Authentic Japan

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 Citadines Central Shinjuku Tokyo or similar.

The day begins with a visit to Asakusa, the district that has best preserved the architectural heritage of the Edo period. Visit Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, Senso-ji. Then head to Ginza to admire the modern architecture of its many luxury stores. Then visit Japan’s largest Shinto shrine, Meiji-jinju, a peaceful oasis 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.

Take the morning train from Tokyo station to Takayama. Takayama is a well-preserved town surrounded by a mountainous landscape. Spend the evening exploring the old town at your own pace.

In the morning, you’ll visit the Hida Folk Village, a reproduction of an Edo-era farming village with steep thatched roofs. Learn about the traditional way of life. Afternoon at leisure. Explore the city on foot or by sightseeing bus. Many historic sites and museums to visit: Sanmachi Suji old quarter, Takayama jinya, Kusakabe and Yoshijuma Heritage House, Takayama Museum of History and Art, Sakurayama Hachimangu temple, Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall, etc.

Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Imperial Castle, Higashi Chaya geisha district, Shima teahouse and Ninja temple (Myoryuji).

Shima tea house, Higashi Chaya, Utatsuyama park and observatory and Utatsuyama temple area.

You’ll leave Kanazawa by train for Hiroshima in the morning, but make a stopover in Himeji to visit its famous feudal castle. One of only twelve wooden castles in Japan, it was 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.

Visit the famous Golden Pavilion and its garden.

Visit Okunoin temple, mausoleum of Kobo Daishi, founder of the Shingon Buddhist sect, and Kongobuji temple, headquarters of the Shingon Buddhist sect.

Visit the Danjo Garan complex, then head for Osaka to see the Umeda Sky Building.

Visit Osaka Castle and the Dotonbori district.

Visit to the Osaka Aquarium, then on to Tokyo.

Transfer to the airport. Return to Montreal.