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The Ryokan Collection Heritage Traditional Contemporary
Japan Highlight Tour - Tokyo, Kyoto, Kanazawa and Takayama
11days/10 nights
The Ryokan Collection is proudly presenting you the newly created itinerary "Japan Highlight Tour" that offers the best of Japan. The itinerary includes the two of Japan's most attractive cities, Tokyo and Kyoto, as well as another traditional city of Kanazawa, the world heritage site and many more.
 Day 01  Tokyo
Arrive at Narita International Airport and transfer to hotel in Tokyo Check-in at the hotel in Tokyo
 Day 02  Tokyo Highlights (Tokyo)
Welcome to Tokyo
Japan's capital and the world's largest metropolitan area, Tokyo offers a seemingly limitless variety of shopping, entertainment, cultural activities and dining. The city's history can be appreciated in districts such as Asakusa, and in the many excellent museums, historical temples and gardens.

You will visit Tokyo's highlight places;

Tsukiji Fish Market
Known as "Tokyo's Kitchen," Tsukiji is the largest market of its kind in the world, supplying millions of Tokyoites with fresh produce of every kind. The market is most famous for fresh fish, with a history dating back 500 years. The market sells over 400 different varieties of fish and shellfish, totaling well over 2,000 tons, every day. You will visit Tokyo's highlight places;

Hamarikyu Garden
Hamarikyu is a large, beautiful garden in central Tokyo. Situated at the mouth of the Sumida River, Hamarikyu features seawater ponds that change the tides, and a teahouse on an island where visitors can rest and contemplate the view. The traditional garden is a calm oasis contrasting with the skyscrapers of nearby Shiodome.

Take a boat ride to Asakusa on the Sumida River
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Asakusa Kannon Temple
he oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo, Asakusa Kannon Temple is also its most impressive. The main hall was first built in 645 to house a tiny golden statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, which two brothers had repeatedly hauled up in their net while fishing in the Sumida River. The statue was enshrined in the main hall, where it remains.

Tokyo Skytree
Tokyo Skytree is a television broadcasting tower and landmark of Tokyo that opened this year. At 634 meters (634 can be read as "Musashi," an old name of the Tokyo region), it is the tallest building in Japan and the second-tallest structure in the world. Tokyo Skytree has two observation decks that offer spectacular views. The two enclosed decks are 350 and 450 meters above the ground, making them the highest observation decks in Japan and among the highest in the world. Tembo Deck is the lower of the two and occupies three levels. Tembo Galleria, the higher one, features tall, broad windows with the best views of the city.
Ginza
This is Tokyo's famous glitzy shopping, dining and entertainment district, featuring numerous department stores, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, nightclubs and cafes. Here, you can also find depachika, basement food floors in Tokyo department stores, which sell products from famous food brands, bento (box meals), Japanese sweets from Kyoto, and many other delicious offerings.

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 Day 03  Feel the metropolis
Today, you will visit following places;

Omotesando, Harajuku and Aoyama
The Omotesando, Harajuku and Aoyama area is one of the most sophisticated and fashionable districts in the world. Hundreds of chic and fashionable shops on the main streets and back alleys, unique buildings designed by famous architects, fashionable cafes, and people in unique fashions, make this area a showplace of modern Tokyo.

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Roppongi
Roppongi is the city's most popular nightlife district, boasting a large number and huge variety of bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Roppongi and the surrounding districts of Azabu, Hiroo and Akasaka are home to many embassies and a large expat community. Two recent redevelopment projects, Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown, changed the face of the district and expanded its appeal to a wider range of visitors and residents with high-end retail, leisure and residential spaces, offices, and luxury hotels. Roppongi is also a cultural center, home to the "Art Triangle Roppongi" the National Art Center (Japan's largest art museum), Roppongi Hills' Mori Art Museum and Tokyo Midtown's Suntory Museum of Art.

Optional: Cooking class with Michelin star chef Getting ingredients at grocery store with a Michelin star chef, you will have the experience of learning Japanese home cooking or Temari sushiâ (small and ball-shaped sushi) from a Michelin star chef.

 Day 04  Introduction to Kyoto (Tokyo-Kyoto)
Shinkansen super express bullet train to Kyoto (2.5 hours)

Upon arrival, visit one of the most famous World Heritage Temples in Japan,

Kiyomizu Temple.
This temple was established in 778, and has attracted worshippers since the Heian period (794-1185) as "Kiyomizu-Kannon." The Main Hall (Hondo), built in the "stage" style, is noted for its beautiful background scenery, which changes with the seasons. Built atop a precipice, the main hall, which is a National Treasure, is famous as the "Kiyomizu Stage" with its magnificent view of the city below. The temple precincts contain 15 buildings designated as Important Cultural Properties, including the inner temple (Okunoin), the three-tiered pagoda, and Amida Buddha Hall (Amidado).

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Take a walk down the streets, Ninen-zaka (Two-year hill) and Sannen-zaka (Three year hill). These consist of stone steps and shops lining the sides of the hill, many of which date from the Edo period and sell antiques, Kiyomizu pottery, special Kyoto foods and all sorts of traditional souvenirs.

Check-in at the ryokan / hotel

 Day 05  Highlights of Kyoto (Kyoto)
Kinkakuji Temple
This famous structure dates from the Muromachi period (1336-1573) and was made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994. The upper stories are covered in gold leaf, the roof is topped by a bronze phoenix, and the reflection of the temple shimmers majestically in the temple pond.

Nijo Castle
Nijo Castle, built in 1603, is another world heritage site, and its Ninomaru Palace is designated a National Treasure due to its splendid architecture and magnificent interior. The floorboards of corridors creak underfoot. Called uguisubari (nightingale floors), they squeaked like birds when anyone (such as an assassin) approached.
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Ryoanji Temple.
This temple boasts Japan's most famous rock garden, attracting hundreds of visitors a day. The villa of an aristocrat during the Heian period, the site was converted into a Zen temple in 1450. The history of Ryoanji's famous rock garden is less certain - its date of construction is unknown, as is the name of its designer, though there's plenty of speculation. The garden consists of a rectangular plot of pebbles surrounded by low earthen walls, with 15 rocks laid out in small groups on patches of moss. An interesting feature of the garden's design is that from any vantage point at least one of the rocks is always hidden from the viewer.

Kimono Experience.
Until about 100 years ago the kimono was the everyday clothing of the Japanese. Today it is mostly worn by women on special occasions. There are also kimono for men. Putting on a kimono is a bit involved, but with the help of a kimono specialist, you will transform into a real Japanese beauty or samurai in minutes.

Gion Shirakawa.
Kyoto's famous geisha district, Gion is filled with shops, restaurants and ochaya (teahouses) where geiko and maiko entertain. The Gion Shirakawa area runs along the Shirakawa Canal lined by willow trees, expensive restaurants and ochaya, many of which have rooms overlooking the canal. As it is a little off the beaten path, the Shirakawa Area is typically quieter than the main Hanami-koji Street.
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Optional: Exotic Dinner with Geiko and Maiko at a prestigious Ochaya.
Though Geiko and Maiko are still symbols of Japan, but they are a rare sight these days. However, on this tour you can have Geiko and Maiko show you Japanese dances and play traditional musical instruments in their traditional costume, and they will sit together with you, serve drinks in the Japanese way, play games and take some photos with you.
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 Day 06  Ryokan Experience(Kyoto-Beniya Mukayu)
Express train Thunderbird from Kyoto station to Kaga Onsen station (110 min)
Shuttle bus to Beniya Mukayu (15 min)

In recent years, the Japanese lifestyle has become increasingly westernized, and traditional Japan is fading into the background. However, at a ryokan the unique aesthetic sense of Japan can still be experienced. Staying at a ryokan is the best way to savor the serene beauty of the traditional Japanese lifestyle.
Check-in at Beniya Mukayu after 15:00 Perched on a hill overlooking the city of Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture, the beautiful Beniya Mukayu ryokan offers a perfect blend of friendly, attentive service and the serene tranquility of nature. Mukayu makes the most of its natural blessings, using careful landscaping and floor-to-ceiling windows to bring the natural world and indoor spaces together. In its 17 rooms, each of which boasts an open-air bath, the ryokan embraces a mixture of outside and in, wide nature and inner space - you can see, hear and smell the seasons everywhere at Mukayu. Tasteful design and attention to detail are apparent everywhere, as befits a top-notch Japanese ryokan.

Welcome tea ceremony by the owner.
The tea pavilion is located in the garden. Inside, the owner of Mukayu invites you to discover the tranquility of the Japanese tea ceremony.

Rest of the day at leisure.
Enjoy an onsen hot spring bath and walk around the elegant ryokan filled with art and Japanese hospitality, the library, Horin Entei hall, and the natural Japanese garden.
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Savor the finest Kaga-style kaiseki dinner, served on locally crafted dishes. Kanazawa and Kaga are close to the Sea of Japan, and the seafood is of the finest quality. And Kaga-style kaiseki ryori haute cuisine is among the most highly respected in all of Japan.

 Day 07  Ease your body and mind (Beniya Mukayu)
Yoga Class
Start your day with a yoga class in Horin surrounded by a calm and peaceful atmosphere.

Library.
After breakfast, relax in the library, which boasts more than 2,000 books. 

Later in the morning, you can enjoy unique experience provided by Beniya Muakyu
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Option 1 : Daisho Town tour with Gondola outing on Daishoji river
A Castle Town of the Daishoji Clan in Feudal Times.
Daishoji is a castle town that dates back to the time of the Daishoji clan, a branch of the Maeda family of the wealthy Kaga fiefdom, from the fifth to the 19th century. In the spring, you can admire the row of cherry blossoms along the banks of the Daishoji River, and visitors can enjoy a gondola outing on the river. A boatman will take you on a small gondola to admire the breathtaking scenery. In the autumn, Japanese bush clover, whose white flowers look like a dusting snow, blooms gloriously at Jisshoin Temple in the Yamanoshita Temple area. We will also take you to the Jisshoin and Zenshoji temples, as well as museums or recommended places in the area depending on your interests, the season and the weather.
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Option2 : Yamashiro Onsen tour.
This tour offers customized 2-3 hour tour in Yamashiro Onsen depending on your interests, the season and the weather, including some places that are difficult to reach for travelers, and only the locals know.
A Hot Spring Resort Imbued with the Culture of Kutani-yaki Porcelain.
Yamashiro is a hot spring resort with a 1,300-year history. It is now even more charming with the addition of public baths called Kosoyu in 2010. These have been restored to their former beauty, identical to those in the Meiji era (1868-1912). Yamashiro is also well known for its world-famous Kutani-yaki porcelain. You can enjoy visiting some places related to Kutani-yaki, such as the Ancient Kutani Kiln Exhibition Center, Suda Seika Kutani Pottery Shop and Iroha Soan Hut. Suda Seika is a Kutani pottery kiln that has produced many items of tableware for Kitaoji Rosanjin, one of Japan's most acclaimed potters. The Seika kiln is still in operation and is managed today by Suda Seiko the 4th. You will have a chance to talk with Seiko-san, an excellent painter who maintains the style of the old Kutani and is one of the most famous Kutani artisans in the world.

Spa Treatment at Entei Sejutsu-in.
After returning, ease your body and mind with a Spa Treatment at Entei Sejutsu-in.The spa, Entei Sejutsu-in, carries on a centuries-long tradition of healing using the local Yamashiro hot springs and medicinal herbs. Along with its delightful full-body massage and herbal treatments, reflexology and other massage techniques, the spa also features herbal balls, steamed and applied to specific points on the body, for a divinely relaxing experience. These treatments are a perfect antidote to the stresses of modern life. The chief masseuse, Nishino-san, is renowned for having some of the best hands in the business.
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 Day 08  Highlight of Kanazawa, Samurai Cultural Town
Day trip to Kanazawa by car or train
During the Edo Period, Kanazawa was the seat of the Maeda Clan, the second most powerful feudal clan after the Tokugawa. As a result, Kanazawa became a place of great cultural achievements, to rival Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo). Today, Kanazawa is still an important city and the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture. The city boasts many historical attractions such as restored residences and districts, as well as modern museums. But Kanazawa's main attraction is Kenrokuen, one of Japan's "three best landscape gardens," and which many consider the most beautiful of them all.

Day trip to Kanazawa by car or train
During the Edo Period, Kanazawa was the seat of the Maeda Clan, the second most powerful feudal clan after the Tokugawa. As a result, Kanazawa became a place of great cultural achievements, to rival Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo). Today, Kanazawa is still an important city and the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture. The city boasts many historical attractions such as restored residences and districts, as well as modern museums. But Kanazawa's main attraction is Kenrokuen, one of Japan's "three best landscape gardens," and which many consider the most beautiful of them all.

Kenrokuen Garden & Kanazawa Castle Park.
This garden in the center of the city was originally a private garden next to Kanazawa Castle, and was developed from the 1620s to the 1840s. It is a stroll-type landscape garden spreading over 100,000 square meters, with Kasumigaike Pond at its center and a variety of hills, streams, smaller ponds and waterfalls to enhance its beauty. Next to Kenrokuen Garden is Kanazawa Castle Park, one of the great symbols of the city's traditional culture, and a legacy of the rich history of arts patronage by the local feudal clan.

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art.
This impressive museum, designed by Japanese architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of the architect office SANAA, focuses on works produced since 1980 that - propose new values. The museum's collection includes works by such artists as: Francis Alys, Matthew Barney, Tony Cragg, Olafur Eliasson, James Turrell, Yayoi Kusama and many more.


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Nagamachi Samurai District.
Nagamachi was a samurai district at the foot of the former Kanazawa Castle, where samurai and their families lived during the Edo period. The area now preserves the atmosphere of the time, with its remaining samurai residences, private entrance gates, narrow lanes and canals. One of the main attractions of the district is the centrally located Nomura-ke, a restored residence displaying the lifestyle and artifacts of the time when samurai prospered.
Optional: Private studio visit of "Takumi" traditional craftsman
Kanazawa is known for art, from traditional crafts to contemporary art. Gold leaf, ceramics, lacquer, silk -you will be invited to visit one of the artists and get in touch with the spirit of Japanese crafts.
Return to the ryokan
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 Day 09  World Heritage Village (Kanazawa-Gokayama-Takayama)
Check-out from Beniya Mukayu and transfer to Takayama by car

On the way, you will visit world-heritage village Ainokura Stroll in Ainokura Village
Nestled deep in a quiet valley, Ainokura is the most remote village in the Gokayama region. A UNESCO world heritage site, it boasts nearly 20 gassho-zukuri thatched roof farmhouses, many of which remain private residences, although a few are now restaurants and museums. Although it is less developed and harder to get to than other world heritage villages, Ainokura is quieter and sees fewer tourists, though it offers similar attractions.
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Visit Iwase-ke House
This gassho-zukuri farmhouse is the largest of its kind in the region. The ground floor spaces were designed to entertain visiting dignitaries, while the spacious upper floors now display tools and household items used for farming and raising silkworms.

Transfer to Takayama

Check-in at Wanosato
There is something magical about taking the train through the mountains of Takayama and catching your first glimpse of Wanosato's quaint and majestic 160-year-old minka traditional house with its beautiful thatched roof. Tucked away in the forest, a short walk from the main building, are the minka with their lichen-covered thatched roofs and earthen walls, looking straight out of a tale of ancient Japan. Japanese people's love of nature, along with the abundant forests, have resulted in Wanosato becoming a well-known hot spring and nature retreat.


After dinner, guests are invited to sit by an open built-in hearth called an Iori, where you can enjoy the unique drinks that are offered in the evening.
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 Day 10  Highlights of Takayama old towntown (Takayama)
Set in the mountainous Hida region, Takayama has retained a traditional touch like few other Japanese cities, especially in its beautifully preserved old town.

In the morning, we will visit Takayama morning market.Communicating with the friendly locals, you can enjoy shopping for local crafts and farm products such as vegetables, pickles and flowers.
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Takayama Jinya
This building was used as a public office for 270 years, from 1695 to 1969. It was fully restored to revive the Edo period atmosphere, and now pine trees and gravel lanes contrast pleasantly with the beautiful white walls.

Sannomachi Old Town Street
This pretty street in the old town, situated on the east bank of the Miyagawa river in Takayama, is famous for its historical shops and merchants' homes with their distinctive latticed bay windows and linked eaves that date from the Edo period (17th to 19th centuries). Visitors can fully enjoy the quiet, idyllic atmosphere.

Matsuri-no-Mori Museum:
The floats used in the Takayama festival have been revived by modern skilled artisans. When you walk into the dome area, you enter a world of tradition and festivals.
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 Day 11  Takayama-Tokyo/Osaka
Shuttle bus to Takayama station

Express train Hida to Nagoya station (2.5h), Shinkansen super express bullet train Nozomi to Tokyo (1h40min) or Shin-Osaka (50min)

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