A welcome in true Osaka style

• Meals: Dinner
• Stay: Sheraton Miyako Osaka (Premium Twin / Premium King)

Welcome to Osaka, the second-largest city in Japan!

Your tour escort will greet you at the Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka*.
The welcome dinner in the evening features ‘Okonomiyaki’ – Osaka’s favourite dish, as well as seafood and steak in Teppanyaki style.
Watch the chefs prepare your order on the grill right in front of you!

*Please arrive at the hotel by 6 pm.
*Alternatively, you can also meet up with the tour escort to assist you with getting to the hotel if you are arriving at Osaka-Itami airport between 9 am to 11 am.

A day trip to Iga’s Ninja town

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Stay: Sheraton Miyako Osaka (Premium Twin / Premium King)

Let’s begin this rail journey with the Ninja city, Iga.
Visit Iga Ueno castle constructed in the 17th century, feel the power of samurai lords who employed ninjas for convert missions. At Iga-Ryu Ninja Museum, be guided to a Ninja house and discover all about their traps: fake hallways, hidden doors and escape routes. You will be amazed by the authentic Ninja performance featuring actual weapons. You can even test your shuriken-weapon throwing skill!
As we return to Osaka, we will take you to Dotonbori, one of Osaka’s most iconic areas. Dotonbori is an energetic, chaotic blur of neon lights, people, outrageous oversized restaurant signs with food, food and more food! Please enjoy Osaka street food like takoyaki (octopus balls), kushi katsu (deep-fried skewers) as you like.

Natural wonders of Yoshino

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Stay: Sheraton Miyako Osaka (Premium Twin / Premium King)

Today you will board the luxurious limited express train, Blue Symphony and enjoy a supreme railway experience all the way to Yoshino. Take the cable car up to visit Kinpusenji Temple, which is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. and the second largest wooden structure in Japan.
After enjoying Yoshino’s local dishes for lunch, discover the spectacular views in the area with plenty of photogenic spots.
Returning to Osaka, immerse yourself into the panorama of the city from the observatory deck of Abeno Harukas, the tallest building in Japan.

Express train journey to Ise

• Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
• Stay: Shima Kanko Hotel (Comfort Twin)

Pack an overnight bag for an Ise-Shima trip! Sit back and enjoy the comfort of Kintetsu Ise-Shima Liner while viewing the stunning landscapes along the way. Stepping off the train in Ise-Shima, you will explore the Okage Yokocho district, with its traditional Japanese townscapes offering lots to see and eat! After a visit to the sacred Ise Grand Shrine, indulge yourself at a Michelin star French restaurant for dinner at the hotel, the host of 2016 G7 summit with impeccable hospitality.

Discover Ise-Shima

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Stay: Sheraton Miyako Osaka (Premium Twin / Premium King)

Wake up to a spectacular view of Ago Bay. Enjoy a 50-minute, fully immersive sightseeing cruise with a short stop-over at a pearl factory, before heading to a scenic drive to visit the Ama hut, where professional skin-divers live and dive for a living. On arrival, the Ama women will serve you a fresh seafood barbecue. During your visit, you have the unique opportunity of speaking to the Ama women and getting to know their stories. At the Mikimoto Pearl Island, you will get to witness the Ama’s diving performance and lean all about pearl products.
Travel back to Osaka in comfort by Shimakaze, a sightseeing limited express with deluxe seatings, extra-large windows, and a café car.

Ancient Nara

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Stay: Westin Miyako Kyoto (Deluxe Twin / Deluxe King)

Hassle-free luggage transfer from Osaka to Kyoto!

After checking out of the hotel, we will head to Nara. The city is home to UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Todai-Ji Temple that houses a 15-meter tall bronze Buddha and has the one of the world’s largest wooden buildings, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine with a calm forest path lined with stone lanterns. Take a lovely stroll among many deer in Nara Park.
On arrival at Kyoto by train, check in to the hotel and enjoy the rest of your day exploring the streets or relaxing at the hotel. Complimentary shuttle-bus service from the hotel to downtown Kyoto is also available.

Kyoto’s highlights

• Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
• Stay: Westin Miyako Kyoto (Deluxe Twin / Deluxe King)

A private coach will take you on a sightseeing tour through Kyoto’s most iconic sights.
We will visit UNESCO World Heritage sites: Kinkakuji Temple and Kiyomizu-dera Temple, as well as Fushimi Inari Taisha with its iconic thousands of vermilliion torii gates across the narrow pathway to the mountain top.
Also, in Arashiyama, hop on a rickshaw and glide through stunning bamboo forests and the picture perfect “Moon crossing” bridge with your friendly driver-guide.
At the last dinner, spend the evening at an elegant restaurant surrounded by beautifully landscaped Japanese gardens and enjoy a Kaiseki meal. And as a truly rare experience, be entertained over dinner by a maiko – a geisha apprentice – with a performance featuring games and music.

Last day of the tour – See you again!

• Meals: Breakfast

The tour concludes after the final breakfast.
Enjoy reminiscing and making plans on what to explore next time!