Journeys: Iconic Japan

Call Us 800.528.9300

Journeys: Iconic Japan



Tour Description:

In Japan, tradition and modernity are celebrated side-by-side in ways that often appear contradictory. Immerse yourself in this intriguing culture, beginning in sprawling Tokyo, one of the world’s most innovative cities. Then head by rail into the countryside to visit traditional villages and tranquil shrines. Explore quaint geisha districts and inspiring gardens; savour the fresh flavours of Japanese cuisine; and get a glimpse of the ancient soul of this fascinating, futuristic country.

Map for Journeys: Iconic Japan
Click for larger view.

Dates & Pricing

Wednesday 30 Oct 24 — Sunday 10 Nov 24Starting at $7,299Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 06 Nov 24 — Sunday 17 Nov 24Starting at $6,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 20 Nov 24 — Sunday 01 Dec 24Starting at $6,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 27 Nov 24 — Sunday 08 Dec 24Starting at $5,519Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 11 Dec 24 — Sunday 22 Dec 24Starting at $5,864Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 19 Feb 25 — Sunday 02 Mar 25Starting at $6,499Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 26 Feb 25 — Sunday 09 Mar 25Starting at $6,499Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 05 Mar 25 — Sunday 16 Mar 25Starting at $6,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 16 Mar 25 — Thursday 27 Mar 25Starting at $6,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 23 Mar 25 — Thursday 03 Apr 25Starting at $7,699Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 26 Mar 25 — Sunday 06 Apr 25Starting at $7,699Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 30 Mar 25 — Thursday 10 Apr 25Starting at $7,699Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 02 Apr 25 — Sunday 13 Apr 25Starting at $7,699Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 06 Apr 25 — Thursday 17 Apr 25Starting at $7,699Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 09 Apr 25 — Sunday 20 Apr 25Starting at $7,699Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 13 Apr 25 — Thursday 24 Apr 25Starting at $7,699Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 16 Apr 25 — Sunday 27 Apr 25Starting at $7,299Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 23 Apr 25 — Sunday 04 May 25Starting at $7,299Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 27 Apr 25 — Thursday 08 May 25Starting at $7,299Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 30 Apr 25 — Sunday 11 May 25Starting at $7,299Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 04 May 25 — Thursday 15 May 25Starting at $7,299Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 07 May 25 — Sunday 18 May 25Starting at $7,299Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 11 May 25 — Thursday 22 May 25Starting at $6,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 14 May 25 — Sunday 25 May 25Starting at $6,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 18 May 25 — Thursday 29 May 25Starting at $6,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 21 May 25 — Sunday 01 Jun 25Starting at $6,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 28 May 25 — Sunday 08 Jun 25Starting at $6,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 01 Jun 25 — Thursday 12 Jun 25Starting at $6,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 04 Jun 25 — Sunday 15 Jun 25Starting at $6,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 11 Jun 25 — Sunday 22 Jun 25Starting at $6,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 18 Jun 25 — Sunday 29 Jun 25Starting at $6,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 25 Jun 25 — Sunday 06 Jul 25Starting at $6,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 02 Jul 25 — Sunday 13 Jul 25Starting at $6,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 09 Jul 25 — Sunday 20 Jul 25Starting at $6,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 23 Jul 25 — Sunday 03 Aug 25Starting at $6,499Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 06 Aug 25 — Sunday 17 Aug 25Starting at $6,499Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 20 Aug 25 — Sunday 31 Aug 25Starting at $7,299Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 03 Sep 25 — Sunday 14 Sep 25Starting at $7,299Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 17 Sep 25 — Sunday 28 Sep 25Starting at $7,299Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 24 Sep 25 — Sunday 05 Oct 25Starting at $7,299Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 01 Oct 25 — Sunday 12 Oct 25Starting at $7,299Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 08 Oct 25 — Sunday 19 Oct 25Starting at $7,299Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 15 Oct 25 — Sunday 26 Oct 25Starting at $7,299Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 22 Oct 25 — Sunday 02 Nov 25Starting at $7,299Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 29 Oct 25 — Sunday 09 Nov 25Starting at $7,299Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 05 Nov 25 — Sunday 16 Nov 25Starting at $6,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 12 Nov 25 — Sunday 23 Nov 25Starting at $6,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 19 Nov 25 — Sunday 30 Nov 25Starting at $6,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 26 Nov 25 — Sunday 07 Dec 25Starting at $6,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 03 Dec 25 — Sunday 14 Dec 25Starting at $6,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 10 Dec 25 — Sunday 21 Dec 25Starting at $6,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Check Mark Icon Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.


ITINERARY

Tokyo
Arrive at any time.

Tokyo
Spend the day exploring vibrant Tokyo—one of the world’s most populous cities—by public transit. Experience the traditional side of the Japanese capital on a visit to the Meiji Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his wife. We then get a glimpse of the city’s quirky, modern side on a walk through Harajuku, a centre of Japanese pop culture and a great place to sit back and people watch.

Tokyo
This morning, set out to visit the Tsukiji fish and seafood outer market. Learn about Japan’s massive fishing industry, and round off the experience with a sushi-making class. Learn how to identify the freshest fish, prepare, fillet, and present; then enjoy a taste of your tasty creations. After your sushi lunch, take a stroll in Asakusa, the historic heart of Tokyo.

Tokyo/Tsumago
Depart Tokyo by train. Disembark at Nagiso and continue to a local minshuku, a traditional Japanese bed-and-breakfast, where we’ll spend the night. Enjoy a walk through the countryside, passing lush farms and rice paddies into Tsumago, a protected cultural area dating to the Edo period. Explore the charming town, where motorized vehicles are prohibited on the main street during the day and phone lines and power cables hidden from view to preserve its traditional feel. Back at our minshuku, feast on a kaiseki meal—a ritualistic multi-course dinner emphasizing artful presentation and fresh ingredients.

Tsumago/Kanazawa
Continue by train to the historic city of Kanazawa, the seat of the powerful Maeda clan during the Edo period. Venture to Nagamachi, the city’s well-preserved samurai district located at the foot of Kanazawa Castle, and learn about the lifestyle of Japan’s ancient, elite warrior class. We’ll also visit the Nomura residence, the beautifully restored home of a wealthy samurai family, boasting a collection of antique heirlooms and a stunning garden.

Kanazawa
Spend the day exploring Kanazawa. Visit the Myoryuji Temple—commonly known as the Ninja Temple—which doubled as a military outpost, and discover its many hidden defenses and escape routes. Take a walk through the Higashi Chaya geisha district and gain insights into geisha culture, viewing one of the district’s traditional wooden houses. Then visit a local craft studio, where we’ll learn about the city’s time-honoured crafts and learn to paint chopsticks with gold leaf.

Kanazawa/Hiroshima
Travel by bullet train to Hiroshima. Here, we’ll pay a visit to the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, located in the heart of the city, which commemorates the tragic atomic bombings of 1945. Take your time to wander through the park, pausing at memorials dedicated to the victims of the attack, and visit the moving statue of Sadako Sasaki at the Children’s Peace Monument, a reminder of the thousands of young lives lost as a result of the bombings.

Hiroshima
Catch a ferry to Itsukushima Island, popularly known as Miyajima. Here, you’ll find one of Japan’s most beautiful and sacred temples, the 12th-century Itsukushima Shinto shrine. This UNESCO World Heritage site is built over the water, with a red torii or wooden gateway that appears to float at high tide. Spend the afternoon at leisure and explore on your own.

Hiroshima/Kyoto
This morning, visit the World Heritage-listed Himeji Castle, widely considered Japan’s most spectacular and best-preserved castle. The castle was completed in the early 17th century and features an elegant white facade with multiple wooden roofs. Later, we hop on a train to Kyoto, which served as Japan’s imperial capital for more than a thousand years. Explore the city’s stunning temples, shrines, and gardens at leisure. This afternoon, take a guided stroll through the lantern-lined streets of Gion, Kyoto’s renowned geisha district.

Kyoto
This morning, we visit a local temple to learn about the history and practice of Zen Buddhism in Japan. Meet with a local monk for a lesson in Zen meditation and calligraphy; then head to the shimmering Kinkakuji, or “temple of the golden pavilion,” one of Kyoto’s most magnificent sites. Later, we’ll learn the basics of samurai etiquette and the practice of kembu, or traditional Japanese swordplay. Try your hand at this delicate art form, and witness a memorable performance by kembu masters.

Kyoto
Venture to the breathtaking Fushimi Inari shrine just outside of Kyoto, dedicated to the Shinto god of rice. Walk under the temple’s iconic red gates, where a scene from Memoirs of a Geisha was filmed. Spend the rest of the day discovering ancient Nara, the site of Japan’s earliest capital. Visit the impressive Todaiji temple—home to the largest bronze Buddha statue in the world—and wander the walkways of Kasuga Taisha, one of Japan’s most sacred Shinto shrines.

Kyoto
Depart at any time.

Check Mark Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.