Day 1: Tokyo
Arrive in Japan's capital and you will be greeted by our professional local representative, who will welcome you and assist you with your transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is free for you to relax and explore the city on your own.
Overnight at a hotel.
Day 2: Tokyo
After your breakfast, begin your exploration of this fascinating city with a visit to the Nezu shrine and then walk through the traditional neighbourhood of Yanaka, where narrow alleyways and winding streets offer a glimpse of how life was during the Edo Period (1603-1868). Continue through Ueno Park and Ameyoko-cho, a street market that began as a black market during post-war Tokyo. Take the subway to the former merchant district of Fukagawa and visit a small museum. Stroll around the Kiyosumi Teien – pretty gardens with stepping stones over serene ponds, before passing sumo stables and looking out for some of the professional wrestlers that train here. Transfer to Asakusa – the home of the Edokko (original residents of Edo/Tokyo) and Sensoji – Tokyo's oldest temple. Enjoy dinner at a lively izakaya restaurant where you can sample lots of small dishes. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 3: Tokyo
Rise early for a sushi breakfast and a trip to Tsukiji fish market, before visiting the elegant Ginza shopping and entertainment district. Explore Akihabara – a gadget lover's dream, famous for its abundance of electronic goods. Watch local teens display the latest styles in the fashion district of Harajuku and walk across the famous Shibuya Crossing where traffic comes to a halt to allow hoards of pedestrians to cross the road. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 4: Tokyo to Kiso Valley
Rise early to transfer by train – including the Shinkansen bullet train – to the pretty Kiso Valley and the Nakasendo Way – one of Japan’s ancient highways that served to link Kyoto with Edo (present-day Tokyo). Visit the Hiroshige Print Museum in Ena, learn about the woodblock printing process and have a go at creating your own. Continue by coach to an old post town and visit a local history museum housed in a high-class inn. Continue your immersive cultural experience with a night in a traditional Japanese inn with thermal hot spring baths. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 5: Kiso Valley to Takayama
Visit the historic barrier station of Kiso-Fukushima and continue to Matsumoto for a tour of the city's 16th-Century castle – a designated National Treasure. Learn about the Samurai before admiring spectacular views of the Japanese Alps from the castle keep (weather permitting). Enjoy lunch at a traditional miso manufacturer before journeying through the Japanese Alps to the charming mountain town of Takayama. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 6: Takayama to Kanazawa
Take a tour of the historic Jinya – the shogunate's local headquarters and learn about the town's history. Stroll around the charming Sanmachi district which is home to traditional shops, cafés and museums. Stop off at a sake brewery to learn how the nation's famous drink is made and sample a glass or two. Admire the pretty mountain scenery as you continue to Kanazawa via the small village of Shirakawa-go which is renowned for its A-framed thatched farmhouses. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 7: Kanazawa
Take a morning stroll through this castle town which flourished under the Kaga Clan in the Edo Period and see remnants of its past glories, from the evocative samurai district to the former pleasure quarters and temples. Stop at Kanazawa's best Japanese inn for lunch and enjoy a feast of kaiseki ryori – a formal multi-course meal. Have your camera at the ready when you visit beautiful Kenroku-en – deemed one of the 'Three Great Gardens of Japan'. Continue to the innovative 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 8: Kanazawa to Kyoto
Travel by rail (approx. 2 hours) to the ancient imperial city of Kyoto. Stop for lunch at Omen, a famous noodle restaurant before visiting the 15th-Century Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) which is set in tranquil gardens. A walk up to the top of the hill is rewarded with lovely views over the moss-covered wooded grounds to the city beyond. Walk along the scenic Philosopher's Path which follows a cherry tree-lined canal, to the Heian-jingu Shrine. Learn about Kyoto's Shinto roots here before visiting a museum to discover the city's rich history of crafts. Visit the renowned geisha district of Gion, which is home to charming wooden merchant houses and traditional tea houses. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 9: Kyoto
A full day of sightseeing includes visits to Nijo Castle, the UNESCO-listed Kiyomizu temple, the lakeside Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) and the Ryoan-ji temple which is famous for its meditation garden. Ride the light rail to Arashiyama, walk through the low hills and visit the tiny picturesque Gio-ji Temple which is set in a beautiful moss garden. Return to the city by train. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 10: Kyoto
Today is one of the longest days of the tour and also one of the highlights. Take the bullet train (approx. 2 hours) to Hiroshima, a vibrant city with a haunting past. Ride one of Japan's last remaining tram systems to the Peace Memorial Park and museum. Take the ferry across to the beautiful island of Miyajima, a designated historic site with stunning mountains and beautiful red shrines. In the evening, return by bullet train to Kyoto. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 11: Kyoto
Soak up the serene atmosphere at Daitoku-ji – a large walled temple complex and learn about Japanese architecture. Enjoy lunch at a restaurant specialising in delicious vegetarian temple cuisine before meeting a tea master and experiencing chado, a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Transfer by taxi to Nishiki, Kyoto's bustling central market which features over a hundred vendors selling local delicacies, from octopus skewers to tofu doughnuts. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 12: Kyoto
Enjoy some time at leisure before transferring to the airport for your return flight. Alternatively, choose to extend your Japan holiday.
