Japan

After our arrival in Osaka, transfer to Kyoto and check in to our comfortable and well-located hotel. The evening is free to relax and rest after our flights.

This morning, visit the Zen rock garden at Ryōan-ji then head to one of Japan’s most enduring sites, Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion. After a bento lunch, continue to Nijo Castle, built in 1603 for the first Tokugawa shogun. Gather this evening for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

Begin today at Ginkakuji, the Silver Pavilion, taking a walking tour along a canal lined with cherry trees and Zen temples. We end at the Nanzenji Temple, known for its rock garden and art collections. After lunch at a local restaurant, tour the Imperial Palace, one of the largest vestiges of the emperors’ presence in Kyoto before the capital was moved to Tokyo.

Venture outside the city to the Miho Museum, located in a nature preserve in the Shigaraki Mountains and designed by Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei to house the Shumei Foundation’s collection of Japanese teaware and rare art objects. Return to Kyoto after lunch and visit the Heian Shinto shrine and adjoining garden.

Embark on a full-day excursion by coach starting in Uji, where we view the Byodoin Temple with its Phoenix Hall, one of the most famous structures in Japan. After lunch, continue to Nara to the Todaiji Temple to view its immense bronze daibutsu, or giant Buddha statue. Then head to the Nara National Museum, which focuses on artworks and archeological artifacts related to Buddhist art.

This morning, fly to Matsuyama, a bustling port town on the island of Shikoku in the Seto Inland Sea. After lunch, we devote the afternoon to sightseeing, including the Matsuyama Castle and the Ishiteji Temple, a Shingon temple that has been designated a National Treasure of Japan. Late this afternoon we check in to our hotel, a contemporary take on a ryokan, with tatami-mat rooms that are based on the tea ceremony room and feature Japanese traditional architecture.

Drive to the historic feudal town of Uwajima to roam the Tensha-en Garden with its more than 20 varieties of bamboo. Then head to the Date Museum to take in its collection of Edo period armor, paintings, and other samurai antiquities. After lunch, we visit the small town of Uchiko and explore a number of well-preserved Edo- and Meiji-era dwellings and storehouses.

Depart this morning by coach for the riverport city of Kurashiki. Embark on a walking tour of the well-preserved 18th-century merchant quarter that is now home to shops, museums, and teahouses. Visit the Museum of Folkcraft and the Ohara Museum of Art with its displays of Western impressionist works and traditional textiles, woodblocks, and ceramics. Dine independently this evening.

This morning, travel by coach to Hiroshima on the island of Honshu. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the striking Atomic Bomb Dome as well as the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, portions of which were designed by renowned architect Kenzo Tange and sculptor Isamu Noguchi. Enjoy another evening at leisure.

Today we ferry to Miyajima Island to visit the iconic Itsukushima Shrine and torii gate. The shrine and gate are special in that they seem to float on the water at high tide. Enjoy lunch on the island before returning to Hiroshima for a free afternoon.

Travel by train to Takamatsu where we visit the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum. Its collection includes 150 of the artist’s sculptures, many of which are still unfinished, preserving the working atmosphere of his studio. Stop for a typical udon noodle lunch, then continue to Ritsurin Garden, considered one of the most outstanding landscape gardens in Japan. This afternoon, we take a ferry to Naoshima, a small island in the Seto Inland Sea.

Spend today independently exploring Naoshima, a community devoted to cutting-edge contemporary art, with two striking museums, interactive installations, and outdoor sculptures. Naoshima is a place of discovery, with a unique symbiotic relationship between natural scenic beauty and art. Stroll among the installations and at the Chichu Art Museum before gathering this evening for a festive farewell reception and dinner.

Transfer to the airport for flights home or join the optional post-trip extension.