Japan Art & Gardens: Kyoto, Naoshima, Okayama & More

On arrival at Osaka's Itami Airport, you will be met by Goway's local representative and assisted to your transfer to your hotel in Kyoto. The balance of the day is at leisure to explore Japan's former capital.

Start your full day tour at one of Kyoto’s most celebrated sites, the world-famous Fushimi Inari Shrine. The shrine complex spans over the entire Mt. Inari (233m/765ft) and thousands of bright red torii gates line the mountain trail. You will visit the main shrine hall and the famed vermillion gate tunnel.

Next, travel to central Kyoto to visit Sanjusangendo Temple, the longest wooden structure in Japan. Inside, you will find 1001 statues of Kannon, the Buddhist saint of Mercy.

Then visit another celebrated site, Kiyomizu-dera Temple. This temple is older than Kyoto as the capital of Japan and is famous for its wooden platform stage, the Kiyomizu Butai. The massive stage was constructed out of wood and joints – no nails. At four story’s high, it was once a popular wish-making spot.

In the afternoon 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.

Continue to 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.

Explore the Kamishichiken district, every bit as charming as its more touristy cousin the Gion district, with the added bonuses of fewer crowds and excellent photo opportunities.

Arashiyama is a district in the western outskirts of Kyoto, the area has been a popular destination since the Heian Period (794-1185), when nobles would enjoy its natural setting.

Visit the Okochi Mountain Villa to see the several beautiful gardens and buildings, including living quarters, tea houses and a zen meditation hall. Here you will enjoy some matcha green tea with a snack.

Next, take a walk through Arashiyama’s famous bamboo groves and continue the tour to Nonomiya Shrine and Tenryuji Temple, one of Kyoto's five great Zen temples and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Naoshima is an island in the Seto Inland Sea that is known for its modern art museums, architecture and sculptures. Part of Kagawa Prefecture, the island with its Mediterranean atmosphere, sandy beaches and sunny weather, combined with a laid-back rural feel is a relaxing getaway from Japan's large urban areas.

Much of Naoshima's art was installed by the Benesse Corporation, which oversees art museums, installations and sculptures both on Naoshima and on neighbouring islands. Benesse's museums were designed by the well-known Japanese architect Ando Tadao and include the Chichu Art Museum, Lee Ufan Museum and all the buildings of the Benesse House. In addition, Naoshima's municipal buildings and schools were designed by the modern architect Ishii Kazuhiro.

This morning make the 150-minute journey by train to Okayama with your guide (pick up at your Kyoto hotel). You will be met in Okayama by car that will take you to Uno port, where you will ride the ferry to Naoshima. You can spend the day exploring the island by private car.

Honmura, a small port town on Naoshima's eastern coast, is home to the Art House Project, a collection of abandoned houses, workshops, a temple and a shrine that have been converted into art installations and venues for contemporary art by artists and architects from Japan and abroad. The art houses are scattered throughout town, and most of them are unassuming from the street, blending into the surrounding traditional Japanese neighbourhood. The interior of each, however, has been converted into whatever suits the artist's artistic vision.

The Chichu Art Museum is a unique modern art museum built into a hillside overlooking the southern coast of Naoshima. The museum building, designed by Ando Tadao and itself a work of art, is mostly located underground and solely utilizes natural light to illuminate the artwork. This creates a viewing experience that is heavily influenced by the surrounding natural environment.

There are many other smaller art installations and museums that your guide will be happy to show you. Tonight, have dinner at Benesse House's renowned French restaurant.

In the morning you have time to continue exploring the island with your guide by local transport. Please note however that as there is no set plan for the day, entrance fees and meals are not included. You will then be escorted by ferry back to Uno and by car to Okayama to drop off at your hotel. 

Visit the lovely historic town of Kurashiki. In the Edo Period, Kurashiki prospered as ‘Tenryo’, a domain directly governed by the shogunate. During this time local products from all over the surrounding area were gathered in Kurashiki by boat, so many white-walled houses and storehouses of merchants lined the Kurashiki River. Explore the old town area and side streets which have been repaired and remodeled and are used today for galleries, coffee shops, and souvenir shops. You will have the choice of visiting one of two attractions, either the Ohara Museum of Art or Ohashi House. The Ohara Museum is the oldest private collection of Western Art in Japan, with the collection including modern and contemporary art from the West and Japan, including masterpieces by Picasso, El Greco, Gauguin, Modigliani, Rodin, Pollock and Kandisky, a very impressive collection. If museums and art are not of interest to you then instead you might prefer a visit to Ohashi House, an example of Japanese merchant housing from the late 1700s. The luxury villa was once home to the wealthy Ohashi Family who were so influential that some of the architecture imitates that of samurai residencies rather than merchant housing.

Start your Okayama tour at the Yumeji Art Museum. The museum is dedicated to Yumeji Takehisa, one of the leading Japanese artists of the 20th century and it exhibits a collection of works by the Okayama native who was called the Japanese Toulouse-Lautrec. His paintings of beautiful, dreamy Japanese women have fascinated art lovers for decades. Next visit Korakuen Garden. This circuit-style garden, constructed by a lord, is a place of scenic beauty officially recognized by the government. The garden reflects the open, mild atmosphere and climate of the Seto Inland Sea area. Then continue to the Hayashibara Museum. Many national treasures and important cultural assets, including utensils that lords used to use, along with antiques, and swords, are collected in the museum. Your guide will help you understand the significance of swords for the samurai class and Japan’s history.

In the afternoon make your own way by bullet train from Okayama to Osaka and then connect trains to continue to Kanazawa (approx. 3-hour journey).

Meet your guide in the lobby of your hotel in Kanazawa and then begin your walking tour using public bus transit. First, visit the Kaga Yuzen Kimono Center to learn about the process of kimono dying and the history of kimono making in Kanazawa. Then, you will have the very special experience of dressing in a kimono! Once dressed, walk to nearby Gyokusen-en Garden, where you will partake in a traditional matcha green tea ceremony and learn about the tradition and etiquette of drinking green tea in Japan. If time permits, you can discuss with your guide what you would like to see and do next in Kanazawa. 

Following breakfast your guide in the lobby of your hotel in Kanazawa and then begin your walking tour using public bus transit. Your first stop is Kanazawa's star attraction, Kenrokuen garden which is regarded as one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan. Walk through the garden grounds and enjoy the flora and fauna which changes depending on the season. Also visit the Nagamachi district, where samurai and their families used to reside. While there visit the Nomura Samurai House, a traditional Japanese home with a tea-ceremony room, an interior courtyard garden, and artifacts from the Edo period.  Your guide will escort you back to your hotel or the train station at the end of the tour.

This afternoon take the bullet train from Kanazawa to Tokyo (approx. 3 hours) and then make your own way to your hotel in Tokyo.

This is the perfect introduction tour to Tokyo. Travel around Tokyo using the city's sophisticated and efficient subway and train lines together with your private guide visiting some of Tokyo`s main sites. Start the day with a visit to Sensoji Temple, Tokyo`s oldest Buddhist temple. After visiting the temple grounds, take time to stroll along Nakamise shopping street to look for souvenirs. Then continue to Tsukiji Outer fish market (many shops are closed on Sundays and on some Wednesdays). Along the market streets you will find different types of food stalls selling fish, seafood, vegetables, fruit, dried goods, as well as kitchenware shops. Stroll through the market with your guide and choose to sample food from the food stalls or visit one of the small restaurants for lunch (hint hint...this is the place to try the freshest sushi and sashimi so we recommend you go to a restaurant). After lunch, hop back on the train to travel across the city to Shibuya Crossing, the largest pedestrian crossing in the world. This will be a short visit to walk across the busy crossing, see the neon signs and cross it off the bucket list. While there you will also visit Hachiko Square. Then take a short train ride to Meiji Shrine. Meiji Shrine is a Shinto Shrine surrounded by Meiji Jingu forest and it will suddenly feel like you are no longer in metropolitan Tokyo. Walk through the peaceful shrine grounds and if you are lucky, you may see a Shinto priest. After visiting the shrine, stop for a latte or green tea break at a café in Harajuku, the pop culture neighborhood (time permitting). We suggest an art café that specializes in 3D foam art. The rest of the day is free for you to explore bustling Harajuku or the upmarket Omotesando avenue. Your guide will either say goodbye so you can continue exploring or escort you back to your hotel.

Tonight we suggest you visit the Mori Art Museum, a contemporary art museum located on the 53rd floor of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower. After visiting the museum, go to the indoor or outdoor observation deck for a nighttime aerial view of Tokyo.

Today is at leisure to continue exploring Tokyo’s vibrant art scene. Choose to visit the Digital Art Museum in Odaiba, the world’s first digital art museum. Or perhaps, visit the lesser-known and quirky Art Aquarium, displaying thousands of swimming fish. Tokyo also has a handful of more traditional art museums, you may need to extend your trip by a few nights to fit it all in!

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Tokyo's Haneda Airport for your onward flight.