Premium Japan - 12 Days

Konnichiwa! Welcome to Japan. Your adventure begins in the country’s lively capital, Tokyo. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm at your hotel. If you arrive early, there are many sides of Tokyo to explore – maybe visit a museum, check out the world-class shopping districts or stroll neighbourhood backstreets lined with hole-in-the-wall bars and eateries. After your meeting, join your new travel companions for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Tokyo’s food scene is undoubtedly one of the world’s best, and the city truly celebrates the art of eating well. Sample a range of regional and seasonal delights, including handmade soba noodles, crispy tempura and yakitori (chicken skewers). After dinner, you may like to experience Tokyo’s vibrant nightlife and head to a local izakaya (casual bar).

Today, head out on a walking tour of Tokyo with your leader. Bursting with contemporary urban culture and historic temples and shrines, Tokyo has so much to uncover. Begin in the Asakusa district, one of the older and more traditional parts of Tokyo, also known as the temple district. Here, you’ll stop by the city’s oldest temple – Senso-ji. This temple was built almost 1400 years ago when Tokyo was nothing more than a fishing village. Browse the many interesting stalls filled with tasty treats, crafts and souvenirs that line the shopping street of Nakamise Dori. Then, jump on the metro to explore the buzzing Shibuya district. Check out one of the busiest intersections in the world before heading into a depachika (underground food hall) for a tempting array of Japanese treats. Visit the Harajuku district – Japan’s home of quirky youth pop culture – then get a bird’s-eye view of Tokyo from the 634-m-tall Tokyo Skytree.

This morning, get ready for a delicious experience at the famous Tsukiji Outer Market, where fresh seafood from Tokyo's largest wholesale fish market (recently relocated to a new site at Toyosu) is delivered and ready to sample daily. Your leader will provide insight into the underwater treasures that go into the local cuisine, then you’ll take a sushi-making class to learn about the art and history of this dish that's loved across the world. Learn how to make nigiri sushi, hand-rolled sushi or temari sushi, then enjoy your fresh creations for lunch. After learning some valuable skills to take home with you, you can join your leader for a short walking tour in the Ginza area and then enjoy a free afternoon in the city. Maybe check out the Yayoi Kusama Museum for its exhibits by the avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama (advance reservations required), browse high-end shops in Ginza, watch a kabuki play or try karaoke.

Say sayonara to Tokyo this morning and board a train bound for the mountainous onsen (hot spring) town of Hakone. Away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, Hakone offers relaxation set among stunning natural scenery. In the afternoon, take a cable car up the mountains to the sulphur vents of Owakudani where, on a clear day, you can catch a glimpse of Mt Fuji in the distance. Talk a walk through the unique volcanic landscape and perhaps try the famous black eggs which are said to promise seven extra years of life. Later, check in to the Susukinohara Ichinoyu – your Feature Stay accommodation for the evening. Here, you’ll experience the design and ambience of a traditional Japanese ryokan without sacrificing modern comforts. Each room comes with a private onsen, and there are also larger public indoor and outdoor onsens that overlook the surrounding greenery. Tonight, you’ll have dinner at the on-site restaurant which serves up a feast of classic Japanese dishes. Then, spend a blissful evening relaxing in your onsen.

Today, travel to Takayama via shinkansen (bullet train), with a few changes along the way. Takayama is a charming Edo-period town located in the Japanese alps. This riverside jewel of central Honshu is renowned for its traditional inns, sake breweries and tranquil atmosphere. When you arrive, head out on a walking tour with your leader who will point out examples of traditional architecture as you explore the old part of town. Learn how the town’s isolated location caused it to develop a unique culinary scene. The area is particularly famous for Hida beef, a premium wagyu beef that comes from a black-haired Japanese cattle breed raised in Gifu Prefecture for at least 14 months. Make a stop during your walking tour to sample delicious Hida beef sushi or skewers. Then, visit Jinya, a Nationally Designated Historic Site, for a step back in time to the Edo period. You’ll see the rice granary, which stored the rice tax paid by villagers, the garden and the living quarters of provincial governors.

Start the day with a visit to the Takayama morning market. The Gifu region is known for its production of high-altitude vegetables. Your leader will guide you through the market stalls selling colourful pickles, bags of miso wrapped in leaves, genkotsu ame (soybean candy), preserved fish, spices and owara tamaten (a marshmallow-like treat). After some time to peruse the local treats, hop on a public bus and head to the village of Shirakawa-go – home to charming thatched-roof cottages built in the gassho-zukuri style. Learn about ancient countryside life with your leader and explore this village set against a magnificent backdrop of the Japanese Alps. Return to Takayama in the afternoon and enjoy some free time. If you like, you could check out Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall which has a collection of hand-carved floats on display.

This morning, you’ll travel by train to Hiroshima – a cosmopolitan city with a tragic past. This city is full of distinctive cuisine, tightknit communities and a focus on promoting world peace. When you arrive, head out with your leader for an orientation walk to familiarise yourself with the city. After working up an appetite, head to a local restaurant for dinner and try some of Hiroshima’s signature dishes. The city is renowned for its fantastic oysters and okonomiyaki – a delicious savoury pancake made with egg, cabbage, soba noodles and meat or seafood.

This morning, you’ll visit the Genbaku (A-Bomb) Dome and the Peace Memorial Park and Museum. Your leader will share the devastating story of the fateful day in August 1945 when Hiroshima was attacked by atomic warfare. The bomb detonated almost directly above the dome, but the building was able to retain its shape – the dome now serves as a reminder of the attack and a symbol of peace. The Memorial Park serves a similar purpose and has museums, memorials and monuments dedicated to the memory of victims and information on the events leading up to the bombing. After your visit, take a short ferry ride to the island of Miyajima. The island is home to the Shinto shrine of Itsukushima, known for its huge bright orange gate (torii) that rises majestically out of the sea. Miyajima is an ideal place for walking – keep an eye out for free-roaming deer as you stroll! From Momiji Park, you can take a cable car up to the top of Mt Misen.

As you speed north to Kyoto via shinkansen, you’ll stop along the way to visit Japan’s most impressive samurai castle at Himeji. The building, which has survived earthquakes and war since the mid-16th century, was restored to its full glory in 2015. Explore the castle that was once home to over 10,000 samurai families, learn about their lives and look out over the castle grounds and the city below. Arrive in Kyoto in the mid-afternoon. Originally founded as Heian-kyo (literally 'tranquillity and peace capital') by Emperor Kammu in 794, Kyoto had its golden age during the imperial court's heyday from 794 to 1185. Join your leader on a walk around Gion, Kyoto’s most famous geiko (geisha) district, and learn about the history of geiko culture as you explore old wooden teahouses and exclusive restaurants. You might want to return here in the evening when it really springs to life. You may also spot geikos (geishas) or maikos (apprentice geishas) with their elaborate dress and make up on their way out to events.

Begin your day with a guided tour around Kyoto. Visit the extravagantly decorated Kinkakuji Temple, which was immortalised in Yukio Mishima’s novel 'The Temple of the Golden Pavilion'. After, visit Daitokuji Temple – built about 800 years ago, this is the head temple of the Daitokuji school of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. Take part in a short, guided meditation, then enjoy a cup of green tea while you speak to a monk about the philosophy of Zen Buddhism and the art of meditation. This spiritual experience will reveal a side of Japan that most visitors don’t get to see and is sure to be one of the lasting memories of your journey. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy – maybe grab a bite to eat at the Nishiki Market, called ‘Kyoto’s kitchen’ by the locals.

This morning, head to Kyoto’s famed Fushimi Inari Shrine – known throughout the world for its path of thousands of torii (gates) leading up Mt Inari. Take time to appreciate the quieter corners of the shrine, and if you’re up for it, a walk to the halfway point provides stunning city views. Continue with a short train ride and walk to a renowned sake brewery. Your visit to the brewery covers every aspect of sake creation – with full-scale historical artefacts to see and a chance to taste different types of sake at the end of your visit. In the evening, celebrate the end of your adventure over dinner with your travel companions at a local restaurant, sharing the authentic flavours of Kyoto.

There are no activities planned for today and your adventure comes to an end. If you’re departing later, you can arrange luggage storage at the hotel. If you’d like to extend your stay in Kyoto, and it’s recommended that you do, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.