Days One & Two - Arrive Osaka
Fly to the lively, fast-paced city of Osaka. On arrival you will be met by an English-speaking representative and transfer to your hotel. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local atmosphere before dinner. Please note: Early check in (before 3pm) is not included. If your flight arrives in the morning and you wish to arrange this, please speak to your reservation’s consultant. For luggage storage options prior to check-in, please speak to your hotel reception desk. You will be transferred by shared coach with other passengers who are not part of a Wendy Wu Tour. If you are on a shared bus transfer, you may have to walk for a few minutes to get to your hotel.
Day Three - Nara
Visit the famous Osaka Castle, one of the city's most famous landmarks. Recently restored, it is home to more than four centuries of Japanese history. Drive approximately one hour to Japan’s one-time imperial capital, Nara, home to 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Sightseeing here will be about 3 hours on foot and may include a walk of approximately 15 minutes uphill from the coach parking area. Look out for the park's beautiful resident sika deer - who have learned to bow to visitors! These small, free-roaming deer have no fear of humans. They expect 'deer crackers' in return for bowing, and may become cheeky - if uncomfortable, show them your hands are empty, and they will usually walk away. Visit Todaiji Temple, the world’s largest wooden structure. This temple is home to the Daibutsu, an eighth-century bronze Buddha standing almost 15 metres tall. Continue to Isui-en Garden, known for its natural ponds.
Day Four - Osaka - Kyoto
Drive approximately 90 minutes north to Kyoto. An enchanting city, Kyoto was the capital for a thousand years; today, it is the legacy of ancient Japan, full of historic temples and classical buildings. On arrival, stroll through the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and admire the towering thickets. Later, visit Ryoanji, the Zen ‘temple of the peaceful dragon’, and the famous Golden Pavilion of Kinkakuji. Check in at your Kyoto hotel, home for the next two nights.
Day Five - Kyoto
Begin the day with a visit to one of Kyoto’s most famous sites – the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine. The shrine is renowned for its thousands of vermillion torii gates, which frame a scenic path up the mountain's forested slopes. Due to the limited parking space at Fushimi Inari Shrine, you may need to walk for 15 minutes from the coach to the beginning of the torii gates, from which point you can walk up part of the mountain. Later, witness the age-old rituals of a tea ceremony before trying your hand at origami. Later, your immersive experience continues with a short fan painting class, where you will learn the technique of this highly refined and sought-after visual art.
Day Six - Kyoto - Nagano -Matsumoto
This morning experience Japan's impressive rail network as you cross Central Honshu by train. Begin with a bullet train to Nagoya, where you'll connect with a Limited Express train to Nagano. In total, travel approximately 3.5 hours to Nagano, the gateway to the Japanese Alps. Upon arrival, transfer to Yudanaka in search of the snow monkeys (Japanese Macaques) at Jigokudani Monkey Park. Good shoes are required. Enjoy a gentle trek through the sloping valley (up to 30 minutes each way) to reach the monkey pool and watch them bathe and play in the warm waters. If you do not wish to walk through the valley, you will be able to wait in the café area near to the coach park. Accustomed to visitors, the monkeys can be observed up close, and they almost completely ignore their human guests. Please remember that the monkeys are wild, not domestic, and sightings cannot be guaranteed (particularly during the breeding season, which runs from late September through to November.) Return to Nagano and visit the 7th-century Zenkoji Temple, one of Japan’s most high-profile Buddhist temples, before continuing by road to Matsumoto.
Day Seven - Matsumoto
Explore the formidable 16th-century Matsumoto Castle, nicknamed ‘Crow Castle’ for its intense black exterior. Afterwards, head to a miso house and learn about the process of making this famous Japanese seasoning before lunch. After lunch, visit a sake brewery and enjoy a tipple or two! There will be some free time this afternoon to further explore Matsumoto.
Day Eight - Mount Fuji - Mishima
Drive south to reach the spectacular Fuji region. The calm waters of the local lakes, formed by past volcanic eruptions, reflect Fuji’s picture-perfect cone. If weather permits, head up to Fuji’s 5th Station to enjoy mountain views. The 5th Station is occasionally closed due to inclement weather. If the centre is closed, or if visibility is too poor to make this visit worthwhile, your guide will take you to Fuji San World Heritage Centre instead (subject to local opening hours, which vary through the year). Continue to tranquil Lake Ashi and take a short cruise across the water before riding the Komagatake cable car for views of Mount Fuji and the lake below. Later, transfer to your hotel in the wider Mishima area.
Day Nine - Mishima - Tokyo
Begin the day with a 2-hour drive to Kamakura, a charming coastal city located in the South of Tokyo. Famous for its many Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, Kamakura is surrounded by hills on all sides except the south, which opens onto Sagami Bay. These natural defences made it a strategic location for the seat of the Kamakura Shogunate of 1185-1333, which was the first military government in Japanese history. Visit Kotokuin Temple, which houses Japan’s second-tallest bronze Buddha statue. Stroll along Komachi Street, lined with little shops, before visiting the city's most important shrine, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. This hilltop city overlooks the city, with views of the sea on a clear day.
Day Ten - Tokyo
Tokyo is the ultimate 24-hour city, but look behind its busy, hightech façade and you will find plenty of tranquil back streets and old temples to explore. Begin the day by exploring the Tokyo National Museum to learn about Tokyo’s heritage. Afterwards, go on to ascend the soaring Tokyo Skytree for panoramic views of the city below. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before heading to the old district of Asakusa where you can soak up the atmosphere at Sensoji, Tokyo’s oldest and most famous temple, before browsing the stalls on Nakamise Shopping Street. Return to the hotel to freshen up. Later, transfer from the hotel to your boat and take a leisurely farewell dinner cruise on Tokyo Bay for some excellent city vistas.
Days Eleven & Twelve
This morning is free at leisure before transferring to the airport for your overnight return flight home.
