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Discover Japan's Diverse Culture
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A country of astonishing contrasts, Japan is a wonderful and varied destination. On this journey, marvel at some of the country’s most impressive gardens and glimpse magnificent mountain landscapes as you travel by bullet train. Be introduced to the ancient Samurai traditions and visit sacred Shinto shrines. Take the opportunity to appreciate Japan’s myriad arts and crafts, and meet a local artist and collector, and savour its extraordinary cuisine in local eateries, fine restaurants and street food stalls. Be amazed at a sumo wrestling bout, find respite in a classic onsen and rest up in a traditional ryokan – just a handful of Japan’s cultural highlights.
Highlights
- Experience the distinctive culture and history of Japan, from fast-paced, neon-lit Tokyo to serene, traditional Kyoto
- View the exalted flowering cherry trees, or sakura, which bloom every spring; or opt for the red leaves of autumn
- Ride Like a Local on a bullet train along the classic stretch past majestic Mount Fuji
- Be among the few to stay at Gôra Kadan, one of the country’s most exclusive ryokans (traditional inns), with access made possible by A&K’s hallmark small group size.
- Capture the spirit of Japan with the art of the tea ceremony and a sushi-making lesson
- Savour Kyoto’s unique cuisine and traditions during an exclusive shabu-shabu dinner, with entertainment by a geiko (as a geisha is called in Kyoto) and a maiko (apprentice geisha)
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Tokyo, Japan
Arrive in Tokyo, Japan’s exciting and modern capital. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy the expansive views over Tokyo’s Skyline.
Accommodation: Ritz-Carlton Tokyo
Day 2
Tokyo | Spirits of Edo, an Emperor & Tsukiji
Start your day at Tsukiji Fish Market, a bustling hub of Japanese daily life where a dizzying array of seafood can be found. Continue to an exclusive local workshop that specialises in Japanese drum making, and try your hand at playing the taiko. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, and then visit Asakusa Kannon Temple, pausing in the tiny shops of Nakamise-dori. The colourful pagoda-style temple was completed in 645 and is dedicated to Kannon, the goddess of mercy in several East Asian spiritual traditions. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Ritz-Carlton Tokyo
Day 3
Tokyo | Design Your Day
Start your day at the Samurai Museum, where you learn about the customs of this elite warrior class and get an up-close look at an authentic collection of their exotic armour and weaponry. Then, receive a lesson in sushi making followed by lunch. This afternoon, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities.
- Explore the MORI Art Museum to take in contemporary art.
- Learn About Tokyo’s History at the Edo-Tokyo Museum, built to preserve the heritage of the city’s last 400 years.
- Indulge in a Sake Tasting, sampling some of Japan’s finest sake and learning about its cultural importance.
Return to your hotel for an evening at leisure.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Ritz-Carlton Tokyo
Day 4
Hakone | Traditional Ryokan
Travel to Hakone, among Japan’s most popular hot-spring destinations, and view the forested slopes of Hakone National Park, an area encompassing coastlines, mountains, lakes and more than 1,000 volcanic islands. Board an aerial tram for inspiring views of Mount Fuji. Enjoy a lunch of Japan’s famed Kobe beef, before strolling the grassy hillsides of Hakone’s Open Air Museum. Admire the impressive contemporary sculptures and artwork on display, including masterpieces by Henry Moore and Rodin. The museum also features one of the world’s finest Picasso exhibits, presenting visitors with some 300 works by the cubist master. Tonight, enjoy unparalleled service and traditional Japanese cuisine at Gôra Kadan, a top-rated ryokan (traditional inn), which is also your authentic accommodation for the night.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Gôra Kadan
Day 5
Osaka | Dotonbori District Delicacies
After breakfast at your ryokan, visit the Okada Museum of Art to view its stunning collection of paintings, ceramics, lacquerware and bronzes from Japan, Korea and China. Then, Ride Like a Local by bullet train to Osaka. Historically known as a merchant city, it is today renowned as Japan’s undisputed culinary capital, where diners indulge in everything from octopus dumplings to Okonomi-yaki — a battered, grilled concoction of chopped cabbage, meat or seafood, and seaweed, topped with mayonnaise. This evening, set out on a foodie tour in the popular Dotonbori district, sampling dishes from the brilliantly lighted and gastronomically creative restaurants that line the street.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: St. Regis Osaka
Day 6
Nara | Insights Into a Profoundly Spiritual Heritage
Travel to Nara, Japan’s first capital, to visit Todai-ji, a temple complex and UNESCO World Heritage Site that contains the largest bronze Buddha statue in Japan. Proceed to Nara Park, home to hundreds of deer, venerated here as divine spirits, which you have the opportunity feed by hand. Complete your Nara excursion with a visit to celebrated Kasuga Taisha Shrine and experience a Shinto ceremony firsthand. Pause for lunch at a local restaurant before proceeding to the Kehaya-za Sumo Pavilion, where you observe a demonstration of this fabled Japanese sport by two sumo wrestlers. Return to your hotel, where you enjoy dinner.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: St. Regis Osaka
Day 7
Kyoto | The Golden Pavilion & Bamboo Grove
Travel into Kyoto early this morning to contemplate the iconic Zen rock garden at Ryoan-ji, the perfect spot for a meditative moment, and discover the glittering Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion) — covered with gold leaf, surrounded by green gardens and casting its delicate reflection in the tranquil pond beside it. After lunch, explore the Arashiyama neighbourhood, including the garden of Tenryu-ji Temple. Later, bask in the magical atmosphere of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, strolling along a winding path as sunlight filters down through towering bamboo shoots — considered by many a healing experience.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto
Day 8
Kyoto | In the Traditional Home of a Beloved Artist
Visit Shogunzaka Temple for stunning views of Kyoto and continue to the home and studio of the late Kawai Kanjiro, one of Kyoto’s most famous potters. In Kanjiro’s beautiful home, view his own creations as well as his personal collection of ceramics, sculptures and wood carvings. Proceed to a local temple, where you experience the art of the tea ceremony, noting its refined sense of hospitality and etiquette, which date to the time of the samurai. Tonight, savour traditional Japanese cuisine, while an attending geiko (as a geisha is known in Kyoto) and maiko (apprentice geisha) dance, sing, pour sake and share stories about life in modern Kyoto.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto
Day 9
Depart Kyoto
After breakfast, transfer to Kansai International Airport or Itami Airport, both located just outside of Osaka, for your flight home, or begin a post-tour extension to Hiroshima.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Journey Details
- This Journey includes long walks.
- Minimum age is 10 years.
- First group event: welcome briefing at 8:00 a.m. on Day 2.
- Last group event: farewell dinner at 7:00 p.m. on Day 8.
- Departures are guaranteed to operate with a minimum of 2 guests.
Departures & Rates
*Rates are person based on twin share. Single supplements apply, please speak to one of our Travel Specialists for more information.
Ask one of our Travel Specialists about Packaging Flights with your Tour and Save
*Rates are subject to availability and seasonality and may change without notice. Rates are based on two adults sharing. For solo travellers or single person occupancy rates or further information on terms and conditions, please contact our Travel Specialists at time of booking.
Accommodation
Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto
Just 15 minutes’ drive from the famous Gion Geisha District, the Four Seasons is perfectly positioned for exploring the historical and culturally rich city of Kyoto. Set in the scenic district of temples, the hotel has been designed around a beautiful 800-year old ikeniwa, or pond garden.
The spacious guest rooms blend refined, modern aesthetics and the creations of Japanese artisans – including washi-paper lamps, fusuma screens and urushi lacquerware.
The hotel’s eclectic mix of restaurants, lounges and bars will satisfy even the most discerning foodies, including their unique Tea House, set in a beautiful 800-year-old pond garden. A specialist sushi restaurant serves up fresh and elegant creations at the characterful, 10-seater Hinoki counter.
The peaceful Four Seasons’ spa offers an extensive treatment list, including their authentic and energising Sake Bath. Two saunas, steam rooms, whirlpools and a contemporary swimming pool are also at guests’ disposal. At the end of a busy day exploring Kyoto, sink into a customised Four Seasons bed in your spacious suite for a good night’s sleep.
St. Regis Osaka
Located along the famed street of Midosuji, heralded as the Champs Elysées of Osaka, the St. Regis Osaka is an eloquent expression of comfort, tranquillity and refined Japanese aesthetics. Each of its 160 rooms and suites are elegantly furnished with all the amenities you would expect, with the highlights being opulent marble bathrooms with deep soaking tubs, exclusive Remède bath amenities, walk in closets and picturesque city views.
If you can bring yourself to leave your private sanctuary, bask in the tranquillity of the outdoor rooftop Zen garden or indulge in a rejuvenating treatment in the Iridium Spa, exclusive to the St Regis Hotel Group. Or head to the distinguished St Regis bar and sink into one of the plush velvet armchairs to indulge in afternoon tea, handcrafted speciality cocktails, or both. When hunger calls, you won’t need to venture far – the hotel boasts two exclusive restaurants: Rue D’or is a classically inspired bistro serving authentic French cuisine matched with the freshest Japanese produce, and the hotel’s signature Northern Italian grill restaurant, La Veduta, transports diners to Tuscany with its multi-course dining and lavish buffets.
Gôra Kadan, Hakone and Mount Fuji
The sublime Gora Kadan is situated in the striking Hakone National Park. The former retreat of the Kanin-no-miya imperial family, the Gora Kadan is elegantly designed with tatami-style rooms, sliding-doors and futons overlooking a green valley of pine trees and celebrated cherry trees.
A mesmerising mixture of traditional and modern, the Gora Kadan offers the very best of Japanese hospitality and an authentic experience. Slip into your kimono and explore the grounds, then feel the 21st century melt away as you relax in the tranquil Onsen amongst the trees and bamboo forests, or have all of your cares smoothed away with a traditional Shiatsu massage.
