Travel to Japan

Upon arrival at Narita or Haneda airport, a shared transfer will take us to our hotel. The welcome briefing will be held on the morning of the second day.

We will explore Tokyo on foot and by using the subway network. We will visit the serene Meiji Jingu, Tokyo's most famous Shinto shrine with a 12-meter high torii gate at the entrance. We will continue towards the Imperial Palace to see the Nijubashi, a metal bridge built in 1888. We will travel by train to Asakusa, one of Tokyo's liveliest districts, known for its street food and the old izakaya and yakitori restaurants. We will discover the world of sumo during a 'chanko' lunch with some sumo wrestlers. After lunch, we will try on a sumo costume and test our skills against a professional. We will dedicate time to exploring Asakusa before returning to our hotel.

We will take the train from Tokyo to Hakone, known for its mountain views, natural beauty, and hot springs. We will travel on the cable car to enjoy the beautiful views of Lake Ashi and, on a clear day, we will see the iconic Mount Fuji. We will sail on the waters of Lake Ashi on a pirate ship before returning to our accommodation. We will stay in a ryokan, a traditional Japanese hotel. We will enjoy a sumptuous Japanese dinner, relax in the on-site onsen, and sleep in a room with tatami flooring, on a futon mattress.

From Hakone, we will travel by train to the ancient Takayama, famous for its well-preserved historic district and traditional atmosphere. Along the way, we will enjoy a lunch in a bento box. We will visit the Takayama Jinya, a former government building that offers insights into the history of Japan. We will stroll along Kami Sannomachi Street to see the perfectly preserved traditional wooden houses. We will admire the elaborate festival floats at the Takayama Matsuri Yatai Kaikan and enjoy some free time before returning to our hotel.

We will spend the day as we please, exploring Takayama and its surroundings at our own pace. We might choose to visit Shirakawago, a protected village listed as a World Heritage Site, famous for its extraordinary natural beauty and steeply pitched thatched roofs designed to withstand heavy winter snowfalls. We will discover the shrines and temples of the Teramachi district or travel a short distance to Hida-Furukawa to admire the preserved buildings.

We will travel by train to Kyoto, the cultural capital of Japan, a hub for geishas and the home of royal cuisine. Upon arrival, we will enjoy some free time. In the late afternoon, we will participate in a walking tour along Ponto-cho and Hanami-koji Lane in the Gion district, where we might see a geisha moving from one engagement to another.

We will spend the day walking and traveling by public transport to discover the attractions of Kyoto. We will take the train to the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and marvel at the towering bamboo stalks before continuing to the Tenryuji Temple. We will see the Katsura River from the Togetsukyo Bridge and take the iconic purple Randen train to the Ryoanji Temple, the site of Japan's most famous rock garden. We will visit the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji), an elegant fourteenth-century gilded building that is one of Japan's most beloved sites.

We will discover Kyoto and its surroundings with a free day to explore independently. We will take the train to the historic city of Hiroshima, venture to Osaka to see Osaka Castle, meet the deer population of Nara or visit Himeji Castle – the choice will be ours.

We will spend a free day exploring Kyoto at our own pace. Tonight, we will enjoy a special farewell kaiseki dinner while being entertained by a Maiko (a geisha apprentice).

It's time to say goodbye to Japan, but let's think about all the wonderful stories we'll take home. We'll walk to Kyoto Railway Station and continue on our own to the airport.