Day 1
Tokyo
Fly to either Tokyo Narita or Haneda International Airport and transfer by airport shuttle to your hotel. This evening you will join your Tour Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception with drinks and local appetisers.
Overnight: New Otani Garden Tower
Food at Welcome Reception included.
Day 2
Tokyo
This morning embark on a city tour beginning with a visit to the Sensoji Buddhist temple – one of Tokyo’s most colourful temples which has been rebuilt countless times since it was founded in the year 628, making it Tokyo’s oldest temple site. Visit the shopping street Nakamise, 200 metres long stretching from the temples outer gate to the temples second interior gate. Visit the Tokyo Skytree, the worlds highest free-standing broadcasting tower. Later you can return to your hotel for some leisure time or choose an optional experience, including a kimono dressing experience.
Overnight: New Otani Garden Tower
Breakfast included.
Day 3
Tokyo – Five Lakes District
Head to the Imperial Palace Plaza, where there are viewing areas for the Imperial Palace – the primary residence of the Emperor of Japan. Stroll around the Imperial Palace East Gardens, before continuing on your city tour with a visit to the Edo-Tokyo Museum, filled with artefacts and architecture from the Edo period. Next head to the famous Ginza district for a hands-on sushi making class, when you will learn to make sushi and then eat it for lunch. After lunch leave Tokyo and head to the Five Lakes District, dominated by Mount Fuji – Japan’s highest mountain and UNESCO listed.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Day 4
Five Lakes District – Mount Fuji - Takayama
After breakfast visit Oshino Hakkai, a small rural village and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, boasting a beautiful park with natural spring water ponds fed by the melted snow from Mount Fuji. The reflections of the sky and landscapes make for a perfect photo opportunity. You’ll then drive up Mount Fuji to the 5th station at 2,300 metres, before taking a ride on the Ropeway cable car (weather-permitting). Then travel through the breath-taking Japanese Alps to the beautiful hillside town of Takayama. This evening you will enjoy dinner at your hotel.
Breakfast and dinner included
Day 5
Takayama – Gokayama - Kanazawa
This morning enjoy a walking tour of the Edo-style streets of the Old Town, shopping en route to sample Japanese sake. Then enjoy a lunch of Japanese Hida-gyu - beef from a black-haired Japenese cattle breed. Take a step back in time to the peaceful mountain village and UNESCO designated site of Gokayama. You’ll see unique Gassho-zukuri wooden houses which have steeply sloped thatched roofs resembling two hands together in prayer. You will visit one of these houses and meet the family. Later watch local artisans making washi paper and try your hand at making your own.
Breakfast and lunch included
Overnight: Kanazawa Tokyo Hotel
Day 6
Kanazawa
This morning you will discover the secrets of gold leaf painting – 99% of Japan’s high quality gold leaf is produced in the area. Next visit the gardens of Kenrokuen, rated in the top three most beautiful gardens in Japan. Enjoy a leisurely stroll around the ornate landscapes, temples and ponds. Afterwards, take a walk through Omicho market to see the local fish catch and enjoy an insiders view of everyday life in this vibrant coastal town. Later visit the Nagamachi District with its old and beautifully preserved samurai houses. Visit the Nomura house, an elegant samurai mansion with beautiful small gardens belonging to a high-ranked samurai family. There is the option to enjoy a shabu shabu dinner with unlimited drinks, which is a Japanese hotpot dish where you boil thinly sliced mear and vegetables and serve with dipping sauces.
Breakfast included.
Overnight: Kanazawa Tokyo Hotel
Day 7
Kanazawa - Kyoto
Board the express train to Kyoto, where you'll meet with locals at a traditional ryokan. The ryokan was built in 1932 by master craftsmen to serve as the second residence of the uncle of the current Emperor of Japan. Learn about local Japanese customs as your hosts welcome you into their beautiful home. After lunch visit Kinkakuji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its Golden Pavilion, built in 1397. Later check into your hotel in Kyoto for a relaxing evening.
Breakfast and Be My Guest lunch included
Overnight: Hotel Nikko Princess Kyoto
Day 8
Kyoto
Visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine and see the tunnel of thousands of bright orange torii gates, snaking through the forest up into the mountains. Then you will visit the Sanjusangen-do Hall, a temple famous for its 1001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. Afterwards enjoy a walking tour of the Gion area. Then you can either choose to stay in Gion to explore further or return to your hotel. This evening join your Tour Director and fellow travellers for a farewell dinner at the Ninja Kyoto restaurant. Venture into the mysterious labyrinth and secret fortress of the traditional Japanese heroes, the Ninjas and experience the creative Ninja-style food.
Breakfast and dinner included
Overnight: Hotel Nikko Princess Kyoto
Day 9
Awaji Island
Today you will cross the world's largest suspension bridge over the Seto Island Sea to Awaji Island. Enjoy some time to yourself for lunch, and then take a walk around Yumebutai and the 100 Stepped Garden, a group of 100 flowerbeds on an incline. You'll then visit the Water Temple before moving on to the hot springs village of Kotohira, where you'll be staying tonight. This evening, you'll be staying in a traditional Japanese ryokan.
Breakfast and dinner included
Overnight: Traditional Japanese ryokan
Day 10
Kotohira - Hiroshima
Your first visit of the day is the Zentsuji Temple, the birthplace of the Buddhist high priest Kobo Daishi. Next, you'll journey to Omishima Island and enjoy local at a local restaurant. The drive to Hiroshima is an impressive one, journeying along a 60km highway that links the islands of the Seto Inland Sea with nine bridges.
Breakfast and lunch included.
Overnight: Rhiga Royal Hotel Hiroshima
Day 11
Miyajima Island
On day 11, you'll travel by ferry to the sacred Miyajima Island, home to the UNESCO-listed Itsukushima Shrine and torii gate standing in the sea. Enjoy from free time for lunch, and then return to Hiroshima to see the Peace Memorial Park and Museum. In the evening, you'll enjoy a delicious Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, a savoury pancake with egg, cabbage, soba noodles and meat, seafood or cheese.
Breakfast and dinner included.
Overnight: Rhiga Royal Hotel Hiroshima
Day 12
Osaka
Today you will board the high-speed bullet train, taking you to Osaka. Here, you'll have some free time to have lunch and shop. In the evening, you'll meet with your Travel Director and fellow travellers for dinner at a local restaurant.
Breakfast and dinner included.
Overnight: Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka
Day 13
Osaka
Today marks the end of your tour. Transfer to the airport for your ongoing flight.
