Japan Treasures

SEPT 10, 2020 – FLY TO TOKYO (-) Depart your flight to Tokyo. 

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SEPT 11, 2020 – ARR. TOKYO (-) Arrive in Tokyo, the capital of Japan. Meet your local guide and transfer to hotel. Relax and recover from the jet-lag.

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SEPT 12 – TOKYO (B)  Join the Tai Chi master to exercise and learn about this wellness philosophy.

• Visit Meiji Shrine which dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. The spacious shrine grounds offer walking paths that are great for a relaxing stroll.
• A brief stop at Harajuku, a renowned colorful street art and fashion scene
• Pass by the Shibuya Crossing where a walk across the world busiest intersection.
• Visit the Tokyo Skytree, the world’s tallest tower (observatory deck ticket not included).
• Attend the Sumo Tournament Opening ceremony, watch the religious ritual to elite sports.

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SEPT 13 – TOKYO TO KAMAKURA TO TOKYO (B) 

• Full day excursion to Kamakura, a seaside Japanese city with the landmark of the giant bronze statue buddha, Kamakura Daibutsu, with a height of 11.4 meters, it is the second tallest bronze Buddha statue in Japan, surpassed only by the statue in Nara's Todaiji Temple.
• Hasedera (Pure Land temple) is a temple of the Jodo sect, famous for its eleven-headed statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy.
• Free time for lunch.
• Kencho-ji Temple, the first Zen temple in Japan. Kamakura is famous for Zen Buddhism. 
• Experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
• Return to Tokyo. Free time for dinner and share Buddha philosophy.

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SEPT 14 – TOKYO TO KYOTO (B) 

• Experience the bullet train (shinkansen) to Kyoto.
• Upon arrival in Kyoto, walk to your hotel.*** No coach service today.
• Stroll around the Gion District, a geisha entertainment area (by public transportation). See many traditional house, shops.  You may rent a kimono to stroll around the area.

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SEPT 15 – KYOTO (B) 

• Begin the day with Zen meditation and explanation from the master.
• Kiyomizudera (Shinto shrine) was founded in 780 on the site of the Otowa Waterfall in the wooded hills east of Kyoto.  The temple was originally associated with the Hosso sect, one of the oldest schools within Japanese Buddhism; it was added to the list of UNESCO world heritage sites.
• Nanzen-ji (Kyoto’s foremost Zen temple), has remained the world's most important Zen temple to this day
• Kennen-ji (Kyoto’s first Zen temple), is an oasis of calm on the edge of Gion with a superb Zen garden.
• Fushimi Inari Shrine is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings.
• Free time for lunch in Higashiyama district.
• Evening, free time.

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SEPT 16 – KYOTO (B,D) 

• Mount Hiei tour of Enryaku-ji is one of the most important monasteries in Japanese history and the headquarters of the Tendai sect of Japanese Buddhism. Many influential monks studied at Enryakuji, including the founders of a number of later sects, such as the Pure Land (Jodo), Zen and Nichiren sects.
• Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) is a Zen temple along Kyoto's eastern mountains (Higashiyama). In 1482, shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa built his retirement villa on the grounds of today's temple, modeling it after Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), his grandfather's retirement villa at the base of Kyoto's northern mountains (Kitayama). The villa was converted into a Zen temple after Yoshimasa's death in 1490.
• Bamboo Grove in Arashiyama. It is the most famous scenic spot close to center of Kyoto.
• Enjoy a farewell dinner.

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SEPT 17 – KYOTO DEPT. (B) Transfer to the airport for your flight to home.

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• Hotel accommodations (3 nights at Tokyo and 4 nights at Kyoto)
• Daily breakfast, 2 dinners
• Hotel tax and service fee
• Bullet train fare from Tokyo to Kyoto
• One way luggage transfer from Tokyo to Kyoto
• English speaking guide services on selected dates
• Tours and transportation in Japan as per itinerary
• Airfare in economy class: round trip airfare from/to Tokyo