Board your overnight flight to Osaka today.

Join a local guide and set out to explore Osaka, the birthplace of many of Japan’s well-known arts, such as Kabuki theater and the tea ceremony.

• Visit the massive Osaka Castle, which houses a museum dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the legendary leader who built it
• Stroll through Kuromon Ichiba Market, famous for its selection of fresh fish, vegetables, fruit, and other Japanese specialties
• Learn about the country’s culinary traditions and try takoyaki, a fried octopus ball
• Walk to Dōtonbori, one of the most colorful areas in the city and a haven for food culture

This evening, sit down for a Yakiniku, family-style welcome dinner with your Tour Director and fellow travelers. You’ll enjoy grilled meats and veggies prepared at your table.

Make your way to Kyoto, stopping in the city of Himeji along the way.

• Enjoy free time for lunch
• Enter Himeji Castle, a UNESCO-listed wooden masterpiece comprised of over 80 buildings
• Snap photos of the Otemon Gate as you enter and admire the castle’s white facade, elegant pinnacles, and striking 17th-century architecture
• Round out your visit with free time to explore Kōko-en, a stunning garden that’s designed to be pleasing all four seasons

Continue on to Kyoto, where you’ll enjoy a traditional shabu-shabu (hot pot) dinner at a local restaurant.

Start the day with a visit to the 14th-century Kinkaku-ji temple, widely known as the Golden Pavilion, which sits at the edge of a tranquil reflecting pond and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Later, discover some of Kyoto’s sacred spots and traditional flavors alongside your Tour Director.

• Enter Fushimi Inari, a Shinto shrine famous for its thousands of red Torii gates
• Walk up steps and follow the pathway of gates up the mountain to the Yotsutsuji intersection, and take in the panoramic views of Kyoto

Spend a free afternoon in Kyoto or add an excursion.

Please note: The walk through Fushimi Inari Shrine is one-way. You must complete the walk once you enter.

This morning, visit a local Buddhist temple and immerse yourself in the spiritual traditions of Japan. Tap into your unconscious mind during a guided Zen meditation at one of Kyoto’s temples, followed by a tour of its grounds and a matcha tasting—paired with the obligatory wagashi, a traditional Japanese sweet.

Spend a free afternoon in Kyoto or add an excursion.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home, or extend your stay in Naha, Okinawa.