Day 1: Tokyo

Konichiwa and welcome to Tokyo, Japan’s ultra-modern capital. You will meet your driver and be transferred to the hotel by private vehicle.

Day 2: Tokyo

A 14-day standard class Japan Rail Pass is included, to cover all your intercity journeys for the period as specified in this itinerary. Meet with your English-speaking private guide and go to the Rail Pass exchange desk at any major station, present the rail pass vouchers provided and bring passports as ID. Give the start date as advised in this itinerary. The desk staff will then issue your actual Rail Pass. Once you have it in your hands, you can make free advance seat reservations at the ticket desk.

One-day transport passes and 2000 JPY per person for entrance fees is included. It's completely up to you where you want to go, but the guide can give you suggestions and ideas.

Continue your day with a visit to Asakusa District. Asakusa was an entertainment district in the Edo era, featuring traditional theatre, Kabuki, but lost its role in the modern era. Nowadays, it is home to charming shops and restaurants, not to mention the oldest temple in the city, Sensoji. Walk along Nakamise Street, a centuries-old souvenir street, do some shopping for that perfect souvenir or pick up a local delicacy. After visiting Asakusa, you will travel across Tokyo to Meiji Shrine. Dedicated to the deified spirits of the former Emperor and his wife, Meiji Shrine is one of the most famous Shinto shrines in Japan. Enter through the 12-metre-high Torii gate into the tranquil grounds, where you'll wash your hands as per the Shinto ritual of cleansing before entering this sacred space. Observe Shinto rituals and prayers as you walk through the area, connecting with the traditions of this unique culture. To end your tour, you will dive headfirst into the pulsating centre of Tokyo's youth culture, exploring some of Tokyo's latest trends and fashions in Shibuya, one of the most famous shopping locations in Tokyo. This district is teeming with funky and subversive fashion, as well as some of the best entertainment in town. Take in the hectic pace of Tokyo as you cross the world-famous "scramble" before ending the tour at Shibuya Station, giving you more time to explore the area.

Day 3: Tokyo

Meet your guide, who is sometimes accompanied by his dog “Jack-san,” at Sasazuka Station, and head together to the cycling studio for a bicycle and helmet fitting. On the way, listen to some fascinating insights and entertaining anecdotes about the local neighbourhood, and get some useful explanations from the guide about Tokyo’s cycling etiquette and today’s itinerary. When everything is ready, depart for today’s cycling tour.

Leave Sasazuka with the guide, and cycle to the first location, enjoying the best of Tokyo’s urban design and natural environment on the way. Depending on the season, enjoy the surrounding foliage, which is especially beautiful in the spring when the plum and cherry blossoms bloom, and in the autumn, when the trees are a blaze of color. There will be several cultural and architectural design stops along the way, where the guide will share interesting information and allow some time for photos. Bike through Tokyo’s backstreets, local shotengai (small commercial streets) in hip neighbourhoods such as Shimo-Kitazawa, and some little-known parks, seeing the guide’s favourite areas and shops, and stopping for a break at a charming cafeé. Next, head back to Sasazuka where bicycles will be returned to the guide.

Day 4: Tokyo – Hakone

This morning, make your way to Odawara station and continue travelling to Hakone.

Upon arrival, make your way to your hotel via public transportation and you are free to explore Hakone on your own after check-in

Day 5: Hakone

This morning you will be met at your accommodation in Hakone by your guide for the day to explore Hakone National Park for a day of fresh air and sightseeing at one of Japan’s most iconic parks in the shadow of Mt. Fuji.

Throughout the tour, you will have a chance to take a glimpse at this awe-inspiring mountain, but please bear in mind that it needs to be a clear day. The most standard way to visit Hakone is by using the various transportation of Hakone; taking the cablecar from Gora Station to the Hakone Ropeway and soaring above the active volcanic site, Owakudani, which translates to the Great Boiling Valley. Watch the steam rising from the mountain, as thermal water grazes just under the rocky façade at extraordinarily hot temperatures. Stop amongst the steamy rocks, and see if you can spot Mt. Fuji in the distance before trying kuro-tamago, or a black egg. Boiled in the sulfuric hot springs each egg turns black as it's cooked; it’s rumoured that eating it will add several years to your life

Descend the mountain via ropeway to Togendai, where you’ll board a pirate ship and sail across Lake Ashi. A crater formed by a volcano nearly three thousand years ago, these charming waters offer beautiful views of the enveloping mountains and even Mt. Fuji on a clear day. Included in today's tour is the entrance to the Hakone Open Air Museum, one of the must-see places in Hakone.

Day 6: Hakone – Kyoto

Use your Hakone Free Passes to make your way to Odawara today, to catch the train for your onward journey.

From Odawara, you will take the Shinkansen to Kyoto. The Shinkansen trains travel at speeds of up to 300km/hr and cover the 430km distance to Kyoto in approximately 2 hours.

On arrival in Kyoto, the rest of your day is free 

Day 7: Kyoto

Explore the former imperial capital of Japan with a knowledgeable local guide, utilizing Kyoto’s comprehensive bus system to visit some of the city’s famous World Heritage Sites.

Start your day with a visit to Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) which was originally built as a retirement villa for the Shogun but, at his request, became a Buddhist Temple after his death.

Next, make your way to Nijo Castle, an ornamental castle built by the founder of the Edo Shogunate and surrounded by stunning gardens. famous for its architecture, decorated sliding doors and ‘chirping’ nightingale floors.

Then, head to Heian Shrine, built on the occasion of the 1100th anniversary of the capital's foundation in Kyoto and is dedicated to the spirits of the first and last emperors who reigned from the city, Emperor Kammu and Emperor Komei.

Finally, visit Kiyomizu Temple (Pure Water Temple) and enjoy the panoramic views of Kyoto from the 13-metre-high veranda jutting out from the Main Hall. Learn about the interesting history of the building and how both the Main Hall and Veranda were built without the use of nails or any kind of joiners

Day 8: Kyoto

Meet your guide at your hotel and take local transport for half an hour to Arashiyama, a pleasant hillside district on the western outskirts of Kyoto. The area has been a popular destination since the Heian Period (794-1185), when nobles would enjoy its natural setting. Okouchi Mountain Villa is the former villa of the popular samurai film star Okouchi Denjiro (1896-1962) and consists of several beautiful gardens and buildings, including living quarters, tea houses and a Zen meditation hall.

Next, take a walk through Arashiyama’s famous bamboo groves, which are particularly attractive when there is a light wind and the tall bamboo stalks sway gently back and forth. Bamboo has been used to manufacture various products, such as baskets, cups, boxes and mats at local workshops for centuries. Nonomiya shrine is a Shinto shrine where in ancient times, unmarried imperial princesses stayed for a year or more to purify themselves. Ranked among Kyoto's five great Zen temples, Tenryuji is the largest and most impressive temple in Arashiyama. Founded in 1339 at the beginning of the Muromachi Period (1338-1573), the temple is one of Kyoto's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In addition to its temple buildings, there are attractive gardens with walking paths.

You will also have time for a brief photo stop at Togetsu-kyo or "Moon Crossing Bridge" one of the most famous bridges in Japan. There has been a bridge at this location for over 1000 years and it offers an excellent vantage point to view the tree-lined river.

Day 9: Kyoto - Hiroshima

Catch a bullet train 90 mins from Kyoto to Hiroshima today, using the Rail Pass to make free advance seat reservations at the station ticket desk if you wish

Day 10: Hiroshima 

Discover more of the ancient and more recent history of ‘the city of water’, Hiroshima on this unique day tour. This morning, meet your guide before transferring by public transit to Memorial Peace Park. Hiroshima’s tribute to its tragic past and hopes for the future.

Visit the Peace Memorial Museum next, whose exhibits display artefacts and photographs of the bombing and its aftermath. Despite the severity of the subject, the museum itself is not about being divisive or placing blame but serves as a reminder not to take peace for granted.

Once finished, have some free time for lunch before riding the train to the ferry to cross the shore to Miyajima Island. This island is an ancient holy site, a sacred and beautiful national treasure of Japan. Featuring stunning Shinto shrines, Buddhist pagodas and temples, spectacular natural beauty, and charming Edo-style walkways, the island offers a slice of ancient Japanese culture. Arrive at the main complex Itsukushima Shrine, a lovely family Shinto shrine founded in the 6th century. At high tide, it appears to be floating above the water, in addition to its floating torii gate, the iconic Otorii. This massive gateway is one of the most photographed structures in Japan. You’ll have free time to explore more of the Island now. Pass tame wild deer who wander the island freely, as you venture along the charming pathways. You can wander to Daisho-in, a Buddhist temple with a trail of hundreds of happy Buddha statues leading the way.

Afterwards, make some time to stop and shop at the charming souvenir shops in town, or try some local delicacies. The island has farmed oysters for over 300 years, so be sure to try some. Or, sample some maple leaf castellas filled with red bean paste, a classic snack unique to the island. Now it’s time to bid farewell to Miyajima and return to the mainland, before heading back to your hotel

Day 11: Hiroshima - Osaka

Today, you will board the iconic Shinkansen bullet train at Hiroshima Station and make your way to Shin-Osaka Station.

Upon arrival, make your way to your hotel via public transportation and you are free to explore Osaka on your own after check-in.

Day 12: Osaka

Osaka with its incredible variety of food is known as the “Nation's Kitchen”, with two of its most famous being Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake) and Takoyaki (Octopus Balls). Today you will be able to enjoy the delicious local foods on this walk around the main attractions of this vibrant city. Travel to Shinsekai or New World District where you will try the local speciality of kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers). Shinsekai was built in 1903 with half the area based on Paris and the other half based on New York's Coney Island. From Shinsekai travel to the Namba area to take some pictures at Osaka's most famous landmark, the Glico Man neon sign. In this area, you will head to Hozenji Yokocho, famous for its moss-covered statue in the centre of the alley where your guide will instruct you on prayer etiquette. Lastly, visit Kuromon Market to see where the locals pick up their fresh ingredients. Here you will have the opportunity to try Takoyaki before the tour ends

Day 13: Osaka – Tokyo

Please use the Rail Pass to catch a Hikari bullet train from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo today. 

Upon arrival, make your way to your hotel via public transportation and you are free to explore Tokyo on your own after check-in

Day 14: Tokyo

Meet our representative at the lobby of your accommodation, pick-up time will be confirmed beforehand but is typically 2 hours before departure for domestic flights, and 3 hours for international.