Japan's Breathtaking Icons and Heritage - 8 Days

Welcome to Japan. After you clear immigration and customs, we’ll arrange your transfer to the hotel by shared shuttle bus. The rest of the day is free – you can unwind after your journey or start exploring at your own pace. In the afternoon, we’ll share the details for 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.

In the morning, we set off on a guided tour of Tokyo lasting around seven hours, showcasing its vibrant districts alongside quieter corners. We make a short stop at Zojoji Temple for a view of Tokyo Tower and to see the many Jizo statues – guardians of children – adorned with knitted hats, bibs and pinwheels. From the bus we observe the famous Shibuya Crossing, then visit Meiji Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his wife. We continue to Tokyo Skytree – admission included to the Tembo Deck at 350 metres – for panoramic views of the city. We finish in Asakusa to explore Sensoji Temple and walk along Nakamise Street before returning to the hotel via Akihabara – the Electric City, known as the centre of Japanese manga and anime culture – and Ginza. The order of visits may vary depending on our Skytree entry time, and in bad weather or other exceptional circumstances Skytree access may be limited – in that case an alternative iconic city viewpoint will be offered.

At 6.30 pm we meet our guide in the hotel lobby and take the subway – tickets included – to Shinjuku for a walk through this lively district, followed by dinner at a local restaurant – included. We return to the hotel by subway with our guide.

We leave Tokyo for Kamakura, a peaceful city that served as Japan’s capital for two centuries and is home to numerous shrines, temples and gardens. At Hokoku-ji Zen Temple we stroll through its bamboo grove – admission included – and enjoy a cup of green tea, before visiting Sugimoto-dera, founded in 734 and regarded as the city’s oldest temple. You’ll have free time in the pleasant city centre, then we continue to the Great Buddha (Daibutsu) – admission included.

We follow a scenic coastal road along the Pacific Ocean to Enoshima, a small island linked to the mainland by a bridge, where you’ll have free time for lunch and a walk. We then continue to Odawara, with admission included to its castle – a major Edo-period fortress restored in the 20th century and considered one of Japan’s most important castles. Overnight stay.

We travel into the Hakone region – a landscape of lakes and mountains near Mount Fuji – starting with Owakudani, the so‑called Valley of Hell, where steam vents, bubbling mud and sulphurous gases reveal the area’s volcanic nature. Note – access to Owakudani is occasionally closed due to activity or gases; if so, we visit Arakurayama Sengen Park instead.

We continue to Oshino Hakkai, a small village with eight clear ponds and fine views of Mount Fuji, then on to Kawaguchiko, a lakeside town framed by flowers and mountains, where we enjoy a boat ride on Lake Kawaguchiko.

Later, we ascend Mount Fuji by road to the Fifth Station, driving through forested slopes to reach 2,305 metres (7,562 feet). Note – in winter the road is often restricted by snow or weather, and we will go as far as conditions allow.

We return to Kawaguchiko for the night and stay in a ryokan – you can relax and enjoy the onsen, a public hot spring bath. Dinner included. Note – rooms may be Japanese‑style with tatami or Western‑style, and on occasion accommodation may be in a Western‑style hotel instead.

We’ll leave Kawaguchiko along a scenic lakeside route to Iyashi no Sato Nenba, a village rebuilt as an outdoor museum after a 1966 typhoon, where traditional houses now host craft workshops, small restaurants and cultural exhibits. We’ll then continue to Shiraito Falls – a sweeping curtain of water around 20 metres high. From here we travel to Nagoya to visit the Toyota Museum – admission included – a fascinating look at Japan’s automotive innovation. We’ll end the day in Kyoto for our overnight stay.

We spend a full day exploring Kyoto – Japan’s capital from 794 to 1868 – whose historic core was spared wartime bombing and later hosted the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. We begin in Arashiyama to admire the Togetsukyo Bridge before visiting Tenryuji, one of the city’s five great Zen temples and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, followed by a serene walk through its bamboo forest. We then continue to Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Imperial Palace and Kinkakuji – the Golden Pavilion – surrounded by its gardens; the order of visits may vary. After the tour, you can stroll through Gion, Kyoto’s traditional district known for its lively atmosphere and geishas.

We depart Kyoto for Nara to visit Todaiji, a magnificent Buddhist temple founded in 752 and home to a giant Buddha. In the surrounding park, friendly deer wander freely, offering plenty of photo opportunities. Lunch is included. We then 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. Our journey continues to Osaka, where we arrive in the evening for an overnight stay in this vibrant, modern city – Japan’s second largest urban area. Later, we visit Dotonbori, a lively and colourful district renowned for its bustling nightlife.

After breakfast, we conclude our journey in Osaka – thank you for travelling with us. We hope you leave with lasting memories of Japan.