitors for the first prayers of the year (hatsumode), more than any other shrine or temple in the country. During the rest of the year, traditional Shinto weddings can often be seen.

The last visit of the day is to the skyscraper of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.

Return to the hotel, free dinner and overnight at the hotel

TOKYO

TOKYO METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT BUILDING

The building is 243 meters high, has two towers, and houses an observatory at a height of 202 meters. Had been

Tokyo's tallest building was surpassed by Midtown Tower in 2007. It

was built by Kenzō Tange and some of his collaborators and features many symbolic touches such as

the subdivision at the top, which seems to resemble a Gothic cathedral. With climatic conditions

favorable, you can admire the Tokyo Skytree, the Tokyo Tower, the Meiji Shrine, the Tokyo Dome, and, on rare occasions, Mount Fuji.

Breakfast at the hotel. Full day dedicated to Tokyo visits. It starts with the Hamarikyu Garden.

HAMARIKYU GARDEN

Hama Rikyu is a large landscaped garden in central Tokyo. Located along Tokyo Bay,

features seawater ponds that change level with the tides and a tea house on an island

where visitors can rest and enjoy the landscape. The traditional style garden is in stark

contrast with the skyscrapers of the nearby Shiodome district. It was originally built as

Tokyo residence of a feudal lord and duck hunting during the Edo period (1603- 1867), but later served as a garden for strolling and as an independent imperial palace before being open to the public in its current form.

After completing the walk in the park, embark on a short river cruise

Sumida, which will take us from Hinode to Asakusa. Sushi and tempura lunch at Sushisen Asakusa. The

Asakusa neighborhood is famous for its retro atmosphere and Buddhist temples and is one of the

Tokyo's most traditional neighborhoods.

The many isolated and narrow streets are lined with

old houses and shops selling traditional items, from kimonos to handmade combs, souvenirs,

eccentric clothes, Samurai wigs, toys, Hello Kitty, and Doraemon lollipops There

the most beautiful part of Asakusa is represented by the area of ​​the centuries-old temple. To open the access there is

the imposing Kaminari-mon portal, the Gate of the God of Thunder with its large paper lantern

red that leads to the main road, the Nakamise Dori which leads to the emblematic Temple

Asakusa Kannon also known as Sensoji.

ASAKUSA KANNON TEMPLE

It is the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan open to all, which became famous thanks to its

appellative of “Asakusa no Kannon-Sama”, merciful Kannon. Dedicated to Hajino Nakamoto e

to the brothers Hinokuma, Hamanari, and Takenari, who found the main icon of the Sensoji Temple and

who first understood its miraculous power. In 1649 the sanctuary pavilion,

with classical style architecture, or Gongen-zukuri, was consecrated by Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third

tycoon of the Tokugawa shogunate, and today it has been declared a National Heritage.

I'm going back to the hotel. Free dinner and an overnight stay in a hotel.

TOKYO

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for a day of sightseeing in Tokyo. The first visit is to the Piazza del

Imperial Palace. It was once the Edo Castle and is still protected by the deep-dug moats

originally, while splendid gates and ancient watchtowers dot the walls at intervals

regularly. The Nijubashi, an elegant two-arch bridge, leads to the main entrance open to the

public on some occasions. The Oriental Garden (Higashi Gyoen) was occupied by the original keep.

Finally, stroll through the streets of Ginza, a famous luxury shopping district with restaurants,

art galleries, nightclubs and bars, its prestigious department stores rich in history and tradition, the

famous boutiques such as Chanel and Gucci, and others with more informal clothing such as Uniqlo and

Forever 21. At the intersection of the central street Chuo-Dori and Harumi-Dori, some buildings are

which have become symbols of Ginza such as the Mitsukoshi department store and the Wako clock tower. Lunch

kushiage in Ginza Isomura. Later we move to the Tokyo National Museum. Established in

1872, is the largest museum in Japan, with a collection of more than 110,000 objects, artifacts

archaeological and ancient art objects also from other areas of Asia. At the end of the visit

to the museum, you move to the adjacent Ueno Imperial Park, perhaps the most important public space in

Tokyo, the equivalent of New York's Central Park. Here families, groups of friends, and business groups yes

gather to eat, drink and enjoy hanami. Here we will find the statue of the charismatic Saigō

Takamori with his dog was both a warrior and a diplomat who played a fundamental role

in the Meiji Restoration. He was a leading figure among those who opposed the

modernization of Japan as well as being the leading man of the government even if for a short period. For leading the Satsuma Rebellion, in which he was deeply determined to

set up a samurai academy ready to fight against the central government, he became "the last

Samurai". The last visit is to the Tokyo Tower, its 333 meters high symbol.

TOKYO TOWER

Tokyo Tower is the tallest free-standing steel tower in the world and 13 meters taller than its

model, the Eiffel Tower. Symbol of Japan's post-war revival as a great power

economic, it was the tallest structure in the country from its completion in 1958 until 2012 when

it was overtaken by the Tokyo Skytree. Aside from being a popular tourist spot, Tokyo Tower serves as well

as a transmission antenna. The main tower bridge at 150 meters can be reached via

a lift or a staircase of 600 steps. Thanks to the central location of the tower, the observatory

offers an interesting view of the city while being at a relatively moderate height. It is the third

Tokyo's highest observation deck.

I'm going back to the hotel. Free dinner and an overnight stay in a hotel.

TOKYO- NIKKO- TOKYO

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Nikko by private bus. Nikko is a marvel of beautiful

natural and unsurpassed architectural masterpieces of Japan. It is part of the World Heritage

UNESCO since 1999. The focal point of the city is the Toshogu Shrine.

TOSHOGU SANCTUARY

Toshogu Shrine is the final resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the shogunate

Tokugawa ruled Japan for over 250 years until 1868. He is prayed as Tosho

Daigongen, "Great Deity of the Shining Light of the East". It was originally a mausoleum

simple, but it was enlarged to its present size by his nephew Ieyasu Iemitsu during the first

mid-1600s. The richly decorated sanctuary complex includes more than a dozen

buildings located in a beautiful forest. Unlike other Shinto shrines, characterized by a

type of architecture simple and harmonized with the surrounding landscape, this gives off

an exuberance of colors, applications of gold foil, and sculptures of all kinds. There are elements

of both Shinto and Buddhist. Among the many buildings of Toshogu, there is a beautiful five-story pagoda of

in front of the entrance. The main pillar of the pagoda is suspended ten centimeters above the level of the

soil, to prevent the wood from stretching and shrinking over time and to allow it to swing

during earthquakes. Among the numerous and colorful wooden sculptures that decorate the warehouses, the most

famous is that of the three monkeys of wisdom: "I do not hear what must not be heard, I do not say

what should not be said, I do not see what should not be seen "and the Sozonozo elephants (" elephants

imagine ") which were sculpted by an artist who had never seen elephants

warehouses you will find the famous Yomeimon Gate again visible in all its glory afterward

the long restoration. It is perhaps the most ornate structure in Japan with its intricate decorations

and its architectural features. Beyond the Yomeimon Gate is the main building of the

sanctuary, which consists of the prayer hall (haiden) connected to the main hall (honden)

behind. The rooms are dedicated to the spirits of Ieyasu and two other most influential historical personalities of

Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Minamoto Yoritomo. To the right of the main building of the sanctuary,

there is the Sakashitamon Gate, with the famous sculpture of the Nemurineko (sleeping cat).

Western-style lunch at Maple Restaurant. Finally, stop at the impressive Kegon-no-Taki Waterfall

97 meters high, one of the most famous in Japan, and at Lake Chuzen-ji. Return to Tokyo e

overnight at Hotel.

TOKYO-KAMAKURA-LAKE KAWAGUCHI

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure by private bus for Kamakura. Kamakura is a small city

coastal, full of temples, with a welcoming atmosphere. Of the presence of the feudal government that yes

settled in this city in 1192, Kamakura still retains a fundamental historical heritage

importance. The best way to discover Kamakura is to explore its streets. The 5 great celebrity

temples of the city gently transport the visitor to the 12th century, in the middle of the Kamakura period. start with a walk in central Komachi Street. Lunch at Ginza Aster Chinese restaurant

Kamakura. The first visit is to the Great seated Buddha, Amida Nyorai known by the name

familiar of Daibutsu of Kamakura, the deity of Kotoku-in Temple.

DAIBUTSU OF KAMAKURA

It is a giant statue of 11.3 meters in height and 121 tons in weight, which depicts the Buddha in the

lotus position under the celestial vault. Construction of the Daibutsu began in 1252 and continued

for about ten years. The construction costs of the Daibutsu were borne by the priest Joko, who

successfully convinced community members to make the necessary donations. Among the registers of the

temple, the name of Hisatomo Tanji is indicated as the craftsman responsible for casting the

Daibutsu, and in the oral tradition, there appears another man known as Gorouemon Ohno, ma

the designer of the original model and many other details surrounding the construction remain

unknown until today. The hall that housed the Daibutsu is thought to have been destroyed twice

by strong winds in 1334 and 1369. It was certainly not rebuilt after the 15th century.

The next visit is to the Hase-Kannon Temple famous for its main wooden building and his own

magnificent Japanese-style garden.

HASE-KANNON TEMPLE

According to legend, in 721 the pious monk Tokudo Shonin found a large camphor tree in the

mountain forests near the village of Hase in the Nara region. Realized that the trunk of the tree

was so large that it could have provided enough wood to carve two Kannon statues with

eleven heads. The statue he ordered to be carved into the lower part of the trunk came

located in the Hasedera Temple near Nara; the statue obtained from the upper half (the larger of the two) was thrown into the sea near present-day Osaka with prayers that she could

reappear to save other people. Fifteen years later, on the night of June 18, 736, he appeared

on the Nagai beach of the Miura peninsula not far from Kamakura giving off rays of light. There

statue was brought to Kamakura and a temple was built in her honor. From time immemorial

Hasedera Temple became the 4th station among 33 holy sites in the Kanto area.

Finally, by bus, you will reach Lake Kawaguchi. Transfer to the Hotel Regina Kawaguchiko 4 *. The

best time to take a relaxing bath is in the hot water of the "onsen", the thermal spring

of course, it's before dinner. Wahohoku Kaiseki dinner and overnight at the hotel.

LAGO KAWAGUCHIKO –MATSUMOTO –TAKAYAMA

Breakfast at the hotel. Luggage (one suitcase per person) will be sent to the hotel in Kyoto where it

will stay overnight for two days later, while, equipped with smaller hand luggage with the necessary,

we are transferred by private bus to Takayama. It starts with a visit to Oishi Park, a park

public located on the north shore of Lake Kawaguchi from where you can admire a beautiful view

of Mount Fuji and the lake. Departure for Matsumoto. Visit Matsumoto Castle.

MATSUMOTO CASTLE

It is one of the most beautiful and complete of Japan's original castles. It is a "hirajiro", a castle

built on the plain instead of a hill or a mountain. Its uniqueness is given by the fact

it has both a secondary keep and a turret next to the main keep. The structure

of the castle exudes an air of grandeur and balance, the wooden interior offers an authentic

experience as opposed to those reconstructed in reinforced concrete. Interesting features of the Departure for Takayama. Upon arrival, we visit the Takayama Yatai Kaikan where four floats are exhibited

of the richly decorated autumn festival (yatai), the best example of ancient and legendary art

by Takayama. The Takayama Festival is held in the spring and fall and is classified as one

of the three most beautiful in Japan.

TAKAYAMA JIN'YA

It was the seat of offices of the Edo Shogunate from 1692 to 1868, the only building of this type still today

existing, recognized as a Historic Site of National Importance. The shogunate ruled

directly about sixty territories in various and important areas of Japan (to come

called tenryo). The entire building was in use during the one hundred and seventy-six years in which the province of

Hida (present-day Takayama region) was Tenryu territory. For twenty-five generations, the leader’s

administrators called daikon (later promoted to Sunday) were sent from Edo for matters

administrative matters including tax collection and financial, judicial, police, and other matters

management of forest assets. Next to the main building is a built department store

in 1600: it was the largest rice warehouse in Japan and now functions as a museum where

Personal effects, official documents of past feudal lords, and old maps exhibited

of the Hida region.

Arrival and accommodation in the Hoshokaku Ryokan. The best time to take a bath

relaxing in the hot water of the "onsen", the natural thermal spring, is before dinner. Dinner

“Wahohoku Kaiseki” and overnight at the ryokan.

RYOKAN

It is the typical Japanese hotel dating back to the Daimyo era. Leave your shoes at the entrance, a warm

wooden corridor leads to the rooms. The rooms are large, the floor of which is covered

with the “tatami” (reed straw mat edged with a strip of fabric). The furniture is made up

only of a low table and sliding doors, the "shoji". You sleep on a warm and soft "futon"

(mattress made with natural materials) which replaces the traditional bed and is unrolled

in the evening by the maids directly in contact with the tatami. You wear a comfortable "yukata", an

informal cotton kimono that becomes the usual clothing during the stay in the

Ryokan. When it gets colder, a jacket is made available to wear over the

"Tanzen". Most of the ryokans have a common bath with thermal water, from which

men and women benefit separately.

TAKAYAMA –SHIRAKAWAGO –KANAZAWA

Japanese breakfast at the ryokan. For its valuable timber resources, Takayama and the

Hida was placed under the direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1692. Visit to the

Takayama Jin'ya.

TAKAYAMA JIN'YA

It was the seat of offices of the Edo Shogunate from 1692 to 1868, the only building of this type still today

existing, recognized as a Historic Site of National Importance. The shogunate ruled

directly about sixty territories in various and important areas of Japan (called "tenryo").

The entire building was in use during the one hundred and seventy-six years in which the province of Hida (the current region

of Takayama) was tenryo territory. For twenty-five generations, the administrative heads called "Daikan" (later promoted to "Gundam") were sent by Edo for administrative matters including

the collection of taxes and financial, judicial, police, and management of forest assets.

Next to the main building, there is a department store built in 1600: it was the largest

rice warehouse in Japan and now functions as a museum where personal effects are exhibited,

official documents of past feudal lords and old maps of the Hida region.

Continue with a walk in the San-machi Old Street, with its characteristic merchant houses,

typical inns, sake factories, and tea houses. Finally, stroll through the lively market of

Miyagawa morning. Departure by private bus to the old village of Shirakawago, located

at the source of the Sho River in the north of Gifu Prefecture and registered as a World Heritage Site

Unesco in December 1995, nestled between suggestive mountain panoramas with ancient farms,

the "Gashozukuri" of the Shokawa valley with a gabled thatched roof whose structure,

suitable for heavy winter snowfalls, reminds us of hands joined in prayer. The high lofts

under the pointed roofs were used for the breeding of silkworms. The city plan of

Ogimachi with 114 Gassho-style houses, the largest number in existence, was already formed in the early

Middle Ages and prospered with the arrival of Yamashita Ujikatsu, the lord of the castle. Visit to a

Gashozukuri. Departure for Kanazawa. Arrival and accommodation at the Kanazawa New Grand Hotel

premiere 4 *. We walk to the Shiki no Table Restaurant for dinner. I'm going back to the hotel.

KANAZAWA –KYOTO

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure by private bus for the visit to Kanazawa. We are in one of the cities

most beautiful in Japan: Kanazawa, famous for its gardens and the charming old neighborhoods of geishas

and samurai. It starts with the Kenroku-en Garden, one of the three most beautiful in Japan.

KENROKU-IN GARDEN

It is a "promenade style" garden with the characteristics of a typical landscape of the Edo period.

The Kanazawa Castle Outer Garden was originally located on the slope facing the

castle. In 1676, the 5th daimyo Maeda Tsunamori moved the greenhouse to the castle and built a house

resort called "Renchiochin" and a surrounding garden called "Renchitei" in the

surrounding area. However, the villa and garden caught fire in 1759. The 11th daimyo Harunaga did

rebuild the garden with the creation of the Midoritaki (emerald) waterfall and construction in

1774 of what is now the oldest building in the garden, the tea house Yugao Tei. In 1822, the 12th

daimyo Narinaga built the splendid Villa Takezawa on the Chitosedai plain southeast of

the castle, along with seven servants' houses and the clan school. He improved the garden by drawing

winding streams, using the water of the Tatsumi, and building stone bridges over them. In the year

of the completion of the Takezawa Villa, the daimyo Narinaga asked Rakuo Shirakawa to give a

name to the garden. He gave it the name of a garden that combines the six attributes of a perfect garden

landscaping: spaciousness, intimacy, artifice, antiquity, waterways, and panoramas. The name comes from

a gardening book written by Li Gefei, a famous Chinese poet. Morinaga died two years after the

completion of the Takezawa Villa. In the place where the villa stood, the 13th daimyo Nariyasu did

expand the Kasumiga-like Pond and added more winding streams that harmonize with the

Renchitei garden. Thus the structure of the present large garden was completed. May 7

1784, when the feudal domain was abolished, the Kenrokuen garden was opened to the public. Was

designated a national site of scenic beauty on March 8, 1922, and a national site of beauty

special landscape on March 20, 1985.

We continue with the Ochaya Shima (= old tea house) in Higashichaya-gai. We walk among the

old Samurai houses in Nagamachi; then we visit the Nomura Family's Mansion (= old house

of the samurai). We transfer to the Kanazawa railway station. Departure at 15:19 by train

express (Thunderbird) to Kyoto station where you arrive at 5:39 pm. Arrival and accommodation

at the 4 * Hotel Granvia Kyoto. Buffet dinner at the hotel. Overnight

KYOTO

Breakfast at the hotel. The visits begin with a walk on the Philosopher's Path (Tetsugaku no

Michi).

TRAIL OF THE PHILOSOPHER

It is a pleasant stone path in the Higashiyama district that starts around Ginkakuji

(Silver Pavilion) and ends in the Nanzenji district following a canal flanked by

hundreds of cherry trees for about two kilometers. The route is named after Nishida Kitaro,

one of Japan's most famous philosophers is said to have practiced meditation while walking

this street on its daily commute to Kyoto University.

The next visit is to Nanzenji Temple, the main one of the Rinzaishu-Nanzenji school, a sect

Zen.

NANZENJI TEMPLE

Nanzenji Temple (南禅寺) is one of Japan’s many historic and majestic spiritual sites that harkens back to its history. Nestled in the Higashiyama Mountains, this Zen Buddhist temple is one of the more important hallowed places of the country. It incorporates several sub-temples to create one of the largest complexes of temple buildings in Japan.

Then we will visit Heian’s Sanctuary (Heian Jingū)

HEIAN SANCTUARY

It has a relatively short history dating back to 1895. The sanctuary was built on the occasion of the 1100th

anniversary of the founding of the capital in Kyoto and is dedicated to the spirits of the first and last

reigned emperor from the city, Emperor Kammu (737-806) and Emperor Komei (1831-1867).

Heian is the former name of Kyoto. A gigantic torii marks the entrance to the sanctuary. The real and

The sanctuary's grounds are very spacious, with a large open courtyard in the center. The buildings

main of the sanctuary are a partial replica of the original imperial palace from the Heian period,

built on a slightly smaller scale than the original. Behind the main buildings, there is a nice

garden with numerous weeping cherry trees, which bloom a few days later than most

of the other cherry trees.

From here you reach the Ginkaku-ji Temple, or "Silver Pavilion".

TEMPLE OF GINKAKU-JI

In 1482, Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa built his villa on the grounds of today's temple,

modeling it on the Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), his grandfather's villa. The villa was transformed into a

Zen temple after Yoshimasa's death in 1490. Being an art-obsessed shogun,

Ginkakuji became a center of contemporary culture, known as the Higashiyama Culture in

contrast with the Kitayama Culture of his grandfather's time. Unlike the Kitayama culture,

it remained limited to the aristocratic circles of Kyoto, it had a large impact on the whole country. The

arts developed and perfected over time include the tea ceremony, the arrangement of the

flowers, noh theater, poetry, garden design, and architecture. Today, Ginkakuji consists of the

Silver Pavilion, half a dozen other buildings, a beautiful moss garden, and a

unique dry sand garden. Despite the name, the pavilion was never covered in silver.

Instead, it is believed that the name originated as a nickname more than a century after its construction

building to distinguish it from the Golden Pavilion. Next to the Hondo is the Togudo, the only other

building in addition to the Silver Pavilion which dates back to the foundation of the temple. Togo is known

because it contains a 4.5 tatami study room considered the oldest extant example of

Shoin architecture is the architectural style in which most contemporary tatami rooms

they are still being designed today.

The last visit is to the Kinkaku-ji Temple, or "Golden Pavilion".

KINKAKU-JI TEMPLE

Kinkaku (Golden Pavilion) is a Sheridan, a Buddhist hall containing relics of the Buddha. The

pavilion is part of a temple that is formally called Rokuon-ji Temple, but it is

commonly known as the Kinkaku-ji Temple or Temple of the Golden Pavilion. Roku-ji is a

Zen Buddhist temple, in the Shokokuji school of the Rinzai Sect. This area was originally the

site of a villa called Kitayama-dai owned by a statesman, Saionji Kitsune. Ashikaga

Yoshimitsu, the third shogun of the Muromachi period, fell in love with the area and bought it from

Saionji family in 1397. Then he built his villa, which he called Kitayama-den. It is said that the

garden and the buildings, centered on the Golden Pavilion, represent the Pure Land of the Buddha in

this world. The villa also functioned as an official residence for guests, welcoming

Emperor Gokomatsu (father of the Zen teacher, Ikkyu) and other members of the nobility. The

trade with China flourished during the Muromachi period and the villa reached its highest

moment of glory as the center of Kitayama culture. After Yoshimitsu's death, according to

his will, the villa was transformed into a temple by the priest Muso-Kokusai, who became the first abbot.

The name of the temple, Rokuon-ji, derived from the name that Yoshimitsu had assigned to the other world,

Rokuon-in-den. In 1994, the Rokuon-ji Temple was registered as a World Heritage Site

by UNESCO.

Back to the hotel. Dinner in a popular restaurant.

KYOTO - NARA -UJI - KYOTO

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Nara, the ancient capital of Japan from 710 to 794, is also mentioned

as the cradle of Japanese art, literature, and culture. It has been inserted with neighboring Uji between

the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Visit the Todaiji Buddhist Temple.

TODAIJI BUDDHIST TEMPLE

Built-in the Nara period (710-794) at the behest of Emperor Shomu (724-749). It was one of many

provincial temples built by the state, but since the object of worship is the Vairocana Buddha

("Buddha who shines everywhere like the sun"), a magnificent temple was built in a way

to reflect this importance. It serves both as a place of prayer for peace and well-being on earth

and as a Buddhist doctrinal research center. Many have formed in Todaji over the centuries

famous scholarly priests. It was founded by Bishop Roben and is today the main temple of the

Kegon sect of Buddhism. The main object of worship is the Vairocana Buddha, which is also the

main figure in the Kegon Sutra. The Vairocana Buddha statue is made of cast bronze

later gold plated, it was consecrated in 752 but was damaged and repaired

several times in the following centuries. The present hands of the statue were made in the Momoyama period

(1568-1615), and the head was made in the Edo period (1615-1867). The Hall of the Great Buddha

was burned in fires caused by the wars in 1180 and 1567, and the current building is the

third generation structure built in the Edo period. The width of the construction is less

than 33% compared to the original one, but it is still considered the largest wooden structure

in the world.

Continue to the Kasuga Taisha Shinto shrine.

SHINTOIST SANCTUARY KASUGA TAISHA

It is the most famous sanctuary and dates back to the period when Nara was the capital. It is dedicated to the divinity

responsible for the protection of the city and the most powerful Japanese family clan during

most of the Nara and Heian periods, the Fujiwara. Like the shrines of Ise, Kasuga Taisha many centuries every 20 years it was rebuilt, a custom that was interrupted here at the end of the period

Edo. The shrines have the characteristic Kasuga style of sacred architecture, characterized by a roof

sloping that extends to the front of the building. Kasuga Taisha is famous for its lanterns, which

were donated by the faithful. Hundreds of bronze lanterns can be found hanging from buildings,

while many stone lanterns are lined up on the access roads. The lanterns are illuminated

only twice a year, one in early February and the other in mid-August. There are many more auxiliary shrines

little ones in the woods around Kasuga Taisha, twelve of which lie along a path beyond the

main complex of the sanctuary and are dedicated to the twelve lucky gods. Among them is the

Wakamiya Shrine, an important cultural property known for its dance festival, e

Meoto Daikokusha, which guards married deities and is said to favor dating and marriages.

Located within walking distance of the main Kasuga Shrine complex, Kasuga Taisha Shine

Many Botanical Gardens. This garden holds about 250 types of plants described in the Manyoshu,

Japan's oldest collection of poems dates back to the Nara period.

Continue to Uji, where you will visit the Byodo-in Temple.

BYODO-IN TEMPLE

Originally built in 1052 by Fujiwara Yorimichi who was at the time the kampaku (councilor

head) of the emperor. The Phoenix hall was built the following year, like the hall

Amitabha (national treasure) to contain a statue of Amitabha Tathagata (also treasure

national). The garden, in the “Jodo” landscape style, is considered a historical site, a place of rare

scenic beauty. The "Suhama" (sandy beach), the "Hirabashi" (flat bridge), the "Soribashi"

(arch bridge), and the “Kojima” (island) surround the hall of the Phoenix. Byodoin is home to numerous assets

cultural of the Heian period: paintings depicting Amitabha in the nine degrees of rebirth in the Pure Land

in Yamato-e style, the bell-shaped Buddhist temple, and the pair of phoenixes, all considered treasures

national. Particularly outstanding are the 52 statues of Bodhisattva riding on the clouds

while dancing or playing various musical instruments, the only existing group of Buddhist statues

of the 11th century.

We then go to the house of the Tahio-an tea ceremony.

CERIMONIA DEL TÈ

Nota come “Sado”, esprime la filosofia Zen di vivere il momento. È un elaborato rituale eseguito in

un ambiente tranquillo, e rappresenta sia un esercizio di contemplazione e conversazione che un

momento di riposo. Gli utensili e le ciotole utilizzati sono di fattura finissima, per arricchire con la

loro bellezza questa esperienza estetica. Come contrappunto al sapore amaro del tè vengono

serviti dei dolci tradizionali, i “wagashi”. L’ospite deve dire “per favore mangia il dolce” e chi lo riceve

deve rispondere “okashi o choudai itashimasu” che significa “sto ricevendo il dolce”. Allo stesso

modo prima di bere il tè occorre dire “otemae choudai itashimasu”, cioè “sto ricevendo il tè” e girare

in senso orario due volte la tazza, “chawan”.

Rientro in hotel. Spostamento coi mezzi pubblici per la cena Sushi Set in una sala riservata al

Ristorante “Ganko Takasegawa Nijoen” in compagnia di una maiko. Rientro in hotel a piedi. Si

passeggia per circa 2.5 chilometri in direzione sud fino alla Shijo-dori, si attraversa il ponte ShijoOhashi e si continua lungo la Kiyamachi in questa zona magica durante la stagione dei fiori di

ciliegio, dove si può ammirare un'incredibile galleria di alberi di ciliegio illuminati. Arrivo in hotel e

pernottamento

KYOTO - OSAKA

Breakfast at the hotel. We continue the visit to Kyoto by bus. It starts with a walk in the Garden

Kyoto botanist.

KYOTO BOTANICAL GARDEN

It was built on 240,000 m² of land donated by the wealthy Mitsui family of bankers and financiers

to the city of Kyoto to commemorate the coronation of Emperor Taisho in 1924. It is the oldest

botanical garden in Japan with over 120,000 plants of 12,000 species and a favorite place of the

Kyoto itself for walking and picnicking, especially in spring in the flower season of

the cherry tree and in autumn for momijigari. It is divided into various sections: the Bamboo garden, the exhibition of the

bonsai, the camellia garden, the cherry trees (there are about 500 different varieties), the style garden

European, flower bed, hydrangea garden, Japanese iris garden, native plants

Japanese, the lotus pond, the Nakaragi-no-more pond (native trees of the Yamashiro basin), the

garden of peonies, the garden of perennials and useful plants, the submerged garden, and the grove of Uma. The

Kyoto botanical garden fell into disuse after World War II but was revived in the

60's. The greenhouse has an extension of 4,612 m², reaches a height of 48 meters, was inaugurated

in 1992, and is one of the largest in Japan. It contains about 25,000 specimens of 4,500 species. The

conservatory is designed to mirror the nearby Kinkakuji Temple and Kitayama Mountain

of Kyoto. Like the main garden, the conservatory is divided into seven distinct zones including

tropical, plateau, lowland, and alpine which contain the following rooms: the pineapple room, plants

aquatic and carnivorous, chamber of bromeliads, plants of the desert and savannah, plants of the

forest, jungle area, orchids, potted plants, tropical alpine plants, and tropical products.

Continue to Nijo Castle.

NIJO CASTLE

Nijo-jo Castle has witnessed some of the most important events in Japanese history

in the 400 years since its construction. The castle was completed in 1603 by order of Tokugawa

Ieyasu, founder and first Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate (1603-1867). Tokugawa Ieyasu

unified Japan after a long period of civil war and began one of peace and prosperity of

over 260 years, one of the longest in Japanese history, lasting for fifteen generations. The

Japan was unified under the rule of the Tokugawa family after the battle of Sekigahara in

1600 and in 1603 Tokugawa Ieyasu was named Seii-Taishogun (usually abbreviated to Shogun)

by the Emperor. After receiving his appointment, Ieyasu went to the Nijo-jo Castle to

announce his appointment to the feudal lords. The castle was the Kyoto residence of the Shogun on

rare occasions when he visited the imperial capital. When the Shogun did not reside there,

it was manned by the samurai guards Nijo Zaiban, sent to the castle from the capital Edo (today's

Tokyo). In 1614 Tokugawa Ieyasu left and returned to the castle in triumph from the Siege of the Castle of

Osaka, which ended the Toyotomi lineage that ruled Japan before the

Tokugawa. This victory formalized the Tokugawa position as political rulers of the

Japan. An extensive renovation of the castle was begun in 1624, during the reign of the third

Shogun Iemitsu, in preparation for an imperial visit by Emperor Go-Mizuno-o in 1626.

Over 3600 wall paintings were painted, thus dating back to the Kan'ei period (1624-1644) of the young man

master painter Kano Tan'yu of the Kano school of painting. With this visit the

wealth and stability of the shogun's rule. In 1867 the 15th Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu

summoned the senior vassals of 40 domains who were resident in Kyoto to the Ohirona hall of

Ninomaru-Goten Palace and announced the end of Tokugawa rule and the return of control

politicians to the emperor. Thus inaugurated the Meiji period during which Japan

developed very rapidly from a feudal society into the modern democratic nation that

we know today. Nijo-jo Castle was therefore the scene of the opening and closing ceremonies of the last period of the feudal dominion, as well as being the starting point for the creation of the

modern Japanese state. The 400-year-old buildings of the Ninomaru-Goten Palace, the Kara-mon gate, and the Ninomaru garden are the only survivors of one of the golden epochs of architecture and

Japanese design, the early Edo period, known for its magnificent decorations and interiors. It was

donated to the city of Kyoto in 1939. It is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since

1994.

The next visit is to the Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyōto Gosho).

KYOTO IMPERIAL PALACE

It was the residence of the imperial family of Japan until 1868 when the emperor and the

capital were transferred from Kyoto to Tokyo. It is located in the spacious Kyoto Imperial Park (Kyōto

Gyoen) in the city center. The current Imperial Palace was rebuilt in 1855 after being

burned and moved to the city several times over the centuries. The complex is surrounded by long

walls. The coronation ceremonies of the emperors were held in the main hall of the palace

Taisho and Showa while the Tokyo Imperial Palace is now used. In addition to the Imperial Palace

and the park of Palazzo Sento, there are other historical sites inside such as the Kaninnomiya Mansion, ex

residence of the court nobles and a miniature reproduction of the famous Itsukushima shrine,

Miyajima, on a small island by a pond. The park is 1300 meters long and 700 meters long

in width and also serves as a recreational space for tourists and residents, with attractive, wide footpaths

gravel, lawns, and trees. A beautiful cluster of weeping cherry trees stands beside the Konoe Pond.

Finally, one of the most fascinating temples, the Sanjūsangen-dō, SANJŪSANGEN-DŌ

Sanjūsangen-dō's official name is Rengeō-in temple, and the structure is registered as a Treasury

National by the Japanese government. It was built by the powerful warrior-politician Taira-no Kiyomori in 1164. The original temple building was lost in a fire, but the building was rebuilt.

in 1266. That structure has remained unchanged since then with four major renovations during

that period. The long hall of the temple, the longest wooden building in the world, is about 120 meters long,

it is made in Wayo (Japanese) architecture. Since there are thirty-three spaces between the columns,

this temple was called "Sanjūsangen-dō" (a room with thirty-three spaces between the columns). Other

Notable objects in this temple are the terracotta-covered fence and the south door, which

they are registered as important cultural properties. They are in close correlation with Toyotomi

Hideyoshi reflects the aesthetics of the 16th century. The main images of the Sanjūsangen dō temple are the 1001 statues of the Buddhist deity, Juichimen-senjusengen Kanzeon, who often comes

called by the simplified name "Kannon". A thousand standing statues of Kannon (important

cultural property) and a gigantic seated statue (national treasure), placed in the center of the statues

standing, are housed in the temple hall. The statues are made of Japanese cypress. Of

standing statues, 124 were made in the 12th century when this temple was founded, and the rest

876 were made in the 13th century when the temple was renovated. The powerful and dynamic statues of the

God of Thunder and God of Wind are placed at the sides of the temple hall on raised pedestals in a

cloud shape. Their origin can be traced back to people's fear and gratitude for nature

who worshiped them as gods who controlled rain and wind and brought good harvests.

These statues are representative of the sculpture of the Kamakura period (12th-14th century). The 28

statues arranged in a straight line in front of the smaller 1001 always in cypress wood that

reproducing Kannon are guardian deities who protect it. Many of these deities, whose

mystical images are vividly expressed, have their origin in ancient India.

Technically these statues have been assembled: arms and heads have been carved separately,

then joined together, covered with lacquer and color.

Continue by bus to Osaka. Transfer to the 4 * Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka. Buffet dinner

in the hotel. Overnight at Hotel

OSAKA- YOKOHAMA

Breakfast at hotel. Luggage (one suitcase per person) will come intersect on its busy streets and which have historically played an important role in wealth creation of the city. Ancient city and modern metropolis at the same time, Osaka has birthplace of the prestigious puppet theater Bunraku. The Umeda neighborhood is the starting point Hanshin and the three subway stations, there are a number of shopping malls and underground, the largest in all of Japan, forms an entire city in itself. Climb up to the Umeda Sky Building offering a breathtaking view of the city with the big red wheel installed in the part top of the Hep Five building. We move to Dotonbori the best neighborhood to experience the culture of this people so different from ours: it is in fact considered one of the cradles for cultural identity, which mixes the traditional, the modern and the "underground" trends of the city. In short, it is the neighborhood livelier, younger and more characteristic of the city. Center of nightlife and meeting point of the young people, offers an infinite variety of venues: restaurants, bars, nightclubs, karaoke, game centers and many others shops that light up the night hours in Namba. Continue to Osaka Castle built in 1586 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and once considered the most important in Japan.

Hanshin and the three subway stations, there are a number of shopping malls and skyscrapers. City heir to a rich past in the wholesale textile trade, Umeda registers an impressive concentration of offices, banks or hotels. His mall underground, the largest in all of Japan, forms an entire city in itself. Climb up to the Umeda SkyBuilding offering a breathtaking view of the city with the big red wheel installed in the part top of the Hep Five building. We move to Dotonbori the best neighborhood to experience the culture of this people so different from ours: it is in fact considered one of the cradles for cultural identity, which mixes the traditional, the modern and the "underground" trends of the city. In short, it is the neighborhood livelier, younger and more characteristic of the city. Center of nightlife and meeting point of the young people, offers an infinite variety of venues: restaurants, bars, nightclubs, karaoke, game centers and many others shops that light up the night hours in Namba. Continue to Osaka Castle built in 1586 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and once considered the most important in Japan skyscrapers. City heir to a rich past in the wholesale textile trade, Umeda registers an impressive concentration of offices, banks or hotels.

Transfer to Osaka train station and departure at 14:39 from Shin Osaka with the Super Express Shinkansen (Nozomi) to Yokohama. Arrive at 16:47. Transfer to the Yokohama Royal Park 5*.

YOKOHAMA

SANKEIEN GARDEN

It is a large traditional Japanese style garden in southern Yokohama. In addition to its 175,000

square meters of ponds, streams and easily walkable paths you will find historic buildings coming

from all over Japan. The facilities come from Tokyo, Kyoto and Kamakura, as well as from the prefectures

of Gifu and Wakayama. The garden was designed and built by Tomitaro Hara, known by the

pseudonym Sankei Hara, who had made a fortune in the silk industry. The Sankeien Garden is

It was inaugurated in 1906 and was renovated in 1953 after suffering serious damage during the

second World War. Among the historic buildings exhibited in the park, the Rinshunkaku is perhaps the building

more beautiful than Sankeien: it was built in 1649 and moved from Kyoto in 1917. This villa was built

from Yorinobu, the son of the first Edo-era shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu. Rinshunkaku is famous for

his ink paintings done on the sliding doors and walls. There is the former two-story house of the rich woman

Yanohara family, one of the largest gassho-style left standing in Japan, built

during the Edo era and moved to Sankeien in 1960 from Shirakawa-go. We are an elegant residence

daimyo, several tea rooms and the main hall and three-story pagoda of the old Tomyoji temple

Kyoto, the oldest wooden pagoda in the Kanto region built in 1457 and relocated in 1914.

We then enter Yokohama's Chinatown, the largest in Japan. A large number of

Chinese shops and restaurants can be found in the narrow and colorful streets. Chinatown developed

quickly after the port of Yokohama was one of the first Japanese ports to be opened at

foreign trade in 1859. Many Chinese traders took up residence and settled in

city. Four colored doors are located at the entrance. You visit the Kanteibyo Temple, by the colors

garish, built in downtown Chinatown in 1873 by Chinese residents and dedicated to the god of good

business and prosperity. The main draw of Yokohama's Chinatown, however, is the cuisine

offered in its many restaurants. Teppanyaki lunch at Serina Yokhama Steak Dome restaurant. There

our day ends in Minato Mirai 21, the urban area in the center of Yokohama facing the Bay

of Tokyo, whose name means "port of the future". It has many large skyscrapers, including the

Landmark Tower, which was Japan's tallest building from 1993 to 2014. The area had been a

large shipyard until the 1980s, when development began to transform it into a new center

city ​​and now has many attractions, shopping malls, hotels, a convention center, a park of

entertainment, a relaxation center with thermal baths, museums and green spaces located along the coast to form

the characteristic skyline of Yokohama. Free afternoon for individual visits and the last ones

shopping. Overnight at Hotel.

TOKYO - NEW YORK

ANA

Flight 6452 Departure at 05:00pm from Tokyo Narita, NRT

Arrive at Newark Liberty at 04:50pm

Operated by

United Airlines

Total Trip Duration: 12h 50m