Day 1: Arrive Tokyo. On arrival at Narita Airport, you will be met by our local representative who will assist you with the transfer to your hotel.

Day 2: Tokyo sightseeing.  Take a day tour of this fascinating city with a local guide, making use of Tokyo’s comprehensive and user friendly public transport system. The day begins with a visit to Meiji Shrine, dedicated to the deified spirit of Emperor Meiji and a popular place for traditional Japanese weddings.  Head across town to Asakusa, Tokyo’s old town where you can soak in the atmosphere of the Tokyo of old.  Visit Sensoji, Tokyo’s oldest temple and wander down Nakamise, a shopping street that has been providing temple visitors with a variety of traditional, local snacks and tourist souvenirs for centuries. Take a boat cruise on the Sumida River and disembark in Hamarikyu garden, an Edo Period Japanese garden, where you will stop for a cup of steaming matcha and Japanese sweets in a tea house on a small island in the park’s lake.  Breakfast included.

Day 3: Tsukiji Fish Market Walk and Sushi Making at local home.  Accompanied by your local guide, start your day exploring the world’s largest fish market, Tsukiji Market*, which currently handles about 2,888 tons of marine products a day worth about 2.8 billion yen.  You will then visit a typical Japanese home. Your guide will answer all your questions about Japanese culture and everyday life in Tokyo during the transfer by public transportation. Learn to prepare maki sushi (rolled sushi) to enjoy for lunch.  Breakfast and lunch included.  (*Subject to market access)

Day 4: Hakone & Mt Fuji.  Travel by train to Hakone, the gateway to the Mt Fuji region. Armed with your Hakone Pass, take advantage of the extensive local transport network to explore this stunning region.  Tonight you will stay in a Japanese traditional ryokan, sleeping on futons laid out on tatami mats with delicious included meals and piping hot onsen (hot spring) baths.  Breakfast and dinner included.

Day 5: Bullet train to Kyoto.  Interactive traditional Art experience.  Today you will ride Japan’s world famous Shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto.  Capable of speeds of up to 360km the Shinkansen takes two hours to reach Kyoto.  Having checked in to your hotel, your guide will then escort you to the home of the instructor of your choice of one of Japan’s traditional Arts such as origami, calligraphy, flower arrangements, or participate in a tea ceremony.  Breakfast included.

Day 6 Kyoto sightseeing. Today you explore the former imperial capital with a knowledgeable local guide, utilizing Kyoto’s comprehensive bus system to visit some of Kyoto’s World Heritage Sites. You will start your day with a visit to Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), one of Kyoto’s most famous temples. Nijo Castle is an ornamental castle was built by the founder of the Edo Shogunate as his Kyoto residence and is surrounded by stunning surrounding gardens. Take a walk down Nishiki Market, a narrow, five block long shopping street lined by more than one hundred shops and restaurants. Known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen”, this lively retail market specializes in all things food related, like fresh seafood, produce, knives and cookware, and is a great place to find seasonal foods and Kyoto specialties, such as Japanese sweets, pickles, dried seafood and sushi. Breakfast included.

Day 7: Nara & Fushimi Day Tour.  Transfer from your hotel to Nara by train with a local guide. For 74 years during the 8th century Nara was Japan’s capital and many of the temples and shrines built at that time still remain. Visit Todaiji temple, the world’s largest wooden building and home to Japan’s largest Buddha.  Take a wander through Nara Park, called Deer park by locals due to the large population of more than 1,000 tame deer living there.  On the way back from Nara, visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, which was used in the movie “Memoirs of a Geisha”. It is home to over 10,000 red tori gates, which form a path up the mountain behind the temple.  Breakfast included.

Day 8: Kyoto.  According to your flight arrangements, you can either enjoy a full day at leisure in Kyoto, or utilise your rail pass to return to Tokyo for your onward flight.  Breakfast included.