Day 1 - 2: Osaka
Fly overnight to the lively, fast-paced city of Osaka. On arrival you will be met by an English-speaking representative and transfer to your hotel.
Day 3: Discover Nara
Transfer around 1 hour by coach to Nara and stroll through Nara Park to Todaiji Temple, meeting the resident sika deer en-route.
Admire the traditional Isui-en Garden before returning to Osaka. Visit the impressive Osaka castle and later take a short cruise down
the Yodogawa River. (B,L,D)
Day 4: Himeji Castle
Journey around 2 hours by coach to Himeji and explore the magnificent 17th Century Himeji Castle and the neighbouring Kokoen, a traditional-style garden. The castle is largely in its original condition, so please use common sense and be mindful of your step when strolling around. You will have to remove your shoes before walking along some of the wooden floors and there are some steep wooden steps to reach certain areas.
After the reopening in March 2015, Himeji Castle has welcomed a large number of visitors. As such, they now issue numbered tickets to visitors in order to limit the number of people who can enter the Main Keep, reducing congestion,
waiting time, and to protect the cultural properties. Please note that this means that there may be cases where some visitors are not allowed to enter the Main Keep. After lunch, continue around 3.5 hours to Hiroshima. (B,L,D)
Day 5: Explore Hiroshima
Transfer to the famous Peace Memorial Park and Museum. Please be aware that the museum may be confronting and upsetting for some group members, and it is at your discretion if you wish to visit or enjoy time at leisure exploring the Peace Memorial Park. After lunch, take a short ferry ride to Miyajima Island, where sightseeing will be at a leisurely pace on foot. Visit Itsukushima Shrine and explore the traditional market town at leisure. Later this afternoon, return by ferry and coach to your Hiroshima hotel for dinner. (B,L,D)
Day 6: Bullet Train to Kyoto
This morning, transfer to Hiroshima Station and catch a bullet train to Kyoto, a journey of 1 hour 40 minutes. Capital for a thousand years, this enchanting city is the epitome of traditional Japan. After lunch, visit Ryoanji Temple, with its famous Zen garden, and Kinkakuji Temple, known as the ‘Golden Pavilion’ due to its golden exterior. You will sp end approximately 2 hours exploring the temples before continuing to your hotel to check in. (B,L,D)
Day 7: Japanese Tea Ceremony
Start the day by visiting the spectacular Kiyomizu Temple. You will spend 1.5 hours on foot exploring the temple. Later, experience the age-old rituals of a traditional tea ceremony accompanied by a Tea Master. After lunch, visit Fushimi Inari Shrine with its thousands of vermillion torii gates. The Shrine stretches up Mount Inari (233m high). You will walk up part of the mountain and the incline allows a steady-paced walk. (B,L,D)
Day 8: Travel to Kanazawa
Depart Kyoto and travel around 4 hours by coach to Kanazawa. After lunch in a local restaurant, wander through the beautiful Kenroku-en Garden before viewing the excellent art collection of the Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. Continue to your hotel and check in. (B,L,D)
Day 9: Washi Paper Making
Visit the Nomura Samurai House and garden before transferring around 1.5 hours to Gokayama. Enjoy lunch and then try your hand on making washi paper. Continue approximately 1 hour to Shirakawago and explore the 300-year-old Gassho style Wada House. Finally, drive around 1.5 hours to reach Takayama and check into your hotel with onsen facilities. (B,L,D)
Day 10: Explore Takayama
Head to the Miyagawa Morning Market, where you can sample some of the delicious local fruits and vegetables (at your own expense). Next, take a leisurely stroll around the traditional houses of the area and visit some of the local museums including Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall, Kusakabe Folk Crafts Museum and Takayama Jinya before spending some free time in Kamisannomachi Street. You will spend around 5 hours on foot today sightseeing around the town of Takayama.
Overnight accommodation: In 2022 stay in a ryokan and bedding will consist of a mattress (low bed) on a tatami mat. In 2023, this will be in a hotel and bedding will consist of a western bed. Due to the location of the hotel, you may be
required to walk a few minutes with your luggage as the road does not allow for large coaches to enter the area. (B,L,D)
Day 11: Travel to Nagano
This morning, depart Takayama and travel around 2.5 hours to Matsumoto to visit the formidable 16th Century Matsumoto Castle. After lunch, stop at a Miso House to learn about the process of making this Japanese seasoning and try Miso soup. Also visit a wasabi farm to learn about its cultivation before travelling a further 1.5 hours to Nagano to check in at your hotel and enjoy it's Japanese bath facilities should you wish. (B,L,D)
Day 12: Snow Monkeys
This morning travel deeper into the Japanese Alps, approximately 3.5 hours to Nagano, firstly by bullet train to Nagoya and then journey on the limited express train to Nagano. Upon arrival, stop in Yudanaka in search for the snow monkeys (Japanese Macques) at Jigokudani Yaen-Koen Monkey Park. There is around a 30-minute walk through the forested valley along paths, occasionally on an incline, from the bus park to the main pool where the monkeys bathe. Accustomed to humans, the monkeys can be observed upclose, and they almost completely ignore their human guests. (B,L,D)
Please keep in mind that the snow monkeys are wild, not domestic animals and sighting them is never guaranteed, particularly during the breeding season which runs from late September through to November..
Day 13: Mount Fuji
Today, travel around 3.5 hours by coach to the Fuji Five Lakes area and ascend by road to Fuji’s 5th station (weather permitting) for fantastic views over the area. Visit Itchiku Kubota Art Museum to view the elaborate dyed silk creations of artist Kubota Itchiku. Continue to your hotel in Mishima or Gotemba and check in. (B,L,D)
Day 14: Explore Hakone
This morning, transfer to Hakone, a drive of around 2 hours. Enjoy a boat cruise on the peaceful waters of Lake Ashi before boarding the Hakone ropeway to soar over the hilltops to the volcanic Owakudani Valley. After lunch, continue around 2 hours to Japan’s capital city, Tokyo. (B,L,D)
Day 15: Discover Tokyo
Tokyo is the ultimate 24-hour city, but look behind its busy, hightech façade and you will find plenty of tranquil backstreets and old temples to explore. This morning, head to the Imperial Palace East Gardens, the Meiji Jingu Shrine, and walk the famous Shibuya Crossing. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to spend how you wish. (B,L,D)
Day 16: Tokyo
Start your last full day in Tokyo with a stroll in the vibrant Asakusa district and soak up the ambiance of Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple. Continue to the 634-metre Skytree and ascend to the observation deck for magnificent views. The afternoon is free at leisure until the evening, when you will board a traditional yakata boat for a dinner cruise. (B,L,D)
Day 17 - 18: Depart Tokyo
This morning is free at leisure before transferring to the airport for your return flight home. (B)
