To Takayama, a city nestled in the mountains

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Stay: Hida Hotel Plaza (Standard Twin) or similar

Luggage transfer from Atami Hotel to Kyoto Hotel. Travel light in Takayama and Kanazawa.

After breakfast at the hotel, it’s time to board the iconic Shinkansen (bullet train) bound for Nagoya – the best way to see Japan. With such a silky smooth ride, it’s almost impossible to believe the scenery is flying by at up to 285km per hour! From Nagoya we’ll take the Limited Express “Wide View Hida” to Takayama, a city nestled in the mountains of the Hida region.
Before we start exploring, we’ll enjoy a bowl of Takayama ramen – a ramen with a lighter broth and smaller curly noodles unique to the region.
Fully charged after lunch, we explore Takayama Old Town and Takayama Jinya. Stroll down streets lined with beautifully preserved buildings of the Edo era that allow you to see Japan as it was hundreds of years ago.
For dinner, we’ll try sukiyaki. A bubbling hotpot with vegetables and Hida beef – among the finest quality beef in Japan.

World Heritage Shirakawa-go village and interesting food scene in Kanazawa

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Stay: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kanazawa Miyabi (Superior Twin)

After breakfast, we’ll visit Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its thatched roof houses. It’s a charming area that looks straight from the pages of a children’s storybook.
We’ll leave the mountains and head via private coach to the city of Kanazawa located right on the Sea of Japan. With some of the freshest seafood in Japan, seafood lovers are in for a treat.
After a tempura lunch, we head to Omicho Market to explore the hundreds of stalls and shops showcasing the finest produce the region has to offer.
Finish the day with a delicious crab dinner – you’ll never have had fresher crab!

Best attractions of Kanazawa

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Stay: Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Station (Moderate Twin)

After breakfast at the hotel we’ll board our private coach to tour the best attractions of Kanazawa.
First up are the narrow streets of the historic Higashi Chaya district – one of Japan’s few remaining geisha districts.
From there we stop at the majestic Kanazawa Castle which dates back to the 1500s. Across from the Castle are the Kenrokuen Gardens – an exquisite landscaped garden that shares a history with the Castle. Tranquil and serene, the gardens feature pine trees that are 200 years old and beautiful water features. The perfect way to end our tour of Kanazawa.
By now it’s time to eat and for our last taste of Kanazawa’s amazing seafood – a delectable sushi lunch.
In the late afternoon we’ll catch the Limited Express “Thunderbird” for Kyoto – the ancient capital of Japan.
After getting settled in the Kyoto hotel, we’ll go out for dinner to finish up the day.

Kyoto Highlights and Tofu making experience

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Stay: Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Station (Moderate Twin)

We begin our exploration of Kyoto with the shimmering Kinkakuji – the iconic temple covered in gold leaf.
Next, we’ll learn secrets of tofu by actually making it from scratch. Try your hand at making tofu and even get to try our efforts for lunch.
After lunch we’ll take part in a traditional tea ceremony before continuing on to Kiyomizudera Temple. Perched on a mountain, Kiyomizudera’s vast veranda offers a spectacular view of Kyoto.
From there we’ll return to Kyoto central and visit Nishiki Market. This market is crowded with all the local delights – green tea, sweets, locally-made ceramics and anything else you could imagine.
With our appetites worked up from the market, tonight’s dinner will be much welcomed – a teppanyaki feast at a local restaurant.

Nara, southern Kyoto and sake tasting followed by dinner with a maiko

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Stay: Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Station (Moderate Twin)

After breakfast, we board a private coach tour to Nara and southern Kyoto.
Nara Park is vast and home to many sights of great cultural significance. Explore the park and visit Todaiji Temple – an enormous wooden structure that houses the largest bronze statue of Buddha in the world. Be sure to say hello to the deer that freely roam Nara Park – but be careful – they’re on the lookout for snacks!
For lunch, we’ll stop in at a local Italian restaurant for pizza and pasta.
In the afternoon we’ll visit the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum in Kyoto. This centuries-old Kyoto brewery taps into the pure underground spring water of Fushimi – perfect for making sake. Try a sample (or two!) afterwards!
We will also visit Fushimi-Inari Taisha shrine, with its iconic thousands of vermillion torii gates across the narrow pathway to the mountain.
For dinner, spend the evening at an elegant restaurant surrounded by beautifully landscaped Japanese gardens and enjoy a Kaiseki meal. And as a truly rare experience, be entertained over dinner by a maiko – a geisha apprentice – with a performance featuring games and music.

Picturesque Miyajima Island

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Stay: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Hiroshima Ekimae (Deluxe Twin)

Luggage transfer from Kyoto Hotel to Tokyo Hotel. Travel light in Hiroshima and Osaka.

Today we head to Hiroshima on the bullet train – a city that respects its tragic past but is not defined by it.
We’ll first board a ferry for a day-trip to Miyajima – a small island just 10 minutes off the mainland. Miyajima is home to one of the most iconic scenes in Japan – the “floating” tori gate of Itsukushima shrine. Explore the island and see the Five Story Pagoda and Daishoin Temple – and make new friends with the deer that roam the island.
Miyajima is famous for delicious, juicy oysters – which feature on today’s lunch menu!
Take a moment to relax back in the hotel before we take on Hiroshima’s comfort food of choice for dinner – okonomiyaki. Most commonly described as a sizzling savoury pancake – topped with meat or local seafood – it is a must-try.

Hiroshima morning and Osaka afternoon

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Stay: Courtyard by Marriott Shin-Osaka Station (High Floor Twin)

This morning we visit the A-Bomb Dome – the epicentre of the 1945 atomic bomb blast. Surrounded by the beautiful Peace Memorial Park dotted with colourful origami cranes symbolising hope, it is incredible to see how the city of Hiroshima has prospered.
Next we farewell Hiroshima and take a bullet train to Osaka – also known as Japan’s Kitchen. Pick up a bento (lunch box) before the trip and watch the scenery glide by as you eat!
After arriving in Osaka we head to Osaka Castle. Situated in a picturesque park, Osaka Castle sits high above and provides a great view over Osaka.
For dinner, we dive into the chaotic night-life of Dotonbori and feast on kushikatsu. Kushikatsu is deep-fried skewered meat and vegetables with a dipping sauce – a true Osaka favourite. Remember, only dip once!

The mega-city Tokyo!

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Stay: Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo (Standard Twin)

After breakfast we hop on the bullet train and speed toward our final destination – the mega-city of Tokyo!
You’re in charge for lunch as we roll up our sleeves and take part in a sushi-making class. Learn under the experts’ watchful eye. Good luck!
After lunch we’ll spend the afternoon in the Asakusa district. Here you’ll see the area’s unique blend of old Japan and cutting-edge future of Japan.
Stroll down the buzzing Nakamise shopping street while sampling traditional snacks and picking up those last-minute souvenirs before arriving at Sensoji – Tokyo’s most famous temple.
Head skywards to the 634m-high Tokyo Skytree. The never-ending sprawl of Tokyo laid out beneath you is a truly memorable sight.
Tonight we celebrate a great trip with an all-you-can-eat izakaya dinner. Eat, drink and plan your next trip to Japan!

Tokyo – See you again!

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

On our final day in Japan, we head to Tsukiji Outer Market. The former site of Tokyo’s iconic seafood market, Tsukiji remains an important source for fresh seafood and produce and is a favourite among restauranteurs.
After exploring Tsukiji Outer Market, we drive through the Olympic Games precincts before we head for a sumo demonstration while enjoying lunch. We’ll witness the intensity of sumo. Watch two former professional sumo wrestlers go to toe-to-toe in a sumo demonstration. Feel their movement and witness a close-up demonstration of sumo wrestling while sampling their favourite meal, chanko nabe….
And as the sun sets, our tour comes to an end, and we return to the hotel. If you are flying home tonight, board your private transfer back to Haneda Airport.
We hope to see you again in Japan – sayonara!

*subject to change depending on the schedule of sumo matches.