JAPAN - PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE - 18 Days - from £4760 pp

Welcome to Japan! Meet your assistant at Haneda Airport and transfer to your hotel. Relax at the hotel before walking out for dinner at a Japanese restaurant in the nearby area.

Wake up to a healthy breakfast before beginning your adventure. Journey to Hamarikyu garden, the former private garden of an Edo Period Lord. Stopover for sampling Japanese green tea, followed by a short cruise along the Sumida River. Later on, travel to 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! Enjoy local sushi or ramen for lunch. After lunch, we will visit the magnificent Meiji Shrine, a Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji. The shrine is crowded on the first day of the year because of hatsumode (first prayers). For the rest of the year, if lucky, you may witness the solemn procession of Shinto weddings. Continue the journey to Harajuku and Omotesando. This tree-lined avenue features a multitude of dazzling architecturally ambitious buildings of global haute couture brands. Finish the day with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku, one of Tokyo's tallest and most distinctive skyscrapers for a panoramic view of the city if time permits.

How about starting your day at Toyosu Fish Market, where you can see the tuna auctions and enjoy a sushi breakfast. Then head to Ueno Park to explore the Tokyo National Museum, home to stunning samurai armour, scrolls, and historical treasures. For lunch, wander through the old streets of Yanaka, a charming slice of old Tokyo. In the afternoon, ride up the Tokyo Skytree for panoramic city views and explore the shops at Solamachi. Then, make your way to the Shibuya Crossing, and finish the day at teamLab Planets in Toyosu, an unforgettable digital art experience where you walk through glowing, interactive worlds. Please do use our information packet to discover other new places. If you want, you could travel to Nikko, with an optional one-day trip  to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Toshogu Shrine, or to Kamakura to admire the giant Buddha statue. Just let us know what you wold like to do.

After breakfast, we travel to Takayama. Takayama is renowned for its beautiful old town, where a traditional touch has been maintained. Visit the Takayama Jinya - a building from the 17th century that has been preserved as it was from the time of its construction, and is still in use today. The nearby Hida area is famous for a unique style of architecture that resembles hands folded in prayer. This has a practical use, but step inside to discover how roomy and comfortable it is, and why this remains unchanged.

This morning we will journey to Shirakawago. Shirakawago region lines the Shogawa River Valley in the remote mountains that span from Gifu to Toyama. Declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995, the place is famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old. In the afternoon, head out on a walk of the town visiting the old town and sake brewery. The freshest sake is the best - find out for yourself how it's made, and what it tastes like! Afterward, travel to Kanazawa.

Enjoy a delicious breakfast and prepare for your trip around Kanazawa. The town used to serve as the home of the second most powerful clan, the Maeda Clan, during the Edo Period. We will go sightseeing at Nagamachi, the former living district of Samurai. The district exhibits a historic atmosphere with remaining samurai residences, earthen walls, entrance gates, narrow lanes, and water canals. Visit Nomura-ke, a samurai residence restored to the golden era of samurai precedence. There are a few other museums that might interest you if time permits. One of them is the Contemporary Art Museum. Now open to the public, the museum is renowned for displaying the cutting edge of design right around the corner from the old. There is also the DT Suzuki Museum, showcasing the history of Zen being brought to the Western world.

Travel to Kyoto. Upon arrival, enjoy the evening freely at your leisure to wander around Gion District, where you may get a glimpse of Geisha, and admire beautifully preserved machiya houses along its side alleys. Dinner with a Maiko is offered as an optional experience here.

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. Transfer to the outskirts of Kyoto for a gentle walk through Sagano's lush bamboo groove. The sunlight filters through the densely packed grove, projecting thin slashes of light onto this enchanting forest. Head to Tenryuji temple,  which survived centuries maintaining its original design. Then continue to Jojakkoji Temple nestled in the quiet and understated wooded hill. Crossing over the iconic landmark Togetsukyo Bridge for stunning views of the adjacent cherry forest.

This morning, begin with a Japanese tea ceremony in a traditional wooden townhouse. If you’d like, you can also try on a kimono. Afterwards you have the option to either visit Nara, or you can stay in Kyoto. Nara is approx. 45 minutes by train. Begin at Tōdai-ji Temple, home to the Great Buddha (Daibutsu) and one of the most famous temples in Japan. It is part of the UNESCO-listed “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”. Walk through Nara Park, where you’ll see the city’s well-known population of free-roaming deer. Visit Kasuga Taisha Shrine, also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its many lanterns and peaceful wooded setting. Time permitting, finish with a short walk around Kōfuku-ji Temple, another UNESCO site once linked to the powerful Fujiwara clan. Then return to Kyoto in the evening. If you choose to stay in Kyoto, you can head to Nanzen-ji with it's grand entrance gate and brick aqueduct. Then go to Eikan-dō. Eikan-dō is known for its hillside pagoda and peaceful garden. After this you could head to Kiyomizu-dera by taxi, to this famous hillside temple. Lastly, go over to Fushimi Inari Taisha, and explore the famous red torii gate tunnels as the sun begins to set.

Embark on a bullet train to Kurashiki. The city is renowned for its preserved canal area, which was built to allow boats and barges to navigate between the city's storehouses and the nearby port, when Kurashi was still a vital rice trading center. Enjoy the afternoon wandering around this canal town. We recommend the Ohara Museum, Ohashi House, Ivy Square, and buying yourself Japanese jeans made at a local factory.

After breakfast you head to Hiroshima, a city that recovered from the Atomic Bombing. Admire stunning vibrancy and splendid culture that has regrown from the ashes. Peace Memorial Park and Museum inside the park are major attractions of the city. Prefectural Museum of Art, Shukkei-En Gardens, Baseball Stadium, and restaurants selling unique okonomiyaki are recommended attractions for your leisure time!

We will travel to Miyajima - one of the "Three Great Views of Japan" popularized in the Edo Period. You will certainly feel a sense of nostalgia from seeing the famous "floating" red gate – Torii – a famous symbol of the Japanese shrine entrance. Miyajima is also populated by friendly deer - they will eat from your hand and follow you around! Wander the temples and hike (or take a cable car) to the top of Misen Mountain to experience the life of a monk.

After breakfast, embark on a bullet train to Nagasaki. Nagasaki is a town of churches - that is, churches, temples, pagodas, shrines, synagogue, and mosques! This multicultural city has created a delightful mish-mash of colour, culture, and design. Sample kappo-ryori at a Kappo restaurant, where you can watch the chef cooking right in front of you! Option to take a cruise to Gunkanjima (Battleship Island), a small island located about 20 kilometers from Nagasaki. Until 1974, the island served as a coal mine, where more than 5000 residents called this 480-meter-long, 150-meter-wide place home, resulting in the highest population density in history recorded worldwide.

Today, embrace an insight into Nagasaki on foot and by the trams - the iconic transportation of the city. Journey along Teramachi-dori where many old temples lined up, followed by Sofukuji Temple and Urakami Cathedral. Nagasaki has always had a bonding relationship with Christianity - glimpses of Christian influence can be seen in the city's every breath. We also take you to another dark stone in this grand city's history - Nagasaki Peace Park. See how the city resurrected like a phoenix throughout history. Journey to Glover Garden and Dejima - another multi-cultural asset in this city's many facets.

After a good breakfast you journey by bullet train to Beppu. Beppu is a city by the seashore on Kyushu Island. The region is an abundant source of hot springs, making it home to over 2,000 onsens. Immerse yourself in an unmatched range of baths, from ordinary hot water baths, mud baths, sand baths, and even to steam baths, during your stay here.

Today will be your free day to enjoy Beppu. Journey to Jigoku - the Hells of Beppu to admire the view of the dangerous hot springs, namely Umi Jigoku, Oniishibozu Jigoku, Shiraike Jigoku, Kamado Jigoku, and many more! Savour local delicacies uniquely cooked by natural hot spring steam.

‍Today you will transfer to Haneda airport and board your flight home.

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