Japan

• Departure from Montreal airport (P.E. Trudeau) on an international flight to Osaka.

Note: Arrival at the airport at least 3 hours before departure.

❖ Meals included : Supper / Lodging : 4* Hotel / Transport : Air-conditioned vehicle.

• Arrival in Osaka. Welcome by an English-speaking assistant and transfer by private vehicle to the hotel for installation.
• Welcome dinner at the hotel.

❖ Meals included : Supper / Lodging : 4* Hotel / Transport : Air-conditioned vehicle.

Discover thecity of Osakain the company of an English-speaking guide:

• Visit Osaka CastleOsaka Castle, one of Japan’s major historical monuments, associated with the unification of the country in the 16th century. The stop offers a first cultural immersion in Japanese feudal history, in a pleasant setting surrounded by moats and vast gardens, ideal for walking and photography.
• Dinner at leisure in the Shinsaibashi district, Osaka’s commercial heart, an area of the city that offers a wide variety of restaurants and stores, allowing guests to eat to their heart’s content before continuing their sightseeing.
• Visit the Dotonbori districtthe lively heart of the modern city, known for its neon signs, canal and vibrant atmosphere. After a morning devoted more to history, this stopover allows you to discover the contemporary and gastronomic side of the city.
• Stop at the Namba Yasaka shrineknown for its spectacular lion’s head stage. This site brings a calmer cultural and spiritual dimension, in contrast to the energy of Dotonbori, and is another great place to take photos.
• Dinner at the hotel.

❖ Meals included: Breakfast and dinner / Lodging: 4* hotel / Transportation: Air-conditioned vehicle.

Note: Main luggage transferred directly to Kyoto. Customers prepare a day bag with their essential personal belongings.

Departure for Koyasanspiritual center of Shingon Buddhism, founded in the 9th century:

• Arrival in Koyasan. Free time to explore this famous mountain village, discover some of its temples, the Okunoin cemetery, and cross the vast cedar forest leading to the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism. All in all, an extraordinary experience of nature and an opportunity to immerse yourself in the calm, religious atmosphere of this major Japanese spiritual site.
• Free dinner and continued exploration of Koyasan.
• Supper at a Buddhist temple (serving a vegetarian shojin ryori meal of traditional dishes without meat or fish).
• Overnight shubuko (subject to availability .at time of trip confirmation) or return to Kyoto hotel for the night. N.B. If staying at the temple, some sanitary facilities may be shared.

❖ Meals included: Breakfast / Accommodation: 4* Hotel / Transport: Air-conditioned vehicle.

Drive to Nara, the ancient capital of Japan, a historical and cultural Mecca. Discover the sites of interest in the company of an English-speaking guide:

• Guided tour of Nara Parka vast public area famous for its free-roaming fallow deer and major historical sites. This is a first immersion in the ancient capital and its very special atmosphere, where nature and heritage coexist.
• Dinner on your own.
• Guided tour of Tōdai-ji templeone of Japan’s most important temples, home to a huge bronze statue of Buddha. The site is central to the country’s religious and political history.
• Drive to Kyoto with a stop at the Fushimi Inari shrinefamous for its thousands of red porticos (torii) forming paths in the mountains. This is an emblematic site of Kyoto and Shintoism, renowned for its photogenic paths.
• Arrive Kyoto, check into hotel and dinner at leisure.

❖ Meals included: Breakfast / Accommodation: 4* Hotel / Transport: Air-conditioned vehicle.

Discover the Arashiyama district in the company of an English-speaking guide:

• Visit the Tenryū-ji templeone of Kyoto’s most important Zen temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site is renowned for its traditional landscaped garden overlooking the Arashiyama mountains.
• Stroll through the famous bamboo foresta path surrounded by tall bamboo stalks creating a powerful sensory experience, in a unique atmosphere and a setting emblematic of Kyoto.
• Dinner at your leisure in the Arashiyama district, with several restaurant and café options close to the sights.
• Walk up to the Iwatayama Monkey Park located on a hill overlooking Kyoto. Watch free-roaming macaques and enjoy panoramic views of the city from the top.
• Return at the end of the day and free time to enjoy Kyoto in the evening or rest at the hotel. Dinner on your own.

❖ Meals included : Breakfast / Accommodation : 4* Hotel / Transport : Air-conditioned vehicle

Visit the historic districts of Kyoto in the company of an English-speaking guide:

• Visit to Kiyomizu-dera templeone of Kyoto’s most famous landmarks, famous for its large wooden terrace overlooking the city. The temple is an important Buddhist site and a major symbol of Japanese heritage.
• Stroll through the streets streets of Ninenzaka and Sannenzakahistoric lanes lined with wooden houses, handicraft stores and the typical atmosphere of old Kyoto.
• Dinner at your leisure in the Higashiyama area, with several options of local restaurants and traditional cafés.
• Discover the Gion districtfamous for its traditional streets and unspoiled old Kyoto atmosphere. Visit to Yasaka Shrinea major Shinto shrine on the outskirts of the district. This much-frequented monastery is the very emblem of the city.
• Dinner on your own.

❖ Meals included: Breakfast / Accommodation: 4* Hotel / Transport: Air-conditioned vehicle.

• Free day to explore Kyoto at your own pace, with a Suica map included, to make it easier to get around the city and region by public transport. Lunch and dinner on your own.
• Optional experiences (with English-speaking instructors)

– Tea ceremony: Immersive cultural experience including a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, with kimono.

– Making wagashi (Japanese pastries): A workshop on traditional Japanese sweets (wagashi), to discover the techniques and aesthetics of Japanese pastry-making.

– Experience ikebana (flower arranging): Introduction to Japanese flower arranging (ikebana), focusing on balance, simplicity and symbolism.

• Free day to explore Kyoto at your own pace, with a Suica map included, to make it easier to get around the city and region by public transport. Lunch and dinner on your own.
• Optional experiences (with English-speaking instructors):

– Tea ceremony: Immersive cultural experience including a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, with kimono.

– Making wagashi (Japanese pastries): A workshop on traditional Japanese sweets (wagashi), to discover the techniques and aesthetics of Japanese pastry-making.

– Experience ikebana (flower arranging): Introduction to Japanese flower arranging (ikebana), focusing on balance, simplicity and symbolism.

❖ Meals included: Breakfast and dinner / Accommodation: 4* hotel / Transport: Air-conditioned vehicle and train.

Note: Main luggage transferred directly to Kanazawa. Customers prepare a day bag with their essential personal belongings.

• Transfer to Kyoto station and take the Thunderbird express train to Kanazawa (accompanied by an English-speaking guide) with a transfer to Tsuruga station, to catch the Shinkansen Hokoriku intercity train (TGV) to finish the journey to Kanazawa.
• Arrival in Kanazawa and free dinner at the station or at Omicho Market, the city’s main food market, known for its fresh produce and small local restaurants.
• Free time to discover Kanazawa at your own pace, with the option of visiting the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art or the D. T. Suzuki Museum, dedicated to the Zen philosopher and thinker.
• Arrive at your hotel and settle in.
• Dinner near the hotel.

❖ Meals included: Breakfast / Accommodation: 4* Hotel / Transport: Air-conditioned vehicle.

Departure by private bus for a tour of Kanazawain the company of an English-speaking guide.

• Visit Kanazawa Castleformer seat of the powerful Maeda clan, followed by the Kenrokuen Gardenconsidered one of the three most beautiful landscaped gardens in Japan. An emblematic ensemble combining historic architecture and traditional Japanese gardens.
• Dinner at leisure in downtown Kanazawa or in the vicinity of the sites visited.
• Discover the historic Nagamachi districta former samurai residential area. The district still boasts narrow streets, earthen walls and traditional residences.
• Visit the restored samurai houses to better understand the way of life of the warrior class in feudal times.
• Free time to explore Kanazawa at your own pace, do some shopping or pursue your cultural interests. Dinner on your own.
• Return to hotel.

❖ Meals included: Breakfast and dinner / Accommodation: 4* hotel / Transport: Air-conditioned vehicle and train.

Please note: Main luggage transferred directly to Tokyo. Customers pack a day bag with their essential personal belongings.

• Boarding the Shinkansen (high-speed train) for the Hakone regiona mountainous region about 1h30 from Tokyo, part of the part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. It’s renowned for its volcanic landscapes, hot springs (onsen) and, on a clear day, views of Mount Fuji. It’s a popular destination for a natural, relaxing experience, in contrast to Japan’s big cities. Dinner included on board the train, in the form of a Japanese ekiben lunchbox.
• Arrive in Hakone and transfer to the ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) to settle in.
• Dinner served at the ryokan, consisting of traditional Japanese dishes presented in several courses.
• Overnight ryokan.

❖ Meals included: Breakfast and dinner / Accommodation: 4* hotel.

• Day at leisure to relax or hike in the Hakone area. Guests can enjoy the ryokan and its hot springs or explore the surrounding trails and natural landscapes at their own pace.
• Dinner on your own.
• Dinner at the ryokan.
• Overnight at the ryokan.

❖ Meals included: Breakfast / Accommodation: 3* hotel / Transport: Air-conditioned vehicle and train.

• Meeting with an English-speaking guide and transfer to the station to take the Shinkansen train (TGV) with the guide to Tokyo.
• Arrival in Tokyo and discover the city:

– Visit the Asakusa districtAsakusa is one of Tokyo’s most traditional historic districts. The district retains an “old Tokyo” feel, with shopping streets, local stalls and a quieter atmosphere than the modern city center. Visit the Sensō-ji temple, one of Tokyo’s oldest and most important Buddhist temples, and discover Nakamise Street, the traditional alley leading to the temple and home to numerous Japanese stores and snacks.

– Dinner at your leisure in or around Asakusa.

– Visit TeamLab Planetsan immersive digital art museum based on interactive installations combining light, water and projections to create a unique sensory experience. Dinner on your own.

❖ Meals included: Breakfast and dinner / Lodging: 3* hotel / Transportation: Air-conditioned vehicle.

• Morning and early afternoon free to enjoy Tokyo at your own pace, shopping, sightseeing or relaxing. Dinner on your own.
• At 4:00 pm, meeting with the French-speaking guide for a discover the Shinjuku districtone of Tokyo’s most dynamic and modern districts, known for its skyscrapers, hustle and bustle and nightlife.
• Stroll through Omoide Yokochoan emblematic alleyway filled with traditional restaurants and izakayas (Japanese pubs).
• Dinner in an izakaya with “all you can eat” formula, to discover Japanese cuisine in a friendly, lively local atmosphere.

❖ Meals included: Breakfast and dinner / Accommodation: 3* hotel.

• Free day in Tokyo for personal exploration, shopping or rest. Lunch and dinner on your own.

Optional experiences (with English-speaking instructors):

– Sushi-making workshop to learn the basics of traditional Japanese preparation (rice, cutting, assembly and presentation). Supervised activity in English.

– Same sushi-making workshop + Japanese sake tasting to accompany the culinary experience.

– Traditional Japanese “Yuzen” dyeing workshop, a technique historically used to decorate kimonos. Participants learn the basics of drawing and coloring textiles in a traditional setting.

• Closing dinner at the hotel.

❖ Meals included: Breakfast / Transport: Air-conditioned vehicle and plane.

• Departure for Tokyo airport.
• Dinner on your own.
• Return flight to Montreal.

Osaka: Hotel 4* (or equivalent) 2 nights

Koyasan: Accommodation 4* (or equivalent) 1 night (accommodation in a temple, if available at the time of trip confirmation, otherwise return to Kyoto hotel)

Kyoto : Hotel 4* (or equivalent) 4 nights

Kanazawa: Hotel 4* (or equivalent) 2 nights

Hakone: Hotel 4* (or equivalent) 2 nights

Tokyo: Hotel 3* (or equivalent) 3 nights

International flights Montreal-Osaka and Tokyo-Montreal

Airport shuttles

Train journeys

Transportation in air-conditioned vehicle with professional driver

All accommodations (3 and 4 stars)

All breakfasts + 1 boxed lunch(ekiben) on day 11 +8 dinners on days 2, 3, 4, 9, 11, 12, 14 and 15

Overnight stay at a Buddhist temple (if places available at time of trip confirmation, otherwise return to hotel in Kyoto).

Stay in a traditional inn(ryokan) with hot springs(onsen)

All activities and admissions to sites shown in red on the program

Accompaniment by local French-speaking guides for all program visits

All taxes

24/7 support

Organization from A to Z

Visa (if required)

Some meals

Beverages

Tips

Personal expenses

Optional activities (supervised by English-speaking instructors):

Day #8:

– Tea ceremony: Immersive cultural experience including a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, with kimono.

– Making wagashi (Japanese pastries): A workshop on traditional Japanese sweets (wagashi), to discover the techniques and aesthetics of Japanese pastry-making.

– Experienceikebana (flower arranging): Introduction to Japanese flower arranging (ikebana ), focusing on balance, simplicity and symbolism.

Day #15:

– Sushi-making workshop to learn the basics of traditional Japanese preparation (rice, cutting, assembly and presentation).

– Same sushi-making workshop + Japanese sake tasting to accompany the culinary experience.

– Traditional Japanese “Yuzen” dyeing workshop, a technique historically used to decorate kimonos. Participants learn the basics of drawing and coloring textiles in a traditional setting.

• Please note that the itinerary may change at any time for logistical reasons, but that the list of activities and visits on the program is always respected. Please also note that the version of the program appearing on our website takes precedence over any printed version.