DAY 1 – TOKYO (YOKOHAMA), JAPAN
Dazzling cityscapes await your exploration; visit Asakusa for the bright lights, street fairs and Senso-ji Temple; the Tsukiji Market, the largest open-air fish market in the world with on-the-spot sushi; and the Imperial Palace’s East Garden for some calm. Spend the evening in the bright, active Ginza District, where the night comes alive.
DAY 2 – NAGOYA, JAPAN
A center of modern commerce, yet steeped in ancient history; visit the castle in the center of town, its golden orca statues are a symbol of the city. Explore Toyota’s Museum of Technology and tour the Noritake factory, where bargains on the fine china can be found.
DAY 3 – KOCHI, JAPAN
Not the typical Japanese city, small and compact Kochi has gained a well-deserved reputation for its exuberant, easy-going spirit and vibrant food scene. The city is the birthplace of the legendary samurai Sakamoto Ryoma, who created an alliance that eventually brought down the Tokugawa shogunate and is now commemorated in a memorial museum. In the city center, don’t miss the well-preserved hilltop Kochi Castle to explore the grounds where the city was established in 1601. You might continue your downtown explorations at one of the many pedestrian shopping arcades or at a restaurant to try Kochi’s most famous dish – katsuo-no-tataki, a savory dish of grilled, ponzu-marinated skipjack tuna or bonito fish.
DAY 4 – KAGOSHIMA, JAPAN
Visit the exquisite Iso-Teien Garden and its villa, built in 1660, and enjoy its gorgeous views before a short ferry ride to smoking Sakurajima for a close-up view of the volcano and its lava fields. Or journey into the countryside to Chiran and its well-preserved streets lined with samurai homes. Enjoy the beautiful landscape of Lake Ikeda and the stunning vistas of the Satsuma Peninsula.
DAY 5 – SASEBO, JAPAN
Located on the western edge of Japan, Sasebo is renowned for its natural beauty with relics of traditional, centuries-old culture existing alongside contemporary architecture and resorts. The nearby verdant Kujuku Islands make for a perfect afternoon of exploration by boat or kayak, and the Zoological and Tropical Botanical Garden offers an up-close look at the area’s flora and fauna. The morning market, Asaichi, is a celebrated cultural experience filled with locals selling fresh produce, fish and handmade clothing and pottery.
DAY 6 – BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA
From trendy cafes and famous fish markets to sacred temples and traditional tea ceremonies, Busan, the second largest city in South Korea is bursting with flavors and culture. Take a walk in the relaxing Yongdusan Park while admiring the various species of trees and a view of the Busan Tower. At the Hongbeopsa farming temple, explore the renowned large Buddha statues at the Main Buddha Hall while walking along a water lily path, or experience a traditional Korean tea ceremony conducted by one of their monks.
DAY 7 – HIROSHIMA, JAPAN
Visit the skeletal A-Bomb Dome, the Peace Memorial Park and Museum and the statue dedicated to the children who died after the atomic bomb was dropped on this city in 1945. Stroll through beautifully landscaped Hiroshima Gardens, visit the rebuilt Hiroshima Castle or journey to the exquisite sacred island of Miyajima and see the extraordinary Itsukushima Shrine.
DAY 8 – BEPPU, JAPAN
Backed by steep hills and mountains on the eastern coast of Kyushu Island, Beppu is known as Japan’s top hot spring resort city. Home to more than 2,000 hot springs, this picturesque city gives you a chance to experience its hot springs, mud baths, steam baths and even traditional Japanese black sand baths. To top it off, eight unique hot springs, collectively named Onsen Hells, offer entertainingly distinctive attractions. On chilly days, visitors are treated to the otherworldly view of steam rising throughout the city. Since Beppu is famously popular within Japan as a resort getaway, it’s an ideal place to rub elbows with Japanese travelers.
DAY 9 – KYOTO (KOBE), JAPAN
Visit the breathtaking temples and shrines of Japan’s old imperial capital, Kyoto, or explore ancient Nara, the cradle of Japanese arts, literature and crafts, with its magnificent shrines and temples that predate Kyoto’s. Stroll through Nara Park, famed for its deer and impressive Kasuga Grand Shrine. Then travel on to Osaka and its famed castle. In Kobe, visit historic Himeji Castle, a huge edifice built entirely of wood and tile.
DAY 10 – SHIMIZU, JAPAN
In the shadow of Mount Fuji, Shimizu is one of the most beautiful ports in Japan. Walk through the pine groves of Miho, home to a 650-year-old Japanese black pine, or enjoy spectacular views of Mount Fuji from the lush, forested hill of Nihondaira. Take in the seascapes on a bay cruise, or learn of undersea delights at Japan’s first sushi museum. For a historic angle, get a glimpse at feudal life in Japan in 200 BC at the archaeological site of Toro.
DAY 11 – TOKYO (YOKOHAMA), JAPAN
Dazzling cityscapes await your exploration; visit Asakusa for the bright lights, street fairs and Senso-ji Temple; the Tsukiji Market, the largest open-air fish market in the world with on-the-spot sushi; and the Imperial Palace’s East Garden for some calm. Spend the evening in the bright, active Ginza District, where the night comes alive.
