Immerse yourself in the captivating culture of Japan as you encounter vestiges of its imperial past and the dynamism of contemporary life on a journey to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hakone.

Request a Tailor-Made Itinerary Request Itinerary or Ask Us A Question or Call 855-215-8690
 Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, Kyoto
 Senso-ji Temple, or Asakusa Kannon, an important Buddhist temple in Tokyo
 Tokyo's Ginza district
 Mt. Fuji and Ashi Lake
 Japan's bullet train with Mt. Fuji in the distance
 The Higashiyama District in Kyoto
 Entrance to Nijo Castle (detail), Kyoto
 Nijo Castle Garden, Kyoto
 Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto
 Traditional kimonos
 Traditional Udon noodle dish
 Traditional sushi platter

Japan Past and Present: A Tailor-Made Journey

Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hakone

11 days from $6,995

Immerse yourself in the captivating culture of Japan as you encounter vestiges of its imperial past and the dynamism of contemporary life on a journey to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hakone.

Request a Tailor-Made Itinerary

or call 855-215-8690
Accommodations

* Click on hotel name to visit hotel web-site.

Park Hotel Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan

The Park Hotel is a modern hotel infused with Japanese art that begins at the 25th floor of the Shiodome Media Tower. Arranged around a soaring atrium, stylish rooms and common spaces offer expansive views of the city. With the Hama Rikyu Gardens just steps away, the hotel is ideally located for exploring both the old and new of the city. It features both international and Japanese restaurants, a café, an art exhibition space, a world-class spa, and Japan’s first Scotch Malt Whiskey Society bar.

Celestine Gion

Kyoto, Japan

Set in the heart of the bustling Higashiyama temple area, the Celestine Gion is a tranquil sanctuary of Japanese minimalism. Rooms are well sized and simply furnished with comfortable western-style beds, large windows, and ironware tea sets—among other modern amenities. Common spaces include an inviting traditional-style bath and garden and a lounge that serves drinks and snacks. Maiko (apprentice geisha) perform for house guests, which you can enjoy while sampling sushi and tempura at the Endo Yasaka restaurant.

KAI Hakone

Hakone, Japan

The KAI Hakone is a modern ryokan perched on the banks of the Sugumo River in Sugumogawa Valley. It offers both western-style and traditional Japanese rooms and suites, some with their own balconies and open-air baths. The ryokan’s onsens, or hot spring baths, open out onto views of the surrounding woods and mountains. The restaurant serves beautifully prepared multi-course Japanese meals that are locally sourced, based around fresh seafood from nearby Odawara. Other amenities include massage services, tea sessions, and craft workshops focused on the local art of parquetry.

Tailor-Made Benefits

Smithsonian Archivist Circle membership. Benefits include:

  • Recognition in the Friends of the Smithsonian Honor Roll displayed electronically on the National Mall in the Membership Reception Center
  • Invitation to a special welcome tour for new members at a Smithsonian venue
  • A Smithsonian Institution annual engagement calendar with full color images of exceptional art and artifacts
  • A complimentary Smithsonian museum guidebook
  • Subscription to the award-winning magazine Smithsonian
  • 20% discount at Smithsonian Museum Stores, 10% discount at selected dining facilities, at SmithsonianStore.com, and Folkways Recordings
  • Special member rate for tickets to the Smithsonian's IMAX® theaters and Einstein Planetarium
  • Admission to Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York City
  • Weekday access to the Friends of the Smithsonian Reception Center

If you are already a member of the Archivist Circle or above, you will receive The Smithsonian's History of America in 101 Objects by Richard Kurin.

Reading List

Highly Recommended

In Praise of Shadows
By: Tanizaki, Jun'Ichiro
A Concise History of Japan (Cambridge Concise Histories)
By: Walker, Brett L.
DK Eyewitness Japan (Travel Guide)
By: DK Eyewitness
An Introduction to Japanese Society
By: Sugimoto, Yoshio

Also Recommended

Lonely Planet Japanese Phrasebook & Dictionary 9
By: Abe, Yoshi, Hagiwara, Keiko
Japan - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture (114)
By: Culture Smart!, Norbury, Paul
Japan and the Culture of the Four Seasons: Nature, Literature, and the Arts
By: Shirane, Haruo
Japan: A Traveler's Literary Companion (Traveler's Literary Companions)
Bending Adversity: Japan and the Art of Survival
By: Pilling, David
The Art of the Japanese Garden: History / Culture / Design
By: Young, David, Young, Michiko
Japan's Cuisines: Food, Place and Identity
By: Rath, Eric C.
Japanese Design: Art, Aesthetics & Culture
By: Graham, Patricia J.
Learning to Bow: Inside the Heart of Japan
By: Feiler, Bruce
Where the Dead Pause, and the Japanese Say Goodbye: A Journey
By: Mockett, Marie Mutsuki
The Inland Sea
By: Richie, Donald
Memoirs of a Geisha: A Novel
By: Golden, Arthur
Thousand Cranes
By: Yasunari Kawabata
24x36 World Wall Map by Smithsonian Journeys - Tan Oceans Special Edition (24x36 Laminated)
Travel Insurance

For the convenience of our travelers, Travel Guard provides an on-tour Insurance Plan. On-tour emergency evacuation insurance (up to $100,000), medical expense coverage (up to $25,000), dental expense coverage (up to $500), travel medical assistance and worldwide travel assistance (U.S. Residents only). It also includes up to $25,000 medical and up to $500 dental expense coverage, and 24-hour worldwide travel and medical assistance. Please click here to view complete coverage details.

Please visit www.TravelGuard.com/SmithsonianJourneys or call Travel Guard at 1-800-208-6142 to learn about additional (optional) coverage.

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