Japan
has easily become synonymous with the “Land of Enchantment” and, while it’s a
modern and technologically-savvy society, it isn’t without its culture, beauty
and history. That’s why guided tours of
Japan are so popular for couples and families alike.
Almost all guided tours of Japan begin by flying
into the Tokyo Narita Airport. Many
tours allow you a night’s rest before heading out to see the sights in Tokyo, a
large city of more than eight million people. You’ll visit the Meiji Shrine—a fantastic
Shinto monument erected within a man-made forest. After that, you’ll likely
travel to the Imperial Palace Plaza where you’ll see the Imperial Palace of the
Emperor of Japan. Most of the palace is off
limits but it has a lovely East Gardens for visitors to stroll in.
Many guided tours in Tokyo will take you to the
Asakusa Kannon Temple and the nearby Nakamise Shopping Arcade, where visitors can
shop at their leisure for souvenirs or other items. Later that night, walk the streets of Tokyo
with your tour director to take in the dazzling lights of this lovely
city. The following day, you can take an
excursion to Kamakura, which is the home of the Great Buddha—a shrine that is 750
years old.
After seeing the Great Buddha, may guided tours of
the area will take you on a scenic drive to Hakone so you can take a cable car
ride and get the very best views of Mount Fuji, if the weather cooperates. Guests can opt for a thrilling ride on the bullet
train back to Tokyo.
After you’ve seen much of Tokyo and surrounding
area, most guided tours of Japan will take you up to Matsumoto, considered the
gateway to the Japanese Alps. There you will visit the Matsumoto Castle—a
fortress dating back to 1593. Nearby, Japan
Folklore Museum and a nice way to see artifacts from Japan in their natural
setting.
Later, most guided tours of Japan will take you to
Takayama where you can visit the local farmer’s market and travel to the San
Machi Suji historic district, famous for distilleries that make Japanese
sake. Nearby there are lovely lacquer
ware shops that make items perfect for souvenir shopping. Also nearby is the Kusakabe Heritage House, a
lovely place to see traditional Japanese architecture from the late 19th
Century.
The next stop on many guided tours of Japan is the
Hida Minzoku-Mura folk village—a large collection of traditional Japanese buildings,
including farmhouses. There, you can
enjoy demonstrations of craft-making, such as lacquer making, silk dying, basket
weaving and wood carving.
Most guided tours of Japan will take you through the
mountainous areas, including the Shokawa Valley and onto the village of
Shirakawa. This is a remote region of
Japan that is home to many world heritage sites. Enjoy traditional Japanese food with your
tour mates.
The next stop on most guided tours of Japan is
Kyoto, a lovely city and home to the fascinating Nijo Castle, built as the
official residence of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603. Nearby is Kinkakuji, the temple of the Gold
Pavilion and several shrines and gardens.
Kyoto is home to numerous temples, shrines and palaces and is a place
you’ll want to spend a couple of days visiting.
As you’ve traveled so far north, most guided tours
will then take you to Osaka and to the Kansai Airport for your departure home. Hopefully, you’ve taken in plenty of Japanese
food and culture, and you’ve enjoyed their unique food.
HIDA-TAKAYAMA
NIJO CASTLE
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