Classic Japan Adventure Temples, Temples, Shrines, and Modernity

Welcome to Japan. After clearing customs, we transfer to your hotel by shared shuttle. The rest of the day is yours to relax or explore at leisure. In the afternoon we share details about the start of your tour.
Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

In the morning we set off on a comprehensive guided tour – around seven hours – showcasing Tokyo’s vivid contrasts from futuristic quarters to tranquil pockets. We pause at Zojoji Temple for striking views of Tokyo Tower and its rows of Jizo statues. From the coach we witness the famous Shibuya Crossing, then we visit Meiji Shrine. Admission is included to Tokyo Skytree up to the Tembo Deck at 350 metres, where we take in sweeping city views. We finish in Asakusa at Sensoji Temple and along Nakamise Street, returning via Akihabara – the Electric City – and Ginza. At 6.30 p.m. we meet our guide in the hotel lobby and take the subway – tickets included – to Shinjuku for a stroll before dinner at a local restaurant (included), then return by subway with our guide. Note: The order of visits may vary according to Skytree admission times. In the event of bad weather or other exceptional circumstances, Skytree access may be limited – in that case we will offer an alternative iconic viewpoint.

We travel towards the Mount Fuji region, enjoying scenic views en route. At Arakurayama Sengen Park we admire its pagodas and the classic vista of Fuji. We continue to Kawaguchiko, a charming lakeside town, and visit Fuji Sengen Shrine – the traditional starting point for pilgrimages up Fuji – a peaceful spot among towering trees where we pause in gratitude for the chance to visit. We then take a relaxing boat ride on Lake Kawaguchiko before ascending by road to the Fifth Station at 2,305 metres through beautiful forests and landscapes. Note: In winter the road to the Fifth Station is often closed due to snow or weather – we will go as far as conditions allow. We return to Kawaguchiko to stay in a ryokan, where you can unwind and enjoy the onsen. Dinner is included. Note: Rooms may be Japanese–style with tatami or Western–style; occasionally accommodation may be in a Western–style hotel instead.

In the morning we follow a scenic lakeside route to Iyashi no Sato Nenba, a village rebuilt as an open air museum after a 1966 typhoon, where traditional houses now host craft studios, eateries and cultural displays. We continue to the graceful Shiraito Falls – a curtain of water 20 metres high and one of Japan’s most beautiful natural sites. From here we travel to Nagoya to visit the Toyota Museum (admission included), a highlight for car enthusiasts and anyone curious about automotive innovation, before proceeding to Kyoto for the night.

We devote the day to Kyoto, imperial capital from 794 to 1868. We begin in Arashiyama at the graceful Togetsukyo Bridge – the Bridge over the Moon – with its sweeping views, then visit Tenryuji, one of the five great Zen temples and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, followed by a serene walk through the bamboo grove. We continue to Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Imperial Palace and Kinkakuji – the Golden Pavilion – shimmering amid exquisite gardens. The order of visits may vary. After the tour you can spend time exploring Gion, Kyoto’s traditional entertainment district, with the chance to glimpse geisha.

We depart for Nara, the ancient capital, to visit Todaiji Temple and its Great Buddha, then wander through the park where friendly deer mingle with visitors. We continue to Osaka for a panoramic look at vibrant Dotonbori. You will have free time for lunch before we admire Osaka Castle – an emblem of the late sixteenth century – and then head to the Umeda area, home to the Umeda Sky Building.

We travel to Himeji for included admission to its vast castle complex – a masterpiece of Japanese castle architecture. After lunch at a local restaurant (included), we continue to Okayama to visit Korakuen, among Japan’s finest gardens, with lakes, waterfalls and traditional teahouses. Crossing a pedestrian bridge over the river, you may visit the exterior of Okayama Castle – a fortress from the sixteenth century rebuilt in 1966 after wartime destruction; interior visits are not included. Afterwards you will have free time in this lively city. Note: On some dates we may stay in Fukuyama or Kurashiki – the visit to Kurashiki may take place the same afternoon.

We set out for Kurashiki, famed for its beautifully preserved historic centre, where you will have time to stroll its atmospheric streets. We then continue to Hiroshima, a city indelibly marked by the 1945 atomic bombing. We visit the Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome and the moving Peace Memorial Museum. Seeking calm, we take the ferry to the island known as the place where men and gods live together to visit Itsukushima Shrine, dedicated to the guardian of the seas and built partly over the water. You will have time to explore the shrine and the picturesque town centre and to enjoy lunch. We return to our hotel in Hiroshima, where dinner is included. Note: The order of visits in Hiroshima may be adjusted without altering the overall itinerary.

Today we take a ferry to Shikoku – a pleasant crossing of around two and a half hours that underlines Japan’s island nature. In Matsuyama we ride the cable car to its impressive castle, then visit Ishiteji, a beautiful Buddhist temple and popular pilgrimage site. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. Later in the afternoon we include admission to Dogo Onsen, a traditional bathhouse from the nineteenth century.

We head to Kotohira to visit a Shinto shrine dedicated to the God of sailors and an important pilgrimage site on Mount Zosu, reached by climbing 785 steps. In Takamatsu we visit Ritsurin – one of Japan’s most beautiful gardens – and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant (included). Later in Naruto we stop at an impressive bridge that spans the sea to learn about its construction and walk along the glass floor to view the powerful whirlpools from 45 metres above. Our scenic route then carries us over striking bridges linking the islands before arriving in Kobe for the night.

In Kobe we visit the Earthquake Memorial Museum, which commemorates the 1995 disaster and the city’s remarkable reconstruction. On certain dates this visit may be replaced by the Sake Museum or an ascent of Kobe Tower. We then continue to Osaka.

After breakfast our journey comes to an end – we hope you leave with wonderful memories.