Itinerary

Day 1

Meet guide and depart from San Francisco BUT you can travel independently

Day 2

Arrive in Osaka Japan. Take train to Kyoto. Walk to hotel.

Day 3

Enjoy Toji Market, one that has been going on for about 300 years. This is the perfect place to find wonderful treasures (kimono, dolls, antiques and souvenirs) at very low prices. Then travel through the countryside to visit the Miho Museum, IM Pei's fabulous creation housing a collection that is extraordinary.

Day 4

Tour Kiyomizudera, the water temple world famous for its overhanging stages and then wander through the area visiting a wide range of interesting shops where the merchants/residents have been able to duplicate what Kyoto has looked like for hundreds of years. Continue on to visit an indigo dying house where we are guests of the owners. Close by we enjoy a kimono show and demonstration of weaving. Day ends in a museum/hall where we see kimono being hand painted.

Day 5

First stop is one of the 14 original castles in Japan along with its garden. Then on to a shrine where the garden is absolutely breath taking. We continue on to a hall where we can see crafts (everything from stone carving to fan making, kimono construction to ceramics) from the local area. Remainder of day is spent walking old Kyoto where we always find some Geisha and many interesting buildings ending up in a huge shopping arcade.

Day 6

Today we take a short train ride to visit three temples in the old capital. The first is famous for its many lanterns. The second has the largest wooden building in the world. The third houses at least 8 of the best Buddist statues in Japan. A walk through town gives one an idea how the Japanese live. Then it is on to visit the oldest wooden building in Japan along with its museum and garden before ending up at a temple famous for thousands of vermillion gates.

Day 7

We begin the day in another flea market with a long history. Between this market and the one on the first day, many previous guests have acquired treasures which has fully paid for the trip. The day continues by visiting three of the most famous temples/shrines in Kyoto where the first is known for its golden pavillion, the second for its rock garden and the thrid for boths its garden and architecture.

Day 8

Our bags are sent on to our hotel in Tokyo as we board a bullet train to spend two nights at a world famous hotel in a national park. The hotel has a wonderful history, spectacular garden and fabulous spa.

Day 9

We begin the day by taking the bus to visit the checkpoint on the old Tokkaido Road before boarding a huge "pirate" ship to cross a lake while enjoying views of Mt Fuji. Then we take a cable car to the top of a mountain to enjoy the view before continuing on to a tram and then train where we spend several hours visiting an outdoor scuplture garden with a museum dedicated to Picasso. The sculptures and garden are outstanding.

Day 10

Today we take a unique switch-back train to catch the bullet train heading to Tokyo. After checking into our hotel (all hotels are super delux) we learn how to use the subway and spend the afternoon visiting designer shops and a huge shrine in an area known for its unique architecture and shopping.

Day 11

Today we travel to the north to visit the spectacular shrine to the first great shogun. The train is even more delux than the bullet train. The walk through town is delightful.

Day 12

We begin by walking through a historic and gorgeous garden before taking a river barge to visit the most famous temple in Tokyo. The area is famous for both its shopping and architecture. We continue on by subway to visit another garden which is unique.

Day 13

We travel south to visit another imperial capital to enjoy the money washing temple, the Great Buddah and a temple famous for its garden and view of the bay. On the return we stop to visit a huge department store. On the return to Tokyo you will have the opportunity to stop at a store we discovered that has a wide variety of textiles and notions at good prices

Day 14

The fish market is world famous and I have been there over 800 times. We arrive to enjoy the auctions and then see how the market operates. After returning to the hotel for breakfast, we visit the home of a famous scupltor which has a gorgeous garden. Then we do a walk about through an area which escaped the fire bombing and pass through an area that is where the Japanese shop on a daily basis. From there we continue on to one of the finest museums I have ever enjoyed.

Day 15

We start early with several flea markets where bargains abound. Later, we travel outside Tokyo to enjoy a garden/park with about 30 old houses. In the evening we have our sayonara dinner, one no guest desires to end. Next day, we head home.

Extra Information

Extras -

Basic cost of $4,300 includes flight from San Francisco to Osaka, flight from Tokyo (Narita) to US West Coast, shared accommodation is super delux hotels, full American breakfast each day and services of full time guide and full day of touring each and every day. Rest of trip (meals other than breakfast, entry/admission fees and in-country transportation) costs about $1,100. You can arrive early, stay later, arrange your own transportation....I am very flexible.