Japanese autumn is the time when the mountain slopes are covered with scarlet purple. Not only tourists but also locals try to get around as many parks and gardens as possible to take beautiful photos and enjoy the still warm days. It's a great time to travel to Japan!
On this tour, we offer you to sightsee and at the same time see the Momiji - red maple trees. We will visit Tokyo, Kyoto, Nikko, Hakone and Nara. The itinerary is designed so that there is a 100% chance of seeing the maples, regardless of the weather!
Detailed program
Day 1: Tokyo
In the morning fly to Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND). Meeting with Russian-speaking guide in the meeting room, transfer by private transportation (minibus/ medium-sized tour bus) to the hotel in Tokyo (distance 20 km, travel time 25-30 min.). You will see small houses gradually replaced by high-rises and road junctions of the metropolis. Welcome to Tokyo!
After 3:00 p.m. hotel accommodation in Tokyo. In Japanese hotels, check-in is quite late, so after leaving your things there, you can walk around Tokyo and have lunch in a restaurant you like.
Day 2. Tokyo
10:00 Gathering of the group and meeting with the guide (the place of gathering will be announced additionally).
10:00-18:00 Guided sightseeing tour of Tokyo by private transportation:
- Gardens and Parks of the Imperial PalaceIt is located in the very center of the capital. During the Edo period (early 17th to late 19th centuries), it was the palace of the Shogun, the supreme military ruler of Japan. The palace became the Emperor's residence in 1868 after Emperor Meiji moved here from Kyoto. Nowadays, a European-style park and a beautiful Japanese garden with a tea house and a pond inhabited by imperial carp are open to the public. In spring, the sakura (Japanese cherry tree) blooms there, which even clerks from the offices of large companies located nearby come to admire during a short lunch break. In the fall, you can enjoy the magnificent view of fiery red maples. The plants are selected in such a way that at any time of the year you are sure to find flowering bushes, trees or flowers. Even in winter, you can admire the blossoms of a special winter variety of cherry blossom.
- Asakusa Historic District - A visit to Tokyo's most popular Buddhist temple, Sensoji Temple. It is built in honor of Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. According to legend, a gilded figurine of this deity was discovered in their nets by two fishermen brothers who were fishing on the Sumida-gawa River flowing in the area. Naka-mise-dori, a lively street of souvenir shops, leads to the monumental temple building.
- Located in the center of the huge Yoyogi Park Meiji Shinto ShrineThe Harajuku Youth District is a trendsetter of new fashion trends. The Harajuku Youth District is a trendsetter for new fashion trends.
- Tokyo City Hall in the Shinjuku skyscraper district. The super-modern complex was erected in just 3 years. From the observation deck on the 45th floor of the Governor's Office Building, located at a height of 243 meters, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Japanese capital. In good weather, Mount Fuji, which is sacred to the Japanese, can be seen from there.
18:00 Return to the hotel. Rest.
Day 3. Nikko
8:00 Gathering of the group and meeting with the guide (the place of gathering will be announced additionally).
8:00-18:00 Excursion to Nikko (2 h by car from Tokyo)
- Of unique beauty Toshogu ShrineThe tomb of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of Tokyo. According to historians, up to 4.5 million people were involved in the construction of the complex, comparable in scale to the Egyptian pyramids, in 1634-1636. The best stonecutters, wood carvers and artists worked on its decoration. 600 kilograms of gold were spent on gilding the buildings of the temple complex. The total cost of construction amounted to about 8 billion yen in today's prices. The Toshogu Shrine is on the UNESCO list of world cultural treasures.
- Picturesque Kagon Falls almost 100 meters high. Its noise can be heard from afar. It is better to admire the waterfall during the period of full floods - from April to December. But even in winter time the view of water streams frozen on the mountain slopes will leave an unforgettable impression.
- Located at an altitude of almost 1300 meters above sea level, the lake is of volcanic origin Chuzenji-ko. Its waters, which in some places are deeper than 160 meters, are home to a variety of fish - mainly rainbow trout and carp.
- Nestled on the shores of a lake at the foot of the extinct volcano Nantai-san, the cozy family restaurant The restaurant's interior is decorated with the works of its owner, the famous Japanese photographer Fukuda-san. The real decoration of the restaurant's interior is the works of its owner, the famous Japanese photographer Fukuda-san. He is also an experienced hunter and fisherman, which is evidenced by the stuffed specimens of huge fish caught by him and animals caught in local forests, among which there is even a Himalayan bear.
18:00 Return to the hotel in Tokyo.
Day 4. Hakone
9:00 Gathering of the group and meeting with the guide (the place of gathering will be announced additionally).
9:00-18:00 Hakone excursion (1.5 h from Tokyo):
- Peace Park and observation deck with unforgettable views of Mt. Fuji. The scenic Peace Park was established in the foothills of the Fuji Mountains in 1964 with funds from Mr. Horiuchi, owner of the Santoku convenience store chain. There are several Buddhist temples in the park, including the inverted stupa-shaped white stone Bussyari-to Tower. It is decorated on four sides with sculpted images of Buddha. Next to the Peace Bell, there is a lookout point where you can enjoy a magnificent view of Mount Fuji in good weather.
- Cruise along the Asino-ko mountain lake You will enjoy your trip on a ship styled as a pirate sailboat. The ship offers unforgettable natural views of Hakone. The picturesque Lake Ashino-ko is rich in fish. Its maximum depth is 44 meters.
- Optional: lunch at the marina restaurant (hostess is cooking fresh trout on the coals).
- Time: visit to the Museum Hakone outpost. The museum is a recreation of the ancient structures of a checkpoint (outpost) on the Tokaido Road from Kyoto to Edo (present-day Tokyo). Here, from 1619 to 1868, samurai officials meticulously checked all travelers. In the museum, you will be able to explore not only the surviving original historical documents and prints, but also the samurai life inside the outpost.
18:00 Return to the hotel in Tokyo.
Day 5. Kyoto
8:15 Gathering of the group and meeting with the guide (the place of gathering will be announced additionally).
8:48-11:00 Independent transfer to Kyoto station by high-speed shinkansen train.
Upon arrival in Kyoto, meet your guide at the platform.
11:00-19:00 Kyoto Excursion:
- Kyomizu-dera (Pure Water Temple) is named after the crystal clarity of the waterfall flowing down the mountain slope. Its waters are considered curative and many people bathe in them. The unusual appearance of the wooden Buddhist temple surrounded by Japanese maples and sakura trees, which stands on massive columns, remains in the memory forever. At the same time, the construction does not give the impression of monumentality, but organically fits into the picturesque landscape. From the open temple veranda opens so breathtakingly beautiful view of the whole city that literally creates the illusion of flight. A road leads to the temple, on both sides of which are small stores selling souvenirs, mostly pottery and porcelain. Here you can also buy fragrant tea and indulge in exotic oriental sweets.
- Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) - The pavilion was the vacation villa of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, who retired and spent his last years here as a recluse. From the late 14th century, the pavilion served as a vacation villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, who retired and spent the last years of his life here as a recluse. Kinkakuji is a kind of Kyoto's calling card.
- Ryoanji Temple is located near the Golden Pavilion. Built in 1450 by followers of Zen Buddhism, it is literally imbued with Buddhist philosophy. Its quintessential Garden of Stones is a true wonder of the world. It is arranged on a small rectangular area covered with gravel and consists of 15 stones of different sizes, which can be visually combined into 5 groups. It is noteworthy that those who admire the beauty of this unique garden from the veranda of the temple can never see all the stones at once, no matter where the observer is. One can only wonder what the creator of the garden, the monk Soami, a recognized master of Zen meditation, wanted to express with this constructive feature of the garden.
- Nijo Castle. Rivaling the beauty of the imperial palace, the Tokugawa family castle of the Shogun clan is world-famous for the colorful interiors of the state rooms and the singing "nightingale" floors of the connecting galleries. The floors make sounds similar to bird chirping when rubbing against each other. According to the castle builders' plan, the singing floors were supposed to warn anyone who tried to approach the shogun's chambers. It is noteworthy that it was in this castle, designed to demonstrate the power and omnipotence of the Togugawa clan, that the last of its representatives abdicated in 1867 in the presence of Emperor Meiji.
- Geisha Street - Gion.
After the tour, transfer to your hotel in Kyoto.
19:00 Check-in at the hotel in Kyoto.
Day 6. Nara
10:00 Gathering of the group and meeting with the guide (the place of gathering will be announced additionally).
10:00-18:00 Excursion to the city of Nara by reserved transportation (1 hr from Kyoto).
This city has retained its original appearance through the ages. It was designed according to the Chinese rectangular urban layout and resembled the Tang capital Changyang.
Nara was the capital of the Land of the Rising Sun from 710 to 794. During this time, Buddhism from China was most actively penetrating Japan. It is for this reason that most of the ancient Buddhist monasteries with priceless art treasures are concentrated in Nara.
- Todaiji Temple Complex (Great Eastern Monastery) was built in the middle of the 8th century around a grandiose bronze statue of the Great Buddha, built by order of Emperor Shomu. The statue is 15 meters high and weighs up to 500 tons. It is believed that the casting of the Buddha statue and the construction of the monastery involved at least 101,000 tons of the population of the whole country, and the imperial treasury as a result of this project was quite poor. Both the Great Buddha statue and the temple itself were repeatedly repaired, but each time the restorers managed to preserve their original majestic appearance.
- Kasuga-Taisya Shinto Shrine The shrine was built in the 8th century for the Fujiwara clan and occupies a special place in the architectural appearance of Nara. Along with Todaiji Temple, the shrine is one of the UNESCO World Cultural Treasures. The inner courtyard of the temple complex is decorated with unique bronze lanterns, which total about 3 thousand pieces. The temple has a botanical garden, the Manyoshu Botanical Garden, where ancient trees such as an eight-hundred-year-old wisteria and a thousand-year-old cryptomeria grow.
- Both complexes are located in a luxurious parkwhich is inhabited by about 1200 reindeer. It is believed that the first mythical emperor of Japan, Jimmu, descended from heaven and arrived in what is now Nara on a deer. The spotted beauties living in the park are considered descendants of that deer and are called sacred. Tourists can feed them from their hands while strolling through the park and admiring the local beauty.
After the tour transfer to Kyoto railway station
18:05-20:23 Independent transfer to Tokyo Station by high-speed shinkansen train.
Upon arrival in Tokyo, transfer independently to the hotel.
Check-in at the hotel in Tokyo.
Day 7. Tokyo
Free day in Tokyo. You will have time to stroll around Tokyo, do some shopping.
A private tour can be arranged on request. Our guides will be happy to show you the hidden corners of Tokyo.
Day 8. Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out from the hotel.
Self transfer to Haneda Airport (25-30 min).
Number of people in the group: 20 people.
Included:
- Haneda airport transfer;
- excursion accompaniment (guide, transport, entrance tickets) according to the program;
- Shinkansen transfer on the Tokyo-Kyoto-Tokyo route
Not included:
- air travel;
- accommodation;
- additional options under the program.
