Anime Flavor: Tokyo & Kyoto Winter Tour
Anime Flavor Winter Tour is the best thing to fulfill your Otaku needs. We will go to some of the popular anime spots while learning about Japan’s culture. See Tokyo not only as a tourist, but as an Otaku on a mission. Have fun exploring the different shops in Akihabara, one of the main centers for Otaku culture. Not only that we will visit the famed Ghibli Museum as well as other anime related areas.
Navigate Tokyo's cultural landmarks, fashionable neighborhoods, and diverse shopping districts. Learn how to make your own sushi with a professional sushi chef and savor your delicious creations. Explore attractions like the Asakusa district with an atmosphere of old Tokyo, Japan's largest and busiest fish market, the historical Imperial Palace, and the record-breaking Tokyo Tower. Then, head to Hakone and check out its open air museum before boarding a pirate ship cruise around Lake Ashi.
Though your luggage will conveniently stay on our private, luxury coaches during your entire tour, you will be able to enjoy the lightening-fast speed of the Shinkansen, which can reach speeds of almost 200 mph (320 km/h). Your ride on this bullet train will be brief, but memorable. You will also be able to visit the beautiful Hikone Castle, one of the few original castles left in Japan. You’ll also visit Miho Museum: distinguished for its fascinating architecture designed by I. M. Pei. The museum exhibits various collections of artifacts from diverse ancient civilizations. It is named after Koyama Mihoko, one of the richest women in Japan and the museum's founder. Miho Museum is also listed as one of the "1,000 Places to See Before You Die".
Spend two days in the deeply historic city of Kyoto, where you will have exclusive access to the best gardens, temples, shrines, and specialty shops in the city. Our travelers will also have opportunities to experience a traditional green tea ceremony hosted by an apprentice geisha (maiko). Visit Arashiyama, located on the outskirts of Kyoto, famous for its bamboo forest and traditional Zen landscape garden at Tenryuji Temple. You will then visit the ancient city Nara to see the inspiring architecture of Japan's largest wooden building, as well as the towering Great Buddha statue. Here, you will understand why this city is considered the birthplace of Buddhism in Japan. Your last stop will be Osaka’s entertainment and shopping districts: Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi.
Please Note:
All prices are per person, based on twin (double on request) or triple occupancy.
International flights are not included on our tours - this allows you the flexibility to choose your own departure and get the best value for your money!
We can arrange international flights for US customers if needed, please ask for details.
Deposit
We require US$200 deposit per person to hold the space at time of booking and the final payment is due 2 month prior to departure.
What's included
- 6 nights Western style and 1 night Japanese style accommodation
- Meet and greet upon arrival at Tokyo Narita Airport
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure
- Private coach transfers between destinations in Japan
- Comprehensive escorted with AJT professional English speaking tour guide
Meals
- Breakfast everyday
- 4 lunches and 2 dinners
Admission fees and activities
All entry fees to sites, activities listed in the itinerary.
What's NOT included
- International Airfares
- Meals that are not included in the itinerary
- Travel Insurance
- Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
- Personal expenses such as telephone and laundry bills
Additional Information
Transport
Travel by private coach between destinations, hassle free baggage handling.
Arrival Departure Airports
- For arrivals at Narita Airport (NRT), this tour starts in Tokyo and ends in Osaka, with departures at Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX)
- If you will be flying into Haneda Airport (HND) instead of Narita Airport (NRT) on the first day, airport transfer is not included. We will provide with full instructions to get to the hotel in advance, or we can arrange shared shuttle service for you at US$60.00 per person per way.
Meal Requests
Vegetarian or special meals can be arranged.
Meet and Greet
Please note that the meet and greet and airport transfer to the first hotel is ONLY available on the first day of the tour after 11 AM. If you plan to stay extra nights before the start of the tour, we will provide full instructions in advance for you to transfer to your hotel on your own.
Itinerary In Brief
- Day1 Arrive in Tokyo
- Day2 Tokyo
- Day3 Tokyo
- Day4 Hakone - Bullet Train Ride
- Day5 Hikone - Koka
- Day6 Kyoto
- Day7 Kyoto - Nara - Osaka
- Day8 Tour ends
Tokyo Narita Airport
Welcome to Tokyo! You will be met at the arrival gate by an AJT representative holding an "All Japan Tours" sign.
Hotel Mystays Premier Narita or similar class
Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class (NOTE 1 & 2)
NOTE 1: If you wish to stay in the center of Tokyo for the first night instead of Hotel Mystays Premier Narita, we can arrange for you to stay at Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro (or similar class). In this case, airport transfer is not included. We will provide you directions to get to your hotel in advance, or we can arrange shared shuttle service for you at US$65.00 per person per way.
NOTE 2: If you will be flying into Haneda Airport (HND) instead of Narita International Airport (NRT), we can arrange for you to stay in the center of Tokyo (Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class) instead of Hotel Mystays Premier Narita. In this case, meet-and- greet and airport transfer are not included. We will provide with full instructions to get to the hotel in advance, or we can arrange shared shuttle service for you at US$60.00 per person per way.
NOTE 3: The meet-and-greet is ONLY available for flights arriving in Terminal 1 & 2 after 11:00 AM. For guests arriving in Terminal 3, airport pickup is not included, but we will provide you with directions to get to your hotel in advance.
NOTE 4: If you wish to stay extra nights before the tour starts, please contact us to book hotel accommodations.
Tokyo (Ghibli Museum / Nakano Broadway / Akihabara / Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo)
Today we will be going to the Ghibli Museum. The Ghibli Museum has various exhibitions featuring the works by Studio Ghibli. This includes the work desk of Hayao Miyazaki, some of his sketches, and original movie that cannot be seen outside of the museum. Then we will shop to our heart’s content at Nakano Broadway, which has many old school anime and idol shops for fans. The shops span over three floors as the anime related ones are scattered among the levels. No anime tour is complete without a visit to Akihabara. Here you will have the chance to go shopping for your Otaku needs. Do not forget to see UDX Building, Kanda Myojin Shrine, and oh so many cafes. Yuo will then Tokyo's largest Pokémon Centers in Ikebukuro. This is a merchandise heaven for all Pokémon fans.
Tokyo (Asakusa Sensoji Temple / Sushi-Making Experience / Tsukiji Outer Market / Imperial Palace / Tokyo Tower)
Today, you will be taken to the Asakusa Kannon Temple, an active place of worship where you can see the largest paper lantern in Japan. You will also be able to explore the Nakamise Market, which is located right after the temple's outer gates. It is a traditional-style shopping street with centuries of history. Next, you will have the chance to enjoy a sushi-making experience with a professional sushi chef. Whatever you prepare, you will get to eat! Afterwards, we will proceed to the Tsukiji Outer Market, where various restaurants and shops line the streets. Then, pay a visit to the Imperial Palace, the former site of Edo Castle and current residence of Japan's Imperial Family. In the afternoon, we will visit the world's tallest self supporting steel tower. At 333 meters (1092.5 feet) high, Tokyo Tower is 9- meters taller than its model, the Eiffel Tower. You will be able to get a bird's eye view of the city from 150 meters (492 feet) at the main observatory deck.
Note: For Sushi Making Experience, if you are vegetarian, on gluten-free diets, have seafood allergy, or don't eat raw fish, please contact us for other ingredient options.
Hakone (Open Air Museum / Lake Ashi Cruise / Hakone Ropeway / Owakudani), Shinkansen Bullet Train Ride
Today begins with a drive to Hakone to visit the Hakone Open Air Museum. This museum aims to create a harmonic balance of nature and art by exhibiting various sculptures and interactive structures on its grounds, in combination with views of the surrounding valley and mountains. Then board a leisurely cruise around Lake Ashi, a little caldera lake near Mount Hakone, where you can take in the gorgeous local scenery. We will take a 20 minute ropeway ride from Togendai to Owakudani. Most of Owakudani is considered an active volcanic zone since its creation from the eruption of Mount Hakone some 3,000 years ago. Visitors will encounter the area's hot springs and bubbling pools, complete with sulfurous fumes and steam vents. If the weather conditions are in our favor, Owakudani also grants splendid views of Mount Fuji. Then, experience a Shinkansen bullet train ride, which can reach speeds of up to 320 km/hr (200mph). We will stay at the Onsen Hotel at Hamanako Kanzaiji Onsen, where you can soak in the therapeutic waters of a spa bath and feast on a traditional Japanese Kaiseki banquet dinner.
Hikone (Hikone Castle - Genkyuen Garden), Koka (Miho Museum)
After breakfast at the hotel, our group will visit the Hikone Castle, an original castle that has survived the post feudal era without undergoing severe damages or reconstruction. It is considered an excellent impression of what a complete feudal castle looks like, and is a national treasure itself. Afterwards, visit the tranquil Genkyuen Garden, located on the grounds of Hikone Castle. From there, proceed to the Miho Museum, which is distinguished for its fascinating architecture designed by I. M. Pei. The museum exhibits various collections from different ancient civilizations. It is named after Koyama Mihoko, one of the richest women in Japan and the founder of the museum. Miho Museum is also listed as one of the "1000 Places to See Before You Die"
Kyoto (Arashiyama - Tenryu-ji Temple Zen Garden - Sagano Bamboo Forest - Togetsukyo Bridge / Golden Pavilion / Nishijin Kimono Show / Kiyomizu Temple / Gion Geisha District)
Today we will start our tour of Kyoto, once the capital of Japan and still considered its cultural center. First, we will visit Arashiyama to see the Tenryuji Temple, where you can have a glimpse of a traditional Zen landscape garden design. Then, proceed through the dense Sagano Bamboo Forest, pass several small shrines, tea shops, and private houses before arriving at the Togetsukyo Bridge over Hozu River. Continue on to the Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) covered with 18- karat gold leaf. This three-story structure was originally built by the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in 1397. At the Nishijin Textile Center, you can view displays of kimonos, watch an elegant kimono fashion show, and learn how they are made. Our group will tour the Kiyomizu Temple, best known for its large wooden stage that sits 13 meters (42.6 ft) above a hillside. Visitors are granted a charming view of numerous cherry trees that come with spring, as well as a beautiful scene of Kyoto City in the distance. Lastly, we will tour Gion, a famous geisha district in Kyoto lined with many restaurants and teahouses called ochaya.
Kyoto (Green Tea Ceremony with Maiko Interaction / Fushimi Inari Shrine), Nara (Todaiji Temple / Deer Park), Osaka (Dotonbori - Shinsaibashi)
The day begins with a green tea ceremony and a meet- and-greet with a maiko – an apprentice geisha. You will have photo-taking opportunities and a chance to interact with the maiko. After that, make your way to the Fushimi Inari Shrine. The shrine is famous for its thousands of stunning vermilion torii gates that are lined along a 4 km (2.5 mile) long tunnel, which was even featured in the film "Memoirs of a Geisha". This complex wraps around a bamboo wilderness that consists of mountains, streams, and ponds, making it the perfect backdrop for a scenic hike. We will then travel to Nara, where we will go to Todaiji Temple, the largest wooden building in Japan. The temple also houses one of the largest bronze statues of Buddha at 15 meters (49 feet) tall. Nearby, explore the surrounding Deer Park, filled with over 1,000 Sika Deer. Our final stop of the day will be in Osaka. We will spend some time in Dotonbori, a popular shopping, entertainment, and food district. It is known for the hundreds of neon and mechanized signs that line its streets. Our group will also stop by Shinasaibashi, one of Osaka's oldest shopping destinations.
NOTE 5: If you wish to stay in the center of Osaka for the last night instead of Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport, we can arrange for you to stay at Hotel Elsereine Osaka (or similar class). In this case, airport transfer is not included, but we will provide full instructions for you to get to the airport in advance.
NOTE 6: If you will be flying out from Itami Airport (ITM) instead of Kansai International Airport (KIX), we can arrange for you to stay at Hotel Elsereine Osaka (or similar class) instead of Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport. In this case, airport transfer is not included but we will provide full instructions for you to get to the airport in advance.
Tour Ends
After breakfast, our tour officially ends. Checkout time is 11 am and Osaka Kansai Airport can be reached in a three minute walk.
NOTE 7: If you would like to stay longer in Japan, please contact us to book hotel accommodations.