Imperial Japan's Enchanting Journey - 10 Days

Welcome to Japan. After you clear customs, we’ll transfer you to your hotel by shared shuttle bus. The rest of the day is at leisure – you can relax, unpack or take a gentle stroll nearby at your own pace. In the afternoon, we’ll provide details about the start of your tour. Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

This morning we set out on a guided tour of Tokyo lasting around seven hours, taking in its cutting-edge neighbourhoods alongside quieter, traditional corners. We make a brief stop at Zojoji Temple for a superb view of Tokyo Tower, where you’ll see rows of Jizo statues – stone guardians of children – dressed with knitted hats, bibs and pinwheels. From the bus we observe the famous Shibuya Crossing, then visit Meiji Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Next is Tokyo Skytree, with admission included to the Tembo Deck at 350 metres for panoramic city views. We finish in Asakusa to explore Sensoji Temple and stroll along Nakamise Street. On the way back to the hotel we pass Akihabara – nicknamed the Electric City and a hub of manga and anime culture – and the Ginza district.

6:30 p.m. – we meet our guide in the hotel lobby and take the subway (tickets included) to Shinjuku for a walk through this lively district before dinner at a local restaurant (included). We return to the hotel by subway with our guide.

Note: The order of visits may vary depending on our admission time for Tokyo Skytree. In case of bad weather or other exceptional circumstances, access to Tokyo Skytree may be limited – an alternative iconic city viewpoint will be offered.

We leave Tokyo for Kamakura – a former capital known for its temples, shrines and gardens. At Hokoku-ji Zen Temple we stroll its bamboo grove and enjoy a cup of green tea – admission included – then continue to Sugimoto-dera, founded in 734 and regarded as the city’s oldest temple. You’ll have free time in the pleasant city centre before we visit the Great Buddha of Kamakura (Daibutsu) – admission included. We then follow a scenic coastal road along the Pacific to Enoshima, a small island linked to the mainland by a bridge, where you’ll have free time for lunch and a walk. We continue to Odawara to visit its castle – admission included – a prominent Edo-period fortress restored in the 20th century. Overnight in Odawara.

From Odawara we travel into the Hakone area, a landscape of lakes and mountains near Mount Fuji. We begin with an ascent to Owakudani – a volcanic valley with steam vents, bubbling mud and sulphurous gases. Note: access to Owakudani may close due to volcanic activity or gas levels – if so, we will visit Arakurayama Sengen Park instead.

We continue to Oshino Hakkai, a small village with eight clear ponds and fine views of Mount Fuji, before heading to Kawaguchiko for a boat ride on Lake Kawaguchiko. Later, we drive up Mount Fuji to the Fifth Station, reaching 2,305 metres (7,562 feet) – in winter the road is often partially closed, and we will go as far as conditions allow.

We return to Kawaguchiko to stay in a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn. Dinner is included, and you can relax in the onsen – the shared hot spring bath. Note: rooms may be Japanese-style with tatami or Western-style, and on some dates accommodation may be in a Western-style hotel instead.

In the morning, we follow a scenic lakeside road to Iyashi no Sato Nenba, a village destroyed by a 1966 typhoon and later restored as an open–air museum, where traditional houses now host arts and crafts shops, restaurants and cultural exhibits that offer a window onto Japan’s past. We then visit Shiraito Falls – a 20–metre cascade and one of Japan’s most striking natural sights. From here, we continue to Nagoya to visit the Toyota Museum – admission included – a highlight for anyone interested in automotive innovation. We then travel on to Kyoto for our overnight stay.

We spend a full day exploring Kyoto – Japan’s capital from 794 to 1868 and seat of the Imperial Court. Uniquely among major Japanese cities, it was spared bombing in the Second World War, preserving its rich heritage, and the Kyoto Protocol on limiting greenhouse gas emissions was signed here in 1997. We begin in Arashiyama to see the Togetsukyo Bridge – the Bridge over the Moon – then visit Tenryuji, one of Kyoto’s five great Zen temples and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, followed by a walk through the bamboo grove. We continue to Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Imperial Palace and Kinkakuji – the Golden Pavilion – set within its gardens. The order of visits may vary. After the tour, you can spend time in Gion, Kyoto’s traditional district known for its lively atmosphere and geishas.

We’ll depart Kyoto for Nara to visit Todaiji, a magnificent Buddhist temple founded in 752 and home to a giant Buddha. We’ll also spend time in the surrounding park, where deer roam freely – ideal for photographs – before enjoying an included lunch. In the afternoon, we’ll continue to Horyu-ji, a UNESCO World Heritage site comprising a seminary, monasteries and temples; its central pagoda is among the oldest wooden structures in the world and the complex is regarded as Japan’s oldest Buddhist temple and an important place of worship. We then travel on to Osaka, arriving in the evening for our overnight stay in this vibrant, modern city – Japan’s second-largest urban area. Later, we’ll visit Dotonbori, a lively and colourful district renowned for its bustling nightlife.

We’ll depart Osaka for Himeji, with admission included to its vast castle complex – a striking showcase of Japanese castle architecture. After lunch at a local restaurant – included – we’ll continue to Okayama to visit Korakuen, one of Japan’s most beautiful gardens, with its lakes, waterfalls and traditional teahouses. From here, you can cross the pedestrian bridge over the river to see Okayama Castle – a sixteenth–century fortification rebuilt in 1966 after World War II damage – though entry to the interior is not included. Afterwards, you’ll have free time to explore the city, an active provincial capital of just over 700,000 inhabitants. Note: On some dates, we may stay in Fukuyama or Kurashiki – the visit to Kurashiki may take place this afternoon.

We set out from Okayama for Kurashiki to explore its beautifully preserved historic centre, and you’ll have time to wander the atmospheric streets at your own pace. We continue to Hiroshima to visit the Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Peace Memorial Museum – powerful places that reflect on the events of 1945 and the city’s resilience. Afterwards, we take the ferry to Itsukushima, the island known as the place where men and gods live together. We visit the famous Itsukushima Shrine – dedicated to the guardian of the seas and partly built over the water – then you have free time to explore the town centre and enjoy lunch. We return to our hotel in Hiroshima, where dinner is included. Note: The order of visits in Hiroshima may be adjusted without altering the overall itinerary.

After breakfast, we conclude our journey in Hiroshima – our services end here. We hope you leave with lasting memories of your time in Japan.