Highlights of Japan

Welcome dinner at an Izakaya: Celebrate your first night on tour in Japan with a visit to an Izakaya. These pubs are uniquely Japanese and are popular spots for locals to grab a drink and meal with groups of friends or colleagues. You’ll usually find yakitori, edamame, grilled fish, french fries and more on the menu in an Izakaya. Tuck in and enjoy!

Tokyo city sightseeing tour: See the highlights of Tokyo on an exciting city sightseeing day tour! Travel through Tokyo by coach and on foot. Join an expert local guide who will lead a tour through the main attractions of this sprawling city. Visit the grand Meiji Shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken. Marvel at Tokyo’s oldest temple, the Buddhist Senso-ji Temple. Wander through the Nakamise Shopping Arcade and Takeshita Street. Enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of Tsukiji Fish Market where you will have free time for lunch - it's the best place to find fresh seafood and produce.

City sightseeing tours of Kamakura and Hakone: Visit the city of Kamakura which is a laid-back seaside Japanese city that is home to numerous Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. See the city’s famous Great Buddha in the Kōtoku-in Temple as well as the Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shinto shrine - the city’s most important shrine. Next up is Hakone where you can admire Hakone Shrine - located in a beautiful spot on the edge of Lake Ashi.

Mount Fuji photo stop: Make a photo stop in Hakone where you will find excellent views of the famous Mount Fuji - Japan’s iconic volcano.

Take in the views from Nihondaira: Admire the panoramic vistas from Nihondaira. This ancient plateau offers incredible views of Mount Fuji, the Pacific Ocean as well as the beautiful tea plantations in the area. 

Visit a green tea plantation: Shizuoka is known as the green tea capital of Japan! Enjoy a visit to a working tea plantation to see how this widely loved drink is produced. You can even try out a bit of tea picking for yourself!

Tour a miso factory: Take a tour around a miso factory to see how this popular Japanese ingredient is produced. Miso is a paste made from fermented soybeans, which is widely used in Japanese cooking - it gives dishes the distinct, salty ‘umami’ flavour.

See a Ninja demonstration: Enjoy a guided tour around the Iga Ninja Museum which is dedicated to celebrating the history of the ninja! Look forward to a demonstration displaying impressive Ninja skills and weaponry. Ninjas were warriors during Japan’s feudal ages known for their unconventional warfare and stealth. 

Experience the world of Sumo: Visit the Kehaya Sumo Museum for insight into all things Sumo! Sumo originated in Japan and is a full-contact form of wrestling. Learn all about the history and traditions during the visit - the museum even has its own Sumo arena!

Explore Osaka and its famous Dotonbori district: Discover Japan’s third-largest city which is famous for its vibrant nightlife, delicious and diverse street food and world-class shopping. Embark on an orientation tour and admire how seamlessly ancient history and culture blend with modern architecture and innovation. Then, enjoy free time to explore the famous Dotonbori district which is always abuzz with activity. From mouthwatering food to dazzling neon lights, you’ll never be bored in Dotonbori! 

Visit the Himeji Castle: Enjoy a visit to one of the finest surviving examples of Japan’s castle architecture. Himeji Castle’s construction dates back to the 1300s and it survived extensive bombings in the area during WW2. The brilliant white walls and unique shape were created to resemble a bird taking flight. Himeji is Japan’s most visited castle and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a truly impressive sight to behold! 

Okonomiyaki dinner: Tuck into a classic Japanese dish during tonight’s included Okonomiyaki dinner. Okonomiyaki is a Japanese Teppanyaki (a style of cooking which uses an iron griddle to cook food) and is a savoury pancake. Popular toppings include pork belly, seafood, cabbage and Okonomiyaki sauce!

Walk along the Kintaikyo Bridge: Take a walk across this impressive, arched wooden bridge which is a distinguished landmark in Yamaguchi.

Visit the Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island: Take a trip to Miyajima and see the iconic “floating” gate or torii, which the shrine is famous for. This Shinto Shrine is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and many of the buildings and significant items within have been declared national treasures by the Japanese government.

Explore the Peace Memorial Park and Museum: Visit one of the most prominent sites in Hiroshima. The Peace Memorial Park and Museum were built to remember the dropping of the atomic bomb in 1945 and honour the hundreds of thousands of victims of the attack. Explore the museums on-site, see the A-bomb dome and visit the numerous monuments throughout the park.

Explore Kurashiki: Enjoy some free time to explore the charming city of Kurashiki located in Okayama Prefecture. Kurashiki was an important rice distribution centre during the Edo Period (1603-1867) and its well-preserved canals and storehouses date back to this period. Today, the storehouses have been converted into museums, cafés and boutiques offering visitors plenty of things to see and do in an idyllic, relaxing setting.

Experience Kyoto: Enjoy two nights in Kyoto to immerse yourself in one of the world’s most beautiful and enigmatic cities! As the former capital of Japan, Kyoto offers centuries of history and offers a fascinating insight into ancient Japanese cultures and customs. With its hundreds of temples, shrines, palaces and gardens, you will never run out of things to do in Kyoto!

Wander through the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest: Visiting this majestic bamboo grove feels like an otherworldly experience! Take a stroll along the path that runs through the towering green stalks. This is one of Kyoto’s most photographed spots!

Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha: Beat the crowds with an early morning visit to Fushimi Inari Taisha. This iconic attraction is an important Shinto Shrine home to thousands of red torii gates dedicated to the Shinto god of rice. As you wander through these shrines, be entranced by the dazzling red entryways and see how many you can count!

Explore the Kiyomizu Temple: This picturesque Buddhist temple is one of Japan’s most celebrated temples. Kiyomizu, which means Pure Water Temple, was named after the nearby Otowa Waterfall. Admire the views of the surroundings from the large wooden deck. 

Discover Kinkakuji: Known as the Golden Pavilion, this famous Zen temple’s two top floors are completely covered in gold leaf! Admire its stunning reflections in the “mirror pond”!

Visit Genkyuen Garden in Hikone: Look forward to visiting the lush Genkyuen Garden, located in Hikone, and soak up the scenery from every angle! The quaint city of Hikone is probably best known for its Edo-period castle which is considered the most significant historical site in the Shiga Prefecture. Built between 1603 and 1622, it is one of only five castles in Japan whose main keep is original. Some of the best castle views can be seen from Genkyuen Garden!

Visit Goju: Enjoy a lunch stop in the riverside town of Goju, located in the Gifu Prefecture. Step back in time as you admire this rural town’s many waterways which function in the same way they did in the 17th century! Take some time to see the historic Sogisui Source, pools of water divided into four sections for different purposes: drinking, washing vegetables, washing rice and cleaning tools. You can also spot some koi fish as they swim against the stream in the canals along Igawa Lane and Yanaka Lane. 

Experience Edo-period Japan in Takayama: Takayama offers a fascinating insight into Edo-period Japan as well as gorgeous mountain scenery. The historic Sanmachi district seems to be frozen in time. Wandering its charming streets will take you back to when the area was abuzz with craftsmen, merchants and farmers. 

Tour a Sake brewery: Learn all about Japan’s national drink with an insightful tour of a Sake brewery! Discover the highly skilled craftsmanship behind this uniquely Japanese drink and look forward to a Sake tasting. Kanpai!

Explore Takayama Jin-ya: Gain fascinating insight into Edo-era Japan with a visit to this former government building. Learn all about this important period of Japanese history as you explore the building’s many entrances, offices and living rooms. 

Visit the Hida no Sato Open Air Museum: Also known as Hida Folk Village, this open air museum displays around 30 old farmhouses which are designed in the traditional architectural styles of Japan’s mountainous regions. Most notably, many houses were built in Gassho-zukuri style with thatched gable roofs. The scenery here is particularly picturesque as the village is located on a hill overlooking the Takayama Valley.

Travel back in time in Shirakawa-go: The fairytale village of Shirakawa-go is a UNESCO World Heritage Site set against the backdrop of the Japanese Alps. Explore the traditional Gassho-zukuri houses (some of which are over 300 years old!) and soak up the tranquil, mountainous scenery.

Explore Kanazawa’s Kenrokuen Garden and Higashi Chaya District: Considered one of Japan’s “three most beautiful landscaped gardens”, Kenrokuen Garden is one of the top places to see in Kanazawa. From pink cherry blossoms in spring and gorgeous greenery in summer to the changing colours of the maple trees in autumn and a snowscape wonderland in winter, Kenrokuen has something to offer visitors all year round! Another must-visit area in Kanazawa is the historic Higashi Chaya District. Chaya are a type of teahouse, characteristic of Edo-period Japan, where geisha would perform for guests. There are few Chaya which remain operational and open to the public. 

Visit a Samurai home in Kanazawa: Kanazawa is a historic city with roots in the Samurai era. Kanazawa is located in a less-visited region of Japan making it a bit of a hidden gem offering a more laid-back sightseeing experience. In the Nagamachi District, former Samurai homes have been preserved. Enjoy an included visit inside one of these homes. This is the perfect destination to learn about these noble warrior figures!

Take the Shinkansen to Tokyo: Travel from Kanazawa to Tokyo on the lightning-fast Shinkansen bullet train. The price of the train is included in this Japan tour package so all you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey!

Farewell dinner in Tokyo: Reminisce about the countless adventures over the last 12 days with your newfound travel buddies over a farewell dinner in Tokyo.