13 Day Heart of Japan - A Platinum Small Group Tour

Welcome to Tokyo, Japan’s exciting capital! From towering skyscrapers to eclectic streets and an award-winning food scene, Tokyo is Japan’s most populous city and is regularly ranked among the most liveable in the world.

Upon arrival, you will be warmly greeted and driven to your 5-star hotel. Depending on your arrival time, take some time to enjoy the afternoon or evening at leisure before your first full day of sightseeing tomorrow. 

Your hotel is situated on the Tokyo Bay waterfront, next to Aqua City Mall, Diver City Mall and Decks Tokyo Beach. It's also a short walk from Daiba station (Yurikamome monorail). 

After a leisurely breakfast, meet your Tour Leader and get ready for your first day of sightseeing. 

Our first stop visit today is an Inspiring Sight and will be one to remember - witnessing sumo wrestlers at their morning practice! Your guide will explain the history and origins of sumo in Japan, and the rules. The morning practice starts with stretching, warming-up, and a routine of basic sumo movements, and we’ll witness the cool-down. 

Next, we’ll visit two very different, but uniquely Japanese neighbourhoods, Asakusa and Akihabara. 

In a city of such frenetic pace, a stop at the charming Asakusa neighbourhood is a refreshing taste of older Tokyo. It’s home to the ancient seventh-century Sensō-ji Temple. Built in the Asuka era, it’s the oldest and most important Buddhist temple in Tokyo – be prepared for crowds! It’s known for its imposing entrance gate, Kaminarimon (also known as ‘Thunder Gate’), with its magnificent red lantern. 

The Akihabara area is where you’re mostly to come into contact with Tokyo’s eclectic cosplayers. developed after the Second World War as a centre of the black market and today it’s where all locals and tourists go to purchase electronic goods. It is also a mecca for otaku, or super fans of video games, manga and anime. 

Our Welcome Dinner this evening will be onboard the Yakatabune Amitatsu ferry restaurant. We’ll enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine while cruising the Sumida River, passing major sites including Skytree and Rainbow Bridge along the way. 

After a memorable meal and lively chat with our new travel companions, we’ll head back to our opulent hotel.

After breakfast, we’ll meet our tour leader for our second day exploring the capital. 

Foodies will be in heaven at Tsukiji Outer Market, a shopping district adjacent to the enormous former wholesale fish market. This lively area is home to everything food-related – fresh ingredients, street food vendors, kitchen utensils. There’s great sushi and other restaurants around here, too, but today we’ll be cooking our own lunch during our Inspiring Taste – a traditional Japanese cooking class with an expert local chef.

After lunch, we’ll visit Meiji-jingu, a Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, who is credited with helping Japan step into modern times after forging relations with international powers. The shrine is surrounded by more than 100,000 trees, all donated and planted by volunteers. 

Next, we'll venture into the vibrant neighbourhood of Shibuya, allowing you some time to explore at your leisure the iconic Shibuya Scramble Square. 

We’ll then return to the hotel where the rest of the day is at leisure. 

Today after breakfast and check out, we’ll meet our Tour Leader and set off for Mt. Fuji, a Japanese icon and tour highlight. 

It’s about a 2-hour journey via luxury coach to the revered peak, Mount Fuji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This enduring cultural symbol has been considered sacred since ancient times. It’s an imposing sight, standing 3,776 metres high.

We’ll travel to Arakurayama Sengen Park, one of the best places to take photos of the mountain and Mount Fuji 5th Station, about halfway up the mountain at an elevation of 2,300 metres. You’ll savour spectacular views over the Fuji Five Lakes and Hakone National Park.

This evening we’ll be staying in a traditional ryokan near Hakone National Park. Ryuguden overlooks Lake Ashi, and you’ll be able to peek at Mt. Fuji from the spacious Japanese-style rooms.

We’ll enjoy another Inspiring Taste tonight, a traditional kaiseki dinner at your ryokan.

Today you are free to explore Hakone and the surrounding area at leisure. Your Tour Leader is on hand to provide recommendations of what to do in the area. You may also wish to enjoy the stunning onsen at your ryokan. 

Your luggage will be sent ahead to Kyoto, ready for your arrival. Please have your belongings ready and pack an overnight bag with your essential items. 

Tonight, enjoy another spectacular dinner at your ryokan.

After breakfast we will be saying farewell to Mount Fuji before departing for Kyoto via the iconic Japanese bullet train. 

After arrival in Kyoto, we will visit Kinkaku-ji Temple, otherwise known as the Golden Pavilion. This is a Zen temple and a UNESCO World Heritage Site with two floors covered entirely in thin layers of pure gold. The site is set within a beautiful classical Zen garden. The detailed architecture of Kinkaku-ji incorporates three distinct architectural styles – Shinden, Samurai, and Zen.

Afterwards, stand amongst the soaring stalks of bamboo at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. It’s green, peaceful and the seemingly endless boughs make for a serene experience, even with the tourist crowds. Take in the sound of rustling bamboo as you stroll these paths – if there’s a bit of wind, the groves will gently sway back and forth which only adds to the magic. 

After exploring the sites of Kyoto, we slow the pace down to reflect on the sacred sites we have experienced during an exclusive guided Zen meditation, another Inspiring Sight. Enhance your understanding of Zen meditation in the revered birthplace of Zen Buddhism—Kyoto. Delve into the principles and techniques of meditation within the serene setting of a traditional "machiya" house, where you'll experience both seated and walking meditations firsthand.

After a magical day of sightseeing, we retire to our 5-star hotel in the heart of Kyoto where the rest of the evening will be at leisure. 

We’ll see the sights of ancient Kyoto this morning, starting with a matcha tasting. 

The picturesque town of Uji is our next destination, and the setting in the famous 11th-century literary masterpiece The Tale of Genji. Uji River and bridge is considered one of the most romantic spots in Kyoto. Part of the Historical Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (alongside Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities), Byodo-in Temple, UNESCO treasure, is the next stop. The temple is best known for its main building, Amida Hall, as depicted on the front of the Japanese 10 yen coin. The temple is surrounded by beautiful gardens which act as an oasis of serenity. 

After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll visit Kyoto’s famed Fushimi Inari Shrine – known throughout the world as the ‘Path of the Red Gates.’ Take time to appreciate the quieter corners of the shrine, and if you’re feeling fit, a walk to the halfway point provides stunning city views.

This afternoon we enjoy another Inspiring Taste – a tea ceremony experience in the heart of Kyoto. The Japanese tea ceremony is a traditional ritual influenced by the principles of Zen Buddhism in which powdered green tea, or matcha, is prepared and served by a host in a quiet setting. Enjoy tasting traditional Japanese confectionery with your green tea.

Today is a full free day to spend in Kyoto - if there is anything on your must-see list, today is the day.  This golden city was once the capital of Japan and sits on the island of Honshu. It's famous for its numerous classical Buddhist temples, as well as gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses. Beautiful Geisha are often found in the Gion district. Your expert tour leader will be on hand to assist you with any tours or experiences you are interested in. 

Today after breakfast and check out, we’ll depart Kyoto and travel by bullet train to Hiroshima.

After check in and settling into our 5-star hotel, we will meet this evening for dinner at a local restaurant.

After breakfast, we’ll board a ferry for the short trip to Miyajima, an island known for its forests and ancient temples. Just offshore, there's a 'floating' torii, which becomes partially submerged at high tide. It marks the entrance to the Itsukushima Shrine, which was first built in the 12th century. Nearby, the Museum of History and Folklore has cultural artefacts in a 19th-century merchant's home. We’ll take a walk along Omotesando Shopping Street where we will enjoy lunch before returning to Hiroshima by ferry.

Once we're back in Hiroshima we'll visit the Atomic Bomb Dome, otherwise known as the Genbaku Dome, or the Hiroshima Peace Memorial. A shell of a building that was one of very few left standing after the United States bombed Hiroshima in 1945. In Hiroshima today, locals have mixed feelings about the UNESCO World Heritage-listed structure: some see it as a reminder of war, while others consider it a tribute to the lost that ensures we'll never forget the tragic events that took place here.

The flame in the cenotaph is intended to burn until the last nuclear weapon has been destroyed. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, located in the Peace Memorial Park, is a sobering experience for those who wish to explore further.

We’ll then head back to the hotel where the rest of the evening can be spent as you wish.

En route to Osaka, we’ll visit the so-called 'White Heron Castle', Himeji – it's the largest surviving example of a traditional Japanese castle. Comprising 83 buildings, the white roof of this UNESCO World Heritage-listed complex is said to evoke the wings of a heron taking flight, hence the popular name Shirasagi-jō (White Heron Castle). This is the most visited castle in Japan and the site offers some wonderful views of surrounding Himeji city. 

The rest of the day is yours to spend how you wish. 

This morning after breakfast, we’ll enjoy a cruise on the Tombori River. This is a fun, 20-minute cruise where we’ll pass nine bridges and learn about famous spots and hidden gems you might like to visit in your free time later this afternoon. 

After arriving at the Dōtonbori area, we will have a walk through one of Japan’s typical downtowns. One of Osaka's most popular tourist destinations, this street runs parallel to the Dōtonbori canal and is a hugely popular destination for shopping, street food, bars and entertainment. At night, the streets here are illuminated by hundreds of colourful neon lights and mechanised signs, including the famous running Glico Man sign and the Kani Doraku crab sign.

The afternoon can be spent at leisure, maybe exploring the highlights you heard about on the river cruise. 

Later this evening we’ll enjoy our farewell dinner and Inspiring Taste at the renowned Table 36 Restaurant, towering 36 floors above Osaka with incredible views and world-class food. Enjoy our last meal as a group.

After breakfast it’s time to bid farewell to your fellow travellers, Osaka, and to your Japan adventure—what amazing memories you’ve made! 

You’ll be transferred to the airport for your onward journey.