The Alpine Route Tour (Premium)

• Once we arrive in Osaka, our tour in the Kansai region of Japan begins accompanied by a professional, English-speaking guide. Osaka is possibly best known for Osaka Castle, one of the most famous landmarks in Japan that were built in 1597. It was the centre point of Japan’s unification during the 16th century between opposing forces on the island. Today, it’s a museum that has survived numerous disasters, including fire from a lightning storm strike, and was rebuilt several times where you can learn about the history of Osaka, feudal lords, and the building itself inside the 8-story castle.
• After the Osaka Castle, we take a lunch buffet at an Indian Restaurant and then proceed to your pre-booked hotel for check-in at around 15:00. Freshen up for a bit before we visit Umeda Sky Building, a prominent landmark in Osaka consisting of two 40-floor towers connected by a bridge at the highest ground. It is the nineteenth tallest building in the prefecture, and the high-rise building serves as a great viewpoint of the city landscape.
• We’ll also attend a Japanese tea ceremony (Sado) in Osaka, a very famous traditional event, but not to worry – you can keep your casual clothes in here. Enjoy an authentic experience in a calming environment as you learn the significance of tea ceremony and the unique taste of matcha. Bond with fellow guests and the host, ask curious questions about the tea, or simply drown in the exquisite taste of the unblemished tea.
• After exploring the area, we will take you for buffet dinner at an Indian Restaurant before retreating back to the hotel for an overnight in Osaka.

• Enjoy a delightful breakfast at the hotel before we tour Kyoto and Nara today. Our first destination is one of the most instagrammable spot in Japan, Arashiyama Sagano Bamboo Forest. This is one of the world’s most beautiful bamboo forest, located in Kyoto and is loved by both tourists and locals. You’ll be able to see many walk through the groves wearing traditional Japanese clothing. It is a long, satisfying walk to the end if you wish to enjoy the environment to the fullest.
• Then we head to the most popular temple in Kyoto, Kinkaku-ji. This is a Zen Buddhist temple, which also has the official name Rokuonji, “Deer Park Temple”. What makes this place fascinating is the top two floors of the Zen Temple, which is completely covered in gold leaf. On top of that, this was also the retirement villa of shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu who passed away in 1408, a descendant of the family that dominated Japan during their time.
• Before lunch, we’ll attend the popular Nishijin Kimono Show, which takes around 20 minutes. Watch how local textile crafters showcase their best works, displayed in the form of the famous traditional Japanese clothing, kimono. We’ll enjoy our buffet lunch at an Indian Restaurant before continuing.
• We head to Nara to visit Nara Todaiji Temple, a landmark of Nara. Todaiji means the “Great Eastern Temple” and serves as one of Japan’s most historically important Buddhist temple. It was part of the Seven Great Temples and was founded in the year 738. Within the complex, a series of massive buildings are built, with the Great Buddha Hall housing one of Japan’s largest bronze statues of Buddha Vairocana, seated at 15 meters tall.
• Nara is also known for the Nara Deer Park, which is popular with people of all ages. In spring, this place is flooded with people and deer alike who came out after a long sleep during winter. The falling cherry blossoms make this a popular spot for Hanami, an activity Japanese people indulge in while watching the flowers fall. We’ll take you for dinner at an Indian Restaurant before returning back to the hotel for an overnight in Osaka.

• We’ll check out from our hotel in Osaka to head for Hiroshima by bus, which will take a few hours, enough time to relax or enjoy the scenery as we ride past a few cities on our way. We’ll visit Akashi Kaikyo Bridge upon arrival, the world’s longest suspension bridge that connects Kobe to Awaji Island, that’s almost 4 km far. Enjoy your lunch at an Indian Restaurant Okayama after.
• Next, we visit the Atomic Bomb Dome, which is part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, after the tragedy that befell the city in 1945. Back in 1915, this was the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, where people showcased and sold products of Hiroshima and several art galleries were held. Then we move to the Peace Memorial Museum, which documents the aftermath of the destruction after a single atomic bomb decimated tens of thousands of lives. It is a symbol of Japan’s determination to advocate for the elimination of nuclear weapons.
• We enjoy dinner at an Indian Restaurant afterward, before finally reaching our hotel in Hiroshima for check-in and an overnight stay.

• After breakfast at the hotel, please prepare a small handbag and one big luggage courier for Nagano. Then check-out and continue on our trip to Miyajima Tour.
• Our next destination is Itsukushima Shrine located on Miyajima. To reach here, we’ll ride a ferry from Miyajimaguchi Station. Some of you may have seen the sight of the floating gate, and this is where it is. The torii gate of this shrine is unique as it was built over water and always seems like it’s floating when the tide is high. It is a national treasure and became a World Heritage site in 1996. It was built when water was swelling underneath and retreated far enough to reveal the dry land.
• After lunch at an Indian Restaurant, we head to Hiroshima Station and head for Nagoya, a city located in Ise Bay. Nagoya is the fourth biggest city in Japan, an urban city best known as the shipping hub in Honshu. Nagoya is dotted with museum, most famously the Nagoya Castle, containing artifacts and stories of how the city came to be that goes back to the 1600s.
• Enjoy your dinner at an Indian Restaurant before we go to our hotel, where we’ll receive our luggage for check-in and an overnight stay in Nagoya.

• After breakfast at the hotel, check-out, and head to Nagoya’s SCMAGLEV and Railway Park. This museum displays some of the most impressive high-speed trains and educates people on the advancement of railways in Japan. It features 39 full-size railway vehicles with one bus exhibit and a series of simulators.
• Then we go to FujiAntarctic Museum, which is a research-ship-turned-museum filled with amazing stories during the time it served as an icebreaker. This museum was made from the Former Research Ship Fuji that was part of Japan Maritime Self-Défense Force in the mid ‘60s. It parks on the port of Nagoya’s Garden Wharf, just opposite the Nagoya Aquarium. Once you’re satisfied with exploring the museum, we’ll go for an early lunch at an Indian Restaurant before heading to Takayama.
• In Takayama, Shirakawa-go Village Tour remains a major tourist attraction because of its unique houses. Locals of old times would build Gassho-Zukuri farmhouses in these remote mountains, which is a unique architectural style to this area. Gassho-Zukuri means “made like hands in prayer,” referring to the thatched roofs that look like hands pressed together when Buddhist monks pray. These houses are resilient, particularly during snowy weather, and able to withstand thick piles of snow without a single nail. Some of these houses are over 250 years old!
• After the village, we’ll have dinner at a local Indian Restaurant, before going back to our hotel for check-in. We spend an overnight in Toyama.

• After breakfast at the hotel, check-out, and head to Alpine Route. We wait at Tateyama Station and hop on a cable car to Bijodaira, a 7-minute ride up with a beautiful view below us. From Bijodaira, we ride a highland local bus through the snowy valley, a vast area just covered in white, an unusual sight guarantee to take your breath away. Up above, we have lunch at a Japanese Restaurant (Restaurant Tateyama).
• From Murodo, we hop on a trolley bus for Daikanbo, and then to Kurobe Daira by ropeway. Enjoy yet another fascinating view of the alpine-like view from the observatory located on the east side of Mt. Tateyama. We go down to Kurobe Dam Lake by cable car and take in the amazing view of Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. From the dam, we enter the Tunnel Trolley Bus for Ogizawa, and reach the foot of the Great Northern Alps. We meet our charter coach at Ogizawa station and be taken for dinner at a local Indian Restaurant.
• We head to our hotel next for check-in and receive our luggage. Then spend an overnight in Nagano.

• After breakfast at the hotel, check out and head out to Hakone Tour. We’ll head out to see the flowers at Fujiheiwa Park, also called Gotemba Peace Park. You’ll love the stunning views from this peace park, featuring an elegant view of Mt. Fuji, with your surrounding having the most typical Japanese decoration landscape if time allows. Enjoy your lunch at a local Indian Restaurant.
• Next is the Owakudani Ropeway, which is an observation platform overlooking Owakudani. This is Hakone’s most popular destination, which takes about 30 minutes to reach by aerial lift. Enjoy the unforgettable sight of the rising volcanic fumes of Owakudani during the cable ride as well as from the observation platform. You can also see Mount Fuji from afar on a clear day.
• Afterwards, we’ll ride the Lake Ashi Cruise from Hakonemachi-ko to Togendai-ko.Enjoy a sightseeing ride through the lake on a pirate ship, or any other designs that are available at the port. You’ll have free time at Lake Ashi for pictures and relax while taking in the tranquil atmosphere of the park. Then enjoy an early dinner at a local Indian Restaurant. After dinner, we leave for the hotel to check-in and spend overnight at in Hakone.

• We check out from the hotel after breakfast. The first destination on today’s schedule is Mt. Fuji 5th Station, if weather permits. Fujinomiya 5th Station is the highest of the 5th stations and is also a popular choice to hike as it has the shortest route up Mt. Fuji. The ride has to be one of the most fascinating experience as you’re served with the rare scenery of the majestic mountain and the beautiful valley below. Enjoy your buffetlunch at an Indian Restaurant before we go back down and continue with a tour in Tokyo.
• We start with an iconic spot in Tokyo: Shibuya Crossing. This is a popular scramble crossing, one that truly reminds us of the metropolitan, busy life of Tokyo. It has been dubbed as the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing, clocking at 3,000 people per period during peak time. And from here, we’ll head to Tokyo Tower, a landmark in Tokyo that was built in 1958. It is Japan’s second tallest building at 332.9 meters. Then we enjoy our dinner at an Indian Restaurant before returning back to our hotel for an overnight in Tokyo.
• We drive to Sumida River Line and board the Sumida River Cruise. Enjoy an exquisite experience as you’re taken through the river that witnessed the growth of Tokyo, which used to be Edo. With how gorgeous and crystal clear the water is today, you probably won’t believe how this river had no fish in it over 70 years ago because of pollution that came with the rapid economic growth. It became one of the first megacities and today, Tokyo is the largest megacity in the world.
• Enjoy your buffet dinner at an Indian Restaurant before we take you to the hotel for an overnight in Tokyo.

• After breakfast in Tokyo, we head out for Kasukabe, a city near Tokyo. This city is known as the setting of the immensely popular cartoon series Crayon Shinchan. This is also where we’ll find the world’s largest underground floodwater facility, meant to mitigate when the rivers and waterways are flooded during raining season. The massive concrete caverns are truly awe-inspiring. Enjoy your lunch at an Indian Restaurant afterward.
• Next, we go to Asakusa Kannon Temple, dubbed Tokyo’s oldest temple and remarkably one of the most colourful ones in Japan. This ancient temple was built in 1649 by Tokugawa Iemitsu and houses Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy, who’s also known as Guanyin in Chinese.
• Take a stroll along Nakamise Street, Asakusa’s quintessential shopping center right next to Sensoji Temple. It’s still bustling with life as thousands flock to the street to shop and eat while enjoying the old-Tokyo vibe. Then we’ll stop at Tokyo Skytree, which is an observation and broadcasting tower that looms over at 634m tall (outside view).
• Moving on, we’ll stop at another cultural landmark in Minamoto, the Odaiba Statue of Liberty. This Lady Liberty was originally a temporary tribute moved from Paris to Japan as France’s act of celebration of their ties for a year in 1998. It became so popular that a replica was erected in Odaiba in 2000. Not far is the Rainbow Bridge, another suspension bridge that connects Shibaura Pier to Odaiba waterfront.
• And lastly, you’ll love the dollar stores of Japan, the 100-yen shops. Also called the “Hyaku En Shop”, these places sell things at 100 yen + tax. A lot of things. There are stationaries, storage boxes, utensils – you’ll be surprised what you can get with merely 100 yen.
• Enjoy your dinner at an Indian Restaurant before we take you to the hotel for an overnight in Tokyo.

• After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll visit Imperial Palace in Tokyo (Outside View) for pictures. The inner grounds of the palace are not open to the public except for during the Emperor’s Birthday and New Year’s Greeting. Previously, this was where the Edo Castle, the world’s largest fortress during its time, was at. Today, the Palace has served as the abode of Emperors since 1868 and is surrounded by beautiful gardens, parks, and galleries that can take a whole day to explore.
• Then we go to Tokyo’s most popular hanami (cheery blossom viewing) spot, Shinjuku Garden. It is a traditional Japanese landscape garden featuring small ponds connected by bridges and beautiful rocks and bushes. The greenhouse within the national garden houses orchids and rare plants you’d only be able to see in forests and jungles. Previously, this garden was owned by a feudal lord during the Edo period before it fell under the management of the Imperial Household Agency of Japan. Enjoy your lunch at an Indian Restaurant after the garden visit.
• Next, we move to Renko-ji Temple, which is a Buddhist Temple located in Tokyo where the ashes of Indian freedom-fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was said to be preserved. A statue of him was erected here. This small temple has been very well-preserved since its establishment in 1594.
• Then we visit an iconic spot in Tokyo: Shibuya Crossing. This is a popular scramble crossing, one that truly reminds us of the metropolitan, busy life of Tokyo. It has been dubbed as the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing, clocking at 3,000 people per period during peak time.
• We head to Akihabara Electric Town, a haven of everything anime, games, and multimedia shops, most famously known for where the Tokyo Anime Center is located. It gained the name of an Electric Town after it flourished post-World War II as a town that sells everything related to household electrical devices as well as the infamous black market.
• Then we enjoy our dinner at an Indian Restaurant before returning back to our hotel for an overnight in Tokyo.

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel and check out when it’s time for your departure. We’ll take you to Narita Airport or Haneda Airport for your flight back home, taking back some unforgettable memories from Tokyo with TripFactory.