Arrive in Tokyo with own arrangements to the Shinagawa Prince Hotel. The Hotel will be our home for the next 3 nights and is located close to Shinagawa Station, which is a great staging point for exploring Tokyo or getting to those famous Tokyo shopping areas by train.

We begin our first full day in Tokyo with a sightseeing coach tour of Tokyo including panoramic views of Tokyo from an observation deck some 200 meters above ground level, visiting the famous Asakusa Buddhist temple Sensoji well known for the large red lantern at the Kaminari mon (Gate of Thunder and Lightning) and strolling down the colourful Nakamise shopping arcade lined with tiny stalls and thronging with enchanted shoppers and temple visitors.

This morning we travel to Mount Fuji and Hakone National Park. It is difficult to really get a feel for the massive mountain from pictures alone. Today (weather permitting) you will see Mt. Fuji from far enough away to appreciate its amazing symmetry and close enough to experience the awe its presence has instilled in the Japanese people and begin to understand its place in their culture. On our way to view the mountain from another vantage point, we will take a cruise across Lake Ashi in the Hakone National park and then board the ropeway (gondola) up the side of Mt Komagatake.

Today we travel to the enchanting Kiso Valley where we will visit two historic and picturesque post towns, Magome & Tsumago. Magome is a quaint village meandering down the side of a mountain, providing beautiful views as we wander through the town. Tsumago is another small town seldom visited by group tours and where cars are banned and signs of modernity such as power lines are hidden to maintain the old style ambiance.

We will travel to the ancient town and village of Takayama and Shirakawago. Takayama, whose isolation has allowed Edo period streets, lined with tiny shops, museums and eating places, to survive to this day. Travel on. We will travel to Shirakawago, a small world heritage listed village, nestled in the mountains beside a pristine mountain river. We stroll around this fascinating village with its famous thatched roofs for a while before heading to Kanazawa.

We make an early morning start today to travel to the Noto peninsula, north of Kanazawa. We will experience the famous Wajima Morning Market notable for its traditional lacquer ware. The lacquer is derived from the sap of the Urushi tree and the traditional intricate lacquer process is perhaps the Eastern equivalent of French Polishing. We will also visit the colourful Kiriko Museum which houses ornate floats which carry huge lanterns in local festivals. Such floats are characteristic of local festivals across Japan but those in the Noto peninsula are especially colourful and reflect a thousand year tradition in these ornate lanterns.

This morning we travel to the Samurai town of Kanazawa. Upon arrival we will enjoy sightseeing of the Nagamachi Samurai District located at the foot of the former Kanazawa Castle. Well preserved streets and buildings evoke the ambiance of the Edo Period before Japan was opened to the western world. We will visit Nomura house, a restored samurai residence displaying the lifestyle and artefacts of the era when samurai were prosperous. We will also visit Kenrokuen one of Japan’s 3 most famous gardens.

Today we take a Kyoto sightseeing tour, this morning visiting the UNESCO world heritage sites, the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji) and Nijo Castle. Kinkakuji is a beautiful Zen temple once the retirement villa of the Shogun Ashikaga in northern Kyoto, and whose top two storeys are completely covered in gold leaf. Nijo castle (built in 1603) was the Kyoto residence of the first Shogun, Tokugawa, and is one of the best surviving examples of feudal Japan’s castle palace architecture. Afternoon is at leisure.

Optional tour of Sagano Bamboo Forest: The Kyoto countryside area of Sagano is famous for its iconic bamboo groves and specialty handcraft shops including pottery, Japanese rice paper, bamboo craft and handmade clay bell shops. Afternoon activity. $80 per person
Optional Geisha Dinner: Traditional Japanese Kaiseki dinner with Geisha accompaniment & traditional dance performance, in exclusive private room. The opportunity of a lifetime. Evening activity. $240 per person (minimum 6 people required to operate)

One of the most iconic images of Kyoto is that of the vermillion torii gates of Fushimi Inari and we begin our day today with a visit to Fushimi Inari by local trains. There we will explore the array of almost 10,000 vermilion torii gates wending their way through the hills behind Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine.
We then head back down to the city, to visit historic Nishiki Arcade where you can experience the sights, sounds and smells of this market whose owners have been provedores to Kyoto’s leading restaurants for centuries.
Dinner this evening is at Irifune Japanese restaurant.

Today, we travel to Hiroshima by Bullet Train. We will visit Miyajima Island in The Inland Sea, to enjoy sightseeing around the Sacred Goddess Miyajima Floating Shrine and the world famous Torii gate, officially one of Japan’s “Top 3 Views”. The shrine itself is built over the water on pylons, to give the impression of floating on water. Travel back to Hiroshima and visit the Peace Memorial Park and the poignant Hiroshima Peace Museum. The museum has displays on life before and after the atomic bomb and is dedicated to those who lost their lives or loved ones.

Morning at leisure. Afternoon, we travel on to Kyushu Island, Hakata/Fukuoka where we stay for 2 nights.

Travel to Arita & Imari pottery villages. Centuries ago, a potter from Korea discovered a fine-quality white porcelain mineral nearby in Mt. Arita-Izumi-yama leading to the development of the pottery village, Arita. Now the cradle of porcelain manufacturing in Japan, Arita is a quiet town hidden away in the mountains. We will visit a master potter’s workshop for an insight into this delicate craft.

Today, we travel to Himeji by Bullet Train and then on to Osaka. On the way, we will visit the famous majestic Himeji Castle, considered Japan’s most spectacular. Unlike many other Japanese castles, Himeji Castle was never destroyed in wars or fires and survives in its original form. It is both a national treasure and a world heritage site. We then travel on to Osaka and check in at our hotel for 2 nights. Enjoy an evening walk around the colourful and famous Dotonbori area.

Even before Kyoto, the town of Nara was the seat of power in Japan in the 8th Century. We visit Nara today which is more famous now for Todaiji Temple, its giant Buddha statue and the nearby Nara deer park. We will visit Nigatsu-do temple on the hillside of Mt. Wakakusa. We return to Osaka and the afternoon is free at leisure. Farewell drinks at local restaurant.

Today is our last day in Japan, so you might wish to do some last minute souvenir hunting or an optional half day activity. Midday, tour concludes.