Japan in Focus

Welcome to Tokyo, Japans capital and the worlds most populous metropolis. Check-into your Special Stay hotel for the next three nights. With direct access to four subway lines, the hotel was recently rated in the Forbes Travel Guide as Tokyo’s exclusive Japanese decor 5-star luxury hotel. Rooms overlook the most picturesque sites in Tokyo, such as the Imperial Palace, the 500-year-old Hie Jinja Shrine and beautiful landscaped Japanese gardens. This evening meet for your welcome reception and dinner.

Visit the Asakusa district, known as the centre of Tokyo’s shitamachi or ‘low city’ capsulizing the atmosphere of Tokyo’s past, paying your respects at Sensoji temple, the city’s oldest Buddhist temple. Enrich Given by Taiko Masters, partake in an interactive, private group demonstration and lesson in playing the Taiko drums. After lunch visit the epicentre of Tokyo’s teenage youth as you wander along Takeshita Street Harajuku, known for its colourful street art, youth fashion, quirky vintage clothing and cosplay stores and dessert shops and carts that specialise in sweet crêpes, donuts, and bubble tea. Freechoice Dining: Choose from dining at a ninja themed restaurant using Horigotatsu style seating or culturally immerse yourself in the traditional Japanese evening Izakaya bar scene serving Yaki-tori and Kushiyaki with your Tour Director as they show you their favourite places to go. Alternatively dine in at Nobu restaurant.

Begin the day in the beautiful Imperial Palace’s East Gardens, part of the inner palace area and the former site of Edo Castle’s innermost circles of defence when the Tokugawa shogun ruled Japan from 1603 to 1867. Freechoice: Visit the Imperial Shinto Meiji Shrine, before walking across the often referred to as ‘the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing’ and seeing the famous Hachiko dog statue in Shibuya. Alternatively, wander through picturesque Shinjuku-Gyoen Gardens before witnessing the Shinjuku entertainment district come alive at dusk.

Venture deep into the stunning scenery of Kawaguchiko Area. Discover the incredible workmanship involved in creating kimonos during the Muromachi Period (1333-1573) at the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum. Near Hakone, cruise on Lake Ashinoko on the First-class deck of your pirate ship with Mt Fuji as a backdrop before admiring the stunning scenery during your cable car ride up to the hot springs of the Owakudani geothermal area.  Enjoy a Special Stay overlooking Lake Ashinoko.

Relax in your Green (Business) Class seats on the Hikari Shinkansen train to the culturally rich city of Kyoto. Later after lunch in Kyoto, visit Nijo castle, built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa leyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period before settling intoyour hotel and a Teppanyaki feast for dinner.

Begin the day gliding through the surreal Arashiyama Bamboo Grove by traditional rickshaw before exploring and enjoying a vegetarian meal at the World Heritage listed Tenryu-ji Temple. Later wander the gardens around the famous Kinkaku-ji or Golden Pavilion because it is completely covered in gold leaf.  Later this evening stroll through the Gion area, Kyoto’s famous Geisha District before dinner. Freechoice Dining: Enjoy the option of dining at Kyoto Kishin Restaurant, known for its mix of Kyoto cuisine and French dishes or try Japanese Shabu Shabu at Chiriri Restaurant.

Freechoice: Revel in the atmosphere of the ancient preservation districts or visit the Silver Pavilion before strolling along part of the famous Philosopher’s Walk, an approximately two kilometre long, beautiful stone path walk along a canal through the northern part of Kyotos Higashiyama district. Enrich Partake in a Japanese tea ceremony while dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono, a great photo opportunity. This afternoon, enjoy some free time in Nishiki Market, a market renown as Kyoto’s kitchen with over 100 stalls and shops for shopping or relaxation. Enrich Tonight’s dinner will allow you to interact with a Geiko and Maiko who’ll host your meal. It’s an excellent opportunity to learn about what is involved in becoming a Geisha and the art of Japanese hospitality.

Begin your day with an early visit to Fushimi Inari, famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates and its appearance in the film ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’. Continue to Nara, Japans first permanent capital established in the year 710 as Heijo, the city now known as Nara. Here you’ll visit Todaiji Temple, constructed in 752 as the head temple of all provincial Buddhist temples of Japan.  The Temple grew so powerful that the capital was moved from Nara to Nagaoka in 784 in order to lower the temples influence on government affairs. Also see deer in Nara Park before stopping for sake tasting at Matsui brewery and museum. Ryokan Upgrade - For a unique insight into Japanese culture, choose to stay tonight at Hiiragiya Ryokan (at additional cost, must be pre-booked before departure). This traditional Japanese Inn has tatami mat flooring with futon beds, sliding shoji paper doors, onsen hot spring baths and private facilities, and includes dinner and breakfast.

Relax on the Shinkansen before marvelling at Himeji Castle, an original and Japan’s most spectacular castle and one of the few remaining original feudal castles. Afterwards move to Okayama and check into your hotel in Okayama for the night.

Begin the day with a visit to the 300-year-old Korakuen Garden, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Continue to Kurashiki and walk around the Kurashiki canal area before visiting the Ohashi House, a former Edo Period merchant house built in 1796. Travel on the Shinkansen to Hiroshima and check into your hotel for two nights. Tonight, sample Okonomiyaki, a delicious savoury Japanese-style pancake and specialty of the region.

Sail by ferry to Miyajima Island to visit Daisho-in Temple and its famous floating Torii Gate at the Itsukushima Shrine, also built over the water. Enrich Experience an emotional visit to the Peace Park and Museum, dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to suffer a nuclear attack. Move to Orizuru Tower to learn how to create your own special origami crane offering for the Orizuru Wall. This evening is yours at leisure in Hiroshima.

This morning travel to Kobe by Shinkansen.  Kirin is one of Japans top four beer producers and has been producing beer in Kobe since 1997. Travel to the brewery for lunch and a factory tour to see the technology and automation at play before trying some samples of the produce. Drive to Osaka to enjoy a two-night Special Stay. This evening catch the Osaka Metro to wander around the lively entertainment area of Dotonbori and Hozenji Yokocho food alley, where you can have the opportunity to choose your own meal from one of the many traditional food stalls. You are free to make your way back to hotel in your own time or return with your Tour Director.

Drive to the birthplace of the Japanese state and cradle of Japanese culture in Asuka, in Nara Prefecture. Wander through the Inabuchi terraced rice paddy fields, the ancient Tobiishi stone bridge, famous in Japanese folklore and visit Ishibutai tumulus, the largest known megalithic structure in Japan. Enrich Learn about the history, life and training routine of a sumo wrestler during a private visit to a Sumo Museum in Kehayaza, where Sumo originated. After the welcome ceremony, see a demonstration of Jinku and the wrestlers in action in the dohyo. Enjoy your Club Floor benefits before transferring to the Umeda Sky Building for night-time views of the skyline of Osaka, before settling into your farewell dinner with a view at Sangu Restaurant.

Depart today with treasured memories of your wonderful time in Japan. The itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such Scenic cannot guarantee the journey will operate unaltered from the itinerary stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.