Villages, Valleys, Temples and Towns of Japan

Day 1 Depart the UK

Today depart the UK on the British Airways flight non-stop to Tokyo. (N)

Day 2 Arrive Tokyo

You will be met by a representative on arrival and taken to an airport shuttle bus which will provide your transfer to your accommodation. Tokyo is a unique blend of ultramodern and tradition, mixing historic Buddhist temples and deep-rooted culture with soaring skyscrapers and 24-hour sushi bars. It has significantly grown from the small 16th century fishing village it once was to a sprawling metropolis with a futuristic skyline, dazzling neon advertisements and surging crowds. Enjoy your afternoon at leisure. (N)
Accommodation in Tokyo: The Park Hotel (or similar)

Day 3 Tokyo

Today enjoy a guided tour of Tokyo’s highlights. Visit to the Meiji Shrine, the tree-lined boulevard of Omotesando, Ginza - Tokyo’s entertainment district and the Imperial Palace. Take a walk through the East gardens before visiting Asakusa – part of Tokyo’s old town – home to the iconic and beautiful Sensoji Temple. Enjoy a cruise on the Sumida Gawa River to Hamarikyu Teien, a stunning landscaped garden surrounded by a sea of skyscrapers and end the day sampling local food at street vendors and traditional restaurants. (B)
Accommodation in Tokyo: The Park Hotel (or similar)

Day 4 Tokyo – visit Nikko National Park

Leaving Tokyo, travel by train takes into the mountains of Nikko National Park to visit the UNESCO World Heritage listed Toshogu-shrine complex. Built as a mausoleum for Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate which ruled Japan for over 250 years, this lavishly decorated complex consists of more than a dozen Shinto and Buddhist buildings in a beautiful forest setting. A local guide will meet you at the railway station and will spend the morning with you to explain the site and in the late afternoon return to your hotel in Tokyo. (B)

Accommodation in Tokyo: The Park Hotel (or similar)

Day 5 Tokyo to Tsumago – by train

Today is a self-guided day. Leaving Tokyo, travel by both Shinkansen Bullet and local train to the stunning Kiso Valley region of the central Japanese Alps. Spend the rest of the day in Tsumago one of the best preserved post towns in Japan. Similar to the famed Pony Express, these towns serviced the 500km long Nakasendo trade route that ran between Kyoto and ancient Edo, Tokyo, from 1603 to 1867. Stay overnight at Daikichi, a family run traditional inn with tatami matt flooring and futon beds. The inn's 5 rooms are small and basic, with shared bathrooms, but ooze character. (B/D)

Accommodation in Tsumago: Daikichi (or similar)

Day 6 Tsumago to Magome/ Magome to Takayama – by train

Today is a self-guided day. This morning starts with a memorable walk along part of the old trade route between Nakasendo to Magome. Well maintained, the trail traverses beautiful countryside and takes a leisurely three hours. After spending time in quaint Magome travel by train to charming Takayama. With its beautifully preserved old town, Takayama’s inaccessibility from the rest of Japan allowed it to develop its own unique culture. Stay for two nights at the Honjin Hiranoya Bekkan, a modern ryokan complete with tatami mats and onsen baths. Later visit the town’s many sake breweries. (B/D)

Accommodation in Takayama: Honjin Hiranoya Bekkan (or similar)

Day 7 Takayama

Enjoy a day exploring the city on your own. After breakfast choose to visit the bustling Miyagawa morning market, then take a bus to the Hida No Sato Folk Village. Here you will find an open-air museum exhibiting traditional homes and buildings found in the Hida region as well as a workshop illustrating weaving, wood carving and lacquering. Other places if interest include the Takayama Festival Museum, which displays floats from the town’s famous festival, or simply spend the rest of the day wandering through the beautifully preserved old town. (B/D)
Accommodation in Takayama: Honjin Hiranoya Bekkan (or similar)

Day 8 Takayama to Kanazawa – by train

Another self-guided day prepare for another stunning journey as you travel by train through the mountains towards the Sea of Japan and the coastal city of Kanazawa. In the 17th century this beautifully preserved castle-city was Japan's wealthiest developing into a thriving centre for culture and the arts. Today, the coastal city of Kanazawa still has a well-preserved geisha and samurai culture. A highlight of any visit to Kanazawa is the Kenroku-en Gardens, these are considered as the country’s finest horticultural gardens and are acclaimed as one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Stroll through landscapes made up of water features, bridges, teahouses and flowering blossom trees. The 16th century Kanazawa Castle is also a must-see. (B)
Accommodation in Kanazawa: Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel (or similar)

Day 9 Kanazawa to Hiroshima – by train

Return to Kanazawa Railway Station and board a train to Hiroshima. Hiroshima, the first city to suffer a nuclear attack, is known for the devasting atomic bomb that was dropped on the city in 1945 during the final stages of World War II. This now picturesque and friendly city offers numerous art galleries, a thriving food scene and sobering historic sites including the Peace Memorial Museum and the poignant Atomic Bomb Dome. (B)

Accommodation in Hiroshima: Sheraton Hotel (or similar)

Day 10 Hiroshima

Explore Hiroshima on your own today.  A short ferry ride from Hiroshima lies the mystical Miyajima Island that is home to several shrines and temples. Here you will find perhaps the most photographed site in Japan, the floating torii gate, a Shinto shrine dating back to the 6th century that serves as a symbolic gateway to the sacred island. A hike to the island’s peak, Mount Misen, is also worthwhile for spectacular views of the surrounding islands. (B)

Accommodation in Hiroshima: Sheraton Hotel (or similar)

Day 11 Hiroshima to Kotohira – by train

Today is a self-guided day. This morning take a train to Shikoku Island. The smallest of Japan’s main islands, it is arguably the most beautiful and is best known for the Kompirasan shrine dedicated to seafarers. Kompirasan is set on Mt Zozu and reached by a steep climb of over 1,300 stone steps. Most only make it up to the main hall, however, for the more adventurous the additional 583 steps along a paved, forested path to the inner shrine complex is well worth the extra effort. (B/D)

Accommodation in Kotohira: Sakura no Sho (or similar)

Day 12 Kotohira to Kyoto – by train

Today is a self-guide day. This morning take the Shinkansen Bullet train to Japan’s cultural capital Kyoto. This afternoon visit a restored wooden house and take part in a ‘Tea Ceremony’ – a quintessential part of Japanese culture. Home to an astonishing 2,000 shrines and temples, including seventeen UNESCO World Heritage Sights, Kyoto became capital of Japan in 794 AD remaining so until 1868. A highlight of any visit to Japan, roughly one out of four of the country’s national treasures can be found in the city. (B)

Accommodation in Kyoto: Granvia Hotel (or similar)

Day 13 Kyoto

Today explore Kyoto’s World Heritage Sites with a local guide. After breakfast visit Nijo Castle, which was completed in 1603 and famous for its Momoyama architecture and stunning gardens. Continue to the Golden Pavilion, one of Kyoto’s most famous temples and from here visit the Daitoku-ji Zen temple complex, which houses one of Japan’s most beautiful Zen gardens. Enjoy fabulous views of the city from the Kiyomizu Temple and explore the old wooden buildings and atmospheric lanes of Kyoto’s historic Higashiyama district. Opt to take part in a traditional ceremony or watch an authentic Giesha performance. (B)

Accommodation in Kyoto: Granvia Hotel (or similar)

Day 14 Kyoto – visit Nara

Today is a self-guided day. Today continue exploring beautiful Kyoto. Alternatively, make the short 45 minute trip by train to the city of Nara. For approximately eighty years during the 8th century Nara was Japan’s capital and many of the temples and shrines built at that time still remain. Highlights include the Todaiji temple complex – site the world’s largest wooden building and home to Japan’s largest Buddha – and the Kofuku Temple which was moved to Nara from Kyoto in 710 AD. You will also have time to wander through Nara Park, home to herds of tame deer. (B)

Accommodation in Kyoto: Granvia Hotel (or similar)

Day 15 Kyoto to Tokyo – by train

Today is a self-guided day. After breakfast make your way back to Kyoto Station in good time to catch the Shinkansen Bullet to Tokyo. The remainder of the day is at leisure to either relax or further explore Japan’s vibrant capital city. (B)

Accommodation in Tokyo: The Park Hotel (or similar)

Day 16 Tokyo to the UK

This morning take the airport shuttle bus back to the airport to catch the British Airways flight non-stop to the UK. (B)

Villages, Valleys, Temples and Towns of Japan

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Itinerary: Villages, Valleys, Temples and Towns of Japan

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