The most convenient way to get around Japan is by public transportation and on foot. The country's train system is considered one of the best in the world so our trips utilize this efficient network. On this tour, you will spend the majority of the day on your feet, walking and using public transportation. On average, tours in Japan walk about 15,000 steps a day. If travelling June through August, the temperatures can reach up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit+ with very high humidity.
Journeys: Iconic Japan
12 days, Tokyo to Kyoto
Itinerary
Day 1Tokyo
Arrive at any time.
Arrive in Tokyo at any time today. There are no planned activities so check into our hotel and enjoy the city.
On our tours in Japan we use public transport, making use of Japan's world famous transportation system. From the super fast Shinkansen Bullet Train to Kyoto's extensive local bus network, we ride with the locals.
As well, there is a lot of walking on this trip, every day - please ensure you have an average level of fitness and can walk unaided for long periods of time. A good pair of walking shoes are highly recommended.
Please note: We will use a baggage transfer service, which is included in the cost of your tour, so you will not have to worry about carrying your bags on and off trains as we travel. As such, you will not have access to your bags during the transfers from city to city, and will not be reunited with your luggage until the following day. On these days, we recommend using an overnight bag for anything you may need, including valuables.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Day 2Tokyo
Spend the day exploring vibrant Tokyo by public transit. As a city of extreme contrasts, we experience the ancient and traditional with visits to Meiji Jingu Shrine and the old town of Asakusa. We then see Tokyo's quirky and modern side with a walk through the pop culture-obsessed Harajuku district — a great place to sit back and people-watch.
In Harajuka we catch a glimpse of the pop culture phenomenon of Kawaii. Directly translated as "cute", this Japanese popular culture movement is reflected, through various avenues of entertainment, toys, personal style, attitude and cuisine.
Wear your comfortable shoes - today we will get around by metro and on foot.
On some departures of this tour the activities on Days 2 and 3 will be swapped.
Metro
Get around underground via public transit.
Orientation Walk
Let your CEO guide you around eclectic and modern Tokyo.
Harajuku Visit
The Harajuku district is known as the centre of Japanese youth culture and fashion. Here, find dozens of shopping and dining options including independent boutiques and larger international luxury stores.
Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingū) Visit
Visit this shrine dedicated to the 123rd emperor of Japan, Emperor Meiji and his wife. The shrine is a great place to escape the bustle of the city and wander the grounds along the wide walking paths.
Asakusa Walk
Discover this historic entertainment district on a guided orientation tour of the area with your CEO. Take in one of Tokyo's iconic sites with a stop at Sensoji temple.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 3Tokyo
This morning, insiders of the Toyosu Fish Market (formerly known as the Tsukiji Fish Market) take us on a tour to learn about the fishing industry in Japan, ending with a class led by sushi masters. Learn how to identify the freshest fish, to prepare and fillet, and the fine art of sushi-making and presentation. After, try your hand at making your own sushi and enjoy a taste of your creation. This afternoon is free to explore Tokyo on your own.
This afternoon, enjoy some free time exploring Tokyo. Opt to visit Ueno park and the museums, Akihabara for cutting edge electronics, Harajuku for funky fashions, Ginza for the highest of the high end, walk the grounds of the Imperial Palace East Garden, or just stroll the streets, looking for the traditional life that still lies just under the modern surface.
Wear your comfortable shoes - today we will get around by metro and on foot.
Please be advised the April 29, 2019 departure of this trip will not visit the inner Toyosu Fish Market as it is closed during this period. Alternatively, the group will visit the outer market of the Tsukiji fish market.
Metro
Get around underground via public transit.
Tsukiji Fish Market
Visit the Tsukiji Fish Market, formerly known as the biggest fish and seafood market in the world, to get an idea of how important this industry is in Tokyo.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Tsukiji Sushi Experience
Walk through the Tsukiji outer Market. Later, take in a class with recognized sushi masters. learning first how to recognize the freshest ingredients, before learning to prepare, fillet, and perform the delicate art of sushi-making and presentation. Then, try your own hand at making sushi and enjoy a taste of your own creation.
Free Time
Enjoy some time to explore the city on your own.
Optional Activities - Day 3 HideShow
Ginza Shopping
FreeThe Ginza district is Tokyo’s equivalent of Fifth Avenue in New York. Window shop at Chanel, Dior, Gucci and Louis Vuitton, then check out the latest electronics at the Sony showroom or Apple store. Visit the Wako department store with its historic clock tower, housed in a building that dates back to 1894. If you are there on a weekend, head to Ginza’s main street where pedestrians rule without Tokyo’s traffic.
Ueno Park Visit
FreeAs Japan's most popular city park, Ueno is known for its museums and cherry blossoms. Stroll the pathways, admire the thousands of trees, including approximately 800 Somei-yoshino cherry trees, look for lotus on the pond, or opt to visit the temples and museums (entrance fees).
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 4Tokyo/Tsumago
Depart Tokyo by train. Disembark at Nagiso and continue to our local ryokan accommodation. Enjoy a walk through the countryside, passing farms and hamlets into Tsumago, a traditional village. After, feast on a kaiseki meal, learn about Japanese customs, and sleep on a futon.
Ryokan are traditional Inns found across Japan. Featuring tatami floors (soft mats of woven straw), futon beds, Japanese-style baths, cotton kimono (casual robe worn to lounge around), and kaiseki meals (often served in the comfort of your own room); a ryokan is the perfect place to experience traditional customs and local immersion. The Ryokan is a simple, traditional Inn with few amenities and shared facilities, have fun and enjoy this relaxing opportunity to learn more about Japan’s unique customs.
Wear your comfortable shoes - today we will get around by train, bus and on foot.
Metro
Get around underground via public transit.
Train
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Tsumago countryside and Village walk
Take a walk through the countryside, passing farms and hamlets, rice patties and waterfalls continuing into Tsumago, a traditional Village. Considered one of the best preserved post towns in Japan, the residents go to great lengths to recreate the feel of the Edo Period. Motorized vehicles are prohibited from the main street during the day and phone lines and power cables are hidden to allow visitors to feel as if they have stepped back in time.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 5Tsumago/Kanazawa
Continue by train to the historic city of Kanazawa. Explore the ancient Samurai culture with a walk through the well-preserved Nagamachi Samurai district and visit to the Nomura Samurai family residence.
Wear your comfortable shoes - today we will get around by public transportation and on foot.
Train
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Taxi
Jump in the back and tell the driver to step on it, just like they do in the movies.
Local Bus
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Nagamachi Samurai District Walk
Step back in time with a visit to the Nagamachi Samurai district of Kanazawa. Take a walk through the historic samurai district located just below the Kanazawa Castle, where traditionally samurai and their families lived in mud huts.
Visit Nomura Family Samurai Residence
Visit the Nomura Family Samurai Residence - who held executive posts from one generation to the next under rule of the Maeda family. A stunning landmark has a coffered ceiling constructed of Japanese cypress and stunning fusuma-e (paintings on sliding-door panels) which were created by the personal painter of the Maeda family. Also enjoy the garden which features a 400-year old Japanese bayberry and winding stream surrounded by ancient rocks.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 6Kanazawa
Continue exploring Kanazawa, visiting the Myoryuji Ninja Temple and walking through the Higashi Geisha district. The city is also renowned as a centre of traditional arts and crafts. We delve into these traditions with a chopstick and gold leaf painting experience.
Wear your comfortable shoes - today we will get around by public bus and on foot.
Myoryuji Ninja Temple Visit
Visit the famous Ninja Temple. While there's no evidence linking the temple to ninjas, the hidden doorways, passages and escape routes seem designed for stealthy attackers. Please leave all nunchucks with security.
Your Hands-On Moment: Chopstick and Gold Leaf Painting Experience
Partake in a hands-on experience in one of Kanazawa's many famous craft studios and enjoy chop stick and gold leaf painting.
Free Time
Enjoy some free time to explore on your own.
Higashi Geisha District Visit
Step back in time with a visit to the Higashi Chaya geisha district of Kanazawa. Learn about the geisha culture, prevalent in Kanazawa since the 17th century. Visit the traditional two-story wooden houses decorated with lattice and discover the traditions behind this iconic Japanese way of life.
Local Bus
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Optional Activities - Day 6 HideShow
Kanazawa Castle Visit
Free-320JPY per personVisit the massive castle located beside the Kenrokuen Garden. At over 400 years old, the castle has a great history and is the perfect place to wrap up exploration of the gardens.
Kenroku-En Garden Visit
320JPY per personWalk around this breathtaking garden, ranked one of the top three in Japan. With unique bridges, ponds and fountains, pagodas and tea houses there's lots to see here in any season.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 7Kanazawa/Hiroshima
Continue by bullet train train to Hiroshima and visit the park and Memorial Museum to learn more about the tragic history of this city.
The large Peace Park in the centre of the city is an extremely moving place dotted with memorials of those known to have been killed in the explosion and those that died as a result. A burning flame waits in the park to be extinguished when all nuclear weapons in the world have been destroyed. A tram ride through the city takes you to the Peace Park.
Wear your comfortable shoes - today we will get around by train, public transportation and on foot.
Taxi
Jump in the back and tell the driver to step on it, just like they do in the movies.
Train
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Tram
Move through the busy streets with ease via urban light rail.
Hiroshima Park and Peace Memorial
Walk through the Peace Park in the centre of Hiroshima, a living memorial dedicated to the tens of thousands who died from the atomic bomb blast in 1945. Visit the statue of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who died of leukemia as a result of the bomb blast, despite folding 1,000 origami paper cranes to appeal to the gods to make her well. See the frame of the Gembaku Dome, the sole building to withstand the explosion. Reflect, remember, and be reminded of the power we all hold to create peace.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 8Hiroshima
Catch a ferry over to the sacred island of Miyajima to see the famous floating Torii Gate, considered one of Japan's most beautiful and sacred shrines. This afternoon is at your leisure. Opt to catch the ferry to other islands and explore on your own.
Enjoy Miyajima Island, a famous wooded island located in the Inland Sea, not far from the coast near Hiroshima. Here you will find perhaps the most photographed site in Japan - The Floating Torii Gate. Designated as one of Japan's '3 Most Beautiful Views', the shrine itself dates back to the 6th century and is designed in a pier like structure. Mere 'commoners' were not allowed to set foot on this holy place.
Wear your comfortable shoes - today we will get around by public transportation, ferry and on foot.
Please note the floating Torii Gate will be under construction from June 2019 to August 2020.
Ferry
Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.
Miyajima Island Visit
Take a trip to Miyajima Island, famed as one of Japan's most scenic spots, with a free afternoon to explore. See the famous floating Torii Gate, set out in the bay, which glows extraordinarily at sunset. The island is dotted with shrines and temples, populated by deer, and traversed with hiking trails for those who want to get some exercise. There are also lanes full of souvenirs and tasty treats. Visit Miyajima at your own pace, and have the option to hike up to the peak of the island, Mt Misen, to see spectacular views of the surrounding islands.
Free Time
Enjoy some time to explore on your own.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 9Hiroshima/Kyoto
This morning we visit Himeji Castle, considered the best preserved and most stunning castle in all of Japan. After, continue by train to Kyoto, the former Imperial Capital and home of the country's most treasured remnants of Japanese imperial life. This afternoon, take a stroll around the Gion Geisha district.
As the Imperial capital, Kyoto is an essential part of any visit to Japan. Kyoto has some of the most magnificent temples in Japan which date back centuries. There are said to be 2,000 temples, shrines, palaces, museums and traditional gardens in Kyoto. Use your time to wander past huge wooden structures and multi-storied pagodas, all linked with famous walkways.
Wear your comfortable shoes - today we will get around by train, public bus and on foot.
Bullet Train
Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.
Himeji Castle
Visit the stunning Himeji Castle, which unlike many other Japanese castles was never destroyed in wars, earthquakes, or fires and continues to stand in its original form. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, the initial site was built in the 14th century and grew over time as the various clans who ruled over the region continued to expand. The complex, as it stands today, was completed in 1609.
Bullet Train
Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.
Gion Walk
Walk through Gion, Kyoto's most famous geisha district. Visit shops, restaurants and ochaya (teahouses), where geiko (Kyoto dialect for geisha) and maiko (geiko apprentices) entertain.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 10Kyoto
This morning, visit a local temple to learn about the history and practice of Zen Buddhism in Japan. Here we meet with a local Monk who will talk about Buddhism and instruct us in Zen meditation and calligraphy. Also enjoy and participate in a traditional tea ceremony.After, spend the day exploring sites around Nara, visiting the stunning Todaiji Buddhist Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
Wear your comfortable shoes - today we will get around by public bus, metro and on foot.
Please note, the visit to the Kasuga Grand Shrine is not possible from October - December due to the shorter operating hours of this site.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Zen Buddhist Meditation and Calligraphy
Visit a local temple to learn about the history and practice of Zen Buddhism in Japan. One of the monks will instruct us in Zen meditation and Zen calligraphy. This insider access will allow us deeper insight into Japanese culture and beliefs, as well as how to use these techniques to reduce stress in our daily lives.
Zen Tea Experience
Relax with a traditional bowl of matcha tea at this historic temple where tea ceremony was developed into its current form by famous tea master, Rikyu.
Day Trip to Nara
Take a train excursion to the peaceful gardens and ancient temples of Nara, home of Japan's largest Buddha, and a number of cute and docile deer that are the sacred symbol of the Kasuga Taisha shrine.
Tōdai-ji Buddhist Temple Complex
Explore the famed Tōdaiji Temple which features the largest bronze Buddha in the world.
Kasuga Grand Shrine
Visit this Shinto shrine originally built in 768 AD by the Fujiwara family. This stunning shrine is famed for its hundreds of bronze and stone lanterns.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 11Kyoto
Continue to explore Kyoto including a visit to the famous Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion and the stunning Fushimi Inari ancient shrine at the base of the mountain of the same name. After, we learn about the etiquette of the samurai as well as the practice of basic kembu, and take a lesson on how to use the Japanese sword. Then, enjoy a performance by Kembu masters which includes short poems, which were traditionally written by Samurai about major events in their life. Later, take some time to explore on your own, opt to visit museums, temples and zen gardens, or stroll to the Inari Gates.
Wear your comfortable shoes - today we will get around by public bus, metro and on foot.
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine Visit
Visit the Fushimi Inari shrine, located just outside of Kyoto. Walk under the thousands of iconic torii gates (as seen in the film Memoirs of a Geisha) and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. The shrine itself is at the base of the Inari mountain but includes many trails up to smaller shrines in the area.
Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion Visit
Explore Kinkaku-ji or the Golden Pavilion, named for the temple’s top two floors that are covered in gold leaf. The temple is surrounded by trees and sits on a reflective pond, making this must-see in Kyoto a perfect place for photos. While the temple can be busy, there are gardens around the area to explore once you’ve had enough of the view.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Kembu Masters
Gain an understanding of kembu, an ancient art form that honours the culture of the Japanese warrior class, the samurai. Watch kembu masters practice this delicate artform and learn for yourself the basic moves of properly using a Japanese sword. It’s said that in feudal times, samurai would perform these traditional routines to build courage and improve concentration, thereby expressing the spirit of the warrior.
Optional Activities - Day 11 HideShow
Zen Gardens of Ryōan-ji
500JPY per personThe Ryōan-ji garden is one of the best examples of kare-sansui, or dry landscape, a type of Zen garden. Fifteen large rocks are placed within a sea of white pebbles raked into linear patterns to facilitate meditation. Stand on the platform to get the best view from above. Stroll the grounds around the Ryoan-ji Temple and along the Kyoyo-chi pond.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 12Kyoto
Depart at any time.
There are no planned activities today and you are free to depart at any time.