Japan's Heritage, Treasures of Yesterday and Today

Baggage forwarding : in the morning, your luggage is transported by private carrier to Kyoto. You plan to keep with you a backpack containing your toiletries and a change of clothes for two days.

After Tokyo, you set off to discover the symbol of the country on a day on the shores of Lake Kawaguchi, at the foot of the Mount Fuji. You begin with a stroll through the traditional village of Oshino, before lunch break.

In the afternoon, you visit The Ichiku Kubota Art Kimono Museum, then you head to the famous Chureito pagoda to observe the panorama of the volcano and its distinctive silhouette.

In the evening, you enjoy a time of rest in a ryokan, traditional Japanese inn. You discover the onsens, hot springs, then share a kaiseki dinner, a seasonal meal served according to local customs. The night unfolds in the Japanese manner, with futons on tatami mats for each person.

Your journey continues towards the gateway to the Japanese Alps, Matsumoto, appreciated for its peaceful atmosphere, cultural life and pleasant streets to explore.

After lunch in the city, you discover its Matsumoto Castle (The Black Crow), nicknamed "the Black Crow". Its 15th-century architecture illustrates the construction techniques of the era and it houses Japan's oldest wooden keep.

In the neighboring Nakamachi district, two main alleys extend between old warehouses from the 19th century, now converted into cafés, local restaurants, shops and galleries.

You have the rest of the afternoon to stroll freely in this pleasant setting and enjoy the atmosphere of the district.

Dinner at leisure and night in a hotel.

You stroll through the village of Narai, the 34th stage of the Historic Nakasendo Route, an ancient road connecting Tokyo, then called Edo, to Kyoto around 400 years ago.

The site stands out for the good preservation of its historic town, maintained by its residents, which allows you to observe a set of architectural features representative of medieval Japan and the organization of ancient travel stages.

After lunch on site and a visit to the Nakamura residence, a former merchant house, you continue your journey to Kyoto, a city associated with the traditions that have shaped the country's cultural history.

Dinner is on your own.

Reception of your luggage, and overnight in a hotel.

Located approximately 50 km south of Kyoto, Nara is an ideal stop for a more peaceful day. A former capital of the archipelago in the 8th century, the city is home to monuments now inscribed on the world heritage list.

You will discover in particular the great Tōdai Temple, whose vast building stands within a park where deer roam freely.

You continue with Kasuga-taisha, a sanctuary known for its numerous lanterns, which is one of the remarkable sites of Nara.

On the way back to Kyoto, after a local lunch, you stop at the shrine dedicated to the fox deity, Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine. You walk through a unique atmosphere, following the trails lined with thousands of vermillion torii gates that extend up the mountain.

Dinner free and overnight stay in a hotel.

From Kyoto, you join the village of Ine, known for its funaya, fishermen's houses still in use, equipped with boat garages on the ground floor with direct access to the sea.

After a crossing of the bay aboard a local resident's boat and a sushi lunch, you continue your excursion to Amanohashidate, a sand bar covered with pine trees and ranked among the three most famous landscapes in Japon.

South of the site, you access a panoramic view of the bay from the Amanohashidate View Land, then you head to the Chion-ji temple. The surroundings are ideal for a short walk through the pine forest and along the sand strip, where you can get closer to the water and take a break by the shore.

Return to Kyoto, dinner on your own and night in hotel.

Luggage transfer: In the morning, your luggage is transported by private carrier to Matsue. You plan to keep with you a backpack containing your toiletries and a change of clothes for one day.

After your stay in Kyoto, you head south towards Honshu Island. Along the way, you visit Himeji Castle, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. This site showcases an example of feudal architecture among the best preserved in the country, maintained according to techniques passed down through generations. Its white silhouette is associated, in the Japanese imagination, with that of a heron spreading its wings.

You have lunch in Himeji, then discover Mount Shosha and its Engyo Temple, a religious complex whose architecture served as a backdrop for certain scenes in the film "The Last Samurai".

Dinner on your own and overnight in a hotel.

Located in the west of the main island, on the shores of Lake Shinji and facing the Sea of Japan, Matsue is often called the City of Water. The city is organized around one of the twelve authentic castles of Japan and is crossed by a network of canals that once participated in its protection.

In addition to visiting the feudal castle, the surrounding canals can be explored by boat, offering the opportunity for a ride in a Japanese gondola. North of the city extends the samurai district, where you can observe several preserved residences and tea houses.

Dinner is on your own.

You will receive your luggage at the hotel, where you will spend the night.

Luggage transfer: In the morning, your luggage is sent by private courier to Osaka. You plan to keep with you a backpack containing your toiletries and a change of clothes for one day.

The morning begins at the Adachi Art Museum, located near Matsue. You will observe a Japanese garden designed for contemplation, as well as works from the founder's personal collection of the museum.

You then continue your journey towards Iwami-Ginzan, the "Iwami silver mountain". Today a quiet village off the beaten path, Iwami-Ginzan once housed the country's largest silver mine, closed in 1920, whose activity marked the region's history. The site is now inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

The exploration begins with a bike ride in the forest, then continues on foot through the village, along its traditional houses.

Return to Matsue, free dinner and overnight in hotel.

For this final day of travel, you head towards Kurashiki. The canals that cross the old town evoke the city's merchant past. Its architecture is distinguished by buildings with white walls and wooden structures, former warehouses linked to rice trade, grouped in the heart of the Bikan District and connected by a network of alleyways.

A visit to the Ohashi house completes this morning of discoveries.

After lunch, you discover Okayama and its Kôraku-en feudal park, ranked among the three most renowned gardens in Japon, with the city's castle in the background. Created in 1700, this Koraku en garden in Okayama extends over 14 hectares and brings together tea houses, vast lawns, ponds, groves, hills, paths and waterfalls, organized according to the aesthetic principles of the era.

Late in the afternoon, you get back on the road towards the center of the island to reach Osaka City, a major city in the south.

You end the day in a lively urban atmosphere, meeting locals, in the heart of the city's illuminated neighborhoods.

Dinner on your own. Baggage collection, and overnight stay in a hotel.