Discover Japan
** SAVE £700 per couple – OFFER ENDS 31ST AUGUST **
Journey across the Japanese Alps to the cultural centres of Takayama, Shirakawago and Kanazawa on this extensive tour of Japan. On this extraordinary Japan holiday you will of course see modern Tokyo and beautiful Mt Fuji as well as historical Kyoto and Nara.
Gallery
Why you’ll love this trip
This adventure is ideal for travellers with a reasonable amount of time to spend and who want to see the very best bits of Japan. The tour has been designed to make the most of the time available to showcase the key highlights of Japan and have incorporated travel by road to give the opportunity to see the beautiful Japanese countryside.
- Ascend Japan’s iconic and inspirational highest mountain – Mt Fuji
- Stop in amazement at the dramatic flair of the Matsumoto Castle
- Meander through the 10,000 red torii gates of the stunning Fushima Inari shrine
- Explore the authentic Japanese city of Kyoto – known as the ‘thousand-year capital’
- Discover the traditional process of paper making before getting your hands dirty making ‘washi’ (Japanese paper) the age-old way
- Join a dedicated craftsperson in a small workshop to learn all about the lovely and intricate art of gold leaf making, discover what the gold leaf is then used for and have a go at doing it yourself!
- Learn all about the traditional production of an essential element of Japanese cooking, the fermented soybean paste ‘miso’, at an old wooden miso house
- Booked through our award winning travel partner
This incredible 13 day trip through Japan starts at £5,540 per person.
Alternatively please scroll down to view the full itinerary.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1-2: Fly to Tokyo
Fly overnight to the dazzling metropolis of Tokyo, Japan’s capital city. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.
Meals: Dinner
Day 3: Tokyo City Tour
Tokyo is the ultimate 24-hour city, but look behind its frantic, high-tech frontage and you will find plenty of tranquil backstreets and old temples to explore. Begin at the observation deck of the 634-metre Skytree,, the world’s tallest tower, before wandering through the old district of Asakusa. Stop to seek out the tranquility of the ancient Buddhist Sensoji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest. Next, drive by the Imperial Palace Plaza and later stroll through the classical landscapes of Hamarikyu Gardens. This evening, take a relaxed dinner cruise on Tokyo Bay for excellent city vistas.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4: Mount Fuji
Take the super-fast bullet train to Odawara. Enjoy a boat trip on Lake Ashi for spectacular panoramas of this beautiful area before venturing up the Komagatake Ropeway. Next, ascend over 2,000 metres up Mount Fuji to the 5th Station, (weather permitting) and take in the breathtaking views over the Fuji Five Lakes area below.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5: Matsumoto Castle
Transfer to Matsumoto and explore the formidable 16th-century Matsumoto Castle. Stop at a Miso House to learn about the process of making this famous Japanese seasoning. Travel on to Takayama, nestled high in the mountainous Hida region, also known as the Japanese Alps.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6: Explore Takayama
Browse the local handicrafts and fresh produce at the Miyagawa morning market and wander past some of the lovely traditional houses. You’ll also visit several of the excellent local museums – including the Festival Floats Museum, Kusakabe Folk Crafts Museum and Takayama Jinya. Also enjoy some free time in Kamisannomachi Street.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7: Shirakawago and Kanazawa
Get a glimpse of rural Japan at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Shirakawago which is famous for its farmhouses built in the unique gassho-zukuri architectural style. Continue to Gokayama to have a go at washi paper making, then travel to Kanazawa and meander through the beautiful Kenrokuen Garden, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8: Gold Leaf Making
Begin the day learning the process of making gold leaf. Next, stroll through traditional Higashi Chaya (Eastern Teahouse District), visiting Ochaya Shima – a historical geisha house. Later, journey to Kyoto. Capital for 1,000 years, until 1879, today Kyoto is the legacy of ancient Japan, full of tranquil temples, silk-clad geisha and sublime gardens.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9: Explore Kyoto
Start the day with a visit to Ryoanji, the ‘temple of the peaceful dragon’ and the famous Kinkakuji, also known as the ‘Golden Pavilion’. In the afternoon, head to a restored Japanese wooden townhouse and try your hand at origami and enjoy the age-old rituals of a tea ceremony with a tea master.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 10: Discover Nara
Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, remarkable for its 10,000 vermilion torii gates. Continue to Nara, a relaxed and charming town virtually untouched by the ravages of modernity. Home to many archetypal pieces of early art and architecture, stroll through Nara Park to Todaiji Temple, meeting the resident sika deer en-route, before exploring Isuien Garden.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 11: Koyasan
The holy mountain of Koyasan is home to over 100 monasteries nestled in a valley enclosed by peaks said to resemble a lotus flower. Arguably the most sacred mountain in all of Japan, Koyasan is the heart of Shingon Buddhism and the resting place of Japan’s best known Buddhist, known as both Kukai and Kobo Daishi. Wander around Okunoin – a vast cemetery of 200,000 stupas and enjoy the tranquillity and spectacular views as you discover Kongobuji Temple and the Garan Temple Complex. Later, continue to Osaka.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 12: Explore Osaka
Begin the day exploring Osaka Castle, which is one of Japan’s most famous. Next, take a short cruise along the Yodogawa River and stroll through Dotonbori, a restaurant mecca, where you can sample the local delicacies for lunch. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore this fascinating city.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 13: Fly Osaka to UK
Fly to the UK, arriving home the same or following day
Meals: Breakfast
What’s Included:
This 13 day trip through Japan starts at £5,540 per person and includes…
- Save up to £745 per person for solo travellers on selected dates in 2022/2023
- SAVE up to £700 per couple on selected 2022/2023
- Fully inclusive – Touring with guides and entrance fees
- Included meals – 11 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 11 dinners
- Group tour – Max group size is 28
- Includes international flights and current taxes
Price based on selected 2023 departures (please note prices & availability are subject to change).
We’ve teamed up with the multi-award winning Wendy Wu Tours to bring you this incredible offer. Please call 0800 083 1888 to speak to one of their destination experts to discuss this tour and others. Alternatively please enquire below and a member of their specialist team will be in contact to discuss this trip.