Treasures of Japan

14 Days / 13 Nights

Day 1Arrive Tokyo

Upon arrival, you will be greeted by our representative who will assist with transfer by shared shuttle bus or private car or the Narita Express Train to your hotel. Rest of the evening is free at leisure.

Overnight at Tokyo

Day 2Full Day Guided Tokyo City Tour

Spend the day visiting some iconic historic sites around the city with your private guide using public transportation. Soak up the atmosphere of Old Tokyo and feast on your favorite traditional street snacks as you explore Tokyo’s oldest temple.

Overnight at Tokyo

Day 3Choice of Half or Full Day Guided Tours in Tokyo

Depending on your personal interest, we have a wide range of handpicked activities for you to choose from. If you’re a huge fan of Anime, do not miss out the world-famous Ghibli Museum where tickets are notoriously hard to get, or let us arrange for you a professional cosplay photoshoot? To indulge in more local history, explore the UNESCO Heritage Site of Nikko National Park where you can explore the Toshogu Shrine complex built in 1636.

Overnight at Tokyo

Day 4Tokyo to Hakone by train

Travel by local train to Hakone, popular for its “onsen” (Japanese hot spring bath), beautiful nature and views of the majestic snowcapped Mt. Fuji. Take advantage of the extensive public transportation to explore surrounding areas and ride on the world’s second longest cable car to the top of Mt. Owakudani. Spend the night in a traditional ryokan and indulge in a sumptuous Japanese dinner after a refreshing soak in your private onsen.

Overnight at Hakone

Day 5Scenic train ride to Takayama

From Hakone, you will first take the Shinkansen bullet train and then change to the Limited Express Hida Wideview for one of the most scenic train rides in Japan, winding your way thought tall mountains and stunning gorges to Takayama.

Known as “Little Kyoto”, Takayama is located in the Hida alpine region and famous for its charming temples, shrines, festivals, rivers and bridges. Also famous for its high quality of sake, we highly recommend a visit to a local brewery for a tasting session!

Overnight at Takayama

Day 6Half Day Guided Tour of Takayama

Explore the small town using local taxi with our expert guide. Our favorite pick is the Miyagawa morning market to sample local fresh produce and fruits. Take a walk in the district called San-machi Suji, the traditional home of Takayama merchants and sake brewers, which has been preserved in almost exactly the same state as 200 or 300
years ago. Here are inns, shops and taverns which trace their history back many generations.

Overnight at Takayama

Day 7Drive to Kanazawa via Shirakawago

You will be picked up this morning for a trip at Shirakawago, a quaint mountain village and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore their famous gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old. Continue to Kanazawa, best known for its castle garden from the 17th century, as well as beautifully preserved samurai and geisha districts.

Overnight at Kanazawa

Day 8Full Day Guided Tour of Kanazawa

Explore the famous iconic sights around the city with our local expert guide. Highlights include the Kenroku-en Garden, ranked one of the top 3 in Japan. You will also be visiting the imposing
Kanazawa Castle, located next to the garden. Nearby Kagayuzen Kaikan offers demonstrations of the centuries-old Yuzen silk painting technique.

Head to Nagamachi Samurai district where you can enter the Nomura Samurai House. Explore Higashi Chaya District is the largest and by far the most interesting of Kanazawa’s Geisha Districts.

Overnight at Kanazawa

Day 9Kanazawa to Hiroshima by train

The train journey takes about 4 hours with a change of train at Shin Osaka. Known for its destruction by the first atomic bomb during WWII, travelers are drawn to its Peace Memorial Park and its haunting museum. On a lighter note, the city is a popular getaway to the island of Miyajima, considered by locals one of Japan’s most scenic spots.

Overnight at Hiroshima

Day 10Full Day Guided Tour of Hiroshima

Spend the day with your guide visiting the Peace Memorial Park and taking a short ferry across to Miyajima Island for the most photographed site in Japan, the Floating Torri Gate. Explore the shrines and temples on the island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Don’t leave without sampling the island’s famous maple leaf shaped cakes!

Overnight at Hiroshima

Day 11Hiroshima to Kyoto by train

The Shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto takes about 2hours. If you depart Hiroshima in the morning, we can set you up with an afternoon tour of Kyoto, or perhaps you prefer a cooking class on Izakaya dishes (Japanese style pub snacks). Japanese cuisine is so well respected around the world that it was awarded UNESCO Intangible World Heritage.

Overnight at Kyoto

Day 12Full Day Guided Tour of Kyoto City

Kyoto, a former imperial capital city for over a thousand years, is a UNESCO World Heritage site as it is one of the best-preserved cities in Japan. Explore this enchanting city with your expert local guide as you learn about its rich heritage history. Discover “Kyoto’s Kitchen”, a lively market where you can pick up seasonal local foods or kitchen tools like knives and cookware.

Overnight at Kyoto

Day 13Half Day or Full Day Guided Tour of Kyoto

Whether you’re an avid foodie, amateur artist or just want to soak up more historical sites, you can choose from a variety of our favorite hand-picked activities with our dedicated local experts. We also highly recommend you spend some time exploring the historic districts on your own.

Overnight at Kyoto

Day 14Depart from Osaka or Tokyo

From Kyoto, you can take the Shinkansen bullet train to Kansai International Airport (60-90 min) for your flight back home. If you’re flying out from Tokyo, it’s about 4-hour train ride to Narita