From commanding castles and historic villages to national parks and natural landmarks, Japan is home to an impressive 26 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, each offering an insight into Japan’s culture and history.
This largely self-guided itinerary explores some of Japan’s most loved and impressive UNESCO landmarks from the historic village of Shirakawa-go to the beautifully preserved feudal castle of Himeji. Spend a few days in Tokyo before travelling to Takayama which is surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of the Alps and is home to fine Edo-period architecture. Continue to Kanazawa known for its excellent Japanese garden before arriving in Kyoto, home to an astonishing seventeen UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Further explore Koyasan, Miyajima, Hiroshima before ending the tour in Osaka, Japan’s culinary capital.
Tokyo – Takayama – Kanazawa – Kyoto – Koyasan – Miyajima – Osaka
Trip Highlights
- Explore Tokyo’s diverse neighbourhoods including vibrant Harajuku and Asakusa
- Discover Takayama, a beautifully preserved town high up in the northern Alps
- En route to Kanazawa, visit UNESCO-listed Shirakawa-go with unique farmhouses
- Kyoto is home to 17 of Japan’s UNESCO sites and hundreds of superb temples
- Visit Koyasan’s majestic temples and gardens, one of the most sacred places in Japan
- See Itsukushima Jinja - the floating Torii Gate - one of Japan's most photographed site
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart the UK
Today depart the UK on the flight to Tokyo.
Day 2
Arrive Tokyo
On arrival in Tokyo you will be met by a representative and taken to the airport shuttle bus which will provide your transfer to your accommodation. As one of the world’s greatest cities, Tokyo boasts futuristic skyline, dazzling neon advertisements and surging crowds. It is easy to forget that Tokyo started life as a small 16th century fishing village named Edo, but reminders of this ancient past remain which, when coupled with the surrounding modern city, give Tokyo a unique, forward-thinking identity but one in touch with its past.
Park Hotel Tokyo
Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo
Day 3
Tokyo
Today explore Tokyo with your guide. Start with a visit at the Meiji Shrine, which is dedicated to the late Emperor Meiji and the city’s most iconic Shinto shrine which is steeped in spirituality and history. Pass through the decorated torii gates that lead to the shrine’s inner forest of over 100,00 trees. Continue to the tree-lined avenue of Omotesando before exploring Harajuku, a vibrant neighbourhood that offers a unique and eclectic atmosphere and is home to izakayas and boutiques. In the afternoon head to Koishikawa Korakuen Garden which serves as an excellent example of Japanese garden design, before continuing to the district of Asakusa which is home to Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple.
- Breakfast
Park Hotel Tokyo
Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo
Day 4
Tokyo
Today is a self-guided day. You may wish to travel out of Tokyo to the delightful seaside town of Kamakura. One of Japan’s former capitals, Kamakura is a home to many ancient temples and the Daibutsu, a giant bronze Buddha. Alternatively, another option would be to visit the Toshogu Shrine complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which sits high in the mountains of Nikko National Park.
- Breakfast
Park Hotel Tokyo
Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo
Day 5
Tokyo to Takayama – by train
Today is a self-guided day. Depart Tokyo for the journey to Takayama, a beautifully preserved town nestled high in the Hida Alpine region. Take the Shinkansen bullet train to Nagoya before changing trains for Takayama. This leg is one of the most scenic journeys in Japan. On arrival take a stroll through the shitmachi, where the streets are lined with century-old merchant’s houses and sake breweries. You will be staying in a ryokan, a traditional Japanese-style inn furnished with low tables and chairs, sliding shoji doors and tatami flooring.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
Honjin Hiranoya Bekkan
Hidatei Hanaougi
Day 6
Takayama
Today you have the option to take a guided food and culture tour of Takayama and the surrounding area. Begin the day exploring the food shops of Takayama with your guide and learn of the town’s colourful history whilst sampling local delicacies. Next take a cycling tour in Hida Furukawa, a small and quiet farm village located 15 minutes from Takayama. With an impressive view of the surrounding Japanese Alps and rice paddies, it is known for the traditional architectural design of its old buildings and machiya-style houses built by experienced craftsmen centuries ago. It is also famous for its high-quality sake.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
Honjin Hiranoya Bekkan
Hidatei Hanaougi
Day 7
Takayama to Kanazawa via Shirakawa-go
Today is a self-guided day. Depart Takayama this morning and take the bus to Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its gassho-zukuri farmhouses. This unique architectural style was developed over many generations where the roofs were constructed without any nails and are intricately designed to withstand large amounts of snow. Despite being private houses, some are open to the public including the Wada House, a legacy left behind by the Wada family who were once the most affluent in the area. After your visit continue by bus to Kanazawa, a well-preserved castle town that flourished as a culture and art centre in the 17th century.
- Breakfast
Sainoniwa Hotel
The Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa
Day 8
Kanazawa to Kyoto – by train
Today is a self-guided tour. This morning visit the pristine Kenroku-en Garden which is ranked as one of Japan’s top three gardens. Here you will find the oldest water fountain in the country, traditional teahouses and a large villa that was the retirement home of one of the richest clans in the area. Continue to Kanazawa Castle, a designated Important National Cultural Asset, before enjoying lunch in Omicho Market, know for its fresh seafood and excellent sushi. Visit the old samurai district and stop at Nomura House, a restored residence of a high ranked samurai family, before taking the bullet train south to Kyoto.
- Breakfast
Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo
The Thousand Kyoto
Day 9
Kyoto
Kyoto, one of Japan’s most beautiful and cultural cities, is home to an astonishing seventeen UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and roughly one out of four of the country’s national treasures. Spend the day visiting some of Kyoto’s landmarks and temples with a guide. Start at the Fushimi Inari Shinto Shrine, where thousands of orange torii gates stretch up the mountainside, one of the country’s most photographed sights. Continue to Sanjusangendo, a less-visited temple where 1001 life-sized Buddhist statues stand in the world’s longest wooden building. After lunch at Nishiki Market travel to the UNESCO Nijo Castle, an ornamental palace built for the shogun in the early 1600s. Walk the halls, see the audience chambers and experience what it was like to visit the military ruler of Japan in the samurai era. The final stop of the day is at Nanzenji Zen Temple, a quiet retreat where monks have lived since 1291, which is also known for its excellent Zen rock garden.
- Breakfast
Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo
The Thousand Kyoto
Day 10
Kyoto
Today further explore Kyoto independently. You may wish to visit some of the city’s UNESCO-listed temples including Kinkaku-ji Temple, the famed ‘Golden Pavilion’, or Ryoan-ji Temple, which is known for its Zen garden. Other options available include a traditional tea ceremony at one of Kyoto’s teahouses, a cookery class or samurai experience. This evening embark on a guided food tour. Stroll through Gion, the city’s historic geisha district, where the charming wooden buildings are lit by hanging lanterns. Arrive at the first restaurant of the night, a members-only homestyle cooking establishment run solo by a local woman which is closed off to walk-ins and tourists. The menu here is mainly obanzai, an ever-changing assortment of small dishes focusing on seasonal ingredients. Enjoy plates such as slow-cooked miso beef, stewed vegetables and the owner’s signature dish of lightly fried dumplings inside a slice of eggplant rather than dough. Next head to the lively Pontocho District and visit a traditional izakaya where the speciality of this establishment is duck. A final stop will be made to try a bowl of soba buckwheat noodles.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo
The Thousand Kyoto
Day 11
Kyoto - visit Nara
Today take the short train ride to Nara, which was Japan’s capital for approximately eighty years during the 8th century and is a treasure trove of remarkable temples, traditional Japanese gardens and UNESCO World Heritage sites. You have the chance to explore Nara independently or with a local guide. Nara’s centrepiece is the spectacular Tōdai-ji temple complex which was constructed in 752 and served as the head of all Buddhist temples in Japan. Other places of interest include Kofuku Temple, Kasauga Taisha, the city’s most sacred Shinto shrine, and the Naramachi district. You may also wish to visit Nara Park where tame and friendly deer roam freely.
- Breakfast
Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo
The Thousand Kyoto
Day 12
Kyoto to Koyasan – by train
This morning take the train to Osaka where you will then connect to Koyasan on a scenic journey passing through the river valleys and forested slopes of the Wakayama Prefecture, once thought to be home to ancient gods of nature. Koyasan is home to a small community of over 100 temples of the secretive Shingon sect of esoteric Buddhism. This mountain enclave has endured for over 1,200 years and remains a fascinating relic of a time when religion governed the politics and daily life of historic Japan. Meet with your guide and visit Kongobuji, the head temple of Shingon Buddhism which boasts beautifully decorated historic rooms as well as Japan’s largest rock garden. See the brightly painted Konpon Daito Pagoda which is home to an altar in the form of a three-dimensional mandala that maps out the Buddhist cosmos with towering statues. Continue to Okuno-in, the country’s largest and most important cemetery with more than 200,000 gravestones, and finish at the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism and a pivotal figure in Japanese history. After this remarkable spiritual tour, be escorted to the shukubo (temple lodging) where you will enjoy a vegetarian Buddhist dinner.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
Eko-in
Soji-in
Day 13
Koyasan to Miyajima – by train
Early this morning you may wish to experience the temple lodging’s morning prayer service which usually starts at 06:00. Hear the priests chant and drum as they welcome the morning. You will then begin the long journey to Miyajima, a small sacred island located in the Seto Island Sea.
- Breakfast
Iwaso
Day 14
Miyajima – visit Hiroshima
Today explore Miyajima and Hiroshima with a local guide. Start your tour with a visit to perhaps the most photographed site in Japan – Itsukushima Jinja, the floating Torii Gate – a Shinto shrine dating back to the 6th century. Continue to Daisho-in, the most visited temple on Miyajima. In the afternoon take the short ferry ride to Hiroshima, the first city to be targeted with an atomic bomb. Visit the city’s poignant landmarks including the Peace Memorial Park and Museum and the A-Bomb Dome.
- Breakfast
Iwaso
Day 15
Miyajima to Osaka – by train
Today is a self-guided day. En route to Osaka you may wish to visit Himeji Castle, one of the first designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Often considered Japan’s most spectacular castles for its imposing size and well-preserved architecture, Himeji can easily be explored independently. Continue by train to Osaka, Japan’s culinary capital. This afternoon explore the city including visits to Dotonbori, Osaka’s food and entertainment mecca. This evening you may wish to opt for a food walking tour where you will visit three different culinary establishments where local Osakans frequent.
- Breakfast
Osaka Marriot Miyako Hotel
W Osaka
Day 16
Osaka to the UK
Take the shuttle bus to the airport for your flight back to the UK.
- Breakfast
Extending your stay...
Hakone is the world-famous gateway to Mount Fuji and the wider region. A short journey by train from Tokyo, Hakone offers the opportunity to embrace both Japanese hospitality and culture with a stay at a traditional ryokan and time spent in the warm therapeutic waters of an onsen.
Discover Nagano which is set in the heart of the Japanese Alps. Host of the 1998 Winter Olympics, hike beautiful mountain trails, visit Jigokudani Park which is home to the famous ‘snow’ monkeys or wallow in one of the main geothermically heated onsen hot springs.
Charming Matsumoto occupies a beautiful setting, surrounded by agricultural land and framed by snowcapped peaks. A highlight of the town is its castle, resplendent with black interior, which dates back to the 16th century and is considered one of the finest examples of its kind in Japan.
Spend time hiking the Kiso Valley, following the winding footpaths of the Nakasendo Trail. An ancient highway that once connected Kyoto to Edo, modern-day Tokyo, pass a series of quaint post towns complete with authentic wooden homes which have changed little over the centuries.
Guide to Price
16 days from £5590 - £8090 per person
What's Included
- International flights
- Train travel as specified
- Hotel accommodation and taxes
- English speaking guides where specified
What's Not Included
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Expenses of a personal nature
- Meals unless specified
from £5590 - £8090
Travel Information
Getting There
British Airways, Japan Airlines, ANA and Virgin Atlantic all offer direct flights from London Heathrow to Tokyo, the Japanese capital. Indirect flights are available from most major UK airports to Tokyo and other Japanese cities including Osaka and Nagoya with flights connecting in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Hong Kong and other main Asian cities.
Flying Times From UK
Flight times from the UK to Japan range from 12 to 14 hours for direct flights. Connecting flights with stopovers can take considerably longer.
Time Zone
Japan is +9 hours ahead of GMT.
Visa Requirements
UK citizens do not require a visa before arrival in Japan as long as the visit lasts less than 90 days and does not include periods of paid work. Those wishing to stay longer will need to obtain a visa prior to travel.
Do’s & Don’ts
Japanese culture is complex and often confusing for foreign visitors to get to grips with However, it is well worth diving in to and the locals will appreciate any effort you make.
Remember to bow in almost any social situation, from saying hello to taking leave and saying thank you. Bow with hands at the sides and with a deep nod of the head. Japanese people are, on the whole, very polite so while they might not outright chastise tourists for forgetting to bow, you can be sure they will respect you more if you do!
Japanese matted flooring does not work well with muddy shoes – most people will expect you to take shoes off in their private housing, in traditional ryokan hotels and even in some public areas like restaurants and temples.
When drinking from a shared bottle, usually rice wine or sake, pour for others and wait for someone to pour for you as pouring for yourself is considered impolite.
The Japanese people value privacy and are generally reserved in public so noisy phone calls or shouting is frowned upon.
Money
The currency of Japan is the Yen. Yen comes in notes or coins, in 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 denominations for coins and 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 notes. Japan has been making efforts to move away from cash as a system but in rural areas or traditional places they may not accept credit or debit cards. Currency exchange in Japan is easy and reliable ATM machines are found throughout the country.
Tipping
Tipping is not a custom in Japan and if you leave a tip do not be surprised to see someone run out after to return your money or refuse with a polite bow. A guideline for tipping your drivers and guides will be advised prior to travel.
Food & Drink
Japanese cuisine has a long tradition and is renowned the world over – since 2001 Japan has had the most Michelin starred restaurants in the world. Japanese food usually centres on rice, noodles, fish and vegetables with many kinds of broths and soups. Japan is also famous for its excellent sushi bars which have since been exported in various forms around the world. The Japanese love to drink green tea which is consumed in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. A widely consumed alcoholic beverage is a rice wine called sake, beer is also common and Japanese whisky has become more popular, and respected, in recent years.
Accommodation
In all main Japanese cities the range of accommodation is extensive and there will always be a wide-range of different options. All major internationally recognised hotel companies are present in Japan and many of their flagship properties can be found in Tokyo. Further afield, in provincial towns and cities, accommodation is usually in smaller, independent, Japanese owned hotels. In nearly all cases hotels will be very modern in both style and design. To fully experience the culture and hospitality no visit to Japan is complete without a stay in a ryokan – a Japanese-style inn. Found throughout the country, ryokans vary greatly in quality and style but all will have a special Japanese atmosphere with tatami floors, futon beds, traditional cuisine and hot spring ‘onsen’ baths.
Shopping
Shopping in Japanese cities is a hectic and busy experience but one you will not forget. You will find crowded streets and a huge variation of shops from high end fashion stores to teenage manga comic book emporiums and everything in between – all splashed with bright neon lights. Tokyo is world renowned for its street-wear and style scene, so for the latest fashions head to the districts of Harajuku and Shibuya. In contrast for the latest technology, Ginza is the place to visit. Outside major cities, shopping is more traditional, with many markets and locally made goods.
Suggested Reading
A recommended book is ‘Gateway to Japan’, published by Kodansha, although there are many other detailed guides available, including ‘The Donald Richie Reader: 50 Years of Writing on Japan’, by a westerner who has lived in Tokyo for over 50 years. Good works of fiction about Japan include anything by Haruki Murakami, David Mitchell's ‘Number9dream’ and ‘Who is Mr Satoshi?’ by Jonathan Lee.
Health
Your doctor is the best person to advise you on staying healthy whilst abroad but current recommended vaccinations are Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus and Diphtheria. Yellow Fever is compulsory, but only if you have visited an affected Yellow Fever area within 5 days prior to your arrival. In some instances anti-malarial tablets may also be needed. For current information on health advice you may wish to visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website Travel Health Pro on https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/. The Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA) website (www.masta.org) is also a useful resource.
Travel Advice
For current information on Japan the best resource is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) which is a comprehensive resource and updated regularly. We would also recommend visiting the Safer Tourism Foundation website (safertourism.org.uk) before you travel and will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.
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