Enchanting Japan Temples, Traditions, and Nature

Welcome to Japan. After clearing immigration and customs, we transfer by shared shuttle to our hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure, and in the afternoon we receive 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.

This morning we set off on a comprehensive seven–hour guided tour of Tokyo – a city where cutting–edge districts sit alongside tranquil corners. We pause at Zojoji Temple for the classic view of Tokyo Tower and its rows of Jizo statues. From the bus we observe the famous Shibuya Crossing, then visit Meiji Shrine. Admission to Tokyo Skytree up to the Tembo Deck (350 metres) is included for sweeping city views. We finish in Asakusa to explore Sensoji Temple and 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). We return to the hotel by subway with our guide. Note: The order of visits may vary depending on Skytree timings; in bad weather access may be limited and an alternative viewpoint offered.

We travel towards the Mount Fuji region, admiring the scenery en route. Our first stop is Arakurayama Sengen Park, famed for its pagodas and iconic views of Fuji. We continue to Kawaguchiko, a lakeside town of flowers, mountains and charming houses, where we visit Fuji Sengen Shrine – traditionally the starting point for Fuji pilgrimages. We then enjoy a boat ride on Lake Kawaguchiko before ascending towards the Fifth Station, reaching 2,305 metres (7,562 feet) when conditions allow. Note: In winter the road to the Fifth Station often closes due to snow or weather, and we will go as far as permitted. We return to Kawaguchiko to stay overnight in a ryokan, where you can relax in the onsen. Dinner included. Note: Rooms may be Japanese–style with tatami or Western–style; occasionally accommodation may be in a Western–style hotel.

In the morning we follow a scenic lakeside road to Iyashi no Sato Nenba, a village rebuilt as an open–air museum after a 1966 typhoon, with traditional houses now home to craft studios, eateries and cultural displays. We then visit the beautiful Shiraito Falls, where water veils drop around 20 metres. From here we continue to Nagoya to visit the Toyota Museum (admission included), before proceeding to Kyoto for the night.

We devote the day to Kyoto – Japan’s capital from 794 to 1868 and home to the Imperial Court. Spared bombing in the Second World War, it preserves an extraordinary artistic heritage, and it was here that the Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997. We begin in Arashiyama to admire the Togetsukyo – ‘Bridge over the Moon’ – then visit Tenryuji, one of the five great Zen temples and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, followed by a serene walk through its bamboo grove. We continue to Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Imperial Palace and Kinkakuji – the Golden Pavilion – set in exquisite gardens (order may vary). After the tour, you can enjoy time to stroll through Gion, Kyoto’s traditional entertainment district known for its atmosphere and geishas.

We set out for Tsumago, passing charming rural landscapes en route. This lovely village of wooden houses invites you to wander – free time provided – and lunch is included. We then continue to Matsumoto to visit the imposing 16th–century castle, nicknamed ‘The Crow’. Afterwards you have free time to explore before we travel on to Nagano for the night.

In Nagano we visit Zenko–ji Temple, a renowned place of pilgrimage that houses Japan’s first Buddhist image, and we take part in the Gomakuyo ceremony – a traditional ritual for good fortune. We then head into the Japanese Alps to Jigokudani Monkey Park, walking along forested paths by rivers and hot springs where Japanese macaques live and bathe. Our route continues through high–mountain scenery, reaching 2,172 metres (7,126 feet) and passing semi–active volcanoes, to Kusatsu, a charming hot–spring town. We enjoy a stroll in its park with open–air onsen and you have free time for lunch. We continue to Ikaho to wander its old centre, famed for its stone stairways. We stay overnight in a ryokan – traditional Japanese dinner included – and we recommend enjoying the hot–spring baths. Note: In autumn the monkeys’ movements can be unpredictable and the park may close if they do not descend. The visit to Kusatsu may be cancelled due to weather from November to April.

We continue to Nikko to visit the lavish Nikko Toshogu, known for its ‘room with the sound of a dragon’, and the tranquil Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum. We also walk along the Kanmangafuchi Abyss, where hundreds of Jizo statues watch over the riverbanks. You have free time in the town centre before we return to Tokyo, arriving at about 6:30 p.m.

After breakfast our journey concludes – leaving you with wonderful memories.