Tokyo/Mt. Fuji/Hakone/Kyoto
In the morning, your English-speaking guide will pick you up at your hotel. Today, we will take an excursion to Mt. Fuji and Hakone! Mt. Fuji’s exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan, and it is the highest mountain in Japan at 3776m.  The first stop will be the Fuji Visitor Center, which gives you comprehensive information on Mt. Fuji including geographic features, distribution of plants & animals, the history of Mt. Fuji & its 5 lakes and a variety of art works associated to Mt. Fuji.  You will then reach to Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station, located at an altitude of 2305 m and is the highest accessible point by vehicle.  After eating Japanese style lunch with your a group, you will take an exciting cruise on beautiful Lake Ashi, formed in the caldera of Mount Hakone after the volcano's last eruption 3000 years ago. If the weather condition is good enough, you will get a clear view of Mr. Fuji. Late afternoon, we will ride a cable car up to Mt. Komagatake, commanding a view of Mt. Fuji, Lake Ashi, Mt. Futago and mountains of the distant Izu Peninsula. From Odawara Station, you will take Kodama, bullet train at the highest speed exceeding 300km/h to Kyoto station, and you will stay in Kyoto, Japanese old capital with numerous heritage sites…….. [L]

Kyoto/Nara/Kyoto
Monuments of ancient Kyoto are under UNESCO world heritage sites. In the morning, you will take an exciting tour to some of those UNESCO architectures including Nijo Castle, Golden Pavilion and Kyoto Imperial Palace. Nijo Castle was built by Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, a leader of united Japan, as his residence in Kyoto. Built as a power base of Shogun Ieyasu, the castle was completed in 1603 with the huge walls, moats, beautiful
gardens and towers exude military might.  Golden Pavilion, known as Kinkakuji, was built as a new residence for a retired shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimits in Muromachi Era (in 1336-1573).  After his death in 1408, it converted into Zen Temple.  Kyoto Imperial Palace, also known as Kyoto Gosho, used to be the residence of Japan's Imperial Family until 1868, when the emperor and capital were moved from Kyoto to Tokyo, called Edo at that time. It is located in the spacious Kyoto Imperial Park in the center of Kyoto city. After lunch, you will move to Nara, a fascinating old city as well. Todaiji is one of the most famous and significant temples constructed in 752 in Japan, and the landmark of Nara. Not only is this temple housing Japan’s largest Buddha stature, but it is also the world’s largest wooden building, even though only the two thirds of the original size was remained at the time of reconstruction in 1692. You will enjoy the encountering tamed wild deer in Nara Park where accommodate Todaiji. Kasuga Shrine, the Shinto Shrine in the city, will be the last stop for the day. It is located in a forest and welcomes tourists with tranquility and sanctity feeling. The interior is famous for many bronze lanterns, as well as the many stone lanterns that lead up the shrine. [L]

Kyoto/Koyasan
In the morning, you will move to Mt. Koya (Koyasan in Japanese). Koyasan is home to an active monastic center founded about 1200 years ago by the priest Kûkai (posthumously known as Kobo Daishi) for the study and practice of Esoteric Buddhism. It is the headquarters of the Kôyasan sect of Shingon Buddhism, a faith with a wide following throughout Japan. On July 7, 2004, UNESCO named Koyasan as part of the “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range” to its World Heritage List.  Among those sacred temples and buildings, you will visit  Daimon, the main gate to the town of Koyasan,  and Danjo-Garan, one of the most important place in Koyasan. The guardian of the temple is almost 25 m tall and stares down at you with a frightening face as you pass. In the Danjo Garan Temple, with its huge 50 m tower, the esoteric world of Shingon Buddhism as imagined by Kukai is expressed in three dimensions. And from April 4th to Oct 31th, you will also enjoy the present walking tour in Kumano, Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range, World Heritage.  Tonight, you will experience to stay at Shukubo, “Renge – join”, a logging in Buddhist temple. It originally began in the Heian period (794-1192) as a lodging for worshippers to temples. Nowadays, it welcomes visitors with peaceful ad sacred atomosphere, and you will enjoy Japanese tasty vegitarian dinner with other guests from around world.

Koyasan/Kyoto                                                                                         
After Japanese style breakfast, you will leave the Shukubo “Renge – Join” to Okuno-in. Okuno-in  is the heart of Koyasan, with its many famous gravesites. In the Takugawa River, which flows through the cemetery, visitors can see wooden talismans specially placed there by the devout. Then you will have Japanese style lunch, and move to Kongobuji in Koyasan, the head temple of the Buddhist Shingon sect which was introduced to Japan by Kobo Daishi in the year 805. This temple is famous for its tranquility rock garden and sliding doors, which were painted by members of the Kano school. Now, you will be heading back to your hotel in Kyoto after spiritual visiting in Koyasan.

Kyoto/Tokyo                                                                                         
Until departure to Tokyo, you will enjoy free time at leisure in Kyoto. There are so many places to look around and so many shops to buy great souvenirs in Kyoto!!! Options are countless… In the early evening, you will be picked up at your hotel to Kyoto station where you will take Shinkansen to Tokyo.

Price per person in Canadian dollars, minimum 2 passengers traveling together Hotel upgrade is available upon request

Includes:

• 4 nights accommodation based on double occupancy
  • Karasume Kyoto in Kyoto
  • Shukubo "Renge-join" in Koyasan
• Hotel taxes
• Sightseeing tours with all transfers and all sightseeing admission fee
• Breakfast on Day 4, Lunch on Day 1 to Day 4 and Dinner on Day 3
• Peofessional English speaking tour guide or assistant service from Day 1 to Day 5 (except during onboard Shinkansen)

Excludes:

• International airfare and related taxes
• Lunch and Dinner if they are not specified
• Baggage haddling
• Gratuities to driver and guide
• Travel insurance
• Price subject to change due to currency fluctuation and factors that beyond our control