Discover the gracious spirit of Old Japan on this full-day tour to three of Kyoto's most alluring sites. The imperial capital of Japan for over a thousand years, Kyoto is the cultural and artistic heart of the nation, best known for its Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, beautiful gardens and historically priceless buildings. Following a two-hour drive from Kobe, you arrive in the city of Kyoto, the old capital of Japan.

Visit Sanjusangendo Temple, famous for its 1,001 12th-century statues of the Buddhist deity Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy. Sanjusangendo translates to hall with 33 bays and the 33 alcoves display 1,000 awe-inspiring statues and a single gigantic sitting image of Kannon. Carved from Japanese cypress and painted with gold leaf, each of the multi-armed figures stands five and a half feet tall, and has subtle differences in expression and accoutrements, testimony to the skill and originality of the Momoyama wood carvers.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and continue your exploration of this historic city. Drive to Nijo Castle, with its immense walls and moat. Completed in 1603, the castle is famous for its nightingale floors, designed to detect the footsteps of ninja assassins and warn the residents of invaders. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nijo Castle is one of the world's great historical buildings.

You’ll also visit the magnificent Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), Kyoto's world-renowned and most photographed temple and garden. Built in 1394, the original Kinkakuji was a retirement villa for a former Shogun. The three-story Chinese-influenced Golden Pavilion has delicately curving roofs, with the walls and eaves of the second and third stories covered in shimmering gold leaf.

Visit a serene shrine and one of Japan’s most stunningly natural seaside settings, both lying in the shadow of majestic Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain. Settle in for a drive into the beautiful countryside that lies in the foothills of Mount Fuji. Japan’s national symbol and one of its most extraordinary settings, Mount Fuji has been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a sacred place and source of artistic inspiration. Prior to ascending Mount Fuji, climbers often pray at Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine, which you’ll visit. The shrine has been considered a guardian deity that prevents natural disasters and ensures easy childbirth. More than 500 cherry trees grace the surrounding grounds. Inside, there is a pond fed by melting snow and ice from Mount Fuji. The pond has been designated a Special Natural Monument and attracts pilgrims that come to purify themselves in the clear water. Next stop is the Mt. Fuji's 2th Station, at approximately 4,700 feet. You will have chance to see dynamic view of Mt. Fuji. The 2th Station offers stellar views of the mountain's magnificence. Last stop is the Mt.Fuji World Heritage Centre, opened in December 2017 and consists of three buildings. The central building is covered with the wood lattice and characteristic shaped of the inverted cone. This wood lattice is made from Fuji cypress. From the top floor, you will enjoy magnificent view of Mt. Fuji as picturesque.

Discover the gracious spirit of Old Japan on this full-day tour to three of Kyoto's most alluring sites. The imperial capital of Japan for over a thousand years, Kyoto is the cultural and artistic heart of the nation, best known for its Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, beautiful gardens and historically priceless buildings.

Following an approximately 90-minute scenic drive to Kyoto, you arrive at the magnificent Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), Kyoto's world-renowned and most photographed temple and garden. Built in 1394, the original Kinkakuji was a retirement villa for a former Shogun. The three-story Chinese-influenced Golden Pavilion has delicately curving roofs, with the walls and eaves of the second and third stories covered in shimmering gold leaf.

After lunch at a local restaurant, you'll visit Nijo Castle, with its immense walls and moat. Completed in 1603, the castle is famous for its nightingale floors, designed to detect the footsteps of ninja assassins and warn the residents of invaders. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nijo Castle is one of the world's great historical buildings.

Another stop in your tour is Sanjusangendo, famous for its 1,001 12th-century statues of the Buddhist deity Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy. Sanjusangendo translates to hall with 33 bays and the 33 alcoves display 1,000 awe-inspiring statues and a single gigantic sitting image of Kannon. Carved from Japanese cypress and painted with gold leaf, each of the multi-armed figures stands five and a half feet tall, and has subtle differences in expression and accoutrements, testimony to the skill and originality of the Momoyama wood carvers.

Spend hours shopping in Dotonbori, a vibrant entertainment district in downtown Osaka that boasts a seemingly endless number of stores and restaurants in a compact, easy-to-walk eight-block area. After being dropping off in the heart of the district, you will be free to explore for about three hours. You can stay longer if you wish and then return to the ship on your own. Either way, you will be awed by the dazzling visuals, as Dotonbori is known for its giant, often three-dimensional billboards adorned with everything from a giant crab with moving legs to Uncle Karl, the wide-mouthed mascot for a popular brand of cheese puffs. The sights couldn’t be more flamboyant and over-the-top. The collection of stores is just as spectacular. Most every imaginable type of merchandise can be found in Dotonbori, from exquisite designer fashions to quirky souvenirs. Sushi is a great choice if you are dining.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Spend hours browsing the energetic, visually stunning Dotonbori shopping district.
• Snap photos of the outlandish, oversized and inescapable billboards in Dotonbori.
• Be awed by the huge variety of merchandise and dining options.

Sample a selection of sake made with water from Mount Fuji and then visit a heritage center dedicated to the mountain and its influence throughout Japan.

A scenic drive through the countryside will bring you to Fuji Takasago, a sake brewery founded in 1831 at the foot of Mount Fuji, where its groundwater is most abundant. The water from the snow melt that runs off the mountain takes nearly 100 years to filter through the earth’s underground layers, leaving the water extraordinarily pure.

Following an enlightening tour of the brewery, where you will watch rice being turned into sake, you will be offered a selection of Fuji Takasago’s rice wines. During the sampling, you may notice that the Mount Fuji water imparts a mild taste to the sake. Being high in amino acids, these sakes are also rich in umami, a flavor associated with rice wine.

You will gain a different perspective of Japan’s most celebrated peak at the Mount Fuji World Heritage Center nearby. Its exhibitions include Japanese art and literature that the mountain has inspired and paper screens that show Mount Fuji changing with the seasons. Another highlight is the building’s inverted lattice cone sculpture that mimics the shape of Mount Fuji when viewed in the reflecting pool.

The center was named to recognize UNESCO declaring Mount Fuji to be a World Heritage site for its solitary beauty, iconic shape and deep impact on Western art. It may well be the world’s most famous stratovolcano.

Enjoy the unrivaled charm of Nara and Osaka, two of Japan's most historic cities, on this full-day tour.

Following a 1 1/2-hour drive, you arrive in Nara, the oldest capital of Japan (710-784), and the cradle of Japanese arts, literature and crafts with temples and shrines that pre-date those found in Kyoto. Modeled after Changan, capital of Tang Dynasty China, the exquisite city of Nara is home to eight World Heritage Sites, and numerous art and architectural relics classified as National Treasures and Important Cultural Assets by the Japanese government.

Visit the incredible Todaiji Temple, founded in 752, and best known for its Daibutsu, the world’s largest Buddha statue, sitting 49 feet tall. The eighth century statue is housed in an all-wood building, the Daibutsu-den, considered the largest wooden building in the world. Nara Park, commonly referred to as Deer Park, surrounds the temple. The tranquil park covers 1,295 acres of woodland and is home to over 1,000 free roaming deer. Considered messengers of the gods in the Shinto religion, Nara's deer are a symbol of the city and are designated a National Natural Monument.

Kasuga Shrine, Nara’s most celebrated, is dedicated to the city’s protector and is also in your itinerary. It is famous for its lanterns, which have been donated by worshipers though the years and are only lit during two Lantern Festivals, in the months of February and August.

Following lunch at a nearby restaurant, you'll drive to Osaka, with a stop to visit famous and imposing Osaka Castle. See the massive stone foundations, wing-tipped roofs with gilded decorations, and comprehensive museum displaying Osaka's most significant historical and cultural artifacts.

Behold a downtown castle so iconic that it has become a symbol of the city and then mingle with the locals in two wonderfully bustling shopping districts. Osaka Castle stands at the edge of an urban park with more than 1,200 trees, the majority of them ornamental cherry blossoms and apricots that bloom beautifully in spring. As you meander through the grounds, take note of the massive wall that surrounds the castle. Some of its stones were supposedly carried there from all over Japan to display loyalty to hegemon Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who built Osaka Castle. The atmosphere will become noticeably more energetic in Dotonbori, an entertainment district with countless stores and restaurants. The guide will point out and describe some of the more flamboyant sights – including the massive 3-D-style billboards – after which you will be free to independently explore Dotonbori and neighboring Shinsaibashi, another lively shopping arcade that seems to go on forever.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Stroll through the timeless park surrounding Osaka Castle, the city’s iconic symbol.
• In contrast, follow the guide through an especially vibrant market in Dotonbori.
• Enjoy free time in the Dontonbori and neighboring Shinsaibashi shopping districts.
• Be awed by the sheer number of people shopping in these two areas.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

See a remarkable array of attractions in downtown Kobe and come away with an excellent overview of its charms. The Buddhist temple Nofukuji is noteworthy for its Great Buddha, a towering statue erected in 1991 to replace the original, which was melted down for scrap to support Japan’s need for metal during World War II. Sorakuen Garden is an equally serene setting that surrounds a central pond. The camphor trees were supposedly planted nearly 500 years ago to ward off calamity. Architecture will take center stage in Kitano Ijinkan Gai, a historical neighborhood with Western-style residences that British architects designed in the late 19th century for foreign merchants and diplomats. They are handsomely furnished with period pieces. Kobe is also well-known for its sake. While browsing a brewery, you will see how it makes rice wine with high-mineral-content local water and a specific rice variety that imparts a rich flavor.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Behold the Great Buddha statue outside Nofukuji temple.
• Stroll the winding paths of Kobe’s only traditional urban garden.
• Walk through a neighborhood of unexpected Western-style architecture.
• See how Kobe’s uniquely flavored sake is brewed using traditional techniques.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Enjoy the natural beauty of Minoh Park while walking through a serene forested wonderland that is home to several Buddhist temples. Once you leave the urban sprawl of Osaka behind, the landscape will gradually become more wooded and less crowded. The sights will be especially enchanting as you follow a winding path of about two miles through a verdant valley and on to Minoh Falls. Along the way, you will pause for photos of Ryuan-ji temple, a spiritual retreat that Buddhists founded in the 7th century. The cascade will be equally soothing as the water gently plummets over a rocky cliff. Nearby, you will find Katsuo-ji, another Buddhist temple nestled in a tranquil mountain setting. The colorful dolls scattered throughout the complex are darumas, which are considered to be symbols of good luck and perseverance.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Leave the hubbub of Osaka behind and escape to Minoh Park.
• Walk through the wooded parkland to the serene cascade Minoh Falls.
• Stop at two Buddhist temples in tranquil settings that invite contemplation.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a relaxing guided walk through the Arima hot springs district and explore further independently, during which you may partake of the therapeutic waters. Arima lies in a natural mountain setting and although largely modern, it has remained compact and easy to walk. As you meander the atmospheric narrow streets of the historical area, the guide will elaborate on Arima’s more than 1,000-year history, the local traditions and the two types of hot springs. The so-called gold water contains iron deposits said to relieve skin ailments, while the silver water is considered a remedy for various muscle and joint ailments. During free time, you might dine on your own, shop along the retail street Yumotozaka and take advantage of the mineral-rich hot springs. If you prefer not to fully immerse in the hot springs, you could opt for a simple footbath that is immensely rewarding as well.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Gain an overview of the Arima hot springs on an enlightening walk through town.
• Learn about the different types of hot springs and the therapeutic benefits of each one.
• Spend free time dining, shopping and relaxing in the hot springs on your own.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

This mostly panoramic tour affords you magnificent views of Mount Fuji from both a hilltop outlook and a beautiful coastal pine grove so stunningly scenic that artists have captured its beauty for centuries.

Head to Nihondaira Park Outlook, which offers a glorious view of Suruga Bay and majestic Mount Fuji. You might also catch a glimpse of Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, perched high above the outlook.

Your scenic drive takes you to the seaside pine grove - Miho no Matsubara. The grove consists of more than 50,000 pine trees, including a 650-year-old tree thought to have mythical powers. The view from the shore with Mount Fuji lording over the scenery has been rated one of the top three views in Japan.

Delve into the culture of Kyoto at a Shinto shrine and at a sake museum, two quintessential attractions that reveal much about this former capital of Japan. The shrine Fushimi Inari Taisha is best known for its thousands of vibrant orange torii gates along a wooded hiking trail that leads to the top of Mount Inari. The names of the donors that funded the torii gates – which are dedicated to the deity of good harvest and success in business – are inscribed on them. The influence of sake will come to light while visiting Sake Museum, where you will learn about the production of this beloved rice wine and sample a couple varieties. While snapping photos of Teradaya Inn’s exterior, you will discover its infamous past, including a deadly 1862 political clash and an 1866 assassination attempt on reformer Sakamoto Ryōma. Free time in Kyoto’s historical Fushimi Ward follows.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a higher level of personal attention on this small group tour.
• Tour a Shinto shrine with thousands of torii gates and walk the trail beneath them.
• Browse a museum devoted to sake and sample some of the varieties afterwards.
• Pause for photos at an inn where several samurai were killed during an 1862 rebellion.
• Spend free time exploring Fushimi-ku, one of Kyoto’s many wards.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.