Enchanting Japan

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Tokyo

Welcome to Tokyo. Be met on arrival and transferred to your luxurious hotel. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers at a welcome reception at the hotel.

• Stay: Three Nights, The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Day 2: Tokyo

FREEDOM OF CHOICE™

Explore Tokyo in depth on a tour of your choice. You can experience the incredible energy and efficiency of Tokyo’s vast public transport system – the most extensive and used network in in the world – as you delve into the buzzing districts of Shibuya and Harajuku, or perhaps discover the beauty of Japanese gardens at Hamarikyu and the Imperial Palace East Garden, or you might like to learn more about the history of Japan at the Tokyo National Museum.

Following breakfast, meet your guide and head to Roppongi, where you’ll visit the Tokyo City View observation deck at Mori Tower, which on a clear day provides outstanding views of the vast capital city. Next up is Tokyo’s old town of Asakusa, which is home to the city’s oldest temple, Sensoji. Visit the iconic temple and stroll through the Namikase shopping street indulging in snacks and souvenirs. Following lunch, embark on your exciting Freedom of Choice activity. Later, enjoy a Welcome Dinner at a delightful Japanese restaurant.

• Daily: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Tokyo

SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE

Take part in a sushi-making class and learn to prepare maki sushi (rolled sushi) and nigiri sushi (sushi rice topped with a slice of raw fish) before enjoying your homemade delights for lunch.

Visit Meiji Shrine this morning, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirit of Emperor Meiji. Following your delectable Signature Experience, visit Ginza, Tokyo’s most famous upmarket shopping district. Marvel at the presentation and diversity of the food at a local department store before the day’s touring comes to a close, with the rest of the day at your leisure.

• Daily: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Tokyo, Hakone

Depart for Hakone following breakfast and catch glimpses of iconic Mt Fuji if it’s a clear day. Your first stop is at Hakone Shrine, a beautiful, historic Shinto shrine nestled in the forest by the shores of Lake Ashi. Board a pirate boat for a cruise on the picturesque lake and arrive at Togendai before taking in the scenery on the way to the volcanic valley of Owakudani via the Hakone Ropeway. Follow the walking trails around the bubbling pools and steam vents and perhaps try one of the famous black eggs boiled in the area’s natural hot springs. Head to your luxury hotel, which boasts access to a naturally heated onsen, and enjoy dinner together.

• Stay: Hakone, Kowakien Ten-yu
• Daily: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Hakone, Matsumoto, Takayama 

SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE

Try your hand at creating some traditional cuisine today with a soba buckwheat noodle cooking lesson and enjoy your creations for lunch.

Set out this morning to Gotemba for a Signature Experience. Following your soba noodle lunch, continue to Matsumoto and visit the spectacular Matsumoto Castle. One of Japan’s most complete original castles, the structure dates back to the 16th century. Tour the castle and its pristine grounds before being transferred to your new hotel in Takayama, where you’ll indulge in dinner tonight.

• Stay: Two Nights, Associa Takayama Resort
• Daily: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Takayama

SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE

Enjoy a Sarubobo-making experience. An amulet particularly common in Takayama and the nearby Hida region, Sarubobo are red dolls with no facial features. Learn how to make the dolls and perhaps find some good luck yourself.

Start off the day with a morning visit to the Miyagawa morning market, one of the largest in Japan. All of the market’s traders are independent farmers and craftspeople from the region, so it’s the perfect opportunity to try some of the area’s best produce. Enjoy a Signature Experience, then wander along the stunning streets of the city’s old town after lunch on the way to the Festival Floats Museum, where you’ll admire the ornamental floats of the Takayama Festival. For dinner, you’ll have the chance to try the region’s famous Hida beef at a local restaurant.

• Daily: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7: Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa

FREEDOM OF CHOICE™

Choose between Japanese or French food for your delicious dinner this evening.

Today you’ll visit the World Heritage-listed village of Shirakawa-go en route to Kanazawa. Some of the village’s famous gassho-zukuri farmhouses date back more than 250 years, and you’ll stop at Kanda House to gain a deeper insight into the traditional homes before strolling around the peaceful village. Continue to Kanazawa and visit the marvellous Kenroku-en garden, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Later, visit the Nagamachi Samurai district and the traditional Nomura Samurai House. Enjoy your choice of restaurant for dinner.

• Stay: Hotel Nikko Kanazawa
• Daily: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8: Kanazawa, Kyoto

SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE

Relish a gold leaf-making experience, decorating a small lacquer plate with the fragile and precious product.

Start your day in the Higashi Chaya District, Kanazawa’s largest geisha district. Enjoy a special Signature Experience before visiting the authentic Shima teahouse. Following your time in the district, be transferred to the train station to board your first-class train to Kyoto. Upon arrival, walk to your nearby accommodation and settle in before sharing dinner at a local restaurant.

• Stay: Four Nights, The Thousand Kyoto
• Daily: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Kyoto

An exciting day of sightseeing lies ahead today. Set out for Arashiyama this morning, climbing aboard a rickshaw for a ride past the Nonomiya Shrine and the spectacular Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Following your rickshaw experience, visit the World Heritage-listed Tenryuji Temple, one of Kyoto’s five great Zen temples which was founded in 1339. After lunch at a local restaurant, head to the famous Kinkakuji temple, commonly known as the Golden Pavilion for its gold-leaf-covered upper floors. You’ll then visit historic Nijo Castle before returning to your hotel and spending the evening at your leisure.

• Daily: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10: Kyoto

SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE

Delve into traditional Japanese culture with a special tea ceremony experience. Learn all about tea varieties and the importance and process of serving tea to guests in Japan. Enhance your experience by taking part in the ceremony wearing a festive kimono and gain a better understanding of the variety of kimonos used across different occasions.

FREEDOM OF CHOICE™

This afternoon, choose one of three diverse tours around Kyoto. You can embark on a Nishiki Market and sake-tasting tour, you can set out on a walking tour of Ginkakuji and Philosopher’s Path, or you can discover how whiskey is made on a Suntory Distillery tour.

FREEDOM OF CHOICE™

For dinner, you can choose to dine on French cuisine at Fortune Garden Kyoto or enjoy local Japanese food at Tempura Endo Yasaka.

Meet your guide this morning and depart for a special Signature Experience. In the afternoon, head out on your chosen Freedom of Choice activity before returning to your hotel. Tonight, enjoy your choice of restaurant.

• Daily: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 11: Kyoto, Nara

SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE

A special night of private entertainment with a maiko or geisha awaits. Enjoy a wonderful dinner and drinks and have the chance to learn more about the geisha and their daily life, all accompanied by music played on a shamisen, a traditional stringed instrument.

After breakfast, board a private coach for the nearby town of Nara, once the Japanese capital for 74 years in the eighth century. Visit the incredible Todaiji Temple, one of the world’s largest wooden structures and home to the country’s largest statue of Buddha. Stroll through the fascinating temple before exploring the surrounding Nara Park, which is freely roamed by a large population of friendly deer who will generally bow their heads for a treat. Next, visit Nara’s most celebrated shrine, Kasuga Taisha, which was established in 768 AD. Return to the hotel and enjoy free time this afternoon before savouring a special Signature Experience for dinner.

• Daily: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 12: Depart Kyoto

Your tour comes to a close after breakfast this morning with a transfer to Osaka's Kansai International airport.

• Daily: Breakfast

Itinerary subject to change