Splendours of Japan

9 days
From $511/day
$4,595
From: 
$4,804
4.6/5 Excellent
40 reviews  
Trip last updated: 12/2/2024
Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule
preferred
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Overview

Highlights

    • 1 Welcome Reception (WR)
    • 8 Breakfast (B)
    • 2 Lunch (L)
    • 2 Dinner (D)
    • 1 Be My Guest (BMG)
    • 1 Farewell Dinner (FD)
    • Kyoto: Enjoy a kaiseki lunch at a traditional Japanese ryokan home near Kyoto where you will learn about local customs.
    • Takayama: Sample Japanese sake during a walking tour in the Edo-style streets of Takayama Old Town.
    • Tokyo: Visit Tokyo's renowned landmarks and gain insight into how this modern city preserves its ancient roots.
    • Tokyo: Visit Tokyo's renowned landmarks and gain insight into how this modern city preserves its ancient roots.
    • Mt Fuji: Start your day by visiting the small rural village of Oshino Hakkai which is home to eight natural spring water ponds. Next on your travels is a 2,300-meter winding road to Mt. Fuji 5th Station. To end your day, you will ride up to Mt. Tenjo by ropeway and bask in the breath-taking views.
    • Gokayama: Take some time to admire the peaceful mountain village of Gokayama. Discover their unique homes that have been built without the use of nails and their sloped thatched roofs.
    • Kanazawa: Learn about the delicacy of the 16th-century craft gold leaf painting with your Local Specialist.
    • Kanazawa: Enjoy a stroll through Omicho market before making your way to the beautiful Gardens of Kenrokuen which have been shaped over the past one hundred years.
    • Kyoto: Your city tour takes you to the orange gates of the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Admire this sacred site before visiting Sanjeusangen-do-Hall, where you can view the 1,001 "thousand-handed" goddesses of mercy statues. Continue your exploration of Kyoto with a walking tour through the Gion district.
    • Gokayama: Help support a local business with a visit to a washi paper workshop. You'll watch the family at work, and test your paper-making skills for yourself.
    • : Explore Tokyo and Kyoto
    • : Visit the Sensoji Temple, the Skytree Observation Tower, the Edo Tokyo Museum in Tokyo, Mt. Fuji 5th Station, the Kinkakuji Temple and Fushimi Inari Shrine and Sanjusangen-do Hall in Kyoto
    • : See the traditional Gassho-zukuri houses in Gokayama and the beautiful gardens of Kenrokuen in Kanazawa
    • : View Mt. Fuji
    • : An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
    • : Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
    • : All porterage and restaurant gratuities
    • : All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
    • : Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
    • : Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
    • : Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
    • : Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
    • : Optional Experiences and free time

What's this trip about?

    At Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Shrine, climb the extraordinary path lined with hundreds of orange torii gates that snake through the forest up into the mountains above the city. Indulge in a delicious kaiseki lunch at a traditional ryokan and gain an insight into Japanese customs. The Activity Level of this tour is Dynamic, meaning this journey features 4+ miles of walking on some days and may involve steep hills.
Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age range65+, 50 - 64, 36 - 49, 18 - 35, 12 - 17, 6 - 11
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityTokyo
End CityOsaka

Travel Themes

Activities

Trip includes

    • An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
    • Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
    • All porterage and restaurant gratuities
    • All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
    • Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
    • Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
    • Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
    • Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
    • Optional Experiences and free time
    • On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Konnichiwa Tokyo

Your in-depth exploration of Japan begins in Tokyo. On arrival at Narita or Haneda Airport, take a shuttle bus transfer to your centrally located hotel, where you’ll join your Travel Director and fellow guests for a welcome drink and local appetizers.

New Otani Garden Tower

Day 2: Explore Vibrant Tokyo

We launch our city tour in the old-time entertainment center of Asakusa, where we’ll encounter the Sensoji Buddhist Temple. One of Tokyo's most colorful and popular temples, Sensoji has been rebuilt countless times since it was founded in 628, making it Tokyo's oldest...

Day 3: Off to the Five Lakes District

Our first stop today is the Imperial Palace Plaza from where the two bridges that form the entrance to the inner grounds of the Imperial Palace can be viewed. We'll have the opportunity to explore the leafy Imperial Palace East Gardens before continuing our city tour....

Day 4: Majestic Mt. Fuji and Timeless Takayama

Visit Oshino Hakkai, a small rural village in the Fuji Five Lakes district, renowned for eight natural spring water ponds that are fed by melted snow from Mt. Fuji. Admire the reflections of the sky and landscapes in its clear waters, then ascend Mt. Fuji by road to 2...

Day 5: Experience Gokayama and on to Kanazawa Dive Into Culture Make Travel Matter

Immerse yourself in tradition as you walk through the Edo-style streets of Takayama's Old Town. Indulge a lunch of Japanese Hida-gyu – beef from a black-haired Japanese cattle breed, renowned as one of the finest quality varieties of beef. Journey back in time this af...

Day 6: Traditional Kanazawa

Join a Local Specialist this morning to learn the secrets of painting gold leaf, a delicate craft the Japanese have been perfecting since the 16th century. Continue to the tranquil gardens of Kenroku-en, which took shape over a hundred years to emerge as one of Japan’...

Day 7: Onwards to Kyoto Connect with Locals

Board an Express train this morning to Kyoto, where you'll connect with locals at a traditional restaurant on your Be My Guest experience. You'll learn about local Japanese customs from your hosts. After lunch, visit the UNESCO-listed Kinkakuji Temple with its famous ...

Day 8: Discover Enchanting Kyoto

The blazing orange torii gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine guide your path through the forest, up into the mountains and to a sacred site that has heard prayers for prosperity and happiness since the 8th century. Continue to Sanjusangen-do Hall and admire the minute detai...

Day 9: Sayonara Japan

Our encounter with Japan’s age-old traditions and modern cityscapes at its end, we take a transfer by airport shuttle service to Kansai International Airport or Osaka Itami Airport for our onward flight. Alternatively, continue to Hiroshima by choosing the 13-day Splendors of Japan with Hiroshima itinerary.

Breakfast

Dates & Availability

Price from
$4,595
Price per day
$511

Splendours of Japan Reviews & Ratings

5/5  Excellent
Excellent
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Great
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Average
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G

Gina Banas

May 2024

Splendors of Japan

Our director was wonderful along with the itinerary we ...

T

Trusted Customer

Nov 2024

Splendors of Japan

Was very nice. Varied tour and *Personal information removed by Feefo* ...

T

Trusted Customer

May 2024

Splendors of Japan

Yama is an excellent tour director.

D

Devaney Landry

Jun 2024

Splendors of Japan

This trip was fantastic, I enjoyed it so much. Everything went great...

T

Timothy Ferris

Jun 2024

Splendors of Japan

The tour guide was beyond great, highly informative, caring and always helpful. Loved the tour from beginning to end. Fine hotels, restaurants and the sites were alw...

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Tour Operator

Trafalgar

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Associations

United States Tour Operators Association

Details

Accommodation:

  • New Otani Garden Tower
  • Fuji Marriott Yamanakako
  • Associa Takayama Resort
  • Kanazawa Tokyu
  • The Hotel Higashiyama

Group size:

Standard Group - 25 + people

Maximum number of people in group:

40

Trip Excludes:

    Meals included:

    • 8 Breakfast (B)
    • 3 Lunch (L)
    • 3 Dinner (D)

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