Japan: Past & Present-A Cultural Journey from Tokyo to Osaka
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From neon-lit streets filled with people to quiet shrines filled only with silence, come face-to-face with a culture thousands of years in the making. Experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Explore the cities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, traveling between them on the famous shinkansen bullet train. Meet the incredible ama pearl divers and dine with them while hearing tales of their lives and traditions. Meet the bowing deer of Nara Park. Explore the historic geisha district of Kyoto, Gion. See the beauty of the Arashiyama bamboo forest and the Golden Pavilion. Dive deep into the culture of Japan with the Women’s Association of Kyoto. Stay among Buddhist monks at a monastery on Mount Koya and wander the moss-covered paths of Okunoin Cemetery. Visit the Peace Park and Memorial Museum of Hiroshima and hear first-hand accounts of the atomic bomb’s devastation. See the famous O-torii Gate of Miyajima Island. Explore the neon-soaked streets of Osaka’s Dotonbori district. Discover the thousand facets of culture, art, and life that make up the incredible spirit of Japan.
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ID: 8148878
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ID: 8471005
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ID: 8148879
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ID: 8148880
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ID: 8551974
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ID: 8148878
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ID: 8471005
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ID: 8148879
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ID: 8148880
|
ID: 8551974
|
Tokyo
As the capital of Japan, Tokyo is also the most populous city with over 13 million people and is the cultural and financial center of Japan. Originally known as Edo prior to the move of the empire in 1868 from Kyoto, Tokyo is a sprawling metropolis with over 23 city sections all connected by an excellent public transit system. While most of ancient Tokyo was destroyed by bombing in WWII, today’s Tokyo is a mix of architectural styles and eclectic structures.
Asakusa
Travel to Asakusa, Tokyo’s oldest geisha district, known for its temples, festivals and Entertainment. See the famous Buddhist temple called Senso-ji, and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere as you take in the sights of amazing old-world Japanese architecture.
Tea Ceremony
Formality and attention to culture and respect are important in Japan and are present in all aspects of the tea ceremony. From the formal bows, to the placement of the cups and utensils, all aspects of the ceremony are critical to the enjoyment. A part of Buddhist beliefs, it is more about the appreciation of the placement, structure and enjoyment than it is the actual drinking of the tea. Typically accompanied by delicately crafted sugary sweets, the tea itself is a green, frothy mixture and only plays a small role in the process.
Ginza
Tokyo National Museum
Bullet Train
In Japan, high speed trains (bullet trains) are called “Shinkansen.” They run at speeds of up to 320 kilometers per hour and are known to depart on time right to the second.
Ise Grand Shrine
Kaiseki Dinner
Mikimoto Pearl Museum
Ama Pearl Divers Dinner
Kyoto
Once the imperial capital for over 1,000 years, Kyoto is also known as the city of 10,000 shrines. From Buddhist temples to Shinto shrines, Kyoto remains a treasure of Japan with the wide range of historic buildings and gardens protected during the bombings of WWII. Also the center of the Geisha culture, today's visitors can stroll through the former Geisha quarters or try their hand at being a "Geisha for a day" with the locals.
Gion
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Golden Pavilion
Women’s Association of Kyoto
Okunoin Cemetery
Monastery Stay
Hiroshima
A modern Japanese city, Hiroshima is most known for being one of two cities hit with an atomic bomb, helping to end the Second World War. Though reclaimed as a cosmopolitan center, the city is never far from its past; amongst the electric neon of its bustling streets, Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park is a historical time capsule right in the city center that’s both a dedication to the victims of the bombing and to world peace. The park’s main site, the A-Bomb Dome is the mark of the ruined remains of the Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. The nearby Peace Memorial Museum gives you the opportunity to learn about life in Hiroshima before, during, and after WWII. For those interested in world history, Hiroshima is a must-see.
Okonomiyaki Cooking Class & Lunch
Peace Memorial Park & Museum
Discussion with an A-Bomb Survivor
Osaka
As the third most populous city in Japan, Osaka has a population of just over 3 million. Prior to the Nara Period, Osaka was formerly known as Naniwa and was the first capital city of Japan. Osaka was a merchant and trade town that continues today as a financial hub. Keeping the Japanese respect for green spaces, Osaka is unique in creating "floating gardens" in between skyscrapers and maintaining green spaces on castle grounds.
Prince Park Tower Hotel
4-8-1 Shibakouen Minato, Tokyo, Japan
Nemu Resort
2692-3 Hazako, Hamajima-cho, Shima City, Mie Prefe, Ise-Shima, Japan
Hotel Granvia
JR Kyoto Station, Kyoto, Japan
Sekishoin
571 Koyasan, Koya, Ito District, Mt. Koya, Japan
ANA Crowne Plaza
7-20 Nakamachi, Naka Ward, Hiroshima, Japan
Centara Grand Hotel Osaka
2-11-50 Nanbanaka, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, Japan
We consider everyone who travels with us to be our personal guest.
Every moment matters to us because we know it matters to you. This may be because at heart we are a family owned company that has been in business for over 100 years. It may be because our team are passionate about sharing their own love of travel and uncovering mysteries.
Choosing Collette comes with benefits that take your guided travel experience to another level. Our inclusive tours provide you more value for your money and more of what makes travel special.
The Benefits of Collette Guided Travel
- Value of Guided Travel
- Easy & Convenient Booking
- Expert Tour Managers
- Private Airport Transfers
- Carefully Selected Accommodations
- All the Iconic Must-Sees
- Immersive Cultural Experiences
- Authentic Culinary Experiences
Every moment of travel is important to us.
Whether it’s helping you select your perfect dream destination, giving you a ride to and from the airport in a sleek black sedan, offering the security of our unrivalled Travel Protection plan or 24-7 support, we are with you every step of the way to make sure everything is perfect.
We don’t think of guided travel as a business. We think of it as a great honor and privilege to be able to share what’s so wonderful about the world with our guests. Since it’s so personal for us, we treat each and every traveler as a valued friend. We want you to sit back and let us handle all the details so you can have the time of your life.
Guaranteed to Go
We have guaranteed thousands of tour departure dates across over 170 of our tours. This means that you can book your tour with peace of mind knowing that it will depart as planned and your departure date will not change.
Travel Protection
We understand that life happens and sometimes plans change, so we don’t want you to book with us only to be socked with fees if you have to cancel your trip. That just adds insult to injury! That’s why we offer an industry leading travel protection plan that offers you a full refund, less the cost of the plan. Cancel for any reason right up to the day before your departure.
Sedan Service
Getting to and from the airport can be the most stressful and difficult part of any trip. Start and end your adventure in hassle-free luxury with our private sedan that comes straight to your door, loads your bags and whisks you off to the airport and back home again when you return. Now that’s how to start and end a trip the right way.
Social Responsibility: It's a way of life
It’s at the heart of everything we do and every decision we make. We believe that travel should be a force for good and by uniting with our employees, partners and travelers, we can make a positive impact in our local and global communities.
Our Mission
Social Responsibility at Collette means working together to take care of the places we live, work and travel. We focus on four key areas – Community, People, Travel and Planet – taking a holistic approach by striving to do good in every area of our business.
COMMUNITY
Our nonprofit, the Collette Foundation, supports worldwide communities in need through hunger and education initiatives. Each year, employees volunteer more than 4,500 hours of their time to efforts in their own communities and across the world.
TRAVEL
We strive to create an experience our guests not only enjoy, but also feel good about. We work to sustain and preserve communities, cultures, and traditions through tourism, and positively impact the places we come to know as travelers.
PEOPLE
We couldn’t deliver the amazing travel experiences that we do without our incredible team. We offer our employees a variety of tools to be happy, healthy, and successful including learning and growth opportunities.
PLANET
Our world is filled with awe-inspiring natural wonders. That’s why we are actively making responsible decisions to reduce our carbon footprint and care for our planet, the place we all call home.
Focus on family. We’ll handle the rest.
There are countless benefits to family travel. Experiencing new things together. Taking time to enjoy each other’s company without life’s typical distractions. Connecting with loved ones who don’t live near us.
No matter why you decide to travel together, or where you choose to go, spending quality time with family should be the only thing that matters. That’s why families book Collette tours – to let experts take care of all the details.
Why Book Your Multigenerational Family Trip with Collette?
Making Memories Together
Unique experiences are made richer with family by your side. And the journey lives on through memories retold. Do you remember that game drive with Grandma? We came so close to the elephants!
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff
Planning a trip is hard work. Organizing the Blarney Stone visit? Finding a ride to the river cruise in Costa Rica? That stuff takes away from your time to focus on each other. Let us handle the logistics.
Learning From Each Other
Traveling with family is the best game of trivia. From architectural features to history, the facts your family memers have tucked away may surprise you. (And your Tour Manager can fill in any gaps!)
Exploring Your Ancestry
Cultural heritage forms our family traditions and beliefs. Tracing your family's roots is powerful. There's no better way to discover these countries than with your family. Go together, with an expert by your side.
Less is More on a Low-Season Tour
Explore popular destinations with more flexibility and fewer crowds. Whether you're searching for tranquility or a deeper connection with the locals, off season travel is one of the best ways to experience a destination.
6 Reasons to Love the Low Season
More Affordable
Off-season travel offers significant cost savings on flights, accommodations, and day-to-day activities.
Better Service
Smaller crowds mean more personalized service and shorter wait times at restaurants, museums, and attractions.
More Peace
Peak season can be crowded and overwhelming, while the low season offers opportunities for quieter, more serene travel experiences.
Authentic Experiences
Experience destinations like the locals do - with less hustle and more room to appreciate the beauty around you.
More Sustainable
Low season travel reduces the strain on a destination’s resources, meaning less waste and lower pollution levels.
Support Local Economies
Low season tourism brings vital income to local economies during quieter periods, helping to sustain businesses and livelihoods year-round.
Tokyo
As the capital of Japan, Tokyo is also the most populous city with over 13 million people and is the cultural and financial center of Japan. Originally known as Edo prior to the move of the empire in 1868 from Kyoto, Tokyo is a sprawling metropolis with over 23 city sections all connected by an excellent public transit system. While most of ancient Tokyo was destroyed by bombing in WWII, today’s Tokyo is a mix of architectural styles and eclectic structures.
Asakusa
Travel to Asakusa, Tokyo’s oldest geisha district, known for its temples, festivals and Entertainment. See the famous Buddhist temple called Senso-ji, and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere as you take in the sights of amazing old-world Japanese architecture.
Tea Ceremony
Formality and attention to culture and respect are important in Japan and are present in all aspects of the tea ceremony. From the formal bows, to the placement of the cups and utensils, all aspects of the ceremony are critical to the enjoyment. A part of Buddhist beliefs, it is more about the appreciation of the placement, structure and enjoyment than it is the actual drinking of the tea. Typically accompanied by delicately crafted sugary sweets, the tea itself is a green, frothy mixture and only plays a small role in the process.
Ginza
Tokyo National Museum
Bullet Train
In Japan, high speed trains (bullet trains) are called “Shinkansen.” They run at speeds of up to 320 kilometers per hour and are known to depart on time right to the second.
Ise Grand Shrine
Kaiseki Dinner
Mikimoto Pearl Museum
Ama Pearl Divers Dinner
Kyoto
Once the imperial capital for over 1,000 years, Kyoto is also known as the city of 10,000 shrines. From Buddhist temples to Shinto shrines, Kyoto remains a treasure of Japan with the wide range of historic buildings and gardens protected during the bombings of WWII. Also the center of the Geisha culture, today's visitors can stroll through the former Geisha quarters or try their hand at being a "Geisha for a day" with the locals.
Gion
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Golden Pavilion
Women’s Association of Kyoto
Okunoin Cemetery
Monastery Stay
Hiroshima
A modern Japanese city, Hiroshima is most known for being one of two cities hit with an atomic bomb, helping to end the Second World War. Though reclaimed as a cosmopolitan center, the city is never far from its past; amongst the electric neon of its bustling streets, Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park is a historical time capsule right in the city center that’s both a dedication to the victims of the bombing and to world peace. The park’s main site, the A-Bomb Dome is the mark of the ruined remains of the Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. The nearby Peace Memorial Museum gives you the opportunity to learn about life in Hiroshima before, during, and after WWII. For those interested in world history, Hiroshima is a must-see.
Okonomiyaki Cooking Class & Lunch
Peace Memorial Park & Museum
Discussion with an A-Bomb Survivor
Osaka
As the third most populous city in Japan, Osaka has a population of just over 3 million. Prior to the Nara Period, Osaka was formerly known as Naniwa and was the first capital city of Japan. Osaka was a merchant and trade town that continues today as a financial hub. Keeping the Japanese respect for green spaces, Osaka is unique in creating "floating gardens" in between skyscrapers and maintaining green spaces on castle grounds.
Prince Park Tower Hotel
4-8-1 Shibakouen Minato, Tokyo, Japan
Nemu Resort
2692-3 Hazako, Hamajima-cho, Shima City, Mie Prefe, Ise-Shima, Japan
Hotel Granvia
JR Kyoto Station, Kyoto, Japan
Sekishoin
571 Koyasan, Koya, Ito District, Mt. Koya, Japan
ANA Crowne Plaza
7-20 Nakamachi, Naka Ward, Hiroshima, Japan
Centara Grand Hotel Osaka
2-11-50 Nanbanaka, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, Japan
We consider everyone who travels with us to be our personal guest.
Every moment matters to us because we know it matters to you. This may be because at heart we are a family owned company that has been in business for over 100 years. It may be because our team are passionate about sharing their own love of travel and uncovering mysteries.
Choosing Collette comes with benefits that take your guided travel experience to another level. Our inclusive tours provide you more value for your money and more of what makes travel special.
The Benefits of Collette Guided Travel
- Value of Guided Travel
- Easy & Convenient Booking
- Expert Tour Managers
- Private Airport Transfers
- Carefully Selected Accommodations
- All the Iconic Must-Sees
- Immersive Cultural Experiences
- Authentic Culinary Experiences
Every moment of travel is important to us.
Whether it’s helping you select your perfect dream destination, giving you a ride to and from the airport in a sleek black sedan, offering the security of our unrivalled Travel Protection plan or 24-7 support, we are with you every step of the way to make sure everything is perfect.
We don’t think of guided travel as a business. We think of it as a great honor and privilege to be able to share what’s so wonderful about the world with our guests. Since it’s so personal for us, we treat each and every traveler as a valued friend. We want you to sit back and let us handle all the details so you can have the time of your life.
Guaranteed to Go
We have guaranteed thousands of tour departure dates across over 170 of our tours. This means that you can book your tour with peace of mind knowing that it will depart as planned and your departure date will not change.
Travel Protection
We understand that life happens and sometimes plans change, so we don’t want you to book with us only to be socked with fees if you have to cancel your trip. That just adds insult to injury! That’s why we offer an industry leading travel protection plan that offers you a full refund, less the cost of the plan. Cancel for any reason right up to the day before your departure.
Sedan Service
Getting to and from the airport can be the most stressful and difficult part of any trip. Start and end your adventure in hassle-free luxury with our private sedan that comes straight to your door, loads your bags and whisks you off to the airport and back home again when you return. Now that’s how to start and end a trip the right way.
Social Responsibility: It's a way of life
It’s at the heart of everything we do and every decision we make. We believe that travel should be a force for good and by uniting with our employees, partners and travelers, we can make a positive impact in our local and global communities.
Our Mission
Social Responsibility at Collette means working together to take care of the places we live, work and travel. We focus on four key areas – Community, People, Travel and Planet – taking a holistic approach by striving to do good in every area of our business.
COMMUNITY
Our nonprofit, the Collette Foundation, supports worldwide communities in need through hunger and education initiatives. Each year, employees volunteer more than 4,500 hours of their time to efforts in their own communities and across the world.
TRAVEL
We strive to create an experience our guests not only enjoy, but also feel good about. We work to sustain and preserve communities, cultures, and traditions through tourism, and positively impact the places we come to know as travelers.
PEOPLE
We couldn’t deliver the amazing travel experiences that we do without our incredible team. We offer our employees a variety of tools to be happy, healthy, and successful including learning and growth opportunities.
PLANET
Our world is filled with awe-inspiring natural wonders. That’s why we are actively making responsible decisions to reduce our carbon footprint and care for our planet, the place we all call home.
Focus on family. We’ll handle the rest.
There are countless benefits to family travel. Experiencing new things together. Taking time to enjoy each other’s company without life’s typical distractions. Connecting with loved ones who don’t live near us.
No matter why you decide to travel together, or where you choose to go, spending quality time with family should be the only thing that matters. That’s why families book Collette tours – to let experts take care of all the details.
Why Book Your Multigenerational Family Trip with Collette?
Making Memories Together
Unique experiences are made richer with family by your side. And the journey lives on through memories retold. Do you remember that game drive with Grandma? We came so close to the elephants!
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff
Planning a trip is hard work. Organizing the Blarney Stone visit? Finding a ride to the river cruise in Costa Rica? That stuff takes away from your time to focus on each other. Let us handle the logistics.
Learning From Each Other
Traveling with family is the best game of trivia. From architectural features to history, the facts your family memers have tucked away may surprise you. (And your Tour Manager can fill in any gaps!)
Exploring Your Ancestry
Cultural heritage forms our family traditions and beliefs. Tracing your family's roots is powerful. There's no better way to discover these countries than with your family. Go together, with an expert by your side.
Less is More on a Low-Season Tour
Explore popular destinations with more flexibility and fewer crowds. Whether you're searching for tranquility or a deeper connection with the locals, off season travel is one of the best ways to experience a destination.
6 Reasons to Love the Low Season
More Affordable
Off-season travel offers significant cost savings on flights, accommodations, and day-to-day activities.
Better Service
Smaller crowds mean more personalized service and shorter wait times at restaurants, museums, and attractions.
More Peace
Peak season can be crowded and overwhelming, while the low season offers opportunities for quieter, more serene travel experiences.
Authentic Experiences
Experience destinations like the locals do - with less hustle and more room to appreciate the beauty around you.
More Sustainable
Low season travel reduces the strain on a destination’s resources, meaning less waste and lower pollution levels.
Support Local Economies
Low season tourism brings vital income to local economies during quieter periods, helping to sustain businesses and livelihoods year-round.
About Collette
With Collette, the World is Within Your Reach
True adventures go beyond incredible destinations or inclusive packages. Collette delivers a sense of possibility across all seven continents.
Since 1918, we have been sharing our love of travel. Today our worldwide travel collection features comprehensive land tours, river cruises, rail journeys, small group tours, family trips, garden holidays and more. With Collette, wake each morning on tour with a new experience in front of you, and when your head hits the pillow, you will know it has been an amazing day. Best of all - we seamlessly handle the details. All you have to do is enjoy the adventure.
About Collette
With Collette, the World is Within Your Reach
True adventures go beyond incredible destinations or inclusive packages. Collette delivers a sense of possibility across all seven continents.
Since 1918, we have been sharing our love of travel. Today our worldwide travel collection features comprehensive land tours, river cruises, rail journeys, small group tours, family trips, garden holidays and more. With Collette, wake each morning on tour with a new experience in front of you, and when your head hits the pillow, you will know it has been an amazing day. Best of all - we seamlessly handle the details. All you have to do is enjoy the adventure.
