Grand Tour of Japan

Embark on incredible adventure through the wonders of Japan, discovering icons including Mount Fuji and Miyajima Island, and traversing the country from top to bottom on thrilling and scenic bullet train and Limited Express train journeys.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Sapporo

Arrive in Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, Japan’s most northerly island and transfer to your hotel. Known for its exquisite street food, beer and beautiful mountain surrounds, Sapporo offers a blend of urban sophistication and natural beauty. This evening, enjoy a Welcome Dinner with your fellow travellers and Great Rail Journeys Tour Escort.

Day 2: Sapporo

Discover the delights of Otaru, a charming port city in Hokkaido. Captivating visitors with its historic canal, romantic atmosphere, fresh seafood, and snow-covered streets in the winter. Visit the fascinating Music Box Museum with its collection of thousands of music boxes before heading to your Insider Experience. Later, head back to Sapporo and enjoy an evening at leisure.

Insider Experience - Aoyama Villa Visit
Explore Aoyoma Villa, learn about the herring fishing trade, the great wealth one family gained and admire the stunning villa. Created over six years, the wood-frame construction is adorned inside with paintings, calligraphy, and more than 2,000 panes of handmade glass. 

Day 3: Sapporo, Hakodate

Enjoy your Insider Experience journey to one of Hokkaido Island’s main cities and the first port open to foreign trade. This afternoon, take a sightseeing tour of the local sights by coach, including Goryokaku, a star-shaped fortress that dates back 150 years. Explore foreign influence in the Motomachi district, a former residential area for traders. Here, you can see a Russian Orthodox church, the old British Consulate, and a Chinese memorial hall. Later, ascend Mount Hakodate via ropeway, for breath-taking panoramic views of the city and surrounding areas. Tonight, enjoy your Insider Experience.

Insider Experience - Scenic Limited Express Train Journey
Journey to Hakodate on the Super Hokuto Limited Express train. As the route heads to Hokkaido’s eastern shores, skirt around Uchiura Bay and admire the coastal scenes.

Insider Experience - Beer Hall Dinner
Experience dinner in a local beer hall dining on local specialities in a convivial setting.

Day 4: Hakodate, Tokyo

Explore the vivid array of stalls at Hakodate’s fish market, which boasts fresh seafood, local vegetables, fruit, and sweets, and look out for tanks of live shellfish and clusters of crab. After your visit, embark on your Insider Experience speeding through the countryside to Japan’s modern capital. Check into your accommodation in the lively Shinjuku area, where you have a free evening to explore at leisure.

Insider Experience - Bullet Train Journey to Tokyo
Travel by Shinkansen, Japan’s iconic high-speed bullet train, to Tokyo. Appreciate the speed and comfort as you watch the scenery unfold.

Day 5: Tokyo

A full-day tour of Tokyo begins with a trip to Hamarikyu Garden in Tokyo Bay, to see an example of the precise art of Japanese gardening. Next, it’s on to the Asakusa, to explore Sensoji Temple, this 1400-year-old Buddhist temple is dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy. Afterwards, pay a visit to the Meiji Shrine, a Shinto shrine and the famous Shibuya Crossing, the world's busiest intersection, before returning to your hotel for an evening at leisure. 

Enhance Your Journey – Taiko Drumming Lesson 
Throughout history, taiko drums have been used for communication, religious ceremonies, theatrical performances and military actions. Learn some impressive rhythm drum patterns and create a performance including the poses and yells that accompany drumming. 

Enhance Your Journey – Calligraphy Experience 
Learn about Kanji, Hiragana and Katakana, the characters of the Japanese language, that Japanese people use. Under the guidance of an expert, try writing some characters in calligraphy. 

Day 6: Tokyo, Hakone

Set off on foot to Shinjuku Station for your Insider Experience and your first journey on Japan railway. Arrive in Odawara and then transfer to Owakudani volcanic valley and enjoy a tour of its active sulphur vents and hot springs before taking a ride on the Hakone Ropeway to the Togendai station, nestled on the shores of the tranquil Lake Ashi. Take a relaxing cruise around the lake soaking in the panoramic views of snow-capped mountains before continuing to your hotel for the evening. 

Insider Experience – Travel on the Narrow-Gauge Line Train 
Journey by Limited Express train to Hakone, travelling on the picturesque narrow-gauge line and admiring views of beautiful, wooded valleys as your train traverses bridge and tunnels. 

Day 7: Hakone, Matsumoto

This morning, travel to Mount Fuji, arguably Japan’s most distinctive landmark, for your Insider Experience. Later, travel to the alpine town Matsumoto to enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. 

Insider Experience – Visit Mount Fuji Centre 
After driving along the foot of the famous mountain, disembark at the Mount Fuji Visitor Centre to learn more about the country’s tallest volcano. Continue to Mount Fuji’s Fifth Station, where, if the sun is shining, you will be able to see the iconic Japanese peak. 

Day 8: Matsumoto, Takayama

After your Insider Experience, continue to Matsumoto Castle. This stunning and well-preserved castle dates back to the 16th century and is famous for its black exterior and elegant architectural design. Continue to Takayama and soak in the spectacular mountain scenery on your way to visit Hida Folk Village, an open-air museum depicting more than 30 rustic farm dwellings from the Edo Period. Enjoy a night of leisure and time to explore the narrow streets of Takayama. 

Insider Experience – Miso Factory Guided Tour 
Enjoy a guided tour of a miso factory to find out how this Japanese staple is made. Discover why this paste – a mixture of fermented soya beans with salt and other umami-based ingredients – is so important in Japanese cooking, before tasting the distinctive flavours for yourself. 

Day 9: Takayama, Nagoya, Kyoto

Nestled among mountainous surrounds, Takayama’s narrow streets and wooden houses appear almost untouched by time. Explore Takayama and admire the ancient architecture on a guided tour featuring Miyagawa Market, Sannomachi Street and Takayama Jinya, the old government house. Leaving Takayama, travel by train along the Hida River valley to Nagoya before boarding the Shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto. 

Insider Experience – Bullet Train Journey to Kyoto 
Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains offer thrilling journeys across the country. Experience the speed and efficiency of Japan’s renowned bullet train to Kyoto. 

Day 10: Kyoto

See the highlights of Kyoto today on a tour beginning at the Kyoto Railway Museum, which houses a variety of trains from the earliest steam locomotives to the ultra-modern bullet trains. Continue to the iconic Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) dating back to the late 14th century and covered in gold leaf before a stroll through the tranquil Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, one of Japan’s most iconic sites. After taking part in a special Insider Experience, finish the day with a stroll around the Gion area, Kyoto’s famous geisha district.  

Insider Experience – Traditional Tea Ceremony 
Take part in a traditional tea ceremony and gain an insight into how to brew, serve and drink this distinguished drink in the traditional way. 

Day 11: Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima

Today you’ll explore Nara, a former capital of Japan, and home to eight World Heritage-listed sites. Take in the Todai-ji Temple where you’ll find the Great Buddha, a 13th-century bronze statue. Continue to beautiful Nara Park, a delightful deer sanctuary spread over almost 530 hectares, before transferring to Osaka, where you’ll catch a bullet train to Hiroshima, known for the unprecedented devastation it suffered during World War II. 

Insider Experience – Bullet Train Journey to Hiroshima 
Travel by bullet train to Hiroshima, travelling at speeds of up to 320 kilometres per hour. 

Day 12: Hiroshima, Miyajima Island

A guided tour today takes you around Hiroshima. From the Peace Memorial Park to the A-Bomb Dome, your tour explores the city’s tragic devastation during World War II. Later set off for Miyajima Island and your Insider Experience. Return to Hiroshima and enjoy an evening at leisure.  

Insider Experience – Miyajima Island Adventure 
Travel by local train and ferry to Miyajima Island and spend time admiring the famous Itsukushima Shrine, a Shinto shrine and the iconic torii gate, which appears to float on the island’s waters at high tide. 

Day 13: Hiroshima, Fukuoka

After breakfast, journey to Hakata on the southern island of Kyushu. Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of the Dazaifu Tenman-gu Shrine, dedicated to the Shinto god of learning. Said to have been built over the grave of a ninth-century poet, there has been a shrine here since AD905, although the pavilion we see today dates from 1591. In the charming grounds of pretty bridges and serene pools stand 6,000 plum trees. Head to Kyushu National Museum for your Insider Experience. This evening, gather for a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant, and take time to reflect on the adventure you have had. 

Insider Experience – Bullet Train Journey to Hakata 
Set out on another scenic rail journey as you board another bullet train to Hakata.  

Insider Experience – Kyushu National Museum Visit 
Admire the impressive collection of displays at the Kyushu National Museum and uncover the history of Japanese culture, at this national museum that opened in Japan over 100 years ago. 

Day 14: Depart Fukuoka

Transfer to Fukuoka Airport this morning after breakfast.