Day 1 (8/4) - Tokyo
Welcome to Tokyo, the biggest city in the world! We will arrange an airport pickup to take you from the airport and take you to your accommodations. Depending on what time you arrive, we can arrange for a visit to Tokyo Skytree where you'll head 634m up in the air for an aerial view of Tokyo. Or simply take time to settle in after a long flight. Guided tour: No Meals: None
Day 2 (8/5) - Tokyo
Today you'll head to Tsukiji outermarket, previously the largest wholesale fishmarket in the country, which you'lll take in with a private guide. After enjoying a meal of fresh sushi, you'll make your way to Tokyo Bay where you'll find TeamLab Planets. See digital art come to life at this interactive museum. While in Odaiba we would also recommend visiting the Miraikan museum of emerging science or the Megaweb Toyota City Showcase both of which are filled with numerous exhibits highlighting multiple futuristic tech concepts. You’ll also have a little bit of free time to cater for any other interests in the group. Guided tour: Yes Meals: None
Day 3 (8/6) - Tokyo/Mt Fuji
Today you'll take the train to Kawaguchi where you'll meet your guide. They will take you on an overnight hiking expedition of one of Japan's most iconic landmarks - Mt Fuji. It's one thing to appreciate it's beauty from a distance, and it's a completely different sort of experience to actually summit its peak. It's not something you'll soon forget! Guided tour: Yes Meals: Breakfast
Day 4-5 (8/7-8/8) - Tokyo/Mt Fuji
After enjoying sunrise from Mt Fuji, you'll make the trek back down to level ground and head back to Tokyo by train. You may want to spend the rest of the day resting, but don't worry - you'll have one more day in the city tomorrow! We'll leave your final day in the city relatively free to make time for different interests - but this would be a great opportunity to check out the arcades in Akihabara, go shopping in Ginza, or visit some of the city's more historical sites. For a final activity in the big city, you'll all sit down to a Japanese meal on a yakatabune. The yakatabune are ships which cruise through Tokyo Bay and allow guests to enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine while taking in the city lights of Tokyo. Guided tour: No Meals: Breakfast (8/8), Dinner (8/8)
Day 5 (8/9) - Aizuwakamatsu
Your first activity of the day will be a leisurely bullet train ride (approx 3.5hrs) north to the castle town of Aizuwakamatsu in Fukushima. A visit here is like stepping into the past. Its streets are rich with the history of samurai battles fought hundreds of years ago, and it is the perfect place to get a glimpse of what life was like in Edo era Japan. Tsuruga castle is one of these rich historical spots. During the last few years of the Edo period, a fierce battle raged at the castle for an entire month, and 20 of the Byakkotai (a group of teenage samurai) famously committed seppuku. The battle absolutely decimated the castle, but this was rebuilt in the Showa period which restored it to the beautiful structure it was before. The castle grounds also house a teahouse, small garden, and expansive park which is a sight to behold in any season. Then prepare to roll up your sleeves and try your hand at one of Japan’s most ancient martial arts forms, kendo. Your instructor will take you through the basics of this sword fighting sport and its customs which will also teach you a lot about the importance of honor and respect in the Japanese culture! Guided tour: Yes Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 (8/10) - Aizuwakamatsu
Today will be all about taking in the samurai and martial history of Aizu. Accompanied by a guide, you will visit the Bukeyashiki samurai residences where you will learn about the lifestyle of these famous warriors before heading to the Byakkatoi memorial which commemorates one of their battles. Spend the evening relaxing at your ryokan, enjoying its traditional Japanese onsen hotsprings. Guided tour: Yes Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 (8/11) - Nagoya
This capital of Aichi is another one of Japan's biggest cities, but very different to its Tokyo and Kyoto counterparts. Originally a fort town and base of power for the Tokugawa shogunate, its castle is one of its most popular sites. Your day will start early with a high-speed train journey (approx. 5.5hrs) before you head to the Nagoya City Science Museum, home to the largest planetarium in the world. Many visitors stop by just to take a picture of its enormous silver globe. Your visit will coincide with the Nagoya Castle Summer Festival. For 10 days residents can enjoy nightly obon summer dances, matchlock firing demonstrations, and of course festival food. Obon festivals happen all over the country during summer, so you'll be get to experience something that most, if not all, residents in Japan take part in on a yearly basis. We will arrange for a guide to take you to this celebration. Guided tour: Yes Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 (8/12) - Ise day-trip
Today you will travel to Ise Jingu Grand Shrine (approx 2.5hrs by train). This historically significant complex is made up of 125 smaller shrines dating back to the third century. It is also famous for being home to the spirit of the goddess Amaterasu, the deity who the Imperial family is believed to be descended from. After arriving, you will have the chance to explore its expansive grounds while learning about the shrine's history and relation to the Shinto religion with a guide. You’ll then make your way to the neighboring town of Toba where the Ama pearl divers have a long history. Here you’ll visit an Ama hut where you can eat lunch with these amazing women, ask them questions about their lifestyle, and listen as they regale you with their life stories. There is also a museum dedicated to the Ama on the nearby ‘Pearl Island'. Guided tour: Yes
Day 9-10 (8/13-8/14) - Koyasan
The next 2 days will be an immersive experience into the Japan's Buddhist culture, as you actually stay in a buddhist temple lodging. Here you will eat their vegetarian cuisine (shojin ryouri), attend their meditation classes, and simply take some time to slow down and relax. Witness the morning offering at Okunoin Cemetery before wandering through the Torodo Hall of Lamps, and spend some time in nature as you choose from a variety of stunning hiking trails during your stay, that include waterfalls, and ancient temples that are still being used to this day. As it will take some time to travel to Koyasan (approx 4hrs by train and cable car), most of your activities will be concentrated on the day after you arrive. Guided tour: No Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11 (8/15) - Kyoto
The former capital of Kyoto is positively bursting with history and a lot more traditional than its Tokyo counterpart. Things here move at a much slower pace and the people tend to be a lot more laid back. While here a visit to what is arguably the most famous shrine in Japan, Fushimi Inari. Featured in the movie 'Memoirs of a Geisha', this shrine has over 10 000 picturesque red 'torii' and it has a beautiful hike at the end of which you’ll find a stunning view of Kyoto. Your evening will be free to explore the city. Travel to Kyoto will take approximately 3hrs by cable car and train. Guided tour: No Meals: Breakfast
Day 12 (8/16) - Beppu
This will be one of your longest days of travel as you take a couple of bullet and high speed trains to Beppu (approx 5hrs). After settling in, why not spend the rest of the day relaxing taking it slow and head to the city’s beach to bury yourself neck deep as you enjoy a soothing sand bath! There are also onsen which offer mud baths along with more conventional hostpring experiences. We will leave it up to you which one you'd like to try. Guided: No Meals: Breakfast
Day 13 (8/17) - Beppu
Beppu produces more hostpring water than any other onsen town in Japan and is famous for its ‘7 Hells' which describe some of its brilliantly colored hotsprings, more meant for viewing than bathing! After marvelling at these natural attractions, you will cook your own food in the steam from the onsen water, an activity which locals have done for centuries. You'll finish off with a ride on Beppu’s ropeway. This short journey will take you to the top of Mt Tsurumi where you will find a panoramic view of Beppu, Oita and the surrounding mountains. Guided: Yes Meals: Breakfast
Day 14 (8/18) - Beppu/Tokyo
Bid farewell to Japan today as make your way back to back home. You can book flights from Oita to Narita/Haneda, and onward from there. Guided tour: No Meals: Breakfast
