Classic Japan

12 days

Indicative cost incl. flights:

 

A typical 4* holiday costs from

£5,840pp

(Based on two people travelling. 3* can be cheaper, and 5* hotels can be substantially more expensive.)

 

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or add this holiday to your online quote

Day 1
Take a direct flight from London to Tokyo, arriving the following day. Indirect options are sometimes available for a lower price, or if flying from a regional UK airport.
Day 2
Welcome to Tokyo! Our team will be awaiting your arrival, ready to give you all the documentation you require and help you get to your starting hotel. The rest of the day is free to spend as you wish, but we would recommend a night out in Kabukicho in Shinjuku to be dazzled by the city lights.
Day 3
With your own private guide, visit Tsukiji Fish Market nice and early for the freshest sushi breakfast you can imagine. Continue onto Hamarikyu gardens for a peaceful break from the hubbub of Tokyo, trying some green tea. Lunch will be a short boat ride away in Asakusa, the traditional quarter of the city. Enjoy the temples and busy shopping streets here before ending your tour wandering the markets of Ueno, or visiting the Meiji Shrine.
Day 4
Today is free to spend as you choose. Let us know what you would like to see, experience, taste or buy, and we will point you in the right direction.
Day 5
Leave Tokyo and head on the shinkansen bullet train to beautiful Kanazawa. Spend the afternoon orientating yourself in the Higashi Chaya district, famed for its traditional architecture and geisha culture within. If you fancy an evening with a guide, there's a fabulous food tour we can recommend.
Day 6
Spend a full day today exploring Kanazawa with a local guide. Visit the sculpted-to-perfection Kenrouken gardens, marvel at the samurai neighbourhoods, and enjoy a feast at Omicho market.
Day 7
Leave Kanazawa this morning and head via a combination of bullet trains to Hiroshima, a city with a sombre past but one that's managed an impressive revival since. One must-do today: eat okonimiyaki savoury pancakes for dinner! Ask us where - we know just the spot.
Day 8
Meet your local guide and head across to Miyajima, the shrine island, for a half day tour. Free roaming deer, vermilion torii gates, quaint shops and a beautiful, forested mountain make this one of Japan's most enchanting places to explore. This afternoon, familiarise yourself with the upsetting past of Hiroshima as your guide explains the tragic history of the city - an eye-opening but life-affirming lesson that should not be missed.
Day 9
Jump on the shinkansen bullet train and enter the magical city of Kyoto. This living-museum is packed to the rafters with ancient temples, idyllic streets and delicious cuisine. Spend your afternoon and evening investigating some of the incredible neighbourhoods.
Day 10
A full day of guided touring awaits you, but be sure not to rush around. We would recommend visiting a selection of the attractions in Kyoto, but we don't want you to get 'templed-out' either. Let us help you plan the day to suit your own tastes and interests, or allow us to show you our own version of the 'Greatest Hits' for an unforgettably magical day.
Day 11
You have one last full day in Japan, and today has sensibly been left open for you to decide what to do. We can suggest or organise a number of wonderful day trips, excursions, cultural experiences or dining opportunities - though it's difficult to go wrong in this part of the country!
Day 12
We bid you adieu - it's now time to fly home. You'll already be planning and looking forward to your next Japanese sojourn, eager to visit yet more of the country's highlights.

Everything we do is tailor-made; our itineraries are just suggestions to give you an idea of what is possible. Please contact us so we can tailor the perfect holiday exclusively for you.

There’s a very good reason why this is a classic, a forever-popular itinerary, a much-repeated path for the first-time visitor: it really is the best possible introduction to a country that remains an enigma to the uninitiated traveller.  Don’t dismiss this route out of hand though – you can still follow the crowds and carve out your own special journey, unlike anyone else’s.  Allow us to show you the essential attractions and stops in Japan, but also impart our expert knowledge and tips – we’ll make sure it’s completely unique and memorable for you.

Your holiday is sandwiched between the two major must-see cities: Tokyo, for the frenetic and futuristic pace of a mega-metropolis, and Kyoto, where you will slow down again, enjoying a veritable treasure trove of ancient temples and timeless shrines.  Add to this a couple of nights in the quaint haven of Kanazawa, home to beautifully-preserved geisha and samurai neighbourhoods, an impeccable castle, and one of the most celebrated landscape gardens in Japan.  In Hiroshima, learn about the tragic past that affected all of Japan, but also embrace the optimistic future shown by this typically Japanese city.  Step back in time as you wander the forested paths of Miyajima, a sacred island of shrines and wild deer, a living time-capsule to glimpse a piece of history.  As with all our tours, we would love nothing more than to tailor this to your own preferences – so get in touch to start the journey!

1 night flying – 3 nights Tokyo – 2 nights Kanazawa – 2 nights Hiroshima – 3 nights Kyoto


Where you'll go

What you'll do

Where you'll stay

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