There are two major festivals in Takayama every year, the Spring Sanno Festival in April and the Autumn Hachiman Festival in October.

This is our most comprehensive tour that is designed for people who want to see the undiscovered regions of Japan, as well as the more popular sights in Tokyo, Takayama, Kyoto and Hiroshima . Sanno Festival takes place on April 14th and 15th of every year. The main features of the Takayama Festival are gorgeous yatai (floats) decorated with detailed carvings, tapestries, and karakuri dolls (marionettes). This tour includes Tokyo's modern attractions, famous gardens in Takamatsu, and the gardens, temples and shrines of Kyoto. The gardens and temples in Kyoto that you will visit have been chosen because of their reputation as the "best places to view cherry blossoms." We will take you back in time with visits to the charming village of Shirakawa-go and the beautifully preserved old town of Takayama and, notably, the Takayama Sanno Spring Festival. You'll have a profound appreciation for the skill and craftsmanship of the people of this land while watching ornate floats being lit up by traditional lanterns and escorted around the city by people dressed in traditional kimonos. This festival atmosphere is an unforgettable experience. On this tour you will also have a chance to watch Miyako Odori, a cherry blossom dancing show that performed by the geiko (geisha) and maiko (apprentice geisha).

You'll get the opportunity to experience a green tea ceremony , watch a kimono fashion show, relax in the hot springs, savor gourmet kaiseki cuisine, make Okonomiyaki (Japanese popular dish), ride a boat down the Yoshinogawa River in the picturesque Oboke Gorge, ride a Shinkansen bullet train, and savor the world famous Wagyu beef in Kobe. We will also visit Fuji-Hakone National Park, majestic castles at Himeji, and the Peace Memorial Museum and Park at Hiroshima . At Miyajima you can view the famed vermilion Torii Gate of Itsukushima Shrine . At high tide, the gates look like they're floating on the sea. At Nara, be inspired by the intricate architect and towering monuments, including the Great Buddha statue, and you'll understand why this city is considered the birthplace of Buddhism in Japan.

On the island of Kyushu you will experience what few have the opportunity to do: walk among the craters of an active volcano, Mt. Aso , that erupted just a few years ago. By remote camera, you can look into the depths of a steaming caldera. In Beppu, view the Jigoku (hell) pools of bubbling waters and geysers scattered across the town. In Nagasaki we will visit the Glover Gardens , Oura Church, and Atomic Bomb Peace Memorial.