Tour Itinerary
Day 1
UK - Tokyo
Depart London on your scheduled, overnight flight to Tokyo, via Hong Kong.
Day 2
Tokyo
On arrival in Tokyo, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for the day at leisure.
Day 3
Tokyo
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
A full day of sightseeing will allow you to visit Sensoji, Tokyo's oldest temple. Enjoy a special sushi making experience, wander through the popular area of Ginza and see the iconic Akihabara Electric Town.
Day 4
Tokyo & Hakone
Breakfast
Today, visit Hakone National Park, home to one of Japan's most instantly recognisable sights - the iconic Mount Fuji, fringed by thick forests and a crescent-shaped ring of shimmering lakes. Discover volcanic activity along the Hakone Ropeway before visiting the Owakudani Valley.
Day 5
Tokyo - Takayama
Breakfast
After breakfast, travel to Matsumoto, a small city flanked by the great peaks of the Japanese Alps and home to the exquisite Matsumoto Castle, known locally as 'Crow Castle' due to its striking black and white design. Continue your journey to the mountain town of Takayama.
Day 6
Takayama
Breakfast
Established as a merchant town, the remote mountain village of Takayama offers a truly unique insight into a bygone Japan. Your fascinating guided tour takes you past canals flowing under the eaves of sake brewing houses which display bundles of cedar leaves, indicating the new season's rice wine is available.
Day 7
Takayama - Kyoto
Breakfast
Departing Takayama, journey into the ancient capital of Kyoto and experience an age-old tradition with an evening of geisha performances and dinner.
Day 8
Kyoto
Breakfast & Dinner
Once the imperial capital of Japan, the ancient city of Kyoto now boasts 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. On this full-day tour, explore the Zen Buddhist temple of Kinkakuji, the brightly coloured gates of Fushimi Inari shrine and the maze of food stalls in 400-year old Nishiki Market. Enjoy a stroll around the Gion area, a geisha district lined with charming wooden buildings, teahouses and restaurants.
Day 9
Kyoto - Hiroshima
Breakfast & Dinner
This morning travel to Hiroshima where you will take a boat ride to Miyajima Island, known as the 'Island of the Gods' and visit the awe-inspiring Itsukushima Shrine with its towering, free-standing wooden gate which stands in the middle of the sea. Later, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 10
Hiroshima - Osaka
Breakfast & Dinner
Start your day with a visit to Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park & Museum where photos and belonging of victims of the Hiroshima bombing are on display, serving as a reminder of the horror of the devastating event. Later, a train carries you to Osaka, arriving in time for tonight's entertaining farewell meal - a walking dinner that samples Osaka's best culinary delights.
Day 11
Osaka - UK
This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK, via Hong Kong, or continue on to your chosen extension.