Japan

Welcoming yet mysterious, Japan fascinates and surprises the western visitor.

We travel back in time from 21st-century Tokyo to the atmospheric early capitals of Kyoto and Nara with their shrines and temples, set in peaceful landscaped gardens. We also visit two islands, known for imaginative contemporary art projects – and experience wonderful and varied Japanese cuisine.

THE ITINERARY
Day 1
USA/TOKYO
AM, PM
Arrive Tokyo Airport and transfer to 5* Hotel Conrad, overlooking Tokyo Bay
Remainder of day to rest
Dinner independently
Day 2
TOKYO
AM
Leave for an introductory tour of lively Ginza and a walk in the ancient Hamarikyu Gardens
Lunch in a restaurant
PM
Afternoon free and introductory talk
Welcome drinks and dinner at the hotel
Day 3
TOKYO
AM
Orientation walk to include the East gardens of the Imperial Palace
Continue to Ueno Park
Buffet lunch at a restaurant
PM
Visit the National Museum, with the priceless Horyu-ji treasures from Nara
Dinner independently
Day 4
TOKYO
AM
Leave to visit the Meiji Shrine in a fine wooded setting
Continue to Harajuku and drive by Omotesando, the main shopping avenue
PM
Lunch at a trendy restaurant in Yoyogi
Visit the Nezu Museum and exquisite Japanese garden and teahouse
Visit the Yayoi Kusama Museum
Return to the hotel
Dinner at a famous 'izakaya' restaurant
Day 5
KAMAKURA/HAKONE
AM
Leave for Kamakura
Visit the Kotoku-in temple, with its statue of the Great Buddha
Drive along scenic Sagami Bay to Hakone
PM
Lunch at the Hakone Open Air Museum
Continue to a typical 'ryokan' overlooking Lake Hakone
'Kaiseki' dinner and opportunity to enjoy the ‘onsen’
Day 6
OSAKA
AM
Walk on the Mount Komagatake ropeway for views of Mount Fuji
Continue to MOA, The Atami Museum of Art
PM
Bullet train to the vibrant modern city of Osaka with bento box lunches
Arrive in Osaka and transfer to the Swissotel Nankai Osaka or Hotel Conrad
Walk in the Dotonburi downtown area to see the nightlife
Dinner at a 'kushikatsu' restaurant
Day 7
NARA
AM
Leave for Uji and visit the Byodo-in Buddhist temple
Continue to the Daimon sake brewery
Visit, sake tasting and buffet lunch
PM
Explore the atmospheric old capital of Nara, founded in 1710
Visit Todai-ji, home to the Great Buddha and walk up to Nigatsu-do for sweeping views of the city and Nara Park
Check in to the historic Hotel Nara
Dinner in the French dining room
Day 8
NARA
AM
Leave for the lovely peaceful Horyu-ji Temple, a treasure-house of early Buddhist art
Lunch at a restaurant in Nara
PM
Visit Kasuga Grand Shrine, one of the best Shinto shrines in Japan
Visit Kofuku-ji, one of the Seven Great Temples of Nara including the treasure house - or time for shopping
Dinner independently
Day 9
NAOSHIMA
AM
Take the bullet train from Shin Osaka to Okayama
Transfer to Uno Port and take the ferry to Naoshima, a small island in Japan’s Inland Sea, known for contemporary art projects
PM
Lunch and visit the Chichu Museum, designed by Tadao Ando
Check in at Benesse House and visit the museum
Dinner at the hotel
Day 10
NAOSHIMA/TESHIMA
AM
Leave for Honmura port and take the fast ferry to Teshima
Visit the wonderful Art Museum
PM
Bento box lunch
Return to Naoshima and visit the imaginative Art House projects
Early dinner at the hotel with a superb tasting menu
Day 11
KYOTO
AM
Leave for Miyanoura port and the ferry to Uno
Continue to Okayama and visit the celebrated Korakuen Garden
PM
Lunch at a seafood restaurant
Continue by bullet train to Kyoto
Check in at the Hotel Okura, near the Imperial Palace
Dinner at a townhouse restaurant in the Gion district
Day 12
KYOTO
AM
Visit the superb Kyoto National Museum
Attend a tea ceremony at one of the temples
PM
Lunch at a restaurant
Visit Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) and walk down the ‘Philosophers’ Walk’
Visit the gallery of an American artist living in Kyoto, by special arrangement
Dinner independently
Day 13
KYOTO
AM
Early morning visit to Ryoan-jo to contemplate the famous gravel garden
Continue to the temples of Daitoko-ji with its art treasures
Lunch at a 'shojin-ryori' restaurant specialising in Buddhist vegetarian cuisine
PM
Private Zen meditation at Kodai-ji
Visit the Kiyomizu Temple area
Walk down the atmospheric streets of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka
Dinner independently
Day 14
KYOTO
AM
Leave to visit the Miho Museum, a stunning building by I.M. Pei, with impressive collections of European and oriental art
Watch the movie at the Museum
PM
Lunch at the museum
Visit Nijo-jo, a splendid early Edo period castle on the way back to Kyoto
Visit the Netsuke Museum
Dinner at restaurant with geisha (geiko) entertainment
Day 15
ARASHIYAMA/KYOTO
AM
Leave for rural Arashiyama and walk in the bamboo grove
Visit Tenryu-ji for its ‘borrowed landscape’
Lunch at an 'okonomiyaki' restaurant
PM
Return to the centre of Kyoto
Afternoon at leisure, with time for shopping
Farewell dinner in a private room at the hotel
Day 16
KYOTO/USA
AM
Leave for Osaka Itami International Airport for return flights

  • I want to thank you for all your excellent work in putting together the trip to Myanmar, Siem Reap and Singapore. The planning was beautifully done and we all had a happy and memorable time. All in all a very good time was enjoyed by all. Congratulations — and Thank you!

     Nan Sinton, ‘Exploring Burma’, February 2015

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