Tokyo and Beyond Tour

Tokyo (Edo during the time of the Samurai), in the Kanto Region of Japan, was the center of power for the Shogun's government during the Edo Period. Despite Tokyo's non-stop, super-modern feel, its traditions can still be seen tucked away between the skyscrapers and amongst the people. The Tokyo and Beyond Tour will show you not only the modern capital of Japan, but the parts of it that represent old Japan and Edo culture.

Destinations:
Tokyo - Modern Japan with hidden gems of the past
Kawagoe - Traditional Edo and the charms of the past
Nikko - Sacred forests and mountains where Ieyasu Tokugawa (the first Shogun) in enshrined
Hakone - Rejuvinate in the hot springs used but the Shoguns and their samurai.

Our Tokyo and Beyond Tour is a 7 day self-guided tour that will give you a chance to see Tokyo and visit the playgrounds of the Shogunates as well as modern Tokyo. Since this is a self-guided tour you will not have to worry about visiting places you have no interest in or at pace that is not right for you.

The price is US$ 2,750 per person, including all transportation between destinations, accommodations, 6 breakfasts and 3 evening meals. This tour can also be combined with a tour of Kyoto, Nara or other famous sights in the Kanto Area, as it starts and ends in Tokyo.

I hope the above has peaked your interest in this tour. If you have any questions or wish to sign up for a tour please Contact Us.

Day 1 – Tokyo - Western Style Hotel - Western Style Room
- Arrive at Narita International Airport
- Travel to Tokyo using a limited express train
- Stay in a city center hotel

After arriving in your hotel, you are can roam around the exciting Shinjuku skyscraper district, where your hotel will be located.

Day 2 – Tokyo- Western Style Hotel - Western Style Room
- Rikugien Japanese Landscape Garden
- Meiji Imperial Shrine
- Ginza District

You will start off your day with a visit to enjoy the beauty of Rikugien, an 18th century landscape garden and arguably the most beautiful Japanese garden in Tokyo. Next you will visit to the Meiji Imperial Shrine, where you can relax in the forested setting and enjoy the traditional Shinto architecture of this oasis nestled within the world's busiest modern metropolis. Finally, you will end your day in Ginza, the upscale downtown district with huge department stores, fancy restaurants, the national Kabuki (traditional form of drama) Theatre, the Sony Building where you can look at the company's newest cutting-edge gadgets, and more.

Day 3 – Kawagoe and Asakusa (Tokyo) - Ryokan Lodging - Japanese Style Room
- Travel to Kawagoe
- Kita-In Temple
- Kurazukuri Street (historic Edo period buildings)
- Kashiya Yokocho (Candy Alley)
- Asakusa and Sensoji Temple (in Tokyo)

Today you will take a short trip to Kawagoe, a small town just to the north of Tokyo. Kita-In Temple was destroyed in a fire in 1638, and the Shogun in Edo (now Tokyo) donated some structures from his castle to help rebuild it - these can still be seen today and are the only remaining parts of the castle in Edo. Kurazukuri street shows off Kawagoe's past as an important commercial hub, and its huge, fireproof warehouses for storing rice have been preserved here in order to give a glimpse into the past. Finally, Kashiya Yokocho, or "Candy Alley," is a quaint part of town in which you can buy traditional Japanese sweets of all varieties, including specialty treats of Kawagoe like Karinto (deep-fried cookies) and snacks made from sweet potatoes. After exploring Kawagoe, you will return to Tokyo and check-in at your ryokan in Asakusa, the part of Tokyo known for its traditional, old Japan feel. While there, you will visit the nearby Sensoji Temple, the most popular temple in Tokyo that embodies the true feel of Edo and old Japan. There are a number of unique goods and handmade foods sold on the shopping arcade leading up to the main gate of Sensoji.

Day 4 – Nikko - Ryokan Lodging - Japanese Style Room
- Toshogu Shrine
- Rinnoji Temple
- Overnight in a Ryokan

Upon arriving in the small mountain town of Nikko, you will go to Toshogu shrine, its most famous sight. This lavishly decorated Shinto Shrine, one of the most well-known in Japan, is also the mausoleum to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the most famous Shogun in Japanese history. In addition, there are a number of famous wood carvings at Toshogu, including the three monkeys embodying the phrase, "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil." You will also see Rinnoji Temple, which was founded by Shodo Shonin, who introduced Buddhism to Nikko in the 8th century. At the end of the day, you will stay the night and dine at a Japanese style ryokan.

Day 5 – Nikko and Tokyo - Western Style Hotel - Western Style Room
- Kegon no Taki (Kegon Falls)
- Futarasan Shrine
- Return to Tokyo and Explore Its Modern Sights

The first stop today will be the picturesque Kegon Falls, located in Lake Chuzenji. This waterfall is 97 meters high and one of the tallest in Japan. This will be followed by a visit to Futarasan Shrine, founded in 767 by Shodo Shonin in (the same monk who founded Rinnoji): this shrine is dedicated to three mountain deities and houses two swords that are national treasures. After returning to Tokyo, you will have the chance to explore freely and see some of the modern sights of the city. Destination suggestions within the city include: the Shiodome District (breathtaking skyscrapers and a reconstruction of the old Shinbashi train station), Akihabara (the flashy and famous electronic goods district), Odaiba (a futuristic island entertainment district in the bay), or Shibuya (a trendy shopping and entertainment district south of Shinjuku). You can also use your rail pass to visit nearby cities such as Yokohama.

Day 6 – Hakone - Ryokan Lodging - Japanese Style Room
- Travel to Hakone
- Old Tokaido Highway
- Tozan Mountain Railway
- Lake Ashinoko
- Overnight in a Hot Spring Ryokan

You will be going to one of the finest hot spring resorts in Japan, Hakone, today. This area has been popular as a hot spring resort for hundreds of years, and its natural beauty and abundance of hot spring baths make it an ideal spot to relax after spending time in the capital, just as feudal lords did hundreds of years ago. While in Hakone, you will have the chance to walk parts of the old Tokaido highway which connected Edo (Tokyo) with Kyoto in times past, ride the scenic Tozan Railway through the mountains, and visit the breathtaking Lake Ashinoko. Additional, you will be staying overnight at a ryokan with hot spring baths and delicious food.

Day 7 – Hakone - Tour Ends
- Return to Tokyo and then home

Today is the last day of the tour. You can either return to Tokyo and continue on to Narita International Airport to catch your homeward flight, or else continue on to other destinations you plan to visit.

Note: If you want to visit other destinations in Japan, you will in a good position to do so, as Tokyo is the main hub for most Shinkansen ("bullet trains") in Japan. Although the JR Rail Pass is included in the tour price, it is only a 1 week pass, but if you pay the additional cost we can purchase a 2 week pass so you can continue sightseeing in Japan once the tour is over. If you are interested in this option, we recommend you take the tour first and do other sightseeing afterwards. The Kyoto area is highly recommended for any first-time visitor to Japan, and is easily accessible by Shinkansen from Tokyo.