The Best of Japan & Tokyo Japan Temple Tour

 

“Late” March 2025 tour “under construction!” – stay tuned for updates!
8-day tour

Unique, new tour – details coming soon!   

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The perfect time to visit, or re-visit, this unique land as we celebrate the re-opening of the country and the Tokyo Japan Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and take in the cultural highlights of this wonderful land!  Whether you are a returned missionary who served in Japan but haven’t been back since, haven’t had time to enjoy the unique sites of Japan while there for business, or always wanted to go but never had a good reason or the right group of friends to travel with – Mormon Heritage Association has been excitedly preparing for this day and we know that you will want to join us for this trip of a lifetime to the Land of the Rising Sun, JAPAN!

Our tour will arrive in perfect Spring time to witness the famous Japanese cherry blossoms in “mankai” (full bloom).   You’ll be in excellent hands as the tour will be led by Richard Scott, veteran MHA tour guide and a returned missionary from Japan who has been doing business in Japan and throughout Asia for more than 35 years, supported by local licensed English/Japanese-speaking guides.

The Tokyo Japan Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was dedicated by President Spencer W. Kimball in October 1980 as the 18th operating temple in the church and the first temple in Asia. President Kimball called the dedication of the Tokyo Temple “the most significant and important event in the history of Asia.” In October 2017, the Tokyo Temple was closed for extensive renovations. Almost five years later, delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the temple’s renovation is complete and the temple was re-dedicated this past July by President Eyring and now, just since October 2022, Japan is finally open for visa-free tourism.

Participating in temple ordinances in this beautifully renovated House of the Lord will be a highlight you do not want to miss! In addition to an opportunity to visit and attend the temple, you’ll have SIX site-filled days enjoying the unique wonders of Japan’s rich history, architecture, culture, and food (don’t worry, there is plenty of delicious food to please every palate…it’s not all raw fish!).

 

DAY 1 & 2 Fly to Tokyo, Japan	Fly to Tokyo arriving mid afternoon the next day (SLC “group” airline seats available or you may provide your own airfare–be sure to contact MHA to coordinate flight schedules). Relax with a good night’s rest after the long flight and many time zone crossings.  Dinner on own.
DAY 3 Tokyo	We’ll take a guided bus tour of the city, visiting the beautiful Buddhist temple complex and charming shopping streets of Asakusa, part of oldtown Tokyo. You’ll take in the breathtakingly sweet cherry blossoms in full bloom at Ueno Park, visit Akihabara, known as “Electric Town” and top off the day with a sumptuous feast of Japanese and Western cuisine aboard a ship as we cruise Tokyo Bay!   Breakfast, lunch, & dinner included.
DAY 4 Tokyo	Participate in cherished temple ordinances at the Tokyo Temple!  The recent renovations and re-dedication make the temple even more of a shining jewel.  Further, it is a delight to see second- and third-generation members enjoy the blessings of the temple.  Enjoy sightseeing of the majestic Meiji Shrine, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirit of Emperor Meiji who opened Japan to the west after millennia of seclusion. We’ll visit the outer gardens of the Imperial Palace, home of the current Emperor and Empress of Japan. Ascending Tokyo Tower will give us a breathtaking view of the world’s largest metropolis, and with some luck (and clear skies) we may be able to see Mt. Fuji in the distance. You’ll have time tonight and two  more evenings of the tour to explore the winding streets full of small eateries serving the Japanese food you’ve been craving for decades!  Breakfast & lunch included.
DAY 5 Kamakura, Yokohama Bay, Kyoto	We will say goodbye to the bustle of Tokyo to embark on a few days’ worth of exploring the more traditional and unique side of Japan. We’ll visit Kamakura, the political center of medieval Japan, where we will see the Daibutsu (Great Buddha), the iconic and magnificent bronze Buddha sculpture set in a lush temple garden. We’ll also visit the Hachimangu Shrine complex where on New Year’s Day worshippers wait several hours to offer their alms for a blessed New Year, and Hasedera Temple where you’ll see hillsides dotted in thousands tiny “jizo” statues whose purpose is to care for the souls of those who die at a young age. And of course we simply must visit the hill and monument overlooking Yokohama Bay from which LDS church President Heber J. Grant dedicated the land of Japan for the preaching of the gospel in 1901! We’ll ride the “bullet train” southwest, zipping past the magnificent cone-shaped Mt. Fuji for which Japan is famous arriving at Kyoto, the capital of Japan for more than one thousand years, home to the most unique and stunning temples in the country.  Breakfast & lunch included.
DAY 6 Kyoto	In Kyoto, you’ll enjoy a fully-guided tour of some of the most unique temples in the world, each one very different from the other, including three UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage sites, known for “outstanding universal value.” You’ll marvel at the beauty of Kinkakuji, known as the Golden Pavilion which is literally plated in gold! We’ll visit Sanjusangendo, a Japan national treasure, a long hall that houses 1,001 statues of the Buddhist goddess Kannon, each individually hand-carved in intricate detail. We’ll walk on the “chirping floors” of Nijo castle, built by the first shogun of the Edo period that warned of intruders. Heian Shrine will welcome us through its massive red torii gate to behold a brilliant vermillion and jade temple surrounded by cherry trees in full bloom. Lastly, we’ll visit Kiyomizudera Temple in the foothills above Kyoto to quench our thirst from three springs while overlooking the valley of Kyoto.  Breakfast & lunch included.
DAY 7 Nara	We’ll enjoy a guided tour of Nara, Japan’s first capital to visit another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Todaiji Temple, a massive wooden structure constructed without nails and housing the world’s largest bronze Buddha statue. Before returning to Kyoto we’ll wander through Nara Park where we’ll interact with over a thousand tamed yet wild deer which freely roam its grounds. We’ll end the day with a short hike up a hill passing by/through thousands of bright red torii gates to a magnificent panoramic view of Kyoto below. Breakfast, lunch, & dinner included.
DAY 8 Osaka, Tokyo and Flights Home	In Osaka, we’ll explore the immense, pagoda-like Osaka Castle before the bullet train whisks us back to Tokyo so we can take a last look at the cherry blossoms at Shinjuku Gyoen before boarding our evening flight from Haneda International Airport to return to the US.  Arrive home the same date (shortly after your departure time!–how is that even possible?!?) crossing back over several time zones and the International Date Line (somewhere over the Pacific Ocean–Aha!) while saying, “Sayōnara & arigatou, Japan!” Breakfast & lunch included in Japan; dinner onboard flight home.

Available spots for this tour will be limited to a single bus and will go on a first-come, first-served basis, so don’t delay! Register here or click link in the table below or call Mormon Heritage Association today at (801) 272-5601 to get registered for your inspiring tour of this unique and beautiful country!
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Pricing – Smart phones swipe left/right within the box, below

Tour ID Date/Days	Price if One per room	Price each if Two per room	Special Features & Hosts
J02 March 2025 dates to be announced 8 days	$to be announced	$to be announced	New tour! TOKYO TEMPLE and local sites during magical cherry blossom season! Tour hosts: Richard Scott & Lee Ann Scott, plus delightful local guides.

Prices are per person by number of people sharing hotel room (maximum 2 adults per room).
Tour price includes: group events as listed above, most meals, nice lodging, charter bus, written tour materials, and expert MHA guide services.  SLC group airfare can be included (if arranging own air, must coordinate with group’s schedule). 
Not included:  tipping (for local guide services), 4 dinners in Japan & any airport meals, souvenirs, personal items, optional trip insurance, and any free time activities.  

Prices contingent upon international exchange rate stability; though not expected, possible price adjustments to be made as necessary in the event of major exchange rate fluctuation.

Two people maximum allowed per room. 

TRAVELING SINGLE?  Would you like help finding a ROOMMATE to decrease your tour price?  Let us know when you REGISTER and we’ll do what we can to connect you with a compatible roommate.  You just might make a new, long-lasting friendship!

$500 deposit per person secures a reservation on a first-come, first-served basis; balance due 100 days prior to departure.  Mail checks to Mormon Heritage Association, 2367 W Goldenpointe Way, West Jordan UT 84088 or call 801-272-5601 to pay by credit/debit card (cards incur 5% fee for amounts charged after $500 deposit).

If you have to cancel, there are a few possibilities.  If someone takes your place, you get a full refund less any costs we incur to procure your replacement and $50 cancellation/registration fee plus any non-refundable expenses we have incurred in your behalf.  If you provide a replacement, or if there is someone who can step in from our waiting list, you would lose $50 cancellation fee and any non-refundable expenses incurred in your behalf.  If nobody takes your place, your payments are refunded less all non-refundable expenses we have incurred in your behalf and $50 cancellation fee.  No refunds once tour commences. 

Current Passport required and must be valid at least 6 months beyond return date.  Notify MHA if NOT a US citizen (airline/visa regulations).

Japan does NOT require any Covid-related paperwork or vaccinations (since Spring 2023).

Fit to Travel – registrants accept the responsibility for being in good health and very able to walk distances to travel well, unassisted including handling train travel with luggage (travel light).  Sites may not always be accessible to the physically challenged–those needing ambulatory assistance will find the tour extremely limiting to their experiences.

This is an incredible opportunity to visit these unforgettable sites with expert hosts who are the most knowledgeable guides about this unique tour and who share it in a most memorable way.

Register here

We hope you can join us for the Very Best Church History Tours!