Itinerary
- Day 1
Tokyo
You'll arrive at Narita or Haneda Airport and catch a shuttle bus to your hotel in the city center. After checking in, meet your Travel Director and other guests for a welcome drink and some local appetizers to kick things off.
- Day 2
Tokyo
Start in Asakusa with a visit to Sensoji Buddhist Temple, one of Tokyo's oldest temples with lots of color and character. Walk down Nakamise Street where you'll see traditional wooden dolls, origami, and Japanese sweets. Later, head up Tokyo Skytree, the world's tallest free-standing broadcasting tower, to see views across the entire city skyline.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Sensoji Buddhist Temple
- Stroll Nakamise Street in Shitamachi (downtown Tokyo)
- Ascend Tokyo Skytree for panoramic views
Landmarks/POIs Sensoji Buddhist Temple Nakamise Street Tokyo Skytree - Day 3
Tokyo
Begin at Imperial Palace Plaza and check out the two bridges that lead to the inner grounds. From there, walk through the leafy Imperial Palace East Gardens, then spend time browsing Japanese art at the Tokyo National Museum. In the afternoon, learn sushi-making from a professional chef in Ginza, then drive out to the Five Lakes District for views of Mt. Fuji.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Sushi prepared during sushi-making lesson with professional chef)
Included Activities
- View Imperial Palace Plaza and bridges
- Explore Imperial Palace East Gardens
- Visit Tokyo National Museum to browse collections of Japanese art
- Learn the art of sushi-making with a professional sushi chef and enjoy lunch
- Visit the Five Lakes District and view Mt. Fuji
Landmarks/POIs Imperial Palace Plaza Imperial Palace East Gardens Tokyo National Museum Ginza Mt. Fuji Five Lakes District - Day 4
Mt. Fuji to Takayama
Head to Oshino Hakkai, a small rural village with eight natural spring water ponds fed by Mt. Fuji's melted snow. Drive up Mt. Fuji to the 5th Station at 2,300 meters, then take the Kachikachiyama Ropeway up Mt. Tenjo for views of Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchiko. Travel through the Japanese Alps to Takayama for dinner at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Oshino Hakkai and view eight natural spring water ponds
- Ascend Mt. Fuji to the 5th Station (2,300 metres by road)
- Ride Mt. Tenjo on Kachikachiyama Ropeway for views of Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchiko
Landmarks/POIs Oshino Hakkai Mt. Fuji 5th Station Mt. Tenjo Lake Kawaguchiko Japanese Alps - Day 5
Takayama to Kanazawa
Walk through Takayama's Edo-style Old Town streets and taste Japanese sake. Have lunch featuring Hida-gyu, a high-quality local beef. Visit the Gokayama mountain village with its unique Gassho-zukuri wooden houses built without nails and steeply sloped roofs. Meet a local family and watch artisans make washi paper, then try making your own before heading to Kanazawa for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Japanese Hida-gyu (beef from black-haired Japanese cattle breed))
Included Activities
- Walk through Edo-style streets of Takayama Old Town
- Sample Japanese sake during Takayama Old Town tour
- Visit Gokayama mountain village
- Admire Gassho-zukuri wooden houses
- Meet with a local family
- Observe local artisans making washi paper and make your own
Landmarks/POIs Takayama Old Town Gokayama - Day 6
Kanazawa
Learn gold leaf painting techniques from a local specialist, a craft perfected over centuries. Stroll through Kenroku-en's gardens with their ornate landscapes, ponds, and temples. Take a short walk through Omicho market to see fresh fish and get a feel for daily coastal life. Visit the Nagamachi District with its well-preserved samurai houses and tour the Nomura house to learn about samurai culture.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Learn the secrets of painting gold leaf with a Local Specialist
- Stroll through Kenroku-en gardens
- Walk through Omicho market
- Visit Nagamachi District
- Visit Nomura house samurai mansion
Landmarks/POIs Kenroku-en Omicho Market Nagamachi District Nomura House - Day 7
Kanazawa to Kyoto
Take an express train to Kyoto and connect with locals at a traditional restaurant through a Be My Guest experience to learn about Japanese customs. Visit Kinkakuji Temple, home to the famous Golden Pavilion, a Zen temple with roots as a 14th-century villa and the symbol of Kyoto.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Kaiseki lunch at traditional Japanese restaurant with Nakamura Family)
Included Activities
- Meet Nakamura Family for kaiseki lunch at traditional Japanese restaurant near Kyoto
- Learn about local customs from hosts
- Visit Kinkakuji Temple and see the Golden Pavilion
Landmarks/POIs Kinkakuji Temple - Day 8
Kyoto
Walk through the orange torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine, following them into the forest and up into the mountains to this sacred site where people have prayed since the 8th century. Visit Sanjusangen-do Hall to see its 1,001 detailed statues of the 'thousand-handed' goddesses of mercy. Take a walking tour through Gion district with its traditional wooden machiya houses and geisha culture, then have dinner with your Travel Director and group.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine and walk through its torii gates
- Visit Sanjusangen-do Hall and admire 1,001 statues of goddesses of mercy
- Walking tour through Gion district
Landmarks/POIs Fushimi Inari Shrine Sanjusangen-do Hall Gion District - Day 9
Kyoto to Awaji Island to Kotohira
Cross the world's largest suspension bridge over the Seto Inland Sea to Awaji Island. After lunch, walk around Yumebutai and its '100 Stepped Garden' with flowerbeds arranged in grids. Visit the Water Temple and descend steps to the Buddhist temple below, where you can see reflections of mountains and rice paddies in still waters. Travel to Kotohira for the night at a traditional ryokan, then climb steps to Kotohira-gu Shrine for countryside views or soak in the onsen hot spring bath.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cross the Akashi Kaiko Bridge to Awaji Island
- Walk around Yumebutai
- Visit the Water Temple
- Visit Kotohira-gu Shrine
Optional Activities
- Soak in onsen (hot spring) bath at the ryokan
Landmarks/POIs Akashi Kaiko Bridge Awaji Island Yumebutai Water Temple Kotohira-gu Shrine - Day 10
Kotohira to Hiroshima
Visit Zentsuji Temple, birthplace of the high priest Kobo Daishi and the 75th temple on the 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage covering roughly 1,200 kilometers. Stop on Omishima Island for lunch at a local restaurant. Drive to Hiroshima along the scenic Setouchi Shimanami Kaido Expressway, a 60-kilometer highway with nine bridges connecting the Seto Inland Sea islands.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Zentsuji Temple
Landmarks/POIs Zentsuji Temple Omishima Island Setouchi Shimanami Kaido Expressway - Day 11
Hiroshima to Miyajima Island
Take a ferry to sacred Miyajima Island to see Itsukushima Shrine and its iconic torii gate standing in the sea. Spend free time exploring the island's spiritual sites and having lunch. Return to Hiroshima for Peace Memorial Park and Museum, where you'll see the only structure left standing after the 1945 atomic explosion. That evening, try Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, a savory pancake with egg, cabbage, noodles, and your choice of meat or seafood, grilled in layers.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki (savoury pancake made with egg, cabbage, soba noodles, and meat, seafood or cheese, grilled on a hot plate))
Included Activities
- Travel by ferry to Miyajima Island
- Visit Itsukushima Shrine and view the torii gate
- Visit Peace Memorial Park and Museum
- Indulge in Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki dinner
Landmarks/POIs Miyajima Island Itsukushima Shrine Peace Memorial Park Peace Memorial Museum - Day 12
Hiroshima to Osaka
Board the high-speed bullet train to Osaka this morning and have free time for lunch and shopping in the Dotonbori Street area. Visit Osaka Castle, a historic landmark central to Japan's unification during the 16th century. Join your Travel Director and group this evening for a celebration dinner reflecting on your journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Travel by high-speed bullet train to Osaka
- Visit Osaka Castle
Landmarks/POIs Dotonbori Street Osaka Castle - Day 13
Osaka
Your time experiencing Japan's traditions and modern cities comes to an end. Take an airport shuttle to Kansai International Airport or Osaka Itami Airport for your onward flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
