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Essence of Japan
Tour Description:
Inspirational, innovative and intriguing, Japan is a favorite destination with Tauck travelers... where gilded temples and glittering skyscrapers reign over streets steeped in history and tradition.
Discover the revered customs and unique sense of beauty that infuse life here... On the main island of Honshu, from Tokyo to the hot springs resort town of Hakone to Kanazawa and the cultural treasure trove of Kyoto, visit a private home for a tea ceremony and Origami... explore castles, temples, shrines, a samurai home, and world-class gardens... spend a night at a ryokan with traditional Japanese cultural experiences... make sushi, taste sake, cruise Lake Ashi to see Mt. Fuji... enjoy a taiko performance, Shinto music, Kagura dancing, a sumo wrestling demonstration... and meet a geisha expert. Join us for a Japan trip to remember.
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Dates & Pricing
| Monday 19 May 25 — Saturday 31 May 25 | Starting at $14,590 |  SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Thursday 05 Jun 25 — Tuesday 17 Jun 25 | Starting at $15,990 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 25 Aug 25 — Saturday 06 Sep 25 | Starting at $11,990 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Thursday 28 Aug 25 — Tuesday 09 Sep 25 | Starting at $13,990 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Thursday 04 Sep 25 — Tuesday 16 Sep 25 | Starting at $15,990 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 06 Sep 25 — Thursday 18 Sep 25 | Starting at $15,990 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 08 Sep 25 — Saturday 20 Sep 25 | Starting at $14,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Thursday 11 Sep 25 — Tuesday 23 Sep 25 | Starting at $15,990 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 13 Sep 25 — Thursday 25 Sep 25 | Starting at $15,990 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 22 Sep 25 — Saturday 04 Oct 25 | Starting at $14,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Thursday 09 Oct 25 — Tuesday 21 Oct 25 | Starting at $15,990 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 03 Nov 25 — Saturday 15 Nov 25 | Starting at $14,990 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 08 Nov 25 — Thursday 20 Nov 25 | Starting at $14,990 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 10 Nov 25 — Saturday 22 Nov 25 | Starting at $12,990 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Thursday 13 Nov 25 — Tuesday 25 Nov 25 | Starting at $13,990 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 15 Nov 25 — Thursday 27 Nov 25 | Starting at $13,990 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 17 Nov 25 — Saturday 29 Nov 25 | Starting at $11,990 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & Sightseeing
Inspirational, innovative and intriguing, Japan is a favorite destination with Tauck travelers... where gilded temples and glittering skyscrapers reign over streets steeped in history and tradition.
Discover the revered customs and unique sense of beauty that infuse life here... On the main island of Honshu, from Tokyo to the hot springs resort town of Hakone to Kanazawa and the cultural treasure trove of Kyoto, visit a private home for a tea ceremony and Origami... explore castles, temples, shrines, a samurai home, and world-class gardens... spend a night at a ryokan with traditional Japanese cultural experiences... make sushi, taste sake, cruise Lake Ashi to see Mt. Fuji... enjoy a taiko performance, Shinto music, Kagura dancing, a sumo wrestling demonstration... and meet a geisha expert. Join us for a Japan trip to remember.
Highlights
In Kyoto, enjoy a private home visit with tea ceremony & Origami demonstration, explorations with a local Geisha expert, visits to Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji Temple & Pure Water Temple (Kiyomizu Temple)
Multiple-night stays in premier hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone & at a hot springs resort & spa in Gero Onsen
A Kagura ceremonial blessing and taiko drums in Tokyo
A ferry ride on Lake Ashi highlighted with views of Mt. Fuji, Japan's largest mountain, in the distance
In Hakone, visit an open-air museum and attend a flower arranging class
Highlights
In Kyoto, enjoy a private home visit with tea ceremony & Origami demonstration, explorations with a local Geisha expert, visits to Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji Temple & Pure Water Temple (Kiyomizu Temple)
Multiple-night stays in premier hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone & at a hot springs resort & spa in Gero Onsen
A Kagura ceremonial blessing and taiko drums in Tokyo
A ferry ride on Lake Ashi highlighted with views of Mt. Fuji, Japan's largest mountain, in the distance
In Hakone, visit an open-air museum and attend a flower arranging class
ITINERARY
ITINERARYArrive Tokyo
Tour begins: 5:30 PM, Shangri-La Tokyo. A transfer is included from Narita International Airport or Haneda Airport to the five-star Shangri-La Tokyo, located in central Tokyo and just a short walk away from some of the city's most popular shopping areas. This evening, please join us for a welcome reception and dinner.
The traditional arts of Tokyo
This morning, visit the Meiji Shrine, dedicated to the spirits of the Emperor Meiji and his wife Empress Shokenn, and enjoy a Kagura ceremonial blessing with origins that date to the 8th century. Stroll the narrow streets lined with shops brimming with local food specialties in Tsukiji Market. Have lunch at Nobu followed by a hands-on class in a traditional art of drumming called taiko. Your evening is free.
Tokyo National Museum & landmark sites
Begin the day with a guided visit to the Tokyo National Museum, followed by a teppanyaki lunch of food cooked on an iron griddle. Visit the Asakusa Kannon Temple, built as a tribute to the goddess of mercy, and meander along adjacent Nakamise Street, where the locals have shopped for centuries. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure, enjoying the city as you wish.
Exploring Traditions in Hakone
This morning, board the renowned bullet train (shinkansen) in Tokyo for a short ride south to Odawara, and continue on to the scenic hot springs resort town of Hakone in Kanagawa. En route, a ferry ride on Lake Ashi; weather permitting, introduces you to views of Mt. Fuji, Japan's highest mountain, looming over the landscape. Have lunch at a local restaurant on the shores of Lake Ashi, then visit the Hakone Open Air Museum before continuing on to your ideally located spa resort in Hakone. This afternoon, get your hands around an authentic Japanese culinary tradition during a private sushi making demonstration; later, gather for a "homey" dinner at your resort.
A day in Hakone
Start the day off with a visit to the Itchiku Kubota Museum, set amidst magnificent views of Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi. Itchiku Kubota (1917-2003) is considered one of the most important Japanese textile artists of the 20th century; he rediscovered, revived and subsequently modernized a traditional Japanese kimono dyeing technique, creating exceptional artistic kimonos. The museum you'll visit today celebrates his art and legacy. Return to your hotel for an afternoon as you wish. This evening, you'll then have an opportunity to learn the art of ikebana – Japanese flower arranging – from a teacher who gives a class and demonstration of this time-honored tradition. Dine on Western or Japanese cuisine at your resort's dining room tonight.
Nagoya and on to Gero Onsen
Board a train bound for Nagoya. Upon arrival, a short drive through the countryside brings you to Gero Onsen and your traditional onsen hotel. Take the opportunity to soak in the hot springs (onsen) and have dinner Japanese style, shoes off, yukatas and slippers on, in a private room, where authentic Japanese traditions prevail.
Sake brewery in Takayama
Depart Gero Onsen this morning and head for Takayama, a mountain city long famed for its artisans and woodworkers. Do some sightseeing along the narrow lanes of its historic center, and have lunch at a local restaurant known for its Hida beef. Following a lesson in sake making and a tasting at a local brewery in Takayama, continue on to Kanazawa, just inland from the Sea of Japan. Enjoy an included dinner at your choice of your hotel's restaurants tonight.
Samurais and Gardens in Kanazawa
A full day's sightseeing in Kanazawa includes: time exploring the historic Samurai District, where samurai homes are tucked among narrow lanes and canals behind earthen walls and private entrance gates, with a visit to the restored Nomura Samurai Family Residence for a look at the lifestyle of the samurai during feudal times, when they were prosperous; a guided stroll through celebrated Kenroku-en Gardens, considered among the country's top three landscaped gardens; lunch at a Paul Bocuse restaurant; and a walk through the city's Omicho Market. Cap the day with a Tauck Exclusive, a private Samurai show at a local temple, then spend the rest of the evening as you please at your hotel or exploring on your own in Kanazawa.
A Train Ride to Hiroshima
Depart Kanazawa by train for Osaka, then continue on by train to the city of Hiroshima for an overnight stay. After lunch at your hotel, take a ferry ride to Miyajima Island and visit the iconic Miyajima-Itsukushima Shrine that seems to float on water (a photographer's dream). Dinner tonight will be at a local restaurant.
Monuments of Hiroshima
In Hiroshima today, you'll visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Museum, and the A-Bomb Dome (Genbaku Dome) – the only structure left standing in the area of the WWII atomic bomb blast that destroyed the city in August 1945, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and Orizuru Tower. After lunch at a local restaurant, return this afternoon by bullet train to the historic city of Kyoto, where your evening is free to spend as you wish.
Kyoto... a Temple and a Castle
Kyoto sightseeing today begins with a visit to the famous golden-topped Kinkaku-ji Temple (Temple of the Golden Pavilion), set in an ancient garden on the edge of a lake – a position symbolizing its place "between heaven and Earth." Hear the story of how this 14th-century temple was burned to the ground by a young monk and then completely reconstructed. Continue on to Nijo Castle, surrounded by stone walls and a moat; tour this 17th-century shogun's residence and UNESCO World Heritage Site – and discover the secret of its "nightingale" floors. After lunch at a local restaurant, meet up with a geisha expert who leads an exploration of the back streets of one of Kyoto's geisha districts, and shares insights on the "flower and willow" world of the geishas, past and present. The evening is free to spend as you wish.
Traditional Arts in Kyoto
Begin your day with a prayer at the Kiyomizudera (Pure Water Temple) established in 778; the current buildings were rebuilt in the 17th century. Drink the water here in long-handled cups as you wish for longevity, success or love. Kyoto is known as the craft capital of Japan, and many traditional arts have been passed down through the generations. Experience the revered customs of Japanese culture firsthand during a visit to a private home here; take your shoes off, come in, and your gracious hostess will demonstrate the very specific rituals of a Japanese tea ceremony, followed by a lesson in the paper art of Origami. Return to your hotel where the afternoon is free for you to enjoy Kyoto's charms as you like. Join us for a special farewell reception and dinner tonight.
Journey home
Tour ends: Kyoto. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto to the airport. Please allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport.
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
