Day 7 - Hiroshima - hotel
Overnight Hotel Vista Hiroshima (Moderate Double Room & Superior Twin Room) Today’s meal inclusions – Breakfast
Day 7 - Hiroshima - Miyajima
Later you should take a short ferry ride to Miyajima, a wooded island located in the Inland Sea near Hiroshima. Here you will find perhaps the most photographed site in Japan - the floating torii gate of the Itsukushima Shrine. The shrine itself dates back to the 6th Century and has been designated...
Day 7 - Hiroshima
First stop today should be the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in central Hiroshima which is dedicated to those who lost their lives in the 1945 bombing. Stroll through the park and discover the many moving memorials, monuments and statues before heading into the museum itself.
Day 6 - train to Hiroshima
Later, board your train to Hiroshima (approx. 4.5hrs). Overnight Hotel Vista Hiroshima (Moderate Double Room & Superior Twin Room) Today’s meal inclusions – Breakfast
Day 6 - Kanazawa - Kanazawa Castle
Explore Kanazawa Castle which is adjacent to the Kenroku-en gardens. Later, board your train to Hiroshima (approx. 4.5hrs)
Day 6 - Kanazawa - Kenrokuen gardens
Why not start this morning with a stroll through the Kenroku-en gardens. The name Kenroku-en means ‘Six Attributes Garden’ as it is considered the perfect union of the six attributes which Japanese tradition typically assigns to a garden - spaciousness, seclusion, artificiality, antiquity, abundant...
Day 5 - Kanazawa
In the early afternoon, continue by bus on to the castle town of Kanazawa (approx.1hr 20mins). Overnight Hotel Vista Kanazawa (Superior Double Room & Superior Twin Room) Today’s meal inclusions – Breakfast
Day 5 - Shirakawa-go (thatched wooden farmhouses)
This morning, head to Shirakawa-go by bus (approx. 50mins). Located in the beautiful and remote Shogawa River Valley, Shirakawa-go was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 and is famous for its unique ‘gassho-zukuri’ (thatched wooden farmhouses), some of which are more than 250 years old. G...
Day 4 - Takayama - Honjin Hiranoya Bekkan
Overnight Honjin Hiranoya Bekkan (Japanese-style room with private en suite bathroom & toilet) Today’s meal inclusions – Breakfast & Dinner
Day 4 - Takayama - Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine
In the afternoon you can visit the Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine, the heart of the Takayama Festival. This festival is held annually in April and October and is regarded as one of the most beautiful festivals in Japan. Nearby you can also visit the Takayama Festival Floats museum, which displays a se...
Day 4 - Takayama - Miyagawa market
After breakfast, we suggest you head to the Miyagawa morning market with its variety of stalls selling local crafts, souvenirs and some of the region’s most delicious fruit and vegetables.
Day 3 - Takayama - Hotel Honjin Hiranoya Bekkan
Tonight you will be staying in a traditional Japanese-style ryokan accommodation. In the evening, relax in your yukata (lightweight kimono), and dine on a traditional Japanese style multi-course meal. Dinner will be sure to include some of Takayama’s famous cuisine, including Hida beef (said to riva...
Day 3 - Takayama - former government house
This afternoon why not take a stroll around the streets of the old town and visit Takayama Jinya, the former government house. Later you can also visit one of the town’s many sake breweries and take the opportunity to sample the local brew.
Day 3 - Tokyo - Shinkansen bullet train
Today bid farewell to Tokyo as you undertake the train journey to Takayama (approx. 4hrs). The first leg will be on the world famous Shinkansen bullet train, which can reach speeds of up to 300km/hr. The second part of the journey is renowned as one of the most scenic rail rides in Japan. Enjoy the...
Day 2 - Tokyo - Hamarikyu Gardens
This stunning former private garden of a nobleman from the Edo period is an oasis surrounded by a sea of skyscrapers. Stop at a tea house on the park’s lake where you’ll have the opportunity to try ‘matcha’, the traditional Japanese tea.
Day 2 - Tokyo - Asakusa river cruise
From Asakusa you will then board a river cruise down the Sumida River to Hamarikyu Gardens
Day 2 - Tokyo - Sensoji Temple
Enjoy the contrast between the modern and ancient sides of Tokyo as a short subway ride will take you to Asakusa, part of Tokyo’s ‘Shitamachi’ or ‘old town’. Asakusa is home to the Sensoji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, and is also the city’s oldest geisha district. The streets around Senso...
Day 2 - Tokyo - Kokyo Gaien
From Omotesando, take the metro to Ginza. The area is Tokyo’s most famous upmarket shopping, dining and entertainment district. One square metre of land here is worth over 10 million yen! Next to Ginza lies the Imperial Palace, the main residence of Japan’s Emperor. Whilst the Palace itself is not o...
Day 2 - Tokyo - Omotesando
Next walk to the sophisticated area of Omotesando, commonly referred to as Tokyo’s Champs-Elysées. This broad, tree-lined street is home to a multitude of fashion flagship stores. Feel free to stop for a coffee in one of the area’s many stylish cafés. At a convenient breaking point, your guide will...
Day 2 - Tokyo - Meiji Jingu shrine
This morning your guide will meet you at your hotel for a full day sightseeing utilising Tokyo’s super-efficient metro system. First stop is the nearby Meiji Jingu shrine which is Tokyo’s most famous shrine, dedicated to the spirit of the late Emperor Meiji. The shrine and the surrounding Yoyogi Par...
Day 1 Tokyo
Welcome to Japan! Upon arrival in Tokyo you will be welcomed by an airport representative who will assist you with transferring by train or limousine bus to your hotel. Overnight Mercure Ginza (Superior Queen Room & Superior Twin Room) Today’s meal inclusions – None