Majestic Japan

Konnichiwa, Japan

Welcome to Tokyo, Japan's capital city. Hotel check-in is available mid-afternoon.

Monumental Metropolis

Hop on Tokyo's subway system to explore this fascinating city. Start with a visit to Meiji Shrine, a magnificent 20th-century Shinto monument set in a man-made forest. Then, visit Asakusa Kannon Temple and Nakamise shopping arcade, the oldest of their kind in Tokyo. Tonight, join your travel companions at a welcome dinner hosted by your Tour Director. (B/L/D)

ENHANCED FREE TIME - EXPLORE MORE: Tokyo has something for everyone so visit one of the city's unique neighbourhoods like Ginza or Shibuya districts, dine at the street food markets, or catch a game at the Tokyo Dome.

Fourth with a Bullet

Today, travel by shinkansen (bullet train) to Nagoya, Japan's fourth-largest city. Visit Nagoya Castle, a proud symbol of the city, then enjoy a sake tasting. (B)

LOCAL FAVOURITE - FOR SAKE'S SAKE: Go sake tasting in Nagoya's yokocho, traditional Japanese alleyways now hosting many small restaurants, pubs, and shops.

Textiles & Temples

This morning, visit the Toyota Commemorative Museum, showcasing the rise of the company's start as a textile machinery manufacturer to a worldwide industrial superpower. Then, board a train for Kyoto. Upon arrival, visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine, renowned for the thousands of brightly hued Torii Gates. (B/D)

FREE TIME TIPS - EXPLORE MORE: Join your Tour Director for a walking tour through Gion or visit more of Kyoto's historic temples.

A Golden Gift

Cruise on the tranquil waters surrounding the pine-covered Amanohashidate sandbar, home to one of Japan's three most scenic views. Return to Kyoto and visit to stunning Kinkakuji, the Temple of the Gold Pavilion, then partake in a tea ceremony. (B/L)

LOCAL FAVOURITE - PLANNED TO A TEA: Participate in a tea ceremony, the ancient tradition and carefully choreographed ritual of preparing and serving Japanese green tea.

Palace Aisles & Pottery Styles

Take the shinkansen bullet train to Himeji to visit Himeji Castle. Drive south to Bizen, where you'll visit a traditional pottery workshop to learn more about Bizen-yaki, one of Japan's six ancient pottery styles dating back over 1,000 years. Continue to Okayama. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - HISTORIC SIGHTS: Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Himeji Castle to marvel at the finest surviving example of early 17th-century Japanese castle architecture.

Garden Sights & City Whites

This morning, visit Koraku-en Garden. Journey to Kurashiki, to visit the Ohara Museum and Bikan Historical Quarter, once the political and commercial centre of the city. The canal-lined, white-washed, stone streets reflect the Edo period (1603-1867) and are quintessentially Japanese. (B/D)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - THE POWER OF TRANQUILITY: The 30-acre Koraku-en Garden features ponds, plum groves, and tea fields, earning its place as one of the "Three Great Gardens of Japan.". The wide lawns, believed to uplift the spirit and promote open mindedness, are unique to Koraku-en and not a traditional feature of Japanese gardens.

Picturing Japan

Drive northwest to Matsue and visit Matsue Castle on the shores of Lake Shinji. After lunch, continue to the Adachi Museum of Art to view the renowned work of artist, Yokoyama Taikan. Your hotel tonight is in the city of Yonago on the coast of the Sea of Japan. (B/L)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - ART & ARTISTRY: Revel in the Japanese-style gardens of the Adachi Museum of Art and admire the revolutionary style of painter Yokoyama Taikan. Considered one of Japan's greatest painters, this major figure in pre-WWII Japanese painting helped create the stunning technique of Nihonga-ink and mineral pigments on silk or paper canvas.

Serenity & Solemnity

Drive south to Hiroshima this morning. Upon arrival, visit the 400-year-old Shukkei-en Garden, where natural landscapes are represented in miniature form. Also visit the moving Peace Memorial Park. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - MONUMENTS & MEMORIALS: Peace Memorial Park is home to the Peace Memorial, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has been preserved just as it was on August 6, 1945, immediately after the devastating bombing. You will also visit the Memorial Museum and Memorial Hall, which commemorate the lives lost that day.

Travel by ferry to Miyajima Island. Visit Itsukushima Shrine and take cable-car ride to the top of Mount Misen for panoramic views of the Seto Island Sea, and on a clear day, Hiroshima city. Participate in a Japanese cooking class for lunch. Return to Hiroshima for some time on your own. Tonight, your Tour Director hosts a farewell dinner to celebrate your discovery of Japan. (B/L/D)

LOCAL FAVOURITE - CULINARY CREATIONS: Learn how to make Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, delicious savory pancake layered with ingredients as you choose. This legendary dish of Japan comes from the words okonomi ("as you like it" and yaki ("to grill).

Say it Ain't Sayonara

Your tour ends with breakfast this morning. (B)