This is just one possible independent tour itinerary. Call us to discuss your interests.

Day 2: Tokyo
Arrive at Narita International Airport. Exit into the arrival area and go to the counter for the Airport Limousine Bus. Present the coupons we have provided and tell the clerk you're going the Keio Plaza Hotel. The Airport Limousine Bus stops are located outside of the exit doors and buses depart every 15 minutes. Baggage attendants will take care of tagging your bags and storing them on the bus when it arrives. Depending on traffic, it may take up to two hours to reach the hotel. Present the prepaid vouchers when you check into the hotel and make sure you're given breakfast vouchers for each day of your stay. Also, ask for their detailed Shinjuku area map in English and later, for help with finding any places that interest you.

The Keio Plaza Hotel is ideally located in Shinjuku, which has two parts: East and West. Bustling East Shinjuku is a haven for shopping, people-watching, eating and drinking. West Shinjuku, where the Keio Plaza Hotel is located, has wide boulevards, wonderful views from the tops of tall skyscrapers, and many restaurants featuring superb views. One of most notable Shinjuku buildings is Tokyo City Hall, designed by Kenzo Tange, directly across from the Keio Plaza Hotel. It has an observatory with fabulous views on the 53rd floor. Admission is free; the observatory is closed on Mondays.

Expect a call from Esprit tour guide Chizuko Waller tonight to set up a meeting time for tomorrow.
Accommodations: Keio Plaza Hotel

Day 3: Tokyo
Today you'll be touring with Chizuko, who will pick you up at your agreed upon time in the morning. Wherever you decide to go, please pay for all transportation for both of you, as you go, and pay for any admissions. We suggest you begin by taking the JR to Harajuku, then walking to Shinto Meiji Shrine. After exploring the shrine complex with its cypress buildings topped with curving green copper roofs and surrounding gardens, visit the Ota Woodblock Museum or the Nezu Museum. Omotesando-dori, with its cafes, glitzy shops and galleries, and entertaining people watching is a great choice for lunch.

If you're interested in antique textiles or antiques, Chizuko will take you to some galleries. You might want to visit Nuno, a gallery specializing in innovative textiles and clothing. Okura Antiques offers a wonderful collection of antique Japanese pottery, baskets and textiles. Amy Katoh's shop, Blue and White, is a great place to stop also, and the lively Togo Shrine Flea Market holds a wealth of treasures. Afterwards, you may want to visit the Imperial Palace East Garden and stroll through the manicured rhododendrons, and past the quiet ponds and Moat of Swans.

Note: Please give your passports and Rail Pass vouchers to Chizuko so she can validate your passes and get onward seat tickets. You may want to accompany her to the JR office to do this.
Accommodations: Keio Plaza Hotel (B)

Day 4: Tokyo
Today you'll be touring on your own, so make sure you have these Japanese sightseeing essentials:

The Tokyo subway system is extremely easy to use, reliable and efficient, with English language signs. Fares range between 160 and 300 yen, one way. The most convenient option is to buy a subway card from a vending machine for 1000 yen. Each time you use the card, your fare is automatically deducted, and transfers are calculated for you. If you prefer to buy a ticket each time you board, use the English map to locate convenient and appropriate transfer points. Be sure to keep your ticket for surrender when you exit, or you'll have to buy another ticket.

The Tsukiji Fish Market offers a lively start to the day with its enormous array of seafood and surrounding vegetable and kitchen wares shops. Take the Odeo Subway Line to the Tsukiji Shijo Station. Turn right after exiting and walk to the corner. Turn right again and walk along the edge of the outer market to the small shrine. After visiting, cross the bridge to a large parking lot where the building housing the fish market is located. After visiting, retrace your route to the outer market, a maze of streets lined with wholesale food shops and restaurant supply shops.

Afterwards, walk up Harumi-dori to the Ginza district, a lively and glitzy area packed with boutiques, galleries and cafes that offers fun people watching. Next, board the Ginza Line to Asakusa, and visit the Senso-ji complex, the heart and soul of Asakusa, dedicated to the goddess Kannon. Visit the 17th century Shinto shrine there and the lush temple gardens. Kaminari-mon (Thunder God Gate) is the proper entrance to Senso-ji, and was rebuilt after WWII. After wandering the complex and seeing the Five-Story Pagoda, you may want to refresh yourself with a cup of tea.

You'll return to Shinjuku on the Ginza and Marunouchi subway lines. The Keio Plaza Hotel is located on the west side of Shinjuku Station. For dinner, it's an easy walk to the NS Building, where you can try one of the restaurants on the upper floors. Or, walk to the Park Tower, adjacent to the Park Hyatt Hotel, and try one of the restaurants in the B1 food court.
Accommodations: Keio Plaza Hotel (B)

Day 5: Tokyo to Kanazawa
Today you'll be touring with Chizuko again and can visit any sites, shops, galleries or districts you missed yesterday. If you're interested in architecture, the Aoyama district offers buildings designer by Japanese architectural greats such as Kenzo Tange, Fumihiko Maki, Tadao Andoh, and more. The Takashimaya gourmet market offers a tasty window into the vibrant world of Japanese cuisine. You may want to pick up a traditional Japanese bento box lunch there, to be enjoyed later in a nearby temple garden. The historic Kabukiza Theater is in the Ginza district, and Chizuko may be able to arrange a visit, if you're interested. Let her know as soon as possible that you'd like to go.

In the evening, you'll take the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Nagoya. Refer to your train tickets for the exact departure time and plan to leave the hotel one hour in advance of your train time. If you decide not to take a taxi, you may use your train tickets for the JR Yamanote Line from Shinjuku Station to Tokyo Station. You may want to ship any large suitcases ahead to the Tokyu Hotel in Kanazawa, so you don't have to travel with them. The Keio Plaza bell desk staff can help you with this. The charge will be approximately $15 per bag, and it will arrive the day after you send it. In Nagoya, transfer to the JR to Kanazawa. Upon arrival in Kanazawa, take a taxi to the centrally located and very comfortable western-style Tokyu Hotel, which will take about 15 minutes.
Accommodations: Tokyu Hotel (B)

Day 6: Kanazawa
After breakfast, you can begin can begin your exploration of Kanazawa with a tour of the Naga-machi Samurai district, located behind the hotel. A few houses in this district have been restored, including the Saihitsuan Yuzen Silk Center, which offers demonstrations of the elaborate, centuries-old Yuzen silk painting technique.

In the afternoon, take a walk around the Higashi Chaya district, an area with many splendid examples of well-preserved Edo style architecture. You can get there on foot, by local bus, or by taxi. While there, visit Shima Chaya House, an elegant former geisha house that is open from 9:00-6:00. Admission 400 yen. In the evening, you have reservations at a local restaurant specializing in Kaga cooking.
Accommodations: Tokyu Hotel (B)

Day 7: Kanazawa
Today you may want to visit Kenrokuen Garden and the ruins of Kanazawa Castle. It's about a 15 minute walk there from the hotel. Adjacent to Kenrokuen Garden are the Seisankaku Villa, the Traditional Arts Craft Museum, and the Prefectural Crafts Museum, which has a wonderful collection of kutani pottery and other fine crafts. Ohi Chozaemon, a 10th generation pottery kiln is also a great place to visit.

There are many nice shops and galleries featuring Kanazawa lacquerware and pottery located along the boulevard between the Tokyu Hotel and Kenrokuen Garden. The crafts Kanazawa is best known for are Kutani pottery, lacquerware and Yuzen dyed silk.

Kanazawa is also known and loved for its local seafood specialties, so be sure to ask for restaurant recommendations at the hotel. You'll also find many casual restaurants located in the Kohrinbo department stores near the hotel.
Accommodations: Tokyu Hotel (B)

Day 8: Kanazawa to Takayama
Today's journey takes you to Toyama on the Japan Sea, where you will have a short layover and change of trains. From there, you'll travel inland by JR Limited Express Wide View Hida through the mountains to Takayama. Show your tickets to the platform conductor in Toyama and he will tell you the platform number to Takayama. Upon arrival at Takayama Station, stop at the Tourist Information kiosk and get an English map before taking a taxi to Asunaro Ryokan.

The innkeepers, Seue san and his family, will give you an orientation to the public bath. Once you've settled in, you can start exploring on foot, strolling around the nearby Sanomachi historic before dinner. Feel free to wear your yukata robe to dinner. Your futons will be prepared for you while you dine.
Accommodations: Asunaro Ryokan (B,D)

Day 9: Takayama to Kyoto
Today you'll be sightseeing on your own. After breakfast, you may want to begin at the riverside morning market, then follow the map to Kusakabe Merchant House. Your admission ticket there includes tea and crackers and a visit to the family's mingei folk art collection in the kura (storehouse) behind the house. From there, walk to Hachimangu Shrine to visit the Festival Float Museum.

In the afternoon you may want to take a walk in the hills or visit the Hida Folk Village. The Hida Village is reached either by public bus from Takayama bus station, or by taxi. In the late afternoon you'll be boarding the JR for Kyoto. Upon arrival, take a taxi to Hotel Gimmond, where you'll be staying.

Day 10: Kyoto
Today you'll be touring with Esprit's local guide, Masa Fujiwara, who will call you early in the morning to arrange a time to meet. As before, please pay for transportation for yourself and Masa, as you go, as well as admission charges. Your first visit will be to Daitoku-ji Zen Monastery with its temples, lush and mossy tea garden, and Chokushi-mon gate. The approach to the Koto-in sub temple is a wonderful maple-lined stroll and Ryogen-in is peaceful and quiet, with five small gardens of moss and stone. Enjoy lunch at Daitoku-ji before venturing on to the galleries on Teramachi Street. There you'll find Gallery Gallery, which showcases contemporary textiles. The Kitano Shrine Flea Market offers a treasure trove of old kimonos, obis, textile fragments, pottery and more if you're in the mood to shop.

At 3:00 p.m. you'll be visiting the studio of master calligrapher and performance artist Shotei Ibata. You'll see him wielding an enormous brush and dancing across washi paper to create a masterpiece-in-the-moment. Please be prepared with an envelope containing a 10,000 yen note to give to Mr. Ibata at the end of your visit.
Accommodations: Hotel Gimmond (B)

Day 11: Kyoto
You'll be touring on your own today in eastern Kyoto, or Higashiyama. This area is full of temples and shrines, as well as the famous Gion Geisha district. As with Tokyo, it's very easy to get around in Kyoto on the subway and by bus. You can get a subway map at the hotel or from the JNTO office. The buses run on a grid pattern that's easy to follow, and taxis are available if you prefer. Although Kyoto's sights are spread over a large area, many are clustered together, offering wonderful walking tours full of gardens, temple, shrines and shopping.

Begin your day at Ginkaku-ji, a villa turned temple and one of Kyoto's most famous sights. To get there, take Bus 5 from Kyoto Eki to the Ginkaku-ji-michi bus stop, then walk east, along the canal. The entrance is a short distance from the bus stop. After enjoying the atmosphere at Ginkaku-ji, stroll the Philosopher's Walk southward to Nanzen-ji Temple. Along the way, stop in at Honen-in, with its rustic entry gate and wild camellia forest. Continuing on, you'll end at Konchi-in Temple in Nanzen-ji, where you'll find two classic gardens. You can travel by taxi to Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Sanjusangen-do, a temple featuring a magnificent display of gilded carved wood statuary. If you're interested in visiting Gion, you can easily get there by bus. You have reservations for dinner at Yakitori Agatha at 7:30 p.m.
Accommodations: Hotel Gimmond (B)

Day 12: Kyoto
Today you'll be touring on your own. Begin the day by taking the local Eiden train and a taxi to Rengei-ji, in northern Kyoto. At this little-known hideaway you'll discover a garden that harmonizes perfectly with the surrounding mountains, and a friendly abbot and his wife, whose tea room offers a beautiful view and peaceful ambiance. Afterwards, visit Shisendo, Hall of the Poet Hermits and the home of a Samurai turn poet. You could choose a kaiseki lunch at Heijachi Jaya or home-style Kyoto cooking at Maggie B.

After lunch, take a Kyoto Line bus to the Ohara bus stop and walk northeast for about seven minutes on the marked road to Sanzen-in, a small Tendai sect temple with beautiful grounds full of maples and a carved Amida Buddha. Before returning to your hotel, you may want to take the train to western Kyoto to visit Sagano and the tranquil green bamboo groves of Okochi Sanso. Nearby Tenryu-ji Temple holds one of the most famous scroll gardens in Kyoto.

In the evening, you'll be attending a Noh Theater performance. Reservations have been made and tickets will be delivered to the Gimmond Hotel for you.
Accommodations: Hotel Gimmond (B)

Day 13: Depart for U.S.
Your return flight is in the early afternoon from Osaka's Kansai International Airport, so you'll have the morning to shop, take a stroll, or take in the sights of Kyoto one last time. (B)

Baggage shipping
Plan to travel light on public transportation by taking advantage of the convenient baggage forwarding service called takyubin, available from any hotel bell desk or convenience store to an onward hotel. You'll need the address and telephone number of the hotel where you want to send the bag, and your date of arrival. Bags will be stored at no charge until you check in, and will usually be waiting in your room when you arrive. Expect to pay $15 per bag. The bag will arrive the next day after you send it, in most cases. Larger shops and department stores will ship purchases to your hotel using the same service.

Train Schedule
Note that you can change your ticket once without penalty at any JR Station. If, for any reason, you miss your scheduled train, simply take the next train to your destination and sit in any car marked Unreserved. Be prepared to show your Rail Pass and tickets to the gate and train conductors, and to surrender your seat tickets as you exit at each destination. Don't lose your Rail Pass — it won't be replaced!