Japan's Captivating Cultural Odyssey - 8 Days

Welcome to Japan. On arrival in Tokyo, after clearing customs, we’ll arrange a shared shuttle bus transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free – you can relax after your journey or start exploring at your own pace. In the afternoon, we’ll share 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 spend around seven hours exploring Tokyo with our guide, moving between lively modern districts and quieter historic sites. We make a short stop at Zojoji Temple for one of the best views of Tokyo Tower, and to see rows of Jizo statues – guardians of children – adorned with knitted hats, bibs and pinwheels. We then head to Shibuya Crossing, viewed from the bus, famous as one of the busiest intersections in the world, before visiting Meiji Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his wife. Admission to Tokyo Skytree’s Tembo Deck at 350 metres is included – Japan’s tallest structure offers sweeping views across the city. We finish in Asakusa to explore Sensoji Temple and Nakamise shopping street, then return to the hotel, passing Akihabara – the Electric City and a hub of manga and anime culture – and the Ginza district.

At 6.30 pm we meet our guide in the hotel lobby and take the metro to Shinjuku (tickets included). We enjoy a walk through this lively area before dinner at a local restaurant is included. We return to the hotel by metro with our guide.

Please note – the order of visits may vary depending on our Tokyo Skytree admission time. In case of bad weather or other exceptional circumstances, access to Tokyo Skytree may be limited, in which case an alternative iconic viewpoint will be offered.

We’ll depart Tokyo for Nikko, arriving around 10.30 am. We’ll visit the impressive Nikko Toshogu Shrine, renowned for its Crying Dragon room, then continue to the serene Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum. We’ll take a riverside walk at Kannanga Fuchi, where hundreds of Jizo statues line the path. Afterwards, you’ll have free time to explore the city centre. Later, we’ll continue to Sendai – a vibrant, modern city of over one million residents – where you can wander the bustling downtown and choose a spot for dinner.

We depart Sendai for Matsushima, set on the Thousand Islands Bay on the Pacific coast and widely regarded as one of Japan’s most beautiful places. On arrival we visit a traditional tea house overlooking the sea for a cup of tea while our guide shares insights into the area, then we board a 50 minutes cruise of the bay with lunch served on board.

We continue to Hiraizumi to explore its historic temples – beginning at Takkoku no Iwaya, carved into the rock in 801 – before visiting the Buddhist temples of Chusonji and the serene gardens of Motsuji. Here you can choose to take part in a Zen ceremony – admission included. We end the day in Morioka, the capital of Iwate, where we check in to our hotel and you have free time to explore.

We travel through striking northern scenery to Hirosaki, where we view the castle from the outside in its expansive park – home to more than 2,500 cherry trees in spring. We then continue to Aomori on Mutsu Bay to visit the Nebuta Museum and learn about the region’s vibrant festival traditions, with their beautifully painted, illuminated floats. Lunch is included at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon we board the ferry for the crossing to Hokkaido – a scenic journey of just over three and a half hours. On arrival in Hakodate, you’ll have free time to wander the historic district at your own pace, where you can take in its blend of influences, including the Russian Orthodox Church and other Christian churches.

This morning in Hakodate we visit the lively fish market – a vivid snapshot of daily life – before heading up Goryokaku Tower for sweeping views and a clear look at the star–shaped historic fortress below. Afterwards, you’ll have free time to explore the castle area before we continue to Onuma.

Amid Onuma’s island–dotted scenery, you’ll have free time to take a boat ride or follow scenic walking trails – lunch is included at a local restaurant. In the afternoon we travel along the coast to Noboribetsu’s striking volcanic landscape and walk among the steam vents of Jigokudani – we also pause to admire the misty waters of Lake Oyunuma. We then continue to Sapporo, arriving in the evening.

We explore Sapporo on a guided city tour, stopping at the iconic Clock Tower and Odori Koen – the broad, park‑lined avenue overlooked by the Sapporo TV Tower. We then visit Hokkaido Jingu Shinto shrine to take part in a Kito, a traditional prayer of gratitude for the journey. On the outskirts of the city, we continue to the Hill of Buddha – a striking work of contemporary architecture inaugurated in 2015 – home to a monumental Buddha statue and replicas of the Moai of Easter Island. Our day carries on to Otaru, a charming canal town with lively shopping streets and small museums, where lunch is included at a local restaurant. We return to Sapporo at around 3:30 p.m., after which the afternoon is free for you to explore at your own pace.

After breakfast, our tour concludes in Sapporo – we bid you farewell and wish you a smooth onward journey, taking with you wonderful memories of Japan.