Itinerary
- Day 1
Tokyo
You'll arrive in Tokyo and check into your hotel with views overlooking the Imperial Palace and Hie Jinja Shrine. The location offers direct access to four subway lines, so getting around will be convenient. This evening you'll meet the rest of your group at a welcome reception followed by dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome reception and dinner)
Included Activities
- Welcome reception and dinner
Landmarks Imperial Palace Hie Jinja Shrine - Day 2
Tokyo
Start by heading to Tokyo Sky Tree for views across the city, then take part in an interactive Taiko drum lesson with masters. Later you'll walk through Takeshita Street in Harajuku, browsing fashion boutiques, art galleries, vintage shops and sampling desserts from carts along the street. For dinner, you have three choices: a ninja-themed restaurant, a traditional Izakaya bar with your Tour Director, or Nobu Tokyo.
Included Activities
- Tokyo Sky Tree viewing
- Interactive Taiko drum demonstration and lesson with Taiko Masters
- Takeshita Street Harajuku exploration
Optional Activities
- Dining at ninja-themed restaurant
- Traditional Japanese Izakaya bar dining with Tour Director
- Dining at Nobu Tokyo restaurant
Landmarks Tokyo Sky Tree Takeshita Street - Day 3
Tokyo
You'll explore the Asakusa district and pay respects at Sensoji Temple, Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple. Then you'll pick between two options: visit Meiji Shrine and cross the world's busiest pedestrian crossing to see the Hachiko statue in Shibuya, or wander through Shinjuku-Gyoen Gardens and explore Shinjuku's entertainment district as dusk falls.
Included Activities
- Asakusa district visit
- Sensoji Temple visit
Optional Activities
- Meiji Shrine visit
- Shibuya pedestrian crossing and Hachiko statue visit
- Shinjuku-Gyoen Gardens exploration
- Shinjuku entertainment district evening exploration
Landmarks Sensoji Temple Meiji Shrine Shibuya Pedestrian Crossing Hachiko Statue Shinjuku-Gyoen Gardens Shinjuku Entertainment District - Day 4
Tokyo to Fuji Five Lakes
Begin at teamLab Borderless digital art museum exploring its light displays. By midday you'll make your own sushi with a local chef for lunch. Later you'll drive into the countryside to the Fuji Five Lakes district and visit Itchiku Kubota Art Museum to see kimono craftsmanship from the Muromachi Period. You'll spend the night at a hotel with views of Mt Fuji.
- Meals
- Lunch (Sushi-making lunch with local chef)
Included Activities
- teamLab Borderless Digital Art Museum visit
- Sushi-making lunch with local chef
- Itchiku Kubota Art Museum visit
Landmarks teamLab Borderless Mt Fuji Itchiku Kubota Art Museum - Day 5
Fuji Five Lakes to Hakone
Drive to Hakone and take a first-class pirate ship cruise on Lake Ashinoko with Mt Fuji visible in the distance. A cable car ride takes you up to Owakudani geothermal hot springs area. Then you'll visit Hakone Open Air Museum, Japan's first open air museum, which features artworks and sculptures. The evening is yours to relax at the hotel overlooking Lake Ashinoko.
Included Activities
- Lake Ashinoko pirate ship cruise on first-class deck
- Cable car ride to Owakudani geothermal area
- Hakone Open Air Museum visit
Landmarks Lake Ashinoko Owakudani Hakone Open Air Museum - Day 6
Hakone to Inuyama
Travel via Shinkansen in Green Class seats to Nagoya. You'll visit the Shinkansen Train Museum at the SCMaglev and Railway Park, then continue to Inuyama, a historic castle town. Check in at your boutique hotel for a two-night stay.
Included Activities
- Shinkansen Train Museum at SCMaglev and Railway Park visit
Landmarks Shinkansen Train Museum at SCMaglev and Railway Park - Day 7
Inuyama
Start at the Shiro-to-Machi Museum to learn about the area's ancient history. You'll take a rickshaw ride through old town streets to Inuyama Castle, one of just five castles in the country designated as a national treasure. Later, visit Meiji Mura, a large outdoor museum with reconstructed buildings from various periods.
Included Activities
- Shiro-to-Machi Museum visit
- Rickshaw ride to Inuyama Castle
- Inuyama Castle visit
- Meiji Mura outdoor museum visit
Landmarks Shiro-to-Machi Museum Inuyama Castle Meiji Mura - Day 8
Inuyama to Takayama
Head north to Takayama, stopping in Tsumago Juku along the way, a fully restored post town from the Edo Period in Kiso Valley. Upon arrival you'll enjoy sake tasting and a museum experience at Funasaka Shuzo Sake brewery. You'll stay two nights at your hotel overlooking Takayama. For dinner, choose from three options.
Included Activities
- Tsumago Juku post town visit
- Funasaka Shuzo Sake brewery sake tasting and museum visit
Optional Activities
- Dinner at Le Midi restaurant featuring Hida Beef
- Dinner at Sakanaya fine Japanese restaurant in renovated sake brewery
- Dinner at Susaki for local regional Japanese cuisine
Landmarks Tsumago Juku Funasaka Shuzo Sake Brewery - Day 9
Takayama
View the impressive Yatai festival floats, then drive to historical farmhouses in the less-visited mountain villages of Gokayama, a World Heritage site, which includes Ainokura and Shirakawago. You'll participate in a Washi paper-making workshop. After that you'll return to Takayama to explore the shops and backstreets of the old quarter at your own pace.
Included Activities
- Yatai festival floats viewing
- Gokayama World Heritage site visit including Ainokura and Shirakawago villages
- Washi paper-making workshop
Landmarks Gokayama Ainokura Shirakawago - Day 10
Takayama to Kanazawa
Travel north to Takaoka via a cruise through Shogawa Gorge with scenic views. You'll create your own souvenir at a local copper and tinware workshop. Then visit Zuiryuji Temple, a Soto Zen Buddhist temple and national treasure completed around 1659. Continue to Kanazawa for a two-night stay at a hotel seconds from the train station. An upgrade option lets you stay in a traditional Ryokan with dinner and breakfast included.
Included Activities
- Shogawa Gorge cruise
- Local copper and tinware workshop souvenir creation
Optional Activities
- Ryokan stay (at additional cost, must be pre-booked): traditional Japanese Inn with tatami mat flooring, futon beds, shoji paper doors, private facilities, dinner and breakfast included
Landmarks Shogawa Gorge Zuiryuji Temple - Day 11
Kanazawa
Spend time walking around Kenroku-en Garden, one of Japan's three great gardens located across from Kanazawa Castle Park. Move to Higashi-Chaya District tea house district and try Kanazawa Gold Leaf craft making. Later you'll visit the former Kaga Clan Samurai houses in Nagamachi district to glimpse feudal Japan.
Included Activities
- Kenroku-en Garden visit
- Higashi-Chaya District tea house exploration
- Kanazawa Gold Leaf craft shop visit
Landmarks Kenroku-en Garden Kanazawa Castle Park Higashi-Chaya District Nagamachi District - Day 12
Kanazawa to Kyoto
Take the train to Kyoto, which is home to many World Heritage-listed sites. You'll glide through the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove by traditional rickshaw before exploring Tenryu-ji Temple, a World Heritage site, where you'll have a vegetarian meal included. Visit the famous Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, which is completely covered in gold leaf. The evening brings a Teppanyaki feast with your group.
- Meals
- Lunch (Vegetarian meal at Tenryu-ji Temple), Dinner (Teppanyaki feast)
Included Activities
- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove rickshaw ride
- Tenryu-ji Temple exploration
- Vegetarian meal at Tenryu-ji Temple
- Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) visit
- Teppanyaki feast dinner
Landmarks Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Tenryu-ji Temple Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) - Day 13
Kyoto
Choose between exploring ancient preservation districts or visiting the Silver Pavilion and walking along the Philosopher's Walk, approximately two kilometers through Kyoto's Higashiyama district. You'll participate in a Japanese tea ceremony dressed in traditional kimono. Free time at Nishiki Market, Kyoto's kitchen with over 100 stalls, comes next. Later, stroll through Gion, Kyoto's famous Geisha District, before dinner hosted by a Geiko and Maiko.
- Meals
- Dinner (Private group dinner hosted by Geiko and Maiko with interaction and learning about becoming a Geisha and the art of Japanese hospitality)
Included Activities
- Japanese tea ceremony in traditional kimono
- Nishiki Market free time exploration
- Gion Geisha District stroll
- Private group dinner hosted by Geiko and Maiko
Optional Activities
- Ancient preservation districts exploration
- Silver Pavilion visit
- Philosopher's Walk stroll (approximately 2 kilometre)
Landmarks Silver Pavilion (Ginkaku-ji) Philosopher's Walk Nishiki Market Gion District - Day 14
Nara - Kyoto
Start early at Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for thousands of vermilion torii gates featured in 'Memoirs of a Geisha'. Continue to Nara, Japan's first permanent capital established in 710. Visit Todaiji Temple, constructed in 752, and see the deer in Nara Park before returning to Kyoto. You'll visit Nijo Castle, built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The rest of the day is yours to spend as you like.
Included Activities
- Fushimi Inari Shrine visit
- Todaiji Temple visit
- Nara Park deer viewing
- Nijo Castle visit
Landmarks Fushimi Inari Shrine Todaiji Temple Nara Park Nijo Castle 
- Day 15
Kyoto to Hiroshima
Travel by Shinkansen to Himeji Castle, an original castle and Japan's most spectacular one, among the few remaining original feudal castles. Continue to Hiroshima via Shinkansen and check in for two nights. This evening you'll sample Okonomiyaki, a savory Japanese-style pancake that's a regional specialty.
- Meals
- Dinner (Okonomiyaki, a savoury Japanese-style pancake specialty of the region)
Included Activities
- Himeji Castle visit
- Okonomiyaki dinner (savoury Japanese-style pancake)
Landmarks Himeji Castle - Day 16
Miyajima Island
Take a ferry to Miyajima Island to visit Daisho-in Temple and the famous floating Torii Gate at Itsukushima Shrine, also built over the water. You'll have an emotional visit to Peace Park and Museum, which honors Hiroshima's legacy. Learn to create your own origami crane offering for the Orizuru Wall at Orizuru Tower. The evening is free to explore Hiroshima at your own pace.
Included Activities
- Miyajima Island ferry travel
- Daisho-in Temple visit
- Itsukushima Shrine and floating Torii Gate visit
- Peace Park and Museum visit
- Origami crane creation for Orizuru Wall at Orizuru Tower
Landmarks Miyajima Island Daisho-in Temple Itsukushima Shrine Peace Memorial Park Orizuru Tower - Day 17
Hiroshima to Osaka
Travel by Shinkansen to Kobe. Stop at Kirin Beer Factory for lunch, tastings and a factory tour. Then drive to Osaka for a three-night stay. This evening you'll ride the Osaka Metro to the lively entertainment area of Dotonbori and Hozenji Yokocho food alley to explore the neighborhood.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Kirin Beer Factory with tasting)
Included Activities
- Kirin Beer Factory lunch, tasting and tour
- Osaka Metro ride to Dotonbori and Hozenji Yokocho exploration
Landmarks Kirin Beer Factory Dotonbori Hozenji Yokocho - Day 18
Osaka
Drive to Tondabayashi to see a restored Edo era Merchant House. Continue to a Sumo Museum in Kehayaza, the area where Sumo originated. You'll have a private visit with sumo wrestlers including a welcome ceremony and demonstration of Jinku with wrestlers in action in the dohyo. After enjoying Club Floor benefits you'll head to Umeda Sky Building for night-time views of Osaka's skyline, then sit down to dinner with a view.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner with Osaka skyline view at Umeda Sky Building)
Included Activities
- Edo era Merchant House visit
- Sumo Museum visit
- Private sumo wrestler visit with welcome ceremony
- Sumo wrestler Jinku demonstration
- Club Floor benefits
- Umeda Sky Building night-time skyline viewing
- Dinner with skyline view
Landmarks Tondabayashi Edo Merchant House Kehayaza Sumo Museum Umeda Sky Building - Day 19
Osaka
Choose between exploring Shinsaibashi-suji shopping avenue followed by Kuromon Ichiba Market, known as Osaka's kitchen, or visiting the Museum of History and rebuilt Osaka Castle. The afternoon is yours for last-minute shopping. Gather this evening for your farewell Japanese feast.
- Meals
- Dinner (Farewell Japanese feast)
Optional Activities
- Shinsaibashi-suji shopping avenue exploration
- Kuromon Ichiba Market visit (Osaka's kitchen)
- Museum of History visit
- Osaka Castle (rebuilt) visit
Landmarks Shinsaibashi-suji Kuromon Ichiba Market Museum of History Osaka Castle - Day 20
Departure
You'll bid farewell to Japan and head home, taking with you memories from your journey through the country.
