Classic Japan

Japan, 13 Nights

Day 1 - London/Tokyo
Depart UK

Day 2 - Tokyo
Arrive at Tokyo's Narita Airport. You'll be met and taken to the Conrad Hotel by private car. After a chance to freshen up, you will receive an in depth Orientation Session from our Tokyo Staff in the lobby of the hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 3 - Tokyo
Spend the morning at the Meiji Jingu, Tokyo's most important shrine. Head on to the fashionable modern areas of Harajuku, Omotesando & Shibuya, then explore the electronics paradise of Akihabara before ending the day with a visit to the Imperial Palace Gardens.

Day 4 - Tokyo
Start the day with a guided tour of the fascinating Tsukiji Fish Market, which will end with lunch of the freshest sushi & sashimi imaginable. In the afternoon, take a boat trip along the Sumida River to Asakusa for the Senso-ji, Tokyo's oldest temple. The streets around the temple are home to a fascinating mix of souvenir shops and traditional stores.

Day 5 - Kamakura/Odawara
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Tokyo station, from where you will board the local train to Kamakura by the sea for a visit to the giant Buddha and the town's impressive local temples. From Kamakura, head on by train to Odawara, from where you will be picked up and taken to your ryokan by car. Enjoy a luxuriating soak in your private hot spring bath before a delicious kaiseki dinner.

Day 6 - Hakone
Take the circular tour of the Hakone area, by mountain train, funicular railway, cable car, and boat. Weather permitting there are great views of Mount Fuji from the fascinating geothermic Great Boiling Valley and from Lake Ashi If you're feeling energetic, the old cobbled Tōkaidō Road to Hakone Yumoto can be walked in full in an afternoon, or you can choose to return across the lake.

Day 7 - Takayama
After breakfast you will be transferred back to Odawara Station, from where you will take first the Bullet train and then the Express Train on to Takayama in the foothills of the Japan Alps. You will be transferred to your hotel by shuttle bus then start the afternoon at Takayama Jinya, the Edo Period Administrative offices, before visiting the San-machi Suji area of wooden merchant houses, many of which are now museums. The old town is full of sake breweries, which can be identified by the cedar balls hanging outside.

Day 8 - Hiroshima
Start the day early at the vibrant morning markets, which have an interesting mix of crafts and produce for sale, and make a great place to try local foods, people-watch, and shop for souvenirs. Later, you will be transferred to the station where you will board the train on to Hiroshima. You will be met and transferred to your hotel by private car then spend the rest of the day visiting the moving Atomic Peace Park and Memorial Dome.

Day 9 - Miyajima
Take a day trip to the sacred island of Miyajima. You'll visit Itsukushima Shrine and its famous 'Floating' Torii gate, the 5 Tier Pagoda and Daisho-in Temple. Cable car or hike to the peak of Mt Misen for stunning views across the island studded Inland Sea. Wildlife abounds on the island; the deer which wander freely are traditionally believed to be messengers of the gods, and Japanese macaques - the most northerly of all monkeys- inhabit the wooded peak of Mount Misen.

Day 10 - Kyoto
After breakfast you will be transferred back to Hiroshima Station, from where you will board the Bullet Train on to Kyoto, where you'll be met and transferred to the Hyatt Regency, your home for the next four nights. In the afternoon visit the iconic Golden Pavilion and Ryoanji Zen Garden, then head to nearby Ninnaji Temple for one of Kyoto's most beautiful gardens.

Day 11 - Nara
A day trip to Nara for the impressive giant bronze Buddha - Japan's largest - housed in the famous all-wood Tōdai-ji temple. Stroll through Nara-kōen Park, and visit Kasuga Shrine and the lovely Isuien Gardens. Return to Kyoto via Fushimi Inari, one of Kyoto's most famous shrines and notable for its stunning tunnels of thousands of red torii gates.

Day 12 - Kyoto
Start the day with a stroll around Gion, the Geisha district then head on to visit a traditional Kyoto machiya townhouse where you will have a tour of the machiya before enjoying the classic elegance of a traditional Tea Ceremony followed by a light lunch. In the afternoon visit Nijo Castle, the former home of the Shoguns then end the day with a trip to Kiyomizu Temple.

Day 13 - Kyoto
Enjoy your final day at leisure, for sightseeing at your own pace or shopping for souvenirs.

Day 14 - Kansai/London
Transfer to Kansai International Airport for your flight home.

Pricing
At A&K all of our journeys are individually tailored to suit your needs and timescale. As a guide, this 14 day suggested journey in Japan will cost from £4,995 per person based on two adults sharing with flights from the UK and subject to availability.