Discover Japan: An Educational and Cultural Journey

Arrive at Haneda airport. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by an assistant at the exit gates to take you to your driver and he will also hand over your IC card (8000JPY/person) and explain how it can be used and help you with your hotel check-in.

Rest up for the night to prepare for a fun day ahead! 

Accommodation: Hotel Gajoen Tokyo 

Today's activities are designed to introduce you to the intricacies of Tokyo’s history and its connection to Japanese culture. 

Visit the Master of Origami. His studio is located outside of urban Tokyo. Here, a master of origami stays strong to preserve the old Japanese way of making origami paper by hand. The papers are colored one by one by hand and dried by using the breeze. 

Engage in a Taiko Drum Lesson. Here, a famous Taiko master teaches local community with love and passion. Integrate, enjoy and beat the rhythm with them! Learn more about this activity here. 

Accommodations: Hotel Gajoen Tokyo 

Meals: B 

Take this day as a free day to explore Tokyo at your own pace.  

On this day, we recommend spending time in some of Tokyo’s most well known neighbourhoods. Here are a few areas of the city that you may enjoy exploring: 

• Shibuya is a vibrant and bustling district at the heart of Tokyo. Known for its iconic Shibuya Crossing, where a sea of pedestrians converges at once, Shibuya reflects the city's energetic pace. 
• Harajuku is a Tokyo neighborhood celebrated for its fashion, boutiques, and youthfulness. Harajuku balances tradition and modernity, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking a taste of Tokyo's evolving cultural landscape. 
• Near Harajuku is Meiji Jingu, a serene sanctuary nestled in the heart of Tokyo. Take a leisurely stroll through the grounds, passing by wooden structures, serene gardens, and barrels of sake. 
• Roppongi Hills reflects Tokyo’s modernity and sophistication. At its center, the Mori Tower houses the Mori Art Museum and Tokyo City View observation deck, providing panoramic vistas of the city. 

Accommodations: Hotel Gajoen Tokyo 

Meals: B 

Kamakura, a coastal town south of Tokyo, is steeped in history as the former political center of medieval Japan. It's renowned for its numerous historic temples and shrines, including the iconic Great Buddha (Daibutsu), a monumental outdoor bronze statue. 

Begin by visiting Kotokuin Temple, pictured above. Kotoku-in Temple has the symbol of Kamakura, the Great Buddha of Kamakura. 

Follow your tour guide to Enoshima Island, a small island in Sagami Bay and connected by a sand bar about 500 meters long. You must pay on site to visit. 

Around 4:30, you will head back to your hotel. Enjoy a free night in Tokyo.

Accommodations: Hotel Gajoen Tokyo 

Meals: B 

Enjoy half a day at your leisure in Tokyo. 

Visit Tokyo SkyTree, including the Tembo Deck. With a height of 634m, it is the tallest radio tower in the world. There is an observatory with a 360-degree panoramic view. 

Asakusa, a district in Tokyo, is known for its traditional Japanese atmosphere and historic sites. Its highlight is the Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple, surrounded by a bustling market and streets lined with stalls selling a variety of Japanese crafts, snacks, and souvenirs. 

At 3:30pm, be prepared to take a Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Odawara Station. Arrive at your hotel in Hakone by around 5pm.

Hakone is a picturesque town in the Kanagawa Prefecture, renowned for its hot springs, natural beauty, and the view of the nearby iconic Mount Fuji. It's a popular destination for both Japanese and international tourists seeking relaxation in its many onsens and exploring its rich cultural attractions like the Hakone Shrine and the Open-Air Museum. 

Accommodations: TKP Hotel & Resort Lectore Hakone Gora  

Meals: B, D 

Embark on a self-guided tour through Hakone. 

If you take a glance over the vast, dreary piece of land, you’ll notice a white pillar of smoke rising from the bare surface of the mountain… This is Owakudani, one of most famous viewpoints in Hakone, where you can observe the intense volcanic activity from up close. 

At Lake Ashi, a serene lake surrounded by mountains, a pirate ship cruise runs between the three ports of Hakonemachi-ko, Motohakoneko and Togendai-ko. Three ships with different designs sail on the lake, and the visitors can enjoy the grand view of the ships passing by each other. During the cruise, there will be a spot where the passengers can view Mt. Fuji, the red torii gate of Hakone Shrine and the lake all at once, so have your cameras ready. 

After lunch, you may choose the following suggestions before heading the other way on your cruise: 

Hakone Sekisho is a checkpoint, originally an inspection facility during the Edo Period (1603- 1868), built to help keep the city of Edo (former name for Tokyo) safe. 

Hakone-jinja shrine, built on the bank of Lake Ashi and a 10 minutes’ walk from Motohakone-ko, is a shrine with over 1260 years of history. It is said that the shrine is effective in bringing luck for competitions and economic fortune. 

The cruise will depart from Hakonemachi at 1:50, 3:00, or 5:35, and from Moto-Hakone at 2:00, 3:10, and 3:45. 

Accommodations: TKP Hotel & Resort Lectore Hakone Gora  

Meals: B, D 

Meet your tour guide at the lobby at 8:50am, who will bring you on a taxi from your hotel to the Hakone Open-Air Museum.  

The Hakone Open-Air Museum offers a unique and engaging blend of nature and art, featuring a wide range of sculptures and artworks set against the backdrop of Hakone's beautiful natural scenery. 

At 12:07pm, hop on your Shinkansen from Odawara Station to Kyoto Station. 

After arriving, we suggest that you visit Nijojo Castle. The former imperial castle, which was designated as UNESCO world heritage, has witnessed changes in Japan. 

Accommodations: Ryokan Kazuki 

Meals: B 

Enjoy a full-day private tour of Kyoto. 

Begin with the Golden Temple, known as Kinkaku-ji in Japanese. Kinkakuji is a Zen temple in northern kyoto whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. 

Move on to Arashiyama, a picturesque district on the outskirts of Kyoto, known for its natural beauty and tranquil atmosphere. It's famous for landmarks like the Togetsukyo Bridge and the scenic Sagano Romantic Train ride, and is particularly beautiful in the cherry blossom season and autumn. 

Located in Arashiyama, Monkey Park Iwatayama in Kyoto is a unique wildlife park where visitors can see Japanese macaques roaming freely in their natural habitat. Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama is home to a troop of 120 wild Japanese macaques that gather freely throughout the park, where they can be fed and closely observed from the park’s visitor center. 

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is a natural forest of bamboo in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan. The forest consists mostly of mōsō bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) and has several pathways for tourists and visitors. 

Walk to your next destination, Gioji Temple. Gioji is a quiet temple surrounded by trees and a luxuriant moss garden. The temple was named after Gio, a dancer from long ago who fell in love with the Heike Clan's powerful leader Taira-no-Kiyomori. When he ended their relationship, Gio retreated to this temple to spend the rest of her life as a Buddhist priestess, along with her sister, mother, and another of Kiyomori's spurned lovers.

You will be driven back to your hotel. Enjoy dinner on your own. 

Accommodations: Ryokan Kazuki 

Meals: B 

Here are some suggestions for your free day in Kyoto:

• Explore the Gion area, also known as Hanamikoji. Hanamikoji is lined with rows of teahouse houses with a Gion atmosphere, which somehow nostalgically calms the hearts of visitors. The area leading to Kenninji Temple is the most beautiful of all, with the cobblestone pavement complementing the surrounding buildings, creating an elegant scene.
• Visit the Yasaka Shrine. The most famous shrine in the Gion area and a patron of the arts with a 1,350 year history, Yasaka Shrine, or Gion-sha, is a beautiful site full of character and natural charm. 
• Stroll along Sanneizaka. The old cobblestone streets of Ichinenzaka, Ninenzaka, and Sannenzaka have prospered since ancient times. These sloping streets are lined with historic Japanese-style buildings that typify Kyoto, even including many souvenir shops. 
• Visit Kiyomizu Temple. A national treasure built in the early Edo period. The pillars of the main hall, assembled vertically and horizontally without the use of nails, are magnificent. 
• Enjoy making Japanese Traditional Sweets and Tea Ceremony experiences (90 minutes and reservations are required). First, you will begin by making yourself a type of Japanese traditional sweet called "Nerikiri". Then start the making process from the coloring of the white bean paste. You will continue with the Tea ceremony experience using Uji Matcha. Finally, you can enjoy the Japanese sweets you prepared along with your own Matcha tea. 

Accommodations: Ryokan Kazuki 

Meals: B 

Take the bullet train from Kyoto Station to Shin-Osaka station.

One you arrive in Osaka, you may choose to begin by strolling Dotonbori. The Dotonbori shopping street is one of Osaka's most popular tourist spots, lined with restaurants and eateries with flashy Osaka-style signboards. The Glico sign that comes to mind when one thinks of Osaka is also located here. The shopping arcade is lined with restaurants serving Osaka's famous as takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushikatsu (skewered pork cutlets), allowing visitors to fully enjoy Osaka's culinary delights. 

At 2pm, meet your guide at the Swissotel Nankai Osaka Floor 6. Head to the Osaka Grand Sumo Tournament.

The Osaka Grand Sumo Tounament period is March 10-March 24. The tournament lasts for 15 days, with each day featuring multiple matches between sumo wrestlers of ranks. Your tour ends at Edion Arena Osaka, around 6:30pm. Please head to your next destination on your own after the tour and ask the Guide Interpreter for explanations such as how to get to the nearest station. 

Osaka Castle, a symbol of Osaka, is a historic landmark known for its impressive architecture and role in Japan's unification. The castle park surrounding it is a popular spot, especially during cherry blossom season, and the castle's museum offers panoramic views of the city from its top floor. 

Kuromon Market is a covered public market that stretches around 600 meters parallel to Sakaisujidori Street in the Minami area of Osaka. The market has about 150 shops that predominantly sell fish, meat and produce, with other shops also purveying traditional sweets and low priced clothes and homeware.

Accommodations: Candeo Hotels Osaka Shinsaibashi  

Meals: B, L 

Have breakfast at your hotel, before checking out. Arrive at Koyasan Station. 

Explore and discover Koyasan. Here are some recommendations on where to visit: 

• One of the highlights of the Daimon is the Dairomon, a two-story, two column gate with three five-story doors. With its red color and large scale (25 meters high and 21 meters wide), the gate is a sight to behold. 
• There are more than 100 temples in Koyasan, and Kongobu-ji Temple is the head temple of the Shingon sect founded by Kobo Daishi, its founder. The head temple of the Koyasan sect of Shingon Buddhism was first established on this spot in 816 by the priest Kukai (known posthumously as Kobo Daishi; 774-835), the founder of Koyasan. 
• Those who visit Okuno-in Temple during the daytime can also see a fantastic Okuno-in Temple that is different from the one during the daytime. Koyasan ascetic monks and former chief priests of Shukubo temples provide guided tours. You will learn about legends,buddhist history and "Kobodaishi Kukai" the founder of the Shingon Buddism. 

After your tour, walk to Okunoin Mae bus stop. The guide will take you from Gokusho to the bus stop after your tour ends. Take the bus to Shukubo, and get off at Renge dani. Walk to Shukubo.  

Accommodations: Koyasan Shukubo Fudoin

Meals: B 

Begin the day in Koyasan. You may choose to join in on a morning religious service in your shukubo. It will take place every morning before breakfast. This ceremony is to show daily appreciation to Buddhist saints and also to hold an ancestral memorial service. 

If you are interested, you may also engage in sutra copying. You can have a quality time and find peace of mind by copying the 262 characters of the buddhist sutras (Hanya Shingyo). This is offered by your accommodations. 

Enjoy your morning in Koyasan before returning to Tokyo, for your flight out of Japan tomorrow. 

On your final afternoon of the trip, you may choose to visit any spots in Tokyo that you did not get the chance to see at the beginning of your trip. 

Accommodations: Hotel the Celestine Tokyo Shiba 

Meals: B 

Park Hotel Tokyo 

• (2 Twin rooms (22sqm), Queen x 1 room (22sqm) / Non-smoking) 

The Park Hotel Tokyo starts from the 25th floor atrium of Shiodome Media Tower. We welcome our guests with hospitality in the form of “arrangement”, one of Japan’s aesthetic values, expressed through the medium of art. Since ancient times, the Japanese have had the wisdom to integrate various aspects of nature into daily life. They have an untiring love affair with the four seasons. At Park Hotel Tokyo, in the areas of ART — Atrium, Restaurant and Travel, we offer our guests first-hand experience of Japanese aesthetics 

Hotel Gajoen Tokyo 

• (2 Executive Suites (2 double beds) (80sqm) / Non smoking) 

• (Executive Suite King (1 king bed) x 1 room (80sqm) / Non smoking) 

Hotel Gajoen Tokyo promises cuisine, hospitality and surroundings so otherworldly that it is known as the ‘Palace of the Dragon God’. It is a hotspot for luxury society weddings and social events. Today, the original retreat has been carefully transformed. A boutique hotel immersed in omotenashi hospitality that continues to welcome wedding parties and global travellers to Tokyo. Inside, past and present, classic and contemporary meet in perfect balance. The polished entrance hall contains the original Invitation Gate of Meguro Gajoen, enticing you in to explore. Look out for antique features such as ornately carved wooden panels and Japanese lacquerwork. 

TKP Hotel & Resort Lectore Hakone Gora 

(3 Superior Twin rooms (27sqm-28sqm)) 

Maximize your Hakone adventure with a stay at TKP Hotel and Resort Lectore Hakone Gora, located right in the city center. With its convenient location, you can easily access to the city's must-see destinations. The range of services provided by TKP Hotel and Resort Lectore Hakone Gora ensures all travelers get the most out of their stay. 

Ryokan Kazuki 

• Japanese-Style Room x2 rooms with bathroom, Futon, 15㎡ 

Experience a perfect ryokan stay here at Ryoan Kazuki. Conveniently situated in the Kawaramachi part of Kyoto, this property puts you close to attractions and interesting dining options. This 4-star property is packed with in-house facilities to improve the quality and joy of your stay. 

Candeo Hotels Osaka Shinsaibashi 

2 Rooms with 2 Twin Beds, Non Smoking + 1 Double room with 1 King bed 

Located in the centre of Osaka, Candeo Hotels Osaka Shinsaibashi features 4-star accommodation close to Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade and Mitsutera Temple. This property is situated a short distance from attractions such as Glico Man Sign, Manpuku-ji Temple, and Orange Street. The hotel has a sauna, a 24-hour front desk and free WiFi throughout the property. Its goal is to create a community-oriented hotel that warmly welcomes not only its guests but also the residents, fostering cultural exchange and interaction.  

Global Family Travels’ vision is to unite humanity and inspire travelers to take responsibility for the challenges and opportunities facing our increasingly interconnected planet.  Our mission is to Learn, Serve and Immerse, using travel as a means to build cultural bridges and to foster global citizens. Using tourism to help solve community challenges, we organize sustainable travel opportunities in partnership with local and global non-profit organizations and support many United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Learn more about Global Family Travels here!

 
At Global Family Travels, we believe that the most powerful way to learn is through first-hand experience. On this educational adventure, you will embark on fun adventures through a cycling tour, food workshops, and culinary tours and be immersed in the welcoming communities and culture of Japan. Our journey goes beyond the country's main tourist attractions, allowing the country and its people to be your teachers while you take in the charm and history of Japan’s various regions. 

These experiences are crafted to provide a comprehensive and immersive educational journey through Japan, offering unique insights into its culture, history, and society. Join us on this adventure to learn, explore, and connect with Japan in a way that goes beyond the typical tourist experience. 

Learning themes and experiences unique to this trip include:  

• Japan’s samurai history and traditional craftsmanship,  

• Hands-on culinary experiences through a ramen tour & bento-making class.   

• Japan’s unique geography and a visit to Mount Fuji.  

• Japan’s spiritual traditions by visiting historic temples and participating in sessions with monks.  

• Contrast between Japan’s modern and traditional aspects, and find comfort in authentic Japanese culture by staying in a Ryokan and Shukubo.   

• Visits to iconic landmarks, such as Asakusa, Meiji Jingu, and Mount Fuji.