You will be met by your arrival transfer from Narita or Haneda airport to the hotel. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel.

After introductions, your Journey Manager, Ariane will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.

Exclusive Inclusions: Meet Your Journey Manager and Group before experiencing a Welcome Dinner

Hotel: Fairmont Tokyo or similar

After breakfast, meet your local guide in the hotel lobby for a departure to Meiji Shrine by private coach.

Meiji Shrine is a shrine dedicated to the deified spirit of Emperor Meiji and a popular place for traditional Japanese weddings.

Next you will have a Sushi Making Class and learn to prepare maki sushi (rolled sushi) and nigiri sushi (sushi rice topped with a slice of raw fish). You will then get to enjoy your homemade sushi for lunch.

After sushi making, a private coach will take you to Asakusa, Tokyo’s old town where you can soak up the atmosphere of what Tokyo must have been like hundreds of years ago. Visit Sensoji, also known as Asakusa Kannon and Tokyo’s oldest temple. Broadway leading up to the Temple is called Nakamise and this shopping street has been providing temple visitors with a variety of traditional, local snacks and souvenirs for centuries.

Lastly, a private coach will take you to Tokyo City View observation deck at Mori Tower. The deck has high ceilings and glass walls that extend all the way around the building, giving visitors views of the entire city if the weather permits.

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

Hotel: Fairmont Tokyo or similar

After breakfast, meet your local guide in the hotel lobby for a departure to the town of Nikko by private coach.

Nikko has been the center of Shinto and Buddhist worship for many centuries, and the general mountain area is now a protected national park.

Begin your exploration of Nikko with a visit to the Toshugu Shrine complex. Built as a mausoleum for Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate that ruled Japan for over 250 years, this lavishly decorated shrine complex consists of more than a dozen Shinto as well as Buddhist buildings in a beautiful forest setting and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Then, you will visit Lake Chuzenji a stunning scenic lake in the mountains above the town of Nikko. Also, it is the Japan’s highest elevation natural lake at an altitude or 1,269 meters.

Lastly you will visit Kegon Waterfall, the only exit for the waters of Lake Chuzenji, and almost 100 meters tall. It is ranked as one of Japan's three most beautiful waterfalls, along with Nachi Waterfall (Wakayama Prefecture) and Fukuroda Waterfall (Ibaraki Prefecture).

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

Hotel: Fairmont Tokyo or similar

After breakfast and checking out of the hotel, you will meet your guide in the hotel lobby for a departure to Tokyo Station by private coach.

You will board the JR Express train to Matsumoto.

Upon arriving in Matsumoto, a private coach will take you to Ishi Miso. In Matsumoto, you will visit Ishi Miso which was founded in 1868 (the end of the Edo Period) and is till producing miso by a unique traditional method. Miso is an essential ingredient in Japanese cuisine, and Nagano Prefecture where Matsumoto is included in the top producer of miso in Japan (46% share) in Japan. In Ishii Miso Brewery, you can see inside the brewery and enjoy an included miso food lunch.

After lunch, a private coach will take you to Matsumoto Castle, one of the most complete and beautiful among Japan's original castles. It is a "hirajiro" - a castle built on plains rather than on a hill or mountain. Matsumoto Castle is unique for having both a secondary donjon and a turret adjoined to its main keep. The castle structures, in combination with their characteristic black wainscoting, give off an air of grandeur and poise.

After visiting Matsumoto Castle, a private coach will take you to ryokan in Yudanaka.

*Luggage will be transferred to the hotel in Karuizawa separately. Please prepare an overnight bag for 1 night in Yudanaka.

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Hotel: Issa no Komichi Biyu no Yado or similar

An early morning visit to see the highlight of Yudanaka, the Snow Monkeys!

After breakfast at hotel and check out, you will meet your local guide in the hotel lobby for a departure to Jigokudani Yaen Koen by private coach.

Jigokudani literally means ‘hell’s valley’ due to the steam and boiling water that bubbles out of small crevices in the frozen ground, and it is in these baths of this bubbling water that the resident Japanese Macaques like to bathe. The monkeys live in large social groups, and it can be quite entertaining to watch their interactions. Accustomed to humans, they can be observed from very close and almost completely ignore their human guests. Whilst the monkeys are most numerous during the colder months, they can be observed all year round.

*Please be sure to wear sensible footwear. Please note you need to walk about 2km (30-40 mins) after you get off the coach. Weather conditions can vary, please dress in layers and warmly.

After visiting Jigokudani Yaen Koen, a private coach will take you to lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, a private coach will take you to the town of Karuizawa.

On the way, you will stop at a winery which boasts a beautiful Japanese-style garden, just like one of the wineries in Western Europe with a chateau surrounded by a garden in the middle of their vineyard.

Finally, you will visit Karuizawa Ginza, a shopping street with a romantic ambiance and have free time for shopping for a few hours.

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Hotel: Indigo Karuizawa or similar

After breakfast at the hotel and checking out, you’ll meet your guide in the hotel lobby for a departure to Kumoba Pond by private coach.

Also known as "Swan Lake," this small pond has a very serene atmosphere with beautiful seasonal reflections on its surface. The area around Kumoba Pond is a 1-km walking path where visitors can enjoy the scenery while taking a leisurely stroll. It is a representative scenic spot in Karuizawa throughout the year.

Then, a private coach will take you to Karuizawa Station. You will board the bullet train (or Shinkansen) to Kanazawa Station. (You will be provided with a bento box lunch to eat on the train.)

Upon arriving at Kanazawa station, a private coach will take you to Omicho Market, which has been Kanazawa's largest fresh food market since the Edo Period. Today, it is a busy and colorful network of covered streets lined by about 200 shops and stalls. While most shops specialize in the excellent local seafood and produce, you can also find flowers, clothing, kitchen tools and more on sale.

Next, a private coach will take you to Nagamachi Samurai district and the Nomura Samurai House, a traditional Japanese home with a tea-ceremony room, an interior courtyard garden, and artifacts from the Edo period.

Finally, you will visit the Kenroku-en garden. Ranked one of the top three in Japan, its breathtaking beauty shines through in any season.

*Luggage will be transferred to the hotel in Kyoto separately. Please prepare an overnight bag for 1 night in Karuizawa.

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

Hotel: Hyatt Centric Kanazawa or similar

After breakfast at the hotel and checking out, you’ll meet your guide in the hotel lobby for a departure to Gold Leaf Making Experience by private coach.

You will first have a Gold Leaf Making Experience. Try your hand at decorating a small lacquer plate with thin, sparking, precious product. You will then visit a teahouse, for an exclusive experience.

You will explore Higashi Chaya District, the largest and by far the most interesting of Kanazawa’s

Geisha Districts. Many of the buildings along the central street now house cafes and shops.

After you enjoy your time in the Higashi Chaya District, your private coach will take you for lunch.

Lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, you move to Kanazawa station by private coach and take a train to Kyoto.

Upon arriving at Kyoto Station, a private coach will take you to your hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

Hotel: Four Seasons Kyoto or similar

After breakfast, meet your local guide in the hotel lobby for a departure to Arashiyama by private coach.

You will ride a Rickshaw and drive past Nonomiya shrine and Arashiyama’s famous bamboo groves, which are unlike any other place in Japan. The bamboo has been used to manufacture various products, such as baskets, cups, boxes, and mats at local workshops for centuries.

Following your rickshaw experience, you will first visit Tenryuji temple. Ranked among Kyoto's five great Zen temples Tenryuji is the largest and most impressive temple in Arashiyama. Founded in 1339 at the start of the Muromachi Period, the temple is now considered important cultural property and ranked by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. In addition to its temple buildings, there are beautiful gardens with walking paths.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Then, you will visit Kinkakuji, also known as the Golden Pavilion, was originally built as a retirement villa for the Shogun. After the death of Shogun Yoshimitsu, it became a Buddhist Temple at his request. It is now one of Kyoto’s most famous temples, with its top two floors completely covered in gold leaf.

Lastly you will visit Nijo Castle, which was built by the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate as the Kyoto residence of the Shogun and is surrounded by stunning gardens. The ornamental building was completed in 1603 and is well-known for its Momoyama architecture, decorated sliding doors, and ‘chirping’ nightingale floors.

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

Hotel: Four Seasons Kyoto or similar

After breakfast, meet with your local guide in the hotel lobby to depart for Tea Ceremony & Kimono Experience by private coach.

You will have a Tea Ceremony experience (90-120 mins). You will learn all about the various types of tea and the instruments used to prepare it with the support/advice from the professional instructor and interpretation from our assistant. You will see how every movement has a meaning and what serving tea to guests means in Japan. Enhance the above experience by getting dressed in a Japanese festive kimono. You will learn about the different kinds of kimono, and which kimono should be worn on each different occasion.

Then, a private coach will take you to Nishiki Market. Nishiki Market is a narrow passageway lined with more than one hundred shops and restaurants. Known as "Kyoto's Kitchen", this lively retail market specializes in all thing’s food related, like fresh seafood, produce, knives and cookware, and is a great place to find seasonal foods and Kyoto specialties, such as Japanese sweets, pickles, dried seafood, and sushi.

You will have free time for lunch and shopping around the area, there are many Michelin recommended and some of Ariane’s favourite restaurants in the area.

After free time, meet with your time at a specified meeting point and a private coach will take you to Fushimi Inari Shrine. Featured in the movie “Memoirs of a Geisha,” this shrine is known for its thousands of red torii gates leading up and through the sacred forest of Mount Inari and has been voted number one must see spot in Kyoto by visitors.

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, meet your local guide in the hotel lobby for a departure to Byodo-In Temple by private coach.

Byodo-In Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its architecture and beautiful garden is said to bring to mind the Buddhist Pure Land Paradise. The Phoenix Hall, the temple’s main feature, is so beloved in Japan that it is actually featured on the 10-yen coin.

After visiting Byodo-In Temple, a private coach will take you to the town of Wazuka region of Kyoto, famous for its teas. You will join Tea Farm Tour (approx. 4 hours) and visit one of the tea farms in the region. You will first enjoy wazuka tea lunch (curry), then after a brief introduction, you will be given a tour of the mountain-enclosed tea fields as well as a tea processing factory. Lastly you will have interactive tasting experience of locally-made traditional teas.

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

Hotel: Fours Seasons Kyoto or similar

After breakfast at the hotel and checking out, you’ll meet your local guide in the hotel lobby for a departure to the town of Nara by private coach.

During the eighth century Nara was Japan’s capital for 74 years and many of the temples and shrines built at that time still stand today. Visit Todaiji temple, one of the world’s largest wooden structures and home to Japan’s largest Buddha. The park surrounding the temple is called Nara Park but is referred to by many as “Deer Park” due to the large population of more than one thousand tame deer who freely roam the streets and will bow their heads in exchange for a treat.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Next stop is Nara’s most celebrated shrine, Kasuga Taisha. Established in 768 AD the shrine is dedicated to the deity tasked with the protection of the city and is famous for its hundreds of bronze and stone lanterns which have been donated by worshipers over the years.

After visiting Kasuga Taisha, a private coach will take you to your hotel in Osaka.

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

Hotel: Patina Osaka or similar

After breakfast at hotel, you’ll meet your guide in the hotel lobby for a departure to Shin-Osaka Station by private coach.

You will board the bullet train (shinkansen) to Hiroshima.

Upon arriving at Hiroshima Station, a private coach will take you to Peace Memorial Park. The area where the park now lies was ground zero for the Atomic Bomb on 6th August 1945. After the bombing the Memorial Park was created and dedicated to those who lost their lives in the attack.

You will stroll through the park and discover the many memorials, monuments, and statues in the park before heading into the Museum itself.

Then, a private coach will take you to lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, a private coach will take you to Miyajima-guchi where we will board a ferry to Miyajima Island.

Miyajima is a small sacred island located in the Inland Sea. It has been a holy place of Shintoism since the earliest times. Here you will find perhaps the most photographed site in Japan; The Floating Torii Gate which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered one of Japan's '3 Most Beautiful Views'.

After taking the ferry back to Miyajimaguchi, a private coach will take you back to Hiroshima Station where you will board the bullet train back to Osaka.

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

Hotel: Patina Osaka or similar

After breakfast at hotel, meet your guide in the hotel lobby for a departure to Osaka Castle by private coach.

Osaka Castle, the largest castle in Japan when first built in 1583. This impressive castle is surrounded by impressive stone walls and moats, and sits in Osaka Castle Park, covering an area of two square kilometers.

Next, a private coach will take you to Dotonbori, a popular shopping and entertainment district and is also known as a food destination. At night it is lit by hundreds of neon lights and mechanized signs, including the famous Glico Running Man sign and Kani Doraku crab sign.

Osaka’s obsession with food is often summed up with the expression “kuidaore” which is often interpreted to mean “eat till you drop” Dotonbori is said to be the best place in Osaka to experience this kuidaore style extreme love of food!

You will have free time for lunch around the area.

After free time, a private coach will take you to Umeda Sky Building, a spectacular high-rise building in the Kita district of Osaka. The 173-meter-tall building consists of two main towers which are connected with each other by the "Floating Garden Observatory" on the 39th floor and offers a great view of the city.

We will meet up for one final “farewell” dinner together as a group.

Meals included: Breakfast | Dinner

Hotel: Patina Osaka or similar

After breakfast, the tour concludes.

Included group transfers to the KIX (Kansai International Airport)

Please note that normal check-out times apply at our ending hotel, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you have a later flight or will be continuing on your journey from here.

Meals included: Breakfast