JAPAN: GOLDEN SEASON IN THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN

Expected flight: VN320 SGN KIX 00:10 07:20
Guests spend the night on the plane.
On arrival at Kansai – Osaka Airport, the group completes immigration procedures, then the coach takes the group to the city centre.
Katsuoji Temple is one of the most unique spiritual destinations in Osaka Prefecture, Japan, with a history of more than 1,300 years. Located on the hills of Minoh City, it is famous around the world under the name 'Temple of Victory', thanks to thousands of small red Daruma dolls placed throughout its grounds. In autumn especially, the temple is wrapped in a coat of brilliant colour as the golden-red maple leaves blend beautifully with the distinctive red of the lucky Daruma dolls.

Guests have breakfast and check out of the hotel.
Then the coach takes the group to Kyoto – an ancient capital more than 1,000 years old. Kyoto is truly an old city, as it has no skyscrapers or modern buildings. In return, the former capital preserves many historical and cultural relics, both material and spiritual, of the Japanese people:
Stroll through the old Gion quarter – the cultural heart of Kyoto, where time seems to stand still among traditional wooden machiya houses and lanterns lit as dusk falls. This place preserves the spirit of the art of the Geisha and Maiko (known locally as Geiko). If you are lucky, you may glimpse the graceful figures of Geiko in splendid kimono and refined make-up walking along the streets.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple is part of the Kyoto Historic Monuments World Heritage Site recognised by UNESCO. Here guests admire the temple architecture, explore the three sacred waterfalls of "Longevity", "Love" and "Success in Study", and drink from one of the three streams to make a wish come true.
Fushimi Inari Shrine – the legendary shrine of a thousand gates, with about 10,000 vermilion Senbon Torii gates winding behind the main grounds. It was also the setting for the Oscar-winning film "Memoirs of a Geisha".

Guests have breakfast and check out of the hotel.
The coach takes the group to Yamanashi – the home prefecture of Mount Fuji.
Oshino Hakkai Village: A hidden old village at the foot of Mount Fuji, famous for its superb scenery, interesting customs and traditions that have been kept intact since ancient times. As a sign of respect, before entering the village guests should stop by a small pond, wash their hands, take a little water to rinse their face, then use a bamboo ladle to scoop water into their mouth and drink a sip of cool water, then rinse the ladle for the next person. The water here is snowmelt from the peak of Mount Fuji, and is extremely pure.

Guests have breakfast and check out of the hotel.
The coach takes the group sightseeing:
Mount Fuji – one of the most famous symbols of Japan. Fuji is the highest mountain in the country and one of the "Three Holy Mountains" of Japan. Guests will visit up to the fifth station if the weather allows; in case of bad weather, guests will sightsee and take photos at the foot of the mountain or at the Mount Fuji information centre.
The coach then takes the group to Tokyo for sightseeing:
Asakusa Kannon Temple (also known as Sensō-ji) – the oldest and most sacred temple in Tokyo, built to worship the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. Inside the temple grounds, guests explore Nakamise-dōri, the oldest shopping street in Japan, the five-storey pagoda Gojunoto, Asakusa-jinja Shrine, Nitenmon Gate, the Kannondo Hall and Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate)…

(Guests visit and take photos outside)

(Depending on the weather, expected mid to late November)

Guests have breakfast, pack and check out of the hotel. At the scheduled time, the coach takes the group to the airport to check in for the flight back to HCM City.
Expected flight: VN307 NRT SGN 09:30 14:05 (Meals served on this flight)
On arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, the sightseeing programme ends. The group says goodbye and looks forward to welcoming you on future journeys with Gateway.
(The order of the programme may change depending on actual conditions, but all sightseeing spots in the itinerary will be fully covered).
Note: The timing of blossoming/withering and the early or late arrival of red leaves depends heavily on the weather at the time of sightseeing, and is a case of force majeure. We appreciate your understanding.