Classic Japan

11 days

Indicative cost incl. flights:

 

£4,750pp
3 star & low season

 

£7,400pp
4/5 star & high season

 

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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 to the volcanic landscape of Hakone, a town near to Mount Fuji - the perfect place to relax in the countryside. Travel on rickety old trains, charming cablecars and replica pirate ships as you enjoy the mountainous vistas. Your accommodation tonight will be a traditional ryokan inn, and includes a delicious multi-course kaiseki meal. Do as the Japanese do and bathe in the onsen (thermal waters) after a long day of sightseeing.
Day 6
Spend the morning in one of Hakone's many museums, or explore your geothermal surroundings further, before setting off by bullet train to the vibrant city of Hiroshima. Restaurants in the covered arcades of downtown cook up some mouthwatering treats in the evenings, so be sure to take a wander and try the local cuisine.
Day 7
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 8
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 9
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 10
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 11
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 night in the verdant and volcanic landscape of Hakone, where you can experience a traditional ryokan stay (Japanese-style inn), an unforgettable kaiseki multi-course dinner, and a rejuvenating soak in the onsen hot-springs that run below the town.  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 – 1 night Hakone – 2 nights Hiroshima – 3 nights Kyoto


Where you'll go

What you'll do

Where you'll stay

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