Itinerary
- Day 1
Germany to Tokyo
You'll depart Germany on a scheduled flight heading to Tokyo. The flight crosses several time zones, so you'll arrive the following day due to the long journey across Asia.
- Day 2
Tokyo
Your guide meets you at Tokyo airport and transfers you to your hotel. Once you've checked in and settled, you'll have dinner with your travel group to get acquainted before exploring the city.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner with travel group)
Included Activities
- Airport transfer and arrival at hotel
- Welcome dinner with travel group
- Day 3
Izu Peninsula
Early in the morning, you'll head south to the Izu Peninsula to catch the Kawazu River's cherry blossoms at their peak in early February. Walk along the blossom avenue, stop at street stalls for snacks and souvenirs, and then return to Tokyo by afternoon.
Included Activities
- Day trip to Izu Peninsula
- Cherry blossom viewing at Kawazu River
- Visit street stalls along cherry blossom avenue
Landmarks Kawazu River Izu Peninsula - Day 4
Matsumoto - Yudanaka
Your main luggage gets sent ahead to Kanazawa while you travel light to Matsumoto. You'll see Crow Castle, one of Japan's finest preserved castles with its distinctive black exterior. From there, you'll take the train to Nagano and then a short drive to Yudanaka, staying at a traditional ryokan with dinner and hot spring bath included.
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional ryokan dinner)
Included Activities
- Visit Matsumoto Castle (Crow Castle)
- Dinner at ryokan
- Onsen (hot spring bath)
Landmarks Matsumoto Castle 
- Day 5
Kanazawa
Early morning you'll head out to watch the red-faced snow monkeys bathing in the hot thermal spring, a sight you'll only see during winter months. After observing these northerly macaques socialize and groom, you'll take the train to Kanazawa in the afternoon.
Included Activities
- Snow monkey viewing
Landmarks Yudanaka Snow Monkey Park - Day 6
Gokayama - Shirakawago
You'll travel to the UNESCO World Heritage villages of Gokayama and Shirakawago, where traditional rice straw-roofed houses stand untouched in a snowy landscape. Walk through these villages, step inside some homes, and explore the magical setting before returning to Kanazawa for the evening.
Included Activities
- Visit Gokayama village
- Visit Shirakawago village
- Walk through villages and landscape
Landmarks Gokayama Shirakawago 
- Day 7
Kyoto
Spend the morning in Kanazawa's geisha quarter exploring traditional wooden houses and visiting a beautiful teahouse for matcha tea. Later you'll see Kenrokuen, one of Japan's three most beautiful landscape gardens built during feudal times. After lunch, you'll travel to Kyoto by afternoon.
Included Activities
- Geisha quarter exploration
- Teahouse visit with matcha tea
- Kenrokuen garden visit
Landmarks Kanazawa Geisha Quarter Kenrokuen Garden 
- Day 8
Kyoto
You have a full day visiting four UNESCO World Heritage Sites around Kyoto. Start with the Golden Pavilion, then move through Ryoanji Temple with its famous rock garden, Nijo Castle where shoguns once lived, and finish with Sanjusangendo Temple, Japan's longest wooden structure.
Included Activities
- Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) visit
- Ryoanji Temple and rock garden visit
- Nijo Castle visit
- Sanjusangendo Temple visit
Landmarks Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) Ryoanji Temple Nijo Castle Sanjusangendo Temple - Day 9
Kyoto
On the outskirts of Kyoto, you'll walk through the thousands of orange torii gates at Fushimi-Inari Shrine as the path winds up the hillside. The afternoon is free for you to explore on your own. By evening, you'll join your guide at a typical izakaya pub for dinner and drinks.
Included Activities
- Fushimi-Inari Shrine visit
Optional Activities
- Evening visit to izakaya (typical Japanese pub) with tour guide
Landmarks Fushimi-Inari Shrine 
- Day 10
Okayama
You'll travel to Okayama, stopping at Himeji Castle along the way to see this UNESCO World Heritage Site. After checking in at your hotel, you'll experience the unusual nude festival at Saidai-ji temple, where thousands of men in loincloths compete in freezing conditions for sacred sticks.
Included Activities
- Himeji Castle visit
- Nude festival at Saidai-ji temple
Landmarks Himeji Castle Saidai-ji Temple 
- Day 11
Naoshima
Day trip to Naoshima island focuses on contemporary art and architecture. You'll visit the Chichu Art Museum and explore Art House Project installations. The whole day you can walk among artworks or bike around the island if the weather cooperates.
Included Activities
- Chichu Art Museum visit
- Art House Project visit
- Exploration of installations and sculptures
Optional Activities
- Bike exploration of artworks (if weather permits)
Landmarks Chichu Art Museum Art House Project Naoshima Island - Day 12
Kurashiki - Ikuchijima
You'll explore Kurashiki, a historic trading town where 17th-century warehouses remain well-preserved. Take a boat trip along one of the town's canals. Afterward, continue to Ikuchijima island and settle in for the evening.
Included Activities
- Kurashiki old trading town exploration
- Boat trip on town canals
Landmarks Kurashiki Ikuchijima Island - Day 13
Omishima - Ikuchijima
Starting from Setoda, you'll cycle along the Shiimanami Kaido route on an e-bike, covering about 30 km over roughly 4.5 hours. The route crosses the Tatara Bridge to Omishima with nice views of the Seto Inland Sea. You'll stop for lunch trying local specialties like udon, visit Oyamazumi Shrine, then return to Ikuchijima for the afternoon.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional restaurant lunch with local specialties such as udon or ramen)
Included Activities
- E-bike cycling on Shiimanami Kaido route
- Tatara Bridge crossing
- Lunch at traditional restaurant
- Oyamazumi Shrine visit
Optional Activities
- Hirayama Ikuo Museum visit
- Mirai no Oka art installation visit
Landmarks Tatara Bridge Omishima Island Oyamazumi Shrine Hirayama Ikuo Museum Mirai no Oka - Day 14
Onomichi - Hiroshima
A morning ferry takes you to Onomichi, a charming harbor town with nostalgic character. You'll wander through narrow streets past traditional houses, small cafes, and galleries. Visit temples perched on nearby hills including Senkoji Temple, then ride the cable car up 144 meters for views over the city and sea. Later you'll train to Hiroshima.
Included Activities
- Ferry to Onomichi
- Onomichi harbor town exploration
- Senkoji Temple visit
- Cable car to viewpoint
Landmarks Onomichi Senkoji Temple 
- Day 15
Miyajima
You'll take a trip to Miyajima, one of Japan's holiest and most significant places. See the iconic orange torii gate at Itsukushima Shrine standing in the water. That afternoon, visit Hiroshima's Peace Park to remember those affected by the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945. Your final dinner together happens this evening.
- Meals
- Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Miyajima island visit
- Itsukushima Shrine visit
- Peace Park visit
- Farewell dinner
Optional Activities
- Peace Museum visit (entrance optional)
Landmarks Miyajima Island Itsukushima Shrine Hiroshima Peace Park - Day 16
Hiroshima to Germany
After breakfast, you'll be transferred to the airport for your return flight to Germany, bringing your journey through Japan to a close.
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
