Japan Panorama – Japanese Alps & Kamikochi | 17 Days | From £4,480 pp

Meet your assistant at Haneda Airport and transfer to your hotel in Tokyo, check-in and prepare for the half-day tour in the city.

Start the tour with Asakusa, for a visit to the renowned Sensoji! The colourful, popular temple was completed in 645, making it Tokyo's oldest temple. Stroll along Nakamise shopping street nearby, where typical Japanese souvenirs and various traditional snacks are sold! Then we will visit Akihabara, the anime, and manga mecca of the youth. This destination is also recommended for electronic gadget lovers. At the end of the tour, we will enjoy shopping at Ameyoko Market, Tokyo's most famous street food market to fill your hungry stomach after a long day of sightseeing!

Today embark on JR Train to Kawaguchiko. Lake Kawaguchi offers stunning views of Mount Fuji. Enjoy a scenic boat ride on the lake or climb Mount Fuji Five Lakes if weather permits. Visit the Hakone Open-Air Museum for stunning contemporary art with the backdrop of Fuji.

Wake up early and prepare for an adventure day to Mount Fuji - the symbol of Japan all around the world in the masterpiece of Hokusai. En route visit the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station, which offers a commanding view of the Fuji Five Lakes. Cruise on Lake Ashi with a replica pirate ship. Embark on a ropeway ride to enjoy the view of active sulfuric hot springs and many other scenic landscapes. Tonight, enjoy a comfortable stay in a hotel/ryokan.

We return to Tokyo. What would you like to do?
If you want to spend the day in Tokyo, then there is lots to see: An early morning visit to Tsukiji Fish Market, followed by a trip to see a nearby Sumo training session. Then head to Chidorigafuchi Park to see the Cherry blossom. After lunch, head to the Solamachi shopping Mall and then head up the Tokyo Skytree, where on a clear day you can see Mt Fuji in the distance from the observation decks. It's quite a sight! If heights are not your thing, then you could head over to see the Shibuya crossing – the world’s busiest crossing.

If you want to head out of Tokyo, then you could go to nearby Nikko for the day, and to see the UNESCO World Heritage Toshogu Shrine. The Futarasan Shrine and Kegon Falls are both worthy of a visit.

Travel from Tokyo to Kamikochi, a hidden paradise in the Japanese Alps. Hike through pristine alpine meadows and forests, surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Relax in one of the hot springs hotels in the region for the spectacular view of Kamikochi.

Today, we head out to the countryside of the Central Japanese Alps. This is Nagano Prefecture, famed for outstanding snow and great sake. We start at the dramatic Matsumoto Castle, one of four castles designated as 'National Treasures of Japan' and the oldest castle donjon remaining in Japan. This castle is called the "Crow Castle" due to its dark colour, intimidating to those who want to intrude during the Sengoku Era. Don't miss out on hiking and climbing opportunities in this area! Attempt sawa-nobori (climbing up a stream to find its source at the top of a mountain) or explore caves. Sample the regional famous sake and immerse yourself in Matsumoto nightlife.

Enjoy a delicious breakfast before your journey to Kanazawa. The town used to serve as the home of the second most powerful clan, the Maeda Clan, during the Edo Period. Thereupon, Kanazawa has become the town of great cultural achievements, rivaling Tokyo and Kyoto. Our suggested itinerary includes the journey to the nation's most celebrated garden Kenrokuen, followed by the the slowly restored Kanazawa Castle. You can also travel to the largest one of three regional well-preserved Chaya districts - Higashi Chaya district. Chaya is an exclusive restaurant, where geishas perform songs and dance to entertain patrons. Another signature of Kanazawa is gold leaf handicrafts - from accessories to clothing, housewares, and even food.

We start with the sprawling, breathtaking Nijo Castle, followed by Ryoanji - the UNESCO World Heritage zen temple with a famous rock garden. This unique garden has no plants, apart from little patches of moss around the stones. Afterward, visit Kinkakuji, the shining pavilion completely covered by gold leaf that was originally built as a shogun's summer house. In the afternoon, stroll through Higashiyama District, which invokes a feeling of an ancient capital city. Begin with Kiyomizudera, one of Japan's most sacred temples. Marvel at this temple's unique architecture of the main hall, built without the use of any joiners. Higashiyama's charming alleyways are lined with small shops, cafes, and restaurants that have catered to tourists and pilgrims for centuries.

This morning, you will participate in a tea ceremony at the traditional Japanese house, which is typical to Kyoto and many parts of Japan. If you wish, combine this experience with a kimono fitting! The traditional dress comes in many designs, ranging from colourful style to quite plain and simple. We will then travel to Nara for your free afternoon here. The city is second only to Kyoto as the richest collection of cultural sites in Japan. Meet the semi-wild deer at Nara Park, and admire the structure of Todaiji Temple. The Kasuga-Taisha Shrine is recommended.

Enjoy a tasty breakfast before hopping on an express train to Koyasan. This scenic journey is not to be missed as the train ascends uphill towards the base of Koyasan. A short cable car journey takes you to Koyasan bus station, from here take a regular city bus to your shukubo (temple lodging). Koyasan is the center of Shingon Buddhism, an important Buddhist sect that was introduced to Japan in 805 by Kobo Daishi - one of Japan's most significant religious figures. Experience your overnight stay at a shukubo, where you can get a taste of a monk's lifestyle, enjoy vegetarian monk's cuisine (shojin ryori), and attend the morning prayers.

Enjoy your time in Koyasan for meditation and relaxation, walking through historical trails, admiring the traditional temples, and visiting the treasure rooms. There are more than 5,000 relics in the form of paintings, statutes, scrolls, and charms that have been preserved as icons of high-order Buddhism throughout the ages. You might also climb the nearby mountains, a trail that the monks themselves often took to better appreciate the meaning of life. Your meals will all be taken care of at your lodging.

Today we will leave Koyasan for Osaka - a bustling, gaudy, vibrant city of multi-cultural life and trade in the center of the Kansai Area of Japan. We'll start with a walking guided tour in which we visit the oldest areas of the city and the backstreets which have changed a little over the years! We also visit the Tsutenkaku - an icon of the city, featured in multiple movies and once the highest structure in Asia. Visit the curious god of luck on the 5th floor, and tour the curious streets of old Naniwa in the area! Don't forget to try the local cuisine - tiny shops and stalls boast finger foods unique to the city. The tour ended here.