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.

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.

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.

OVERVIEW

Watch a captivating kendo performance and learn some of the basics of this martial art before spending free time in the vibrant Shinsekai district. Accomplished masters will demonstrate kendo, which is derived from the sword-fighting techniques that the ancient samurai practiced. As you will see, the participants wear protective armor and use bamboo swords to strike each other. The points scored depend on the targets hit. Besides discovering the etiquette behind kendo, you are welcome to suit up in traditional kendo attire and try this martial art firsthand. For a complete change of pace, you will continue to Shinsekai, a nostalgic district modeled after both Paris and Coney Island. During free time there, you might dine on your own, play vintage arcade games and browse the seemingly endless shops, many of them along the Janjan-Yokocho alley. The landmark that rises above it all is the Tsutenkaku Tower, a symbol of Osaka.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See kendo masters demonstrate their sword-fighting abilities.
• Don a kendo training outfit and try your hand at this marital art.
• Explore the dining, shopping and entertainment district of Shinsekai on your own.

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.

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 in the city’s famed sake district, two quintessential experiences 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 in Kyoto’s Fushimi Sake District, home to numerous local distilleries that have been perfecting their craft for centuries. Here, you will learn about the production of this beloved rice wine and be invited to enjoy a sip. 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

• Tour a Shinto shrine with thousands of torii gates and walk the trail beneath them.
• Stroll through Kyoto’s historic sake district, where traditional breweries have perfected their craft for centuries.
• 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.

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

Browse the bustling Kuromon Market, where you will see every imaginable gourmet delicacy, and learn to prepare your own sushi by following a chef’s instruction. The covered market holds more than 150 stores where everything from blow fish to fresh fruits to traditional sweets can be found. Expect it to be crowded and loud, which is much of the charm. Chances are, you will see fishmongers preparing fresh cuts of seafood, people dining on street food and others just milling about awed by the abundant choices. You may be offered samples, but don’t get too full as you will soon be making sushi for your lunch. The chef will show you how to prepare two styles of sushi. Nigiri sushi typically features raw fish atop a mound of hand-pressed rice. Then there is gunkan sushi, in which the rice is wrapped in a strip of seaweed to create a bowl for the various toppings.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Meander through the historical Kuroman Market, which specializes in fresh seafood.
• See some of the seafood that you may use to prepare your own sushi for lunch.
• Learn the basics of preparing sushi by following a sushi chef’s instruction.
• Dine on your lunch, which will feature nigiri and gunkan styles of sushi.

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.

OVERVIEW

Marvel at glorious Suruga Bay while riding a ropeway to a hilltop Shintō shrine and then delve into the Japanese culture by making chopsticks. While some people climb the 1,000 or so steps leading to the Kunozan Toishogu shrine, you will ride ropeway. More wonders await you within the shrine complex, a collection of brightly painted ornate buildings dedicated to the shōgun that unified Japan in the early 17th century. Be sure to notice the well-armed guardian statue near the Romon gate. Stop at Nihondaira Park outlook, which offers a glorious view of Suruga Bay and majestic Mout Fuji. You will experience Japan’s creativity at Sumpu Takumi Shuku, a cultural workshop where artisans produce traditional crafts using centuries-old techniques. There you will have the opportunity to create your own pair of lacquered chopsticks by grinding and polishing.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride a ropeway to hilltop Shintō shrine while admiring the views of Suruga Bay.
• Browse the shrine, which is dedicated to a revered shōgun that brought peace to Japan.
• Create your own lacquered chopsticks at a workshop for traditional artisans.

HELPFUL HINTS

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