Japan Unveiled

Welcome to the island of Kyushu, Japan. Enjoy your welcome reception at your luxury hotel in Fukuoka, located in the centre of the city.

Drive to Yanagawa, dubbed the ‘Venice of Kyushu’ for a cruise along its canals, viewing the old town’s culture and history. Stop at Yanagawa Ohana, the villa of the Tachibana family which ruled Yanagawa from roughly 1600 - 1868. Return to Fukuoka for lunch. Freechoice: Enjoy a self guided bike ride around Uminonakamichi Seaside Park or visit Fukuoka Tower and Fukuoka castle ruins in Maizuru Park. This evening your Tour Director will take you down to Fukuoka’s open air food stalls (Yatai) to help you choose your own meal of Yakitori, Oden or Hakata Ramen dinner.

Travel by Shinkansen train to Hiroshima and head to the Mazda car factory to see the robots at work on the cars on the production line. After, check into your Hiroshima 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.

Travel by Shinkansen to Okayama to visit the 300 year old Korakuen Garden, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Continue to Kurashiki and walk around the canal area and visit Ohashi House, a former Edo Period merchant house built in 1796. Check into your hotel for the night.

En-route to Osaka on the Shinkansen train, stop at Himeji Castle and marvel at Japan’s most spectacular and one of the few remaining original feudal castles. This evening, admire the 360 degree view of Osaka at night from the Floating Garden Observatory, 170m off the ground. Then settle in for a two night Special Stay in an Executive Room with full club access.

Freechoice: Wander through Shinsaibashi-suji shopping avenue, followed by Kuromon Ichiba Market, known as Osaka’s kitchen or visit the Museum of History and the rebuilt Osaka Castle. Enjoy your Club Floor benefits before catching 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. 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 your welcome ceremony, see a demonstration of Jinku and the wrestlers in action in the dohyo. Continue to Nara, Japans first permanent capital established in the year 710 as Heijo, the city now known as Nara.  Stop for a sake tasting at a sake museum before spending a night at your hotel in Nara.

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 at Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates and its appearance in the film ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’. Continue to Kyoto, home to many World Heritage-listed Sites. Enrich Partake in a Japanese tea ceremony whilst dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono, a great photo opportunity. Begin a memorable two night stay at Kyoto Brighton Hotel with a Teppanyaki Dinner.

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. After, glide through the surreal Arashiyama Bamboo Grove by traditional rickshaw before exploring and enjoying a vegetarian meal at the World Heritage listed Tenryu-ji Temple. Afterwards visit 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. Enrich Tonight’s dinner will allow you to interact with a Geiko and Maiko who’ll host your meal presentation. It’s an excellent opportunity to learn about what is involved in becoming a Geisha and the art of Japanese hospitality.

Travel by Shinakansen to Hakone. Admire the stunning views of Mt Fuji during your Lake Ashinoko cruise on the First-class deck of your pirate ship with Mt Fuji as a backdrop. Enjoy a Special Stay at your hotel overlooking Lake Ashinoko.

Enroute to Tokyo stop and study the art works and sculptures at the Hakone Open Air Museum, Japan’s first open air museum.  Upon arrival in Tokyo 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.  Later relax at The Capital Hotel Tokyu, your home 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. Freechoice Dining: Choose from dining at a ninja themed restaurant 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.

Gather your bearings of Tokyo from above as you take in the view from Tokyo Sky Tree. Then dress up in your chefs clothes to make your own sushi lunch with the help of a local chef. 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 where you can choose to stay into the night.

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. Enjoy your afternoon at leisure for some last minute shopping in Shibuya. Later take in the bright lights of Tokyo during your evening farewell dinner cruise on Tokyo Bay with free flow drinks on a yakatabune, an old fashioned houseboat.

Say goodbye to the land of the rising sun with many wonderful memories. 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.