Enchanting Japan

Traverse the highlights of Japan in style on a luxury 12-day holiday. Experience the iconic wonders of Tokyo before admiring the beauty of Hakone and the culture of Takayama and Kanazawa. Finish in Kyoto, where you’ll take part in a tea ceremony and enjoy a private dinner with a maiko or geisha.

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 dinner at your hotel, savouring Japanese flavours with a modern flair.

Day 2: Tokyo

Following breakfast, meet your guide and head to Roppongi, where you’ll soak in the scenery at the Tokyo City View observation deck at Mori Tower, which on a clear day provides outstanding panoramic 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 Buddhist temple and stroll through the Namikase shopping street indulging in snacks and souvenirs. Following lunch, embark on your exciting Freedom of Choice activity. 

Freedom of Choice – Shibuya and Harajuku Exploration

You can experience the incredible energy and efficiency of Tokyo’s vast underground metro as you delve into the buzzing districts of Shibuya and Harajuku. 

Freedom of Choice – Japanese Gardens Discovery

Explore quaint parts of Tokyo as you discover the beauty of the Japanese gardens at Hamarikyu and the Imperial Palace East Gardens. 

Freedom of Choice – Tokyo National Museum Visit

Learn more about the history of Japan at the Tokyo National Museum, which is home to a collection of approximately 110,000 objects. 

Day 3: Tokyo

Visit Meiji Shrine this morning, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirit of Emperor Meiji. After your indulgent Signature Experience, head to Ginza, Tokyo’s renowned upscale shopping district, where you’ll be captivated by the stunning presentation and variety of food at a local department store. In the afternoon, explore the Kabukiza Gallery and the vibrant streets of Ginza before enjoying the rest of the day at your leisure.

Signature Experience – Sushi-Making Class

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 savouring your creations for lunch. 

Day 4: Tokyo, Hakone

Depart for Hakone following breakfast and catch glimpses of iconic Mount 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. Enjoy lunch before embarking on 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 delight in a kaiseki-style dinner, a traditional multi-course meal, this evening.

Day 5: Hakone, Matsumoto, Takayama

Set out this morning for a Signature Experience. Following your lunch, continue to Matsumoto and visit the spectacular Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan’s most complete original castles with a structure dating back to the 16th century. You’ll have the chance to tour the castle and its pristine grounds. This afternoon, be transferred to your new hotel in Takayama. Tonight, you’ll have the chance to try the region’s famous Hida beef at a local restaurant.

Signature Experience – Soba Noodle Cooking Lesson

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

Day 6: Takayama

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. Following your Signature Experience, take a stroll through Takayama Jinya, a beautifully preserved 17th-century building built for a noble family and the Tokugawa shonugate. Then, wander along the stunning streets of the city’s old town on the way to the Festival Floats Museum, where you’ll admire the ornamental floats of the Takayama Festival.

Signature Experience – Sarubobo-Making 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 yourself.

Day 7: Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa

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 the marvellous Kenroku-en garden, ranked one of the top three gardens of Japan. Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Enjoy your choice of restaurant for dinner. 

Freedom of Choice Dining – Benkay

Enjoy Kanazawa’s best seasonal produce in a relaxing setting at Japanese restaurant Benkay. This traditional sushi, grill and tempura counter presents an incredible range of dishes that offer a true taste of Japan. 

Freedom of Choice Dining – La PLAGE

Indulge in an elegant European dinner at La PLAGE, nestled on the top floor of your luxury hotel in Kanazawa. 

Day 8: Kanazawa, Tsuruga, Kyoto

Start your day in the Higashi Chaya District, Kanazawa’s largest geisha district. Enjoy a special Signature Experience before visiting the traditional Shima teahouse. Following lunch, be transferred to the train station to board a bullet train to Tsuruga, then change to a limited express train to Kyoto. Upon arrival, walk to your nearby accommodation and settle in before savouring a delicious dinner at the restaurant of your choice. 

Signature Experience – Gold Leaf-Making Experience

Relish a gold leaf-making experience, decorating a small lacquer plate with this fragile and precious product. The production of gold leaf in Kanazawa began 400 years ago, and since then, the artform has played a role in restoring national and cultural treasures.  

Freedom of Choice Dining – Benoit

Originally a Parisian bistro dating back to 1912, French chef Alain Ducasse took the restaurant international. Experience the elegance of French cuisine, including duck confit and millefeuille. The chic interiors blend classic Parisian charm with a modern Japanese twist.

Freedom of Choice Dining – Chiriri

Savour exceptional local produce at Japanese restaurant Chiriri, which specialises in shabu-shabu, a Japanese hotpot dish of thinly sliced meat and fresh vegetables served with dipping sauces, that melts in your mouth. 

Day 9: Kyoto

An exciting day of sightseeing lies ahead. 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, stop off at the World Heritage-listed Tenryuji temple, one of the Five Great Zen Temples of Kyoto, 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.

Day 10: Kyoto

Begin your day with a special Signature Experience. In the afternoon, head out on your chosen Freedom of Choice activity before returning to your hotel.  

Signature Experience – Japanese Tea Ceremony

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 – E-Bike Cycling Tour

Ride an E-bike through the Miyagawacho and Gion geisha districts, stop off at the Imperial Palace Park and cycle along the Kamogawa River. 

Freedom of Choice – Market and Sake Tour

Embark on a tour of Nishiki Market, often referred to as ‘Kyoto’s Kitchen’, before delighting in a sake-tasting tour. 

Freedom of Choice – Japanese Sweets Workshop & Historic Confectionary Shop

Immerse yourself in the art of Kyoto-style wagashi (Japanese sweets) by learning to craft these delicate confections. Enjoy your handmade creations paired with a soothing cup of green tea. Afterward, visit Tsuruya Yoshinobu, a celebrated and famous confectionery shop with over two centuries of history.

Freedom of Choice – Ginkakuji and Philosopher’s Path Walking Tour

Visit the Ginkakuji Temple (Silver Pavilion), a serene Buddhist Zen temple located in the Higashiyama district of northeastern Kyoto. Later, enjoy a peaceful stroll along the Philosopher’s Path, a scenic stone-paved trail that winds between Ginkakuji and Nanzenji Temples.

Day 11: Kyoto, Nara, Kyoto

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, see Nara’s most celebrated shrine, Kasuga Taisha, which was established in AD768. Return to the hotel with free time this afternoon before savouring a special Signature Experience for dinner. 

Signature Experience – Dinner with a Maiko or Geisha

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 geisha and their daily life, all accompanied by music played on a shamisen, a traditional stringed instrument. 

Day 12: Kyoto, Depart Osaka

Your journey comes to an end after breakfast this morning with a transfer to Osaka’s Kansai International Airport.