Grand tour of Japan
Overview
What's this trip about?
Compare to similar trips
View Similar Trips
Itinerary
Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Tokyo.
Arriving in Tokyo, you're met by an Audley representative and shown to the correct airport transfer to take you to your centrally located hotel. They will also help you exchange your rail pass and make any train necessary reservations. Spend the rest of the day resting and relaxing after your flight.
A day at leisure in Tokyo to explore at your own pace. Tokyo has many different districts, from upmarket Ginza to vibrant Shinjuku and the futuristic Odaiba. It also has quiet green spaces too - we suggest visiting the landscaped Hamarikyu Gardens and taking the ferry from there to the historic Asakusa district. Here you can see the great red lantern of the Senso-ji Buddhist temple.
Today we suggest getting out of the city and visiting the mountain town of Kawagoe, just a 30 minute journey from the capital. Its main street is very reminiscent of Edo (the old capital) and hence why Kawagoe is seen as "Little Edo" for its clay-walled buildings or ...
A second full day in Tokyo presents the chance to visit Tsukiji Fish Market. Set your alarm clock and get there bright and early when the market opens at around 5am to watch the famous tuna auctions. Later, after breakfast, explore the Imperial Palace Gardens or the Meiji Shrine, a large but tranquil Shinto shrine in the middle of the buzzing Harajuku district.
Today you travel by express train to Nagoya, where you pick up the bullet train taking you to Tsumago. The journey lasts around three hours. After arriving in Tsumago, a quiet postal town, check in to your traditional ryokan (inn) accommodation. You have the rest of t...
Today walk part of the Nakasendo Highway between Tsumago and Magome, along the road that once connected Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto. The scenery is beautiful and classic: paddy fields, cedar woods and sleepy villages.Later, travel further into the Japanese Alps to Takayama, a quaint town with an interesting merchant district and sake breweries. The journey takes around four and a half hours by train.
A day at leisure in Takayama. Walk around the warren of the Sanmachi district, crammed with shops, galleries, museums, sake breweries and 17th-century kura (storehouses). Explore the shrines of Teramachi's wooded park and try local specialities such as Hida beef and Japanese pickles. You could also make the 15 minute train journey to the lesser-known but equally charming town of Furukawa.
Take a two-hour bus transfer to Kanazawa, home to one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan, Kenroku-en. You might want to start your visit of the city by seeing one of its more contemporary sides and browsing the galleries of the excellent 21st Century Art Museum.
This morning, head as you early as you can to Kenroku-en. The garden is best enjoyed while it's quiet, so you can wander among the ponds, streams, trees and teahouses and consider its design in peace: according to Japanese garden aesthetics, Kenroku-en contains the si...
Take the express train to Osaka and then board the bullet train on to Hiroshima. The journey takes four and a half hours. You have the afternoon at leisure after this long day of travel, or you may wish to have a stroll down the city's leafy avenues.
A day at leisure to explore Hiroshima in depth. Visit the evocative Peace Park, Memorial Museum and Atomic Bomb Dome. You can also see a reconstructed castle and the Shukkei-en Gardens. Meaning 'shrunken scenery', this space is a great example of how Japanese gardens ...
Today you could take the 20 minute ferry crossing over to the scenic Miyajima Island. Its vermilion torii gate - often described as 'floating', when the gate appears to hover in the water at high tide - is one of the most iconic spots in Japan. You could also take the...
Travel east to Kyoto, the ancient capital and cultural heart of Japan. By bullet train this takes about two hours. This afternoon, we can arrange for you to take part in a traditional Japanese cultural activity with your English-speaking guide. You could learn the art of the tea ceremony, calligraphy, how to play Koto instruments, origami, or sushi-making.
Explore Kyoto at your own pace today, taking in some of the temples, shrines and shopping streets. The best way to see it is on foot, wandering the quiet gardens and grand palaces that sit side by side with more modern areas as well as narrow traditional streets of wooden buildings.
Another day at leisure in Kyoto. You may wish to visit the Golden Pavilion - if the weather's fine you'll be treated to the sight of its reflection shimmering in the pond surrounding it. In the evening, your private guide and geisha expert meets you and takes you on a...
Take a short (under 20 minute) train journey to the Fushimi-Inari Shrine this morning to see the tunnels of bright orange torii gates snaking up the hillside. Later, continue by train (about 45 minutes) to Nara to see the Todaiji Buddha and tame deer park.
Using your separate rail pass including in your pack, you will head south to the area of Mount Koya, one of Japan's top three spiritual homes, where you will enjoy the simple life with a short stay in temple lodgings. It's beautifully quiet and quaint in the simple accommodations.
Rise early to explore the town today, when its temples including Garan Temple are much quieter and more atmospheric. Take the train back down the mountain to Osaka, and then continue by train to the Hakone National Park. This latter leg takes four and a half hours. This is a long day of travel but with some great scenery en route, especially as you approach Mount Fuji National Park.
Using the travel pass provided, explore Hakone National Park independently. Take in the Open Air Sculpture Museum, Owakudani Valley and ride the cable car that provides views of Fuji on a clear day. You can also visit other viewpoints to get views of Fuji, or relax in the park's hot thermal springs.
Return to Tokyo by train (which takes one and a quarter hours) for your final afternoon in Japan. Head to explore a new area of the city, or you might like to go back to an area that caught your imagination at the beginning of the trip. Alternatively, we could arrange tickets for the ever-popular Ghibli Anime Museum, an interactive exhibition celebrating Japan's leading animation studio.
Take a shared airport transfer to the airport in time to catch your return flight. Your return flight will arrive the same day.
Want a tailor-made trip instead?
Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:
- You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
- Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Audley Travel.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Audley Travel Reviews & Ratings
Other Audley Travel Reviews
Another brilliant trip
Third holiday with Audley and the best yet. They really know the countries and work with you to put together the perfect itinerary. They think of everything. They ar...
I wanted to take my son away for his…
I wanted to take my son away for his 21st birthday to New Orleans and Memphis over Halloween My agent was Stacey Lockhart She actually listened to my requests, pa...
Trip to Vietnam and Cambodia We recently returned from a trip from…
We recently returned from a trip from Vietnam and Cambodia and it was a trip of a lifetime. We had help planning our trip from our region specialist Matthew who is v...
Travelers also viewed
Tour Operator
Our trips don’t come off the shelf. There’s no set recipe. Each itinerary is tailor-made down to the finest detail, built around your tastes and interests. Quite simply, we listen to what you want and then carefully design an individual trip to match, working to your budget and with an absolute commitment to quality.
We have experts for each and every one of our destinations, with the knowledge that comes from having visited many times or even lived there. Our specialists will design a trip around you, show you the highlights from a different angle, and introduce you to places and experiences that others might miss.
Our flexibility promise
As the world adjusts to travel in times of uncertainty, we want you to be able to look ahead to your next trip knowing you can change your plans if needed. And, with specialists who are experts in their destinations and remain your single point of contact before and while you travel, we promise you can book with us in absolute confidence.
Our flexibility promise
Change your plans free of charge up to 30 days before departure
We’ll move your travel dates or switch the value of your booked trip to another destination at no expense to you up to 30 days before you’re due to depart. You’ll receive a 100% travel credit equivalent to the amount you paid toward your original booking.
Valid for new bookings made on or before October 31, 2020, for travel by Dec. 31, 2021. Travel dates may be moved to departures up to December 31, 2022. Excludes select cruises and airfare. Additional charges may be incurred based on changes to your trip such as accommodation and/or seasonality.
Full-refund guarantee on trips close to home
14-day cancellation policy for trips to the US, Canada or Caribbean
We want to help you navigate the uncertainty that remains around travel by giving you the flexibility to book a trip to any of our destinations in the United States, Canada or the Caribbean this year in complete confidence. With our 14-day cancellation policy, you can cancel your trip up to two weeks before you’re due to depart for any reason and receive a full refund, when you book your trip on or before October 31, 2020 for travel before December 14, 2021**.
Valid on new bookings within the US, Canada or Caribbean made on or before October 31, 2020 for travel by December 14, 2021. Certain policy variations may apply dependent on property selection and dates. Specific details will be provided by your specialist. Any portion of a new booking paid with an existing travel credit will be refunded in the form of a travel credit. Excludes flights and select properties.
Â
Set your travel plans in motion with a video appointment
Â
Talking face to face with your specialist can be an invaluable starting point for sharing thoughts and ideas as you begin to imagine your next trip. You can take as much time as you need to speak to your specialist and discuss all your plans with one of our video appointments. Just think of it as your own personal webinar — your specialist will share a wealth of insight, aided by images, maps and other visuals, to inspire you and provide advice for your trip, based on what you want to experience.
It's easy to arrange
- Book a video appointment (we’ll ask you for a few details about your travel plans).
- One of our specialists, who’s an expert in your chosen destination, will get in touch to arrange a time and date to suit you. If your travel companions are in different households, we’ll invite them to join, too, so you can all chat together.
- Your specialist will send you a link to your video appointment by email. We suggest using a computer or laptop, which means there’s no software to download.
- Settle down with a drink, click on the link to join the appointment and your specialist will be there to welcome you.
Associations
About Travelstride
Find your perfect trip
Save time
Save money
Travel confidently
Logistics
Accommodation
Become a member
- Save up to $700 per person
- Access members-only specials
- Personalize trip recommendations