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Japan Gay Cultural Tour
A Gay Travel Japan Cultural Tour
October 24 to November 2, 2026
Prices listed are per person:
Shared Room: $9,488
Private Room: $11,888
Deposit: $1000
Our gay Japan tour starts in modern Tokyo, then spends two nights in the traditional samurai village of Takayama. Next is Kyoto, with its abundance of temples and gardens and a visit to an art museum built into a hillside. Our unique Extension visits either the world-renowned Benesse Art Site on Naoshima Island or the beautiful remote lush Iya Valley (Benesse in 2026) and Hiroshima to see both the solemn Peace Park and beautiful Miyajima Island. And if you have extra time, join us for a night in a Buddhist monastery in the mountain village of Koyasan.
Highlights
Explore Japan’s bustling capital city of Tokyo.
Relax in the traditional mountain village of Takayama
Stroll through Kyoto, one of the most beautiful cities in all of Japan.
See the famous Golden Pavillion at the Kinkakuji Temple.
Meditate in the Tenryuji Temple garden.
Climb up to the tower of Himeji Castle, the best-preserved samurai castle in Japan during our Extension.
Visit Naoshima Island, home of the renowned Benesse Art Site, perhaps Japan’s leading home of modern art OR
Explore the mysterious remote Iya Valley including its scarecrow village.
Contemplate the historic significance of Hiroshima, then tour Miyajima Island whose Shinto gate is at sea or on land, depending on the tide during our Extension.
NOTE: the 2026 tour concludes with an extension to Hiroshima and the Benesse Art Site on Naoshima Island. On Naoshima we will spend time with an American curator of Japanese art who has worked with some of the artists and architects. We will conclude with an extension to the Buddhist monasteries of Koyasan and Osaka.
Overview
Enjoy the Culture and Natural Beauty of Japan
Let us show you authentic corners of Japan that reflect the diversity of that proud and ancient land, both ancient and modern, both urban and surrounded by nature. From colorful kimonos to delicate calligraphy, glorious temples to perfectly prim gardens, indelible images of Japan will remain imprinted in your memory once you experience the real Japan. We’ll explore lively Tokyo, visit the traditional Japanese mountain village of Takayama, enjoy Kyoto’s abundance of history. On our Extensions, we’ll explore the art island of Naoshima and contemplate what Hiroshima means to the people who live there, along with a night at a Buddhist monastery.
Itinerary
Map:
Day 1: Welcome to Tokyo
Passengers from North America will cross the International Dateline and arrive in Japan a day after departure from home. After the long flight, the rest of the day is at leisure but our HE Travel tour director will offer suggestions for those who arrive early. The upcoming days will be very exciting.
Days 2-3: Tokyo Touring
Tokyo is one of the most interesting and most complicated cities in the world. Over two days we will enjoy guided tours including imperial gardens, museums, and ancient shrines. Our Welcome Dinner will be at a restaurant highlighting traditional Japanese cuisine. In either Tokyo or Kyoto, we will be entertained by a professional geisha (and perhaps even one of the few male geishas in Japan!).
Days 4-5: Samurai Mountain Village of Takayama
Today we use Japan’s amazing rail system to go to the mountain village of Takayama, with warehouses that date to Samurai times.
We will stay at a Japanese ryokan, with western beds. Relax in the hot spring pools of our hotel. Later, put on your yukata robe for our special kaiseki dinner, highlighting the vegetables and beef from this mountain region of Hida.
During our time in Takayama we will visit the Miyagawa Riverside Morning Market and have free time to explore several blocks of shops and homes in the Old Town Warehouse District. We will also see the festive karakuri floats of the Takayama Yatai Kaikan and other sites.
After lunch, we will drive into the mountains to the tiny, rarely visited village of Ainokura in the Gokayama district. It is famous for its houses with steep roofs to withstand heavy snowfall. We’ll finish the day with dinner at a delightful French bistro!
Day 6: Trains to Kyoto
After a leisurely start to the day, we will depart for Kyoto, Japan’s classic capital city, by a mix of local express and bullet trains. Upon arrival, we’ll visit the Sanjusangendo Temple, then check into our deluxe hotel for the next four nights.
Day 7: Arashiyama and Kinkakuji in Western Kyoto
Today is a full day of sightseeing, starting in Arashiyama in western Kyoto, a fascinating part of the city missed by most Western visitors.
NOTE: The locations listed are our planned stops. However, we may substitute other stops based on weather, congestion, and other local factors.
Our first stop today is to the gardens of Tenryuji Temple. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its gardens, thought to be the oldest in Kyoto, dating to the 14th Century. Their stylish restaurant offers delicious Buddhist vegetarian meals, so we’ll stop there for lunch.
After lunch, we’ll take a rickshaw ride around the temple precincts and through a lush bamboo grove.
Today’s tour concludes at Kinkakuji Temple, a stunning gold-covered pavilion originally built in 1393. A great photo opportunity is the image of the Golden Pavilion reflected in the tranquil waters of the lake. It was made famous in the book Temple of the Golden Pavilion by gay Japanese writer Yukio Mishima. He wrote of rivalries among monks, including one who burned down the temple.
Day 8: Miho Museum
Today we head north of Kyoto to the exquisite Miho Museum. The building was commissioned by a Japanese religious group and designed by the Chinese American architect I.M. Pei. The museum blends into the surrounding forest by being built mostly inside a mountain. One approaches the museum through a graceful pedestrian tunnel and an extraordinary suspension bridge.
The museum displays a permanent collection of statues and artifacts from ancient civilizations, along with seasonal exhibits of Japanese art. Following our visit to the Miho Museum, we will return to Kyoto. The rest of the day will be free to explore additional temples and castles, take a train up into the mountains, or enjoy the amenities of our deluxe hotel.
Day 9: Higashiyama District of Kyoto
After two days of savoring a great variety of sights, we will tour the Eastern Hills or Higashiyama area of Kyoto, then offer free time to explore Kyoto at your leisure. You can sample everything from quaint shops to ultramodern department stores to see the blend of tradition and progress.
We will have the farewell dinner of our main tour in one of our favorite local restaurants.
Day 10: Farewell to Japan or Begin Hiroshima-Naoshima Extension
Today, those joining just the main tour will catch flights from one of Osaka’s airports to begin the journey home. For those with more time, see the Extensions tab for information about our 4-night extension to Hiroshima and the art island of Naoshima. Following that extension our Koyasan Extension offers one-night in a Zen monastery on Koyasan, followed by a night in Osaka.
Price Includes
Main Tour
Price includes: Land transportation within Japan; Deluxe hotel rooms, in double occupancy; A limited number of private rooms for single occupancy are available; Breakfast each day and other meals as shown in the itinerary; Guided tours of Tokyo, Takayama, and Kyoto; Shipment of one piece of luggage from Tokyo to Kyoto (NOTE: larger luggage will be shipped due to minimal luggage space on Japanese trains); Services of a knowledgeable HE Travel tour director (with a minimum number of participants); Hotel services charges, taxes, and gratuities for included meals. HE Travel provides complimentary Medical & Evacuation Insurance for every US Resident on our group tours who does not have other coverage.
Not included: Airfare; Transfers between airports and hotels at start and end of the tour (but with recommendations for efficient and inexpensive transfers); Meals not described as being included in the itinerary; Personal items including alcoholic beverages, snacks, laundry, and telephone calls. Gratuities to local guides and HE Travel tour director.
Hiroshima & Benesse Art Site on Naoshima Extension
$3390 per person in a shared room
$3990 in a private room (for solo travelers who wish to enjoy a private bedroom and bathroom)
Price includes: bus, train, and ferry transportation; two nights in Hiroshima and two nights in the Park Building at Benesse Art Site, including breakfast; two special dinners at Benesse Art Site; guide and admission fees for tours of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Miyajima, and Naoshima art island, including commentary by a renowned historian of Japanese art.
Price does not include: four lunches and two dinners; gratuities to guides; personal expenses such as souvenirs and beverages.
Koyasan Monastery Extension
$1790 per person in a shared room
$1890 per person sharing a Japanese-style room at Koyasan and with a private room in Osaka
$1990 in a private room (for solo travelers who wish to enjoy a private bedroom and bathroom in both locations)
Price includes: land transportation from Naoshima to Koyasan and back to Osaka; bus pass for Koyasan; one night in Japanese-style room at Koyasan monastery including vegetarian dinner and breakfast; one night at a hotel in central Osaka including breakfast; guide and admission fees for Koyasan touring.
Price does not include: two lunches and one dinner; gratuities to guides; personal expenses such as souvenirs and beverages.
Extensions
Four-Night Hiroshima & Benesse Art Site Extension – November 2 to 7, 2026
Day 10: Hiroshima Peace Park
This morning, we’ll take a bullet train ride from Kyoto to Hiroshima. Once there, we will transfer to our deluxe hotel for a 2-night stay.
This afternoon or tomorrow, we will have a reflective tour of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. We will see school children presenting “1000-crane” origami displays which have long symbolized hope and healing. Along the river is the Atomic Bomb Dome, an exhibition hall until the bomb fell. It is retained as a memorial to those who lost their lives on that fateful day. We will visit the well-presented but somber Peace Park Museum at our own pace, as well as an origami museum.
Day 11: Miyajima
This day offers a contrasting setting of the region’s natural beauty and religious heritage on nearby Miyajima Island. The island is most famous for the massive “torii” gate of the Itsukushima Shinto Shrine. At low tide, the gate is connected by mudflats to the rest of the island, but at high tide, the gate rises majestically out of the sea. The native population of small deer wanders around the entire village.
Time and weather permitting, we will take the Miyajima Ropeway up to Mount Misen, from which we can get panoramic views of the Inland Sea. Mount Misen has been honored by devout Buddhists since Kobo Daishi, founder of Koyasan, established a monastery there in 806 AD.
We will take a boat back to our hotel, and the evening is on our own.
Day 12: Benesse Art Site on Naoshima Island and a Museum Built into a Hillside
We will take a short bullet train ride to Okayama, then take a private bus and ferry to the Benesse Art Site on Naoshima Island. We will check in at the Park Hotel (which is also an art museum) for a 2-night stay.
According to the President of Benesse Art Site, “Because contemporary society is overflowing with products and information, I wanted to create a site removed from the noise of the city; a place where people could truly reflect on the meaning of living well.”
Part museum, part park, part experiment, part hotel, part world-class art museum, Benesse offers everything from the unusual to the sublime. Charming giant sculptures, special architecture, and quiet spaces make this site a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Read more about Benesse in a 2011 The New York Times travel article.
We will spend the afternoon exploring this amazing mecca of traditional and modern Japanese art. One stop will be the Chichu Art Museum, which was designed by Takeo Ando as a work of art and built into a hillside. There are only 8 works of art on display, including Monet Water Lilies in a setting with only filtered natural light.
Day 13: The Benesse Art Houses
In the main village of Naoshima are several “Art Houses”, each designed by an artist who has turned a house or decommissioned temple into a work of art. The buildings themselves are architectural works of art and feature other art forms inside their walls.
During our 2026 visit to Naoshima, we will be joined by a Japanese art curator who has personally worked with some of the architects and artists whose work we will see on Naoshima.
Day 14: Teshima & Okayama
This morning, we will take a ferry to Teshima Island, a rarely visited portion of the Benesse Art Site. The renowned Teshima Art Museum is an experiential creation of Artist Rei Naito and Architect Ryue Nishizawa. If the weather and time allow, we will offer the option of cycling around the island or riding in our vehicle. In the afternoon, we will take a ferry back to the mainland, then meet our bus to transfer back to Okayama Station together.
Day 15: Departure or Begin Koyasan Extension
Those flying home can take a Limousine Bus to Okayama Airport or a train to Tokyo. Those with more time can join us for the Koyasan Monastery Extension.
Two-Night Koyasan Monastery Extension – November 7-9, 2026
This extension follows the Hiroshima & Naoshima Extension.
Day 15: Travel from Okayama to Koyasan Monastery via Osaka
Our visit to the sacred Buddhist mountain of Koyasan begins with trains and a funicular from Naoshima to Koyasan. We will drop our bags at the monastery where we will stay in comfortable rooms with tatami mats (and heating!). In the afternoon, we will walk through Okunoin Cemetery to see the mausoleum of the founder of Shingon Buddhism, who died in 835 AD.
We’ll have a special vegetarian dinner at our monastery.
Day 16: Explore Koyasan and Return to Osaka
At dawn, we will have an invitation to observe ceremonies led by the monks of our temple. After breakfast, we will visit two of the most picturesque temple complexes of this sacred mountain setting, likely with autumn leaves at their peak!
After lunch at a Koyasan restaurant, we will return to Osaka for one night before flights home.
Day 17: Homeward Bound!
Today you will head to Osaka’s Itami domestic airport or KIX international airport or take a bullet train to one of Tokyo’s airports to start your journey home.
Tour Insurance
We strongly recommend the purchase of Trip Cancellation and Interruption insurance to protect your vacation investment in case of unforeseen circumstances such as flight delay, illness, or injury. Click Here to learn more about our Insurance partner.
FAQ
This tour starts in Tokyo and ends in Kyoto, Japan (flying out of either Osaka airport). The first extension ends in Okayama, and the Koyasan extension ends in Osaka.
We stay in deluxe lodgings throughout this tour. In Tokyo we stay in a modern centrally located hotel next to a traditional Shinto shrine, offering greenery right outside the breakfast room windows. In Takayama we stay in a modern Japanese inn with hot springs onsen baths for men and women. Our Kyoto hotel is in a great location for our group touring, and also perfect for any walking or subway exploration on your own. In Naoshima our hotel doubles as an art museum, surrounded by amazing outdoor sculptures and views of the Inland Sea. For tours that include the Iya Valley, we stay in a hotel with hot springs. Our Hiroshima hotel is a modern hotel near the center city. On our Koyasan extension, we spend a night in a heated tatami mat room with futons in a monastery of Koyasan, a mountain village of monasteries, and finish with a night in a central Osaka hotel.
HE Travel owner Phil Sheldon designed this tour, in conjunction with his tour mentor, a professional tour director who specializes in Japanese tours. Phil was an AFS high school exchange student in Japan and majored in East Asian Studies at Harvard. He later worked for IBM Japan and has led numerous tours to various corners of the country. Phil is excited to introduce more travelers to this beautiful land that holds a very dear place in his heart.