The itinerary is reference only for planning tours.
May 4, Wed. LEAVE LOS ANGELES
We will board ournon stop All Nippon flight to Tokyo/Narita. En route we will cross the International Date Line.
Historically important places of samurai – Nagoya and Sekigahara in Japan
May 5, Thu. TOKYO/NARITA – NAGOYA
Upon arrival and after entry procedures we will take a domestic flight to Nagoya.
May 6, Fri. NAGOYA
This morning our tour will include Nagoya Castle, built by Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa, the castle is the symbol of the city and home castle to the Owari Tokugawa family; and the Tokugawa Art Museum which features treasures from the Tokugawa family and the Edo period, including the well-known Picture Scroll of the Tale of Genji, which is a National Treasure. (B D)
May 7, Sat. NAGOYA – SEKIGAHARA – TAKAYAMA
Today we will travel by motorcoach to Sekigahara where we will visit the site of the Battle of Sekigahara (Sep. 15, 1600). We will also visit the Folk History Museum which charts the course of events of the Battle and then to the Field Camp Ground where a shrine marks the spot where Ieyasu Tokugawa held a council meeting after the end of the Battle. Then continue to Takayama, a castle town that has retained that feeling with its history-filled streets. (B D)
May 8, Sun. TAKAYAMA
Our sightseeing today will include the picturesque Hida Folk Village (Hida-no-Sato) which contains traditional farmhouses and buildings, like the steep thatched-roof structures, distinctive of this area; Festival Floats Exhibition Hall (Takayama Yatai Kaikan) which houses the large, colorful floats used during their Spring and Autumn festivals; and Sanno-Machi Street (San-machi Suji) where many traditional houses and stores are located to provide the feeling of the samurai society. (B)
Kyoto trip
May 9, Mon. TAKAYAMA – KYOTO
We will travel by train to Kyoto. On arrival we will visit Toei Movie Land, the largest studio where period dramas are filmed and where we will enjoy a Swordsmanship Workshop.
May 9, Mon. KYOTO (Continued)
This evening we will enjoy walking in the Gion area. Gion is Kyoto‘s most famous geisha district. To experience the traditional Gion, we will stroll along Hanami-koji, a street lined by beautiful old buildings, teahouses and restaurants. We may be able to spot a geisha apprentice. (B)
May 10, Tue. KYOTO
Today we will visit Nijo Castle, designated as a National Treasure, it was the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Then we will visit Myoshinji Temple, a Rinzai school zen temple where we will have a vegetarian lunch. Afterwards we continue to Sumiya Motenashi Museum of Art & Culture, located in an ageya in what was once the entertainment district of old Kyoto. An ageya was an elegant restaurant where banquets and parties were held accompanied by the entertainment of geisha, who performed tea ceremonies, sang and danced. (B L)
Visit to Kumamoto in Kyushu island related to Miyamoto Musazhi
May 11, Wed. KYOTO – KUMAMOTO
We will board the bullet train (shinkansen) for Kumamoto on Kyushu Island. On arrival we will visit the impressive Kumamoto Castle, built between 1601-1607, it is listed as one of the three most famous castles in Japan. (B)
May 12, Thu. KUMAMOTO
Today we will visit Reigan-Do cave, where Miyamoto Musashi wrote the Book of Five Rings (Gorin no sho); Shimada Museum of Art to view the paintings and calligraphic works of Miyamoto Musashi and to Musashizuka Park to view his gravesite and statue. This evening we will enjoy our farewell dinner. (B D)
May 13, Fri. HOMEWARD BOUND
This morning we will travel by motorcoach to Fukuoka where we will take a short flight to Narita. From Narita we will board our non stop All Nippon flight to Los Angeles, recrossing the International Date Line returning home the same day. (B)
NOTE: Itinerary is subject to change without notice.
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