A&C Tours Japan

Travel to Osaka by Friday April 11th, 2025.

Arrive at Kansai International Airport (KIX) by own arrangements.

Craig will meet you at the airport (flights arriving between 08:00 and 19:00) and assist you with the transfer to your hotel in central Kyoto.

Once you have checked in to your hotel you will have free time to relax, or enjoy some local sightseeing, shopping, dinner, etc.

Spend the day taking in the sights of this traditional city in the middle of spring. We will visit the historic Nijo Castle, walk through the classical streets of Ponto-cho and Gion (Geisha District), and explore Yasaka Shrine.

Our first stop on our full day tour of Kyoto is Nijo Castle. This historic castle was first constructed in 1603, and was the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867). The castle's buildings are widely considered to be the best surviving examples of castle palace architecture from Japan's feudal era.

Next we will take a stroll through the beautiful streets of Ponto-cho and Gion, Kyoto's world famous Geisha District. If we are lucky we might even get to see a real geisha as we explore the streets of this historic district.

Not far from Gion is Yasaka Shrine, one of Kyoto's most famous Shinto shrines. This shrine is well known for hosting one of Japan's most famous festivals, the Gion Matsuri. This festival is held every year in July, and dates back over a thousand years.
At night we will enjoy a lovely welcome dinner together at a local izakaya (Japanese-style restaurant/bar).

Travel from Kyoto to Gero Onsen by limited express train taking in magnificent springtime views on the way.

Once we arrive in Gero Onsen we will then explore this traditional hot spring town together before settling in for a relaxing stay at a traditional hot spring inn (ryokan).

Gero Onsen is a small hot spring town located along the crystal clear Hida River in Gifu Prefecture. It has been a popular hot spring destination since the 10th century, and has also been recognized as one of Japan's three most famous hot spring towns. At night you will have the unique experience of staying at a traditional ryokan (Japanese style inn). 

Ryokan are not just places to sleep, they are also a great opportunity to experience traditional Japanese culture, lifestyle, and hospitality. Ryokan are popular with both Japanese and foreign guests because they incorporate elements such as tatami floors, sliding paper doors, futon beds, Japanese style baths, and local cuisine. Ryokan have been part of Japanese culture for more than a thousand years. One of the oldest recorded ryokan, Hoshi Ryokan, was founded in 718 A.D.

At night we will enjoy a delicious Japanese dinner at our ryokan. You can even try wearing a traditional yukata (summer kimono) to dinner like the locals do!

Travel from Gero Onsen to Takayama by limited express train taking in magnificent springtime views on the way.
Once we arrive in Takayama we will join the rest of the crowd in enjoying all the excitement of the famous Takayama Festival, one of the biggest festivals in Japan. The Takayama Festival is ranked as one of Japan's three most beautiful festivals alongside Kyoto's Gion Matsuri (mentioned above), and the Chichibu Night Festival (which we visit on our Shades of Autumn Tour). This beautiful festival is held annually on April 14th and 15th, with 12 magnificent festival floats being paraded through the streets displaying their gorgeous appearance for the many eager spectators. Hundreds of people dressed in traditional attire participate in the festival parade itself, walking

around a designated route with performers providing spectators with an unforgettable show.

Enjoy an amazing day trip to the historic villages of Ainokura and Suganuma in the Gokayama region and Ogimachi in the Shirakawa-go region. These three small villages were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1995, and are famous for their traditional "gassho-zukuri" architecture. Some of the buildings in these historic villages are more than 250 years old, and their unique designs and beautiful natural surroundings have made them some of the most photographed buildings in all of Japan. At this time of the year the beautiful cherry blossoms which fill each village are in full bloom, making for the photo opportunity of a lifetime!

Travel from Takayama to Tokyo by limited express train and shinkansen.
Once we arrive in Tokyo we will visit some of this amazing city's most famous and iconic places, including Harajuku, Meiji Shrine, and Shibuya.

Our first stop is Harajuku, the center for Japan's most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles. The focal point of Harajuku is undoubtedly Takeshita Street and its side streets. These streets are lined with trendy shops, fashion boutiques, used clothes stores, crepe stands, and restaurants.

In stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of Harajuku is our next destination, Meiji Shrine, one of Tokyo's most famous Shinto shrines. It was built to enshrine the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife Empress Shoken in 1920. Unlike many other flashy places of worship throughout Asia, Meiji Shrine is a quiet, serene place of worship surrounded by a dense forest of over 120,000 trees. Similar to Central Park in New York City, Meiji Shrine and its surrounding grounds are like a natural oasis in the middle of a concrete jungle. To end our half day tour of Tokyo we will visit perhaps its most popular shopping and entertainment district - Shibuya. Here you will have the chance to cross the world famous Scramble Crossing. This crossing is the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing, with as many as 2500 people crossing at a time.

Enjoy an unforgettable day trip to Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi by private vehicle.

Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi are located about 140 km southwest of Tokyo. Enjoy a relaxing drive taking in beautiful springtime scenery as we go.

Our first stop is the stunning Lake Kawaguchi, the second largest of the Fuji Five Lakes in terms of surface area. You will not only take in amazing springtime views of Mt. Fuji from the lake's northern shores, but also have plenty of free time to enjoy Lake Kawaguchi in your way. Enjoy a lakeside walk, a pleasure cruise out to the middle of the lake, or even a ride on the Lake Kawaguchi Mt. Tenjo Ropeway.

Next is the highlight of the day, a drive up to the 5th Station of Mt. Fuji. At 2300 meters above sea level, the 5th Station offers commanding views of Mt. Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes area below. *Please note that depending on weather conditions the road up to the 5th Station may be closed. In this case we will visit Oshino Hakkai Springs and Chureito Pagoda instead.

Enjoy some free time in Tokyo in the morning for local sightseeing, shopping, etc. before traveling to Sendai by shinkansen.
Once we arrive in Sendai we will head to Tsutsujigaoka Park in central Sendai to enjoy “hanami” together. Hanami (cherry blossom viewing) is a long standing Japanese tradition of welcoming spring. We will join the many Japanese who gather under blooming cherry blossoms to enjoy food, drinks, and the beauty of sakura (cherry blossoms). With a variety of different Somei Yoshino and weeping cherry trees planted along its paved lanes, Tsutsujigaoka Park is the perfect place to enjoy hanami!

Enjoy a day trip to the historic town of Kakunodate.

Kakunodate is a former castle town and samurai stronghold located in Akita Prefecture. It is famous for its hundreds of beautiful weeping cherry blossom tress and its well-preserved samurai district, which is widely considered to be one of the best examples of samurai architecture and housing in all of Japan. Kakunodate's samurai district was once home to more than 80 samurai families, and today six former samurai houses are open to the public for visitors to see just how wealthy samurai families used to lived in Japan. Kakunodate's special combination of beautiful pink cherry blossoms and historic samurai homes make it one of the most popular cherry blossom viewing places in northern Japan, and one of the highlights of our Spring Sakura Tour!

Enjoy a slow-paced day trip to Matsushima Bay.

We will make the short journey from Sendai to Matsushima Bay by local train, taking in beautiful springtime views on the way. Once we arrive in Matsushima Bay we will enjoy a relaxing 50 minute cruise around the bay taking in its most famous and beautiful islands, including Bell Island and Niojima Island. Matsushima Bay is dotted with hundreds of pine clad islets, and has been ranked as one of Japan’s three most scenic views for centuries. After enjoying the beauty of Matsushima Bay from the water, we will then walk to a couple of islands and explore black and red pine forests and ancient temples and shrines.

Travel from Sendai to Aomori by shinkansen.
Once we arrive in Aomori we will then make the short trip to Hirosaki, where will enjoy the beautiful Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival. This festival is held around the classic Hirosaki Castle, widely considered to be one of the best cherry blossom viewing sites in all of Japan. Hirosaki Castle is a three-story castle built in 1611 by the Tsugaru clan. Hirosaki Park, which surrounds Hirosaki Castle, has an abundance of more than 2500 trees, cherry blossom tunnels, petal filled moats, a number of pleasant picnic areas, rental rowing boats, many different varieties of cherry trees, and illuminations in the evenings. 

Enjoy a day trip to the beautiful Oirase Gorge.

Today we will journey deep into the amazing Oirase Gorge.

The Oirase Gorge in Aomori Prefecture is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful river valleys in all of Japan. Its crystal clear mountain stream, picturesque waterfalls and rapids, and magnificent natural surroundings make it a must see when visiting northern Japan. This beautiful gorge runs for more than 14 kilometers between Yakeyama at the foot of Mt. Hakkoda and Nenokuchi on the shore of Lake Towada. Many of the waterfalls and

rapids have been given some rather interesting names, including the Two Dragon Waterfall, the Happy Marriage Waterfall, the Nine Stairs Waterfall, and the White Silk Waterfall. At this time of the year the trees that line the crystal clear river are covered in fresh green leaves. This is natural Japan at its very best!
 

Travel from Aomori to Hakodate by shinkansen.

Once we arrive in Hakodate we will travel through the streets of this beautiful port city by streetcar until we reach the historic Goryokaku Fort. This massive, star shaped, western style fort was built approximately 150 years ago and was the first of its kind in Japan. With more than 1600 cherry blossom trees, Goryokaku Fort is also one of the most beautiful cherry blossom viewing spots in Hokkaido.

At night we will enjoy a lovely farewell dinner together at a local izakaya (Japanese-style restaurant/bar).

For those who would like to end the tour on a high, there is an optional activity after dinner. Make your way to the very top of Mt. Hakodate

by an aerial ropeway gondola to enjoy stunning night views of the city. The view from Mt. Hakodate is highly acclaimed, gaining the highest possible three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide Japan.

Relax in Hakodate before transferring to Hakodate Airport (HKD) for your return flight. Depending on your flight time you may be able to explore the famous Hakodate Morning Market, or enjoy some last minute local sightseeing or shopping in Hakodate.