Journey through Japan

Depending on arrival time, you may wish to explore the neighbourhood or enjoy a gentle evening walk to unwind after your journey.

Hotel: Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel

Begin your exploration of Tokyo with visits to the Imperial Palace East Gardens and Sensoji Temple, where landscaped grounds and incense filled courtyards reveal the city’s historical layers. Travel through districts connected by the efficient metro network, gaining a sense of Tokyo’s scale and character.

(Meals: B)

Continue discovering Tokyo’s highlights with a visit to Meiji Shrine, set within a peaceful forested enclave that contrasts with the surrounding city. Walk through Shibuya to experience one of the world’s busiest crossings, a symbol of Tokyo’s modern dynamism.

(Meals: B)

Enjoy the Hakone Ropeway and a cruise on Lake Ashi, taking in landscapes shaped by volcanic history and forested hillsides. Return to Tokyo via Odawara, reflecting on the contrast between the capital’s urban energy and Hakone’s natural calm.

(Meals: B)

Ueno’s Ameyoko is a popular local market known for its bargain shopping. Visitors can wander through the narrow lanes filled with a wide variety of shops and stalls, offering everything from fresh seafood and produce to clothing and accessories.

The vibrant energy of the street is palpable as locals and travellers alike haggle for the best deals and soak in the lively ambiance. With its diverse range of products and affordable prices, Ueno’s Ameyoko is a shopper’s paradise and a great place to experience the local culture of Tokyo.

(Meals: B)

Visit Omicho Market and Higashi Chaya, where wooden teahouses and narrow lanes evoke the Edo period. A gold leaf experience introduces one of Kanazawa’s signature art forms, offering insight into the region’s craftsmanship and cultural heritage.

(Meals: B)

Hotel: Mitsui Garden Hotel Kanazawa

Travel into the mountains to visit Shirakawago, a UNESCO listed village known for its steep roofed gassho zukuri houses set among fields and forested slopes. Continue to Inami, a town celebrated for its woodcarving traditions, where artisans demonstrate techniques passed down through generations.

(Meals: B)

After exploring Kanazawa’s cultural landmarks, visit a local sake brewery before travelling to Kaga Onsen, a region known for its hot spring heritage and traditional hospitality. Settle into your ryokan and enjoy a peaceful evening.

(Meals: B, D)

Hotel: Hoshino Resorts Kai Kaga or similar

Visit a washi making workshop to learn about traditional paper production before exploring Takefu Knife Village, where skilled artisans craft blades using time honoured methods.

(Meals: B)

Hotel: Courtyard by Marriott Fukui

Visit Kiyomizudera Temple, set on a hillside with sweeping views, before strolling through Gion’s wooden streets, where traditional architecture and lantern lit alleys evoke Kyoto’s timeless atmosphere.

(Meals: B)

Hotel: Umekoji Potel Kyoto

Spend the day exploring Kyoto’s highlights, beginning with Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion shimmering above its reflective pond. Continue to Arashiyama, where bamboo groves and riverside scenery create a peaceful contrast to the city’s central districts.

(Meals: B)

Fushimi Inari Taisha is one of Japan's most important and atmospheric Shinto shrines, dedicated to Inari, the deity of rice, prosperity and success in business. Founded in 711 AD, it sits at the base of Mount Inari and is best known for its thousands of vermilion torii gates that form winding tunnels up the forested hillside. Walk through the dazzling red torii tunnels to feel immersed in Japanese culture.

(Meals: B,L)

Continue to Kokoen Garden, a series of landscaped spaces reflecting Edo period aesthetics. Travel onward to Hiroshima, a city shaped by resilience and reflection.

(Meals: B)

Hotel: Intergate Hiroshima

Travel by ferry to Miyajima Island to explore Itsukushima Shrine, known for its iconic torii gate set against mountain and sea. Return to Hiroshima for the evening.

(Meals: B)

Travel by Shinkansen to Osaka and explore key landmarks including Osaka Castle, the Floating Garden Observatory and the lively districts of Umeda and Dotonbori.

(Meals: B)

Hotel: Miyako City Osaka Honmachi or similar

As you leave the city, memories of temples, gardens, mountain villages and coastal landscapes come together, offering a final reflection on the cultural depth and varied scenery experienced throughout Japan.

(Meals: B)