October 1-10, 2027
Get Ready! Registration will open when the tour is announced on this weeks podcast release!
Come with us to Japan, where neon-lit Tokyo hums beside the lantern-lit lanes of Kyoto, and a thousand years of women’s stories wait around every corner. Roll sushi with your own hands, slow down for a tea ceremony, and dye silk in colors that have inspired artists for centuries. We’ll ride the Shinkansen from the buzz of Tokyo to the gardens of Kyoto, and meet the women who shaped Japan, from Murasaki Shikibu to Ichikawa Fusae. This is the History Chicks field trip of a lifetime, and we can’t wait to share it with you.
- Nine nights accommodations in centrally located 5- star hotels
- Round trip ticket aboard the Shinkansen high speed train
- Welcome party with wine and canapes
- Double decker bus tour of Tokyo
- Tokyo National Museum visit
- Sushi Making Workshop
- Lunch at Gonpachi (as seen in Kill Bill Movie)
- Visit to Meiji Jingu Shrine
- Tour of the Ichikawa Fusae Center for Women and Governance
- Senso-ji Temple visit
- History of a Geisha Walking Tour in Kyoto
- Geisha Evening Performance
- Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony
- Tale of Genji Museum
- Visit to Fushimi Inari
- Sake Experience
- Kimono dyeing workshop
- Calligraphy Workshop
- Visit to Nijo Castle
- Dinner cruise on Tokyo Bay
- Breakfast buffet each day
- Bento box lunch on Shinkansen train
- Private motor coach transportation to tour events
- The History Chicks Swag
- Professional roundtrip luggage transfer from Tokyo to Kyoto
Day One: Konnichiwa
Konnichiwa! Welcome to the Land of the Rising Sun! Our Field Trip to Japan kicks off with acocktail party and a chance to meet Beckett, Susan and all your fellow travelers. Next, we willboard a double-decker bus to view the colorful glitz and glamour of Tokyo, one of the world’slargest and safest cities, by night.
Day Two: Ueno Park Treasures
A visit to the Tokyo National Museum will start the day. The museum hosts extensive Japanese exhibits and will be a great introduction to the rich Japanese culture. Don’t miss the beautifully curated Japanese gardens complete with five historic tea houses on the premises! The museum is situated in the famous Ueno Park, and we will have ample free time to explore all the museum and the area has to offer.
Day Three: From Temples to Tuna
Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest and most iconic Buddhist temple, is our starting point for the day. The temple is dedicated to Kannon- the Goddess of Mercy, where many Edo period women came to pray for the safety of their children. Following the temple visit, we will try our hand at making one of Japan’s most beloved foods- sushi! The class includes hands-on instruction and sampling of our finished products. Oishii!
Day Four: Suffragists and Empresses
We will enjoy a guided tour of the Ichikawa Fusae Center for Women and Governance, and learn more about the life of Ichikawa Fusae, who led the movement for women’s suffrage in
Japan. Ms. Fusae even forged a life-long friendship with Alice Paul, our own beloved suffragist. Following our tour, lunch will be at the iconic Gonpachi Restaurant, a popular dining spot for
dignitaries and celebrities alike. We will finish the day at Meiji Jingu, a famous Tokyo Shinto shrine dedicated to Empress Shoken, who championed women’s education and co-founded the Japanese Red Cross.
Day Five: All Aboard the Shinkansen
Pack your bags! Today we will board the shinkansen (Japan’s quintessential high-speed train), and travel to Kyoto, the country’s first capital. Kick back, relax, and enjoy the scenery of the Japanese countryside- we even catch a glimpse of the celebrated Mt. Fuji! Upon arrival, we head straight to Nijo Castle, a well-preserved 17th century castle, for a self-guided tour.
Day Six: The Life of a Geisha
The lore of Kyoto would be incomplete without the geisha! The History of a Geisha walking tour will take place in the famous Gion district of Kyoto and will cover everything we ever wanted to know about the geisha, both historically and today. Tea is very important to geisha-life and the identity of Japan as a country. We will participate in the centuries-old art of the tea ceremony and learn first-hand the proper way to mix matcha. Along with the tea ceremony, we will try our hand at traditional Japanese calligraphy and can take home our masterpieces as a souvenir!
We finish our “day of the geisha”, with a performance at Gion Corner auditorium for a special 1-hour introduction to seven Japanese performing arts, to include; dance, flower arranging,
theater, etc. Many of these art forms must be mastered to earn designation as a geisha.
Day Seven: From Murasaki to Sake
The Tale of Genji Museum is our first stop for the day and is dedicated to the life and works of Murasaki Shikibu. Her famous 1,000-page novel, The Tale of Genji, is largely regarded as the
world’s first novel (written in the 11th century) and is still in circulation today! Following our self-guided visit, we will explore the world of Japanese sake with a sake tasting and food pairing
experience. Though sometimes referred to as “rice wine,” the sake brewing process is more like beer, and we will learn about the process and taste the subtleties.
Day Eight: Crafting Kimono
Rise and shine! We will start off the day with an early visit to Fushimi Inari Taisha, one of the most popular Shinto shrines in Kyoto. This shrine, and its 10,000 vibrant vermillion torii gates,
has been showcased in many movies, including Memoirs of a Geisha. This is the day for some amazing photos- and keep an eye out for the shrine cats! The afternoon calls for a visit to the
Okayama Kougei kimono workshop. Ms. Takeko Okayama is Japan’s first master-rated craftsperson in the centuries-old art of kyo-yuzen, a painstaking method of hand-painting kimono fabric. Ms. Okayama will even be on hand during our tour to show us the process and tell us about the craft. Following the tour, we get to practice the art ourselves and take home our
creation as a special leepsake!
Day Nine: Karaoke on the Bay
Our memorable visit to Kyoto has come to an end and it’s time to board the shinkansen for the trip back to Tokyo. The trip is slightly over two hours and is an experience in its own right! Upon arrival, the day is free to finish up your last-minute shopping list. Our final evening in Tokyo will include a cruise of Tokyo Bay aboard a traditional Yakatabune houseboat. We will enjoy dinner, fabulous views of the renowned Rainbow Bridge, and yes- possibly even some karaoke!
Day Ten: Sayonara
Alas, it’s time to say sayonara to our new friends and this amazing country! We will leave Japan with friends, lifelong memories, and many suitcases full of souvenirs!
Tour Pricing:
The package price for a single room is $6,700 per person. The package price for a shared room is $5,400 per person. A $1,000 deposit is required at the time of registration and is non-refundable. The final balance will be due on August 1, 2027 and will be paid by invoice to Like Minds Travel and is non-refundable at that time. Like Minds Travel recommends travel insurance, but does not have an affiliation with any insurance company at this time. Many clients have used Allianz and filed claims successfully.
If you are registering with a roommate, but want to be billed separately, fill out the form individually and place each others name in the space indicated. You will be paired in the same room. Like Minds Travel does not pair solo travelers with a roommate.
Extra night are available at the host hotel. The cost for a single room in Tokyo pre tour is $400 and double is $430 an extra night in Tokyo post tour is $500 for a single and $530 for a double. Email extranights@likemindstravel.com and state your desired dates and what tour you are on in the email. Like Minds Travel will add the nights to your final invoice.
Airfare and airport transfers are not included in the package price. Like Minds Travel recommends flying into Haneda International Airport (HND).
This tour is for guests 18 and older and requires a lot of walking. Group size is capped at 50 people.
Completed registration is acceptance of our terms and conditions. Please read our terms and conditions.
***Prices based on exchange rate of October 22, 2026. The Yen to USD ratio is 1 JPY is equal to .0064 USD. A significant ration change of more than 10% will result in a price adjustment on the final invoice.
