Day 1: KANSAI AIRPORT - KYOTO
You arrive today at Kansai Airport, near the city of Osaka, between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. After clearing immigration, you'll retrieve your baggage. Our representative will be on hand to meet you, and show you to the shuttle van counter in the arrivals lobby on the first floor. You'll be whisked from the ultra-modern terminal over express highways into a city where tradition, good manners, and refinement are part of the way of life. Welcome to Kyoto! You'll spy modern buildings, but also traditional pagoda roofs, and temple gates. Your van will take you to your hotel, where your room will be available at the normal check-in time. You'll unpack, relax, and then set out to explore Kyoto on your own.

Day 2: KYOTO - Optional Tour to Nara
Full day on your own , or ask us for help with optional tours.
Maybe venture out to Nara on your own or ask us for help with the optional tour to the nearby Nara, which figured prominently in imperial history, to see the great Buddha in the Todaiji Temple, the Kasuga Shrine decorated with 3000 lanterns, and the Deer Park. Or take a look at one of the outlying neighborhoods of Kyoto, where traditional ways prevail. You might want to explore a district such as Fushimi, in the south of the city, where canals thread between the older buildings, and where you'll find such traditional undertakings as small sake breweries. Of course, if you'd prefer an organized visit for part of your stay, we'd be pleased to oblige. We can arrange a tour to the Imperial Palace, the Katsura Imperial Villa, or the Shugakuin Imperial Villa, and to most of the places mentioned. Take a few moments this afternoon to confirm your departure arrangements with our local representative.

Day 3 : TOUR KYOTO - on to Tokyo
Morning Tour of Kyoto, including the Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle ( or Ryoanji Temple when Nijo Castle is closed )
The Golden Pavilion and Kyoto Imperial Palace ( Palace is closed on National Holidays , in this case tour Higashi Honganji Temple or Kitano Shrine .
Evening return to Tokyo on board the Shinkansen, arriving around 9:30 PM.
Transfer is included back to your hotel .

Day 4 : TOKYO Tour and Departure
You'll take a tour of Tokyo this morning, and you'll take in all of the essentials. Our local rep. will call for you promptly at 8:20 a.m. Be ready! You'll see the Meiji Shrine and its surprisingly tranquil grounds so near the heart of the city, along with the Imperial East Garden (or, on Monday or Friday, the Plaza of the Imperial Palace). You'll continue to the Asakusa Kannon Temple, for an understanding of Japanese spirituality, so closely tied to the physical environment. Of course, since this is Japan, you'll see the latest consumer marvels at the Nakamise shopping arcade. You'll conclude right in the heart of Tokyo's most exciting district, the Ginza, full of restaurants, electronic showcases, and avant-garde shops on every level of its glittering buildings. Transfer back to your hotel .

Make sure to verify departure times on your voucher-we'll make a reservation to fit your flight schedule. When it's time, meet your airport shuttle , and it's off to Narita for your onward flight.

This tour operates daily, January 6-December 29.

Consider a honeymoon in Japan

Rate per person in US$

Rate includes:

* Airport greeting

* Transportation by van from Kansai Airport to your hotel in Kyoto and return to the train    station .

* Hotel accommodations as selected, including taxes and service charge

* Train ticket : Kyoto Tokyo as indicated

* Transfer in Tokyo as indicated

Not included:

* Air transportation

* Trip interruption and cancellation insurance (please see our insurance brochure or visit).

* Gratuities

* Meals or beverages

Compare with : Tokyo & Kyoto
In two Days - Mt. Fuji. Hakone. Kyoto

News feature from Kyoto City Travel Office:
The World of the Fushimi District in Southern Kyoto, is known for its direct historical connections with Japan's merchant powerhouse- Osaka- and the powerful days of Hideyoshi Toyotomi , the first man to unite Japan under one central ruling power.
The Fushimi Sake Industry.
With origins that date back to the 3rd century , sake is Japan's national drink. And as in so many other craft and art fields, Kyoto carries on a tradition of quality sake-brewing that ranks among the best in Japan. Blessed with pure sweet spring water and access to the best rice through its flourishing river port, Fushimi was a natural spot for sake industry brewing. Even today, the sake industry is an important presence in Fushimi and much effort has been put into preserving the many old brewery buildings. A good naturally produced sake ( or nihonshu , as it is called in Japanese) can have more than 400 distinct aromas and flavors. In general, though, styles range from sweet and light to full-bodied and very dry. Excellent sake is a combination of quality rice used and pure spring water . Junmaishu, pure rice sake, can legally only have three ingredients : top-grade sake rice, Koji ( the special fermenting yeast that makes it all happen) , and spring water. The best Fushimi sakes are smooth and delicately flavored, with a very slight sweetness - the perfect compliment to the fresh, only lightly seasoned ingredients that form the core of Kyoto cuisine . One of the very best places to taste great sake is Abura-cho, near Fushimi Momoyama Station. This shop has one of the finest collections of Fushimi sake in the city and a little tasting bar where you can sample a range of pure rice sakes from 26 of Fushimi's breweries. The owner speaks English. To learn more about the sake industry , consider visiting Okura Memorial Museum.

Why should you purchase : Trip interruption and cancellation insurance

Sample Hotels:

Karasuma Kyoto Hotel:
With one of the most convenient locations in the city, right in the heart of the business district, the Karasuma Kyoto Hotel provides easy access to all major transportation links .A modern oasis of comfort within the busy city surroundings, the hotel offers 255 rooms at a very reasonable cost.

Facilities feature six restaurants and a bar with a delicious variety of cuisine, four large and medium-sized banquet rooms for meetings, parties or get-together and a team of capable staff ready to assist in any way that they can.When visiting Kyoto, the Karasuma Kyoto Hotel on the corner of Karasuma and Shijo Streets invites you to use our facilities as a comfortable base for travel around Japan.

Cozy and comfortable accommodation will just make you feel right at home.
A clean and quiet atmosphere is provided for you.

Address:
Karasuma-Shijo Sagaru Shimogyyo-Ku
Kyoto, Japan

With one of the most convenient locations in the city, right in the heart of the business district, the Karasuma Kyoto Hotel provides easy access to all major transportation links. 5 minutes by subway from JR Kyoto Station, 30 minutes by taxi from the Kyoto International Conference Hall, 1 minute walk from Shijo subway station (Karasuma Line), 3 minute walk from Karasuma Station on the Hankyu Line.

Amenities: Front Desk, Elevator, Bar, Restaurant, Safe Deposit Box, Lounge, Coffee Shop, Room Service, Room-Service 24 Hours, Parking, Conference Facilities, Meeting Facilities, Non Smoking, Satellite TV
Services: Post, Pool, Laundry, Currency Exchange, In room telephone service, Express Check-In, Express Check-Out, Front Desk-24 Hours, Guest Laundromat, Luggage Storage, Wake up service

Guest Rooms:
Room Type: Standard Room
Room Facilities: AC, Cable TV, Direct Phone, Attached BathRoom, Shower, Bath Tub, Shower/ Bath Tub, Double Bed, King Bed

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