From bustling cities to quiet mountain villages, experience the distinct culture of the “Land of the Rising Sun” during this vacation to Japan. Start your trip in Tokyo, Japan’s capital, and see the Meiji Shrine, a magnificent 20th-century Shinto monument set in a man-made forest. Visit the Asakusa Kannon Temple with the Nakamise shopping arcade, and take a walking tour among the dazzling neon lights of Tokyo. Also enjoy a full day in Tokyo to explore this remarkable city on your own. Then stop in Matsumoto, gateway to the Japanese Alps. See the famous Matsumoto Castle, which dates back to 1593, and the Japan Folklore Museum on your way to Takayama. Here, your tour includes visits to the Kusakabe Heritage House for a glimpse of late 19th-century architecture and the Hida Minzoku-Mura Folk Village, a collection of traditional buildings, farm houses, and artifacts relating to life and work of local villagers. Next, see the unique Gassho-Zukuri (joined hands)-style thatched houses in Shirakawa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then head to Kanazawa to tour one of Japan’s greatest gardens, Kenroku-En, the “Garden of Six Qualities,” dating from the 1670s. Marvel at the Fushimi Inari Shrine en route to Kyoto, the former imperial capital of Japan.In Kyoto, visit the Nijo Castle, built in 1603 as the official residence of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu; Temple of the Gold Pavilion; and Heian Shrine and Garden. In Kyoto, have fun participating in a Japanese cooking class. Your trip concludes with a full day at leisure to discover additional temples, shrines, palaces, and pagodas on your own. A farewell dinner is a perfect way to end your wondrous vacation to Japan.
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