Combine the best of Osaka on this half day tour. Explore Osaka Castle - Osaka's best known sight and very popular in Cherry Blossom time, then take a river cruise on the Aqua Liner (pleasure boat) with passing views of Osaka including Osaka Castle, Twin Towers, City Hall on Nakanoshima lsle.

Osaka Castle is noted for its magnificence and immense stones used in its construction. The castle, towering over the city, stands on a stone rampart. Many relics of the Toyotomi who built the castle originally, and Old Osaka are exhibited inside.

Enjoy a 60-minute boat ride on the Aqua Liner (pleasure boat) with passing views of Osaka including Osaka Castle, Twin Towers, City Hall on Nakanoshima lsle.

This is a full-day tour starting with a fast trip on the bullet train to Himeji to visit the Himeji Castle, nicknamed the "White Heron Castle", and designated a World Cultural Heritage site. Take lunch and relax at the beautiful Kokoen Gardens before sampling some sake at the Hakutsuru Sake Brewery. Explore the museum and learn about sake brewing methods dating back to 1743.

Start with a bullet train ride to Himeji to visit the Himeji Castle, one of the most famous castles in Japan and designated a World Cultural Heritage site. Its sublime form and white walls have earned it the nickname of "White Heron Castle". The castle grounds are divided into inner and outer-walled zones, with gates built around maze-like spaces to confuse enemies, and a double moat for extra protection.

Bring your own lunch at enjoy it at the Koko-en Garden, which is a short distance from Himeji Castle. The gardens where opened in 1992 on the former site of of the feudal lords' west residence (Nishi-Oyashiki). They consist of nine separate gardens designed in various garden styles of the Edo period.

After lunch you'll explore the Hakutsuru Sake Brewery. Hakutsuru was founded in 1743 and has come to establish its present "sake" brewing techniques by maintaining old traditions combined with the latest development in new techniques. The museum exhibits the actual process of sake making and its history, then experience a taste test.

Experience the peace and enlightenment of Zen meditation at one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan on this half-day tour from Osaka. You'll also pay a visit to the Enryakuji Temple on Mt Hiei, one of Japan's three great Zen temples.

Enryakuji Temple on Mt Hiei is the principal seat of the Tendai School of Buddhism, and was founded by the great Buddhist monk, Dengyo Daishi Saicho. The temple is divided into three areas: the Todo (Eastern Pagoda), Saito (Western Pagoda) and Yokawa.

Combine the best of Osaka on this half day tour. Explore Osaka Castle - Osaka's best known sight and very popular in Cherry Blossom time, then take a river cruise on the Aqua Liner (pleasure boat) with passing views of Osaka including Osaka Castle, Twin Towers, City Hall on Nakanoshima lsle.

Osaka Castle is noted for its magnificence and immense stones used in its construction. The castle, towering over the city, stands on a stone rampart. Many relics of the Toyotomi who built the castle originally, and Old Osaka are exhibited inside.

Enjoy a 60-minute boat ride on the Aqua Liner (pleasure boat) with passing views of Osaka including Osaka Castle, Twin Towers, City Hall on Nakanoshima lsle.

Go for a stroll and see Osaka's highlights on this guided walking tour. You'll enjoy lunch and see Osaka's famous attractions including Osaka Castle, the Aerial Garden Observatory and Twin Towers.

Osaka's Aerial Garden Observatory is on the 40th floor, with panoramic views of the city. After lunch, it's off to Osaka Castle, noted for its magnificence and the immense stones used in its construction. The castle towers over the city on a stone rampart, and was built in 1583 as the intended capital of Japan. Many relics of old Osaka and the Toyotomi who built the castle are exhibited inside.

From here it's a short walk to the riverboat dock to board your 60-minute cruise around Nakanoshima. The passing views of Osaka include Osaka Castle, the Twin Towers and City Hall on Nakanoshima lsle.

See the sights of Kyoto on this 3.5-hour morning tour. Kyoto was Japan's capital and the Emperor's residence from 794 until 1868. Included in this tour is a visit to Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), Kyoto Imperial Palace and the Kyoto Handicraft Center.

You'll travel 30-minutes by train from Osaka to Kyoto. Enjoy a morning tour of Kyoto, departing from Osaka! Japan's seventh largest city with a population of 1.4 million people and a modern face. You'll see Kyoto's highlights, steeped in culture including Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), Kyoto Imperial Palace and Kyoto Handicraft Center.

You'll return by JR rail from Kyoto to Osaka station.

Enjoy an afternoon in Kyoto! This six-hour tour includes visits to the Heian Shrine, Sanjusangendo Hall and the Kiyomizu Temple.

You'll be picked up from your Osaka Hotel and taken to Osaka station for your journey to Kyoto. Join the afternoon tour visiting Heian Shrine, a brightly colored shrine with its vermilion pillars and green roof, and its enchanting inner gardens and ponds, reflects the elegance of life in the ancient Japanese court.

Next visit the Sanjusangendo Hall, a renowned long wooden hall housing all of , Bodhisattva, that date back to the 13th century then travel to Kiyomizu Temple, a quaint old lane lined with pottery shops lead up to this famous temple. Enjoy a sweeping view of the entire city of Kyoto from its lofty terrace.

Tour concludes with a journey on the JR rail back to Osaka station.

Enjoy the afternoon visiting Nara. Due to its past as the first permanent capital of Japan, it remains full of historic treasures, including some of Japan's oldest Buddhist temples. On this tour visit the Todaiji Temple, Deer Park and Kasuga Shrine.

Japan's first permanent capital was established in the year 710 at Heijo, the city now known as Nara. As the influence and political ambitions of the city's powerful Buddhist monasteries grew to become a serious threat to the government, the capital was moved to Nagaoka in 784.

Depart Osaka and travel by rail to Kyoto where you'll join your tour oNara, located in the Kinai plain, less than one hour from Kyoto. Due to its past as the first permanent capital, it remains full of historic treasures, including some of Japan's oldest Buddhist temples.

Visit the Todaiji Temple, constructed in the 8th century, is one of Japan's most famous and historically significant temples. In it's huge precincts are various national treasures of Japan. The Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall) is one of the world's largest wooden buildings. One of Japan's best-known temples, it enshrines a gigantic bronze statue of Buddha. A wonder of religious architecture.

See over 1,000 tame deer roam freely in the verdant 1,250 acres peaceful park. If you wish to feed the deer, they will gladly eat from your hand. Special deer food is available for sale in the park grounds.

Tour concludes with a visit to Kasuga Shrine, the most famous and beautiful Shinto shrine in Nara, it features some 3,000 antique stone and bronze lanterns.

Travel by return rail to Osaka.

See all the sights of Kyoto in a day. Travelling from Osaka, visit Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), Kyoto Imperial Palace, the Kyoto Handicraft Center, Heian Shrine, Sanjusangendo Hall and the Kiyomizu Temple.

Kyoto was Japan's capital and the emperor's residence from 794 until 1868. It is now the country's seventh largest city with a population of 1.4 million people and a modern face. Enjoy this morning tour to see some of the main highlights of this wonderful city.

Visit Nijo Castle,  and it's Golden Pavilion and Kyoto Imperial Palace - residence of the Imperial family until the capital was relocated to Tokyo in 1868 before feasting on a buffet lunch at the Kyoto Handicraft Center where you'll also have the opportunity to shop.

Tour continues with a visit to the Heian Shrine, a reflection the elegance of Japanese life. Explore Sanjusangendo Hall, long wooden hall housing all of 1,001 statues of Kannon, Bodhisattva, that date back to the 13th century. Tour concludes with a visit to  where you'll enjoy sweeping views of the entire city of Kyoto before your rail journey back to Osaka.

Enjoy seeing the main sights of both Kyoto and Nara in one day. This day tour takes you to Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), Kyoto Imperial Palace and the Kyoto Handicraft Center in Kyoto, then the Todaiji Temple, Deer Park and Kasuga Shrine in Nara.

Kyoto was Japan's capital and the emperor's residence from 794 until 1868. It is now the country's seventh largest city with a population of 1.4 million people and a modern face. Enjoy this morning tour to see some of the main highlights of this wonderful city, steeped in culture.

Japan's first permanent capital was established in the year 710 at Heijo, the city now known as Nara. As the influence and political ambitions of the city's powerful Buddhist monasteries grew to become a serious threat to the government, the capital was moved to Nagaoka in 784.

Nara is located in the Kinai plain, less than one hour from Kyoto. Due to its past as the first permanent capital, it remains full of historic treasures, including some of Japan's oldest Buddhist temples.