Japan: the Country of the Rising Sun

Flight.

Arrival at Narita International Airport. Transfer to the Shinjuku district, about 1 hour’s drive away. Take the afternoon to relax and settle into your accommodation. Overnight at the Keio Plaza Hotel or similar.

The day begins with a tour of Asakusa, the district that has best preserved the architectural heritage of the Edo period, and a visit to Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, Senso-ji. You’ll then head to Ginza to admire the modern architecture of its many luxury stores. Afterwards, you’ll visit Japan’s largest Shinto shrine, Meiji-jinju, a true oasis of peace in the middle of the city.

Start your day with a 20-minute walk through the Shinjuku district to the Government Metropolitan Building observatory. This observatory is located on the 45th floor and offers a magnificent view of the city.

Spend the day in the Ueno district to start with, then Akihabara to play in one of its multi-storey arcades or drink tea in one of its themed cafés.

You’ll be strolling down one of Tokyo’s most crowded and surprising streets: Takeshita Street. Keep your eyes peeled for some rather unusual looks. Then, if you feel like it, take a stroll through the small Golden Gai district. This pedestrian area with its narrow streets is a fragment of old Tokyo that has miraculously survived urban development. You can visit one of its tiny bars or return to the hotel next door.

You’ll leave Tokyo by train for Hiroshima, but make a stopover in Himeji to visit its famous feudal castle. One of only a dozen wooden castles in Japan, built in 1609, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. You will then continue by train to Hiroshima, arriving at the end of the day.

This day is devoted to a visit to Miyajima Island, which is less than an hour from Hiroshima by train and is said to be one of the three most beautiful places to visit in Japan. You can visit the Itsukushima shrine with its floating torii and the five-storey pagoda. You’ll then have the afternoon free to climb Mount Misen, either on foot or by cable car. There are also many other temples, museums and gardens to see on the island. Departure from the island around 4:30 pm.

In the morning, you’ll visit the Peace Memorial Museum with an audio guide in French. Then stroll through the memorial park to discover, among other things, the Genbaku dome, the closest building to the hypocenter that resisted the atomic bomb. You’ll then visit the Imperial Palace with its gardens and pagoda. Depart for Kyoto in the late afternoon by train.

You’ll visit Kyoto’s main temples, starting with the Fushimi-inari and its thousands of toriis forming a path in the mountain. Then, after tasting Japanese street food, you’ll head for the Sanjusangen-do temple to discover its great hall of 1001 statues of Buddhist deities. Then stroll through the Higashiyama district to Kenninji Zen Temple. You may even catch a glimpse of the real geishas still present in Kyoto.

Spend the day in the Arashiyama district. You’ll take a stroll through the famous giant bamboo forest before visiting the Iwatayama Monkey Park. Afterwards, you can stroll at your own pace to enjoy cafés, stores and visit other temples. You’ll leave Arashiyama in the late afternoon.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Return to Tokyo airport in the morning. Return to Montreal.