Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Welcome to enchanting Japan – a truly timeless place where ancient traditions are fused with modern life as if it were the most natural thing in the world. From the splendor of a Kyoto geisha dance to the spare beauty of a Zen rock garden, Japan has the power to enthrall even the most jaded traveler.

Arrive in Tokyo with its unique vitality springing from intertwining of the new with the time-honoured old. Yoking past & future, Tokyo dazzles with its traditional culture & passion for everything new.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Tokyo Narita International Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel. He / she will provide assistance during Check-in and also discuss the program for the next few days.

*If, for any reason you are unable to make contact with our representative within 30 minutes of waiting, please call the local Emergency telephone # listed on your Contact List. Please follow the advice given by our 24 / 7 Duty Officer.  Please do not exit the Airport & make your own way to the hotel, unless advised. Transfer can be via Train or Airport Limousine Bus (to be advised prior to arrival in Osaka).

Reach the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

Balance of the day is at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

To the uninitiated, Tokyo may seem like a whirlwind of people and traffic. Yet, behind the ordered chaos lie remnants of a very different past.

Infinite Possibilities | Art & Culture| Culinary delight | Glimpse of the Future

More than any one sight, it's the sprawling city itself that enchants visitors.

Always changing, and with a diverse collection of neighbourhoods, no two experiences of the city are ever the same. Some neighbourhoods feel like a vision from the future, with ever taller, sleeker structures popping up each year; others evoke the past with low-slung wooden buildings & glowing lanterns radiating surprising warmth; elsewhere, drab concrete blocks hide art galleries & cocktail bars and every lane hints at possible discoveries.

Centuries-old forms of performing arts still play on stages and sumo tournaments draw crowds; every spring, Tokyoites head outside to appreciate the cherry blossoms – a tradition older than the city itself.

While it is the wellspring of Japanese pop culture, it is also a place where the patri-lineage of its Imperial family is a tightly held institution. It is the city to which Japanese non-conformists flee but where individuality is often linked to an older form of small-group identity. A metropolis where the pressure cooker of traditional societal mores & expectations explodes into cutting-edge art, music & inventions like the ‘boyfriend’s arm pillow’. Even pop culture like manga, as it takes the world by storm, is rooted in the tradition of Edo-period ukiyo-e (wood-block prints from the ‘floating world’). And so, as its modern gears keep turning, the basic machinery of this intriguing city remains true to its origins.

Life in Tokyo moves at a well-oiled clip, with an energy that borders on mania & an obsession with newness that seems to make all ideas quickly obsolete. Fashions begin to fade almost as soon as they are plucked from clothes hangers, and keitai (mobile phones) are traded up for each latest technological advancement. But even while throngs of tech-savvy, smartly styled Tokyoites trot through Subway stations, there is a traditional side to this hyper urban cosmopolis, which may not be immediately evident

In Tokyo you can experience the whole breadth of Japanese arts & culture. You could easily spend a lifetime exploring Tokyo & never run out of places & things to discover. There are Museums covering every era of Japanese art history & also ones that focus on the contemporary – challenging the old distinctions between art with a capital A, pop culture and technology. From "funky" old Ueno & nearby Yanaka with its fine parks, museums & old houses, to the ultra-modern Ginza with its endless department stores ... the sheer energy level of Tokyo will sweep you away.

But there is a playful side to all of this, too: Tokyo is, after all, a city whose public artworks include a scale model of an anime robot. And by night, Tokyo really comes into its own. Mazes of blazing neon fill every available nook & cranny of the city's streets & alleys. Above all, Tokyo is not just a destination, but an experience.

Tokyo's neon-lit streetscapes still look like a sci-fi film set - and that is a vision of the city from the 1980s. Tokyo has been building ever since, pushing the boundaries of what is possible on densely populated, earthquake-prone land, adding ever taller, sleeker structures.

Tokyo may be forever reaching into the future but you can still see traces of the shogun's capital on the kabuki stage, at a sumo tournament or under the cherry blossoms. It is a modern city built on old patterns & in the shadows of skyscrapers you can find anachronistic wooden shanty bars & quiet alleys, raucous traditional festivals & lantern-lit yakitori (grilled chicken) stands.

In older neighbourhoods you can shop for handicrafts made just as they have been for centuries, or wander down cobblestone lanes where geisha once trod.

See the utopian mega-malls, the edgy designer boutiques from Japan's award-winning architects & the world's tallest tower - Tokyo Sky Tree - a twisting spire that draws on ancient building techniques. Stand atop one of Tokyo's skyscrapers & look out over the city at night to see it blinking like the control panel of a starship, stretching all the way to the horizon.

You can eat Your Heart Out! Yes, Japanese cuisine has been added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Yes, Tokyo has more Michelin stars than any other city. But that is not what makes dining in Tokyo such an amazing experience. We are not just talking about the famous restaurants & the celebrity chefs: what Tokyo excels at is consistency across the board. What really counts is the city's long-standing artisan culture. It is not unusual for a top-class sushi restaurant to share the same block as an oil-spattered noodle joint & for both to be equally adored. You can splash out on the best sushi of your life, made by one of the city's legendary chefs using the freshest, seasonal market ingredients or you can  spend ¥800 on a bowl of noodles made with the same care & exacting attention to detail, from a recipe honed through decades of experience.

Tokyo’s Subway map – a tangle of intersecting lines – is often compared to a bowl of noodles. But once you get out there, you will be surprised how easy it is to navigate. That Subway can take you everywhere you want to go; trains are frequent (though sometimes uncomfortably crowded) & almost always on time, and stations are well-signposted in English. That is not to say you won't occasionally find yourself frustratingly disorientated, but the friendly locals are generally eager to help you get back on track.

Overnight.

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 09.00 am & proceed for a 6 hour sightseeing tour of the city.

Start the day with a visit to the Yanaka district.

Yanaka is one of the few Tokyo districts where the shitamachi atmosphere, an old town ambience reminiscent of Tokyo from past decades, still survives & you will find the old sprit of Tokyo is still alive & thriving.

It was spared the Allied fire bombings during the WWII and survived the Great Kanto Earthquake & Fire of 1923. In the past, the area was a thriving artisan town housing some of the country’s most famous writers & visual artists. There are buildings dating back more than 150 years here that were not damaged during the huge Kanto earthquake or during bombing in World War II.

Walk through the Ueno Park whose grounds were originally part of Kanei-ji Temple, which used to be one of the city's largest & wealthiest temples and a family temple of the ruling Tokugawa clan during the Edo Period. Kanei-ji stood in the northeast of the capital to protect the city from evil, much like Enryaku-ji Temple in Kyoto.

During the Boshin Civil War, which followed the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Kanei-ji suffered nearly complete destruction in a battle between the victorious forces of the new Meiji government & loyalists of the overthrown shogunate. After the battle, the temple grounds were converted into one of Japan's first Western style parks & opened to the public in 1873. A statue of Saigo Takamori, one of the generals in the Battle of Ueno, stands near the park's southern entrance.

Today Ueno Park is famous for the many museums found on its grounds, especially the Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum for Western Art, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum & the National Science Museum. It is also home to Ueno Zoo, Japan's first zoological garden.

Additionally, Ueno Park is one of Tokyo's most popular & lively cherry blossom spots with more than 1000 cherry trees lining its central pathway. The cherry blossoms are usually in bloom during late March and early April & attract large numbers of hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties.

Next, proceed to the Harajuku District, the center of Japan's most extreme teenage cultures & fashion styles.

Buzzing Harajuku is renowned for its colorful street art & fashion scene, with quirky vintage clothing stores & cosplay shops along Takeshita-dori, and more traditional, upmarket trendy boutiques lining the leafy Omotesando Avenue. Small bars & trendy cafes fill the surrounding lanes, while cultural hotspots include the Watari Museum of Contemporary Art, which hosts cutting-edge temporary exhibitions. Near Takeshita-dori, but worlds apart, is Omotesando, a broad, tree lined avenue sometimes referred to as Tokyo's Champs-Elysees. Here you can find famous brand name shops, cafes & restaurants.

After spending an hour here, move on to the Shibuya district.

Shibuya is a popular shopping & entertainment area and is one of Tokyo's most colorful busy districts, packed with shopping, restaurants & nightclubs serving swarms of visitors, mostly young, that come to the district every day.

Shibuya is a center for youth fashion & culture, and its streets are the birthplace to many of Japan's fashion & entertainment trends. A prominent landmark of Shibuya is the large intersection in front of the station's Hachiko Exit. The intersection is heavily decorated by neon advertisements & giant video screens. It is said, this crosswalk is one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in the world, and gets flooded by pedestrians each time the crossing light turns green, making it a popular photo & movie filming spot (scenes from the movie "Lost in Translation" were filmed here)

Time to return to the hotel / ryokan.

Balance of the day at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Overnight.   B 

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 08.00 am & embark on a full day excursion to Kamakura.

Proceed to Tokyo Eifukucho Station for the short train ride to Kamakura.

Arrive in Kamakura & continue on your sightseeing.

Kamakura is an ancient seaside Japanese resort city just south of Tokyo, with dozens of Buddhist Zen temples, Shinto shrines & historical monuments. It was named for the city where Minamoto Yoritomo was appointed as Seii-Taishogun (shogun) by the Imperial court in 1192, set up the headquarters of his military government, commonly known as the Kamakura shogunate.

Kamakura used to be the political capital of medieval Japan, along with Nara & Kyoto, and also the birthplace of Japan's first military government whereas previously the Imperial court in Kyoto held power. Trade with the Sung & Yuan dynasties of China prospered in the 13^th century and a various aspects of Chinese culture, including Zen (Buddhism), Zen-style architecture, Buddhist statures & Chinese lacquer ware, were imported.  The military culture of that era, in which the simple & strong spirit of warriors, traditional aristocratic culture, and Chinese Sung & Yuan culture were blended, has continued to greatly influence Japanese society down to the present day. Kamakura began flourishing as a temple town in the 17^th century. From the 19^th century, it became popular for beaches, resort areas & residential districts.

Military culture-related goods, such as finely wrought armor, excellent swords & scroll paintings depicting war, were brought to Kamakura from across the country. Yabusame, a ritual in which a person dynamically shoots three arrows while riding a galloping horse, also　originated here. Nowadays, Yabusame is held at Tsurugaoka-hachimangu on the final day of Kamakura Matsuri in April & on September 16 every year.

Its most recognizable landmark is the Kotoku-in Temple’s Great Buddha, a roughly 13 metre high bronze statue still standing after a 15^th century tsunami. Yuigahama Beach on Sagami Bay is a popular surfing spot.

Arrive in Kamakura & walk to Hokoku-ji, a lovely little Zen temple built in 1334, by Tengan Eko or Uesugi Shigekane, under patronage of Ashikaga Ietok. After viewing the Temple, spend some time in the magnificent bamboo garden behind, where you can sip powdered green tea & nibble Japanese sweets.

Stroll nearby to the Komachi-dori street is with a variety of shops & restaurants from the traditional souvenir shop to modern clothing. You can enjoy shopping or window shopping and then a lunch.

After lunch, get on the by local train again & hop off after a couple of Stops to see the Kamakura Daibutsu (a Japanese term, often used informally, for large statues of Buddha).

The Kamakura Daibutsu designated a National Treasure, is a bronze statue of Amida Buddha created in 1252, which stands on the grounds of Kotoku-in Temple. With a height of 37 ft., it is the second tallest bronze Buddha statue in Japan, surpassed only by the statue in Nara's Todai-ji Temple. It weighs approximately 93 tonnes, is hollow &, and visitors can view the interior. Many visitors over the years have left graffiti on the inside of the statue.

It was originally located inside a large temple hall. However, the temple buildings were destroyed multiple times by typhoons & a tidal wave in the 14^th & 15^th centuries. So, since 1495, the Buddha has been standing in the open air. At one time, the statue was gilded as there are still traces of gold leaf near the statue's ears. It was preceded by a giant wooden Buddha, which was completed in 1243. That wooden statue was damaged by a storm in 1248 & the hall containing it was destroyed, so it was decided to make another statue of bronze. At one time, there were thirty-two bronze lotus petals at the base of the statue, but now only four remain

A notice at the entrance to the grounds reads, "Stranger, whosoever thou art and whatsoever be thy creed, when thou enterest this sanctuary remember thou treadest upon ground hallowed by the worship of ages. This is the Temple of Buddha & the gate of the eternal, and should therefore be entered with reverence...

Proceed to Hase-dera, commonly called the Hase-kannon, one of the Buddhist temples in the city. A temple of the Jodo sect, it is famous for its 11 headed statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The 9.18 meter tall, gilded wooden statue is regarded as one of the largest wooden sculpture in Japan & can be viewed in the temple's main building, the Kannon-do Hall. According to legend, it was carved from the same tree as the similarly tall Kannon statue worshiped at the other Hase-dera Temple in Nara Prefecture.

Adjacent to the main hall, is the Kannon Museum, a small museum that exhibits some more of the temple's treasures, including Buddhist statues, a temple bell & a picture scroll. On the opposite side of the main hall stands the Amida-do Hall with an almost three meter tall, golden statue of Amida Buddha.

The tour concludes & you will proceed to the station to board the train back to Tokyo.

Reach the hotel.

Balance of the evening at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Overnight.   B 

Morning, meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby at 09.00 am & for a full day 8 hour sightseeing to explore Tokyo.

Travel through Nakamise-dori, one of the oldest shopping streets in Japan, on your way towards the front approach gate of Senso-ji Buddhist Temple & the Asakusa Shrine where you will learn about Buddhist & Shinto Japanese religious practices. Enter through the vermilion-lacquered Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), the outer gate of Senso-ji Temple & the symbol of Asakusa & the entire city of Tokyo.

There are numerous stores lined up on this approx. 250 m long approach, about 50 on the east side & 30 on the west side, all of them old & historical. You can fully enjoy the atmosphere of shitamachi (downtown Tokyo). Alongside typical Japanese souvenirs such as yukata & folding fans, various traditional local snacks from the Asakusa area are sold along the Nakamise. Other products sold here, include Japanese-style goods that are popular among young tourists from abroad, such as hair accessories, Japanese clogs, wooden dolls & chiyogami (colored paper), folk art products, postcards with the scenery of Asakusa in Edo Period (1603-1868), ningyoyaki & kaminari-okoshi, which are the representative souvenir confectioneries from Tokyo & classic Japanese food using nori & kombu seaweeds.

When Tokugawa Ieyasu, a warlord who governed Japan in the Sengoku Period (1493-1590), founded the Edo Shogunate, the population of the city of Edo increased rapidly. Some of the residents opened stores within the premises of Senso-ji Temple & on the approach, which is said to be the origin of Nakamise Dori. The row of shutters at the front of stores is used as a single large canvas on which the traditional events & characteristic scenes for each season are drawn, resembling a large picture roll of Asakusa, so that people can enjoy visiting the place even after the stores are closed at night. Therefore, Nakamise Dori is also worth visiting at night, and the gorgeous mural painting on the shutters is quite a sight.

Cross the temple's second gate, the Hozomon to reach Senso-ji, (also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple),- an ancient Buddhist temple, completed in 645 and one of Tokyo's oldest & most colorful temples. Formerly associated with the Tendai sect of Buddhism, it became independent after World War II. The legend says that in the year 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River, and even though they put the statue back into the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, Senso-ji was built nearby for the goddess of Kannon.

Listen as your guide details the temples fascinating history & admire its idyllic gardens, intricate architecture & sturdy gates. Beyond the Hozomon Gate stands the temple's main hall & a five storied pagoda. Destroyed in the war, the buildings are relatively recent reconstructions. The Asakusa Shrine, built in the year 1649 by Tokugawa Iemitsu, stands only a few dozen meters to the left of the temple's main building.

Various events are held throughout the year in the Senso-ji Temple area. The biggest of them is the Sanja Matsuri, the annual festival of the Asakusa Shrine, held in May. Other events are the Asakusa Samba Carnival in August and the Hagoita-ichi (Hagoita Market) at which decorated wooden paddles used in the traditional game of hanetsuki are sold.

Next, take the Subway to Roppongi Hills - one of the best examples of a city within the city - a development project in Tokyo & one of Japan's largest integrated property developments,

At the center of Roppongi Hills stands the 238 meter 54 story Mori Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the city. The first six floors are occupied by shops & restaurants, while the top six floors house an art museum & observation deck that are open to the public. Offices fill the 43 floors in between. The Mori Tower is a characteristic feature of the city's skyline and the office floors are home to leading companies from the IT & financial sectors. Roppongi Hills has become a symbol of the Japanese IT industry.

Located at the top of the Mori Tower, the Tokyo City View observation deck, one of Tokyo's best. It has high ceiling & glass walls that extend all the way around the building, giving visitors views of the entire city. When the weather permits, views can also be enjoyed from an open-air deck on the rooftop.

Go up to 53^rd floor to Tokyo City View Observatory (included) where you can enjoy a bird's eye view of Tokyo while also getting oriented to Tokyo & glimpse as to just how large Tokyo really is. On a clear day you might even see Mt. Fuji.

If time permits, you might also visit the topmost floor to see the Mori Art Museum, a modern art museum with a focus on new artistic ideas from all over the world. The Museum presents an art that is both contemporary & international and hosts innovative exhibitions of modern art. The museum makes a point of keeping the art easily accessible to the general viewing public, rather than making it overly obscure or esoteric.  

Afterwards, travel by Subway to the famous Ginza district, the most expensive real estate in the world where we will first stop for a lunch of Kushiage (fried meat & vegetables on bamboo skewers).

After lunch, you will have some free time to wander through the numerous boutiques & department stores. Or visit the Nissan and BMW showrooms to see the latest automobile technology.

Or explore the Sony Building where you will find many of Sony's products on display, some of which aren't on the market yet.

Meet the Tour-guide again at the designated spot & time and get up on the Subway again to ride to Hinode Pier, where you will cap off your day with a scenic 40 minute Sumida River cruise along the shores of Tokyo. Climb aboard your vessel as you glide beneath 12 of the city’s many bridges, listening to a recorded audio guide that will add context about the history of this unique urban waterway.

Step back on land at Hinode Pier, where you will return to your coach for a drop-off at Tokyo Station & receive a complimentary souvenir map to continue your own explorations of this one of a kind city.

From the Drop-off Point, reach the hotel / ryokan (on your own). 

Balance of the day at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Overnight.   B 

Morning, meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby at 07.00 am & for a full day excursion to see Hakone. 

Proceed to Tokyo Shinjuku (supposedly the busiest train station in the world) Station to board the Odakyu Limited Express “Romance Car” for the 90 minute ride to Hakone-Yumoto Station. Some versions of these trains feature Observation Decks & saloon seats.

Arrive at Hakone Yumoto Station & commence your sightseeing. Travel around the Hakone area will be by many different methods including train, funicular, tramway, boat & bus.

Hakone, part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, west of Tokyo, is a mountainous town known for its serene hot spring resorts (onsen), world-class art museums including the Hakone Open Air Museum, traditional inns & spectacular mountain scenery crowned by the iconic volcano Mount Fuji.

When it is not hidden by clouds, Mt. Fuji presents a breathtaking sight on the horizon; the best time to catch a glimpse of the mountain is the winter months of December to February. Weather-permitting, you will get a chance to see it.

Hakone also encompasses Hakone Shrine, a Shinto shrine with a red “torii” gate overlooking Lake Ashi, which can be toured by boat, as well as the boiling sulphur springs of the Owakudani Valley.

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Famous for hot springs, natural beauty & the view across Lake Ashinoko of nearby Mount Fuji for centuries, it has been one of the most popular destinations among Japanese & international tourists looking for a break from Tokyo.

Yumoto, at the entrance to the Hakone area near Odawara, is Hakone's most famous hot spring with a particularly long history, high quality water and numerous baths & inns. Nowadays, more than a dozen springs provide hot spring water to the many bath houses & ryokans here.  Many more hot spring facilities are found across the hills & valleys of Hakone and along the shores of Lake Ashi.

Visitors can enjoy a hot spring bath in public bath houses or ryokan. Many ryokan open their baths not only to staying guests but also to daytime visitors.

Be sure to visit such historic attractions as Hakone Checkpoint or the stone-paved avenues of Kyukaido (old road).

You will also have time to stop briefly to admire the verdant natural beauty of at the desolate Owaku-dani volcanic valley, a reminder that Japan is a chain of volcanic islands. Here you will find boiling mud pots & vents spewing sulfurous steam. Be sure to try the "black" eggs that have been boiled in the natural hot mineral water.

In time, transfer back to Hakone Yumoto Station for your journey to Tokyo.

Arrive in Tokyo & the Tour-guide will take his leave at the Shinjuku Station. You will reach the hotel (on your own).

Balance of the evening at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Overnight.   B

Get up at 02.30 am today to experience one of the most iconic sights in Japan, a must for every visitor.

Meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby & proceed for a 3 hour visit to see the Tsukiji Fish Market.

The Market is the largest wholesale fish & seafood market in the world, handling more than 2,000 tons of marine products & an estimated that 20 % of all of the fish caught in the world on that day. Although the market wasn’t originally intended to be a major tourist attraction when it opened in 1935, Tsukiji now regularly shows up on visitors’ lists of must-see destinations in Tokyo.

Witnessing the dawn fresh tuna auction before the sun rises is the primary draw. If so, it will be on a first-come, first-serve basis & limited to 120 people, admitted in two shifts of 60. Entry typically opens at 05.00 am for the first 20 minute viewing at 05.25 am & the second at 05:50 am. It is best to arrive at least two hours early, as crowds are large & Lines are known to queue up as early as 01.00 am.

However, if you prefer to do your exploring at a more reasonable hour, be aware that by 9.00 am, business will have already started to wind down. You will still see fishmongers filleting the day's catch, but you won't have to dodge so many trucks & trolleys.

The market is comprised of two areas: the public Outer Market, which features shops, sushi & various market stalls; and the Inner Market, where the famous fresh tuna fish auctions are held. Shops in the

If the wholesale market smells too fishy for you, a less pungent alternative is Tsukiji's outer market, a warren of narrow streets packed with stalls selling fresh seafood & other specialty items, such as real wasabi.

Whether you are a sushi connoisseur or just starting to appreciate this popular cuisine, it is a unique experience to stand amidst freshly caught tuna the size of small children & observe how quickly the pieces are snapped up and carted off to be sliced into nigiri & more.

No visit to Tsukiji is complete without a sushi breakfast. There are plenty of sushi counters here, but to find best ones, you need to wend your way to the restaurant area near the wholesale fruit & vegetable market. You can buy bowls & sashimi knives there too.

Return to the hotel / ryokan.

Balance of the day at leisure to explore on your own or perhaps opt for one of the options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Go shopping for that perfect souvenir, visit the Meiji Shrine dedicated to the Japanese emperor of the 19^th century, or wander through the trendy Shibuya or Harajuku districts where you will more than likely see interesting & far-out fashions. In the evening, you can visit the Kabuki-cho entertainment district to see how the Japanese businessmen let off steam.

Overnight.  B 

Meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby at 08.00 am & proceed for a full day excursion to Nikko where the Tosho-gu Shrine is located.

Proceed to the Tokyo Tobu Asakusa Station to board the Nikko Kunugawa Line train for Nikko.

Arrive in Tobu Nikko Station & commence your sightseeing.

All of Nikko's famous shrines & temples are clustered together in the same area & are within walking distance of the Station.

"Nikko is Nippon" is the slogan spread on posters throughout this small town in the mountains. Nikko, which means "sunlight" in Japanese, was founded in the 8^th century by the Buddhist priest Shodo Shonin as a center of Buddhist religious activity & is an extant showcase of the wealth & power of the Tokugawa clan.

And, true to the slogan, Nikko is a plain-looking little mountain settlement north of Tokyo in which nestles a pay-to-view miracle of cultural achievement. Nikko showcases some of Japan's most splendid - even gaudy - high culture in a serene & evocative mountain wilderness, and offers a unique combination of natural quietude & cultural opulence.

A natural sanctuary that enshrines the glories of the Edo period (1603 - 1868), Nikko is one of Japan's major attractions & a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pristine forests of towering cedars enclose a wealth of Shinto shrines & Buddhist temples that blend harmoniously with the topography of the setting & reflect in their artistic splendour the awesome power of the Tokugawa shogunate.

Nikko's main sights are Buddhist temples & Shinto shrines, housed often on the same premises. Set in a 424 hectare (1048 acre) domain, these institutions include between them a total of 103 buildings, 9 of which are classified as National Treasures & 94 as Important Cultural Properties and were registered as UNESCO World Heritage site. Nearby Mt. Nantai had already been an object of veneration for generations & big numbers visit the place for its distinctive mystical atmosphere.

Visit the famous Toshogu, one of the most intricately decorated Shinto shrines in Japan established in 1617 as a lavish mausoleum of the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, the great unifier of Japan & founding ruler of the Tokugawa shogunate. North is the direction from which demons are traditionally said to come, so Ieyasu wished to be enshrined as a god of the nation, protecting it from evil even in death. In accordance with Ieyasu's wishes, a small shrine was built in 1617 by the second Tokugawa Shogun, Hidetada as "a simple shrine," to enshrine Ieyasu Tokugawa. However, Ieyasu's grandson Iemitsu Tokugawa had the shrine rebuilt in 1636 into the opulent masterpiece it is today: a monument not only to Ieyasu, but to the wealth & power of the Tokugawa family. This shogunate was the last feudal military government in Japan & it lasted from 1603 to 1868 and the leaders from Tokugawa clan were all called Shoguns.

454,000 workmen & artisans labored for a year & five months, night & day, to complete Toshogu. Since then, Nikko has owed its fame to this shrine. One of the most elaborate monuments in Japan, no expense was spared in this shrine's construction.

The first structure of note after passing under Toshogu's stone torii archway is the Go-juu-no-toh the 118 feet Five Storey Pagoda on the left. It has a unique earthquake-resistant feature in the form of a 60cm (2 foot) diameter pole hung internally from its fourth floor. The original Tower dated from 1650 but burned down in 1815. The present Tower is a reconstruction from 1818. The twelve Chinese zodiac signs are carved around the Pagoda's first level. The Omote-mon ('Front Gate') is guarded by fearsome 4m (13 foot) high Deva king guardians at the front, a pair of lions on the other side & festooned with golden elephants. The shrine comprises the gilded Yomeimon Gate, the main sanctuary set in a cedar grove & the tomb itself.

When touring the shrine complex, you will be amazed by countless wooden carvings covered in gold leaf decorating the structures. Outside the main shrine area, you may visit the Nikko Toshogu Museum, which holds a collection of swords, armor & other personal effects belonging to the shrine’s founder. Please note that some of the historic buildings are under renovation until 2024.

The Nikko Edomura, or Edo Wonderland, is a historical theme park that recreates life in Japan during the Edo period, the time when the Toshogu Shrine was built. Park staff wear authentic period costumes, & visitors may rent costumes as well.

You can tour the town’s Edo period architecture, visit wax museums, shop for souvenirs in historical markets, play games at the Ninja Trick Maze & House of Illusion, and view live theatrical shows.

In time, walk back to the Station for the return journey to Tokyo.

The Tour-guide will leave you on arrival at Tokyo Tobu Asakusa or Shinjuku Station & you will find your own way to the hotel.

Balance of the evening is at leisure to explore on your own or to relax (we will be happy to offer suggestions).

Overnight.   B 

Finally, the experience comes to an end & it is time to say "sayonara" (goodbye) to the 'Land of the Rising Sun'. But, we are sure you may want to come back to this enchanting destination & discover some more..

Check-out of the hotel by 12:00 noon (if the departure time is later in the evening, we will request the hotel to allow the use of the hotel facilities & leave the luggage at the Bell Desk if you have the time to walk out). 

In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to Terminal? - Tokyo Narita International Airport for your onward journey. B

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