A Tranquil Retreat (Mie, Wakayama, Nagoya)

This “5 Nights 6 Days itinerary” is the perfect getaway from the city’s hustle. In this itinerary, we cover nature's best creations in Mie, Wakayama and Nagoya. 

Day 1

After reaching Tokyo in the morning, you will be transferred to the Tokyo station. Shinkansen (Bullet train) from Tokyo to Nagoya takes around 1 hour 30 minutes. At Nagoya, Express train Shimakaze will take you to Kashikojima Station which is in Mie prefecture (3 hours)

Check-in at the hotel and overnight stay in Mie

Day 2

After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the Ise Jingu shrine, famous for its association with the goddess Amaterasu.

After exploring this Shinto shrine, we stroll around in Oharai Machi and Okage Yokocho which teleports us to the Edo era. Oharai-machi is a flourishing town that houses many restaurants, souvenir shops along the 800m of beautiful stone pavement in this unique town.

Located in the center of Oharai-machi, Okage-yokocho is a re-creation of the buildings on the road to the Ise Jingu that date back to the Edo Period and the Meiji Period. The area is lined with restaurants and souvenir shops that are distinct to Iseshima. 

Lunch at a local restaurant

After lunch, we head to our final place of the day- an unique shrine famous for a pair of large and small rocks located side by side in the sea- Futami Okitama Jinja（Wedded Rocks）

The shrine is famous for a pair of large and small rocks located side by side in the sea, known as Wedded rock (Meoto-iwa). The rocks serve as a torii gate to visitors offering prayers to the sunrise and to a sacred rock 700 meters offshore from Meoto-iwa.

Overnight in Mie

Day 3

After breakfast, we start our trip by filling our senses with the wonder of nature. Deep blue-green waters with pristine forests, towering cliffs are the main features of Dorokyo Gorge.

Here we can take a boat trip down the Kitayama River which is the best way to experience Dorokyo.

After lunch, we take a trip to Nachi falls to explore Japan’s ancient spiritual roots and some iconic scenery.

Japan’s tallest Nachi falls is truly a sublime sight of watching an uninterrupted drop of 133 meters. The thundering sound of water barreling down every second will give believers and non-believers alike a mystical experience.

On the foot of Nachi falls is the open air Hirou shrine. After taking up a walking trail let's visit Seigantoji Temple and Nachi Pagoda annexed to the temple. It’s pretty much the most picture perfect three-story pagoda one could find in Japan. 

After viewing some of the iconic spots, we will return back to the hotel.

Overnight in Wakayama

Day 4

Towering at the center of Wakayama City is Wakayama Castle which is a dramatic castle with lush gardens that acts as a symbol of Wakayama City. 

The top of the tenshukaku offers the absolute best view of Wakayama City. There is also a tearoom where you can experience a traditional tea ceremony.

Next we move to Kizetsu Kyo Gorge. The upper reaches of the Aizu River runs through the Kizetsu Gorge in the city of Tanabe. 

Bizarre stones great and small in unique shapes can be found scattered throughout the area. The most spectacular of them is the cliff face high above the Fudo Falls, where you can see three giant Buddhist statues carved into a single formation of the rock.

After lunch, we reach one of a kind- Senjojiki, literally meaning "one thousand tatami mats," which is a vast rock plateau in the popular beach resort town of Shirahama.                                                                                                                        

Stretching out toward the Pacific Ocean from Setozaki Cape, the sloping, soft white rocks—composed of tertiary strata sandstone—have been eroded by rough waves and provide a stunning landscape.

A 11 minute drive takes us to Avant-garde and romantic art installations sculpted by Mother Nature, Engetsu Island.Engetsu Island is a small, uninhabited islet standing off the Shirahama coast whose unique feature is a full moon-shaped circle in its center, eroded by the sea. While an impressive natural monument at any time of day, it is at sunset when the beauty and romance of nature can be seen in all its glory

The sun dropping down into this natural arch is one of the world's most dizzyingly beautiful sights and offers a chance for visitors from near or far to forge an eternal memory.

Overnight in Wakayama

Day 5

We return back to Nagoya which takes around 3 hours. After reaching Nagoya, we have our lunch 

and then head to the Nagoya castle that is famous for the pair of golden fish-like shachihoko statues on the rooftop of the castle tower. (Admission to Main Tower Keep is currently unavailable)

Then we take a 20 min drive to the Shirotori garden where we can indulge in a traditional Japanese garden. In the center of the garden is a pond that replicates the Kiso River, originating from the Kiso-Ontakesan flowing into the large sea of Ise Bay. You’ll be able to see some Koi carp swimming around in the park’s waters

Ending the trip by returning back to Tokyo in a bullet train from Nagoya to Tokyo(traveling time-1.5 hrs).

Overnight in Tokyo

Day 6

After breakfast, we will check out from the hotel and reach Haneda Airport.

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