Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto

Highlights of Japan

Classic Culture & History + 1 more + 2 more

Explore Japan’s best bits over two weeks.

15 days

from £6,270 pp

including flights

Gastronomic Japan

Family Foodie + 2 more + 3 more

A delicious journey around Japan's foodie highlights.

15 days

from £7,135 pp

including flights

Soul of Japan

Go Local Adventure + 1 more + 2 more

Step back in time with a journey to the heart of Japan's traditions.

14 days

from £6,729 pp

including flights

Japan's Road Less Travelled

Go Local Off-the-beaten-track + 1 more + 2 more

Experience a quieter side of Japan.

15 days

from £6,650 pp

including flights

Japan with Teenagers

Family Adventure + 1 more + 2 more

From samurai workshops to Universal Studios, this is a family holiday to remember.

14 days

from £5,930 pp

including flights

A Walk Through Old Japan

Go Local Off-the-beaten-track + 1 more + 2 more

Walk in the footsteps of samurai on Japan's ancient Nakasendo Way.

14 days

from £6,955 pp

including flights

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Japan

Lake Biwa Wellness Retreat

Treat yourself to a bit of calm and quiet with this half day wellness retreat, on the photogenic shores of Lake Biwa. Meditate and stretch, take a deep breath of fresh air, and watch your worries simply float away. Set off from Kyoto and enjoy a scenic journey into the Japanese countryside. From the peaceful setting of a traditional farmhouse, take part in a meditation and mindfulness class, a yoga/Pilates session, and learn to prepare a healthy, homemade lunch of authentic local ingredients. After this delightful meal, stroll back to the train station for your journey back to the busy streets of Kyoto - hopefully a little more relaxed now.

Dine With A Maiko

Step behind the scenes of the intriguing world of geiko (the Kyoto term for geisha) with this unique dining experience. Meet with a local maiko - apprentice or trainee geiko - and discover more about the roles these women play in Japanese society, both historically and in the modern era. In the atmospheric neighbourhood of Gion, where this secretive group still work and train, you will gain an insight into the 'Flower and Willow' world. The maiko will entertain you with popular drinking games and will perform a traditional dance. Your English-speaking guide will assist in your interaction, as you learn more about the crafts and arts that have been practised in these streets for hundreds of years. An afternoon excursion can be combined with a tea ceremony, or for something completely unforgettable, a traditional kaiseki (multi-course meal) can be enjoyed in the company of your gracious hosts for an evening.

Arashiyama

Arashiyama - a beautiful, verdant district on the western edge of Kyoto - has been enjoying roughly 1200 years of popularity as a countryside getaway. Once you take a stroll though the towering stalks of bamboo, or along the banks of the Hozu and Katsura rivers, it's easy to see why. The rivers in question are actually one and the same, changing their name and their speed at the Togetsukyo Bridge - an iconic structure that spans the water and is the subject of one of Hiroshige's most famous ukiyo-e (woodblock prints). Justifiably popular at any time of year, the area comes into it's own during the seasons for sakura (cherry blossom) and koyo (autumn leaves) when anyone can seem like a prize-winning photographer by capturing the mass of colour. In the summer months, traditional cormorant fishing is still practised on the river, and the area is lit up with lights in December when the nights draw in, with the bamboo groves being particularly picturesque. As with the rest of Kyoto, you can get your fill of UNESCO World Heritage Sites here too. Tenryuji is one of the influential Zen temples in the city, and one of the most impressive and grandest structures in this region. A wander through the well-maintained gardens and walking paths is a great way to pass the time, and for those who are curious, you can try some traditional shokin-ryori (vegetarian Buddhist cuisine) within the tranquillity of the temple grounds. If you are feeling energetic, you can take a stroll with the local simian population in the Iwatayama Monkey Park, on a hill overlooking the river from its southern bank. From the top you can enjoy some spectacular views over the city and surrounding countryside.

Tea Ceremony at a Private Temple

Begin your day by visiting one of Kyoto's most famous temples, the glorious Kodaiji in the Higashiyama district. With 400-years of history, the lavish buildings and beautiful Zen gardens are the perfect setting for today's sado - or tea ceremony. Meet the tea master who will explain the history of green tea in Japan and its relationship with Zen Buddhism, before entering a sub-temple of Kodaiji that is normally off-limits to the public. Learn about the significance of each step and motion involved in the ceremony itself, before sampling the bitter concoction and accompanying traditional sweets. Following this unforgettable event, take a guided stroll around the surrounding historic neighbourhood - making your way up the shop-lined stone steps to the famous wooden balcony of Kiyomizudera temple. As this is a very exclusive experience, we cannot guarantee availability during high season or for last-minute trips.

Cultural Kyoto (Full Day)

With over 2000 temples and shrines scattered across the landscape of Kyoto, it's hard to know where to begin. Let us help get you started with this half-day or full-day guided tour around a varied selection of the city's greatest treasures. Begin your morning with Nijo Castle - built as the home of the first shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu - a shining example of an Edo-period palace fortification. More ornamental than functional, the feudal residence features beautifully decorated fusuma (sliding doors) and unique architectural touches. Next, head to Ryoanji - a peaceful temple displaying a famous Zen stone garden - where you will learn more about the mysterious design, and contemplate it's meaning for yourself. Nearby, the iconic and photogenic Kinkakuji - or Golden Pavilion - offers a spectacular opportunity to get up close to one of the most awe-inspiring sights in the whole of Japan. Covered in gold leaf, the temple seems to shimmer and radiate, even during the greyest of days - a sight to behold, for sure. The rest of the day can be spent exploring on your own, or continue after lunch with your expert guide on hand to discover further. Perhaps head to the tourist hot-spot of Kiyomizudera, with it's grand wooden stage looking out upon the surrounding hills and countryside, and the busy, climbing streets of the Higashiyama district that surround it? You can choose to take on the sights of Kyoto today on two-wheels if you feel up to it, an energetic way to visit the key attractions around the city. We would recommend a cycle around the verdant district of Arashiyama this afternoon- with it's bamboo groves, the gently-flowing Katsura River, and a number of wonderful temples, this area really shines with the seasonal colours of autumn and spring.