Japan In-Depth

Welcome to Japan! Get ready for a few action-packed weeks of adventuring. Our friendly team will be there to greet you when you arrive, answer any questions and help get you to your first hotel in Tokyo. Spend the rest of your day relaxing after your long flight, or venture out to begin to explore for yourself.

With your private guide by your side, you'll head off on a full day of Tokyo sightseeing today. Tokyo is incredibly diverse, with robots and neon lights one way you look, and ancient shrines and traditional theatre the other, so it's sometimes difficult to know where to start! Whether you're more interested in the skyscrapers or the temples, cheap ramen noodles or Michelin-star sushi, we can tailor the day to show you the side of Tokyo that appeals to you.

Today is completely free for exploring and adventure. Of course, we'll give you plenty of suggestions for things to do, so don't feel like you need to make any decisions in advance! One of our favourite day trips from the city is visiting Kamakura, a coastal town with gorgeous temples and shrines, wonderful sea views and centuries of history, ready for you to discover. So this can easily be arranged if it sounds like something worthy of your holiday. As always, we'll tailor every moment to suit you, so let's chat. 

Today you'll have your first experience of the futuristic (and incredibly efficient) bullet trains as you board the Shinkansen to Kanazawa, a city that thrived during the Edo period as a centre of arts and culture and one that’s tucked away off the usual tourist trail. Spend your afternoon checking out some of the excellent museums, perfectly-preserved neighbourhoods and trying the tasty local cuisine.

Your guide this morning will take you through some of the noteworthy historical districts of Kanazawa. It's such a beautiful part of Japan that's all too often missed off holiday itineraries. You'll learn about the quintessentially Japanese products that are still created here by skilled artisans and craftsmen, such as lacquerware and gold-leaf. This afternoon, why not explore the landscaped Kenrokuen gardens or the beautiful castle overlooking them? 

Today you'll hop on the bus for a scenic ride through jaw-droppingly beautiful countryside, and arrive in beautiful Takayama. This gem of a town, encircled by mountains and boasting a postcard-perfect old quarter, is one of our favourite places to experience true Japanese hospitality. You’ll spend the next few nights in a comfortable ryokan (traditional inn) for a taste of Japan's yesteryear, where you’ll be served up a delicious dinner each night packed full of local and traditional flavours.

If you're a foodie, spend this morning on a guided walk around the riverside markets, learning all about the cuisine that Takayama is famous for, and tasting plenty of it along the way. If you'd prefer an active start to your day, why not take a cycling trip through the surrounding rural villages and countryside to soak up a serene part of Japan with very few other tourists to share it with? This afternoon, we'd recommend stepping back in time with a trip to the Hida Folk Village for a good slice of history and culture.

Watch the world go by through the train windows this morning, before arriving in the neon-lit, non-stop culinary capital of Japan – Osaka. This city has a real 24-hour nature about it; it's buzzing with life around the clock, and we highly recommend you embrace that. It’s weird. It’s wacky. And it’s so wonderfully Japanese. We've included a soul-food experience this evening to allow you to eat your fill of the incredible local cuisine.

Today is a day to pick the part of Osaka that best suits you to explore more. The nostalgic streets of Shinsekai make for a lovely evening stroll, and Osaka Castle Park comes alive in the spring and summer. Though if you wanted to spend the whole day shopping, eating, drinking, or even riding the roller coasters in Universal Studios, you have our backing all the way. 

Today, you'll travel from the big city of Osaka to the quiet willow-lined canal city of Kurashiki, to explore the historical gems near the Seto Inland Sea. Depending on what you fancy, and the time of year you’re visiting, you might spend the night in the castle town of Okayama, in a converted storehouse in Kurashiki itself, or behind-the-scenes in a modern art gallery on Naoshima island.

Spend a full day exploring Naoshima, a Mediterranean-like island, packed full of art museums and open-air sculptures, golden beaches and spectacular sea views. Even in the winter, this is a great place to visit - though careful planning is required if you have your heart set on certain exhibitions. We can help with that!

Further along the coast, the vibrant city of Hiroshima needs little introduction on your Japan holiday. We highly recommend taking some time today to visit the moving memorials around the Peace Park, they're an eye-opening and sobering experience, but well worth the time. This evening, be sure to head out and about to soak up the atmosphere of this modern city; you'll be in awe of how far it's risen beyond its tragic past.

This morning, alongside your local private guide, you'll take the ferry to Itsukushima, better known as Miyajima, or Shrine Island. This sacred isle in the Seto Inland Sea is sure to be one of your favourite spots in Japan. It's one of ours! Friendly deer walk through the idyllic streets, and beautiful views await you from the top of Mount Misen. Whether you choose to reach the top via the winding, forest-flanked paths or a more convenient ropeway ride, it's worth the journey.

Hop back on the bullet train today and fly across the country to your home for the next four nights, the incomparable Kyoto. Spend the day exploring this incredible city, full of atmospheric streets and dazzling temples. We'd recommend a visit to Fushimi Inari Shrine late this afternoon, for a view of the iconic vermilion torii gates as the sun sets and the crowds have thinned out a little.

With a few thousand temples, shrines, monuments, sights and museums, Kyoto has a myriad of things to see. Let your friendly local expert guide take you to see a few of them with an enlightening but packed schedule of guided adventures around Kyoto today. Of course, when we know what most interests you and what you want to get from your Japan holiday, we'll make sure your tour is tailored to suit you. 

Just to the south of Kyoto is the ancient capital of Nara, an absolute highlight of Japan if you ask us, and one that would be a shame to miss. Your guide will take you to see all the key sights today: Todaiji Temple, the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, the Naramachi neighbourhood. And keep your eyes peeled for the bowing deer that roam freely around the city. This evening, head back to Kyoto for a dinner at a local hot spot and stroll around the city after dark.

After a busy few days, today is yours to do whatever takes your fancy. You might explore some more of Kyoto's shrines and temples for yourself, or let us help you plan a trip out to one of the other excellent cities in the surrounding Kansai region. Uji, Kobe, Himeji and Lake Biwa are all outstanding places to visit, and are all within easy reach of Kyoto thanks to Japan's exceptionally reliable network of trains.

Your three-week Japan holiday is drawing to a close, so today we'll get you back into the countryside for a bit of relaxation. The geothermal landscape of Hakone has a lot to offer - hot springs, modern art, delicious food, quaint shops... and, if you're lucky, a view of Mount Fuji peeking over the clouds. You’ll soak up all of the authenticity and tradition with one last night in a ryokan. Be sure to indulge in a well-deserved soak in the warm onsen and a tasty multi-course kaiseki dinner.

Spend this morning exploring Hakone further, returning to Tokyo via bullet train when you're ready. With one last night in Japan, be sure to take the opportunity to enjoy more of the great food, stock up on souvenirs, and say farewell to this incredible city.

Today marks the end of your Japan holiday as you head back to the airport in time for your flight home. As you say sayōnara to Japan (for now), we hope you'll already be hatching plans for your next big Japan adventure.