Experience Japan: Culture and History Tour
TOKYO
- Visit Yasukuni Shrine
- Visit the highest tower in the world, Tokyo Sky Tree
- Guided evening exploration of the Akihabara district or Tokyo’s “Electric Town”
- Tour the the Edo-Tokyo Museum and the Kokugikan Sumo Stadium
- Explore Japan’s famous cherry blossom at Ueno Park
- Tour the galleries of Tokyo’s National Museum of Western Art
- Visit Asakusa to explore the Sensoji-Temple, one of Tokyo’s oldest, most popular, and beautiful temples
- Visit Meiji Shrine,
- Explore the Harajuku district in Shibuya
KAMAKURA
- Day trip exploring the highlights of Kamakura, including the Engaku-ji Temple, the Kencho-ji Temple, the Daibutsu (Great Buddha) at the Kotokuin Temple. the Hase-dera Temple, and Komachi-dori Street
KYOTO
- Enjoy lunch at Kyoto Ramen Street (Kyoto Ramen Koji)
- Visit Kinkakuji , the Golden Pavilion
- Visit the Zen temple of Ryōan-ji, to explore Japan’s most famous rock garden.
- Evening walking tour of Kyoto. See Gion, Japan’s largest Geisha district; Miyagawacho, an entertainment district; ancient alleyway Pontocho; and more!
- Visit the Kiyomizu-dera Temple
- Enjoy an evening performance of traditional Japanese arts
- Wander through the Arashiyama Bamboo grove
- Visit Nijo Castle on a guided tour
- Explore the the Fushimi-Inari-Taisha Shrine
- Overnight homestay with Japanese families
HIROSHIMA
- Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
- Discover the surrounding Peace Memorial Park
- Explore Miyajima, a small island located just off the coast of Hiroshima, including Itsukushima Shrine
- Enjoy an Okonomiyak dinner
OSAKA
- Enjoy a stay at a traditional Ryokan
- Final evening in Japan as a group
An adventure through Japan with Evolve Tours
Learn about all new cultures and immerse yourself. Explore Japan and learn from its greatness.
Student trip itineraries are completely customizable for your group, desires, and needs.
Day 1 - Depart for Tokyo
Depart on an overnight flight to Tokyo, Japan via connections. (Meal provided on flight)
Day 2 - Welcome to Tokyo, Japan!
Arrive at the Tokyo airport. As a group, transfer to our hotel by rail and public transit to drop off our luggage, check in and get settled in. Head out to the Harajuku district located in Shibuya. Visit Meiji Shrine, which is the Shinto shrine that is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken.Enjoy dinner as a group in Harajuku, followed by guided evening exploration. Return to the hotel and make sure that we’re well-rested for the days ahead
Day 3 - Tokyo
After having breakfast, we’ll visit the most popular destinations near Ryogoku Station. First, we will go to the Edo-Tokyo Museum and the Kokugikan Sumo Stadium. The Edo-Tokyo Museum is where you can experience the life of merchants, samurai culture, and lifestyle in the Edo period, when Tokugawa Shogunate governed Japan in between the 17th to 19th century. Visit Ueno Park. Japan’s famous cherry blossom trees are an incredibly beautiful sight that millions of people travel from all over the world to witness. Next, head to the National Museum of Western Art, located in Ueno Park as well. In the later afternoon, visit Asakusa to explore the Sensoji-Temple, one of Tokyo’s oldest, most popular, and beautiful temples. We will eat dinner as a group at a traditional restaurant in the area before heading to the highest tower in the world, Tokyo Sky Tree, to enjoy a stunning night view of Tokyo from 450 metres above. Head to the Akihabara district for a guided evening exploration tour of Tokyo’s “Electric Town”, which is well known as a high tech hub, complete with thousands of electronics shops and a thriving base for video game culture.
Day 4 - Day Trip to Kamakura
Today we will take a day trip out of Tokyo to Kamakura. Begin with a visit to the Engaku-ji Temple, a Zen temple built in 1282. The entire premise around the temple is designated as a national historic site, and worth exploring. We will then visit the Kencho-ji Temple. Established in 1253, this temple was the first Zen dojo (school) in Japan. After lunch, visit the Daibutsu (Great Buddha) at the Kotokuin Temple. The Buddha statue here was made in 1252. Visit the Hase-dera Temple, a particularly popular temple to visit during the autumn leaves change season. Enjoy dinner and exploration along Komachi-dori Street.
Day 5 - Transfer to Kyoto
Transfer to Kyoto by train. Enjoy lunch at Kyoto Ramen Street (Kyoto Ramen Koji), a corridor of ramen noodle shops on the 10th floor of the station building. Transfer to our new accommodation.Visit Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), a Zen temple in northern Kyoto whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. Visit the Zen temple of Ryōan-ji, to explore Japan’s most famous rock garden. Enjoy a group dinner. After dinner, embark on a guided evening walking tour of Kyoto. Highlights may include Gion, Japan’s largest Geisha district; Miyagawacho, an entertainment district; ancient alleyway Pontocho; and more!
Day 6 - Explore Kyoto
This morning, head to one of Kyoto’s most impressive sights, the Fushimi-Inari-Taisha Shrine. After lunch, continue on to one of the most celebrated temples of Japan, Kiyomizu-dera. It was founded in 780 on the site of the Otowa Waterfall in the wooded hills just east of Kyoto, and derives its name from the fall’s pure waters. Head out to a local restaurant for dinner in Kyoto. After, enjoy an evening performance of traditional Japanese arts, including a tea ceremony, music, dance and theatre.
Day 7 - Kyoto, Homestay
Start this morning early with one of the most breathtaking Kyoto experiences, wandering through the Arashiyama Bamboo grove. We’ll walk along the paths through towering bamboo stalks that seem to continue endlessly. Enjoy lunch in the Arashiyama district. Afterwards, we’ll depart back to central Kyoto to visit Nijo Castle (Nijojo), one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, and an UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the late afternoon, we will transfer to enjoy an evening of homestay in traditional Japanese homes. Spend the evening and night with a local Japanese family. Participate in meal prep, cultural activities, and exchange dialogue with a Japanese family.
Day 8 - Transfer to Hiroshima, Miyajima
Gather back as a group after or homestay evening. Enjoy an early breakfast as a group before departing on a high speed bullet train to Hiroshima. Then it’s time to head out to Miyajima, a small island located just off the coast of Hiroshima, and ranked one of Japan’s three best scenic spots. Wander along the walking trails on the “Island of Gods”, see wild deer and visit the Itsukushima Shrine. After spending the afternoon here, we will return to the mainland by ferry and head back to Hiroshima.Enjoy a unique “Japanese pancake” dinner at an Okonomiyaki restaurant dinner in Hiroshima, followed by evening exploration.
Day 9 - Tour Hiroshima, Transfer to Osaka
Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and explore the surrounding Peace Memorial Park. The Peace Museum educates visitors on the events of the atomic bombing that occurred here during World War II. In the park, see the remains of a one of the only buildings that was struck by the explosion and remained upright, the former Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall now known as the A-Bomb Dome. Transfer to Osaka. On arrival, settle into our new accommodations. Here we will be staying at a Ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn that originated in the Edo period (1603–1868). Osaka is nicknamed ‘the nation’s kitchen’, so we will have chances to eat various cuisines here. Enjoy our final group dinner.
Day 10 - Kyoto
Transfer to the airport by public transit. Begin our journey home after an amazing trip to Japan together.
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FlightTrip includes Round Trip Airfare
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TrainsOur trip includes Japan Rail Train Passes which rides on local trains and on the Shinkansen- the bullet train
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Public Transit & BusMix of private bus transfers and using the public transit system.
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Hotels or HostelsDepending on the size of group, budget and itinerary we can organize accommodations to suit the groups needs; including Ryokans which are traditional Japanese accomodations
Out trips in Japan include high quality western style and Japanese foods with plenty of variety
In 1639 Japan closed itself off from the rest of the world, no one could come in and no one could leave…except for the dutch.
Places You’ll Visit
Tokyo
A booming metropolis with tons of sites for groups to check out.
Hiroshima
A city destroyed by an atomic bomb during world war 2, now promoting peace to all who come to visit.
Osaka
Here we will see the Osaka Jo- one of Japan's most famous landmarks
Kyoto
Famous for the Cherry Blossom festival and magnificent temples that dot the city.
