Page 7 - Japan 11 Day Sample Itinerary

DAY 04 TOKYO At 9:00 AM be ready in the lobby of the Peninsula Hotel in preparation for a full day of touring. Stroll through the lovely wooded grounds of Meiji Shrine. The Shrine was built in 1920 to deify the emperor and empress of the Meiji period (1912). It is unusual to find separate shrines for an emperor and his empress, but Emperor Meiji made such a strong impression on his people that the Japanese constructed the shrine just after his death. Destroyed in WWII, it has been rebuilt with dignity, unlike most postwar construction in Japan. Visit Harajuku. Walk along Takeshita-dori Street, one of Tokyo’s most fashionable neighborhoods. Casual shops for young generations line Takeshita Street near Harajuku Station, and beautiful and sophisticated shops and restaurants fill Omotesnado Street. This area is certainly the place for people watching and a district where Tokyo’s thriving youth/pop culture pulses. This area is most famous for alternative apparel for teenager and is considered the Champs Elysees of Tokyo. It is a great place to for shopping and the latest trends in fashion. Observe the traditional city design of Asakusa. Centered around Asakusa Kannon Temple (Sensoji Temple) with a history of 1,400 years, the Asakusa district represents Tokyo’s old downtown, steeped in the nostalgic atmosphere of Edo-period while retaining a variety of traditional arts and crafts. Visit the Edo Tokyo Museum. This museum houses various displays that illustrate the history, lifestyle, and culture of Tokyo, including the Edo period (1603-1867). A permanent exhibit hall covers roughly 400 years of history, depicting major events in Tokyo’s history throughout this period in the form of actual objects, reproductions, and replica models. This evening pack an overnight bag for the next 2 nights as your main luggage (1 suitcase each) will be sent to Kyoto. There are no porters at the Japan train stations. You have to carry your own luggage on and off the trains and there is no luggage storage area on the trains. We highly recommend you travel as light as possible. Overnight: Peninsula Hotel – (2) Deluxe Rooms