Garden Tour (12 days)
Traditional and historical Japanese gardens are best sites to see Japanese aesthetics. Both artistic landscape gardens with seasonal plants and dry landscape gardens at Zen temples help you get relaxed for meditation. Enjoy visiting various styled gardens in Kyoto and other historical cities, and experiencing traditional Japanese spirits which are represented in plants, rocks, and total design. Some exclusive sites can be included in your privately guided tours.
For more information about Japanese gardens, please click here.
Sample Itinerary Overview
Day 1 Arrive at Kyoto
Arrive at Kansai International Airport and transfer to Kyoto. Stay at a deluxe hotel for three nights. Explore the traditional town Kyoto at your leisure.
Day 2 Kyoto
Privately guided tour of Kyoto. Explore famous gardens in major temples such as the rock garden in Ryoanji Temple or the promenade garden in the Golden Pavilion. Exclusive sites such as Katsura-rikyu and Saihoji (moss temple) can be arranged. A visit to a Bonsai farm is also possible.
Day 3 Kyoto
At your leisure. Full-course Japanese kaiseki dinner with geisha performance can be arranged.
Day 4 Nara
Privately guided tour of Nara. Visit Nara Park, The Great Buddha, Kasuga Shrine, and a promenade garden at Isuien. Stay at a deluxe ryokan in Nara Park for two nights.
Day 5 Nara
At your leisure. Recommendations can be made.
Transfer by train to Koyasan, a sacred mountain and pilgrimage site of Buddhism. Stay at a monastery with a Zen garden for one night.
Transfer by train to Himeji. Visit Himeji Castle which was built in the early 17th century and has kept its original design at the time of construction. Then, visit Koko-en, a beautiful garden constructed in 1992 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Himeji city. You can see the castle from the garden. Stay at a standard hotel for one night.
Transfer by train to Hiroshima. Stay at a standard hotel for one night. Afternoon at your leisure.
Day 9 Miyajima
Privately guided tour to Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima. Stay at a deluxe ryokan across Miyajima with a lar ge garden overlooking the ocean.
Transfer by train to Matsue. Stay for two nights at a lake side deluxe ryokan with a Karesansui-style garden. The pine trees in the garden are over 200 years old.
Privately guided tour of Matsue & Izumo with a private car. Enjoy an exclusive back garden tour of Adachi Museum of Art. The garden was #1 ranked in "Journal of Japanese Gardening" magazine. Visit Izumo Shrine, one of the most powerful shrine in Japan.
Day 12 Transfer to Kansai International Airport
Note:
- This plan includes visits to various regions. Thus, trip plan involves considerable amount of walking and a number of train transfers on your own. If requested, it is possible to include more days of privately guided tours or private cars.
- The tour price will differ according to many factors such as the rank of accommodation (e.g. 5-star hotel, 3-star ryokan), way of transportation (e.g. train, private car), number of days with a private guide, duration of your tour, or season. Please contact us. One of our tour consultants will come up with an ideal plan and cost for you.
Contact Us
For more information, or to start customizing your own itinerary, please contact us.
Michi Travel Japan
Tel: 81-3-5213-5040
E-mail: commentsmtj@michitravel.com
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