Members are invited to join Portland Japanese Garden’s tour to Japan this year! For 11 days in October 2025, this tour group of 16 will be accompanied by an English-speaking Japanese guide and will explore sites in the cities of Okayama, Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. The journey will feature a special focus on beautiful and historic gardens, temples, and shrines. Additionally, this year you will have the unique opportunity to visit EXPO OSAKA 2025, an event that gathers thought leaders from 150 different nations to explore the latest groundbreaking technology, innovative architecture, and social infrastructure solutions to help achieve a more sustainable future.
Registration
Registration was open exclusively for Garden members but is now sold out, however you can still join the waitlist. Regarding the membership questions, please contact membership@japanesegarden.org or call (503) 796-9180.
Join WaitlistItinerary
Note, plan to depart the U.S. on Tuesday, September 30 to arrive into Tokyo on Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Day 1 – Wednesday, October 1 – Tokyo
- Arrive in Tokyo on an individually arranged flight
- Arrive at Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu, located in Terminal 2 of Tokyo-Haneda Airport
- Meet and greet/Welcome Drink at Hotel restaurant
Accommodation: Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu
Day 2 – Thursday, October 2 – Tokyo to Okayama
Domestic flight from Tokyo-Haneda to Okayama.
- Korakuen Garden
- Okayama Castle
Transport to Bizen City
- Bizen Potter’s studio
- Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch included
Accommodation: Hotel Granvia Okayama
Day 3 – Friday, October 3 – Okayama
- Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
- Ohara Museum of Art
- Former Ohara’s Residence
- Kurashiki boat ride
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch included
Accommodation: Hotel Granvia Okayama
Day 4 – Saturday, October 4 – Okayama to Osaka
Transfer from the hotel to Osaka by chartered bus
- Expo ’70 Commemorative Park
- Kuchu Teien Observatory
Meals: Breakfast included
Accommodation: Rihga Royal Hotel Osaka
Optional Add-on Afternoon: Nakanoshima Architecture Tour (Cost JPY15,200/guest. This optional tour will be available with a minimum of 3 guests registered.)
Optional Add-on Evening: Dotonbori Food Tour with snacks (Cost JPY19,600/guest. This optional tour will be available with a minimum of 3 guests registered.)
Day 5 – Sunday, October 5 – Osaka
Meals: Breakfast included
Accommodation: Rihga Royal Hotel Osaka
Day 6 – Monday, October 6 – Osaka to Kyoto
Transfer from Osaka to Kyoto by chartered bus
- Jonangu Shrine’s Rakusuien Garden
- Fushimi Inari Shrine
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch included
Accommodation: Hilton Kyoto
Optional Add-on Evening: Pontocho Walking Tour & Dinner (Cost JPY19,900/guest. This optional tour will be available with a minimum of 3 guests registered.)
Day 7 – Tuesday, October 7 – Kyoto
- Kinkaku-ji Temple (known for Golden Pavilion)
- Ryoanji Temple
- Tenryuji Temple
- Arashiyama’s Sagno Bamboo Groves
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch included
Accommodation: Hilton Kyoto
Day 8 – Wednesday, October 8 – Kyoto
- Nanzenji Temple
- Murinan Garden
- Free afternoon
Meals: Breakfast included
Accommodation: Hilton Kyoto
Optional Add-on Morning: Kiyomizu Temple Morning Tour. (Cost JPY10,400/guest. This optional tour will be available with a minimum of 3 guests registered.)
Optional Add-on Afternoon: Tea Ceremony this afternoon (Cost JPY6,000/guest. This optional tour will be available with a minimum of 3 guests registered.)
Day 9 – Thursday, October 9 – Tokyo
Transport from Kyoto to Tokyo by Shinkansen “bullet’ train
- Nezu Museum
- Omotesando Boulevard
- Meiji Shrine
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch included
Accommodation: The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Tokyo Shiodome
Optional Add-on Afternoon: teamLab Borderless (Cost JPY9,700/guest. This optional tour will be available with a minimum of 3 guests registered.)
Day 10 – Friday, October 10 – Tokyo
- Hamarikyu Garden
- Tokyo cruise to Asakusa
- Asakusa Sensoji Temple
- Kappabashi Street
- Farewell Dinner
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included
Accommodation: The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Tokyo Shiodome
Optional Add-on Morning: Tsukiji Outer Fish Market Morning Tour. (Cost JPY10,400/guest. This optional tour will be available with a minimum of 3 guests registered.)
Day 11 – Saturday, October 11 – Tokyo
Depart the hotel individually and return home on an individually arranged flight.
Meals: Breakfast included
Lodging
Tokyo:
(1)-One night at the three-star, Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu
(2)-Two nights at the four-star, The Royal Park Iconic Tokyo Shiodome
Okayama:
(2)-Two nights at the four-star, Hotel Granvia Okayama
Osaka:
(2)-Two nights at the four-star, Rihga Royal Hotel Osaka
Kyoto:
(3)-Three nights at the five-star, Hilton Kyoto
Included in the Tour
- Entrance fees to all sites per the itinerary
- Transportation from Day 2 to Day 10
- Bilingual English-speaking guides per the agenda
- Hotel accommodation: 10 nights total, including taxes and service charges
- Meals: 10 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 1 dinner
- Tips/gratuities to guides, drivers, airport and hotel porters
Excluded from the Tour
- Roundtrip airfare
- Meals not mentioned in the program itinerary
- Beverages during planned meals
- Excess baggage fees (one suitcase per person allowed, plus one carry-on and a personal item e.g. purse)
- Airport transfers
- Independent and private transfers not included in the Program Itinerary
- Guestroom incidental charges (e.g. phone calls, room service, laundry, etc.)
- Extensions beyond main program dates.
- Passport and/or visa
- Travel insurance
Tour Cost
Please note that the price does not include airfare between your location to Tokyo, Japan.
If you pay for the tour using a credit card, an additional transaction fee will apply.
Discounted Cash/Check Price:
- $5,970 per person, based on double occupancy ($11,940 total for two)
- $7,270 per person, based on single occupancy
- $500 mandatory donation per person to Portland Japanese Garden
Credit Card Price:
- $6,179.00 per person, based on double occupancy ($12,358 total for two)
- $7,524 per person, based on single occupancy
- $500 mandatory donation per person to Portland Japanese Garden
As noted above, tour participants are asked to donate $ 500.00 per person directly paid to Portland Japanese Garden by check or pay online by July 1, 2025. An invoice with instructions will be emailed individually by Portland Japanese Garden.
Payment Schedule
- $4,800.00 per person is due at registration once the minimum number of registrants have been confirmed. Please note that $1,000 of the initial deposit is non-refundable. Payments will not be processed until the minimum number of patrons has been met.
- Balance due on or before August 1, 2025
- Payment may be made by check or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover). Go Global Now, LLC, dba Global Incentive Group, will process credit card payments.
- Please note that donation payment of $500 should separately made to Portland Japanese Garden by check or online. An invoice with instructions will be emailed individually by Portland Japanese Garden.
Cancellation Payment
- Cancellations received on or before July 31, 2025 – $1,000 per person penalty.
- Cancellations received between August 1, 2025 to September 1, 2025 – Per Person Penalties: 50% of the tour cost.
- Cancellations received after September 1, 2025 – Per Person Penalties; 100% of the total tour price
Please Note: Departure and Return – Recommended Flights
Airfare is not included, participants must book their own fights to Tokyo, Japan. When booking airfare, we recommend the following flights from Seattle:
Depart to Japan
Tuesday, September 30 – Delta Flight 167, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Tokyo-Haneda Airport (HND) (arrive the next day)
Return to the U.S.
Saturday, October 11 – Delta 166, Tokyo-Haneda Airport (HND) to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Questions
About membership: membership@japanesegarden.org
About tour itinerary: ntakahashi@japanesegarden.org
About registration site and tour payment info@theGIGnow.com