Relaxed Pace but still covering the Essentials – 14 Nights / 15 Days

Lined up with New York, London and Paris, you will arrive into Tokyo, one of the largest Cities in the World. Spend your first 4 nights in one of the leading technological locations of the World.  Have an  English Speaking Assistant meet you at the airport and escort you to your accommodation using the public transportation. Arrive at your accommodation and use the rest of the day to walk the local area. 

Today can be a day free at leisure to explore what is basically the largest City in the World by yourselves. (Sounds daunting, but the Guide from yesterday will advise directions).     It may be great to start the day with a walk around the Tokyo Imperial Palace Gardens. Also be overwhelmed with a visit to the younger generation areas such as Harajuku and Takeshita Street. This is where trends are created, and it will definitely open any sleepy eyes. Next to the Harajuku Station is also the entrance to the important and most visit shrine in Tokyo, the Meiji Shrine. Consider visiting Shibuya for the famous scrambled crossing which has 2000 people crossing it each time the lights change. You may like to book a time at the TeamLab art experience of finish the day in Akihabara. Akihabara is Japan’s electric town and also the epicenter of Otaku Culture, Anime and offbeats cafes like the maid cafes and animal cafes.

With your English Speaking Guide   transfer from Tokyo to Hakone by the Shinkansen (Bullet) Train  and enjoy Hakone Sightseeing including the geo-thermal area of Owakudani, Lake Ashi and use the Ropeway and Pirate Ship cruise to get there. From many angles see Mt Fuji and finish the day with the powerful Hakone Shrine. If you have an interest in art, the Open Air Museum close to the Gora Park must be visited. Arrive at your accommodation which will have a private hot springs bath in your room and dinner will be included as a Kaiseki Traditional meal. Enjoy a night of wellness at one of the most popular Hot Springs areas of Japan.

Transfer from your Hakone Accommodation to Odawara Train station and then board your Shinkansen (Bullet Train) bound for Kyoto Station. With in just over 2 hours you will be entering the Cultural Capitol of Japan, Kyoto City. To make the most of your Kyoto stay and with an English Speaking Guide, enjoy an introduction to this ancient, elegant and spiritual City.  Visit the oldest Temple and the gateway of Kyoto that has been in the same location for over 1200 years. This temple is an art form in itself, with the largest 5 story Pagoda in Japan. Listen to the interesting stories from the Guide, feel history and be overwhelmed by the larger than life size Buddha statues that also date back some 1200 years. It is astonishing that these Buddha Statues have been protecting and listening to people’s wishes for 1200 years in the same place, the same position with the same artistic beauty. 

Meet with your English Speaking Guide  at the Hotel Lobby and commence Full Day Kyoto sightseeing by Public Transportation. Transfer to the Kyoto district of Uji. Uji is famous for being the first location to create Japanese tea in Japan, and there is no better place to learn about, and experience an authentic Japanese Tea Ceremony. You can enjoy an exclusive Tea Ceremony at one of the oldest family operated Tea Companies in Japan. Uji is famous for also having a World Heritage registered Temple, the Byodoin Temple. The design of the hall, the stunning garden and the natural location is simply perfect. Listen to why this Temple was made and how represents the Pure World. 
You can also visit the Fushimi area on your return to Kyoto. This area is one of the 3 most mass producing areas of Japanese rice wine Sake. Visit one of the major Sake producers in Japan, see the small museum and also have several tastings. Try to decide on the type of Sake that suits you. 

Full Free Day at Kyoto at leisure. There is just so much more to see and experience. Depending on your interests you may like to visit more Temples, Shrines and Pavilions. You have already seen the Golden Pavilion so why not compare it to the Silver Pavilion, the home of Wabisabi. Or you may like to walk the Kyoto Imperial Palace grounds which hold the old residence of the Emperor and also the tranquil gardens. The Nijo Castle really shouldn’t be missed as this is where the last Samurai resided and where the 15th Generation Shogunate gave the power back to the Emperor. 
Or if you just wanted to relax and be introduced to a popular and high quality Ramen Noodle store which needs to be pre booked, this would be the perfect way to finish a Kyoto stay.
Or if you wanted to continue the hands on experiences, a “flower arrangement” experience called Ikebana could be pre booked for you. Like the Tea Ceremony, enjoy the importance of the flower arrangement, which actually started in the Temples when offering flowers to the Gods.
Or  Take the day to visit Nara to see the largest Buddha Statue in the World which is at the Todaiji Temple. Todaiji Temple is the largest wooden structure in the World, and also houses the largest Buddha Statue in Japan, the healing Buddha. Feel History and be spellbound with the sheer size. Walk through the 1600 acre Nara park which is home to over 1300 sacred Deer. (Approx. 1 hour from Kyoto Station).

Meet your English Speaking Guide  and enjoy Kanazawa Sightseeing. Kanazawa is not like the other destinations you have visited. A Visit to the Kenroku Gardens will be first on the list and is one of the 3 most beautiful gardens in Japan. Right next door are the Kanazawa Castle grounds. Move onto the Higashichagaiya with it’s beautiful cobblestoned roads. This is where the Samurai and Geisha mixed in the many Tea Rooms that you can still see. At Higashichayagai you can also see how the gold flake industry is important to Kanazawa and why they have 90% of the share for gold flake production. Transfer to the Nagamachi area and visit the Nomura House which still belongs to the Nomura Samurai Family. See how the influential Samurai lived some 400 years ago.

Check out of your Kanazawa Hotel and proceed to the Kanazawa Station by youselves. You can board a morning  Shinkansen (Bullet) Train bound for Tokyo. After arriving in Tokyo meet with your  English Speaking Assistant  who will take you to Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND) Airport depending on your departure flight. Arrive at Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND) Airport and taking your many hundreds of new memories and hundreds of photos, proceed to the Check in counter to prepare for your homebound flight.