Transfer to a traditional Japanese-style hotel (40 minutes).

The hotel is located at a hot spring resort with a 1300-year history, surrounded by a picturesque garden.

Rakuen Garden, opened in 1845, has been visited multiple times by the Imperial Family, who stayed at the present hotel.

The garden near the sacred Mount Myoken is beautiful throughout the year, but in late April to early May, it becomes particularly enchanting as 200,000 vibrant azaleas and sprawling wisteria bloom.

In the evening, the illumination creates a special mysterious and romantic atmosphere.

Check-in at the traditional Japanese-style inn ("ryokan"). Room with a private hot spring bath ("onsen").

Relaxation in the hot springs, dinner.

Breakfast. Excursion to Nagasaki.

Nagasaki is a city with a wonderfully warm atmosphere, pleasantly provincial. Unfortunately, its rich and extremely interesting history is overshadowed by the relatively recent past: the atomic bombing on August 9, 1945. While in Nagasaki, it is impossible not to remember this tragedy, but one should not forget about other events that occurred here and had a tremendous impact on the fate of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Nagasaki and its immediate surroundings are one of the main settings of the so-called "Christian century" in Japan. It began in 1549 with the arrival of Catholic missionaries led by St. Francis Xavier in Kagoshima (a city in southern Kyushu) and ended shortly after the peasant-ronin uprising in the Shimabara province (1637-1638), which was provoked, among other things, by the intensification of persecutions against Christians, who at that time constituted the majority of the province's inhabitants.

Simultaneously with the end of the "Christian century," Nagasaki became, for more than two hundred years, the only point of contact for the Japanese with the Western world through the Dutch and English who settled here.

After the "opening" of Japan by American Commodore Perry in 1854, Nagasaki, with the help of enterprising Europeans who settled here, became the engine of the country's economic development and the center of the new Japanese shipbuilding, which ultimately led to the tragic events of August 9, 1945.

Fortunately, due to the terrain and the inaccuracy of the bombing because of dense clouds over the city, Nagasaki was not completely wiped off the face of the earth like Hiroshima. In the south, unique Buddhist temples from the early 17th century, built by a fairly numerous Chinese community at that time, have been preserved.

Glover Garden: Essentially, it is an open-air museum - a quite skillfully recreated settlement of Europeans (mostly English) who risked doing business here shortly after Japan's borders were opened in the mid-19th century, settling down and bringing their families.

A significant part of the garden is dedicated to Madame Butterfly. There is a monument to Tamaki Miura, the most famous performer of the role of Cho-Cho-san, as well as a statue of Puccini. The garden also contains the remains of the first asphalt road and the first tennis court in Japan. The most interesting residential houses in the garden are the houses of British traders William Alt (built in 1864) and Frederick Ringer (built in 1856), as well as the house of Thomas Glover himself.

In Glover's house, who was also an avid gardener, the first greenhouse in Japan was arranged. The Glover orchids, Thomas Glover's favorite, still bloom there. Near the house grows a huge 300-year-old sago palm, a gift from the Satsuma province head (modern Kagoshima).

Oura Church was built in 1864 by Japanese craftsmen according to the project of the French priest and is considered the oldest surviving Christian temple in Japan. It is dedicated to the 26 martyrs crucified in Nagasaki in 1597 by order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Nagasaki Chinatown is the oldest and most authentic in Japan. It was founded in the 17th century by Chinese traders for whom Nagasaki was the only open port in Japan at that time. Now the area is best known for its Chinese cuisine restaurants - from small eateries with plastic displays to luxurious establishments with gilded dragons as decor.

Dejima is a reclaimed island at the mouth of the Nakashima River, which was built in 1636 as a kind of ghetto for Portuguese living in Nagasaki to limit their missionary influence on the local population. In 1856, two years after the signing of the American-Japanese Treaty of Amity and Commerce, a similar treaty was signed between the Japanese and the Netherlands. The need for Dejima as a ghetto for foreigners disappeared. The island first became the location of the Dutch embassy, and by 1866 it merged with the newly established foreign settlement of Nagasaki.

"One-legged Torii" (gate) of the Sanno Shinto shrine. A peculiar monument to the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. The explosion tore off the second "leg" of these gates.

Breakfast. Check-out.

Transfer to Yanagawa – a castle town from the 16th century with a nostalgic atmosphere. Yanagawa was called the "water castle" due to its extensive system of water-filled moats and canals, totaling about 470 kilometers.

The best way to see the city today is to take an hour-long cruise on the canals on a small boat, passing through the ancient water gates of the city under the overhanging branches of trees along the Namako walls, reminiscent of bygone times. The boat leisurely moves to the captain's songs – these are children's rhymes written by local poet Hakushu Kitahara.

The precious historical heritage was created by people living in an unbreakable connection with water. Preventing flooding by temporarily storing rainwater during stormy seasons, supplying water for agricultural use, or in case of fire extinguishing – waterways are deeply intertwined with the daily lives of the people in Yanagawa to this day.

The Yanagawa Ohana residence is also interesting - the villa of the Tachibana family, which ruled Yanagawa from around 1600 to 1868. The building is a mansion in Western style, created in the early 20th century. Right behind it is a Japanese building with a pond and the beautiful Sotoen garden.

Lunch at a traditional restaurant.

Excursion to the tea plantations of Yame with a rare elite variety of green tea called "tea for connoisseurs."

Transfer to Dazaifu, the Komozendji Temple, founded in the Kamakura period (1192-1333).

Dazaifu Temmangu Shrine. Among hundreds of Temmangu shrines throughout Japan, Dazaifu Temmangu is the most important along with Kitano Temmangu in Kyoto. The shrines are dedicated to the spirit of Sugawara Michizane, a scholar and politician of the Heian period (lived in the late 9th – early 10th centuries). Due to his excellent education, Michizane was associated with Tenjin, the Shinto deity of education, popular among students.

Michizane demonstrated his remarkable talents from a young age and began writing poetry at the age of eleven. His political career quickly developed, and he managed to gain great influence at the imperial court, which was then dominated by the Fujiwara clan. However, his rise to power led to rivalry between Michizane and the Fujiwara, which ultimately led to Michizane's exile from the capital, Kyoto, to the distant province of Dazaifu.

Michizane died in Dazaifu in 903, just a few years after his exile. Shortly after his death, the country was ravaged by natural disasters, and people came to believe that these disasters were caused by the angry spirit of Michizane, still outraged by injustice and exile. To appease the spirit, Temmangu shrines began to be built. The Dazaifu Temmangu Shrine was built on the site of his tomb.

Transfer to Fukuoka, check-in at the hotel. Rest.

The tour to the private garden Kavati Fuji is a unique experience. Fuji, in Japanese, refers to wisteria. In this park, covering an area of 1000 square meters, 20 varieties of wisteria bloom, winding around tunnels and arches, enveloping everything in a fairy-tale aroma. The view of a tunnel with 150 wisteria has brought fame to this lesser-known garden in the Japanese province, attracting more visitors each year. To preserve the garden, the number of visitors is strictly limited, and it's impossible to enter without pre-booking tickets.

Return to Fukuoka.

Dinner with a geisha at a traditional Japanese restaurant is a unique and culturally immersive experience. You'll have the opportunity to enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine in the company of a geisha, who will entertain you with traditional arts such as dance, music, and conversation. This encounter provides a glimpse into Japan's rich cultural heritage and offers a memorable and enchanting evening.

Transfer to Beppu

In Beppu, you will witness a fascinating phenomenon: steam rising from craters and the ground, confirming that this place is one of the most active geothermal zones in the world. Over 100 million liters per day pour out from more than 3000 sources.

Visit the Jigoku, the nine circles of hell ("Bloody Pond Hell," "Golden Dragon Hell," and others). The most popular attractions are the nine "hells" that emit steam, sulfuric mud, and form crimson boiling ponds.

Transfer to Kitsuki.

Kitsuki translates to "trying on a kimono," so we suggest dressing in a kimono and strolling through the old streets of this castle town.

The city of Kitsuki is easily recognizable by its characteristic steep slopes.

At the top of the hill is the castle, and on the hills to the south and north are the samurai quarters (some houses can be entered), while between them, in the lowlands, are the houses of merchants.

Transfer by train to Kyoto (2 hours 40 minutes).

Sightseeing in Kyoto.

Ryoanji Stone Garden (Temple of the Peaceful Dragon)

From any point on the veranda, it is impossible to see all 15 stones. At least one stone always remains invisible, hinting at the unknowability of Truth.

Golden Pavilion Kinkakuji

In 1950, a Buddhist acolyte, in a fit of madness, set fire to the temple, which is the most famous architectural monument in Kyoto. However, the temple was restored and remains one of Kyoto's main symbols.

Kenninji

The temple was founded in 1202 by a monk named Eisai, who brought tea culture from China to Japan. Kenninji is the main temple of the Rinzai Buddhist school. The temple's attention-grabbing feature is the painting depicting two dragons. The temple also houses a pair of two-fold screens, covered with a thin layer of gold, with picturesque images of the wind and thunder gods, "Fujin-Raijin."

Gion Geisha District

A world of refined entertainment. Be attentive, and if you're lucky, you might see a real geisha (called geiko in Kyoto) or an apprentice, a maiko, hurrying to work.

Nara – the ancient capital of Japan, a city with a history of over 1300 years. Of course, Nara is renowned for its ancient temples such as Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha, and the Great Buddha, which you will undoubtedly visit. However, the greatest delight for anyone visiting Nara is the sacred deer. It is believed that the first mythical emperor of Japan, Jimmu, descended from the heavens and arrived in Nara riding on a deer. It is said that all the deer in Nara are descendants of that original deer.

There are more than a thousand deer freely roaming the city, and not only are they unafraid of tourists, but they also solicit treats! Special deer cookies are widely sold for feeding them.

Return to Kyoto (40-60 minutes).

Transfer by train to Tokyo (2.5 hours).

Nara – the ancient capital of Japan, a city with a history of over 1300 years. Of course, Nara is renowned for its ancient temples such as Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha, and the Great Buddha, which you will undoubtedly visit. However, the greatest delight for anyone visiting Nara is the sacred deer. It is believed that the first mythical emperor of Japan, Jimmu, descended from the heavens and arrived in Nara riding on a deer. It is said that all the deer in Nara are descendants of that original deer.

There are more than a thousand deer freely roaming the city, and not only are they unafraid of tourists, but they also solicit treats! Special deer cookies are widely sold for feeding them.

Return to Kyoto (40-60 minutes).

Transfer by train to Tokyo (2.5 hours).

Tokyo Excursion:

Hamarikyu Garden (former hunting grounds of the shogun, a traditional garden against the backdrop of skyscrapers).

Historic Asakusa district – a preserved area of old Tokyo from the Edo era, home to one of the revered temples in Tokyo, Sensō-ji. Nakamise Street, lined with stalls offering a variety of souvenirs, follows the age-old tradition: old-fashioned artisan shops display elegant handmade items, while the surrounding space is filled with restaurants and snack stalls.

Hie Shrine with numerous red torii gates. The popularity of Hie Shrine among Tokyo's residents and its high status can be traced back to the 17th century when the military dictator of the country, Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, became its patron and considered it the heavenly protector of Edo (Tokyo). The ascent to the shrine from the southwest is very scenic and adorned with numerous red Shinto torii gates.

Omotesando Boulevard or Ginza district (the best shops and restaurants in Tokyo, featuring modern architecture).

Transfer to the airport.

Departure.