Japan's Spiritual Journey and Vibrant Cities

Welcome to Osaka – on arrival we arrange your transfer to the hotel and you have time to unwind. Later in the afternoon we share practical information to set you up for the journey ahead.
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 Osaka for sacred Mount Koya, the principal centre of Shingon Buddhism with around 120 temples and monasteries. We visit the Okuno Mausoleum, a profoundly spiritual forested cemetery with more than 200,000 graves, and Kongobuji Temple, first built in 1593. Tonight we stay in a Buddhist monastery, where monks guide us through Ajikan meditation, and a vegetarian dinner is included. If you wish, you can attend the temple’s morning ceremony before breakfast. Notes – In winter, earlier nightfall may prevent entry to the interior of Kongobuji. Staying in the monastery is a rewarding experience – rooms are simple in traditional tatami style with shared bathrooms and no private facilities. During very busy periods meditation cannot be guaranteed. As accommodation on Mount Koya is limited, some groups may be lodged in nearby hotels instead – half board provided.

We begin with a traditional temple breakfast, then leave early for Kyoto, Japan’s capital from 794–1868 and seat of the Imperial Court. Spared wartime bombing, the city preserves an exceptional artistic and cultural legacy and later hosted the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. We visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, the former Imperial Palace and Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, set amid exquisite gardens. You then have free time until we continue to Gion, the lively traditional district renowned for Geisha culture, where you also have time to explore. Note – If Kyoto has already featured earlier in this tour, our guide will suggest alternative areas for you to discover independently.

After breakfast we transfer to the station for the bullet train to Tokyo – almost 500 kilometres in just over two hours. On arrival you have free time to explore at your own pace.

In the morning we set out on a broad guided tour of Tokyo lasting around seven hours, where cutting edge energy meets serene corners. We pause at Zojoji Temple for a superb view of Tokyo Tower and to see rows of Jizo statues in their knitted hats, bibs and pinwheels. We pass the famous Shibuya Crossing by bus, visit Meiji Shrine, then ascend Tokyo Skytree – admission included to the Tembo Deck at 350 metres – for sweeping city views. We finish in Asakusa to explore Sensoji Temple and Nakamise Street, then return to the hotel via Akihabara, nicknamed the Electric City for its manga and anime culture, and the Ginza district. At 6:30 pm we meet in the hotel lobby and take the subway – tickets included – to Shinjuku for a guided walk before an included dinner at a local restaurant, then we return to the hotel by subway with our guide. Note – The order of visits may vary depending on Skytree admission times. In bad weather or other exceptional circumstances, Skytree access may be limited, in which case we provide an alternative iconic viewpoint.

We depart for Nikko, arriving around 10:30 am, to visit the glorious Nikko Toshogu, famed for its Crying Dragon room. We continue to the Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum and stroll by the river at Kannanga Fuchi, where hundreds of Jizo statues line the path. You then have free time in the city centre before we travel on to Sendai, a vibrant modern city of more than one million residents, where you can explore the lively centre and choose a place for dinner.

We set off for beautiful Matsushima on the Thousand Islands Bay, celebrated as one of Japan’s finest scenic views. We visit a lovely sea view teahouse to enjoy traditional tea as our guide shares stories, then take a 50 minutes cruise with lunch served on board. We continue to Hiraizumi to explore its historic temples, beginning with Takkoku no Iwaya – a UNESCO World Heritage Site carved into the rock in 801 – then the Buddhist temples of Chusonji and the tranquil gardens of Motsuji, where you can join a Zen ceremony – admission included. We end the day in Morioka, the charming capital of Iwate Province, settle into our hotel and you have free time to look around.

We travel through superb scenery to Hirosaki, where we view the castle from the outside in its park, famed for more than 2,500 cherry trees that blossom in spring. We continue to Aomori on Mutsu Bay to visit the Nebuta Museum and learn about exuberant festival traditions with beautifully painted, illuminated floats. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. We then take the ferry to Hokkaido – a crossing of just over three and a half hours – and, on arrival in Hakodate, you have free time to wander the historic quarter with its varied influences, including the Russian Orthodox Church and other Christian churches.

In the morning we tour the lively fish market, then ascend Goryokaku Tower for expansive views and to appreciate the star shaped design of the historic fortress. You have free time in the castle area before we continue to Onuma. In this wonderful landscape of islets you can take a boat ride or follow the lakeside paths – lunch is included at a local restaurant. In the afternoon we drive along the coast to Noboribetsu’s dramatic volcanic terrain and walk among the steam vents of Jigokudani, admiring the misted waters of Lake Oyunuma. Later we continue to Sapporo, arriving in the evening.

We explore Sapporo with stops at the Clock Tower and Odori Koen, the broad park lined avenue dominated by the Sapporo TV Tower, and visit Hokkaido Jingu Shinto shrine to take part in a Kito, a traditional ceremonial prayer of thanks for our journey. On the outskirts we visit the Hill of Buddha, a striking piece of avant garde architecture inaugurated in 2015, where a lavender covered hill encircles a monumental statue, and within the complex we also see replicas of the Moai statues from Easter Island. We then continue to Otaru, a charming town with European overtones, lively shopping streets, a historic canal and small 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.

After breakfast our journey concludes – we hope you leave with wonderful lasting memories.