Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 - Flight to Tokyo
Board your flight from the Boston to Tokyo, Japan!

Day 2 - Tokyo
Arrive in Tokyo. Meet your local Travel Director at the airport and transfer to your centrally located hotel. Start exploring the city during an orientation walk before your group welcome dinner.

Day 3 - Tokyo
Today, take a city tour of Tokyo, including the popular western districts starting at the Meiji Shrine, one of Tokyo's most revered religious sites. This afternoon, participate in a traditional Taiko Drum Experience, which are played during arts and music festivals in Japan. Under the guidance of a local instructor, you’ll learn to play a traditional song in taiko style and discover the rich history of drumming in Japan. Later,, travel to Harajuku, the very popular shopping and entertainment areas and centers of Japan's youth culture and fashion.

Day 4 - Tokyo
Today, visit the Imperial Palace and it’s East Gardens. The current Imperial Palace is located on the former site of Edo Castle, a large park that is surrounded by moats and massive stone walls in the center of Tokyo. It is the residence of Japan's Imperial Family. Later, visit the famous Tsukiji Outer Fish Market. After lunch, start your anime and gaming adventure with a walking tour to Akihabara, a district in central Tokyo that is famous for its many electronics shops and for being the center of Japan's otaku culture.

Day 5 - Kyoto
Today, travel to Kyoto by Bullet Train. After arriving into Kyoto, take a city tour, and visit some of the city's most popular temples and shrines. Later, walk to Gion, the most famous geisha district, to visit the high concentration of traditional wooden machiya merchant houses.

Day 6 - Kyoto
This morning visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace, which used to be the residence of Japan's Imperial Family until 1868, when the emperor and capital were moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. Next, explore the Nijo Castle , which was built in1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period. Later, visit Fushimi Inari Shrine in southern Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings.

Day 7 - Kyoto
Take a day trip out to Nara, Japan's first permanent capital, which was established in the year 710 at Heijo, the city now known as Nara. Due to its historical importance, the city remains full of cultural treasures, including some of Japan's oldest and largest temple. Return to Kyoto for the evening.

Day 8 - Kyoto
Today, visit Nanzenji Temple and Ginkakuji, whose spacious grounds are located at the base of Kyoto's Higashiyama mountains, are two of the most important Zen temples in all of Japan. Later, visit Shijo-dori, a fabulous street that runs East to West through the heart of the city. This street has everything, from high-end shopping to restaurants to stores selling traditional Japanese handcrafted products. Then continue on to Nishiki Market, a colorful narrow food market street known as "Kyoto's Kitchen.”

Day 9 - Kyoto
Take a day trip to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and A-Bomb Dome. Consisting of two buildings, the museum surveys the history of Hiroshima and the advent of the nuclear bomb. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the A-Bomb Dome, is a tangible link to Hiroshima's unique past. Later, visit Miyajima Island, a small island less than an hour outside the city of Hiroshima. It is most famous for its giant torii gate, which at high tide seems to float on the water. This evening, return to Kyoto

Day 10 - Osaka
This morning travel from Kyoto to Osaka. This afternoon, take a city tour of Osaka, and explore Dotonbori & Shinsaibashi Area, which is the liveliest and most colorful area of Osaka!

Day 11 - Osaka
Start you day with a traditional tea ceremony! Later, visit Osaka Castle, which played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century of the Azuchi- Momoyama period, and is one of Japan’s most famous landmarks. Tonight, join your farewell dinner!

Day 12 - Departure Day
Transfer to Osaka airport for your return trip home.