After a long flight to Japan you will be met at Kansai International Airport and taken to Osaka. Your airport pick up will validate your 7 day JR Rail Pass ordinary class, make seat reservations for you and hand you other transportation tickets. They will also check you into your hotel and answer any of your questions.

In the morning you will observe the Buddhist Monks perform their morning prayers and then have breakfast at your temple. You will stop for lunch in Osaka and will then continue on to Takarazuka and then to Takedao Hot Spring. This area is blessed with beautiful natural scenery as it is located in a small river valley covered by cedars trees. From the Takedao Onsen there is a charming hiking course that was once used as a railway. In the evening your ryokan will serve you dinner and then it is time to relax in your ryokan's hot spring baths. It is a great way to end your day. The train from Koyasan Station to Takedao Stations takes about 4 hours and 15 minutes.

You will have breakfast at your ryokan before heading out to Shirakawa-go. This town was cut off from the rest of Japan due to its remote location in the mountains. The steep thatched roofs distinctive of this area were designed to protect the homes from heavy snow. In the center of the home is a sunken hearth, called an irori, which was used to cook food and heat the house. Instead of a chimney the villagers would put a large plank of wood over the fire which would catch any rogue sparks and distributed smoke throughout the house. The smoke is necessary for the roof as it would act as a bug repellent and waterproofing. Without the smoke from the hearth the roof would leak and be filled with bugs. Besides keeping snow off the home the steep roof also provided a second floor where the owner could raise silkworms as a cash crop for the artisan of Takayama. You will be staying in one of these thatched roof farmhouses minshukus and the owners will serve dinner to all their guests around the sunken hearth. Please keep in mind that your minshuku was originally intended for a family to live and is over 100 years old. The doors are paper and noise will travel. They could sound proof the rooms and add attached bathrooms but that would destroy the atmosphere and aesthetic of the house making it that much less interesting.

After breakfast at your minshuku inn in Shirakawa-go you will head out to the old town of Takayama. During the Edo Period (1603-1867) Takayama thrived thanks to timber resources which attracted artisans and craftsmen. Many of the merchants homes survived and are now open to the public as museums and galleries. After a long day of touring you will be treated to a wonderful dinner at your ryokan (Japanese inn). Once you are full it is recommended that you go for a walk while the town is quite and peaceful. You might want to wear the ryokan's Yukata robe and geta saddles to really get into the spirit. The bus from Shirakawago to Takayama Station takes about 50 minutes as it winds it way though the Hida Mountains.

In the morning you will head to the Takayama morning market. Here you will find many items that Japanese use in their daily lives but that non-Japanese have never seen. It is a fun way to see connect with the culture. For lunch we recommend soba noodles that Takayama is famous for. If you want something different you can head to Hida Furukawa and take a cycling tour of the country side (not available in the winter) or wander around this quaint and undiscovered town.

Today you will leave Takayama and head to Kyoto, the former imperial capital of Japan. Today, it is in this city that the traditional Japanese ‘high arts’ flourished. Tea ceremony, calligraphy, poetry, philosophy or religion, Kyoto is the number one place to visit. Numerous temples and shrines are located throughout the city and walking along canals, next to traditional wooden houses and through the small streets really gives you an idea of the ancient Japanese imperial culture. Kyoto is also famous for its crafts: textile, kimono and pottery. Although there is very much to see and do in Kyoto, even a short-time visitor can soon get an appreciation of what this ancient capital has to offer. The train from Takayama Station to Kyoto Station will take approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes. If you have a few more days then your Japan travel expert can recommend and itinerary for you. More than likely they will recommend a few more days in Kyoto. You also might consider visiting Hiroshima, Miyajima, Tokyo or a number of other Japanese destinations. Please talk to your Japan travel expert for ideas.

Today will be your last day in Japan and your last chance for sightseeing and shopping. Please make sure you arrive at Kansai Airport or Itami Airport at least 2 hours before your scheduled flight. Your tour organizer will have exact directions to the airport.