Welcome to Japan!

Your AncestryProGenealogists® research service includes 30 hours of dedicated pre-trip research and planning into your family's origins. An expert genealogist has prepared a written report and images of the records found that inform your personal journey ahead.

Welcome to Tokyo! An English-speaking assistant will be waiting for you upon your arrival at the airport, holding a sign with your name on it. This representative will introduce you to your driver for a transfer back to your hotel.

Meet your driver for an enjoyable airport transfer with a private vehicle.

Step into the spiritual heart of Tokyo with a private encounter that offers insight, reflection, and quiet reverence. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide and traveling by taxi for ease and comfort, make your way to a serene Shinto shrine tucked amid the bustle of the capital. Rooted in centuries-old tradition, Shinto is Japan’s indigenous faith—one that celebrates harmony between humanity and nature, and honors the unseen forces believed to shape our lives. Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed by a Shinto priest and invited to take part in a short purification ritual and blessing. Whether seeking safe travels, good fortune, or clarity for a personal journey, this intimate ceremony offers a rare moment of stillness and intention in the midst of Tokyo’s energy. Your guide is on hand to interpret and deepen your understanding of the ritual, the shrine’s significance, and Shinto beliefs. Afterward, your guide will escort you back to your hotel.

Witness the traditional side of Tokyo with your private guide as you explore iconic shrines and the charming Yanaka neighborhood. Meet your guide at your hotel and navigate the city using Tokyo’s efficient public transportation system. Begin at Meiji Jingu, the city’s most renowned Shinto shrine, dedicated to the deified spirit of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Nestled within a serene forested enclave, the shrine often hosts traditional Japanese weddings - if the timing is right, you may catch a glimpse of a bride and groom in formal Shinto attire. From here, continue to Yanaka, one of Tokyo’s best-preserved shitamachi (old-town) districts. This nostalgic neighborhood survived the bombings of World War II and retains the feel of Tokyo from decades past. Stroll past wooden houses, family-run shops, and Yanaka Cemetery - a large, tranquil area known for its cherry blossoms, historical graves (including the last Tokugawa Shogun), and a peaceful, park-like atmosphere. Visit Nezu Shrine, known for its striking torii gate tunnel and deep historical roots, and stop by a small local museum that celebrates the area’s cultural heritage. Conclude with a transfer to your accommodation by public transit.

Step into Japan’s rich architectural past with a private guided visit to the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, where history is preserved in wood and stone. Nestled in a wooded park outside central Tokyo, this unique open-air museum showcases meticulously relocated and restored buildings from the Edo period through the early 20th century. Many historic structures in Tokyo have vanished over time due to fire, natural disasters, and modernization—but here, they are thoughtfully preserved for future generations. Stroll with your private guide through narrow alleys lined with traditional merchant houses, imposing samurai residences, and rustic thatched-roof farmhouses, gaining insight into how people of different classes once lived, worked, and bathed—yes, you’ll even peek inside an old-fashioned public bathhouse. Your guide will illuminate fascinating stories and social customs from centuries past, bringing context to the spaces you explore. With each building, you’ll witness a different chapter of Tokyo’s evolution, offering a tangible connection to everyday life in historic Japan and a deeper appreciation of its cultural heritage. Conclude with a private transfer to your accommodation.

Enjoy an evening dedicated to the subtle elegance of Japanese dining at an intimate, locally favored restaurant known for its seasonal cuisine. Meet your guide at the hotel and travel by taxi transfer to the venue, where a carefully composed kaiseki meal highlights balance, presentation, and flavor. Guided by a knowledgeable local expert, you’ll be introduced to the principles behind pairing Japanese sake and wine with each course, gaining insight into regional styles, brewing methods, and the philosophy that shapes these traditions. The experience offers a thoughtful look at how food and drink are harmonized in Japanese culture, shared in a relaxed and personal setting. Conclude with a taxi transfer to your accommodation.

Leave the bustling energy of Tokyo behind as you journey toward Kiso-Fukushima, gateway to the historic Nakasendo road. Travel by shinkansen to Nagoya, then continue by local train into the Kiso Valley, where the route becomes increasingly scenic. As the train winds through forested mountains, river gorges, and quiet rural landscapes, the journey offers a beautiful introduction to one of Japan’s most atmospheric regions. The total journey time is approximately three hours and 30 minutes.

The Kiso Valley lies in Nagano Prefecture, framed by the peaks of the Central Alps. Once traversed by the ancient Kisoji trade route, the valley later became part of the Nakasendo, the “path through the mountains” linking Edo and Kyoto during the Edo period. With travel largely made on foot, post towns developed along the route to shelter weary travelers. Today, preserved towns such as Magome, Tsumago, and Narai invite visitors to walk stone paths, admire wooden architecture, and step into the atmosphere of a bygone era.

Arrive in Kiso-Fukushima, a charming gateway to the Nakasendo road, and leave your luggage at the tourist information center in front of the station before exploring at your own pace. Local staff will give you a short orientation about the area (including the train/bus schedule and the meeting point for tomorrow's guided tour). Entry tickets to historical sites and maps will also be provided. You can leave your luggage here until you check-in.

Before transferring to your accommodation in the Kiso Valley, enjoy time for self-guided exploration in the charming town of Kiso-Fukushima. Wander its historic streets, or opt to visit Yamamura Residence, once home to an influential member of the Owari clan, and Kozenji Temple, admired for its striking rock garden. Later, continue to your accommodation and settle in for the evening.

Spend a full day walking in the footsteps of Edo-period travelers with your guide along a scenic section of the Nakasendo, once linking Kyoto and Tokyo through Japan’s mountain interior. Travel by train to Nakatsugawa, then continue to Magome, a picturesque post town ideal for local souvenirs or snacks before your walk. Follow a well-maintained countryside trail for five miles to Tsumago, where preserved wooden architecture evokes a bygone era. From here, you'll be transferred back to Kiso-Fukushima, where you can indulge in local cuisine and a soothing onsen soak.

For those eager to continue their Nakasendo journey, an optional self-guided hike from Yabuhara to Narai offers sweeping views and a deeper connection to the region’s natural beauty. This quieter stretch winds through mountain passes and ancient forests, revealing a more peaceful side of Japan’s historic landscape. Alternatively, you may depart earlier and continue onward to Kyoto.

Bid farewell to the mountain landscapes of the Kiso Valley as you continue toward Kyoto. Travel by limited express train from Kiso-Fukushima to Nagoya, then board the shinkansen bound for Japan’s ancient capital. With a total journey time of around three hours, this scenic transition carries you from quiet valley towns to the cultural heart of Kyoto.

Meet your guide for a train station transfer with a private vehicle.

Japan is world-renowned for a thriving traditional arts scene, and many of these crafts are meticulously practiced in the privacy of a Traditional Arts Instructor’s home. This afternoon, a local guide will meet you at your hotel and accompany you to the Traditional Arts Instructor’s home to learn about the Japanese tea ceremony. The guide will assist in translating for the professional instructor, as you learn about the various types of tea and the different instruments used to prepare it. Each movement and gesture are steeped with specific meaning in the tea ceremony and serving tea to guests is deeply meaningful in Japan. At the end of the cultural experience, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Gain hands-on skills with traditional Kyoto crafts, including pottery and kimono dyeing, while exploring the city's ancient heritage with your private guide. Set out with your guide, utilizing Kyoto's efficient public transit system, toward the eastern part of the city, known for its pottery district, where you’ll have the opportunity to create your own pottery piece. After your session, the pottery studio will fire it and send it directly to your home. Next, visit a Yuzen Gallery, where you’ll discover the delicate art of kimono dyeing and try your hand at creating your own unique piece to take home as a souvenir. Explore Nijo Castle, a stunning 17th-century UNESCO World Heritage site built for a shogun. Conclude your day with a stroll through Nishiki Food Market, a vibrant hub of Japanese culinary ingredients, and visit Gion, Kyoto’s historic geisha district, where narrow, lantern-lit streets are lined with traditional teahouses. If you're lucky, you may catch a glimpse of geishas and maikos hurrying to their evening appointments. Conclude with a return transfer to your accommodation by public transit.

Please note: This tour makes use of Kyoto's efficient public transportation to travel around the city.

Taxi and local train carry you between Kyoto and Nara, where more than 1,000 free-roaming deer wander freely through Nara Park's wooded grounds. For 74 years in the 8th century, Nara served as Japan's imperial capital, and much of that legacy survives here. From the park, your guide leads you on to Todaiji Temple, the world's largest wooden building, home to Japan's largest Buddha statue rising within its main hall, its scale explained against the era that built it. Taxi and train carry you back to your hotel in Kyoto at day's end.

Enjoy a self-guided stroll through Kyoto’s Pontocho, a charming alleyway running parallel to the Kamo River. Discover an incredible range of dining options, from casual yakitori and izakayas to exquisite high-end Kyoto cuisine. Wander at your own pace, soaking up the traditional atmosphere, lantern-lit streets, and riverside views while sampling the flavors that make Pontocho a culinary hotspot.

Please note: This is a suggestion for your leisure time and does not include admissions, a guide, or transfers

Meet your guide for a train station transfer with a private vehicle.

Board a train from Kyoto with direct service to Hiroshima. The train ride is approximately 2 hours.

Upon arrival at the train station, an assistant will be waiting to guide you on a brief walk to your nearby hotel.

Today your guide will meet you at your hotel to take you on a tour of Hiroshima by public transportation. Head to Peace Memorial Park. The area where the park now lies was ground zero for the Atomic Bomb on 6th August 1945. After the bombing, the Memorial Park was created and dedicated to those who lost their lives in the attack. Stroll through the park and discover the many memorials, monuments, and statues in the park before heading into the Museum itself. Next, visit Shukkeien Garden, which can be translated into English as "shrunken-scenery garden", which is also a good description of the garden itself. Valleys, mountains, and forests are represented in miniature in the garden's landscapes. Through carefully cultivated land and vegetation, the garden mimics a variety of natural formations and scenic views. Shukkeien has a long history dating back to 1620, just after the completion of Hiroshima Castle. The garden displays many features of the traditional aesthetics of Japanese gardens. Around the garden's main pond, there are a number of tea houses that offer visitors ideal views of the surrounding scenery. The entire garden is connected by a path that winds around the pond at the center of the garden. The path passes through all of Shukkeien's various miniaturized sceneries. Following this path around the garden is the best way to enjoy Shukkeien. Admire the beautiful gardens before heading back to your hotel. Tour ends in Shukkeien area.

Please note that with this tour you will have a private guide, but rather than traveling by private vehicle, you will make use of Hiroshima's efficient local transit system.

Your guide will meet you at your hotel to take you on a half tour to Miyajima, the sacred island in the Hiroshima Bay. From Hiroshima, a short ferry ride will deliver you to Miyajima Island - a small sacred island located in the Inland Sea; it has been a holy place of Shintoism since the earliest times. Here you will find perhaps the most photographed site in Japan - The Floating Torii Gate. Designated as one of Japan's '3 Most Beautiful Views', the shrine itself dates back to the 6th century with the present structure dating back to the 12th century. The harmoniously arranged buildings reveal great artistic and technical skill and have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mere 'commoners' were not allowed to set foot in this holy place, and even now it is forbidden to give birth or die on the island! You will have time to explore the island and its many shrines and temples, sample local goodies like maple leaf shaped cakes before heading back to the mainland. The tour ends in the Miyajimaguchi port area.

Please note that with this tour you will have a private guide, but rather than traveling by private vehicle, you will make use of Hiroshima’s efficient local transit system.

This afternoon, enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace, or relax at your hotel.

Discover your family's past with an on-site Ancestry Genealogist guide who knows the region's records, local historians, and communities. Guided by your Research Report, you’ll explore the places your family once called home. On this day you may walk the land they farmed, visit the church they attended, or meet distant relatives still living nearby. What you find goes deeper than any document ever could.

Your private guide and vehicle are at your disposal for a full day in Hiroshima, the route and focus entirely yours to shape. Whether that means historic sites, local neighborhoods, or experiences off the typical visitor path, the pace and direction are yours to set.

Meet your private driver for your transfer to Hiroshima airport.

Park Hotel Tokyo offers a sophisticated retreat in the city’s bustling Shiodome area, where contemporary design meets warm Japanese hospitality. Its thoughtfully designed rooms feature large windows framing sweeping views of the Tokyo skyline and iconic landmarks, while interiors showcase a harmonious blend of modern comforts and subtle artistic touches. Dine at the onsite restaurant, where seasonal ingredients inspire dishes that celebrate both Japanese and international flavors. Later, enjoy a perfectly crafted cocktail at the stylish bar while watching the city lights shimmer below. After a day of exploring nearby attractions such as the Ginza shopping district and Hamarikyu Gardens, unwind with a soothing treatment at the spa, a peaceful haven for relaxation.Whether visiting for culture, shopping, or business, Park Hotel Tokyo provides an inviting base where art, comfort, and service come together. Here, the energy of urban Tokyo meets serene spaces designed for rest and rejuvenation, creating a memorable stay in the heart of the capital.

Immerse yourself in the fascinating culture of the Kiso Valley during your stay at the Urara Tsutaya ryokan. In the Japanese language ‘Urara’ means the peaceful spring days when the sun shines gently, which perfectly describes the tranquil ambiance of this unique property. The design of the ryokan highlights the warmth of wood with ubiquitous Japanese-style lacquered tables, wooden baths, and more. After a day of exploring local sites unwind in the comfort of your room or relax in the onsite onsen bath; Kiso Fukushima Onsen is known for its water filled with calcium and bicarbonate, which is highly praised for its fatigue recovery and skin benefits. The onsite restaurant serves up cuisine that makes best use of ingredients that are only found in the area.

Dhawa Yura Kyoto, a boutique hotel near the tranquil Kamo River, beautifully combines the essence of Japan’s rich history with modern elegance. Offering 138 contemporary rooms and suites, each designed to provide a high-quality stay focused on peace and relaxation, the hotel invites you to unwind in serene surroundings. Dine at the on-site restaurant, where you can savor delicious meals that nourish both body and soul. The bar offers a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, perfect for enjoying expertly crafted drinks. For quiet moments, the lobby lounge provides a cozy corner to read a book or simply reflect. The spa offers an authentic experience with impactful therapies that nurture both self and nature. Ideally located in Sanjo, the hotel is within walking distance of Kyoto’s iconic temples, shrines, shopping areas, and cultural landmarks, offering easy access to the city's most treasured sights.

Sheraton Grand Hiroshima Hotel rises as a modern haven of comfort just steps from Hiroshima Station, offering seamless convenience and contemporary elegance. Its 238 rooms and suites are appointed with refined Western furnishings, creating bright, stylish spaces ideal for unwinding after a day in the city. Dining options span Japanese specialties to international cuisine, each crafted with thoughtful attention to flavor and presentation. As the sun sets, the bar becomes a warm, inviting space to enjoy a handcrafted cocktail and city views. A soothing dip in the indoor temperature-controlled pool offers pure relaxation, while the spa provides rejuvenating treatments designed to restore balance and calm. Sheraton Grand Hiroshima Hotel blends modern sophistication with quiet comfort, creating a welcoming retreat in the heart of the city.