EXPLORING JAPAN: FROM TOKYO TO OSAKA

Arrival at Narita or Haneda International Airport.

NARITA (NRT): After completing immigration and customs procedures, you will be greeted by a Spanish-speaking assistant, who will help you take the Airport Limousine Bus (a regular shared service) to your hotel. The assistant will not board the bus or accompany passengers to the hotel. Depending on the arrival time of the flight, there may not be a direct Airport Limousine Bus service to the hotel. In this case, you will need to take a bus to Tokyo Station, where you will then take a taxi (the assistant will provide the necessary money for the taxi). If the Airport Limousine Bus service is unavailable, an alternative transfer (train + taxi or other transportation means) will be provided.

HANEDA (HND): After passing through immigration and customs, a Spanish-speaking assistant will greet. Taxi transfer to the hotel. The assistant will not accompany passengers in the taxi or escort them to the hotel. Please note that you will not be able to access your room until the check-in time (3:00 p.m.).

Note: On the first day of the program, a guide will be available at the hotel from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to provide information to passengers. (Tuesday or Friday)

At 8:20 a.m., we will meet in the lobby to begin a group tour in Tokyo with a Spanish-speaking guide. The tour will start at the Meiji Shrine, dedicated to the former Emperor Meiji (Mutsuhito); then, it will continue to the Imperial Palace Plaza (without access to the palace grounds), and finally, the Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise Street, famous for its souvenir shops. The tour will conclude around 1:00 p.m. in Ginza, and the afternoon will be free. Return to the hotel is on your own. (The guide will explain to the guests how to get back to the hotel.) Optional excursion available for an additional cost:“TEA CEREMONY” IN ASAKUSA At 12:45 p.m., after finishing the visit to Senso-ji Temple and the walk along Nakamise shopping street in Asakusa, participants will meet with a Spanish-speaking assistant. The meeting point will be indicated beforehand by the guide during the tour. From there, participants will walk to the location where the tea ceremony will take place. At 1:00 p.m., this traditional cultural experience will begin.



Notes:

• Participants in this optional excursion will not join the group in the bus to Ginza.
• It is necessary to wear socks to participate in the tea ceremony.
• The optional excursion will not be available on the August 1st departure, nor between November 18th and February 24th.
• If the group has fewer than 10 people, the visit will be conducted using public transportation. However, if there are 10 or more passengers, a private bus will be provided for the tour.

At 7:50 a.m., we will meet in the hotel lobby to begin our full-day excursion to Hakone, accompanied by a Spanish-speaking guide. Our first destination will be Lake Ashi, where we will enjoy a relaxing boat ride. Then, we will head to Owakudani Valley, famous for its hot springs and spectacular views. If the weather permits, we will be able to admire the majestic Mount Fuji both from Lake Ashi and Owakudani Valley. To conclude, we will visit the Hakone Open-Air Museum, a unique fusion of art and nature. Lunch at a restaurant is included. After the visit, we will return to the hotel between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Notes:

In case weather conditions prevent the boat ride due to heavy rain or winds, our alternative will be to visit the Hakone Sekishoato, a reconstruction of a checkpoint on an ancient medieval road.

Due to possible volcanic gas density, we may not be able to access Owakudani Valley. There may also be traffic jams affecting access to the valley, in which case we will visit the Hakone-Jinja Shrine. After the visit, we will return to the hotel between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Lunch at a restaurant is included, and at the end of the day, we will return to the hotel.

At 8:15 a.m., we will meet in the lobby to head to Tokyo Station, accompanied by a Spanish-speaking assistant. At 9:21 a.m., we will board the Nozomi #215 bullet train heading to Kyoto, with an estimated arrival time at 11:32 a.m. at Kyoto Station, where a Spanish-speaking guide will greet us to start our tour. During the tour, we will visit Nara, where we will explore the impressive Todai-ji Temple, home to the famous colossal statue of Buddha, and stroll through Nara Park, known for its many deer. Later, we will head to Kyoto to discover the traditional Gion district, famous for being home to geishas. Finally, around 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., we will arrive at the hotel in Kyoto, where we will check in and rest after a day full of exploration. (Please note that the train schedule is subject to possible changes).

Note:

• There may be changes in the order in which we visit sites in Kyoto. It’s possible that on this day we may visit one of the sites listed for the next day’s itinerary. If that’s the case, we will visit Gion the following day.
• When there are more than 40 passengers on a tour, a private truck is used to transport luggage from the New Otani Hotel to the Kyoto Tokyu Hotel. In this case, the luggage will arrive in Kyoto in the afternoon of the same day. On the other hand, during the low season, when fewer than 40 passengers are traveling, a regular delivery service is used instead of a private truck. In this case, the luggage will arrive at the Kyoto hotel the following day, so it is recommended that passengers bring a small backpack or suitcase with essentials to pass the night.

At 8:20 a.m., we will meet in the lobby to begin our full-day tour of Kyoto, accompanied by a Spanish-speaking guide. During the tour, we will explore some of the city's most iconic landmarks: Sanjusangendo Temple, famous for its thousand statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy; Fushimi Inari Shrine, known for its endless "torii" gates; Kinkaku-Ji Temple, or the Golden Pavilion; Tenryu-Ji Temple, renowned for its exquisite Japanese garden; and the Bamboo Forest of Sagano in Arashiyama. Lunch, which will be at a restaurant, is included. The return to the hotel is scheduled for around 5:30 p.m. Accommodation.

Free day for personal activities, with the option to take an optional excursion to "HIROSHIMA & MIYAJIMA." At 7:30 a.m., we will meet in the hotel lobby with the Spanish-speaking guide, who will accompany us to the Kyoto station. At 8:26 a.m., we will take the Nozomi Bullet Train #3, which will take us directly to Hiroshima, arriving at 10:01 a.m. to begin the tour. If the group is smaller than 10 people, the visit will be conducted using public transportation. However, if there are 10 or more passengers, we will have a private bus for the tour. During the excursion, we will explore the following iconic sites: the Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum, and the Atomic Bomb Dome. At the end of the tour, we will head to the Hiroshima station to take the train back to Kyoto. The departure is scheduled for 5:57 p.m., with an expected arrival in Kyoto at 7:37 p.m. Once at the Kyoto station, passengers will need to make their way to the hotel on their own, either using the hotel shuttle bus or a taxi. Accommodation.

Note: The optional excursion to Hiroshima will not be available on the August 1st and December 23rd departures. This activity must be booked at least one month before traveling to Japan.

At 8:00 a.m., we will meet in the hotel lobby with a Spanish-speaking guide, who will accompany us on a private bus transfer (depending on the number of passengers, it may be a van) to Kanazawa. We estimate arriving in Kanazawa around 12:00 p.m., where we will begin a guided tour of the city. During this tour, we will visit the Omicho Market, a vibrant and lively market famous for selling fish, seafood, vegetables, and other fresh products. We will then continue our visit to the Higashichaya District, one of the most traditional and charming areas of the city, where we can immerse ourselves in the local culture. A stop at Kenrokuen Garden, one of Japan's most iconic and beautiful gardens, will be a highlight, as we are amazed by its landscaping and tranquility. Around 5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., we will transfer to the hotel in Kanazawa to check in. Accommodation.

Note: One suitcase per person will be sent separately by truck from the hotel in Kyoto to the hotel in Osaka. Please bring a backpack with clothes and other essentials for an overnight stay in Kanazawa and another night in Gero.

At 8:15 a.m., we will meet in the lobby to begin our journey to Shirakawago, where we will be accompanied by a Spanish-speaking guide. Upon arrival, we will have the opportunity to admire the iconic Gasshozukuri-style houses, with their characteristic steep roofs that define the traditional architecture of the region. After this visit, we will continue to Takayama, where we will explore the charming Kamisannomachi historical district, known for its souvenir shops and sake breweries. Later, we will visit the Yatai Kaikan, a museum that houses the majestic floats used in the famous Takayama Festival. To conclude the day, around 6:00 p.m., we will transfer to the Ryokan in Gero, where we will check in and settle in.

ENJOY THE ONSEN BATH (HOT SPRINGS)! The ryokan in Gero has hot spring baths. *There is one bath for women only and another for men only. *Traditionally, hotels and ryokans do not allow individuals with visible tattoos to use the hot spring baths, as tattoos are associated with the Yakuza (Japanese mafia).

At 8:15 a.m., we will meet in the lobby with a Spanish-speaking guide, who will accompany the group throughout the tour. From there, we will walk to the Gero station. Around 8:46 a.m., we will depart on the Wideview Hida #4 express train to Nagoya, expected to arrive at 10:34 a.m. Once at Nagoya station, we will take the Nozomi #215 bullet train to Shin-Osaka, with a scheduled departure at 10:50 a.m. and an expected arrival at 11:48 a.m. Upon arrival, we will take a guided tour of Osaka. During the tour, we will have the chance to explore the lively Dotonbori district, famous for its extravagant restaurant facades, such as the giant crab figure, and the majestic Osaka Castle. Finally, at 5:00 p.m., we will transfer to the hotel in Osaka for check-in and accommodation.

The transfer to Kansai Airport (KIX) or Itami Airport (ITM) will be made by the Airport Limousine Bus (without assistance). Bus tickets will be provided at check-out. The bus departs from the terminal located next to the Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka, with destinations to both Kansai Airport (KIX) and Itami Airport (ITM). The estimated travel time to Kansai Airport (KIX) is about 50 minutes, while the trip to Itami Airport (ITM) takes approximately 40 minutes (return flight not included).