SСHEDULE & COST:

Dates: July 12 - 24, 2025

Duration: 13 days / 12 nights

Number of participants: 8 - 12

Cost per person:
- 5,950 USD subject to 12 participants, or
- 6,150 USD subject to 11 participants, or
- 6,350 USD subject to 10 participants, or
- 6,590 USD subject to 9 participants, or
- 6,790 USD subject to 8 participants

10% early booking discount (in case you book before February 12, 2025)

Everything is included, except for:
- International flight to Tokyo and back
- Japan visa (free for Russian citizens if received in Japan’s embassy or consulate)
- food not specified in the program
- health insurance

Approximate cost of the flight Moscow - Tokyo - Moscow 700-800 USD .

Single supplement: 1150 USD (provided along the entire program)




TRAVEL PROGRAM: tour to Japan

Day 1. July 12, 2025 (Saturday). Arrival in Japan

Arrival at Narita or Haneda International Airport. Transfer** to the hotel in Tokyo. Check-in at the hotel.
The program begins around 5:00 PM. Ahead is an evening walk through the central historical districts of Tokyo: the historical and business areas of Nihonbashi and Marunouchi, as well as the Ginza district, famous for its luxury boutiques, cafes, and restaurants.
Tokyo means "Eastern Capital" in Japanese. This name was given to the samurai city of Edo after the imperial capital was moved from Kyoto in the second half of the 19th century. This largest metropolis in Japan impresses travelers with its cleanliness, convenient transportation system, and the friendliness of its residents, who, despite language barriers, willingly help foreign guests.

*Recommended flights to Tokyo:*
- Air China, departure from Moscow on July 11 at 18:45, transfer in Beijing 2h 55min, arrival in Tokyo on July 12 at 14:30
- Any other flight arriving before 14:30 on July 12
*The included transfer will be provided for participants arriving on the specified flight to Haneda Airport. If you arrive at a different time and/or at Narita Airport, you will need to reach the hotel independently:*
From Narita Airport to Tokyo Station (the nearest station to the hotel), you can take the Narita Express high-speed train. The one-way ticket costs about $20, and the journey takes about an hour. From Tokyo Station to the hotel, you can take a taxi. A taxi ride takes 8-15 minutes and costs approximately $10 per car.
From Haneda Airport, you can take a taxi to the hotel, which takes about 35 minutes (without traffic) and costs $70-$80 per car.
Limousine buses and trains also run from the airports to the city center, costing $15-$20 per person.

Meals included: none
Accommodation: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ginza Premier 4* or similar


Day 2. July 13, 2025 (Sunday). Tokyo. Historic District of Asakusa – Interactive Museum teamLab – Shibuya – Akihabara

Breakfast at the hotel. We continue exploring Tokyo!
Our first stop is the historic district of Asakusa, which has preserved the charm and atmosphere of the old city. Here, we will visit Sensoji Temple, the oldest Buddhist temple in the Japanese capital, founded in 645. We will also see the famous Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) with its giant red lantern, a symbol of Tokyo.
The interactive digital art museum teamLab, which we will visit next, is a fascinating show where unique art installations are created using light and shadow. In this amazing space, the boundaries of usual perception and reality are erased. Let's dive into a fascinating journey through worlds reminiscent of scenes from computer games.
We will then visit the world-famous Shibuya Crossing, the busiest intersection in Tokyo and one of the liveliest in the world. When the light turns green, hundreds of people, sometimes even up to a thousand during peak hours, cross the streets in all directions simultaneously. We will also see the statue of Hachiko, the faithful dog, as well as explore Akihabara, the district famous for electronics, neon lights, and maid cafes.
We will also visit the Ninja Museum, where we’ll participate in a master class. Lunch will be provided during the tour.
Return to the hotel in the evening.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ginza Premier 4* or similar


Day 3. July 14, 2025 (Monday). Kamakura. Temples Kotokuin, Hasedera, Zeniarai Benten – Transfer to Kyoto

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. Meet your guide in the hotel lobby.
We head to Kamakura, a small resort town located just over an hour from Tokyo. Once an important political center of Japan, Kamakura was the residence of the Minamoto shogun family in the 12th–14th centuries. Its impressive temples and shrines stand as reminders of its glorious past.
Kotokuin is a Pure Land Buddhist temple in Kamakura, famous for its impressive bronze Great Buddha statue that towers over 13 meters in the open air. The Great Buddha of Kamakura, depicting Amida Buddha, is a national treasure and one of the most recognizable symbols of Japan.
Founded in the 13th century, Hasedera Temple is one of the most picturesque temples in Kamakura, known primarily for its nine-meter statue of the Bodhisattva Kannon, who, according to legend, arrived by sea. But the temple complex also preserves many other interesting details. The hill on which the temple is located offers a magnificent view of Kamakura and the Pacific coast. Numerous statues of the Bodhisattva Jizo stand along the steps leading to the top, and at the foot of the hill there is a cave dedicated to the goddess Benzaiten and a garden with a pond surrounded by peonies, maples and apricot trees.
Then we will see the Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine, the main attraction of which is a cave with a spring, the water of which, according to legend, grants good luck and prosperity. It is believed that if you wash money in it, it will double, so everyone who wants to get the blessing of the goddess of prosperity, clean coins and banknotes in the spring and increase their wealth comes here.
Lunch during the excursion. Transfer to Kyoto by high-speed Shinkansen train.
Meet the guide on the platform, transfer to the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto-Shijyokarasuma 4* or similar


Day 4. July 15, 2025 (Tuesday). Kyoto. Golden Pavilion Kinkaku-ji - Ryoan-ji Temple - Nishiki Market - Kaiseki Dinner

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, we will explore Kyoto, the cultural center of modern Japan.
We will visit the city's most iconic landmark, the Golden Pavilion Kinkakuji, and its unique landscaped garden. Built in the late 14th century, the complex features a three-story pavilion covered in sheets of pure gold, reflecting beautifully in the tranquil waters of the Mirror Pond, left a deep mark on the minds of contemporaries and subsequent generations. The UNESCO World Heritage site also includes a traditional strolling garden, small waterfalls, and a teahouse.
Next, we will visit Ryoan-ji Temple, founded in the mid-15th century in northern Kyoto. It is famous for its renowned rock garden "karesansui." This garden, considered one of the finest examples of Japanese landscape art, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. For centuries, it has attracted visitors who strive to unravel its mystery: why can only 14 of the 15 stones be seen at any given time?
We’ll then explore the central historical quarters of the old capital, including Yasaka Shrine and the Gion district. In Gion, you'll stroll through charming streets with traditional wooden townhouses known as "machiya" and may spot geishas and their apprentices, maiko, hurrying about their daily activities. Geishas still reside in Gion and entertain guests in the evenings with dance performances, conversations, and engaging games at the table.
Lunch will be included during the tour.
Later, we’ll visit Nishiki Market, located on a narrow covered street parallel to one of Kyoto's main avenues. It features more than 100 shops and restaurants dedicated to culinary delights. Here, you’ll find fresh seafood, vegetables, Kyoto-style pickles, sweets, as well as kitchenware, knives, and teas.
In the evening, we will enjoy a Kaiseki-ryori style dinner – a traditional Japanese haute cuisine that consists of an elegant set of dishes served in a specific order. Kaiseki dishes are made from local ingredients and served on beautifully arranged plates with meticulous attention to detail. Such a dinner is not merely a meal but a gastronomic ritual emphasizing balance and aesthetic pleasure.
The dinner will be accompanied by geishas in a traditional Japanese restaurant. During the evening, you can interact with the geisha and her apprentice maiko, ask questions, and take photos. The girls will perform the traditional Kyoto dance "Kyo-mai" and play entertaining games with the guests.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, Kaiseki-ryori style dinner
Accommodation: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto-Shijyokarasuma 4* or similar


Day 5. July 16, 2025 (Wednesday). Kyoto. Sanjusangendo Temple - Nijo Palace - Samurai Swordsmanship Workshop - Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, we will explore the fascinating samurai history of Kyoto.
We begin with Sanjusangendo Temple, also known as Rengeoin Temple, built in the 12th century. The temple is famous for housing 1001 statues of the Thousand-Armed Kannon Bodhisattva of Mercy, arranged in rows in the main hall. The statues are surrounded by images of heavenly protectors and the gods of Wind and Thunder. To accommodate all the statues, each life-sized, the main hall was built 120 meters long with 33 bays (hence the name “Sanjusangendo”).
Next, we visit the Nijo Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the early 17th century by the powerful shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, the palace served as his residence during visits to the Imperial capital. The complex includes the luxurious Ninomaru Palace, renowned for its interiors painted by masters of the Kano school, decorated with gold and wood carvings. The exquisite garden, which was enjoyed by the Tokugawa shoguns, was designed by the tea master and landscape artist Kobori Enshu.
We will conduct a master class on samurai swordsmanship in a traditional samurai house and immerse ourselves in meditation with singing bowls.
Lunch during the excursion.
In the afternoon, we head to Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, one of Kyoto’s most significant spiritual centers and the main shrine for the Inari network of over 30,000 shrines across Japan. The deity Inari, to whom the shrine is dedicated, is the patron of rice cultivation, craftsmanship, and commerce. As a sign of gratitude, offerings to Inari are often given in the form of torii gates. The popularity of Inari is reflected in the countless red torii gates forming pathways that lead from the main altar to the top of the mountain.
In the evening, we have the opportunity to experience the Yoiyama festivities of the Gion Matsuri on the streets of Kyoto. The central streets, closed to traffic, will host festival floats, food stalls, and vendors selling souvenirs. We will immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese festival, complete with music and fun.
Return to the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto-Shijyokarasuma 4* or similar


Day 6. July 17, 2025 (Thursday). Gion Matsuri Festival in Kyoto

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will visit one of the most colorful and oldest festivals in Kyoto! Only once a year you can see a procession of graceful floats with your own eyes and learn more about the traditions and ancient culture of the locals.
The Gion Matsuri Festival is one of the three main festivals in Kyoto. The festivities surrounding the Gion Matsuri stretch throughout July, but the peak of the festival is on July 17, when a parade of giant floats decorated with ancient treasures of the city's residents passes through the city.
During the festival, we will be able to enjoy colorful processions, traditional dances and music, and also try a variety of treats. We will see how huge platforms decorated with flowers and bright fabrics pass through the streets of the city, followed by musicians and dancers in traditional costumes.
Lunch during the excursion.
In the evening we will visit the mysteries of the Gion Festival, when portable shrines "mikoshi" with three deities of the Yasaka-jinja shrine are carried around the city.
Return to the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto-Shijyokarasuma 4* or similar


Day 7. July 18, 2025 (Friday). The ancient capital of Nara. Horyu-ji Temple Complex - Todai-ji Great Eastern Temple - Kasuga Shrine

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Nara and city tour.
We go to the Horyu-ji Temple Complex - one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan with the world/s oldest wooden buildings. It is believed that the temple was founded in 607 by Prince Shotoku and in 1993 it was the first in Japan to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
We will also visit the largest wooden structure in the world - Todai-ji Great Eastern Temple with a Buddha pavilion, built in the 8th century by order of the emperor and with donations from all over the country, the temple houses the largest bronze statue of Buddha in Japan, which required almost all the bronze produced at that time. Kasuga Shrine is one of the most revered Shinto shrines in Japan, known for its unique kasuga-zukuri style of architecture, thousands of stone and bronze lanterns decorating the approaches and grounds of the shrine, and an ancient forest where sacred deer, revered as messengers of the gods, roam freely.
Lunch during the excursion. Return to Kyoto.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto-Shijyokarasuma 4* or similar


Day 8. July 19, 2025 (Saturday). Himeji-jo White Heron Castle - transfer to Hiroshima - Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Dome

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Himeji by high-speed Shinkansen train (2nd class).
We will go on a walking tour of Himeji, where we will visit Himeji-jo White Heron Castle. This is one of 12 surviving historical castles in Japan and, perhaps, the most beautiful of them, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the early 17th century, it was second in size and splendor only to the lost Edo Castle, the former residence of the Tokugawa shoguns. The castle, which for 400 years has escaped destruction from wars, fires and natural disasters, has become the filming location for many historical films.
Its defensive secrets, stories about spirits and gods, and graceful white walls gave it the name "White Heron Castle".
Next, we will go to the Koko-en garden complex, which was laid out not far from Himeji Castle relatively recently - in 1992 in honor of the 100th anniversary of the city.
On the small territory of the complex there are 9 landscape gardens of different styles, walking through them you can not only enjoy seasonal flowers, but also learn many interesting details of Japanese landscape art.
Lunch during the excursion.
Transfer to Hiroshima by high-speed Shinkansen train (2nd class). Check-in at the hotel.
Evening walk around Hiroshima with a visit to the Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome. The Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima is a place dedicated to the tragedy of the atomic bombing in August 1945. The park is home to the Atomic Dome, the ruins of the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotional Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park also includes the Children's Peace Monument, the The Rest House (a building that survived the explosion), Cenotaph for the Victims of the Atomic Bomb, Flame of peace, the Peace Bell, and other monuments.
Return to the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Sotetsu Fresa Inn Hiroshima or similar


Day 9. July 20, 2025. Miyajima and Iwakuni, transfer to Nagoya
Breakfast at the hotel, check out.

Today we will visit Miyajima Island and enjoy one of the three most beautiful landscapes in the country - the red Torii gate, located right in the water. During low tide, you can walk up to the gate and touch it. We will be able to admire the majestic Itsukushima shrine, which seems to float on the waves during high tide.
During the walk, we will also see the "dragon's mustache" pine - a unique tree with long branches resembling a dragon's mustache. This place has a special energy and atmosphere.
Then we will go to the arched bridge Kintaikyo in the city of Iwakuni. This bridge is a real masterpiece of engineering. Built in the late 17th century, it connected the banks of the turbulent Nishiki River, which separated the feudal lord's castle and the artisans and merchants' quarters.
Lunch during the excursion. Transfer to Nagoya by high-speed Shinkansen train (2nd class). Check-in at the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel 5* or similar


Day 10. July 21, 2025 (Monday). Nagoya. Visit to the Sumo Tournament - Nagoya Castle - Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will visit the Sumo Championship. This is one of the most exciting events in the world of sports, which many have seen throughout Japan and beyond.
During the tournament, we will enjoy spectacular fights between the strongest sumo wrestlers, and also learn more about the history and traditions of this sport. We see how wrestlers enter the ring, dressed in traditional costumes and fight for victory, using their strength and skill.
After the tournament, we have our first sightseeing tour of the city. We reach the snow-white castle, towering in the very center of Nagoya - one of the most famous symbols of the city. Nagoya Castle was built from natural stone between 1610 and 1612 by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu and served as the political and administrative center of the Owari domain for two and a half centuries.
Until 1945, the castle was listed as a national treasure of Japan, but was destroyed during the war. Only three towers and three gates of the third courtyard, part of the garden of the second courtyard, and the entire foundation castle along with moats, beams and gate foundations remained intact. In 1959, the main tower castle was reconstructed due to the donations of public organizations and Nagoya residents. Restoration and renovation work on the main palace of the castle was carried out in 2008 and was completed in 2022.
Lunch during the excursion.
Then we visit the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, which was opened in Nagoya in 1994. The museum is housed in an early 20th-century brick building that was formerly a spinning mill. The museum's exhibition is dedicated to the Toyota's history - from the time when the company produced weaving machines to the latest models of cars. There are almost 4,000 exhibits on an area of ​​14,000 square meters - the museum's extensive collection allows you to follow the history of the weaving and automobile industries in Japan.
Return to the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch.
Accommodation: Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel 5* or similar


Day 11. July 22, 2025. The Old Nakasendo Road

Breakfast at the hotel, check out. Today we will travel along the old postal road Nakasendo.
Nakasendo was one of the five main roads of the Edo period and one of two that connected Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto. By the end of the Edo period, its length was 534 kilometers, with 69 post stations along the way. Unlike the coastal Tokaido, this mountain road bypassed major rivers, not requiring boat crossings. The origins of Nakasendo date back to the 7th century, when the first roads were built to connect the inland provinces with the central regions. In the 15th–17th centuries, individual sections were combined, and at the beginning of the Edo period, Nakasendo received the status of a state road with official post stations. Some old sections and stations have survived to this day. In Nagano Prefecture, in the Kiso Valley, part of the road and post stations have been preserved as historical and cultural monuments and open museums.
We will visit three key post stations of the road - Tsumago, Magome and Narai. Each of them is a unique architectural complex reflecting the history and culture of Japan at that time. Here we will better understand how the postal system functioned in the Edo period.
Lunch during the excursion.
Transfer to Matsumoto. Check-in at the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Matsumoto Hotel Kagetsu 4* or similar


Day 12. July 23, 2025 (Wednesday). Matsumoto City Tour, Transfer to Tokyo

After breakfast, we begin our tour of Matsumoto and visit the Black Crow Castle of Matsumoto. It is one of the best surviving examples of a samurai fortress in the country. During our visit, we will enjoy stunning light source tours of the surrounding landscape, learn more about the history of the castle and its role in Japanese history, and walk around its grounds. We will explore the massive walls, high towers, and other design features that make this castle one of the most impressive structures in Japan.
Matsumoto Castle, along with Himeji and Kumamoto, is one of the three most beautiful castles in Japan. Its tower, the main designated National Treasure, the black wall has earned the castle the nickname "Black Crow Castle". In addition to the main tower, there are several secondary towers, including a moon viewing tower. It is believed that this is where the saying originated: the moon should be admired three times: in the sky, in the reflection of the moat, and in a cup of sake.
Lunch during excursions.
Transfer to Tokyo by high-speed Shinkansen train (2nd class).
Check-in at the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch.
Accommodation: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ginza Premier 4* or similar


Day 13. July 24, 2025 (Thursday). Departure from Tokyo

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Narita or Haneda International Airport**.
Recommended flights to Moscow:

• Air China, depart Tokyo on July 24 at 08:30, transfer in Beijing 2h 35min, arrive in Moscow on July 24 at 16:55**
• Any other flight departing at any time on July 24.

** Included transfer will be provided for participants departing on the specified flight from Haneda Airport. Other participants will need to get to the airport by taxi or public transport.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: no