The itinerary is reference only for planning tours.
June 21, Wed.
LEAVE LOS ANGELES
10:45 am During the busy summer season, we ask that you arrive to the airport 3 hours prior to departure. Check in at Los Angeles International Airport, Tom Bradley Terminal, Japan Airlines ticket counter. Check-in is on an individual basis.
1:45 pm Leave Los Angeles on board Japan Airlines Flight 69, non stop to Osaka/Kansai International Airport. En route, cross the International Date Line, losing one day, which is regained on the return flight. Estimated journey time is 11 hours, 30 minutes. Lunch served about an hour after departure. A light meal is also served about an hour before arriving in Osaka.
Before landing, be sure to have your Disembarkation cards (each person) and Japan Customs form (1 per household), completed and signed.
Kyoto and Nara – Japan’s ancient capitals
June 22, Thu.
Arrive Osaka/Kansai International Airport and on to Kyoto
6:15 pm On arrival follow the crowd to Immigration. Stand in the line for Foreigners – you will need your passport and Disembarkation card. Then you will pick up your checked bags and proceed to Customs. You will need your passport and Japan Customs form. Exit to the Arrival Lobby.
Your guide will greet you in the arrival lobby. He will be holding a small sign with the tour name.
7:35 pm Transfer by Airport Limousine Bus to Kyoto Station Hachijoguchi Bus Stop.
9:18 pm On arrival walk with luggage to your hotel, located in Kyoto Station.
9:20 pm Check-in.
GRANVIA KYOTO HOTEL (3 nights)
June 23, Fri.
Kyoto – Nara – Kyoto (B L)
Breakfast at the hotel. Vouchers will be provided at check-in.
From 6:30 am Western-Japanese breakfast buffet is served on the lobby level (2nd floor) at Le Temps / From 7:00 am set menu Japanese breakfast at Kiccho (M3 floor) / From 7:00 am half buffet at Southern Court (15th floor).
8:45 am Meet in the lobby. Sightseeing this morning will include Kinkaku-ji Temple, “The Golden Pavilion.” The image of the temple richly adorned in gold leaf reflects in the water of Kyokochi, the mirror pond. It is perhaps the most widely recognized image of Kyoto.
Then depart for Nara by rail. On arrival visit Todaiji, “Great Eastern Temple,” one of Japan’s most famous and historically significant temples and a landmark of Nara. Todaiji’s main hall, the Daibutsuden, is the world’s largest wooden building housing one of Japan’s largest bronze statues of Buddha. Along the approach, you may encounter deer from Nara Park.
12:50 pm Depart Todaiji and proceed to restaurant for lunch (included).
2:10 pm Return to Kyoto. On arrival visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, an important Shinto shrine, famous for its thousands of vermilion tori gates, which straddle a network of trains behind its main buildings. The Fushimi Inari is dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Foxes are thought to be Inari’s messengers, resulting in many fox statues across the shrine grounds.
4:20 pm Depart to return to hotel.
4:40 pm Approximate arrival back to your hotel.
5:30 pm Dinner is on your own this evening, so your guide will be in the lobby to provide suggestions on where to eat. The hotel concierge is always helpful as well.
NOTE: Tonight prepare an overnight bag with your necessities for the next day/night. Please try to keep this bag as light as possible as it will be your responsibility to handle and care for this bag You will be asked to put your large suitcase outside your door in the morning and will be shipped ahead to Hiroshima. This is for your convenience while traveling by train from Kyoto to Hiroshima.
June 24, Sat.
Kyoto (B D)
Breakfast in the hotel.
7:00 am Place your big bag outside your door for pick-up by the hotel porters. This bag will be shipped to Hiroshima.
Full day at leisure to explore this exciting city independently. Optional tours will be available, but there are many things to do in Kyoto on your own
8:30 am Your guide will be in the lobby to offer suggestions for the day.
6:20 pm Meet in the lobby of the hotel and proceed to Morita-ya, conveniently located in Kyoto Station.
6:30 pm Enjoy your special shab-shab dinner.
Sightseeing in Hiroshima
June 25, Sun.
Kyoto – Hiroshima (B L)
Breakfast in the hotel. Please check out, paying any incidental charges and turning in your key.
9:00 am Meet in the lobby with your carry-on bag. Walk a short distance to the train platform.
9:27 am Board the fast “bullet” train Nozomi
11:08 am On arrival to Hiroshima Station, transfer to the hotel by taxis.
11:30 am Arrive at the Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima.
11:40 am Enjoy a buffet lunch at the hotel coffee shop, Luore.
12:30 pm Depart for sightseeing by foot (12 minute walk), to the Peace Memorial Park and Museum. The memorial park is dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to suffer a nuclear attack, and to the memories of the bomb’s direct and indirect victims (of whom there may have been as many as 140,000).
3:00 pm Return to the hotel for check-in.
Miyajima with a shrine floating on the sea
RIHGA ROYAL HOTEL HIROSHIMA (2 nights)
5:30 pm Your guide will be in the lobby to give assistance for dining options.
June 26, Mon.
Hiroshima – Miyajima – Hiroshima (B L)
Breakfast at the hotel. Vouchers will be provided on arrival.
From 6:30 am Buffet breakfast at Luore (1st floor). Japanese breakfast (set menu) from 7:00 am at Restaurant Naniwa (6th Floor).
9:00 am Depart hotel and travel by street car for beautiful Miyajima, one of the three most beautiful sites of Japan. In Miyajima, you will visit the colorful Itsukushima Shrine, a registered World Heritage Site. A local specialty, “okonomiyaki” lunch is included today at restaurant. After lunch, time will be given in Miyajima, to browse the many souvenir shops, before returning to Hiroshima.
3:10 pm Visit Hiroshima Castle built in 1598, it is also known as the Carp Castle, and was the home of the feudal lord of the Hiroshima clan. Destroyed by the atomic bomb, the castle was only rebuilt in 1958 and now serves as a museum of Hiroshima’s history prior to the war.
Return to the hotel and dinner on your own.
5:30 pm Your guide will be in the lobby to provide dining options.
NOTE: Once again, please prepare an overnight bag with only your necessities for your overnight in Hakone, as your large suitcase will be shipped to your hotel in Tokyo.
June 27, Tue.
Hiroshima – Hakone (B D)
TBA Have your bags ready to be shipped to Tokyo.
Breakfast included at the hotel.
Be sure to check out and pay for any miscellaneous expenses and leave your key at the front desk.
8:00 am Meet in the lobby and leave for Hiroshima Station by taxi.
8:35 am Leave Hiroshima Station for Nagoya by Nozomi #8
10:53 am On arrival to Nagoya Station, you will have about half an hour transit time before boarding the next train. We suggest purchasing a bento to enjoy on the train to Odawara.
11:26 am Leave Nagoya on Hikari
12:35 pm On arrival to Odawara Station, sightseeing will be by jumbo taxi. You will visit Hakone where you will enjoy a relaxing cruise on Lake Ashinoko and weather permitting, an aerial cable car ride to Mt. Komagatake.
4:30 pm Arrive to Tenseien. On arrival you will take off your shoes and leave them in lockers during your stay at the ryokan. Slippers are provided in your room. Enjoy the onsen before dinner.
There will be Japanese yukatas in your room to wear while at the ryokan. You may want to change into them for your dinner.
6:30 pm Enjoy the buffet dinner, together, at Tenseien
TENSEIN (1 night)
Enjoy Tokyo, the capital city of Japan
June 28, Wed.
Hakone – Tokyo (Shinagawa) (B L)
Buffet breakfast included at the hotel.
Be sure to check-out, leaving the keys at the front desk.
9:00 am Meet in the lobby with your hand carry bags. You will leave for Odawara Station.
9:42 am Leave Odawara Station on Kodama
10:09 am On arrival to Tokyo (Shinagawa Station) you will board a jumbo taxi for sightseeing. You will visit the Imperial Palace Plaza, where we see the famed Nijubashi, two bridges that form the entrance to the inner palace grounds. The Imperial Palace is the residence of the Imperial Family and the inner grounds are only open to the public twice a year: February 23, the Emperor’s Birthday and January 2.
11:40 am Lunch at Yamato Teppan Yaki restaurant in Mikasa Kaikan, in Ginza.
After lunch, you will visit Sensoji Temple, also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple, one of the oldest temples in Tokyo. Leading up to the entrance of the temple is the bustling Nakamise shopping arcade, where you will find many small shops and stalls with souvenirs and local specialties.
4:30 pm Check-in at your hotel.
IMPERIAL HOTEL, TOKYO (2 nights)
6:00 pm Meet in the back lobby – same place you arrived to the hotel – where your guide will be waiting to take you on a brief walking tour of the area and show you places to eat.
June 29, Thu.
Tokyo (B D)
Breakfast at the hotel. Vouchers will be provided at check-in.
From 6:00 am Set menu western breakfasts at the Parkside Diner on the Lobby Level; from 7:00-9:30 am Japanese & western buffet at Imperial Viking Sal on the 17th floor; from 7:00
9:30 am Set menu Japanese breakfast at the Tokyo Nadaman on the lower level, or Room service for a set American breakfast.
All day free for independent activities.
8:30 am Your guide will be in the back lobby to provide suggestions for the day.
Day tours are also available. The Concierge Desk in the lobby are always helpful, as well.
7:00 pm Your farewell dinner is planned at the Parkside Diner (1st floor) in the hotel.
June 30, Fri.
Tour ends (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. All 7 of our tour members will be extending their stay in Tokyo for 2 nights.
July 1, Sat.
Tokyo
On your own.
You have your Airport Limousine vouchers, but must make your reservation with the front desk or bell captain for your transfer on July 2. Let them know of your flight details. We recommend arrival 2-1/2 to 3 hours prior to your departure. Then you will have time to grab a bite to eat and do some last minute shopping before departure; unrushed.
July 2, Sun.
HOMEWARD BOUND
12:00 noon Please check out of your hotel room, paying any incidental charges and returning your room key to the front desk.
Suggested time line:
12:45 pm Be in the Front Lobby for the Airport Limousine Bus.
1:00 pm Regularly scheduled Airport Limousine Bus will transfer you to the Tokyo/Narita Airport
2:35 pm Estimated arrival to Narita Airport/Terminal 2, where you will disembark.
Check in for your flight on your own. Before you go through security, you may want to grab a bite to eat and do some last minute shopping.
Head for security check at least 45 minutes prior to departure and you should be at your gate at least 30 minutes prior to departure.
5:25 pm Leave on Japan Airlines Flt. 62. Estimated journey time is 10 hours, 15 minutes. Dinner will be served about an hour after departure. A light meal is also served about an hour before arriving in Los Angeles.
You will re-cross the International Date Line, returning home the same day.
11:40 am Arrive Los Angeles International Airport.
Follow the crowd to Immigration. There are automated kiosks that scan your passports and you will have to answer questions. A receipt will confirm the process. Proceed to baggage claim. WELCOME HOME!
NOTE: Times shown may change without notice. Itinerary changes may be made for unforeseen circumstances or traffic conditions. Your guide may make changes when necessary for a smooth operation of the tour.
If you have any questions or inquiries, please feel free to contact us by the website form.
