Japan Explorer

On arrival at Tokyo Narita or Haneda Airport, you will be greeted by our local, accredited, English-speaking guide, who will assist you with the transfer by limousine airport bus to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.

After breakfast, enjoy a full day of explorations around Tokyo together with your guide by public transportation. Your tour starts in the exquisitely beautiful Edo period Hamarikyu Garden where seawater ponds change with the tides. A traditional teahouse on an island offers visitors a resting place to enjoy the scenery. This traditional green oasis stands in stark contrast to the surrounding skyscrapers of the adjacent Shiodome district. Next, continue aboard a boat for a cruise along the Tokyo River, passing more of the city sights. The boat will dock in Asukasa, where we’ll find the Sensoji Temple, one of Tokyo’s most popular and colourful Buddhist temple. Legend says that in the year 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River, and even though they put the statue back into the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, Sensoji was built nearby for the goddess of Kannon. No visit to Tokyo would be complete without a walk along Nakamise Street, lined with boutiques, souvenir shops and street food outlets. Our final stop is at the spacious Meiji Shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken.

Meet your guide in the hotel foyer after breakfast and enjoy a day trip to Nikko, travelling there by Express train and enjoying a 2-hour journey. Nikko, located in the mountains north of Tokyo, is known for its rich nature, historic shrines and temples. Visit Toshogu Shrine, the final resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, founding ruler of the Edo Period. The shrine comprises the gilded Yomeimon Gate, the main sanctuary set in a cedar grove and the tomb itself. Initially a relatively simple mausoleum, Toshogu was enlarged into the spectacular complex seen today by Ieyasu’s grandson Iemitsu during the first half of the 1600s. Proceed to Lake Chuzenji, a scenic lake in the mountains above the town of Nikko. It is located at the foot of Mount Nantai, Nikko’s sacred volcano, whose eruption blocked the valley below, creating Lake Chuzenji about 20,000 years ago. Nature lovers will love the Kegon Waterfall. At a height of almost 100 metres, it is the most famous of Nikko’s many beautiful waterfalls. It is considered one of the three most beautiful falls in Japan, along with Nachi Waterfall in Wakayama Prefecture and Fukuroda Waterfall in Ibaraki Prefecture. At the end of the day, you will travel to Tokyo by Express Train.

After breakfast, meet your guide in the hotel foyer. They will assist you with the public transfer to Shinjuku Station, where you will continue your journey via Express train to Matsumoto.
Upon arrival in Matsumoto, you will greet your guide, who will take you on a tour of the city by using public transportation. The famous Matsumoto Castle is one of the most complete and beautiful among Japan’s original castles, known as a “hirajiro” – a castle built on plains rather than on a hill or mountain. Matsumoto Castle is unique for having both a secondary donjon and a turret adjoined to its main keep. The Matsumoto City Museum is dedicated to showcasing the work of artists associated with the city. Its main attraction is the collection of works from the world famous Matsumoto-born artist Kusama Yayoi. She is internationally known for her hallmark bright and vivid pieces that include one of her most famous works, Pumpkin, on Naoshima Island. At the end of the day, you will be assisted by public transport to your hotel to enjoy the evening at leisure.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before checking out and meeting your guide. They will assist with the public transfer to the station for your onward journey by Express train to Nagoya.
On arrival in Nagoya, you will transfer to your hotel and the remainder of the day is at your leisure. Choose to stay in or venture out to explore. The city’s Naka ward is home to museums and pachinko parlors (gambling machines), and Naka also includes the Sakae entertainment district, with attractions like the Sky-Boat Ferris Wheel, which is attached to a mall. In northern Naka, you will find Nagoya Castle, a partly reconstructed 1612 royal home displaying Edo-era artifacts.

Meet your guide after enjoying breakfast and checking out of your hotel. Then, use Public Transport to transfer to Nagoya Station for your onward journey by Express train to Ise-Shima, a beautiful peninsula that juts out into the sea. Upon arrival, meet your guide and together set off on an exploration by water. The Kashikojima Espana Cruise sails around Ago Bay, home to numerous islands and pearl oyster rafts. During the cruise, the ship stops at a model pearl factory to see the nucleus feeding operation of cultured pearls. You will also visit the Yokoyama Observatory, which offers fantastic views of Ago Bay to the South, the Pacific Ocean to the East, and the Kii Mountains to the West.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before you meet your guide and embark on a full day of sightseeing. Today’s first stop is the Futami Okitama Shrine, located with a fantastic view of the ocean. Stroll the shrine grounds and be greeted with the fresh breeze off the waves. The shrine is extremely popular as it is believed to bring good luck in matchmaking and marital harmony. Meoto Iwa has become a classic Ise destination. The two rocks of Meoto Iwa are tied together by large shimenawa, giving the appearance that they are close companions.
Ise Jingu is an extensive shrine complex and an iconic destination for pilgrims. It has 125 exceptional and important shrines of all sizes, including Kotai Jingu and Toyoke Dai-Jingu. One of its most significant buildings is Ise Jingu (Naiku), also known as the Inner Shrine, which dates back to the 4th century.

We’ll end the day at Okage Yokocho Street, a bustling shopping street of the Oharai town offering delicious dining experiences.

After breakfast, meet your guide in the hotel foyer and using public transport, transfer to the train station to catch the Express Train to Osaka, a port city and modern metropolis.
Upon arrival, you will be greeted by our guide and escorted to your hotel for check-in. You may choose to enjoy the afternoon and evening at leisure or venture out. Osaka is known for its modern architecture, nightlife and hearty street food.

This morning embark on a full day of sightseeing in Osaka. The best place for an overview of the city is the Umeda Sky Building. This 173-meter tall building consists of two towers that are connected. We head to the ‘Floating Garden Observatory’ on the 39th floor, which links the two towers. History buffs will relish a walk around Osaka Castle, which dates back to 1583 and was the largest castle at the time. In Dotonbori District, we get to experience the city’s most famous entertainment area with its abundant dining and shopping choices. In Shinsekai, a district developed before the war and then neglected in the decades afterwards, we’ll find Tsutenkaku Tower, the nostalgia-evoking symbol of Shinsekai.

Enjoy an early breakfast and depart to the train station with your guide to catch the bullet train to Hiroshima. On arrival, visit Hiroshima Castle, also called the Carp Castle. Its main keep is five stories high, and its grounds are surrounded by a moat. Hiroshima is most well-known for its tragic past, as the city was largely destroyed by an atomic bomb during World War II – an event that changed Japan, and the world, forever. However, the city rose from the ashes, and the beautiful Peace Memorial Park is now an UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition, the Atomic Bomb Dome has become a symbol of peace, visited by pilgrims from around the world and is a testament to the resilience of the city’s people.

With your guide and using public transportation, you will start the morning with a ferry ride to Miyajima to visit the Itsukushima Shrine. This centuries-old shrine is the source of the island’s fame and is known worldwide for its iconic ‘floating’ torii gate. You can take the Misen Ropeway up Mount Misen to the observatory. On clear days it affords spectacular views of the Seto Inland Sea and as far as Hiroshima City. There are also a number of Buddhist structures near the peak.

We have to say goodbye to Hiroshima today and take the bullet train back to Tokyo after enjoying breakfast at the hotel. On arrival in Tokyo, you will be greeted and escorted to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Today is at your leisure.

Enjoy your last few hours in Japan at leisure before meeting your guide, who will assist with the transfer to either Haneda or Narita International Airport for your onward flight.