Day 1
Tokyo
Upon arrival in Tokyo, you’ll be met at the airport for a transfer into the city centre, check in to your hotel with time to relax or explore as you wish.
Overnight: Standard - Hotel Gracery Shinjuku | Superior - The Gate Tokyo | Deluxe - Peninsula Hotel
Day 2
Tokyo
This morning meet your guide at 9am at your hotel ready for a full day of sightseeing, visiting Tokyo’s most famous attractions, including Hamarikyu – a Japanese garden that was once the private villa of a powerful feudal lord in the Edo period and now greeting you with beautiful collections of seasonal flowers. Whilst here, you’ll take a break in the teahouse for a cup of fresh green tea whilst learning about Japan’s tea ceremonies.
Next up is a scenic river cruise to Asakusa, part of Tokyo’s old town. This is the city’s oldest Geisha district and home to the city’s oldest Buddhist temple, Senso-ji, making for a lovely hour or so exploring the traditional shops.
The tour finishes with Meiji Jingu, a famous shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji that’s very popular with weddings thanks to its spectacular grounds adorned with 120,000 trees.
Breakfast included
Overnight: Standard - Hotel Gracery Shinjuku | Superior - The Gate Tokyo | Deluxe - Peninsula Hotel
Day 3
Tokyo
Today is free for you to enjoy as you like – why not discover some of the wonderful museums and art galleries, or visit the bustling electronics district of Akihabara?
There’s also an optional day trip to Kamakura on offer, a gorgeous seaside town home to fascinating shrines and temples, plus the 13m tall bronze Daibutsu Buddha. Or you could enjoy a cycling tour of the city, or even a street food tour.
Breakfast included
Overnight: Standard - Hotel Gracery Shinjuku | Superior - The Gate Tokyo | Deluxe - Peninsula Hotel
Day 4
Takayama
The day begins with a ride on board the famous (bullet train) and a limited, scenic express train ‘Wide View’ to travel to Takayama, a small town located in the Hida Alpine region of Gifu Prefecture. Once there you’ll have some time to explore at your own pace, including the merchants’ homes and sake breweries – the drinks here are well worth a stop.
You’ll be staying in a ryokan, a traditional Japanese-style inn furnished with sliding shoji doors, tatami flooring and low tables and chairs.
Breakfast and dinner included
Overnight: Superior - Ryokan Asunaro | Superior - Honjin Hiranoya Bekkan | Deluxe - Hidatei Hanaougi
Day 5
Takayama
The day is free for you to explore as you wish. There is a great optional tour that we would recommend though – a food and culture walk that ends with a bike tour along the outskirts of Hida Furukawa, a quiet farm village.
Breakfast and dinner included
Overnight: Superior - Ryokan Asunaro | Superior - Honjin Hiranoya Bekkan | Deluxe - Hidatei Hanaougi
Day 6
Shirakawago – Kanazawa
In the morning you will take a bus to Shirakawago, a fabulous UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s renowned for its gassho-zukuri farmhouses. Meaning ‘constructed like hands in a prayer’, these farmhouses have steep thatched roofs that are designed to withstand lots of snow. Whilst many of these are private homes, some are open to the public – including Wada House which was left behind by the Wada Family who were once the richest family in Ogimachi.
Afterwards, you’ll board another bus to Kanazawa, a castle town that was once the centre of arts and culture in the 17th century.
Breakfast included
Overnight: Superior - Hotel Vista Kanazawa | Superior - Tokyu Hotel | Deluxe - Hotel Sai no Niwa
Day 7
Kanazawa
Day seven is free for you to explore this charming castle town at your own pace. We’d recommend visiting the immaculate Kenroku-en Garden, which is known as one of Japan’s top three gardens. Whilst exploring you’ll come across the oldest water fountain in Japan, cute teahouses and a big villa that was once the retirement home of one of Kanazawa’s richest clans.
You could also discover Kanazawa Castle, have lunch at Omicho Market – they have fabulous sushi here – and visit Nomura House which is a restored residence of a highly ranked samurai family.
Breakfast included
Overnight: Superior - Hotel Vista Kanazawa | Superior - Tokyu Hotel | Deluxe - Hotel Sai no Niwa
Day 8
Hiroshima
You’ll have some hours free to explore more of the area before your long train journey to Hiroshima.
Breakfast included
Overnight: Standard - Hotel Vista Hiroshima | Superior - Sheraton Grand Hiroshima | Deluxe - Sheraton Grand Hiroshima
Day 9
Hiroshima and Miyajima Island
Day nine will be spent exploring Miyajima Island, to marvel at the striking scene of mountains, ocean and the famous ‘floating’ Torii gate.
Whilst there, you’ll discover the Itsukushima Shrine – a gorgeous example of 12th century Shinto architecture, before wandering through Daisho-in, the most loved Buddhist temple on the island. Be sure to walk along the stairs to see the row of spinning sutras – anyone who spins these are said to be blessed.
Soon you’ll head back to Hiroshima to visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum.
Breakfast included
Overnight: Standard - Hotel Vista Hiroshima | Superior - Sheraton Grand Hiroshima | Deluxe - Sheraton Grand Hiroshima
Day 10
Kyoto
Today you will journey to Kyoto, the reigning cultural capital of Japan. There are 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites to explore, but today you will enjoy a half-day trip of the city, starting with a visit to a machiya – a traditional wooden townhouse. Next up, you’ll try on a kimono so that you’re properly dressed for your traditional tea ceremony.
After your last sip of tea, you’ll be given an introductory course in origami – the intricate Japanese art of paper folding – with a local artist.
Breakfast included.
Overnight: Standard - Hotel Vista Premio Nagomi-Tei | Superior - Royal Park The Shijo | Deluxe - The Thousand Kyoto
Day 11
Kyoto
Today you’ll be discovering an array of beautiful temples and castles. The guided tour begins with a visit to Nijo Castle – originally built as a private villa for a powerful feudal lord, the castle is now a stunning example of Momoyama-style architecture and decorating sliding doors.
Afterwards is the quiet Ryoan-ji Temple, much loved for its pristine rock garden, plus the gorgeous golden pavilion that is collectively known as Kinkaku-ji Temple and completely covered in handmade goldleaf.
Later on, you’ll explore Kiyomizu-dera Temple, a wonderful temple with a scenic veranda that was built without using any nails or joiners – it’s a true architectural marvel. Next up is a wander through the lively streets of Higashiyama district, adorned with local souvenir shops, tiny restaurants and pottery centres.
Breakfast included.
Overnight: Standard - Hotel Vista Premio Nagomi-Tei | Superior - Royal Park The Shijo | Deluxe - The Thousand Kyoto
Day 12
Kyoto
Your morning is free for you to explore the city as you wish. We’d recommend taking a 45-minute train journey to Nara, a small town that’s home to Nara Park – famous for its tame deer - as well as Todaiji Temple home to Japan’s largest Buddha.
In the afternoon, you’ll meet your group to explore Fushimi Inari Taisha – a unique and famous Shinto shrine in Japan with winding paths lined with thousands of vermilion torii gates. There’s a light hike up to the top of the mountain where the shrine is location, and the tour will take up to three hours.
Breakfast included.
Overnight: Standard - Hotel Vista Premio Nagomi-Tei | Superior - Royal Park The Shijo | Deluxe - The Thousand Kyoto
Day 13
Osaka
The final stop of our tour is Osaka – every foodie’s idea of haven. The day is free for you to explore Japan’s culinary capital at your own pace. We recommend exploring Dotonbori, a vibrant street renowned for its bright neon lights and incredible food stalls that offer local Osakan delights including fugu (poisonous puffer fish). There’s even an optional food tour that sees you trying menchi katsu (a local favourite of breaded, deep-fried patty of ground meat), sake and Japanese wine, and a restaurant that specialises in wagyu beef.
Breakfast included
Overnight: Standard - Cross Hotel | Superior - Cross Hotel | Deluxe - St Regis
Day 14
Osaka
Today marks the end of your tour.
Breakfast included
