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.

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.

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.

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

It’s a scenic 90-minute drive to 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, a colossal statue sitting 49 feet tall, making it the world's largest Buddha statue. The eighth century statue is housed in an all-wood building, the Daibutsu-den, considered the largest wooden building in the world. Stroll through Nara Park, commonly referred to as Deer Park. 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. Also visit Kasuga Taisha Shrine.

Following lunch at a nearby restaurant, you'll drive to Osaka, with a stop to visit the imposing Osaka Castle. One of Japan's most famous castles, it has massive stone foundations, wing-tipped roofs with gilded decorations.

Browse a waterfront market where an extraordinary variety of seafood is displayed and prepare your own lunch of sushi at a nearby venue. You can’t help but be awed by the sheer volume of seafood that comes right off the docks at the Kashi-no-Ichi market. Although you will see familiar items such as whole tuna and oysters in the shell, chances are you will see an abundance of other items that you may not recognize. Not to worry. The guide will translate their names on the signage, which are in Japanese. As an introduction to the history of sushi, you will stop at the Shimizu Sushi Museum and then sit in on short lecture by a sushi chef, a position that typically takes up to 10 years of rigorous training to earn in Japan. The chef will demonstrate the basics of preparing fresh fish so you can make your own delicious sushi lunch.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Wander among the countless stalls of fresh seafood on display at the Kashi-no-Ichi market.
• Learn about sushi at a museum dedicated to it and from a veteran sushi chef.
• Watch the chef prepare sushi and then try it yourself by following the chef’s instruction.
• Dine on the fresh sushi that you have just prepared.

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

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.

Delve into the world of tea through hands-on experiences that will reveal the cultural importance of the beverage in Japan. Your immersion will begin at a green tea plantation, where you will head into the fields with a wicker basket and pick tea leaves. You may be surprised by which ones are ready to harvest. During the workshop that follows, you will learn how to properly brew green tea, which is known as sencha. Factors that ensure a perfect cup of tea include water temperature, the proportion of leaves to water and not disturbing the tea while it is steeping. Visiting a factory where tea is processed will enhance your understanding even further as you will watch the workers perform each step. Later, during a traditional lunch – served with tea, of course – you might reflect on how tea is more than a beverage in Japan.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Enjoy hands-on experiences that involve picking, processing and brewing green tea leaves.
• Gain insight into the world of tea that is so ingrained into the Japanese culture.
• Relax at a restaurant while savoring a traditional Japanese lunch accompanied by green tea.

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 an authentic look at life in Kyoto, past and present, through a hands-on experience at a museum and by sitting in at a tea ceremony. The Samurai Ninja Museum offers a rare look into the Japanese warrior culture. The displays showcase authentic armor, swords and artifacts, many of which are centuries old. For a more interactive experience, you can try on the samurai armor and practice swordsmanship and throwing ninja stars. Participating in a tea ceremony will add another dimension to your understanding of Kyoto’s culture. As you will discover, the ceremony involves more than merely the beverage. It is also a ritualistic art form that has endured for centuries. For a candid glimpse at daily life in Kyoto, you will meander through the Nishiki Market, which has been operating downtown for more than 400 years. It is an excellent place for people-watching. During your free time there, you might dine on your own.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Browse a museum dedicated to Japan’s samurai and ninja warriors.
• Try on samurai armor and swing a samurai sword if you like.
• Participate in a tea ceremony in a historical purpose-built building.
• Enjoy free time in the 400-year-old Nishiki Market and stroll Kyoto’s main shopping area.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

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. The setting of Osaka Castle couldn’t be more serene as it stands at the edge of a urban park with more than 1,200 trees, the majority of them ornamental cherry blossoms and apricots. As you meander through the grounds, take note of the massive wall that surrounds the castle. 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 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 serene park surrounding Osaka Castle, the city’s iconic symbol.
• 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.