Magical Japan

Arrive in Tokyo, the dynamic capital of Japan. Your adventure begins with a welcome briefing, before embarking on an exploration of this dazzling city. Visit Meiji-jingu, a Shinto shrine nestled in a tranquil forest in the city centre. Continue to nearby Harajuku, a trendy district internationally renowned for its eclectic, vibrant street fashion, quirky boutiques and youthful street culture.

On our way to dinner this evening, we pass the famous Shibuya pedestrian crossing, considered to be the world's busiest intersection, and also known as the 'scramble crossing'. Then, get to know your fellow travellers at a Welcome Dinner in a local Izakaya-style restaurant. Stay Two Nights: Tokyo, Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu (D)

Our exploration of Tokyo begins with a panoramic tour of the exterior grounds of the Royal Palace, where Japan's imperial family resides. Continue to historic Sensoji Temple, a popular, historic Buddhist temple in Asakusa, and passing major landmarks like Tokyo Station along the way. After a visit to the serene temple complex, head to Skytree, the tallest tower in Japan, where you'll enjoy unbeatable 360-degree views of the world's largest metropolis.

Enjoy the afternoon at leisure, or join one of Enhance Your Journey optional activities. (B)

Enhance Your Journey - Taiko Drum Discover the fascinating history and significance of Taiko drumming to Japanese music, before learning simple rhythms from your private instructor. Together, you'll create a performance, incorporating the striking poses and powerful shouts that accompany the drumming.

Enhance Your Journey - Hama-rikyu Garden Located alongside Tokyo Bay in the modern district of Shiodome, Hama-rikyu is a large garden established in the Edo period, and it's the striking contrast of gleaming modern buildings and traditional garden design that makes Hama-rikyu so fascinating. Keep a look out for cone-shaped structures known as 'yukitsuri'. These intriguing structures are a traditional Japanese gardening technique intended to protect the long branches on some trees from bending and breaking under the weight of snow.

Start your day with a visit to Tsukiji Outer Market, a lively marketplace known for its fresh seafood, sushi restaurants and local food vendors. Explore the bustling stalls selling a variety of Japanese products and ingredients, and discover why it's a popular destination for food lovers and tourists alike.

After the market, enjoy your Insider Experience, before continuing to Hakone, a place of staggering beauty. On arrival in Hakone, transfer to your hotel, where you can opt to partake in a traditional onsen experience, a restorative communal bath. This evening, enjoy a banquet dinner at your hotel. Stay Two Nights: Yumoto Fujiya Hotel or similar (B/L/D)

Insider Experience - Sushi-making Class Take part in a sushi-making class and learn how to prepare maki sushi (rolled sushi) and nigiri sushi (sushi rice topped with a slice of raw fish) before savouring your creations for lunch.

Begin your day with a walk along a segment of Old Tokaido Road. Then, embark on a boat ride on Lake Ashi (also known as Ashinoko) - a natural caldera formed after a major volcanic explosion some 3,000 years ago. Afterwards, transfer to a ropeway and cable car for a ride to the top of Owakudani Geothermal Valley, where you might catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji. After enjoying time at Owakudani, return to your hotel for free time, where you might like to visit some of the local museums and galleries in Hakone. (B/D)

Enjoy a leisurely morning at your hotel before departing for Hamamatsu, where you'll savour lunch at a local restaurant before visiting Hamamatsu Flower Park. Take a relaxing stroll in the picturesque botanical garden featuring dazzling displays of colourful plantings, seasonal blooms, dancing fountains and giant topiary.

Afterwards, proceed to the hotel for check in and a relaxing evening at leisure. Stay: Hamamatsu, Okura ACT City Hotel or similar (B/L)

Travel to Nara, which briefly reigned as capital of Japan. On the way, visit the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology to see developments in textiles and automobile technologies. Continue to Nara and visit Yakushiji Temple. With a 1,300-year history, the East Pagoda is the only wooden structure to have survived fires and other disasters since the temple was built. Afterwards, proceed to the hotel for check in. Enjoy the evening at leisure. Stay: Nara, Daiwa Roynet Hotel (B)

Visit Todaiji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Japan's most famous temples housing the huge, seated, bronze Buddha. Stroll through Nara Park, with its friendly wild deer that roam throughout the park and the city.

Then, move on to Kyoto, the former imperial capital for over 1,000 years. Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, known throughout the world as the ‘Path of the Red Gates.' Walk along the impressive path framed by torii gates, winding through lush forests woods behind the main shrine complex. Later, witness a time-honoured tradition at a Insider Experience. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Stay Two Nights: Kyoto, Noku Hotel (B/D)

Insider Experience - Japanese Tea Ceremony Delve into traditional Japanese culture during a special tea ceremony experience. Learn all about tea varieties and the importance and process of serving tea to guests in Japan.

Today, explore UNESCO-listed Kinkakuji, otherwise known as the Golden Pavillion, a stunning Zen temple with a golden exterior, serene gardens and historical significance. Travel on to visit the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, one of the most photographed sites in the city. Enjoy lunch at Arashiyama before exploring Tenryuji Temple, set within a beautiful garden and stunning mountain backdrop. (B/L)

Board your coach for a journey to Tsuruga Station, where you can purchase lunch before continuing by bullet train (shinkansen) to Kanazawa. Home to the world-class and ultra-modern 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa is renowned for its fresh seafood, particularly snow crab. Visit Higashi Chaya, a district famous for its Edo-period architecture, and where you might be lucky to glimpse geisha fleeting between engagements. Afterwards, proceed to the hotel for check-in. Stay: Kanazawa, Amanek Hotel, or similar (B)

Enjoy a free morning with the option of a Kanazawa Castle Park and Kenrokuen Garden tour or a Gold Leaf Craft Experience. Then, journey to the alpine village of Shirakawa-go, a picturesque village known for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses with steep thatched roofs. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Shirakawa-go offers a glimpse into rural Japan's history and culture. The village is particularly beautiful in winter when covered in snow, creating a magical winter wonderland.

Later, continue to Takayama, explore the old town area and try local sake. In the evening, savour tender Hida Beef at a local restaurant. Stay Two Nights: Hotel Amanek Hida Takayama (B/D)

Insider Experience - Sake Tasting Japan is the birthplace of sake, a type of rice wine created in the eighth century within the Imperial Palace in Nara. Learn more about the drink's history as you indulge in an authentic tasting and learn how sake is produced.

Enhance Your Journey - Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Visit Witness one of Kanazawa's key historic landmarks, Kanazawa Castle. Elements of the striking structure have been reconstructed after multiple fires over the centuries. Its seamless restoration emphasises the heritage and importance the castle plays in Japan's history. Enjoy a stroll in Kenrokuen Garden, regarded as one of the finest gardens in the country by Japan's leading garden design experts. Harmoniously blending the six attributes required of traditional Japanese gardens: spaciousness, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, water, and panoramas - a visit to this masterpiece in Japanese garden design is an experience to savour.

Enhance Your Journey - Gold Leaf Experience Producing 99% of Japan's gold leaf, Kanazawa is the centre of gold leaf production in Japan. Enjoy a hands-on experience and learn the centuries-old craft. Under the attentive guidance of local artisans, you'll learn to apply gold leaf to items such as chopsticks, trays, and mirrors - a unique way to connect with Kanazawa's rich cultural and creative heritage.

Visit the Takayama Morning Market, a bustling and vibrant market featuring local produce, crafts and souvenirs for a taste of local life. Then discover the colourful local festive floats at the Float Museum, before heading to your Insider Experience. Afterwards, enjoy a free afternoon. (B)

Insider Experience - Sarubobo-Making Experience Enjoy a Sarubobo-making workshop. 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 and discover why these amulets are believed to bring good luck.

Depart early and travel to Matsumoto to visit the city's most famous site, Matsumoto Castle. Also known as 'Crow Castle' for its stark black exterior, it's the oldest original castle in Japan, dating back to 1592, and still features its original main tower. Considered a national treasures, the castle is a real highlight on a journey in Japan. Afterwards, visit a miso factory for lunch and one of today's Insider Experiences. After lunch, board a Limited Express train to Tokyo, and prepare for this evening's Farewell Dinner. Stay: Shibuya, Excel Hotel Tokyu (B/L/D)

Insider Experience - Guided Tour of Miso Factory Enjoy a guided tour of a miso factory to discover how this essential ingredient is made. Discover the step-by-step process of fermenting soybeans with salt, then sample the distinctive flavours that are central to Japanese cuisine.

Insider Experience - Farewell Dinner Gather for a Japanese Farewell Dinner with your fellow travellers to celebrate a memorable journey in this unique country with new friends.

Transfer to the airport for your onward journey. (B)