Japanese Alps explorer

Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Tokyo.

Once in Tokyo, there will be an airport representative to help with validating your rail pass and seat reservations before escorting over to the airport shuttle bus directly to the hotel.Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to acclimatise and recuperate from any jet-lag.

Have a day in Tokyo to explore at leisure. One of our recommendations is to visit the Hamarikyu gardens close to the Sumida river where it's possible to board a passenger ferry to the older part of Tokyo, Asakusa, and the beautiful Sensoji temple.

After a relaxed morning, using your included rail pass, it will be the first journey by super-fast bullet train to the city of Nagano before heading deep into the Alps to the small town of Yudanaka Onsen, home to the snow monkeys.

Explore Yudanaka's hot springs and watch the snow monkey's bathing in the warm waters. A short train ride away is the artisan town of Obuse famous for its Hokkusai paintings.

Travel by private line train and local Alpine bus to Kamikochi; a scenic journey through the mountains to the heart of the Alps region.

Take a full day to enjoy the glorious scenery and walk some of the trails here. For the more adventurous, it's possible to hike up one of the surrounding imposing mountains too.

Return to Matsumoto by bus and train. Our recommendation for your time in Matsumoto is to spend the afternoon looking around the city and the Crow Castle, one of the oldest remaining in Japan dating back to the 1500s.

Take the train north to Shinano-Omachi, where you can begin your traverse across the mountains towards Kanazawa. This area is about the stunning mountain scenery, fresh air and walks/hikes.

Take the morning to enjoy a little more of the surrounding area. From the afternoon, head by train to the city of Kanazawa, often dubbed "The Little Kyoto" by the locals for its old geisha district and samurai quarters.

Visit the beautiful Kenrokuen garden this morning, one of Japan's top three gardens. Later there's time to explore some more of this interesting and artisan city.

Take the limited express train to Kyoto, Japan's cultural heartland. After checking into the hotel, a private guide will take you to a local home to try your hand at a cultural pastime of your choice, such as tea ceremony or calligraphy.

Take in the temples, shrines and gardens of Kyoto at one's own pace today. In the evening there is a visit to the geisha district of Gion with a private guide, in order to spot some of these elusive ladies scurrying to and from their appointments.

Just west of Kyoto is the secluded area of Arashiyama, home to a wonderful bamboo forest, some gentle hiking, river scenery and little teahouses with rickshaw outside.

Take the bullet train up to Tokyo and have the final afternoon at leisure in the capital.

Take the airport shuttle bus from the hotel lobby to the airport in time for your flight onwards. Your return flight will arrive the same day.