Arrive in Tokyo
On your arrival in Tokyo, you’ll be met at the airport for a shared transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day will be at leisure. Overnight at Park Hotel Tokyo.
Things to do:
Hotel Niwa: the secret Tokyo garden retreat
How to spend a day in Tokyo - shrines, shoguns and the Shibuya Scramble
Gajóen Tokyo: the hotel that thinks it’s a gallery
Tokyo
Discover Tokyo’s residential districts on a guided walking tour with someone who lives there. First up is Asakusa, where you’ll soak up the atmosphere of Tokyo’s old town. Then visit the city’s oldest temple at Sensoji and wander down the ancient shopping street of Nakamise. Next, board Tokyo's Water Bus for a ride down Sumidagawa River to Hamarikyu, an Edo Period Japanese garden surrounded by the Shiodome district’s futuristic skyscrapers. Here you’ll stop for a cup of steaming matcha and Japanese sweets in a tea house on a small island in the park’s lake. After lunch visit Meiji Shrine, dedicated to the deified spirit of Emperor Meiji and a popular place for traditional Japanese weddings. Finally, as the sunlight dims, take a walk down the sparkly Omotesando shopping street, a broad tree lined avenue home to flagship fashion stores and fantastic modern architecture. Overnight at Park Hotel Tokyo.
Things to do:
The lost art of sugar sculpting
Going backstage at Tokyo’s fish market
Hotel Niwa: the secret Tokyo garden retreat
Gajóen Tokyo: the hotel that thinks it’s a gallery
Tokyo
Explore Tokyo on your own today or take an optional tour that focuses on one or two aspects of Japanese culture. If you’ve heard of bonsai and would like to know more about this traditional botanical art, you could pay a visit to the Bonsai Museum in Omiya to admire its extensive collection of diminutive trees, before having an in-depth lesson at the nearby Seikoen Bonsai School. Another possibility is to head to the Fukagawa district in eastern Tokyo for a guided walk in the Kiyosumi Teien gardens, which date back to 1721, and then on to Fukagawa Fudo-do temple to witness its spectacular goma-kito ‘fire’ ceremony. Overnight at Park Hotel Tokyo.
Things to do:
The lost art of sugar sculpting
Going backstage at Tokyo’s fish market
Hotel Niwa: the secret Tokyo garden retreat
Gajóen Tokyo: the hotel that thinks it’s a gallery
Tokyo & Fujinomiya
After an early breakfast you’ll travel by bullet train to Shin-Fuji station, a journey of around 1-hour. Here you’ll meet a local guide and transfer to Fujinomiya City, located dramatically at the foot of Mount Fuji. You’ll enjoy a leisurely cycle ride from Tanuki Lake, famed for its reflected views of Mount Fuji, through traditional Japanese farming landscape to Satoyama village. After lunch at a local fresh trout restaurant, continue to the 20-metre high Shiraito Falls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Japan. Between June-October an optional full-day hike can be arranged along the Fujinomiya Trail. Starting from Mount Fuji 5th station you’ll explore Hoei crater, the largest on Mount Fuji. Tonight you’ll stay in a simple ryokan with spectacular views of Fuji. Overnight at Tachibana Ryokan.
Fujinomiya & Kyoto
After a taxi transfer back to Shin-Fuji station you’ll board the train to Shizuoka, where you will change to the bullet train for Kyoto, a total journey of around two hours. In the afternoon, you’ll be met by your guide for a special cultural experience: learning about the traditional tea ceremony in the home of an expert. You will discover all about the different types of tea and the instruments used to prepare it, gain an understanding of how each precise step has a meaning, and gain an appreciation of the importance of the ceremony in Japanese life. Overnight at Kyoto Tokyu Hotel.
Things to do:
The not-so-simple cup of tea
Gion Yoshi-Ima: a Kyoto hideaway with a sense of history
Noku Kyoto: contemporary living at the heart of Japan's ancient capital
Kyoto
A full-day of temple touring! The former imperial capital has such a wealth of impressive sites that it helps to have a local guide to steer you toward the highlights. One of those is Kinkaku-ji temple, whose top two floors are covered in gold leaf – it’s quite a sight, even on a cloudy day. Another must-see is 400-year-old Nijo-jo, one of the best-preserved castles from this era, which is surrounded by beautiful Japanese-style gardens. You will round off the day with a choice of other temples. It’s a busy day, so if you want to treat yourself it’s worth doing the trip by private car rather than public transport. Overnight at Kyoto Tokyu Hotel.
Things to do:
Getting an insider view of old Kyoto
Learning the secrets of growing tea
The pretty-as-a-picture fishing village
Gion Yoshi-Ima: a Kyoto hideaway with a sense of history
Noku Kyoto: contemporary living at the heart of Japan's ancient capital
Kyoto & Nara
Your guide will meet you at your hotel for the 45-minute train journey to Nara, Japan’s first permanent capital in the eighth century. First, you’ll visit the beautiful Isuien Garden, then wander through Nara Park to see the semi-tame Sika deer that live there. Within Nara Park is Todaiji temple, the world’s largest wooden building and home to Japan’s largest Buddha. Next stop is Nara’s most celebrated shrine, Kasuga Taisha, famous for its hundreds of bronze and stone lanterns. You’ll end the day with a stroll around Naramachi, a charming historic merchant district showcasing well-preserved ‘Machiya’ Japanese town houses. Overnight at Kyoto Tokyu Hotel.
Things to do:
Wild deer, colourful temples and the world's biggest bronze Buddha: Nara Park, Kyoto
Gion Yoshi-Ima: a Kyoto hideaway with a sense of history
Noku Kyoto: contemporary living at the heart of Japan's ancient capital
Okayama
This morning you’ll take the one-hour bullet train trip to Okayama, home of one of Japan’s loveliest gardens. After leaving your luggage at your hotel, you’ll make the short journey to Kurashiki, where you have the rest of the day to explore the enchanting Bikan historical quarter. Kurashiki was once an important hub of the rice trade, the legacy of which is a network of canals lined with storehouses and weeping willows and crisscrossed by stone bridges. Many of the old buildings have been converted into galleries, small shops and cafés, making it a delightful place to wander. Overnight at Granvia Okayama.
Things to do:
The tale of two cities: Okayama & Hiroshima
Okayama & Hiroshima
After breakfast you’ll travel by bullet train to Hiroshima, a journey of around an hour. You’ll have the rest of the day to relax in this pleasant coastal city, ready to learn more about its tragic history as the first city to be hit by an atomic bomb – which completely obliterated almost everything and everyone within a mile of the impact – on a guided tour tomorrow. Overnight at Hotel Granvia Hiroshima.
Hiroshima & Miyajima
Today you will take a day tour of Hiroshima with a local guide, starting at the Peace Memorial Park, located in what was one of Hiroshima’s busiest central districts before 6 August 1945. The park is dedicated to those who lost their lives to the atomic bomb, and contains memorials – including the iconic Atomic Bomb Dome – statues and an affecting museum. From Hiroshima, it’s a short ferry ride to Miyajima, otherwise known as the ‘Island of the Gods’. It’s been a holy place for centuries and is home to an array of beautiful temples and shrines; the atmosphere is particularly soothing in the evening, so it’s well worth considering the option of spending the night here in one of the island’s ryokans. Overnight at Hotel Granvia Hiroshima.
Things to do:
The tale of two cities: Okayama & Hiroshima
Kurayado Iroha: the inn with a World Heritage view
Hiroshima & Osaka
Today you’ll travel by bullet train to Osaka, a journey of around 1.5-hours. On arrival, much of the day is free to relax and explore this modern and vibrant city, renowned for its culinary scene. In the late afternoon you’ll be joined by a local guide for an evening food tour, exploring the pedestrian streets of Shinsekai or Dotonbori. Colorful eateries and bars line the streets, with hole-in-the-wall takoyaki stands and ramen bars rubbing shoulders with upscale eateries serving the finest wagyu beef. You’ll sample a variety of local dishes, including the famous takoyaki ‘octopus balls’, okonomiyaki pancakes and kushikatsu (skewered meats and vegetables). Overnight at Hilton Hotel Osaka.
Things to do:
Waqoo Shitaderamachi: the Osaka temple-style lodging with cosy beds
Breakfast in the kitchen of Osaka
Inside sacred Koyasan through the eyes of a monk
Osaka & Tokyo
Today you’ll travel by bullet train to Tokyo, a journey of around 2.5-hours. After checking in to your hotel, enjoy a day of leisure continuing to explore this mesmerising city. Overnight at Park Hotel Tokyo.
Things to do:
Breakfast in the kitchen of Osaka
The lost art of sugar sculpting
Going backstage at Tokyo’s fish market
Hotel Niwa: the secret Tokyo garden retreat
Gajóen Tokyo: the hotel that thinks it’s a gallery
Tokyo & Departure
Your day is free until your scheduled shared transfer to Narita Airport in time for your return flight.
