22 Day Grand Japan

Welcome to Japan! Today begins your magnificent tour through Japan! Please make your own way to the starting point hotel.

Take the evening to relax after your flight and prepare for your first full day of touring tomorrow.

Travellers will be arriving at various times throughout the day.  If arriving prior to standard check-in time, which is generally 3pm local time, you are welcome to leave your luggage with hotel reception and explore your surroundings until check-in becomes available, as there are no scheduled activities on Day 1 of the itinerary. The hotel may grant early check-in, however this is strictly subject to availability and at the hotels discretion.

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at your hotel for a full day tour of Otaru. Located about half an hour north of Sapporo, Otaru is a stunning port city famous for it's wonderfully preserved canal, sake distilleries and rich fishing culture.

You'll visit Otaru Canal, Sakaimachi Street, Tanaka Sake Brewery and other landmarks throughout the town.

On arrival back to Sapporo this afternoon, enjoy time at leisure to explore the nightlife of Hokkaido's largest city. 

At the appropriate time today, make your way to the station to board your train to Hakodate. 

It's an approximately 4 hour train journey through stunning countryside to Hakodate. On arrival, make your way to your centrally located hotel and spend the afternoon at leisure. Perhaps make your way via cable car up Mount Hakodate for stunning night-time views over the city. The mountain looms 330m over the city and is the best place to get a birds-eye view of the city.

Today your local guide will meet you at your hotel for a half-day walking tour of Hakodate. 

Your first stop will be the Hakodate morning market. The market boasts over 250 stalls offering fresh produce and souvenirs. You might like to try the mouth-watering seafood donburi here to start your day with a bowl of steaming rice topped with freshly-caught seafood.

Next up we visit the famous Red Brick Warehouses of Hakodate. Dating back to the trading days of the past, the warehouses have been thoughtfully restored and now host an atmospheric shopping, dining and entertainment complex. 

Afterwards we visit the Motomachi district and wander throught the eclectic mix of Russian, British and Chinese architecture that was built when Japan ended it's period of isolation from the world in the 1850's. 

Today, make your way to the train station to board the shinkansen bullet train to Sendai. On arrival, make your way to your hotel and spend the afternoon at leisure.

After breakfast this morning, meet your guide at the nearby train station for your half day tour to Matsumisha.

The first stop is the Zuiganji Temple, founded in 828 AD during the Heian period by Jikaku Daish. The temple is a National Treasure and one of the most important Buddhist sites in northern Japan. 

Afterwards you will enjoy a scenic cruise around the islands of Matsushima Bay. The bay is known as one of the most scenic spots in Japan, and is characterised by hundreds of islands covered in pine trees.

Return to Sendai and enjoy the afternoon and evening at leisure.

After breakfast today may your way to the station and board the train to Tokyo. On arrival, make your way to your centrally located hotel. 

After breakfast this morning your English-speaking guide will meet you to begin your full-day coach tour of Japan’s ultramodern capital – Tokyo. Our tour will begin with a visit to Meiji Shrine, located within a 170 acre forest in the centre of the city. Constructed of cypress wood and copper, the shrine commemorates Emperor Meiji, Japan’s 122nd emperor, who presided over Japan’s industrial revolution and emergence onto the world stage.

We will then visit the Tokyo Skytree. Open since May 2012, the Skytree is a television and radio broadcast site, and contains a restaurant and two viewing platforms. At 634m, it's among the tallest structures in the world.

Next we visit Asakusa district, and the Sensō-ji Temple. This is Tokyo’s oldest temple, and it's dedicated to Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. On the approach to Sensō-ji is Nakamise Shopping Street, a centuries-old promenade of shops selling traditional snacks and souvenirs like kimonos and bottles of saké.

We round off the day with a trip to Odaiba, a large artificial island in Tokyo Bay. Built as an island fortress in the 19th century, Odaiba was a venue location for the Olympic Games, and is already a popular leisure and sightseeing area.

Today is a full free day in Tokyo. There is no end to the spectacular sightseeing and activities available to you, as Tokyo truly has something for everyone. Take as much time as you like to relax at your leisure, explore the city, shop for souvenirs and eat the delectable cuisine. Be sure to ask your guide for recommendations on more must-see spots around the city.

Leaving Tokyo this morning we head to the national park region of Hakone. On the way we explore the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse – a building complex that was erected a century ago as a customs house for Yokohama Port. Requisitioned by the US military after World War II, the buildings were repurposed as a cultural centre and shopping complex in 2002.

Next, we visit the incredible Kamakura Daibutsu, or Great Buddha, at Kōtoku-in Temple. Constructed in 1252, and once covered in gold, the bronze Great Buddha is an impressive sight.

Afterwards, we'll take a boat cruise on Lake Ashi. The lake sits within the caldera of Mount Hakone, and is famed for its views of Mount Fuji. Boats inspired by western warships cruise the scenic lake, and the picturesque, forested region has been popular with hikers and sightseers for centuries.

We then transfer to Lake Kawaguchiko, an absolutely stunning area that's home to the second largest of the Fuji Five Lakes and promises more fabulous views of Mount Fuji.

Later we'll arrive at the hotel and prepare for a lovely dinner with our fellow travellers.

Today, after departing Kawaguchiko, we travel by coach to visit Mount Fuji's 5th Station, which is halfway up the active volcano. Mount Fuji is the country’s tallest peak and it is considered one of Japan’s three holy mountains. Here, above the clouds, we'll view the mountain’s enormous summit if weather permits.

Next we transfer to Matsumoto, where we’ll visit Matsumoto Castle, also known as the 'Crow Castle' due to its dramatic black exterior. It is listed as a National Treasure of Japan and was built in the 1500s.

Following this we'll continue on to our final destination today, the city of Takayama.

Today is a full free day in Takayama. Be sure to ask your guide previously for their recommendations on must-see spots around the city.

Before leaving Takayama this morning we'll tour the Miyagawa Open-Air Market and stop at Kamisannomachi Street in Takayama’s Old Town, a wonderfully well-preserved slice of old Japan, with houses and shops dating back to the Edo period (1600-1868). As well as the charming architecture, there are several quaint cafés and a number of old saké breweries to explore.

We'll then travel to Shirakawa-gō Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has more than 100 'Gassho-style' houses, which feature steeply-pitched roofs. Built many hundreds of years ago, these historic houses stand together in a beautiful natural setting. From the site’s observation deck you can enjoy a panoramic view of this unique village, its thatched-roof houses sitting among gorgeous mountain scenery. Following this we will transfer to Kanazawa to rest for the evening.

This morning we’ll visit the stunning Kenrokuen Garden – one of the most beautiful in Japan. Developed over more than 200 years, starting in 1620, the garden contains almost 9000 trees and 200 plant species.

We also visit Nomura Samurai House, the historic residence of the Nomura Samurai clan. The intriguing house and grounds provide an insight into the lifestyle of the samurai, or military nobility, during the 16-19th centuries. The residence features beautiful architecture, gardens and décor, such as intricately painted screen doors.

Finally we will take a brief tour around Higashi Chaya District, a beautifully preserved and picturesque historical area of Kanazawa, before heading to Kanazawa station. After a break for lunch here, we’ll transfer by coach from Kanazawa to Kyoto. Upon arrival in Kyoto, the rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure.

Today is a full free day to spend in Kyoto. 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.

This morning, we travel the short distance to Nara by bus, and 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.

Next, we visit Heian-jingū (Heian Shinto Shrine), a replica of an ancient imperial palace, and a symbol of the rebirth of Kyoto after World War II. The enormous vermillion Shinto torii (a traditional Japanese gate) is unforgettable.

Later today we'll visit Tōdai-ji (Great Eastern Temple), famed for its Great Buddha Hall, which remains one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. This impressive building houses a 15m-tall bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana. Following this we'll wander through gorgeous Nara Park, where more than 1200 tame sika deer roam freely, before returning to Kyoto for the evening.

This morning we begin a full-day coach tour of Kyoto. Our first stop will be the magnificent Fushimi Inari Shrine. Famous for its thousands of vermilion torii (shrine gates), which straddle a network of trails behind its main temples, the Fushimi Inari Shrine is incredibly photogenic. The trails lead into the forest of the sacred Mount Inari, which stands at 233m and belongs to the shrine grounds. Fushimi Inari is the most important of several thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice.

Next we'll visit Arashiyama, a stunning area known for its thick bamboo forest, which is also designated by the Japanese government as a Place of Scenic Beauty. Following our tour we'll depart Kyoto and head to Osaka, where we'll check into our hotel and spend the evening relaxing.

Today your main luggage will remain at the hotel in Osaka to meet you upon your return in two days time. Please ensure you have an overnight bag packed for your two evenings in Hiroshima.

After breakfast we'll depart Osaka to 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.

From here we'll continue on to Kurashiki, a city on Japan’s Seto Inland Sea, where we'll tour the Bikan Historical Quarter, known for its centuries-old buildings and lovely local shops. After our visit here we'll transfer to our hotel in Hiroshima.

After breakfast this morning our guide will meet us in the hotel lobby. Together 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 artifacts in a 19th-century merchant's home. We’ll take a walk along Omotesando Shopping Street where you can grab some 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.

Later, we'll visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which contains many poignant, yet important, exhibits. The flame in the cenotaph is intended to burn until the last nuclear weapon has been destroyed.

This morning we'll depart Hiroshima via the bullet train to Shin-Osaka Station. Upon arrival in Osaka we'll begin a full-day coach tour with our guide, beginning at Osaka Castle, which played a major role in the unification of Japan during the Azuchi-Momoyama period in the 16th century.

Later, we'll tour Kuromon Ichiba, one of the city's main food markets. This spacious covered market features vendors peddling street food, fresh produce, shellfish and trinkets and souvenirs.

After a short break for lunch our tour continues to the Minami area in the city’s south – a district that's bursting with boutiques, designers outlets, restaurants and bars.

We’ll also enjoy a walking tour of the Dōtonbori area. 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.

Today is a full free day in Osaka to spend at your leisure. Be sure to ask your guide for recommendations on great places to see and eat.

This evening we’ll enjoy dinner as a group at a local restaurant.

Today marks the end of your incredible tour through Japan. 

Departure and check out: There are several ways to travel from your hotel to either Osaka International Airport (ITM) or Kansai International Airport (KIX), from shuttle buses to trains and taxis. Transport to the airports can cost between 250 Yen to 21,000 Yen depending on the form of transport you choose. Your Tour Leader will be able to assist you arrange the most convenient way to the airport on the last day of the trip.

Travellers will be departing at various times throughout the day. Standard hotel check-out is from 10am-12pm. You are welcome to leave your luggage at hotel reception and spend your final moments of free time exploring the area or alternatively please speak with hotel staff if you would like to extend your check-out time. Please note this service is subject to availability and will likely come at an additional cost.