Deal

Discover the contrasts of modern Tokyo and take an optional day-trip to one of the many fascinating destinations outside the city. From Asakusa you might also like to board a boat down to Tokyo Bay, passing under the famous Rainbow Bridge to the man-made island of Odaiba – a glowing, futuristic paradise.

You will spend your second day with a private guide on a tour of the city, making use of Tokyo’s world-class public transport network. Marvel at the green haven of Hamarikyu gardens surrounded by high-rise buildings, watch out for a wedding party at Meiji Shrine or visit Akihabara to wander through the electronic shops and manga cafes – your guide will take you anywhere you’d like to go.

If you fancy a break from the big city, on day three you’ll have the chance to head out of Tokyo to one of the many fascinating destinations that lie just an hour or two away by train. Nikko, to the north of Tokyo, is the final resting place for members of the most powerful clan of Japan’s past – the Tokugawa family. The elaborate shrine complex here is a stark contrast to the more modest temples you will see during the rest of your trip! South of Tokyo, coastal Kamakura is equally worthwhile as a day trip, offering a laid-back atmosphere, several temples, and a giant stone Buddha.

Relax in a hot spring and soak up the beautiful natural scenery of Fuji-Hakone National Park. Your first trip on the bullet train will take you to Odawara, the gateway to Fuji-Hakone National Park. After a scenic bus journey into the mountains, you will arrive the hot spring town of Hakone where a stay at a traditional ryokan awaits.

The outdoor sculpture park and Picasso gallery are great to wander around for an afternoon – or maybe you will just sit back and relax in one of the many therapeutic hot spring baths that the area is famous for. Hakone also boasts some of the best views of Mount Fuji – but make sure you have your camera at the ready as Fuji-san is notoriously shy!

On day six you will be whisked southwards on the bullet train to Kyoto, a must for all trips to Japan. Arriving at the massive architectural masterpiece that is Kyoto Station you would be forgiven for thinking that this is just another modern, glass-and-concrete city, but a short walk from your hotel will quickly prove otherwise.

On day seven you will have a full day to explore Kyoto – and the options are endless. To help you maximise your time, a private guide will meet you at your hotel and take you a tour of the city’s top spots – from world-famous heritage sites like the Golden Pavilion to little-known hideaways such as Tofuku-ji Temple

On your third day in Kyoto you will have more time to explore the delights of the city independently. Perhaps you’d like to go food shopping at Nishiki Market, or hire a bike to discover the spacious Imperial Palace grounds.

More enchanting scenery and culture awaits you on Miyajima Island, just off the coast of Hiroshima in the Seto Inland Sea National Park. Here you will be staying in a Japanese-style ryokan with a treat of an evening meal included.

On your second day in Miyajima we recommend taking a trip to Hiroshima, where a visit to the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum are a must. The city will be forever linked to the tragic events of August 6th 1945, yet today you will find a friendly, bustling city many times the size of wartime Hiroshima.

Travelling back to the mainland, you will head back east to the vibrant, laid-back city of Osaka. Here you will be staying in the exciting Nanba district – a short walk from the iconic Glico “running man” in the heart of Dotonbori’s entertainment arcades.

On day twelve, hop on board the Shinkansen and speed west to Nagoya, before wending your way through beautiful alpine scenery on an express train to Takayama. Takayama was renowned throughout the Edo Period (1603-1868) for the high quality of its craftsmen, many of whom worked on some of the great temples of Kyoto. During your stay we recommend that you visit the Hida Folk Village, an open-air museum filled with traditional rural buildings, and take some time to learn about the town’s famous festivals at the Festival Float Museum.

As well as the beautiful mountain scenery the tour will visit a natural spring, a local temple, minka farmhouses and an orchard. After this insight into traditional life, your afternoon will be free to continue exploring Takayama.

Leaving the Japanese Alps behind, today you will return to Tokyo for a taste of the high rise area of West Shinjuku, the location of several scenes from the famous film Lost in Translation. Although skyscrapers now appear all over the city, this area still holds its own in terms of modern architecture, crowded with monolithic structures such as the NS building with its giant pendulum, the award-winning Cocoon Tower, and the towering Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building with its dizzying views across the city.