Itinerary
- Day 1
Tokyo
You'll arrive at either Narita or Haneda Airport and catch a shuttle bus to your hotel in the city center. Later that evening, meet your Travel Director and the rest of the group for a welcome drink and some local appetizers to kick things off.
- Day 2
Tokyo
Start in Tokyo's Asakusa district where you'll see Sensoji Buddhist Temple, Tokyo's oldest temple from 628. Wander down Nakamise Street to check out traditional Japanese crafts and sweets. By afternoon, head up Tokyo Skytree for views across the city skyline.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Sensoji Buddhist Temple in Asakusa
- Explore Nakamise Street and Shitamachi (downtown Tokyo)
- Ascend Tokyo Skytree for panoramic city views
Landmarks/POIs Sensoji Temple Tokyo Skytree Nakamise Street - Day 3
Mt. Fuji Area
Begin at Imperial Palace Plaza to view the entrance bridges, then walk through the leafy Imperial Palace East Gardens. After that, spend time at the Tokyo National Museum looking at Japanese art collections. Later you'll head to Ginza for a sushi-making class with a professional chef, then have lunch with what you made. In the afternoon, travel to the Five Lakes District where you can see Mt. Fuji in the distance.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Sushi specialities prepared during the sushi-making class)
Included Activities
- Explore Imperial Palace East Gardens
- Visit Tokyo National Museum to browse collections of Japanese art
- Learn sushi-making with a professional sushi chef in Ginza
- Visit Five Lakes District with views of Mt. Fuji
Landmarks/POIs Imperial Palace Plaza Tokyo National Museum Ginza Mt. Fuji - Day 4
Takayama
Drive up Mt. Fuji to the 5th station at 2,300 metres/7,545 feet for views of clear water and the surrounding landscape. Next, take the Kachikachiyama Ropeway up Mt. Tenjo for panoramic views of Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchiko, weather permitting. You'll then drive through the Japanese Alps to reach Takayama for dinner at the hotel. In the evening, check out the Takayama Festival to see floats decorated with glowing lanterns.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at the hotel)
Included Activities
- Ascend Mt. Fuji to the 5th station at 2,300 metres
- Ride Mt. Tenjo on the Kachikachiyama Ropeway
- Visit the Takayama Festival with decorated floats and glowing lanterns
Landmarks/POIs Mt. Fuji 5th Station Lake Kawaguchiko Kachikachiyama Ropeway - Day 5
Takayama
Walk through Takayama's Old Town streets in the morning and grab lunch featuring Hida-gyu beef, known for its high quality. Spend the afternoon enjoying the festive atmosphere and looking at the intricately carved yatai floats from the 17th century with their mechanical marionettes. Head back to the hotel in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Japanese Hida-gyu beef, renowned as one of the finest quality varieties of beef)
Included Activities
- Walk through Edo-style streets of Takayama's Old Town
- Enjoy lunch of Japanese Hida-gyu beef
Landmarks/POIs Takayama Old Town - Day 6
Kanazawa
Visit the mountain village of Gokayama situated in five valleys. You'll see the unique Gassho-zukuri wooden houses built without nails and with steeply sloped thatched roofs. Watch local artisans make washi paper and create your own. Then continue to Kanazawa where you'll walk through Omicho market to see local life up close. Visit Kenroku-en Gardens shaped over many decades, and meet a Local Specialist who'll explain gold leaf painting techniques.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit UNESCO-listed village of Gokayama
- Admire unique Gassho-zukuri wooden houses
- Make washi paper at a local workshop
- Walk through Omicho market in Kanazawa
- Visit Kenroku-en Gardens
- Learn about gold leaf painting from a Local Specialist
Landmarks/POIs Gokayama Kenroku-en Gardens Omicho Market - Day 7
Kyoto
Take an express train to Kyoto in the morning. Connect with locals at a traditional restaurant where you'll learn about local Japanese customs as part of the Be My Guest experience. After lunch, visit Kinkakuji Temple with its famous Golden Pavilion, a Zen temple that started as a 14th-century villa.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Kaiseki lunch at a traditional Japanese restaurant with the Nakamura Family to learn about local customs)
Included Activities
- Enjoy traditional restaurant experience with locals - Be My Guest
- Visit UNESCO-listed Kinkakuji Temple with the famous Golden Pavilion
Landmarks/POIs Kinkakuji Temple - Day 8
Kyoto
Walk through the thousands of orange torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine through forest and mountains to reach a sacred site where people have prayed since the 8th century. Visit Sanjusangen-do Hall to see the detailed work of its 1,001 statues of the thousand-handed goddesses of mercy. Later, take a walking tour through the Gion district with its traditional wooden machiya houses and geisha culture. Have dinner with your Travel Director and group in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with Travel Director and fellow travellers)
Included Activities
- Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine with orange torii gates
- Visit Sanjusangen-do Hall with 1,001 statues of goddesses of mercy
- Walking tour through Gion district with traditional machiya houses
Landmarks/POIs Fushimi Inari Shrine Sanjusangen-do Hall Gion District - Day 9
Awaji Island - Kotohira
Cross the world's largest suspension bridge over the Seto Inland Sea to reach Awaji Island. After lunch with free time, walk around the Yumebutai complex and its striking 100 Stepped Garden with flowerbeds arranged in grids across different levels. Visit the Water Temple to see reflections of mountains, rice paddies, and bamboo groves. Travel to Kotohira mountain hot springs village and check into a traditional Japanese ryokan. You can climb the steps near the hotel to visit Kotohira-gu Shrine for countryside views. In the evening, there's an option to relax in the onsen hot spring bath at the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cross the world's largest suspension bridge over the Seto Inland Sea to Awaji Island
- Walk around Yumebutai complex with the '100 Stepped Garden'
- Visit the Water Temple with mountain and rice paddy reflections
- Visit Kotohira-gu Shrine adjacent to the hotel
Optional Activities
- Relax in the onsen (hot spring) bath at the hotel
Landmarks/POIs Yumebutai Water Temple Kotohira-gu Shrine - Day 10
Hiroshima
Visit Zentsuji Temple, birthplace of the high priest Kobo Daishi, an important figure in Japanese Buddhism and the 75th temple on the 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage that covers about 1,200 kilometres. Continue to Omishima Island and have lunch at a local restaurant. Drive to Hiroshima along the scenic Setouchi Shimanami Kaido Expressway, a 60-kilometre highway with nine bridges linking the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. Check in at your hotel for a relaxing evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant on Omishima Island)
Included Activities
- Visit Zentsuji Temple, birthplace of high priest Kobo Daishi
- Travel the scenic Setouchi Shimanami Kaido Expressway
Landmarks/POIs Zentsuji Temple Omishima Island - Day 11
Miyajima Island
Take a ferry to Miyajima Island to see the Itsukushima Shrine with its iconic torii gate in the sea. You'll have free time for lunch and exploring the island's spiritual sites. Return to Hiroshima to visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum. See the Peace Memorial, the only structure standing after the 1945 atomic bombing, now a symbol of hope for world peace. For dinner, try Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, a savory pancake with egg, cabbage, soba noodles, and your choice of meat, seafood, or cheese, grilled in layers on a hot plate.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, a savoury pancake made with egg, cabbage, soba noodles, and meat, seafood or cheese, grilled in layers on a hot plate)
Included Activities
- Travel by ferry to Miyajima Island
- Visit UNESCO-listed Itsukushima Shrine with iconic torii gate
- Visit Peace Memorial Park and Museum in Hiroshima
- View the UNESCO-listed Peace Memorial
- Enjoy Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki
Landmarks/POIs Itsukushima Shrine Peace Memorial Park Peace Memorial Museum - Day 12
Osaka
Board the high-speed bullet train to Osaka in the morning. Free time is available for lunch and shopping in the Dotonbori Street area. See Osaka Castle, a historic landmark that played a major role in Japan's unification during the 16th century. Join your Travel Director and group for a celebration dinner at a local restaurant to reflect on the journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Dinner with Travel Director and fellow guests at a local restaurant celebrating journey memories)
Included Activities
- Travel by high-speed bullet train to Osaka
- Visit Osaka Castle, historic 16th-century landmark
Landmarks/POIs Osaka Castle Dotonbori Street - Day 13
Osaka
Your time experiencing Japan's traditions and modern cities comes to an end. Take a shuttle bus to Kansai International Airport or Osaka Itami Airport for your departure flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
