Trip Overview
Trip Overview
SPECIAL OFFERS
- 2024 Signature Land Early Booking Offer
For a limited time, National Geographic Expeditions travelers can save on exciting Signature Land trips to North America and around the world. Book by September 5, 2023 and enjoy the following offers:
- Save $400 per person on select 2024 North America Signature Land itineraries
- Save $500 per person on select 2024 international Signature Land itineraries
Take advantage of these limited-time savings by calling (877) 728-7282, contacting your Travel Advisor or booking online with the Offer Code: SLEBR24.
This offer has limited availability, so reserve your trip soon!
Important Details
- Trip must be booked by September 5, 2023 to take advantage of this offer
- Booking begins June 7, 2023
- Offer excludes Jordan and Petra Extensions
- Valid on select Signature Land itineraries only
- Valid on new bookings only
- Available for online booking with the Offer Code: SLEBR24
- Offer is not combinable with any existing offers, discounts or promotions
- Offer availability is limited for each departure
- Disney Vacation Club Member Exchange: At least one person in the traveling party must book with Reservation Points when exchanging through Member Services.
Between June 7 and September 5, 2023, book select National Geographic Expeditions Signature Land itineraries and save: (1) $400 off per person on select North America Land departures; or (2) $500 off per person on select International Land departures. Valid only on select departures with travel start dates between January and December 2024. The per-person savings is taken from the non-discounted prevailing rate for each departure as quoted on the date of booking (“Regular Rate”). Regular Rates are based on double occupancy, vary depending on departure date and time of booking, and are subject to change. Offer availability is limited for each departure. Travel must be booked 30 days prior to applicable departure date. Not applicable to deposit or extensions. Qualifying itineraries have an offer designation on the Special Offers box of the itinerary page on https://www.nationalgeographic.com/expeditions/. Any offer designations may not reflect real-time offer availability. Availability of the offer is subject to confirmation at time of booking and paying the standard trip deposit. Any courtesy hold, without payment of the standard deposit, will not guarantee availability of the offer for the selected departure date. Valid for new bookings only. Subject to availability at the time of booking. May not be combined with other offers, discounts or promotions. Offer not transferable or redeemable for cash in whole or in part. Not valid for group bookings. Offer valid for residents of the US and Canada (except for Quebec where the offer is only available to travel agents). Void where prohibited. Offer is subject to restrictions and conditions and may change without notice. Bookings subject to restrictions and trip standard terms and conditions.
Available Departures- Sep 5-15, 2024
- Oct 10-20, 2024
- This expedition was inspired by travel writer Don George’s article “Japan’s Past Perfect,” published in the January/February 2012 issue of National Geographic Traveler.
- Stay at Benesse House, designed by acclaimed architect Tadao Ando and set within Naoshima’s island-wide art complex.
- Spend the night at a traditional Mount Koya monastery, and rise with the resident monks for a morning prayer ceremony.
- Immerse yourself in Shikoku’s timeless Iya Valley, dotted with thatched cottages, shrines, and vine bridges.
Itinerary
Itinerary
Discover Japan’s intriguing contrasts on a journey inspired by National Geographic Traveler’s January/February 2012 article "Japan’s Past Perfect." Explore Kyoto’s iconic temples and ascend to the sacred pilgrimage site of Mount Koya. Step back in time in the age-old villages of Shikoku, then encounter cutting-edge architecture on Naoshima and the bustle of a revitalized Hiroshima.
Arrive at Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Osaka at any time. Transfer to Kyoto and check in to our hotel.
Kyoto served as an imperial capital for more than a thousand years, and many of the wooden temples and gardens from that era have been collectively designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Visit the 14th-century Tenryuji temple, considered one of the city’s great Zen temples, and discover its beautiful grounds and gardens. Outside the temple’s north gate, wander through Arashiyama’s atmospheric bamboo grove. Then venture into the wooded hills southeast of the city to the famed Kiyomizudera temple, known for the expansive wooden terrace that extends from the main hall. Walk along the terrace, taking in panoramic views of maple and cherry trees below and Kyoto’s skyline in the distance. Below the temple, visit the sacred Otowa Waterfall, with three separate streams that are believed to have different benefits: longevity, love, and success. Cap off the afternoon at the lively Nishiki Market, perusing—and tasting—a variety of Japanese specialties. At tonight’s welcome dinner, meet a former geisha to learn about the geisha lifestyle and enjoy a short performance.
Stroll the elegant Zen rock garden at Ryoanji and iconic Kinkakuji, or “temple of the golden pavilion.” This afternoon, experience the tranquil garden at Sanzenin temple. Then enjoy a traditional Japanese tea service before spending an evening exploring Kyoto on your own.
Travel to Mount Koya, headquarters of the Shingon Buddhist sect. Meet a temple priest and wander through the evocative Okuno-in cemetery, where the tombs of more than 200,000 samurai warriors and other dignitaries fill a grove of age-old cedar trees. Venture into Kongobuji, the chief temple of the Mount Koya monastery, and see work by artists of the Kano school of painting. Settle into our simple lodgings and enjoy a traditional Buddhist vegetarian dinner.
After attending an optional morning prayer ceremony, descend to the shores of the Inland Sea and ferry across to Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s main islands. In Tokushima, see costumes and floats from the city’s 400-year-old dance festival at the Awa Odori Kaikan museum. Our home for the next two nights in the Iya Valley is a ryokan, or traditional Japanese inn, where inviting, on-site hot spring baths offer a chance to relax and rejuvenate.
Travel along the steep slopes of the Iya ravine to a 300-year-old thatched farmhouse, home to the Chiiori Trust, a unique project that seeks to preserve age-old rural traditions in the valley. Continue to the Okuiya Niju Kazurabashi, twin suspension bridges made of intertwined vines, and hear the legends of their creation. Witness timeless scenes of village life in Ochiai, a community of traditional dwellings, some of which date from the Edo period (circa 1600-1870).
Travel north to Zentsuji, revered as the birthplace of the Buddhist priest Kobo Daishi and as one of the important stops along Shikoku’s 750-mile and 88-temple pilgrimage route. In Takamatsu, stroll through the tranquil gardens of 17th-century Ritsurin Park. A ferry then brings us to the small island of Naoshima, which has recently emerged as a mecca of contemporary art and architecture. Get a new perspective on nature through inventive art installations at the Benesse House Museum this afternoon and stay in the adjacent hotel, designed by acclaimed architect Tadao Ando.
Wander past the works of Claude Monet and James Turrell at the innovative Chichu Art Museum, built underground but designed to capture natural light and shadow. Also visit homes that are part of the Art House Project, which has transformed some of the island’s older structures into imaginative works of art.
Ferry back to Honshu and take the high-speed train to Hiroshima. Pay a visit to Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park and the Peace Memorial Museum, which documents the atomic explosion that ravaged the city. Spend the remainder of the afternoon visiting Shukkei-en garden or explore this thriving modern metropolis—a testament to Japanese resilience—on your own.
Set off by ferry for a full-day excursion on Itsukushima Island, popularly called Miyajima. Venture into the 12th-century Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, a World Heritage site built over the water, where a vermillion torii (wooden gateway) appears to float at high tide. Participate in a traditional tea ceremony, then take advantage of free time to go on a hike, visit temples, and stroll through the picturesque town. Back in Hiroshima this evening, gather for a farewell dinner.
Take the high-speed train from Hiroshima to Osaka and enjoy lunch on the train. Then, transfer to the Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Osaka and catch your flight home.