Classic Japan: Kyoto, Hiroshima, Tokyo & Mt. Fuji

A celebrated site, the world - famous Fushimi Inari Shrine sees millions of visitors every year. Thousands of bright red torii gates line the mountain trail of Fushimi Inari Shrine. Walking through the truly unique vermillion gate pathway is a visually stunning experience. Inari is the Japanese God of rice harvest. It is also believed to bless businesses with an abundance of fortunes, hence its popularity with merchants. The shrine complex spans over the entire Mt. Inari (233m/765ft).

On your tour, you will visit the main shrine hall. Then, you will proceed through the famed vermillion gate tunnel. Next, visit a temple that once caught fire and was reconstructed a century after it was first constructed. Then visit Sanjusangendo, at 120 meters it is the longest wooden structure in Japan. Inside, you will find 1001 statues of Kannon, the Buddhist saint of Mercy.

Continue to the celebrated UNESCO site, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, which is older than Kyoto as the capital of Japan. Built for Kannon, the Buddhist saint of mercy, this temple is said to grant wishes of all kinds - and especially so for women praying for safe childbirth. The temple is famous for its wooden platform stage, the Kiyomizu Butai. The massive stage was constructed out of wood and joints - no nails. At four stories high, it was once a popular wish-making spot.

Then visit Kinkakuji Temple, a favorite to millions of visitors each year, you will quickly see why this jewel set into the northern hills is one of the most visited sites in Japan. It is covered in real gold leaf and vibrant at any time of year no matter the weather. Your last stop is Kintano-tenmangu, a remarkable shrine to scholarship that was built to appease the spirit of an angry ghost. The shrine's surrounding entertainment district was first built after a fire in 1444, when a large section of the temple had to be rebuilt, and the remaining timber was used to construct 7 tea houses that became the first 'flower town' or Geisha district in Kyoto.

An assistant will meet you at your hotel and escort you to the bullet train station to board your train.

You will make your way independently (at own expense) from your hotel to the train station for your train journey.

On arrival at the station, make your way independently (at own expense) by foot, local train, subway or taxi to your hotel (depending on your hotel location).

Begin your tour with a visit to Peace Memorial Park. The area where the park now lies was ground zero for the Atomic Bomb on August 6th, 1945. After the bombing, Memorial Park was created and dedicated to those who lost their lives in the attack. Stroll through the park and discover the many memorials, monuments and statues in the park before heading into the Museum itself.

From Hiroshima, a short train and ferry ride will take you to Miyajima Island. A small sacred island located in the Island Sea, it has been a holy place of Shintoism since the earliest times. Here you will find perhaps the most photographed site in Japan - The Floating Torii Gate. Designated as one of Japan's '3 Most Beautiful Views', the shrine dates back to the 6th century with the present structure dating back to the 12th century. You will have time to explore the island and its many shrines and temples and sample local goodies like maple leaf-shaped cakes.

You will make your way independently (at own expense) from your hotel to the train station for your train journey.

On arrival at the station, make your way independently (at own expense) by foot, local train, subway or taxi to your hotel (depending on your hotel location).

Travel around Tokyo using the city's sophisticated and efficient subway and train lines together with your private guide to visit some of Tokyo's main sites. Start the tour with a visit to Sensoji Temple, Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple. After visiting the temple grounds, stroll along Nakamise shopping street to look for souvenirs. Then travel to the Imperial Palace East Gardens, a part of the inner palace area. The palace itself is not open to the public as it is the residence of the emperor, but you can walk through the garden grounds to see the moats, remains of Edo castle and gardens. Next, visit either Ginza or Tsukiji Outer Fish Market.

Experience the natural beauty of Japan on this unforgettable full-day adventure to Mt. Fuji and Hakone. Travel by coach to Japan's tallest and most revered mountain, the iconic Mt. Fuji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ascend to the 5th Station (weather permitting), perched 2,300 meters (7,546 feet) above sea level, where breathtaking panoramic views offer an unforgettable perspective of the surrounding landscape and, on clear days, stretch above the clouds. After enjoying a delicious Japanese lunch, continue into the picturesque Hakone region and ride the Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani, a dramatic volcanic valley where steam rises from active vents, showcasing the powerful forces beneath the earth's surface. Be sure to try one of the area's famous black eggs, a local specialty said to bring seven extra years of good luck and long life! From Owakudani, continue to Lake Ashi and enjoy a scenic high-speed cruise across its tranquil waters, taking in panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and, on clear days, majestic Mt. Fuji. End your unforgettable day with a ride back to Tokyo aboard Japan's world-famous Shinkansen bullet train.