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.

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.

Explore two of Kyoto's marquee attractions: the impressive Golden Pavilion and formidable Nijo Castle, a quintessential example of Momoyama architecture, which flourished 400 years ago.

Depart from the pier and drive inland toward Kyoto, an immensely historical city renowned for spectacular architecture, which includes thousands of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. Upon arrival,you'll have an exterior visit of Kyoto's most famous landmark, Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion). Built by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu as a villa in 1397, the three-story home was converted to a temple by Yoshimitsu's son. The Golden Pavilion follows the Shinden style of the Heian Period by being positioned at the edge of a tranquil pond. 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. View the exterior of the pavilion and walk through the peaceful gardens, marveling at the mirror reflection of the temple on the still pond.

After lunch at a local restaurant more history awaits you at nearby Nijo Castle, a fortification of cypress wood built in 1603 as the residence of the Tokugawa clan. An esteemed UNESCO World Heritage site, the castle is protected by a moat, stone walls, and ingenious nightingale floors, which chirp like a bird when walked upon to alert the guards of potential intruders. Despite its defensive elements, the castle was primarily a home. It's adorned with wooden carvings, artistically painted sliding doors and expansive tatami rooms, decorated in the traditional style at the time.

This half-day tour takes you to the outskirts of Kobe to scenic Mt. Rokko, for stunning views of Osaka Bay. You’ll also visit the Sake Brewery Museum, to learn about the tradition of sake making, which has been carried down through the ages.

Opened to the public by Arthur Groom in 1901, Mt. Rokko quickly became a popular retreat for foreigners. Today, Mt. Rokko is the centerpiece of a popular sightseeing and hiking area stretching over six miles. With an elevation of 3,000 feet, it is the highest peak in the mountain range that spreads 19 miles from the northeast to southwest.

A scenic drive takes you to Mt. Rokko, where you’ll reach the observatory at the summit via a funicular. From this vantage point, enjoy stunning views of Osaka Bay and the distant Awaji Island in the easternmost part of the Inland Sea.

Departing Mt. Rokko, drive to the Sake Brewery Museum. Designated an Important Tangible National Cultural Property, the museum was opened in 1978 on the site of an old brewery. Known for growing the best rice for sake production and its pure underground water, the region manufactures some of the most famous brands of sake in Japan. This old warehouse, converted to a museum, offers a realistic atmosphere. You’ll learn about the different stages and methods of the sake production. In the tasting area, you can try freshly pressed, unpasteurized sake, which cannot be found anywhere else. You can find Hakutsuru Sake products as well as original museum goods in their shop.

This half-day tour takes you to the outskirts of Kobe to scenic Mt. Rokko, for stunning views of Osaka Bay. You’ll also visit the Sake Brewery Museum, to learn about the tradition of sake making, which has been carried down through the ages.

Opened to the public by Arthur Groom in 1901, Mt. Rokko quickly became a popular retreat for foreigners. Today, Mt. Rokko is the centerpiece of a popular sightseeing and hiking area stretching over six miles. With an elevation of 3,000 feet, it is the highest peak in the mountain range that spreads 19 miles from the northeast to southwest.

A scenic drive takes you to Mt. Rokko, where you’ll reach the observatory at the summit via a funicular. From this vantage point, enjoy stunning views of Osaka Bay and the distant Awaji Island in the easternmost part of the Inland Sea.

Departing Mt. Rokko, drive to the Sake Brewery Museum. Designated an Important Tangible National Cultural Property, the museum was opened in 1978 on the site of an old brewery. Known for growing the best rice for sake production and its pure underground water, the region manufactures some of the most famous brands of sake in Japan. This old warehouse, converted to a museum, offers a realistic atmosphere. You’ll learn about the different stages and methods of the sake production. In the tasting area, you can try freshly pressed, unpasteurized sake, which cannot be found anywhere else. You can find Hakutsuru Sake products as well as original museum goods in their shop.

Explore Japan's third largest city, Osaka, on this intriguing half-day tour. One of the gateways to ancient Japan for traders from China, Korea and the Asian continent, Osaka played a vital role in the introduction of new technologies in ceramics, forging, construction, and engineering. Today, this modern port city combines historical and cultural attractions with all the delights of a Japanese urban marvel.

Following a nearly 1-hour drive from Kobe to Osaka, the impressive landmark of Osaka Castle comes into view. One of Japan's most famous castles, it played a major role in the unification of Japan during the 16th century. Built on a plot of land almost one mile square, the castle compound contains thirteen structures, designated as Important Cultural Assets by the Japanese government. The central castle building is five stories on the outside and eight stories on the inside, built atop a massive stone foundation that protected its occupants from sword-bearing attackers. Of particular interest are the tower's ornamental ride-end roof tiles, and bas-reliefs carved in the shape of crouching tigers, all gilded with gold. An engaging museum occupies the interior of the building, tracing the history of the castle from the late 1500s to the present day, and housing Osaka's most significant historical and cultural artifacts.

Visit Japan's oldest Buddhist temple, Shitennoji. Built in the late sixth century by Prince Shotoku, the temple grounds contain a five-story pagoda and a treasure house containing ornate mandalas and several massive wooden Buddha statues. Despite repeated reconstructions, the layout of the temple compound remains largely unchanged from its beginnings.

OVERVIEW

Osaka shines as one of Japan's most modern cities, yet it holds its past dear, as you'll discover by touring the Osaka Castle. Depart from the pier and enjoy a nearly 1-hour drive to the impressive Osaka Castle, which was first built in 1583 and now serves as the symbol for the city. Although the original castle was destroyed over the years, many of the key features of the complex still remain, including turrets and sections of the walls that border the surrounding moat. The existing version of the castle itself was built in 1931 to replicate the original. The steep, stone walls at its base are particularly noteworthy, as they rise nearly 100 feet, an architectural rarity in Japan.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Visit two iconic landmarks in Osaka that represent vastly different time periods: a classic 16th-century castle and a modern high rise made of steel and glass.

Enjoy a scenic drive around the bay and through the urban landscape that connects Kobe and Osaka. Stop for photos of Osaka Castle, an imposing fortress at the edge of a lush park with more than 1,200 trees. Built in the late 16th century, magnificent Osaka Castle consists of 13 structures that include gates, moats and gunpowder storehouses. The nine-story dungeon at its center is adorned with golden sea creature ornaments and is so distinctive that the government has designated the castle an Important Cultural Asset and the cherished symbol of Osaka.

During your visit of the castle's exterior, you will learn about the castle's construction, particularly its massive stone wall. According to legend, the stones were carried there from all over Japan to display loyalty to hegemon Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who built the castle.

For a modern perspective of the city, you will ascend to the observation deck of towering Umeda Sky Building. Completed in 1993, the twin-tower high rise offers a stunning, 360-degree view of Osaka and beyond to Awaji Island. Nearly 3 million people live in Osaka, so you can imagine the urban sprawl nearly as far as you can see.