Japan's Cultural Treasures

Fly to Tokyo

Overnight flight from London (regional connections available) to Tokyo Haneda airport with British Airways. (N)

Meal basis: As per itinerary - B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

Tokyo

Arrive and transfer to the Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa (or similar) for 3 nights. (N)

Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park

Full-day excursion to the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park for views of Mount Fuji, a cruise on Lake Ashi and a ride on the Mount Komagatake Ropeway (cable car). Enjoy a welcome lunch. (B, L)

Tokyo

Full-day tour visiting Asakusa Kannon temple, Tokyo National Museum and the peaceful Meiji shrine. Visit the Shunkaen Bonsai Museum to try your hand shaping a bonsai tree. (B, L)

Kanazawa

Morning departure by shinkansen (bullet train) to Kanazawa. Visit Kanazawa castle park, Kenroku-en garden and the Nomura Samurai House. Visit a gold leaf workshop. Stay 2 nights at the Crowne Plaza ANA Kanazawa (or similar). (B, L)

Kanazawa - Shirakawa-go

Morning excursion to Shirakawago to see the UNESCO-listed gassho-zukuri houses, notable for their unique architectural style. Afternoon visit to the Higashi-Chayamachi District, full of teahouses and craft shops; and Omicho market. (B)

Kyoto

Travel by express train to Kyoto. Visits include Nijo Castle, a walking tour of Nishiki market to browse the numerous food stalls, and the WAK cultural centre, housed in a wooden townhouse known as a machiya, for a cooking class and a traditional tea ceremony experience. (B)

Kyoto

A day at leisure to explore Kyoto at your own pace. Stay 2 nights at the Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo (or similar). (B)

Kyoto - Hiroshima

Morning visit to Kinkakuji temple (Golden Pavilion), then Ryoanji temple, famous for its Zen rock garden. Afternoon tour of the historic city of Nara, then return to Kyoto to catch the bullet train south to Hiroshima. Stay 2 nights at the Grand Prince Hiroshima (or similar). (B)

Miyajima island - Hiroshima

Take the ferry to Miyajima island to visit the Itsukushima shrine and see the torii gate. Return to the mainland and take the train back to the city to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the Memorial Museum. (B)

Himeji - Tokyo

Board a bullet train for the journey north to Himeji city. Take a tour of Himeji Castle, which, unlike most castles in Japan, is still in its original form and is arguably the finest example of medieval castle architecture in the country. Afterwards, take a stroll in the Koko-en gardens, which consist of nine separate, walled gardens with ponds, waterfalls and a tea ceremony house. Enjoy a farewell lunch. Travel by train on to Tokyo, and stay at the Villa Fontaine Grand (or similar) for 1 night. (B, L)

Fly to London

Transfer to the airport and board a flight back to London, arriving later the same day. (B)

Meal basis: As per itinerary - B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

Fly to Tokyo

Overnight flight from London (regional connections available) to Tokyo Haneda airport with British Airways. (N)

Meal basis: As per itinerary - B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

Tokyo

Arrive and transfer to the Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa (or similar) for 3 nights. (N)

Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park

Full-day excursion to the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park for views of Mount Fuji, a cruise on Lake Ashi and a ride on the Mount Komagatake Ropeway (cable car). Enjoy a welcome lunch. (B, L)

Tokyo

Full-day tour visiting Asakusa Kannon temple, Tokyo National Museum and the peaceful Meiji shrine. Visit the Shunkaen Bonsai Museum to try your hand shaping a bonsai tree. (B, L)

Kanazawa

Morning departure by shinkansen (bullet train) to Kanazawa. Visit Kanazawa castle park, Kenroku-en garden and the Nomura Samurai House. Visit a gold leaf workshop. Stay 2 nights at the Crowne Plaza ANA Kanazawa (or similar). (B, L)

Kanazawa - Shirakawago

Morning excursion to Shirakawago to see the UNESCO-listed gassho-zukuri houses, notable for their unique architectural style. Afternoon visit to the Higashi-Chayamachi District, full of teahouses and craft shops; and Omicho market. (B)

Kyoto

Travel by express train to Kyoto. Visits include Nijo Castle, a walking tour of Nishiki market to browse the numerous food stalls, and the WAK cultural centre, housed in a wooden townhouse known as a machiya, for a cooking class and a traditional tea ceremony experience. (B)

Kyoto

A day at leisure to explore Kyoto at your own pace. Stay 2 nights at the Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo (or similar). (B)

Kyoto - Hiroshima

Morning visit to Kinkakuji temple (Golden Pavilion), then Ryoanji temple, famous for its Zen rock garden. Afternoon tour of the historic city of Nara, then return to Kyoto to catch the bullet train south to Hiroshima. Stay 2 nights at the Grand Prince Hiroshima (or similar). (B)

Miyajima island - Hiroshima

Take the ferry to Miyajima island to visit the Itsukushima shrine and see the torii gate. Return to the mainland and take the train back to the city to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the Memorial Museum. (B)

Himeji - Tokyo

Board a bullet train for the journey north to Himeji city. Take a tour of Himeji Castle, which, unlike most castles in Japan, is still in its original form and is arguably the finest example of medieval castle architecture in the country. Afterwards, take a stroll in the Koko-en gardens, which consist of nine separate, walled gardens with ponds, waterfalls and a tea ceremony house. Enjoy a farewell lunch. Travel by train on to Tokyo, and stay at the Villa Fontaine Grand (or similar) for 1 night. (B, L)

Fly to London

Transfer to the airport and board a flight back to London, arriving later the same day. (B)

Meal basis: As per itinerary - B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.