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Japan Discovery - 17 Apr 2027 to 08 Apr 2028
Operated by Trafalgar
Tripcode: 4JPDIM27
Overview
Destination:
Japan,
Duration:10 days
Type:Group tour (max 45)
Travel Period
April 2027 - April 2028
In Tokyo, you pass beneath neon signs, stand in the hush of temple courtyards and feel the bullet train hum beneath you as you travel between city and mountain. You look towards Mt. Fuji, its peak piercing the sky and, when the season allows, you pass spring cherry blossom in soft clouds of pink and white petals. In Kyoto, you trace the city through temple gates, wooden lanes and its colourful Geisha district, where lanterns glow against old timber. Across 10 days from Tokyo to Osaka, you pause on polished station platforms, catch the scent of incense at temple doors, wander down narrow city lanes and marvel at incredible landscapes.
Iconic Experience
- Tokyo: Walk beneath the dense canopy of Meiji Jingu Shrine, then wander through Asakusa and along Nakamise Street, where traditional sweets and souvenirs fill the stalls on the approach to centuries-old Sensō-ji Temple and its enormous red lantern.
- Tokyo: Gaze out from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Observatory, 202 metres above the city, where Tokyo’s dense patchwork of rooftops and skyscrapers stretches towards the horizon
- Mt Fuji: Admire the stunning countryside at Mt. Fuji 5th Station.
- Tokyo: Jump aboard the high-speed Bullet Train towards the cultural hub of Kyoto.
- Kurashiki: Explore the historic Bikan Quarter with your Travel Director, following the willow-fringed canals across stone bridges and past white-walled storehouses topped with black tiles.
- Miyajima: Discover the majestic Itsukushima Shrine and learn a new skill when you join a Local Specialist to practice making Momiji Manjyu.
- Hiroshima: Discover the rich history when you visit the Peace Memorial Museum and Park.
- Meet your Local Specialist to explore UNESCO-listed Himeji Castle, its brilliant white walls and layered roofs spreading across the hillside like the wings of the heron that gave it its name. Make your way through winding passages and steep stairways towards the great keep, learning the stories held within this centuries-old fortress.
Highlights:
Standard inclusions
- 4 Dinner (D)
- 9 Breakfast (B)
- Bullet Train Tokyo - Kyoto
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- Many meals and daily breakfasts included
- City orientation tours
- Audio Headsets provided throughout your holiday to enhance your included sightseeing experiences
- Luxury air-conditioned coach
- Extensive variety of Choice Experiences
- On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised
Itinerary
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Collapse all
Collapse allBegin Your Journey in Tokyo
You arrive in Tokyo to the sound of station chimes, glowing vending machines and the rich scent of broth wafting from small restaurants. As you begin to explore, you pass paper lanterns outside doorways, pause to read handwritten menus tucked into windows or glance up at glass towers rising above pockets of old timber. Between one street and the next, you pass from quiet wooden façades to wide crossings, where traffic lights click and people wait in neat lines. At dinner, you meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers, sharing your first Japanese dishes around the table.
Explore Tokyo from Skyline to Shrine
High in the Tokyo Metropolitan Observatory, you step up to the glass and watch the city stretch beneath you, a vast sweep of rooftops, rail lines and narrow streets running towards the horizon. At Meiji Jingu Shrine, you notice the sound of the city fall away among tall trees and crunchy gravel paths. In Asakusa, you follow Nakamise Street past stalls selling sweet rice crackers, folded fans and small traditional treats. Within Sensō-ji Temple’s grounds, smoke curls from the incense burner before you pass beneath Kaminarimon, its huge red lantern hanging above the gate. This afternoon, choose one of today’s Optional Experiences. Spend time with art, armour and ancient treasures at the Tokyo National Museum, with shopping time among Ameyoko’s market stalls and Ginza’s elegant department stores. Or learn how to turn takoyaki as it sizzles on the hot griddle before sharing smoky yakitori skewers or steaming bowls of ramen.
Journey from Tokyo to Mt Fuji
Today, you travel towards Mt. Fuji, Japan’s highest volcano, watching the city give way to wooded slopes and mountain roads as the cool air brushes your skin. Weather permitting, the road rises to Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station, where you stand 2,300 metres above sea level with the Fuji Five Lakes area spread far below. You’ll have free time for lunch in the mountain’s shadow, with Mt. Fuji’s volcanic cone rising beyond you in a sweep of rock and forest which, in the colder months, unfolds in white fans of snow. Later, choose today’s Optional Experience and ride the Komagatake Ropeway, gliding above Hakone towards Lake Ashi, a crater-formed lake surrounded by tall trees and ridges. On the drive back, you pass mountain landscapes and traditional buildings, watching the ridges fold into the distance before returning to Tokyo, where the evening is yours to explore.
Ride the Bullet Train to Kyoto
This morning, the bullet train carries you towards Kyoto, its smooth rush through the landscape giving way to a city of temple roofs, timber teahouses and old streets. At Kinkaku-ji, you pause beside Kyokochi, the mirror pond, where the Golden Pavilion’s gold leaf and pine trees shimmer in the still water. At Heian-jingu Shrine, you pass beneath the great vermilion torii gate before learning how Shinto ritual, imperial history and Kyoto craftsmanship meet in one place. Later, at a traditional handicraft centre, you browse the Japanese crafts. At dinner, you take your place in a local restaurant, with savoury aromas from the kitchen, the click of chopsticks and dishes arriving at your table.
Kyoto Your Way: Markets, Gardens and Gion
Kyoto is yours to shape today, whether you start among Ginkaku-ji’s raked sand, mossy gardens and pale temple walls or make your way to Gion, where you may glimpse Geishas in silk kimono shuffling along wooden-fronted lanes. In Nishiki Market, you may follow the scent of soy, vinegar and toasted rice between narrow stalls. Or choose today’s Optional Experience to Nara, where you watch artisans turn black ink into a deep, satin sheen before trying the slow, careful movements of bokusho yourself. Continue to Tōdai-ji Temple and Nara Park, where you walk past stone lanterns, open lawns and deer stepping close enough for you to notice the soft sound of hooves on the path. Another Optional Experience leads you to Fushimi Inari Shrine, where you walk beneath rows of vermilion torii gates as the wooded path climbs the mountain.
Japan’s Historic Quarters: Kurashiki to Hiroshima
You leave Kyoto for Kurashiki, where your Travel Director guides you through the historic Bikan Quarter, past black-and-white warehouses, willow-lined canals and narrow lanes. Beside the water, you notice reflections trembling against old storehouses and the soft dip of willow branches over the canal. You may choose today’s Optional Experience and try on a kimono for a photo in this classic setting. Later, continue to Hiroshima, a city known around the world for the atomic bomb attack of 6 August 1945. The rest of the day is yours to explore, pause for reflection or simply take in the city at your own pace.
Visit Miyajima and Hiroshima’s Peace Memorials
By ferry to Miyajima, you cross the Seto Inland Sea as salt air cools your cheeks and the island rises ahead. At the 12th-century Itsukushima Shrine, you walk through halls that stretch out over the sea, the soft sound of water lapping below, before looking out to the great red-orange torii gate, which seems to float on the tide. Back in Hiroshima, you enter the Peace Memorial Park, wandering between open lawns and memorial stones. At the Cenotaph, you pause before the names of those who lost their lives on 6 August 1945. Inside the Memorial Museum, ragged clothes, a melted lunchbox and a watch stopped at 8.15am make the human cost painfully specific. Your tour ends at the UNESCO-listed Peace Memorial, the Genbaku Dome, preserved near the hypocentre of the atomic bomb. This afternoon, you may choose the ‘Secrets of Hiroshima’ Optional Experience.
Himeji’s Heights: White Heron Castle
Leaving Hiroshima, you travel to Himeji, with free time for lunch before your afternoon visit to its UNESCO-listed castle. Your Local Specialist leads you towards Himeji Castle, a 400-year-old fortress known as White Heron Castle, where white-plastered walls and dark tiled roofs rise above a canopy of green. You look up from the grounds to pale towers stacked high on their stone base, the castle lifting over the treetops as though reaching up towards the clouds. After learning about its history, continue to your hotel, with the evening free to spend as you choose.
Discover Osaka’s Food and History
On your final full day in Japan, you may visit a sake brewery with a Local Specialist, where you watch freshly steamed rice, water, koji and yeast slowly transform into crisp, clear sake. Afterwards, Osaka greets you with arcades humming with bells and chatter, the raindrop-like patter of okonomiyaki crackling on the grill and shop signs stacked above narrow streets. With the afternoon free, you may explore the city or choose today’s Optional Experience to the Umeda Sky Building and Osaka Castle. At the Floating Garden Observatory, you stand 170 metres above the city, with wind on your face and Osaka spread below in roads, towers and river bends. At Osaka Castle, you wander through the museum galleries before pausing at the golden tea room, where gilded surfaces sparkle in the light and the small ceremonial space glows like a jewel box. This evening, perhaps join a final Optional Experience in Namba, where you follow the smell of sauce, smoke and frying batter through dining streets alive with chatter.
Say Goodbye To Japan
Your Japan journey ends with farewells to your Travel Director and fellow travellers. Leave with a camera full of memories and Japan’s sounds, scents and flavours still vivid long after the final goodbye.
Dates
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Operator
Trafalgar
The best of the world unlocked for you. Imagine unmissable experiences you’ve always dreamed of, getting to know the locals and having everything taken care of every step of the way. Here's what you'll experience: Must-sees to local secrets: Visiting bucket list sites are a highlight of travelling, however, travelling on your own can make them hard work. Don’t queue with other sightseers for hours, with Trafalgar our experts unlock doors – think exclusive access to the Vatican out of hours or a tour of Versailles and its grounds with an expert. This, coupled with the intimate glimpses and hidden gems our local specialists show you, are the life-changing experiences that make you feel like an insider, not a tourist. One-of-a-kind experiences: Thanks to our global network you’ll unlock local access to communities and people around the world. Our 100+ Be My Guest experiences are a signature Trafalgar exclusive, where you will enjoy the hospitality of locals as you are welcomed into their homes to hear their stories and learn about their cultures. In every destination, you’ll also enjoy unique “Stays with stories” accommodation: more than just a place to rest your head, they are part of the heritage and fabric of the communities you visit. Responsible travel at heart: When you choose Trafalgar, you are choosing to make your travels a force for good and support our goal to MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®. We recognise our responsibility to ensure we make a positive impact on the planet we call home, the people we visit, and the rich wildlife we find. We ensure that the impacts of our business and your travels are positive in two ways: through our TreadRight Foundation, and our 5-year sustainability strategy How We Tread Right.
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Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.
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9 nights
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