Japan's Spiritual and Cultural Odyssey

Welcome to Osaka. On arrival we arrange your transfer to the hotel, leaving you time to unwind. In the afternoon we share practical details about the start of the 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.

At 11.30 am we leave the city for sacred Mount Koya, the principal centre of Shingon Buddhism in Japan. This atmospheric pilgrimage site shelters around 120 temples and monasteries. We visit the Okuno Mausoleum – a deeply spiritual necropolis set in nature with more than 200,000 graves – and explore Kongobuji Temple, first built in 1593. Tonight we stay in a Buddhist monastery where monks guide us through Zen meditation (Ajikan), and a vegetarian dinner is included. You may attend the temple ceremony before breakfast. Please note – in winter, shorter daylight may mean there is not time to visit the interior of Kongobuji Temple; rooms in the monastery are simple, traditional tatami style with shared bathrooms; meditation cannot be guaranteed during peak tourist periods; accommodation on Mount Koya is limited, so in some cases we may arrange nearby hotels instead with half board.

We begin with a traditional Japanese breakfast at the temple, then depart early for Kyoto – Japan’s imperial capital from 794 to 1868 and seat of the court. Spared from bombing in the Second World War, the city preserves an exceptional artistic and cultural legacy and is known for the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions. We visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Imperial Palace and Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, with its exquisite gardens. You then have free time before we continue to Gion, the lively traditional district famed for its Geisha culture, where you have further time to soak up the atmosphere. If you have already visited Kyoto earlier in your journey, our guide will suggest other areas to explore independently.

After breakfast we transfer to the station for the bullet train to Tokyo, covering nearly 500 kilometres in just over two hours. On arrival you have the rest of the day to explore at your own pace.

In the morning we set out on a comprehensive guided tour of Tokyo lasting around seven hours – a city where dazzling modernity sits alongside pockets of calm. We pause at Zojoji Temple for a superb view of Tokyo Tower and to see the many Jizo statues adorned with knitted hats, bibs and pinwheels. We then view the famous Shibuya Crossing from the bus, visit Meiji Shrine, and ascend Tokyo Skytree – admission included to the Tembo Deck at 350 metres – for sweeping city panoramas. We finish in Asakusa to explore Sensoji Temple and Nakamise Street, then return to the hotel via Akihabara, the Electric City, and Ginza. At 6.30 pm we meet our guide in the hotel lobby and take the subway – tickets included – to Shinjuku for a stroll through this lively district before dinner at a local restaurant, included. We return to the hotel by subway with our guide. Please note – the order of visits may vary depending on our Skytree time slot; in bad weather or exceptional circumstances access to the Skytree may be restricted, in which case an alternative iconic viewpoint will be offered.

We depart for Nikko, arriving around 10.30 am, and visit the splendid Toshogu Shrine, famed for its Crying Dragon room. Our tour continues to the tranquil Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum and a riverside walk at Kannanga Fuchi, watched over by hundreds of Jizo statues. You then have free time in the city centre. Later we travel to Sendai, a vibrant modern city of over one million residents, where you can explore the lively centre and choose a spot for dinner.

We head to beautiful Matsushima on the Pacific – its bay of a thousand islets ranks among Japan’s loveliest sights. We visit an elegant tea house overlooking the sea for a cup of traditional tea while our guide shares stories, then take a 50 minute cruise with lunch served on board. Afterwards we continue to Hiraizumi to visit historic temples, beginning with the UNESCO listed Takkoku no Iwaya, carved into the rock in 801. We explore the magnificent Buddhist temple of Chusonji and the gardens of Motsuji – admission included – where you may join a Zen ceremony. We conclude in Morioka, capital of Iwate, and settle into our hotel with time for you to look around.

We travel through scenic countryside to Hirosaki to view its castle from the outside, set in a lovely park where over 2,500 cherry trees bloom in spring. We continue to Aomori on Mutsu Bay to visit the Nebuta Museum and learn about the colourful festival with its painted, illuminated floats. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. We then board the ferry to Hokkaido for a crossing of a little over three and a half hours. On arrival in Hakodate you have free time to wander the historic quarter and admire the varied cultural influences, including the Russian Orthodox Church and other Christian churches.

In the morning we explore the lively fish market, then ascend Goryokaku Tower for superb views of Hakodate’s star shaped fortress. You have free time around the old castle area before we continue to Onuma. In this beautiful landscape of islets and lakes you have free time to take a boat ride or enjoy the walking trails. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. In the afternoon we follow the coast to Noboribetsu’s dramatic volcanic scenery and walk among the steam vents of Jigokudani – Hell Valley – before admiring the misty waters of Lake Oyunuma. Later we continue to Sapporo, arriving in the evening.

We tour Sapporo, stopping at the historic Clock Tower and Odori Koen, the park lined avenue dominated by the Sapporo TV Tower. We visit Hokkaido Jingu Shinto shrine and take part in a Kito – a traditional prayer of thanks for our journey. On the outskirts we visit the Hill of Buddha, an avant garde complex inaugurated in 2015, where a vast Buddha presides over a lavender clad mound and replicas of Easter Island’s Moai stand nearby. We continue to Otaru, a charming town with a European feel, lively shopping streets, a historic canal and engaging little museums. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. We return to Sapporo around 3.30 pm and the rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore.

We head south through Hokkaido, first visiting the Upopoy Museum – admission included – a symbolic space dedicated to celebrating, preserving and revitalising the culture of the Ainu, an Indigenous people. We continue to Toyako, a lakeside resort at the foot of an impressive volcano, where you have time to stroll along the shore. We visit the Volcanology Museum, then take the cable car to the summit of Mount Usu, with time for you to walk among the volcanic landscapes and enjoy superb views. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. We continue to Tomakomai to board a modern overnight ferry – accommodation in double cabins with private bathrooms – and dinner is included. We sail overnight across the Pacific Ocean.

We arrive at Sendai Port around 10.00 am and drive to Yamadera, a temple complex founded over a thousand years ago, set on a mountainside amid towering trees and an enchanting atmosphere. Lunch is included. We then continue to Yonezawa, a leading sake producing region, to visit the Sake Museum with its small distillery, before travelling through lovely scenery to Aizuwakamatsu for the night.

In Aizuwakamatsu we visit the Samurai Mansion to learn about the warriors’ world, then stroll through the castle garden for views of the keep with its distinctive red tiles. We continue to Iimoriyama to see the sculptures donated by Mussolini and to reflect on the story of the city’s young martyrs. Our journey then takes us to Ouchi juku, a picturesque village of thatched houses, where you have time for lunch, before we visit the striking Oya Museum housed in former stone quarries. In the evening we return to Tokyo, arriving at day’s end. Our journey concludes here – please check your flight time in case you require an additional night. The departure transfer is not included, but our guide will advise on the best public transport to suit your plans.