Icons of Japan

We’ll arrive in Osaka and transfer to the neighbouring city of Kyoto, where we’ll stay for two nights. Our four-star hotel is situated in the Higashiyama district, famous for its traditional wooden buildings and merchant shops. Take a short walk through picturesque streets and alleyways towards Gion district and Pontocho Alley to find your first authentic Japanese meal of the trip. This area boasts some of the most delightfully atmospheric restaurants in Kyoto - the perfect introduction to delicious Japanese cuisine.

After a leisurely morning acclimatising and exploring the hotel's facilities, including a private spa, we’ll spend the afternoon in the company of a local expert for a tour of the city.

The former capital city of Japan and its cultural heart, Kyoto attracts millions of visitors every year looking for a taste of traditional Japanese culture. Our tour starts with Kinkakuji, an incredible golden temple that glistens in the sun from its picturesque lakeside perch, before heading to Nijo Castle. Built in 1603, this impressive complex takes us back to the dominance of the Shogun, showcasing some of the famed architectural styles. We also enjoy the nearby Honmaru Gardens, created for the visit of Emperor Meiji in 1896. The zen garden was designed, in part, by the emperor, who had a full view of the garden from the top floor of Honmaru-Goten Palace. While we're there, walk along the garden's winding pathways and vast lawns and go up to the foundations of the castle-keep to enjoy the view.

We’ll continue to the famous rock garden at Ryōan-ji, a piece of Japanese cultural heritage. During the Heian Period, the temple was an aristocrat's villa but was converted into a zen temple in 1450 by a top-ranking warlord in the Ashikaga Shogunate. The temple's deceptively simple garden consists of fifteen rocks spread out on white sand in 248 square metres. These rocks are arranged so that at least one cannot be seen from any angle. However, who designed it and why remains a mystery.

In the early evening, we’ll join a local guide for a fascinating walk around the Gion district of Kyoto. Gion is regarded as Kyoto's entertainment neighbourhood with modern and traditional theatres, atmospheric tea houses, and so much more. In the early evening, lanterns bathe the area in soft light, adding to the magical ambience. You may even spot traditional Geisha as they head to their engagements.

This morning we’ll head to southeast Kyoto to the incredible Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine. Dedicated to the Inari, the deity of a good harvest and success in business, the shrine features thousands of bright vermillion and black shrine gates, known as tori. The shrine sits at the base of Mount Inari, and it's designed to draw guests through forest, pagodas and koi ponds.

In the afternoon, we’ll continue our journey west to Mount Fuji on another Japanese icon: the Bullet Train. The two-hour train ride is an interesting experience; watch the Japanese countryside fly by as you cruise at up 200 mph.

We’ll spend the day around Mount Fuji. We start our day with a visit to Lake Yamanaka, the largest of the five lakes surrounding Fuji. Encompassed by pretty parkland, the views of the mountain are incredible if you wish to take photos. We continue to Lake Kawaguchi. Smaller but equally beautiful, you may even be lucky enough to see a perfect reflection of the mountain on a calm day.

Nearby, at the Ichiku Kubota Museum, we’ll discover more about the national dress of Japan, the Kimono. The vibrant colours and patterns are synonymous with Japanese culture, and you may even decide to treat yourself to a keepsake to take home.

Finally, we’ll ascend the Kachi Kachi Ropeway in a cable car to the summit of Mount Tenjo, 400 metres over the lake shore. The observation deck at the top of Mount Tenjo offers unparalleled views of the lake and mountain.

In the evening, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy the hotel, including the open top-floor bathing pools.

We’ll arrive in Kamakura along the coast of Sagai Bay. The charming small town has a selection of shops specialising in local arts and crafts as well as delicious traditional foods. Enjoy free time to visit the Great Buddha, or Kotoku-in, that dominates the town's Buddhist temple or explore the gardens of Hasedera, known as the Hydrangea Temple. Wander through this stunning garden passing pools and shrines on the ascent up the hillside to appreciate the views out to sea.

We’ll continue to Toyko later in the afternoon and check in to a hotel located just a short walk from Tokyo Tower and the nearby Shogun's Zojoji Temple.

Spend the day exploring one of the largest cities in the world, Tokyo. We begin our day with a tour of some of the city's highlights, including The Imperial Palace - the residence of the Emperor of Japan. At times, the palace feels more like a park than a residence, the grounds help tell the story of Tokyo from a 17th-century former castle to the current seat of the Imperial family.

We’ll visit Shibuya's iconic zebra crossing, rumoured to be the busiest crossing in the world. Up to 2.4 million people cross this four-way crossing per day; watch the orderly spectacle as hundreds of pedestrians patiently wait for the lights to go green before crossing in a number of directions. As we continue our tour, we’ll pass a statue dedicated to Japan's most loved dog, Hachiko, whose loyalty to his owner is celebrated outside the nearby station.

Our last stop of the day is to Sensoji in Asakusa, the oldest temple in the city. This vibrant red Buddhist temple is neighboured by the iconic five-roofed temple, the Kaminarimon Gate and Nakamise shopping street, Tokyo's biggest souvenir market.

Today, you can explore the city at your leisure.

Enjoy a slower pace with a visit to Shinjuku's national gardens, take a stroll through Yoyogi Park to watch the artists at work, sword jugglers practising or dance troupes honing their skills or visit Tokyo's National Museum and see the wealth of artefacts that celebrate Japanese culture, heritage and traditions.

For those who want to seek new heights, there are a number of panoramic viewpoints throughout the city. From the government building in Shinjuku, which is free to enter, to Tokyo Tower and the latest addition, the Skytree. Your dedicated Tour Manager can recommend lots of places to visit.

For everything from the latest technology, cameras and computers, Akihabara, or Electric Town, is a sensory treat for lovers of all things electronic. Browse the shops as they vie for your attention with bright neon signs.

Food lovers will enjoy a visit to the Golden Gai, a network of narrow streets teeming with tiny restaurants with open kitchens – many specialising in just one or two traditional Japanese dishes.

It's time to say goodbye and start your journey home.