We Love —
- Discover the best of Japan on a tour through the Land of the Rising Sun, from the metropolis of Tokyo, to serene Kyoto, and the spectacular mountain scenery of Hakone and the Japanese Alps.
- Choose between 3* and 4* hotels throughout your stay and dine on delicious cuisine, ensuring you're well-pampered from the moment you arrive.
- Enhance your trip even further with a range of guided tours and fabulous optional excursions, from tasting sake, to taking part in a traditional tea ceremony.
Your Itinerary In Brief —
From cherry blossom to ancient temples, the neon lights of Tokyo and the snow-capped mountains of the Japanese alps, Japan is as diverse as it is stunning.
Explore two of Japan’s iconic cities, dazzling futuristic Tokyo, and ancient capital Kyoto. Visit Hakone, for spectacular scenery, crowned by majestic Mount Fuji, and head off the beaten track to Kanazawa which contains one of Japan’s most beautiful old landscaped gardens.
Takayama is sure to delight throughout the seasons, with its alpine setting, covered with snow in winter and carpeted with lush vegetation during the summer months, while no history lover will be able to resist a trip to Hiroshima.
Durations:
8 nights / 10 days: Visit Tokyo, Hakone near Mount Fuji, and Kyoto.
10 nights / 12 days: With the same itinerary, enjoy an extra day in Takayama in the Japanese Alps, and a day in Kanazawa after visiting Hakone.
12 nights / 14 days: Spend one more night in Takayama in the Japanese Alps, and an additional night in Kyoto.
14 nights / 16 days: Enjoy two additional nights in Tokyo at the beginning of the trip.
Our offers:
8-Night / 10-Day Tour
Day 1: UK - Tokyo
Day 2: Tokyo
Day 3: Tokyo
Day 4: Tokyo
Day 5: Tokyo
Day 6: Hakone - Mount Fuji
Day 7: Kyoto
Day 8: Kyoto
Day 9: Kyoto
Day 10: Kyoto - Osaka - UK (Outbound flight via Kansai Airport)
10-Night / 12-Day Tour
Day 1: UK - Tokyo
Day 2: Tokyo
Day 3: Tokyo
Day 4: Tokyo
Day 5: Tokyo
Day 6: Hakone - Mount Fuji
Day 7: Takayama - Japanese Alps
Day 8: Kanazawa
Day 9: Kyoto
Day 10: Kyoto
Day 11: Kyoto
Day 12: Kyoto - Osaka - UK
12-Night / 14-Day Tour
Day 1: UK - Tokyo
Day 2: Tokyo
Day 3: Tokyo
Day 4: Tokyo
Day 5: Tokyo
Day 6: Hakone - Mount Fuji
Day 7: Takayama - Japanese Alps
Day 8: Takayama - Japanese Alps
Day 9: Kanazawa
Day 10: Kyoto
Day 11: Kyoto
Day 12: Kyoto
Day 13: Kyoto
Day 14: Kyoto - Osaka - UK
14-Night / 16-Day Tour
Day 1: UK - Tokyo
Day 2: Tokyo
Day 3: Tokyo
Day 4: Tokyo
Day 5: Tokyo
Day 6: Tokyo
Day 7: Tokyo
Day 8: Hakone - Mount Fuji
Day 9: Takayama - Japanese Alps
Day 10: Takayama - Japanese Alps
Day 11: Kanazawa
Day 12: Kyoto
Day 13: Kyoto
Day 14: Kyoto
Day 15: Kyoto
Day 16: Kyoto - Osaka - UK
During their tour, our members will follow the itinerary as seen below. 20 days before departure you will receive the following items by email or post:
- A 25-page mini travel guide, giving details about your trip (transport between hotels, touristic spots, train timetables etc.)
- Your Japan Rail Pass (not included in 8-night tour)
- Airport shuttle tickets for Tokyo
- Japan map with train schedules
Please note: in very rare cases, mostly in high season, steps might be reversed. You will be informed in your mini travel-guide.
Your Itinerary —
Day 1-4: Tokyo
Day 1: UK - Tokyo
Flight from UK.
Day 2: Arrival in Tokyo
Upon arrival in Tokyo, take your transfer to the hotel. You may add an Airport Welcome at the next stage of the booking process.
Days in Tokyo
Enjoy free time in the city or opt to add one of our optional excursions as listed below.
Our Suggestions in Tokyo:
- Asakusa district and Senso-ji temple
- The Tokyo Skytree, 634 metres high, and Tokyo Tower, the symbol of the city
- Ueno Park with its many museums
- Shibuya and Shinjuku districts
- The Imperial Palace Garden
- Meiji-jingu Shrine
Day trips from Tokyo:
- Nikko, with its temples and shrines in the heart of the forest. Trains to Nikko are covered by the JR Pass (2 hours).
- Kamakura and the Great Buddha (Daibutsu). The train to Kamakura is covered by the JR Pass (1 hour).
Day 6-8: Hakone - Mount Fuji
Day 6: Hakone - Mount Fuji during all tours except the 14 nights / 16 days tour.
Day 8: Hakone - Mount Fuji during the 14 nights / 16 days tour.
Transfer to Tokyo Station by subway (not included). Head from Tokyo to Odawara by Shinkansen (bullet train) (45 minutes), from which you can reach Hakone - Mount Fuji (extra 15 minutes, not covered by JR Pass: 2,5€). Make the most of your free time to take in the incredible natural surroundings and spend a night in a traditional ryokan.
Our suggestions include:
- Gora-koen Park
- Chokoku-no-mori open-air musueum
- Hakone & Narukawa museum of fine arts
- Hakone-jinja sanctuary
- and of course, Mount Fuji from Ashi-no-ko lake
8 nights only: Transfer from Hakone/Odawara to Kyoto by Shinkansen.
Day 7-10: Takayama
Day 7: Takayama during your 10 nights / 12 days tour
Day 7 - Day 8: Takayama during your 12 nights / 14 days tour
Day 9 - Day 10: Takayama during your 14 nights / 16 days tour
After breakfast in your ryokan, transfer to Hakone-Odawara (train 15 minutes, not covered by JR Pass: 2,5€) then take the express trains to Takayama included with the JR Pass (4h).
Spend time at leisure exploring the city of Takayama.
Takayama’s atmospheric streets, museums and folkcrafts make it a great place to discover rural Japan. It is also a superb base for exploring the surrounding Hida district and National Park.
Wander through the Sanmachi-suji district, visit the Shingon-sect Buddhist temple of Hida Kokubun-ji, as well as the heritage houses of Yoshijima and Kusakabe. A visit to Takayama should include stopping at the main hall dedicated to the Takayama Matsuri, a festival held twice a year in spring and autumn.
Further sightseeing in Takayama could include Hida no Sato, an open-air museum of traditional architecture and crafts. Furukawa, a sleepy riverside town, less than 20 minutes from Takayama, is also well worth a trip.
Our suggestions include:
- The Sanmachi-suji district
- The Kokubun-ji temple
- The houses of Yoshijima and Kusakabe
- The Hall dedicated to the Takayama Matsuri, a festival held twice a year in spring in autumn.
Day 8-11: Kanazawa
Day 8: Kanazawa during the 10 nights / 12 days tour
Day 9: Kanazawa during the 12 nights / 14 days tour
Day 11: Kanazawa during the 14 nights / 16 days tour
After breakfast in your hotel in Kanazawa, transfer to Kanazawa station (not included) to take a direct train to Kanazawa included with the JR Pass (2 hours and a half).
Take advantage of a free day to explore Kanazawa, with the incredible Kenrokuen gardens, one of Japan's "three most beautiful landscape gardens", as well as Kanazawa Castle.
The Seisonkaku Villa, built in 1863, is a gorgeous Japanese traditional villa sure to delight any hisotry lover, in addition to the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. Be sure to see the Higashi-Chaya district and Nagamachi district during your stay here.
Our suggestions include:
- - Kenrokuen, one of Japan's "three most beautiful landscape gardens"
- Kanazawa Castle
- The Seisonkaku Villa, built in 1863
- The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
- Higashi-Chaya district and Nagamachi district.
Free Days in Kyoto
Free Days in Kyoto
After breakfast in your hotel, journey to Kyoto to spend the rest of the day at your own leisure (approximately 2h30, included in JR pass).
Kyoto, the former imperial capital, combines the past with the present, and the present with the future. Millennium, artistic, spiritual and gourmet: visiting Kyoto is an opportunity to discover the atmospheric temples, sublime gardens and traditional teahouses of old Japan.
Experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony in an authentic district of Kyoto. Taste delicious matcha tea and learn about the complexity of its service in one of the best tea houses of the city (45 minute excursion in English). Upon arrival, enjoy free time in the city or opt to add one of our excursions as seen below.
Our suggestions in Kyoto:
- Ryoanji Temple, a famous rock garden
- Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) and Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion)
- The Gion district and the Philosopher’s Path
- The Kiyomizu-dera
- Nishiki Market, where you can find typical food from Kyoto
- Nijo Castle and its nightingale floors
- Arashiyama’s bamboo groves
Day trip suggestions from Kyoto:
- Nara - Trip covered by the Japan Rail Pass (30 to 45 minutes), with Fushimi-Inari Taisha shrine and its thousands of vermilion torii gates on your way back from Nara. Trip covered by the Japan Rail Pass (5 minutes).
- Hiroshima & Miyajima (1 hour 45 minutes from Kyoto, included in your Japan Rail Pass).
Final Day: Kyoto - Osaka - UK
Take a transfer to Osaka Kansai Airport from your hotel (included).
Your Tour Hotels —
3* and 4* Hotels
Maximum room capacity
Our members will stay at the following 3* or 4* hotels in Standard Rooms.
3* Hotels
Tokyo: B Akasaka Mitsuke Hotel or similar
Hakone - Mount Fuji: Ryokan Ichinoyu Shinkan hotel or similar
Takayama - Japanese Alps: Best Western Takayama or similar
Kanazawa: Kaname Inn Tatemachi or similar
Kyoto: New Hôtel Tsugu 京都三条 or similar
4* Hotels
Tokyo: Metropolitan Ikebukoro or similar
Hakone - Mount Fuji: Yutowa or same category ryokan
Please note: You will sleep either on comfortable futons or on western beds in a traditional tatami room. Bathroom and toilets are private in 4* ryokans.
Takayama - Japanese Alps: Wat Hotel & Spa Hida Takayama or similar
Kanazawa: Hyatt Centric or similar
Kyoto: THE GENERAL KYOTO (Bukkoji Tominokoji) or similar
Your Board Basis
3* hotels: Enjoy included breakfasts at Kanazawa and Takyama, and Half Board dining (traditional Japanese-style dinner and breakfast at Hakone, Mount Fuji). All other breakfasts are not included but can be booked at reception upon check-in. However, in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, you'll find many cafés serving excellent breakfasts, which follow less restrictive schedules than those at the hotels. 4* hotels: Daily breakfast is included at each hotel.
Delight in a freshly prepared Japanese dinner at a traditional inn, called a ryokan. Immerse yourself in the ancient culture and enjoy the sights and sounds of the lush natural landscape surrounding Mount Fuji.
Your Optional Excursions —
Tokyo guided day tour: (same price package for 1 to 5 people)

Get to know Tokyo from a local's perspective with this comprehensive guided tour.
Example of visits: Explore Nijo Castle, the Kyoto residence of the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu and Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion). Then onto Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) and the Gion district.
Hakone, Mont Fuji: Private onsen (japanese bath) in room

Like all traditional accommodation in Japan, the ryokan offered at Hakone Mont Fuji has single-gender Japanese collective baths (onsen) used also as bathrooms (no bathroom nor toilets in the room for 3* ryokans).
By subscribing to this option, you'll have a traditional bath, bathroom and toilets in your room. Recommended for mixed couples, families, modest people or people with clearly visible tattoos.
Visit to sake brewery with sake tasting in Kyoto (3 hours)

Discover all the secrets of sake, a traditional Japanese alcohol (15 degrees, different from the Chinese sake well-known in Europe) in Kyoto. Start with a visit to a sake brewery where you'll see traditional brewing processes that have been passed down from generation to generation.
During a tasting session with experts, learn about the unique characteristics of the different varieties of sake. Finally, taste traditional Japanese "otsumami" snacks and discover how the taste of sake can completely change when combined with different dishes.
Kyoto Guided Day Tour

Get to know Kyoto from a local's perspective with an enriching guided tour of this ancient city.
Example of visits: Explore Nijo Castle, the Kyoto residence of the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu and Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion). Then onto Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) and the Gion district.
Kyoto Geisha district evening walk: (same price package for 1 to 5 people)

Evening tour in Kyoto Geishas district (about 1h30). Enjoy walking with a guide in this amazing historical area at night (from 7pm to 8.30pm).
Kyoto - Tea ceremony

Experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony in Kyoto. Taste matcha tea and learn about the complexity of its service in one of the best tea houses in the city.
Your Optional Extras —
Pocket Wifi

In Japan, free Wifi access is still rare. Renting a Pocket Wifi is sometimes essential. Its lightweight and long battery life guarantee you internet access wherever you are, and on any type of device. Several devices can be connected at the same time.
We recommend one single Pocket Wifi for 1 to 4 people. No data limit.
If you subscribe to this option, you'll pick up your pocket WiFi at the hotel reception in Tokyo.
Pre-paid city transportation card, already charged with ¥1,500

This card is a prepaid top up card that allows you to use in several of Japan's major cities public transport (metro, trains and buses).
The card is already loaded with 1500 yen ready for use (on top of a 500 yen deposit). The price of your journey is deducted automatically after every single use. If you use all the credit on the card, you can top up easily at train stations; same as Oyster card in London.
It can also be used as an electronic wallet to pay in convenience stores, vending machines, or even to pay the parking.
One card per person.
Tokyo Airport Welcome

Tokyo is a big city, sometimes a little confusing. With this airport welcome, get to your hotel easily and make your first steps in the city.
Your guide will wait for you at the airport, at the customs exit, and will take you to your hotel. They can also provide useful advice and tips for the rest of your stay.
Please note: only for arrivals between 10am and 6pm.
Your Journey to Japan —
Flights:
You may choose from Economy or Premium class flights on sectors that they operate, at the next stage of the booking process. The flights included are with either a scheduled or no-frills airline and are subject to live availability and prices can change. You can choose your preferred departure times during the booking process. Please select your flight options carefully as departure and arrival airports may differ.
Transfers:
It may be possible to add return transfers at the next stage of the booking process for an additional fee (flight inclusive offers only - subject to availability). For inbound transfer arrangements please confirm with your transfer provider when you arrive. Alternatively, please check with the reception of your accommodation. If you still require assistance, please call the transfer provider directly.
Your Destination —
Tokyo
One of the world’s most cutting-edge capitals, Tokyo is a city of contrasts. Famous for its modernity, neon-lit landscape and towering skyscrapers, it is also home to sprawling parkland, peaceful shrines and temples and lovingly tended gardens.
Despite its love affair with manga pop culture, fashion, high-tech trends and conspicuous consumption, below the surface is a city that has its roots in ancient heritage. Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples stand close to skyscrapers as a reminder of a more contemplative time and at the heart of the hyperactive centre lies the serene Imperial Palace, the home of the ruling emperor that provides a tangible link to the city’s historical past.
Behind the shopping, entertainment and commercial emporia can be found quaint wooden houses, private gardens with meticulously clipped bonsai trees and the Zen-like calm of the Hamarikyu Gardens. Discover the fascinating and exquisite culture of Japan where the ancient and modern worlds collide. The city’s reputation as a mega-expensive metropolis is ill-conceived and visitors can take advantage of inexpensive izakaya bars and neighbourhood cafes that serve delicious noodles and rice dishes.
Kanazawa
Touched with the grand allure of its past, Kanazawa prides itself on being a historical jewel of Japan. It is best known for being home to one of Japan's most beautiful landscaped gardens - Kenrokuen - a castle garden originating from the 17th century.
It's easy to discover this nostalgic city in a few days, admiring its celebrated penchant for the traditional arts, including hand-painted silks and lacquerware, ceramics and delicate gold leaf work. Spot a geisha at work, discover authentic tea houses and inns, and wade your way through the market.
Kyoto
If you're looking for old Japan, Kyoto is a must: tranquil gardens, sublime temples and colourful shrines can be found in abundance. While the rest of Japan has embraced modernity, Kyoto still keeps traditions alive.
Take a stroll through the Nishijin district and spy some of the older residents emerging from the machiya (traditional townhouses) to ladle water onto their porch. If you go by an old shōtengai (shopping street) you can admire the ancient speciality shops: tofu sellers, fishmongers, pickle vendors and tea merchants.