Hike the historic Old Tokaido Road, once trodden by Emperors and Shoguns alike.
Be captivated by Mount Fuji's soaring, snow-capped peak while in Hakone.
Stroll the charming streets of Takayama, home to traditional merchants' houses.
Trace Japan's noble samurai heritage while in Kanazawa.
Be immersed in Kyoto's rich cultural tapestry and historic splendour.
This 11-night touring holiday is ideal for first-time travellers to Japan, packing in the country's must-see cultural sights.
From Tokyo to Kyoto, Hakone to Kanazawa, this tour is all about authentic cultural experiences. An essential trip for first-time travellers to Japan, this deeply immersive 11-night tour packs in the cultural highlights of one of the world's most distinct destinations, taking you on a journey through Japan's fascinating history and rich cultural tapestry.
Itinerary idea in detail
Day 1: Arrival
Tokyo
Your journey begins in Tokyo, where you’ll be picked up at the airport and taken to your hotel in a shared transfer. Following check-in, the day is entirely yours – either spend time getting over any jetlag in your room or head out and explore the city. For shopping, cocktail and sushi bars, head to Ginza, Japan’s world-renowned shopping and entertainment district.
INCLUDES : Room Only
Day 2: Tokyo
Private Full-Day Tour of Tokyo
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.
Accommodation: Park Hotel Tokyo (or alternative hotel of equal standard).
INCLUDES : Breakfast
Day 3: Tokyo
At Leisure
The day is yours to spend at leisure, choosing your own adventure in Tokyo.
The city is home to innumerable attractions worth exploring, from the sky-high Tokyo Tower to the bustling Tsukiji Outer Market to countless fascinating museums.
Accommodation: Park Hotel Tokyo (or alternative hotel of equal standard).
INCLUDES : Breakfast
Day 4: Tokyo
At Leisure
Spend another day soaking up the sights and sounds of one of the planet’s most distinct metropolitan cities - one whose magic and atmosphere lingers long after you’ve left.
Accommodation: Park Hotel Tokyo (or alternative hotel of equal standard).
INCLUDES : Breakfast
Day 5: Hakone
Journey to Hakone & Exploring Hakone
After breakfast, your driver-guide will meet you at the hotel to collect you for your journey to Hakone by private car, a scenic town located in the mountains that is home to traditional onsen (hot springs), the picturesque waters of Lake Ashi and stunning views of Mount Fuji’s snowy peak when the weather permits.
En route to your next accommodation, you’ll explore the beauty of Hakone National Park with a tailor-made itinerary led by your guide. Hakone used to sit along one of the main highways, the Old Tokaido Road, which was one of the ancient Five Routes operating during Japan’s Edo period since the 7th century between today’s Kyoto and Tokyo. It is possible to follow sections of the ancient cobblestoned pathways that cut through the serene forest.
Included in your tour of Hakone is entrance to the Hakone Open Air Museum, one of Hakone’s must-see attractions, featuring over 1,000 pieces including artworks by Pablo Picasso, Taro Okamoto, Yasuo Mizui plus approximately 120 works of sculpture.
After the tour, your driver-guide will drop you off at your hotel in Hakone at around 16:30, where you can spend the rest of the day relaxing.
Accommodation: Ichinoyu Honkan (or alternative hotel of equal standard).
INCLUDES : Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6: Takayama
Journey to Takayama
Check out of your hotel after breakfast and meet your driver, who will escort you to the train station in Odawara. Here you will board Japan’s innovative, high-speed Shinkansen bullet train and travel to Takayama, a charming city in Japan’s mountain-dominated Gifu Prefecture that is known for its historic district’s narrow streets lined with Edo Period merchants’ houses.
Disembarking in Takayama, you’ll make your own way to your hotel via public transport.
Accommodation: Hidatei Hanaougi (or alternative hotel of equal standard).
INCLUDES : Breakfast
Day 7: Takayama
Takayama City Tour
Enjoy a full-day tour of Takayama in the company of a knowledgeable private guide.
You’ll start by following the Higashiyama Walking Course, a leisurely route passing through Takayama’s cluster of temples and Shiroyama Park, a wooded hill and former site of Takayama Castle. Along the 3.5-kilometre-long route, you’ll pass over a dozen temples and shrines, the remnants of the castle and authentic scenes of life in a rural Japanese town.
You’ll then hop on a bus for the 15-minute ride to the Matsuri no Mori Festival Museum, which provides fascinating insights on the Takayama Festival, held in spring and autumn and renowned for being one of the most beautiful festivals across Japan. The main exhibition space contains life-size, intricately designed replica floats plus the largest taiko drums in the world.
Accommodation: Hidatei Hanaougi (or alternative hotel of equal standard).
INCLUDES : Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8: Kanazawa
Journey to Kanazawa
Check out of your hotel in the morning and make your own way to Kanazawa via the lightning-fast Shinkansen bullet train.
When you arrive in Kanazawa, you’ll continue making your own way to your next hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
The capital of Japan’s Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa is renowned for its beautifully preserved Edo-era districts, the 17th-century Kenroku-en Garden and the impressive Kanazawa Castle, erected in the late 16th century.
Accommodation: ANA Crowne Plaza Kanazawa (or alternative hotel of equal standard).
INCLUDES : Breakfast
Day 9: Kyoto
Kanazawa Half-Day Samurai Tour & Journey to Kyoto
Delve into Kanazawa’s longstanding connection with Japan’s iconic noble warriors, the samurai. The samurai flourished here under the ruling Maeda Clan during the Edo Period (1603-1868).
You’ll meet your guide at your hotel and transfer via the loop bus to Kanazawa Castle Park. Here you’ll enter the park’s grounds to marvel at the remains of Kanazawa Castle, an architectural relic dating to the age of the samurai. Walk along the castle’s ancient wall and learn about its significance as the seat of the powerful Maeda Clan, who ruled over most of the Hokuriku region from the end of the Sengoku period through the Meiji Restoration of 1868.
After strolling through the park, you’ll continue to the Kanazawa Noh Museum, which houses interesting exhibitions and stunning costumes. Noh was a popular form of theatre and part of Japan’s intangible cultural heritage, an art form performed for hundreds of years. Experience the rich costumes, hypnotic music and elaborate masks as you learn more about this intriguing theatrical form that was enjoyed by the ruling samurai clan.
You’ll then continue your exploration in the Nagamachi Samurai District, a meticulously preserved former residential area occupied by the illustrious samurai that is defined by winding lanes, tile-topped roofs and several former homes of notable samurai warriors. You’ll stop off at the Nomura Samurai House, a historic home and garden that perfectly maintains its original splendour; the samurai who lived here with his family was a person of note, and you can browse this charming of house of one of Kanazawa’s ruling class.
After the tour, you will make your own way to your hotel in Kyoto via the Shinkansen bullet train and other public transport. 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.
Accommodation: The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa (or alternative hotel of equal standard).
INCLUDES : Breakfast
Day 10: Kyoto
Kyoto Highlights Full-Day Tour
Explore the former imperial capital of Japan with a knowledgeable local guide, utilising Kyoto’s excellent bus system to visit some of the city’s famous World Heritage Sites.
You’ll begin at Kinkaku-ji Temple (widely referred to as the Golden Pavilion), whose top two floors are coated in glistening gold leaf. The temple was originally built as a retirement villa for the Shogun but, at his own request, became a Buddhist temple following his death. Next, you’ll make your way to Nijo Castle, an ornamental fortress built by the founder of the Edo Shogunate which lies encased by serene gardens. The castle is famous for its period architecture, decorated sliding doors and ‘chirping’ nightingale floors.
Then head to Heian Shrine, constructed on the occasion of the 1,100th anniversary of the capital’s foundation in Kyoto and dedicated to the spirits of the first and last emperors who reigned from the city: Emperor Kammu and Emperor Komei.
Finally, you’ll visit the breathtaking Kiyomizu Temple, where you can admire both its 13-metre-high veranda as well as stunning panoramic views across Kyoto. Learn about the fascinating history of this iconic Japanese building, including how both the main hall and veranda were built entirely without the use of nails or any other form of joiner.
Accommodation: The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa (or alternative hotel of equal standard).
INCLUDES : Breakfast
Day 11: Kyoto
At Leisure
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.
Accommodation: The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa (or alternative hotel of equal standard).
INCLUDES : Breakfast
Day 12: Departure
Departure
Enjoy your final morning in Kyoto before departing for the airport in Osaka in a comfortable private vehicle to begin your onward journey.
INCLUDES : Breakfast
Important Info
Important info
Accommodation is subject to availability
No single supplement is available – please speak to our travel experts about solo tailor-made itineraries
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