Journey Through Japan's Heart and Soul - 11 Days

Welcome to Japan. After completing customs procedures, we’ll transfer you to your hotel in Tokyo by shared shuttle bus. The rest of the day is at leisure – you can relax 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 set out on a guided tour of Tokyo lasting around seven hours, taking in the city’s vibrant neighbourhoods alongside its quieter corners. We make a brief stop at Zojoji Temple for a superb view of Tokyo Tower and to see rows of Jizo statues – guardians of children – dressed with knitted hats, bibs and pinwheels. From the bus we observe the famous Shibuya Crossing, often described as the world’s busiest intersection. We then visit Meiji Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his wife. Next is Tokyo Skytree, with admission included to the Tembo Deck at 350 metres for sweeping city views. We finish in Asakusa to explore Sensoji Temple and stroll along Nakamise Street, before returning to the hotel via Akihabara – the Electric City and a centre of Japanese manga and anime culture – and the Ginza district.

At 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, followed by an included dinner at a local restaurant. We return to the hotel by subway with our guide.

The order of visits may change depending on our timed admission to Tokyo Skytree. In case of bad weather or other exceptional circumstances, access to Tokyo Skytree may be limited – an alternative visit to another iconic city viewpoint will be offered.

After breakfast, we transfer to the station for the bullet train to Hiroshima – a fast journey of around four hours covering roughly 800 kilometres. On arrival, we explore a city shaped by the events of 1945, visiting the Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Peace Memorial Museum. Later, we board a ferry to the island known as the place where gods and men live together. We visit the iconic Itsukushima Shrine – partially built over the sea and dedicated to the guardian of the seas – then you have time to wander the island’s charming centre and choose a spot for lunch. We return to Hiroshima for the evening, with dinner included. Note: The order of visits in Hiroshima may vary, though all inclusions will be experienced as planned.

Today we take the ferry to Shikoku – a relaxed two and a half hour crossing that reminds us Japan is made up of many islands. In Matsuyama we ride the cable car to visit its impressive castle, then continue to Ishiteji, a beautiful Buddhist temple and a popular pilgrimage site. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. Later in the afternoon we include admission to Dogo Onsen – a traditional Japanese bathhouse dating from the 19th century.

We leave Matsuyama for Kotohira to visit its revered Shinto shrine dedicated to the protection of sailors on Mount Zosu – access involves a climb of 785 steps, so comfortable footwear is recommended. Continuing to Takamatsu, we explore Ritsurin, regarded as one of Japan’s most beautiful gardens, before enjoying an included lunch at a local restaurant. In Naruto, we stop at a remarkable bridge that spans the sea – we learn about its construction and walk along a glass-floored promenade to observe the powerful whirlpools from 45 metres above. Our route then follows a series of scenic bridges linking the islands as we continue to Kobe for the night.

In Kobe, we’ll visit the Earthquake Memorial Museum, which honours the 1995 earthquake and the city’s remarkable reconstruction. We’ll then continue to Osaka before heading to sacred Mount Koya, the principal centre of Shingon Buddhism in Japan and home to around 120 temples and monasteries. We’ll visit the Okuno Mausoleum – a vast cemetery set in nature with more than 200,000 graves – and the Kongobuji Temple, built in 1593.

We’ll spend the night in a Buddhist monastery, where monks will lead us in a Zen meditation practice – Ajikan. Dinner is included – a vegetarian meal. If you wish, you can attend the religious ceremony at the temple before breakfast.

Please note: on certain dates, the Earthquake Memorial Museum visit may be replaced by the Sake Museum or a trip up Kobe Tower. Monastery stays are traditional and simple – rooms are Japanese style with tatami mats and shared bathrooms. Meditation cannot be guaranteed during peak dates. As temple accommodation on Mount Koya is limited, we may use nearby hotels with half board included.

We start the day with a traditional Japanese breakfast at the temple, then set off early for Kyoto – Japan’s capital from 794 to 1868. Spared from bombing during the Second World War and later lending its name to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, the city preserves an exceptional cultural legacy.

On arrival, we visit the Fushimi Inari Shinto Shrine, the Imperial Palace and Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, with its elegant gardens. You’ll then have free time to explore at your own pace before we continue to Gion, a lively traditional district known for its geisha culture, where you’ll have further time to wander. If you’ve already visited Kyoto earlier in your tour, our guide will offer suggestions to help you discover different parts of the city independently.

We set out for Tsumago, passing through gentle countryside on the way. This small village, known for its wooden houses, is considered one of the prettiest in Japan. You’ll have free time to explore, and lunch is included. We then continue to Matsumoto, a lively city, to visit its impressive 16th century castle, nicknamed The Crow. Afterwards, you’ll have free time to discover the city at your own pace. We end the day in Nagano for an overnight stay.

In Nagano, we visit Zenko–ji Temple, a famous pilgrimage site that houses Japan’s first Buddhist image, and take part in the Gomakuyo ceremony, a traditional ritual to attract good fortune. We then travel into the Japanese Alps to Jigokudani Monkey Park and walk along forest trails past rivers and hot springs where Japanese macaques live and bathe. Continuing through high–mountain scenery – reaching 2,172 metres or 7,126 feet – we pass semi active volcanoes en route to Kusatsu, a charming hot spring town with a lively central square. We take a gentle stroll through the city park with its open air onsen, and you’ll have free time for lunch. Our journey continues to Ikaho, another picturesque hot spring town, where we walk through the old centre and its traditional stone stairways. We stay overnight in a ryokan – a traditional Japanese inn – and a traditional Japanese dinner is included. You can also enjoy the hot spring baths. Please note: in autumn, the movement of the monkeys can be unpredictable and the park may close if they do not come down; the visit to Kusatsu may be cancelled due to weather conditions from November to April.

From Ikaho we continue to Nikko for a day of remarkable temples and riverside scenery. We visit Nikko Toshogu, famed for its room with the sound of a dragon, and explore the serene Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum. We then take a gentle walk along the Kanmangafuchi Abyss, where hundreds of Jizo statues watch over the riverbanks. You’ll have free time to explore the town centre at your own pace before we return to Tokyo, arriving at around 6.30 pm.

After breakfast, our tour comes to an end in Tokyo – we hope you leave with lasting memories of your journey.