Category: Asia & Pacific

One of the largest cities in population in the world, Delhi must be seen to be believed. Metropolitan Delhi is a vast tapestry of many cities and towns that are collectively known as the National Capital Region, or NCR. Within the NCR, Delhi proper is equally impressive with its monuments to past empires and deep spirituality. Discovery Tours reveals the history and legends of both New and Old Delhi.

New Delhi

When India was ruled by Great Britain, King George V – who was also the Emperor of India – moved the capital here from Calcutta in 1911. The municipality of New Delhi was subsequently designed by British city planners to be a grand symbol of England’s supremacy. Its grandiosity still stands, and today New Delhi is home to the offices of the NCR, the government of India and a vivid and vibrant culture. Here are some of New Delhi’s highlights:

Qutab Minar Victory Tower. The second tallest minaret in India, the Qutab Minar stands 239 feet. The UNESCO World Heritage Site was constructed from red sandstone and marble over a 175-year period beginning in 1193. It is the focal point of a fascinating archaeological area known as the Qutab complex once home to 27 Hindu and Jain temples.

Gandhi Smriti. A sobering visit to this museum dedicated to the life and death of Mahatma Gandhi enhances any visit to New Delhi. The spiritual leader spent the final 144 days of his life here before being assassinated on these grounds in 1948.

India Gate War Memorial. Though it resembles a triumphal arch much more than a somber memorial, the India Gate nevertheless commemorates the 82,000 soldiers of the united British India Army who were killed in World War I. The names of 13,300 are etched in the stone.

Presidential Palace. With its main palace building of 340 rooms, expansive gardens, staff residences, stables and more, this 320-acre site is the second largest residence of a Head of State in the world.

Parliament House. Home to India’s government, this magnificent and sprawling building, built in the shape of a perfect circle, covers six acres.

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. Northwest of New Delhi, the province of Pujab is the world’s only state that boasts a majority Sikh population. The religion is also well represented here in Delhi, perhaps no place as dramatically as Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, a glorious, gold-domed house of worship with a revered sarovar, or reflecting pool.

Old Delhi

Zooming in closer to the heart of New Delhi, Old Delhi is the original city of the Mughal Empire, once lined with elegant mosques and mansions of noblemen. It was founded in 1639 by Shah Jahan, the Mughal leader who ushered India into a Golden Age of prosperity and commissioner of the Taj Mahal. Back then, he named his new walled city for himself – Shahjahanabad. Here’s a sample of what you’ll experience in Old Delhi:

Chandni Chowk. The only way to explore one of Delhi’s oldest and busiest market areas is by cyclo-rickshaw. We’ll climb aboard one for the ride of our lives along ancient lanes and past colorful bazaars. Though the market was built by Shah Jahan, it was his daughter Jahan Ara who designed it. Back in the 17^th century, it got its name (meaning “Moonlight Market”) from the canals that once divided its streets and reflected the lunar light.

Red Fort. This red sandstone citadel at one end of Chandni Chowk was the residence of the Mughal emperor for 200 years. The complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a massive collection of elaborate gates, residences, imperial baths, pavilions, gardens and mosques.

Jama Masjid. The “world-reflecting mosque,” as one of its names translates, is the best known in India. Another masterwork built under Shah Jahan in the mid-1600s, its courtyard can hold 25,000 worshippers. Its two minarets flanking three towering domes strike a dramatic pose, and its graceful entrance archway dwarfs all who walk through it.

Konnichiwa travel lovers! Today we explore a country that may not be on the top of your bucket list, but it’s time to clear a spot. This extraordinary country has so much to offer visitors. It boasts unique experiences you cannot have anywhere else on earth. We are talking, of course, about the beautiful island of Japan, located in Asia in the North Pacific Ocean to the east of China and north of the Philippines. This “Land of the Rising Sun” is begging for you to come explore! Whether it be the exciting city of Tokyo, the traditional experience at Kaga, historic Takayama or fascinating Kyoto, you will find astounding adventure every single day on your small groups escorted tour of Japan with Discovery Tours.

Tokyo, A Mesmerizing City with Ancient Traditions:

If any city embraces the mixture of modern and historic, of new wave and traditional, it has to be Tokyo. Tokyo is located on the east coast of the country and is the largest city and Japan’s capital since 1869. Tokyo is not only the most populous city in Japan but it is also consistently one of the most populous cities in the entire world with over 13 million people. Some numbers even boast that the number is much larger and around 36 million when considering its 3 surrounding prefectures.

In Tokyo, you will discover the lanes of the world-famous Tsukiji Fish Market, famous for fish and fresh seafood. After navigating this place, you will join a culinary demonstration led by a professional sushi chef and you will enjoy creating sushi for lunch and eating it afterwards. One cannot visit Tokyo without experiencing the Ginza district, a section celebrated for upscale shopping, dining and entertainment. Next, visit Akihabara, the technological district that includes electrical equipment shops, computer shops and animation studios that are attracting attention from all over the globe. Step into the pedestrian area of shops and cafes designed to replicate the cartoonish appearance of the anime world.

Visit the Imperial Palace East Garden and view the Nijubashi Bridge that stretches over the moat in the outer garden with its colorful displays of seasonal flowers. Later, travel to the Asakusa Kannon Temple (Sensoji) that contains a golden image of Kannon, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy. Walk along Nakamise, a centuries-old, shopping area with everything from souvenirs to genuine Edo-style crafts. This is an excellent place to buy souvenirs. The serene Meiji Shrine is nestled in a forest area and honors the first emperor of modern Japan and his beloved wife.

A highlight of your trip will be riding the famous Shinkansen, or bullet train. The train will take you from Tokyo to the south of the Noto Peninsula to Kaga. This train was built originally to connect distant regions with the capital of Tokyo to promote economic growth and development. The maximum speed of the train reaches up to 240-320 km/h (150-200 mph).

Hakone, Scenic National Park with Extraordinary Sights:

Hakone is full of breathtaking scenery and is the most famous national park in the country. A gondola will whisk you away to the Owakudani Valley’s volcanic zone while majestic Mt. Fuji looms in the background. Perhaps sample one of the black hard-boiled eggs boiled in the sulfuric water here. It is said to prolong your life by 7 years. Do not worry about the black color, only the outside of the shell is black, the actual edible part of the egg remains white. Enjoy a relaxing cruise around the placid Lake Ashi and take in the beautiful scenery around you. End your visit in Hakone by driving along Cedar Avenue, a historic site of Hakone that linked Tokyo and Kyoto during the Edo Period, 1603-1868.

Kaga, A Unique Cultural Experience:

Upon arrival in Kagaonsen you will enter your Ryokan (inn) where you will spend the night. The Ryokan is similar to a bed and breakfast but much more basic. It originated in the Edo period to serve traveling traders. Honor the tradition by dressing in a yukata (bathrobe) and making your way to the onsen (hot spring spa). Enjoy authentic Japanese lodgings with tatami mats and a futon bed. Feast on a full course Kaiseki Dinner that is accentuated by regional specialties before retiring to your traditional room for the night. This cultural experience will be one you will not soon forget.

Takayama, “Little Kyoto”:

Takayama is a quaint and enchanting little city that is sometimes referred to as “Little Kyoto”. A collection of museums, galleries and temples can be found here and you will see some of these on a walking tour in the Sanno-machi Historic District. Walk along the streets of Takayama and be immediately transported back in time on these streets of the old town with traditional merchant houses, restaurants, shops and more. Visit the Miyagawa Morning Market along the river where farmers and craftsmen sell everything from fresh food to intricate carvings.

Kyoto, Sacred City and Hot Spot of Culture:

Tokyo may be the political capital of the country, but Kyoto is the heart and soul. Founded in the 8^th century, Kyoto has long enchanted visitors and residents alike. Kyoto was once the capital of the country and it still holds the key to much of the culture of the country.

You will begin your exploration with a tour of Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, that was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603. Next, familiarize yourself with Zen meditation, a calming practice deeply rooted in Japanese culture. Meditation here is equivalent to praying in western religion. While focusing on your breath, suspend all judgment and let your thoughts and ideas just pass through you without pondering or elaborating on them. Participate next in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, where you join in the ritualized art of preparing and serving tea. Japan has a long history intertwined with tea and it is very much a part of the culture.

Take a stroll through the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and be sure to take lots of photos. This beautiful site is unique to Japan and the city of Kyoto. Take a thrilling ride on a traditional Japanese rickshaw through this area and take in the sights while zooming through the streets. The Kinkaku-ji temple, or Golden Pavilion, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the next stop on your visit. View this magnificent gold-leaf covered temple and discover why it is so coveted and celebrated.

Nara, Daibutsu and Deer Park:

Nara will become a true highlight of your trip to Japan with its incredible Daibutsu (Great Buddha) and Nara (deer) park. Begin your visit by visiting the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Southern Kyoto before taking a private bus ride to the Imperial City of Nara. Here you will enter the wooden Todai-Ji Temple, and view the incredible bronze statue of Buddha looming 50 feet high. Feel the spirituality of this place before continuing to the Nara Park where 1,200 tame deer roam free. You can buy feed for the deer here and they will bow to you before accepting the food. The deer here are not seen as pests but heaven-sent guardians that led the city’s original founder here. Lastly, visit the Kasuga Grand shrine via a pathway lined with 3,000 stone lanterns. The vast shrine complex enjoys a spectacular setting at the foot of the sacred hills of Kasugayama Primeval Forest, its woods untouched since the days when Nara was the capital, from 710 to 794. Inside the honden (sacred building), elegant bronze lanterns decorate the sanctuary.

Your time in Japan has come to an end, but this could be just the beginning of your adventure! Click here to book our 12 Day Japan, Then & Now tour with Discovery Tours and see all of these fascinating places for yourself. Feeding the deer in Nara, wearing a yukata in Kagaonsen and exploring the Ginza district of Tokyo are just a few of the unforgettable experiences you will have in Japan. Book your trip, show up to the airport and we will take you from place to place with convenience and ease that traveling rarely inspires. This is Japan the Discovery Tours way.

*Please note that itinerary may vary slightly from 2019 to 2020.

Japan is known the world over for its conventions of etiquette and intricate customs. Respecting these basic social graces goes a long way in ensuring you are warmly welcomed.

Bowing – Instead of a handshake, bows are exchanged upon meeting someone. This greeting is the most important moment in Japanese etiquette because it sets the tone in an interaction and defines the nature of your relationship to your hosts. With the back straight, you bow at the waist. Many westerners fold their hands in front of their chests as they bow; this is incorrect in Japan. In the proper bow, men keep their hands at their sides and women clasp their hands in the lap. A 30-degree angle in your bow is appropriate with the people you will meet. Bows are deeper among more formal colleagues or shallower among families and friends.

Payment – Many businesses in Japan have a small tray at the cash register so you can place your payment on it. If you see one, then it is improper to hand your money directly to the cashier; use it instead.

Mealtime – Leaving food on your plate is a signal to the host that would like another serving. If you would not like more, you must finish your meal completely. Always chew with your mouth closed. If soup is on the menu, it is okay to lift the bowl and sip it, though it is acceptable to use a spoon for soups with fixings in the broth. When using chopsticks, the tapered ends are for bringing food to your mouth; the thicker ends are for taking a serving from a shared plate.

Blowing your nose – It is considered rude to blow your nose in public, especially at a restaurant. It is preferable and perfectly acceptable to sniffle instead.

Visiting – As most Japanese consider their homes too humble to entertain guests, it is a great privilege to be invited. Guests do not wear shoes inside; rather, they are removed in the genkan (a kind of mudroom) and replaced with uwabaki, or slippers. If uwabaki are not available, it is okay to wear socks. Bare feet, however, are only acceptable if you are visiting a close friend.

Seating – In Japan, there is a “top seat,” or kamiza, reserved in every house for the person at the top of the social hierarchy. Traditionally, it is the seat farthest from the door, because in feudal times it provided both warmth and safety from attack.

Tea ceremony – The elaborate Japanese tea ceremony, also called the “Way of Tea,” produces much more than great-tasting tea. With close ties to Zen Buddhism, the careful steps of making tea are meant to foster harmony, discipline the mind, quiet the heart and help the preparer attain purity. A vast culture exists around making tea in Japan, so much so that gardens and houses are built for the sole purpose; there are even tea schools that elect Grand Masters of Tea. A ceremony might include carefully timed bows, charcoal fires, ringing of gongs, and precise arrangement of tools and bowls.

Zen meditation – Just as prayer is central to western religions, zazen – or meditation – is the heart of Zen Buddhism, the nation’s major religion. The practice involves, quite simply, sitting. While focusing only on your breath, you suspend all judgment and let your thoughts and ideas just pass through you without pondering or elaborating on them.

Maiko dance – The face-painted maiko is an apprentice geiko, a Japanese female hostess or entertainer well-versed in classical music, dancing and conversation. Typically, maiko are older teenagers devoted to their craft. They spend their time learning to dance, playing the shamisen, a three-stringed instrument, and learning to speak the local Kyoto dialect. Their jet-black hairstyle with flower accessories dates back to the Edo period (the 17^th to the 19^th centuries) and their kimono usually features a train.

Ryokan – Japanese inns – ryokan – are similar to bed-and-breakfasts, yet more basic in accommodation. The concept began in the Edo period to serve traveling traders. Today, most are located in the country, often with easy access to onsite onsen, or hot springs. Basic amenities with few distractions help you truly enjoy the surroundings. As guests, Discovery Tours travelers are provided a kimono and yukata, or bathrobes, that can be worn to the onsen. Rooms are simple, with tatami mats as flooring and a futon mattress.