Japan Highlights

On your first full day in Japan, you’ll embark on an immersive tour through this inimitable city.

You’ll meet your guide at your hotel after breakfast before hopping on Tokyo’s efficient public transport to the Meiji Shrine. Dedicated to the deified spirits of the former Emperor and his wife, the Meiji Shrine is one of Japan’s most famous Shinto shrines. Enter through the 12-metre-high torii gate into the tranquil grounds, where you will wash your hands in accordance with Shinto ritual before exploring this sacred space, observing Shinto rituals that connect you with the traditions of this unique culture.

You’ll then delve headfirst into the vivacious centre of Tokyo’s youth culture, exploring some of the city’s latest trends and fashions in Shibuya, one of Tokyo’s most famous shopping districts and home to the iconic Shibuya Crossing, the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing.

Next, you’ll visit Kokyo Gaien, the peaceful plaza gardens that stretch outside the Imperial Palace, home of the imperial Japanese family. From the gardens, you can admire this classic Japanese castle, which lies encircled by a moat and understated greenery.

After skirting the Imperial Palace, you’ll visit Tokyo’s vibrant Asakusa District, a renowned hub of entertainment during the Edo Period. Nowadays, Asakusa is home to charming shops and restaurants plus the oldest temple across Tokyo, Senso-ji. Enter this 7th-century Buddhist temple by passing beneath the Thunder Gate, indicated by an enormous red lantern. After the temple, you’ll stroll along Nakamise Street, a centuries-old souvenir street where you can do some shopping to pick up a unique souvenir or sample some of the local street food.

Your tantalising tour of Tokyo will conclude with awe-striking panoramic views across the sprawling city from the Tokyo Skytree. With a height of 634m, it is the tallest freestanding broadcasting tower in the world, rewarding visitors with extraordinary vistas across Tokyo’s glittering cityscape. Take in the vastness of the Japanese capital before heading back to your hotel via public transport.


Superior Accommodation: Park Hotel Tokyo (or alternative hotel of equal standard).

Deluxe Accommodation: Palace Hotel Tokyo (or alternative hotel of equal standard).

You’ll be able to enjoy another day at leisure in Tokyo, giving you ample opportunity to explore one of the world’s most inimitable cities where modernity and tradition stand side by side.


Superior Accommodation: Park Hotel Tokyo (or alternative hotel of equal standard).

Deluxe Accommodation: Palace Hotel Tokyo (or alternative hotel of equal standard).

After breakfast, you’ll meet your driver at your hotel after check-out and transfer to the Odawara station by private vehicle. From here, you’ll board Japan’s ultra-fast Shinkansen bullet train and travel to the final destination of your itinerary: Kyoto. When you disembark in Kyoto, you’ll make your own way to your hotel via public transportation.

Once the capital of Japan, Kyoto is a city of evocative beauty and charm where ornate Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines meet leafy gardens, traditional kaiseki restaurants and grand imperial palaces.


Superior Accommodation: The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa (or alternative hotel of equal standard).

Deluxe Accommodation: Garrya Nijo Castle Kyoto (or alternative hotel of equal standard).

The day is yours to soak up the sights around Kyoto, immersing yourself in the cultural charm and historic grandeur of this fabled Japanese city.

Must-see sights include the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, where you’ll pass through hundreds of red Torri gates that line a path which ascends to Mount Inari. You can also explore the otherworldly green ‘tunnels’ of the Arashiyama Bamboo Groove or choose a more relaxing approach to your day and unwind in a traditional onsen hot spring.


Superior Accommodation: The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa (or alternative hotel of equal standard).

Deluxe Accommodation: Garrya Nijo Castle Kyoto (or alternative hotel of equal standard).

Relish your final morning in Kyoto before meeting your driver and transferring to Osaka’s international airport in a private vehicle to begin your onward journey.