Japan North to South

Once you have arrived at Narita Airport, a representative meets you and takes care of your private transfer into central Tokyo, to your accommodation in the Shinjuku area for the next three nights.

The rest of the day is yours to start exploring independently - you might wander the streets of Shinjuku, or find a local izakaya for your first taste of Japanese cuisine.

This morning, you make your way to the meeting point near the Shinjuku LOVE statue in time for an 8 am departure by coach on a full day of guided sightseeing, driving past Kabukicho before the first stop at Meiji Jingu Shrine, Tokyo's leading Shinto shrine set within peaceful forest grounds.

From here, the coach passes Harajuku, Takeshita Street, Omotesando and the National Diet Building on the way to the Imperial Palace, where you have time to see Japan's imperial history and walk through the seasonal gardens.

The route continues via Marunouchi, Kanda, Akihabara, Ueno and the Kappabashi Market to Asakusa, where you visit Senso-ji Temple and browse the souvenir stalls of Nakamise Avenue. You may choose to try a premium Uji matcha along the way and stopping for an included lunch and soft drink if you choose this additional option.

In the afternoon, the tour heads to Tokyo Sky Tree and the attached Sora-machi Mall, where you skip the queue to reach the 350-metre Tembo Deck for views across the city, before driving past Ryogoku and over Rainbow Bridge to Odaiba, a modern waterfront district of shops and entertainment on its own artificial island.

The day ends with a short Tokyo Bay cruise beneath Rainbow Bridge, before the coach returns you to Shinjuku Station.

Please note: Order may change due to traffic, weather or facility schedules, and the bay cruise may be substituted with a visit to the Fukagawa Edo Museum if it is cancelled.

Please note: This tour ends at Shinjuku Station only - no hotel drop-off is provided.

Today is free for you to keep exploring Tokyo independently - you could browse the electronics and anime stores of Akihabara, or spend time around the market stalls of Ueno and Ameyoko.

After breakfast, a representative collects you from your accommodation for the private transfer to Haneda Airport. You fly north on a direct All Nippon Airways flight, departing at 9:30 am and landing at New Chitose Airport at 11:05 am.

A further private transfer takes you into Sapporo, Hokkaido's capital, where you check in to your accommodation for the next three nights.

This morning, you head to Sapporo Station for a guided half-day tour of the city, beginning with drive-by views of the Hokkaido Government Office's Former Main Building, Odori Park and the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art.

The tour continues to Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium, with around an hour to explore and take in the views, before Shiroi Koibito Park for a tour of the chocolate factory and time to browse its shops. From here, you make your way to the Sapporo Central Wholesale Market's Jogai Market for free time to explore and pick up lunch among the stalls, before being dropped off near Sapporo Clock Tower or Sapporo Station in the early afternoon.

Please note: Comfortable walking shoes are recommended for this tour.

After breakfast, you set off for a full day exploring central Hokkaido with a guide, starting at Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa, where the animals - including its popular penguins - can be seen from the bus as they move around the grounds.

From here, the route continues along Patchwork Road, known for its tree-lined fields, before stopping at Biei's Blue Pond to see its striking blue-toned waters. The day continues to Furano, where you visit Ningle Terrace, a small craft village set among the trees, before the tour returns you to Sapporo in the evening.

Please note: The penguin displays are viewed from the bus window.

Please note: This tour's exact programme may vary depending on the season and operating schedule.

After breakfast, a representative collects you from your accommodation at midday for the private transfer to New Chitose Airport, ahead of your 3 pm flight to Hiroshima.

You land at 5:05 pm, direct with Japan Airlines, and are met for a further private transfer into Hiroshima City, where you check in to your accommodation for the next two nights.

This morning, you meet your guide at the hotel for a full day of private sightseeing across Hiroshima and Miyajima, using local transport and taxis between sites - it's worth having Japanese yen on hand for tickets along the way.

The day begins on Miyajima Island, home to the famous "floating" torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine, built out over the water, where wild deer roam freely and quiet paths wind along the shoreline.

Back on the mainland, you continue to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, a large park of lawns, trees and memorial monuments on the site of the former city centre, before visiting Shukkeien Garden, one of Japan's top 100 historical parks, known for its traditional design and seasonal scenery.

The day finishes at Hiroshima Castle, also known as Carp Castle, where a five-storey keep sits within a moat - originally built in 1589 by Mori Terumoto and reconstructed after being destroyed in the 1945 atomic bombing.

Please note: Entrance fees and local transport, including the 900 yen ferry and streetcar day pass, are not included and are payable locally.

Please note: The sequence above may be adjusted with your guide on the day.

After breakfast, you make your way to Hiroshima Station for the Nozomi bullet train to Shin-Osaka, a journey of around an hour and twenty-five minutes.

On arrival into Osaka, you make your way to your accommodation for the next three nights, in the heart of the city.

Today is free to explore Osaka independently until early evening, when you meet your guide near the FamilyMart in Sanno Dobutsuen-mae for a small-group food tour through Dotonbori and Shinsekai.

Over the next three hours, you work your way through some of Osaka's best-loved street food with your guide, trying takoyaki, okonomiyaki and several pieces of kushikatsu with two drinks, while learning about the city's food culture and ducking into a few lesser-known alleys, shops and shrines along the way.

Please note: Vegetarian meals can be arranged with at least one day's notice; gluten-free options are not available.

The final full day of the tour is yours to spend independently in Osaka - you could revisit Dotonbori after dark, or spend time exploring one of the city's other neighbourhoods, such as Osaka Castle Park.

On your final morning, after breakfast, a representative collects you from your accommodation at 8 am for the private transfer to Kansai Airport, in time for your onward flight.