Most people who hear Takamatsu and Park will only think about the famous Ritsurin Garden that is renowned all over Japan for its beauty and peacefulness. But there is more than just Ritsurin. Tamamo Park lies on the grounds of the former Takamatsu Castle which was built in the early Edo period, first by the Ikoma clan, then by Matsudaira clan. It is known around Japan for being one of the only three castles which has a moat that is directly connected to the sea, so the water and the fish are actually from the big blue! Here you can see one of these moats, with the sea in the background. Unfortunately, the original Takamatsu Castle does not stand anymore, it was torn down in the chaos of the Meiji restoration but there are still some surviving structures which reflect old times, such as the walls and moats as well as Mizutegomon Gate. You will then head to Ritsurin Garden. This beautiful Japanese Garden was awarded three stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan. The 185-acre park features 6 ponds, 13 hills, a waterfall, plum, cherry, and pine trees, a bamboo forest, a tea house, and more. This garden is recognized one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan. You will be taken to the old tea house called "Kikugetsu-tei" to enjoy Maccha Green Tea.

Please note:  Bring local currency and wear shoes and clothes which are easy to walk in and bring a light jacket or wear long sleeves. You will be required to take off your shoes at the tea house.

Here is a chance to explore the nearby Shodoshima Island. The second largest island in the Seto Inland Sea, it is noted for Soy Sauce production and Olive Plantations. A short walk from the pier will take you to the Ferry Terminal where you will embark your comfortable vessel for the 35-minute cruise to the island. On arrival, board your coach to the Kankakei Gorge Ropeway Station. Ranked one of Japan’s three most beautiful gorges, the ropeway offers a bird’s eye view of this amazing natural spectacle. On arrival at the upper station, enjoy further breathtaking views of the gorge, island and the Inland Sea. Next you will visit a local Soy Sauce Brewery to learn more about the 400-year history of production on the island. Being one of the main industries here, there are over a dozen such breweries – learn about the process as well as the vats and tools used in the production. Having now worked up an appetite, you will be transferred to a local restaurant for lunch with a chance to sample some of the delicious Soy Sauce and Olive Oil. After lunch, enjoy a scenic relaxing drive to the Ferry Terminal for your return boat trip to Takamatsu. Once arrived, a short walk will take you back to your awaiting ship.

Please note: The order of the sites visited may vary. The lunch venue will be the first or last stop on Shodoshima Island depending on the ship's schedule. The duration may be changed due to ferry's schedule. The coach drop off point to the Soy sauce Brewery is approximately 500 meters/10-minute walk and all the guests are required to walk through this way. There are 55 steps at Ropeway Station. This tour is not recommended for guests with mobility concerns or who are afraid of heights.

Tour the stunning city of Takamatsu on Shikoku, the smallest of the four main Japanese Islands. Depart from the pier and drive to Seto-Ohashi Bridge. Seto-Ohashi Bridge is a collective term for the 6 bridges with its length of 8 miles. The bridge connects Kojima in Okayama Prefecture on Honshu and Sakaide of Kagawa Prefecture on Shikoku. The bridges took 40 years and a tremendous amount of money to build. You will make a stop for taking photos at the parking space, just at the bottom of the bridge. Next, you will transfer to Kinashi Bonsai Town, which is known as the town producing the largest amount of Pine Tree Bonsai (miniature potted trees) in Japan. The tour includes a visit to a Bonsai farm which has hundreds of years’ history making Bonsai Trees. The tour will be followed by a visit to Ritsurin Garden. This beautiful Japanese Garden was awarded three stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan. The 185-acre park features 6 ponds, 13 hills, a waterfall, plum, cherry, and pine trees, a bamboo forest, a tea house, and more. This garden is recognized as one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan.

Please note:  Bring local currency and wear shoes and clothes which are easy to walk in and bring a light jacket or wear long sleeves. 

Takamatsu is located in Kagawa Prefecture on Shikoku, the smallest of the four main Japanese Islands, and this prefecture has been a popular destination for Udon noodles in Japan. It is said that Kobo Daishi Kukai, the founder of a religious sect, from this Sanuki region brought the recipe from China in 806, and this is the reason why Sanuki Udon has been developed in this area.  Your day will start with a visit to Ritsurin Garden. This beautiful Japanese Garden was awarded three stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan. The 185-acre park features 6 ponds, 13 hills, a waterfall, plum, cherry, and pine trees, a bamboo forest, a tea house, and more. This garden is recognized as one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan. Next you will head to Nakano Udon School where you can enjoy an Udon-Making Experience. Surely you will enjoy the opportunity to taste Udon noodles you just made by yourself!

Please note: This tour is not recommended to guests on gluten-free diets or who have mobility issues.  During the Udon Making Experience, guests will be asked to step onto the dough while music is playing. Bring local currency and wear shoes and clothes which are easy to walk in and bring a light jacket or wear long sleeves.

Begin with a visit to Miyajima. You will take a ferry to Miyajima Island, regarded as one of the three most beautiful places in Japan. Revered and worshipped since ancient times, Miyajima exhibits a gentle atmosphere and breathtaking beauty. See the magnificent red  Torii Gate, a sacred gateway standing in the sea and guarding the Itukushima Shrine, dedicated to three goddesses and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built over the water, both the shrine and its sentinel torii seem to float on the sea at high tide. Enjoy time to experience the shrine's main hall and several subsidiary shrines, all connected by bright red passageways. The 5-story pagoda can also be seen from the Itsukushima Shrine. After sightseeing at Itsukushima Shrine you will take a ferry back to Miyajima to enjoy a Japanese lunch at a local restaurant.  Then you will head to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, designed and built after the war as a memorial to the people who died in the atomic bomb attack. See the impressive Atomic Bomb Dome, the only structure left standing in the area where the first atomic bomb exploded on August 6, 1945. Stroll past the Flame of Peace, lit in 1964 as 10,000 observers offered their silent prayers for peace, as well as many of the other monuments, statues, and fountains located on the Memorial Park grounds.   You will then be transferred  back to the port.

Please note:  This tour includes approximately 3 hours of walking with a limited number of steps to negotiate. Those guests with mobility concerns are cautioned to evaluate their personal level of ability and stamina. Casual clothing and comfortable, flat walking shoes are recommended. This tour includes sensitive material including graphic pictures and displays on the atrocities of war. Bring local currency for shopping. The order of sites visited may be changed

Travel by coach along a scenic route to Miyajima-Guchi, where you'll board the local ferry and cruise to the lovely island of Miyajima. This picturesque island, considered one of Japan's most scenic destinations, is where you'll find the Itsukushima Shrine and its famous large red torii gate that rises up out of the ocean. The shrine was established in 593, the first year of the reign of Empress Suiko and today is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The current torii was erected in 1875 after the original one was destroyed. Among the distinctive features of the shrine is the corridor of the main building that, with its beautiful vermillion handrails, stretches into the calm Seto Inland Sea. At high tide, both the torii and the shrine give the illusion of floating on the sea. Interestingly, to give birth, to die or be buried were forbidden on the island and today, there are still no hospitals or cemeteries to be found here.

Please note:  This tour includes approximately 2 hours of walking with a limited number of steps to negotiate. Those guests with mobility concerns are cautioned to evaluate their personal level of ability and stamina. Casual clothing and comfortable, flat walking shoes are recommended. Bring local currency for shopping.

You will be taken to Mt. Kagami (Kagamiyama) to enjoy the panoramic view of Karatsu city. Mt. Kagami is 284 feet high and you will be able to see the view of Karatsu Bay, Niji no Matsubara (Pine tree forest) and Iki Island if the weather is clear. The tour will continue to Hikiyama Exhibition Hall. This hall stores the 14 floats of the Karatasu Kunchi Festival which takes place annually from November 2 to 4. Karatsu Kunchi Festival decorated floats are hauled through the streets by participants in Edo Period garb to the accompaniment of drums and flutes. On the second day of the festival the floats, known as Hikiyama are taken to Nishinohama Beach, within view of Karatsu castle. Karatsu Kunchi Festival was registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016. Next will be the former residence of Koreyoshi Takatori, a coal magnate. He had this luxurious seaside residence built with an incredible sense of detail. Wonderfully restored, it illustrates the lifestyle of the upper middle classes during the Meiji Period. The residence is divided into two parts, one for the family and the other for guests, and includes a Zen garden, tearoom, and Nô theatre. On the first floor, the view of the garden that blends so perfectly with the beach and the islands of Karatsu Bay in the background is quite stunning.

Please note: Bring local currency, sunscreen, a hat, and wear comfortable walking shoes. Order of sites visited may vary. Guests are required to take off their shoes at the Takatori residence.

Depart from the pier, and drive to Karatsu Castle which was built by the feudal lord, Hirotaka Terazawa, in 1608, and located on a small hill facing Karatsu Bay. After the Meiji Restoration of 1868 the castle was pulled down leaving only the stone walls and foundations as part of Maizuru Park, which opened in 1877. The present 5-story Karatsu Castle is a ferro-concrete structure built in the style of the original 17th century castle in 1966. The yagura (towers) were built at the same time with the Tatsumi yagura added later, in 1990. The tour will continue to Hikiyama Exhibition Hall that stores the 14 floats of the Karatasu Kunchi Festival which takes place annually from November 2 to 4. These decorated floats are hauled through the streets by participants in Edo Period garb to the accompaniment of drums and flutes. On the second day of the festival the floats, known as Hikiyama are taken to Nishinohama Beach, within a view of Karatsu Castle. Karatsu Kunchi Festival was registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016. Before heading back the port, you will be taken to Mount Kagami (Kagamiyama) to enjoy the panoramic view of Karatsu city. Mount  Kagami is 931 feet high and you will be able to see the lovely view of Karatsu Bay, Niji no Matsubara (Pine tree forest) and Iki island if the weather is clear.

Please note:  This tour includes approximately 1.5 hours of walking or standing.  There are 231 steps from the parking to the castle garden, but there is one elevator available. The path is mostly gravel. Wear comfortable walking shoes and clothing and bring local currency, sunscreen and a hat.

Explore the unique spirituality of Buddhism on a nearly 4-hour excursion that includes a tour of the renowned Beomeosa Temple followed by a cultural performance. Shrouded in myths and serenity, the temple’s pagodas, gates, temple halls, and shrines are recognized as South Korea's National Treasures and are exceptional sights to behold. Your journey will begin as soon as you board your motor coach for the 50-minute ride through Busan's northern suburbs. You will pass Mount Geumjeongsan. Here, nestled deep in the forest sits the 1,300-year-old Beomeosa Temple, constructed in 678 A.D. Beomeosa once contained over 360 rooms and more than 1,000 monks lived here. The temple was burned to the ground in 1592 and rebuilt in 1602. After crossing an ancient bridge you’ll disembark. The first gate you'll meet is called "One Pillar Gate." With the scent of incense filling the air you’ll continue on past the 300-year-old Gate of the Four Heavenly Kings. Then, you'll have the chance to leisurely wander around the spellbinding grounds. Continue on to your next attraction, the Nurimaru APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) House. Located on Dongbaek Island, it was built to host the APEC summit meeting in 2005.  The island’s lighthouse stands guard proudly in the distance. Inside, an enormous masterpiece of lacquer and mother-of-pearl depicting the 12 Korean symbols of longevity will greet you, and a small museum exhibits items from the countries that attended the summit.  There are interactive displays and videos to further your understanding of the summit’s international significance, and so many thoughtful details will help you to really imagine the summit experience, including a replica of a meal the delegates were served!

Please note: This tour is not wheelchair accessible. Wear comfortable walking shoes.

Board your motor coach for the 30-minute ride to the Modern History Museum On the northern side of Yongdusan Park, the Busan Modern History Museum covers the story of Busan City from the 19th  century. There are five excellent exhibitions located at the museum - 1. Busan After 1876 Opening of the Port - 2. Exploitation of Busan by Japan –  3. Busan A Modern City – The transformation of Busan City. - 4. The Oriental Development Company – How the Japanese took control of Busan and paved the way for the control of Korea and most of Asia. 5. Korea – U.S. Relationship – after the Korean War. Next, you proceed to Songdo Skywalk, a short trail over Songdo Beach. While most of the "Skywalk" tails in Korea are straight shaped, but Songdo skywalk has a curved shape similar to a drago. From the 365-meter-long Songdo Skywalk over the blue ocean, you can enjoy the magnificent view around the Songdo Beach area with a small lighthouse and a small rock island called Geobukseom. Your next stop is  Yongdusan Park for briefly photo stop. One of the most popular mountains in Busan Yongdusan in downtown Busan, is one of the 3 well-known mountains in Busan. Then  you will head to the wonderful Ja-Gal-Ch'i  Fish Market and Busan International Film Festival Square which was established by women peddlers during the Korean War, and has become known over the years as “Aunt's Market.” Explore this amazing slice of Korean life and admire the fish, shellfish and seaweed displays, before heading back to port.

Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring local currency.

You will head to Tongdosa Temple, located at of Mt. Chiseosan. Tongdosa Temple is famous for not having any Buddhist statues in the temple. This is because the real shrines of the Buddha are preserved here. Tongdosa Temple is said to have survived numerous wars and invasions, its Beopdeung (temple candle) has never gone out, for 1,300 years. Inside, there are 35 buildings and pagodas, and 14 small temples in its vicinity. The main building is designated as National Treasure No.290. The temple is similar to a museum because of the numerous relics inside. There are 19 local treasures and 794 local cultural properties inside the temple. In place of the Buddha statue, the Geumgang Stairs behind of the main building preserves the shrines of the Buddha.  Mt. Chiseosan, has a beautiful view from the temple. The several hundred year-old pine trees lined up from the entrance to Ilju Gate, the small drum (used when praying in front of a Buddha figure) and bell, the sunset, the pond and the rocks and waterfalls behind the temple are grouped and called the 'Eight Famous Sceneries of Tongdosa Temple.' After driving through the Diamond Bridge, you will proceed to Oryukdo Skywalk. The construction of Oryukdo Skywalk finished on September 12, 2012 at the Seungdumal area, which is regarded as the dividing point between the East Sea and the South Sea, and started operating on October 18, 2013, with the theme of "Walking over the sky.” Iron columns were set up over a 35-meter-high (115-foot) coastal cliff, and a 15-meter (49-foot) glass bridge comprised of 24 glass plates and shaped like a horse’s hoof connect the iron columns. Visitors will be thrilled with the view of the waves while looking down through the transparent floor. The sea stretches out ahead of the skywalk, perfect for a photo op, as well as the best spot to see Daemado Island on sunny days.

Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a light jacket.

Gyeongju is known as the Museum Without Walls, as it was once the capital of the Shilla Kingdom. It blossomed into a major cultural center after the Shilla Dynasty unified the Korean peninsula in 676 A.D. Today, Gyeongju is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and your tour of the city will reveal spectacular architectural points of interests, as well as extraordinary museums and ornate temples. Your first stop is at the breathtaking Tumuli Park—home to some 20 Shilla Dynasty royal tombs . Your guide will show you the colorful Flying Horse Tomb. Belonging to an unknown king from the Silla dynasty, it was excavated in 1973 and is believed to date back to the 5th century. The tomb once contained a famous painting of a white horse and a chest full of burial goods, including iron kettles, pottery, bronze vessels, saddles and a sword. Next, you will journey to the wonderful National Museum—a treasure trove of Korean cultural artifacts including gold crowns, Buddhist relics and prehistoric stone instruments. View the Divine Bell of King Songdok—a bronze bell that stands 11 feet tall and weighs an incredible 23 tons. You will visit the serene Bulguksa Temple perched on the slopes of Mount Tohamsan—a quiet oasis that is a superb example of both Shilla architecture and the culture's devotion to Buddhism. Your guide will lead you among this amazing collection of wooden buildings (many of them have been rebuilt many times), stone bridges, stairways and pagodas (all original). After enjoying the temple grounds, re-board the motor coach for the journey back to the port.

Please note: This tour is not wheelchair accessible. Wear comfortable walking shoes and conservative clothing that covers shoulders and knees. A Korean beef barbecue will be served for lunch.

For guests who want to discover more about Korean culture, this wonderful half-day excursion is a great place to start. After meeting your guide at the ship, you will then drive through the commercial district, banks and department stores on the way to the temple. You will visit either the Beomeosa Temple or Geumgangsa Temple for your first stop of the day. Beomeosa, one of 10 HwaEom temples in Korea, was established to realize the purpose of HwaEom which pursues a life full of happiness and generosity. It was founded in 678 A.D., and is home to an impressive 7th century stone pagoda.  After exploring the serene temple grounds you will then be invited to take part in an ancient tea ceremony. You will be taught the rituals and rules of this important tradition, before enjoying green tea and Korean rice cakes with your hosts. After you have learned more about the culture of this wonderful country, you will climb back on to the motor coach and enjoy the glorious drive through stunning countryside back to your ship.

Please note: Wear conservative clothing that covers knees and shoulders, and comfortable walking shoes.  Guests will be seated on the floor for the traditional tea ceremony so this tour is not wheelchair accessible and not recommended for those with mobility issues. 

Further along Arita's main street towards the east, a mountain suddenly looms into view on the right-hand side. Four hundred years ago a group of Korean potters, led by Yi Sam-pyeong, discovered porcelain stone here and became the first in Japan to successfully fire porcelain. The porcelain production, which began around the beginning of the Edo Period and grew exponentially, consisting of Koimari wares which fans of early Imari wares with their sooth surfaces and antiques just had to have. It all began here, at the porcelain stone deposit discovered at Izumiyama. Izumiyama can certainly be considered a treasure trove. Nowadays the quarry is not in operation but it has been partitioned off with a fence and tours are held. At the shrine of Izumiyama Quarry, there is a Koraijin monument devoted to Yi Sam-pyeong. The history folklore resource center next door and its adjacent Arita-yaki reference museum display a restored mock of an ascending kiln, various tools and broken pieces of pottery, etc. This is a spot which shouldn't be missed by pottery enthusiasts, as here you are sure to capture a sense of being in the cradle of Arita-yaki. Then, you will have time to stroll around the old town covered by Tombai walls, and the opportunity to purchase your own porcelain. Tombai walls consist of used fire-resistant bricks climbing kilns were constructed from, disposed kiln tools and red clay oil.  In the end, the tour will take you to the famous Arita porcelain gallery to conclude the tour.

Please note: Fukagawa Gallery consists of 2 floors but there is no elevator or chair lift. This tour is not recommended to wheelchair guests. Bring your hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, local currency, and wear comfortable walking shoes.

This half day option will offer you the opportunity to make a special souvenir from Yakushima on your own. You will receive the sticks of Yakusugi and make them to chopsticks using sandpaper. This will give you a special experience which can only be offered in Yakushima. In this activity, you will be sanding chopsticks by yourself to the size you like, and you will keep these special chopsticks to take home with you. You will also visit Yakusugi Museum dedicated to Yakusugi, the cedar trees.  This museum has unique exhibits to explain the vegetation of Yakusugi as well as the history of Yakushima. You will get the idea of how people have lived with Yakusugi in the past, and how these precious trees are protected.

Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen and a hat and bring rain gear and local currency. Guests are required to take off their shoes at the Yakusugi Museum. Each guests will have one set of chopsticks.  The venue for the chopsticks experience is on the 2nd floor with no elevator/escalator.

This tour is recommended for the guests who want to see the old Cedar trees without walking! The coach will take you up to Kigensugi Cedar which has a trunk circumference of 26.5 feet (8.1 meters) and a height of 64 feet (19.5 meters), and an estimated age of more than 3,000 years. You will also visit Yakusugi Museum dedicated to Yakusugi, the cedar trees. This museum has unique exhibits to explain the vegetation of Yakusugi as well as the history of Yakushima. You will get the idea of how people have lived with Yakusugi in the past, and how these precious trees are protected.

Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen and a hat and bring rain gear and local currency. Guests are required to take off their shoes at the Yakusugi Museum. At Kigensugi cedar, the guests can see the tree from the parking but also walk closer. To get close to the tree, there are approx. 50 steps to negotiate.

A 70-minute drive will bring you to the island of Yakushima which became Japan’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Yakushima is famous in botanical circles for introducing a great many garden plants, including dwarf plants which have evolved to grow smaller than their mainland cousins. You will spend time here on a nature walk to Yakusugi Land located at an elevation of 3,281 feet (1,000 meters). It is a nature park populated by a number of the Island’s ancient cedar trees, such as the 1,800-year-old Buddhasugi, Futagosugi, and Sennensugi. There are 4 walking routes in Yakusugi land and you will also walk for 1.25 miles (2km) on the mountain trail. While walking, you will see a very clear stream running through the forest, and the unique plant life on the island. Also, there will be a good chance to see wildlife such as the Yaku Monkey and Yaku Deer from the coach.

Please note: Wear comfortable walking or hiking shoes, sunscreen and a hat and bring rain gear and local currency.  The Yakusugi land tends to be raining most of the times so please expect the rain during a walk. There are some wooden paths and swinging bridges. Some paths are unpaved and not covered. Lots of steps. This tour is not available for the guests with mobility concerns. The guests will have to walk on the slippery roots and duck under the branches.

A 70-minute drive will bring you to the island of Yakushima which became Japan’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Yakushima is famous in botanical circles for introducing a great many garden plants, including dwarf plants which have evolved to grow smaller than their mainland cousins. You will spend time here on a nature walk to Yakusugi Land located at an elevation of 3,281 feet (1,000 meters). It is a nature park populated by a number of the Island’s ancient and revered cedar trees, such as the 1,800-year-old Buddhasugi, Futagosugi, and Sennensugi. There are 4 walking routes in Yakusugi land and you will also walk for a little over a half mile (1.2 km) on the mountain trail. While walking, you will see a very clear stream running through the forest, and the unique plant life on the island. Also, there will be a good chance to see wildlife such as the Yaku Monkey and Yaku Deer from the coach. Next you will visit Yakusugi Museum dedicated to Yakusugi, the cedar trees.  This museum has unique exhibits to explain the vegetation of Yakusugi as well as the history of Yakushima. You will get the idea of how people have lived with Yakusugi in the past, and how these precious trees are protected.

Please note: Wear comfortable walking or hiking shoes, sunscreen and a hat and bring rain gear and local currency. The Yakusugi land tends to be raining most of the times so please expect the rain during a walk. There are some wooden paths and swinging bridges. Some paths are unpaved and not covered. Lots of steps. This tour is not available for the guests with mobility concerns. Guests are required to take off their shoes at the Yakusugi Museum.

This tour will be a relaxing 90-minute cruise on a boat passing the beautiful scenery of Doro Kyo (Doro Gorge) .Doro Gorge is a gorge on the Kitayama-gawa River, a tributary of the Kuman- gawa River, situated along the borders of Wakayama, Nara and Mie prefectures in the Yoshino National Park. It is famous for its steep cliffs, clear emerald waters, and unique rock formations. You will enjoy this natural treasure from water level on a jet boat. These boats have large windows and the roof opens on clear days to better see the upper reaches of the valley. The intense colors of the lush forests along the way beautifully reflect the changing seasons.  After enjoying the 2-hour river cruise, you will be transferred back to the pier by coach.

Please note:  Wear comfortable walking shoes bring local currency, a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent. The boat pier has only steps so wheel chairs will need to be stored at the pier. During the ride, the boat will have a brief 20-minute stop and guests will be able to get off the boat to take photos. Wheelchair guests will have to stay on the boat due to uneven ground with stones. This tour may be cancelled due to weather conditions.

This tour offers two UNESCO World Heritage Sites and one of the three Kumano Grand Shrines. Your first stop will be Oniga-jo Rocks (Devil’s Castle) a World Heritage Site. Stretching for almost a mile, this is a natural landscape with terraced caves created by erosion of acid rock by water and wind. Legend has it the rocks were the homes of ‘Oni’ or devils as well as pirates. Next stop is another World Heritage Site called Hana-no-Iwaya Shrine, dedicated to the mother of the Japanese god "Izanami-no-mikoto" and her son the fire god "Kagu-tsuchi no-mikoto." This is said to be Japan’s oldest shrine as written in the Chronicles of Japan.  Your last stop will be a visit to Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine, one of Kumano's three important shrines. The nature in and around the shrine is an integral part of this Grand Shrine’s precincts and annual rituals. The ancient 800-year-old Nagi-no-Ki tree (Podocarpus nagi) highlights the areas deep tradition of nature worship.

Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes as most of the terrain is uneven. Not all sites or areas are wheelchair accessible. Order of the sites visited may vary.

Your day of traditional art and customs begins with Shizuoka Sengen Shrine, a complex of 7 shrines, the 3 main ones remodeled over a period of 60 years beginning in 1804. Sengen Shrine contains 26 "Important Cultural Assets" and an extensive collection of historical artifacts from the Tokugawa Shogunate that ruled Japan for 300 years during the Edo Period. Step into the large, two-story worship hall and marvel at the views of Mount Fuji. Your next destination will bring you to Miho no Matsubara, a picturesque pine grove along the eastern coast of the Miho Peninsula, given the distinction of "New Three Views of Japan," a designation of scenic beauty. This inspirational spot for artists offers dramatic views of Mount Fuji, and if you walk deep into the pine grove, you'll spy a 650-year-old Japanese black pine called Hagoromo-no-Matsu.  The tour will conclude with a visit to the Fish Market in Shimizu. Upon arrival, the guide will escort you to the walking tour in the Fish Market, to wander around this busy fish market full of local people. After walking, you will have an opportunity to have lunch at a local restaurant in the market, which serves the Japanese Style Set menu including freshest sashimi (sliced raw fish). Enjoy your local dining experience with this special atmosphere.

Please note:  The path from the parking lot to Miho no Matsubara is about half a mile. It is wheelchair accessible. Mount Fuji can be seen, weather permitting. The order of the tour sites may vary. Wear comfortable walking shoes and conservative clothing. Bring local currency.

Visit of one of the most important sites in Japan "Imperial Place Plaza" and Hamarikyu Garden (Edo period Japanese style garden).  You will depart from the pier for the 60-minute drive to Hamarikyu Garden surrounded by the Shiodome district’s futuristic skyscrapers, a great example of how Japan is the land of contrasts. The garden was originally built as a feudal lord's Tokyo residence and duck hunting grounds during the Edo Period, but later served as a strolling garden and as an imperial detached palace before eventually being opened to the public in its current form.  Next you will see the Imperial Palace located on the former site of Edo Castle, a large park area surrounded by moats and massive stone walls in the center of Tokyo, and the residence of Japan's Imperial Family. Although the Palace is not open to the public, from Kokyo Gaien, the large plaza in front of the Imperial Palace, you can view the Nijubashi, two bridges that form an entrance to the inner palace grounds. The stone bridge in front is called Meganebashi (Eyeglass Bridge) because of its appearance. Then the coach will take you to Haneda Airport.

Please note: Wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes, sunscreen, and a hat. Bring local currency.

Visit of one of the most important sites in Japan "Imperial Place Plaza" and Hamarikyu Garden (Edo period Japanese style garden).  You will depart from the pier for the 60-minute drive to Hamarikyu Garden surrounded by the Shiodome district’s futuristic skyscrapers, a great example of how Japan is the land of contrasts. The garden was originally built as a feudal lord's Tokyo residence and duck hunting grounds during the Edo Period, but later served as a strolling garden and as an imperial detached palace before eventually being opened to the public in its current form.  Next you will see the Imperial Palace located on the former site of Edo Castle, a large park area surrounded by moats and massive stone walls in the center of Tokyo, and the residence of Japan's Imperial Family. Although the Palace is not open to the public, from Kokyo Gaien, the large plaza in front of the Imperial Palace, you can view the Nijubashi, two bridges that form an entrance to the inner palace grounds. The stone bridge in front is called Meganebashi (Eyeglass Bridge) because of its appearance. Then the coach will take you to Narita Airport.

Please note: Wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes, sunscreen, and a hat. Bring local currency.

Visit of one of the most important sites in Japan "Imperial Place Plaza" and Hamarikyu Garden (Edo period Japanese style garden).  You will depart from the pier for the 60-minute drive to Hamarikyu Garden surrounded by the Shiodome district’s futuristic skyscrapers, a great example of how Japan is the land of contrasts. The garden was originally built as a feudal lord's Tokyo residence and duck hunting grounds during the Edo Period, but later served as a strolling garden and as an imperial detached palace before eventually being opened to the public in its current form.  Next you will see the Imperial Palace located on the former site of Edo Castle, a large park area surrounded by moats and massive stone walls in the center of Tokyo, and the residence of Japan's Imperial Family. Although the Palace is not open to the public, from Kokyo Gaien, the large plaza in front of the Imperial Palace, you can view the Nijubashi, two bridges that form an entrance to the inner palace grounds. The stone bridge in front is called Meganebashi (Eyeglass Bridge) because of its appearance. Then the coach will take you to your Tokyo Hotel.

Please note: Wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes, sunscreen, and a hat. Bring local currency.