Jewels of Japan

Fly to Tokyo, the capital of Japan. On arrival, you will be met by an English-speaking representative and transferred to your hotel.

One of the world’s most cutting-edge capital cities, Tokyo is a city of contrasts, famous for its neon-lit landscape, towering skyscrapers, peaceful shrines and lovingly tended gardens. Although long the political and cultural centre of Japan, Tokyo became the official capital when the Meiji Emperor moved it to Tokyo in 1867.

Tokyo is the ultimate metropolis, perfectly blending modern technology with beautifully serene backstreets and old temples.

Today, take a tour by coach of this fascinating city. Begin with a stroll through the Imperial Palace East Garden (you will not enter the palace itself) before exploring the Tokyo National Museum.

After lunch, head to the Asakusa district, stopping at the atmospheric Sensoji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest and most famous temple and home to a five-storey pagoda as well as the iconic large red Kaminarimon Thunder Gate lantern. Go on to browse the stalls throughout the Nakamise shopping street, followed by a visit to the observation deck of the Tokyo Skytree for panoramic views over the city. You will be on your feet for 4-5 hours during your touring in Tokyo.

Dinner this evening will be at a local restaurant within walking distance of your hotel.

Imperial Palace East Garden – The Imperial Palace Garden is part of the main residence of the Emperor of Japan. Built on the original site of Edo Castle, the Plaza is made up of a palace, museum and large park.

Tokyo National Museum – Located in Ueno Park, the Tokyo National Museum is Japan’s oldest museum. Here you’ll find the world’s largest collection of Japanese art, including ancient pottery, Buddhist sculptures, samurai swords, colourful woodblock print’s, eloquent kimonos and much, much more.

Sensoji Temple – Sensoji Temple is an ancient Buddhist Temple and the oldest in Tokyo. The temple was originally founded in the 7th century. The temple adorns an image of the Buddhist Goddess Kannon, who was said to have been rescued by two fishermen from the Sumida River in Tokyo.

Tokyo Skytree – The tallest structure in Japan, Tokyo Skytree is predominantly a television and radio broadcast tower and is earthquake-resistant.

Spend a relaxed morning wandering around the classical landscapes of the Hamarikyu Gardens and exploring the Shinto Meiji Shrine, located in a green forest within the city.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel, driving by the Shibuya “Scramble” Crossing on the way.

Return to your hotel where your guide will let you know what time to meet for this evenings dinner cruise, the rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore independently or relax in the hotel.

Transfer from the hotel to your boat and take a leisurely 1-hour dinner cruise on Tokyo Bay for some excellent city vistas. You will need to get on and off your boat this evening without assistance.

Hamarikyu Gardens – Hamarikyu Gardens is a beautiful example of Japanese garden style which sits at the mouth of the Sumida River.

Meiji Shrine – Meiji Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and his wife Empress Shoken.

Journey 2 hours through the foothills of the iconic Mount Fuji to its base, where you will find the Fuji Five Lakes. The region is spectacular with the calm waters of the five lakes, formed by past volcanic eruptions, reflecting Fuji’s pictureperfect cone.

Head up to Fuji’s 5th Station for spectacular mountain views. Please note it is only possible to reach the 5th station if weather permits.

After lunch, visit the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum to view the elaborate dyed silk creations before exploring the Iyashi no Sato historical village, located on the western shores of Lake Saiko, famous for its thatched-roofed houses. Transfer around 1 hour to Mishima and check into your hotel and make use of the onsen facilities.

Fuji Five Lakes – Formed by previous Mount Fuji eruptions, the Fuji Five Lakes is a region at the base of Mount Fuji made up of five beautiful lakes.

Mount Fuji – At 3,776m, Mount Fuji is the highest of Japan’s mountains and an iconic symbol of the country. Mount Fuji is notoriously shy and is often enveloped by clouds.

Itchiku Kubota Art Museum – Kubota Itchiku revived the lost art of Tsujigahana silk dyeing, used to decorate elaborate kimono during the Muromachi Period (1333-1573). The museum exhibits several of his kimono creations, while the extensive gardens, designed by Kubota Itchiku himself, are also worth a stroll.

Iyashi no Sato Historical Village – Iyashi no Sato is a replica village based on a former farming village which was destroyed by a landslide in 1966. The houses here have traditional thatched roofs.

Transfer around 45 minutes to Oshino Hakkai, a scenic area of ponds full of crystal-clear spring water created by Fuji’s melting snow.

Stroll around the area before trying your hand at making traditional Japanese soba noodles, which you will then tuck into for lunch.

Drive around 2 hours to Mishima Station to board a 2-hour bullet train to Kyoto. An enchanting city, Kyoto was capital for a thousand years; today it is the legacy of ancient Japan, full of tranquil temples, silk-clad geisha and sublime gardens. Check in to your hotel and have dinner at a local restaurant.

For May departures only: Instead of visiting the Iyashi no Sato historical village, a visit to the Fuji Shibazakura Festival has been included. This is the best time of the year and one of the most scenic places in Japan to see the pink moss phlox in full bloom. Please note that the flowers’ bloom is weather dependant.

Oshino Hakkai – Oshino Hakkai is a set of eight ponds in Oshino, a small village in the Fuji Five Lake region, located on the site of a former sixth lake that dried out several hundred years ago.

Kyoto – Kyoto was the ancient capital of Japan for approximately 1,000 years until 1867 when it was moved to Tokyo. Many national treasures can be found in Kyoto and in nearby Nara, including old shrines and temples, screen paintings, beautiful gardens, and statues of Buddha.

Enjoy a full day tour of Kyoto, starting with a visit to the spectacular Kiyomizu Temple. You will spend 1.5 hours on foot exploring the temple.

Next, immerse yourself in the culture, learning the traditional Japanese handicraft of origami and enjoying the art of a tea ceremony. After lunch, visit a traditional teahouse where you will be joined by a Tea Master.

Next, visit the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine with its thousands of vermillion torii gates. You will walk up part of the mountain and the incline allows a steady-paced walk around 15 minutes with flat road and steps to reach tori gates. Due to the limited space of Fushimi Inari Shrine coach parking, you may need to walk from coach parking for 15 minutes.

Kiyomizu Temple – Kiyomizu Temple is a 16th century Buddhist Temple in Kyoto. A highlight is the Hondo’s veranda which is perched over the hillside, offering spectacular woodland vistas.

Origami – Origami is the traditional Japanese craft of paper folding without glue or cutting. This colourful tradition is regarded a skilled art form in Japan and can be good fun to try.

Geisha – The art of the Geisha can be traced back to the Edo Period. Geisha are highly skilled entertainers who will perform with a musical instrument, a tea ceremony, ikebana, etc. to entertain her guests. Geisha usually wear kimonos and an obi, a sash for traditional Japanese dress.

Fushimi Inari Shrine (Taisha) – An important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto, Fushimi Inari is most famous for its thousands of vermillion torii gates which form a network of tunnels around the main shrine buildings. The shrine itself is dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. There are many fox statues in the grounds of the shrine as foxes are thought to be Inari’s messengers.

Begin the day with a visit to Ryoanji Temple, home to Japan’s most famous zen garden, and Kinkakuji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion due to its golden exterior.

You will be on your feet for approximately 2-3 hours today. Continue around 1 hour by coach to Osaka to have lunch in the vibrant Dotonbori district.

Transfer to the train station and take the bullet train to Hiroshima, a journey of 1 hour 40 minutes. A modern and prosperous city, Hiroshima will be forever remembered as the world’s first atomic bomb target.

Ryoanji Temple – Ryoanji Temple is a Zen temple renowned for its garden, which features a dry, sand landscape with large rocks and smooth pebbles.

Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) – Kinkakuji Temple is a Buddhist temple and is an excellent example of Japanese garden design. The structure is a brilliant golden hue colour and is very minimalistic.

Dotonbori District – Historically a theatre district and still a popular entertainment area today the Dotonbori district offer an eccentric and electric atmosphere.

Hiroshima – An atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima on 6th August 1945, and the city’s name became famous worldwide for this unenviable distinction. The destructive power of the bomb obliterated nearly everything within a 2km radius. The city has been rebuilt and has risen phoenix-like from the ashes and destroyed sites of historical heritage were reconstructed.

Hop on the ferry to Miyajima Island, where sightseeing will be at a leisurely pace on foot. Visit Itsukushima Shrine and explore the traditional market town at leisure.

Return by ferry and then coach to Hiroshima and have lunch. Later, visit 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.

Also visit the Orizuru Tower, Itsukushima shrine and enjoy free time on Miyajima Island to explore the local streets or make the walk up to Daisho-in Temple. You will be on your feet for approximately 4-5 hours today.

Miyajima – Miyajima is a small island less than 1 hour outside Hiroshima. While officially named Itsukushima, the island is more commonly referred to as Miyajima, Japanese for ‘Shrine Island’, because of its well-known main attraction, Itsukushima Shrine, a giant torii gate, which at high tide seems to float on the water.

Peace Memorial Park and Museum – The Peace Memorial Park and Museum is one of the most prominent features of the city. The trees, lawns and walking paths are in stark contrast to the surrounding downtown area. Before the bomb, the area of what is now the Peace Memorial Park was the political and commercial heart of the city and this is why it was chosen as the pilot’s target. The museum focuses on the events of August 6 and the subsequent outcome for the residents.

Orizuru Tower – The 50-metre-tall Orizuru Tower is located beside the A-Bomb Dome and is one of the few tall buildings around the Peace Memorial Park. It offers a great view of the surroundings, including the less commonly seen view of the A-Bomb Dome from above.

Travel 3.5 hours by coach to Himeji, with a rest stop along the way. On arrival, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before visiting the beautiful Himeji Castle and Koko-en Garden.

Himeji Castle is largely in its original condition, so please be mindful of your step when walking 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. You will be on your feet for 3-3.5 hours during the visit.

After the reopening in March 2015, Himeji Castle has welcomed a large number of visitors. As such, they now issue numbered tickets to enter the Main Keep in order to limit the number of people who can enter, reducing congestion, waiting time and to protect the cultural properties. Please note this means that there may be cases where some visitors are not allowed to enter the Main Keep, however, there are many other parts of the castle to explore.

Later, transfer approximately 2 hours to Osaka for your overnight stay.

Himeji – Himeji is the second largest city of Hyogo Prefecture after Kobe, with approximately half a million inhabitants. It is most famous for its magnificent castle.

Himeji Castle – Widely considered as Japan’s most magnificent castle for its imposing size and beauty, the well-preserved Himeji castle is both a national and world heritage listed treasure. Himeji Castle has never been destroyed by war, earthquake or fire and sur vives to this day as one of the country’s twelve original castles.

This morning is free at leisure before you transfer to Osaka airport for your return flight home arriving home today or the following day.