Itinerary
- Day 1
Tokyo
You'll arrive in Tokyo and check into your hotel anytime from mid-afternoon onward. This gives you a chance to drop off your bags, freshen up, and get your bearings in Japan's bustling capital. The rest of the day is yours to settle in and maybe grab an early dinner if you're not too jet-lagged.
- Day 2
Tokyo
Start at Meiji Shrine, a 20th-century Shinto shrine surrounded by a man-made forest that feels surprisingly peaceful. From there, head to a studio for a calligraphy lesson with a master, then try on a traditional kimono and participate in a tea ceremony. After lunch, ascend to Sorakara Point on floor 450 of Tokyo Skytree for panoramic views of the city and Mount Fuji on clear days. Your final stop is the historic Asakusa Kannon Temple and nearby Nakamise shopping arcade. Tonight, your Tour Director hosts a welcome dinner with your travel group.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Welcome dinner hosted by your Tour Director)
Included Activities
- Visit Meiji Shrine
- Calligraphy lesson with a master calligrapher
- Try on traditional kimono
- Tea ceremony
- Visit Tokyo Skytree and ascend to Sorakara Point (floor 450)
- Visit Asakusa Kannon Temple and Nakamise shopping arcade
- Welcome dinner with Tour Director
Landmarks/POIs Meiji Shrine Tokyo Skytree Asakusa Kannon Temple Nakamise shopping arcade - Day 3
Tokyo to Kamakura to Hakone to Tokyo
Drive south along the coast to Kamakura to see the 750-year-old Great Buddha. Continue to Hakone for a cable-car ride that provides panoramic views of Mount Fuji, Japan's highest mountain. After lunch, take a cruise on Lake Ashi for more views of the area. Later, hop on the shinkansen bullet train back to Tokyo for a thrilling ride through the Japanese countryside.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Drive to Kamakura to see the Great Buddha
- Cable-car ride in Hakone with views of Mount Fuji
- Cruise on Lake Ashi
- Shinkansen (bullet train) ride back to Tokyo
Landmarks/POIs Great Buddha (Kamakura) Mount Fuji Lake Ashi 
- Day 4
Tokyo
This day is all yours to spend however you'd like. Check out neighborhoods like Ginza or Shibuya if you're into shopping and modern city life. Hunt for street food at local markets, or if you're feeling sporty, catch a game at Tokyo Dome. It's your chance to see Tokyo on your own terms.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Ginza district
- Visit Shibuya district
- Dine at street food markets
- Catch a game at Tokyo Dome
Landmarks/POIs Ginza Shibuya Tokyo Dome - Day 5
Tokyo to Matsumoto
Travel to Matsumoto in the Japanese Alps region. You'll take a private tour of a local wasabi farm to learn how it's grown and its role in Japanese cuisine, then have lunch there including a taste of wasabi ice cream. After that, visit Matsumoto Castle, a National Treasure dating back to the 16th century. Your evening features a Japanese-style dinner at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at wasabi farm with wasabi ice cream sampling), Dinner (Japanese-style dinner at hotel)
Included Activities
- Private tour of wasabi farm
- Lunch at wasabi farm with wasabi ice cream sampling
- Visit Matsumoto Castle
- Japanese-style dinner at hotel
Landmarks/POIs Matsumoto Castle 
- Day 6
Matsumoto to Takayama
Begin your morning at Takayama's farmers market, where locals display fresh produce, flowers, and regional goods. Next, see Takayama Jinya, a former government office from 1692-1868 and the only building of its kind remaining in Japan. Later, try sake in the San-Machi Suji historic district, known for lacquerware shops and breweries. The rest of the day is free to wander the narrow streets where merchants have been trading for 300 years.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit morning market
- Visit Takayama Jinya
- Sake tasting in San-Machi Suji historic district
Optional Activities
- Stay overnight at a traditional Japanese ryokan (additional fee and pre-booking required)
Landmarks/POIs Takayama Jinya San-Machi Suji historic district - Day 7
Takayama to Shirakawa to Kanazawa
Drive through the mountainous Shokawa Valley to Shirakawa, a remote region with several UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You'll explore the unique Gassho-Zukuri-style thatched houses found nowhere else. Continue to Kanazawa, nestled between mountains and the Sea of Japan. See Kenroku-en Garden, one of Japan's three great gardens dating from the 1670s, then take a gold leaf class where you'll create your own decorative bento box.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Drive through Shokawa Valley
- Explore Gassho-Zukuri-style thatched houses in Shirakawa
- Explore Kenroku-en Garden
- Gold leaf class and make your own bento box
Landmarks/POIs Shirakawa (Gassho-Zukuri houses) Kenroku-en Garden Kasumigaike pond 
- Day 8
Kanazawa to Kyoto
Drive south to Kyoto and join a Japanese cooking class with a local chef. You'll learn to prepare miso soup, teriyaki chicken, and makizushi, then eat what you've made for lunch. In the afternoon, head to Fushimi Inari Shrine with thousands of brightly colored torii gates, then visit Kiyomizu Temple in the Higashiyama District for views over the city. Walk through busy streets where shops and restaurants have served pilgrims for centuries.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch featuring dishes prepared during cooking class (miso soup, teriyaki chicken, makizushi))
Included Activities
- Japanese cooking class with local chef
- Lunch featuring prepared dishes (miso soup, teriyaki chicken, makizushi)
- Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Visit Kiyomizu Temple
- Walk through Higashiyama District
Landmarks/POIs Fushimi Inari Shrine Kiyomizu Temple Higashiyama District 
- Day 9
Kyoto
Start your morning at Kinkakuji, the Temple of the Gold Pavilion. Next, go to Yuzen Handmade Corner to learn about the Yuzen dyeing technique used on kimonos. You'll make your own souvenir using this traditional method to take home. Later, visit Sanjusajendo Temple, famous for 1,001 statues of Kannon along with 1,000 more life-sized gold-covered statues believed to save different worlds.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Kinkakuji (Temple of the Gold Pavilion)
- Learn about Yuzen dyeing technique at Yuzen Handmade Corner
- Make your own Yuzen souvenir
- Visit Sanjusajendo Temple
Optional Activities
- Join Tour Director for a walking tour through Gion
- Visit additional historic temples in Kyoto (available for purchase with MyGlobus)
Landmarks/POIs Kinkakuji (Temple of the Gold Pavilion) Yuzen Handmade Corner Sanjusajendo Temple Gion - Day 10
Kyoto to Nara
Travel to Nara to explore Nara Park, one of Japan's largest parks known for free-roaming deer among shrines and temples. Visit Kasuga Shrine with roughly 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns, then head to Todaiji Temple to see the Daibutsu, a copper and bronze giant Buddha weighing 250 tons and standing 49 feet tall. Tonight, your Tour Director hosts a farewell dinner celebrating what you've learned about Japan.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner hosted by Tour Director)
Included Activities
- Visit Nara Park
- Visit Kasuga Shrine
- Visit Todaiji Temple and see the Daibutsu (Giant Buddha)
- Farewell dinner hosted by Tour Director
Landmarks/POIs Nara Park Kasuga Shrine Todaiji Temple 
- Day 11
Nara to Hiroshima
Board a shinkansen bullet train bound for Hiroshima. Upon arrival, your Local Guide takes you to Shukkei-en Garden, a 400-year-old space where natural landscapes appear in miniature form.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Shinkansen (bullet train) ride to Hiroshima
- Visit Shukkei-en Garden
Landmarks/POIs Shukkei-en Garden 
- Day 12
Hiroshima to Miyajima Island
Explore Hiroshima with your Local Guide, starting at Peace Memorial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site preserved as it was on August 6, 1945. You'll visit the Memorial Museum and Memorial Hall. Then travel by ferry to Miyajima Island to see Itsukushima Shrine, another UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its famous floating torii gate. You'll have free time for lunch and shopping. Your evening is at leisure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Peace Memorial Park
- Visit Peace Memorial Museum
- Visit Peace Memorial Hall
- Ferry to Miyajima Island
- Visit Itsukushima Shrine with floating Torii Gate
Optional Activities
- Lunch at restaurants on Miyajima Island
- Shopping on Miyajima Island
Landmarks/POIs Peace Memorial Park Peace Memorial Museum Miyajima Island Itsukushima Shrine - Day 13
Departure
Have breakfast this morning and depart Tokyo at your leisure, marking the end of your tour.
- Meals
- Breakfast
