Jewels of Japan

Your tour of Japan begins at London Heathrow where you are greeted by the Tour Manager before boarding a flight to Tokyo with our group.

Japan is a fascinating country - culturally, spiritually and geographically. An archipelago of over 14,000 islands, its mountainous interior is a land of magical forests and otherworldly villages. The most commonly practiced religion in Japan is Shinto, and to a lesser degree Buddhism, which explains the countless public shrines and beautifully constructed wooden temples, found on almost every street corner and in parklands throughout the country. Side by side with these idyllic scenes, shimmering glass skyscrapers pierce the skies of neon-lit futuristic cities. This juxtaposition of old and new, modern and traditional, creates a country of captivating contrasts that has entranced visitors for centuries.

We touch down in Tokyo ready to begin our extensive tour of this extraordinary city. With a population similar to that of Canada, in an area roughly the same size as North Yorkshire, urban Tokyo is the world's most populous metropolis. At the same time, it is rated highly in terms of liveability, thanks to its super-efficient infrastructure, community spirit and green spaces.

After transferring to our four-star hotel in the popular Shinjuku district, you could look out across the buzzing metropolis from the observatory deck of the nearby Tokyo Metropolitan Government building. Or you may wish to simply relax and unwind before a welcome drink and dinner. As night falls, Tokyo is illuminated by flickering lights from neon-lit towers stretching as far as the eye can see. This stunning spectacle can be observed from the hotel's restaurant on the 45th floor.

• Dinner

After breakfast at our hotel, we meet our English-speaking guide, who will remain with us throughout the holiday. On a coach tour of Tokyo, we witness the city's contrasts, starting at Harajuku's Meiji-Jingu shine. Boasting fantastic Shinto design, it was constructed in 1920 to honour modern Japan's first emperor.

As if to demonstrate the intertwining of the tranquil and bustling, we travel a short distance to the famed Shibuya crossing, where up to 3,000 people at a time inundate the crossing from all directions. A symbol of the city, the Senso-Ji temple in Asakusa is our next destination. Dating from the 7th century, it was built to honour Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. With its sweeping, tiled roof, intricately carved wood and giant red lanterns, Senso-Ji is the epitome of Japanese Buddhist architecture.

Our tour ends in Asakusa, and with the rest of the day free, you can return to the hotel by coach or begin exploring independently. This evening, you may like to seek out some Japanese cuisine, with Tokyo renowned for its sushi, ramen and tempura.

• Breakfast

A relaxed morning with breakfast at our hotel is followed by our first trip on the famous Japanese railways. Walking the short distance to the world's busiest station, Shinjuku, we board the Shonan Express to Odawara station. From here, we transfer into the mountains for an amazing ride on the Hakone Ropeway - a 20-minute cable car journey providing views of iconic Mount Fuji in the distance. As we travel above this area of outstanding natural wonders, we witness rising plumes of steam from the sulphurous hot springs surrounding Mount Hakone - a volcano that last erupted in 1170.

Arriving on the shores of Lake Ashi, our journey continues with a cruise across the crater lake to our hotel. Enroute, look for the striking red of Shinto torii gates along the shoreline and keep an eye out for more beautiful views of Mount Fuji.

Our hotel overlooks the lake, framed by overlapping mountains dipping towards the serene water. There is time to relax before dinner at the hotel's restaurant this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today is all about Japan's most revered peak, Mount Fuji - the UNESCO World Heritage active volcano. Recognisable from artworks including woodcut prints by Hokusai, the country's sacred symbol is one of Japan's Historic Sites and is remarkable due to its symmetry and prominence.

After breakfast at our hotel, we travel by coach to Mount Fuji Fifth Station (weather permitting). Climbing ever higher through lush woodlands, we reach this popular sightseeing spot. There's time to admire the views of both Fuji and the surrounding countryside from this excellent vantage point. From here, we visit the World Heritage Centre to learn more about Mount Fuji.

Some of the most iconic images of the volcano are taken from Oishi Park, beside Lake Kawaguchi. We spend time here this afternoon, where you can search for that picture-perfect view. Later, we head into the mountains to the alpine town of Matsumoto, where there is a free evening after checking in to our hotel.

• Breakfast

Our explorations of enchanting Matsumoto begin after breakfast. First, we take a guided tour of a miso factory to discover why this paste - a mixture of fermented soya beans with salt and other umami-based ingredients - is so important in Japanese cooking, before tasting the distinctive flavours for ourselves.

A highlight of our day is Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan's premier historic castles. This five-storey pagoda-style fortress is also known as 'Crow Castle', due to its unusual black exterior. Built in the 1500s, the castle is the oldest of its kind in Japan.

After time to look around, we continue through the scenic Kiso Valley to Nagoya. Along this historic Edo-period trade route between Tokyo and Kyoto, we experience Japan's glorious countryside and stop off to view the traditional towns of Tsumago and Magome. Characterised by dark-wood buildings and ancient cobbled streets, these towns offer a glimpse of rural Japan from a bygone era. Arriving in Nagoya, we check in to our five-star hotel in the city centre.

• Breakfast

Hopping aboard a train after breakfast this morning, we make our way to Himeji to view its incredible castle. Dating from the early 1600s, this sprawling UNESCO-listed fortress is Japan's largest and most visited castle. With its striking white exterior, it is said to resemble an egret or heron taking flight. Outside the castle moat, we find Koko-en, a traditional Japanese garden with nine sections, displaying water features, cherry trees and koi carp ponds.

After free time over lunch, we enjoy our first taste of the world-renowned Shinkansen bullet trains as we dash to Hiroshima at speeds of up to 186 miles per hour. This emotive city is renowned for the unprecedented devastation it suffered during World War Two, but Hiroshima's parks and museums now stand as embodiments of peace.

After checking in to our hotel, there is a free evening to dine independently. Japan is famed for its delicious food, and you might like to find a restaurant serving fresh sushi, ramen noodles, yakiniku barbeque or highly-rated wagyu beef.

• Breakfast

Travelling by local train and boat to Miyajima today, we soak up the tranquillity of this secluded destination known for its age-old temples and ancient forests. Also known as Itsukushima (Island of the Gods), we enjoy a walking tour which includes a visit to Itsukushima Shrine and the iconic Great Torii Gate that guards its entrance. Partially submerged at high tide, this stunning red structure was built in the 12th century and is an enduring image of traditional Japan.

There is free time over lunch to explore the peaceful shrines and museums along the serene shoreline before we return to Hiroshima later this afternoon.

The evening is at leisure, and you might like to take a stroll along the popular Hondori shopping street or head to a restaurant to sample one of the city's famous dishes - okonomiyaki, a delicious savoury, teppanyaki pancake. Alternatively, spend some time in a lively 'izakaya' - an informal Japanese bar - in the nearby Nagarekawacho district where you can enjoy a drink with some tapas-style snacks.

• Breakfast

This morning, we embark on a tour of Hiroshima's most moving locations. The city has become a byword for the horrors of war after an atomic bomb was dropped by the US Air Force at 8.15am on Monday 6th August 1945. Friendly Hiroshima now stands as a symbol of peace.

We begin with a tour of the Peace Memorial Park which commemorates the victims and visit the Atomic Bomb Dome - the emotive remains of the scorched shell of a building destroyed on that fateful day. In the Peace Memorial Museum, we view items salvaged from the rubble.

Early this afternoon, we board a bullet train to Kyoto - Japan's former capital that's now a living museum of the country's artistic heritage, with an impressive 17 UNESCO-listed sites. We enjoy a walking tour of the Gion district - one of the few places where you might catch a glimpse of a real-life geisha. After watching a performance at the Gion Corner Theatre, we indulge in a Japanese dinner in Ponto-cho Alley, a lantern-lit street filled with authentic restaurants and shops.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A historic city where the beauty of old Japan is writ large, we explore Kyoto's spellbinding sights today. After breakfast at our hotel, we embark on a half-day tour, starting with a visit to the enchanting Sagano Bamboo Forest. Our next stop is the famous Kinkakuji Temple, popularly known as the 'Golden Pavilion'. Dating from 1397, this iconic temple shimmers in brilliant gold leaf on the edge of a reflecting pond, surrounded by lush forest.

Afterwards, we take part in a zen tea ceremony, a tradition steeped in history. Learning how to brew, serve and drink the celebrated matcha tea, we also gain a glimpse into the spirituality and culture of Japan. Afterwards, we visit Nishiki market, where there's free time to find some lunch.

The rest of the day is free, and you might like to visit Kiyomizu Temple, the Kyoto Railway Museum or the Fushimi Inari shrine. Kyoto has many excellent restaurants for you to experience tonight, serving everything from refined dining to casual street food.

• Breakfast

Pre-dating Kyoto as the nation's premier city, Nara is our destination after breakfast today. As the capital from 710 to 794AD, this beautiful and compact city embodies history and grace, with a backdrop of wooded hills.

Accompanied by our expert, English-speaking guide, we are taken on a walking tour of sites, including the Todaji Temple where we view one of the world's largest bronze statues. The Great Buddha or 'Daibutsu' was first installed in 752AD and is set within an ornate temple recorded as the largest wooden building in the world. Nearby, the landscaped grounds of Nara's serene deer park are ponds and deer. These animals were once revered as messengers of the gods and now roam freely. They are so used to human visitors that they often bow in greeting. Leaving Nara, we stop at a traditional sake brewery on our way back to Kyoto, where we gain an insight into this traditional beverage.

This evening is at leisure, so you are free to explore Kyoto's atmospheric streets and peaceful parks or sample the local cuisine independently.

• Breakfast

Before leaving Kyoto after breakfast this morning, we experience an authentic Japanese tea ceremony.

Continuing by coach to Osaka, we get to know this relaxed port city on a guided tour. Our explorations start from one of the city's most jaw-dropping sights. Connecting the two distinctive 40-storey towers of the Umeda Sky Building is the Floating Garden Observatory. Standing nearly 570 feet above the ground, this unique vantage point provides panoramic views across Osaka. After observing Japan's third most populous city from above, we delve into its neon-lit Dotonbori district to experience the beating heart of Osaka from street level. With illuminated signs, mechanical billboards and even a huge blowfish lantern adding to the atmosphere of the streets, Dotonbori is a quintessentially Japanese experience, full of vibrant entertainment and appealing restaurants.

There is free time to relax after checking in to our four-star hotel before dinner tonight.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast at our hotel, we have a day at leisure in Osaka until we transfer to the airport in mid-afternoon.

Built at the end of the 16th century, the grounds of Osaka Castle cover 15 acres and its main keep is recognised as one of the most important cultural sites in Japan. Surrounded by moats and imposing stone walls, this multi-storey swirl of jade, gold and white sits at the centre of tranquil parkland where you can wander amongst sculpted topiary with more than 1,000 plum trees. For some last-minute retail therapy, head to the long, covered shopping street of Shinsaibashi or the quirky nearby neighbourhood of Amerika-Mura, where the eagle-eyed may spot a replica of the Statue of Liberty perched on a rooftop.

This afternoon, our incredible holiday to Japan concludes as we leave our Osaka hotel and travel to the airport ready for our flight home, via Tokyo.

• Breakfast

The peaceful spirituality of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines sit alongside dynamic cities to create a captivating and compelling country. From the slopes of iconic Mount Fuji and the tranquillity of the ancient Kiso Valley, we travelled by world-famous bullet train to emotive Hiroshima. Japan's historic former capitals of Kyoto and Nara enthralled with their temples and welcoming wildlife, before Osaka impressed with its blend of history, bustling streets and laid-back charm.

Your discovery of Japan concludes as we arrive back in London this morning and bid farewell to the Tour Manager and travelling group.