Day 1 (Tokyo)
Welcome to Tokyo, the biggest city in the world! We will arrange for someone to collect you from the airport and take you to your hotel. You will also meet one of our representatives who will help you get oriented and organize all your passes and train tickets for the duration of your trip. As you’ll only arrive in the late afternoon, we won’t schedule too much to give you some time to recover after a long flight. We can arrange dinner reservations for you at a place of your choosing. Keep in mind that some restaurants (especially the Michelin rated ones) do book up quite far in advance so the sooner we know the better.
Day 2 (Saitama)
We will start your day with a full view of Tokyo from up above. You will take a short trip to a skydiving school just a short ride outside of Tokyo. From here you will go through a short lecture on safety before it’s time to board the plane and take to the skies. But don’t worry, you won’t be alone. You will be doing a tandem jump, which means that you will be strapped to an instructor who will be with you from beginning to end. On a clear day you will be able to enjoy a beautiful view of Tokyo from above while at the same time experiencing the thrill of flying through the air. Once your feet are back on the ground, head over to Kawagoe to enjoy beautiful Japanese architecture in what is otherwise known as “little Edo”. Take the opportunity to grab some souvenirs while you are here.
Day 3 (Okutama)
Today you make your way west, out of Tokyo to Okutama - the back yard of Tokyo, to try on some river-rafting. Take the opportunity to enjoy some stunning views of the Japanese countryside as you are swishing down the river. Don’t forget to hold on; the streams can get pretty crazy at times. After you’re done with the water, how about checking out some caves? Nippara caves were discovered in 1963. It is one of the biggest caves in the Kanto-area. Make sure to bring a sweater, the limestone caves can get pretty chilly.
Day 4 (Gunma)
On your fourth day you’re taking another trip just outside of Tokyo to Gunma prefecture. Here you’ll get to experience canyoning. Experience nature in an entirely new way by trekking through gorges, waterfalls and giant rock-pools. If you didn’t have enough of the river rafting yesterday, it is also possible to combine your canyoning with some whitewater rafting or hydrospeed through the rapids. An activity that is sure to get your heart pumping.
Day 5 (Ibaraki)
For your last day in Tokyo, it’s time to take another daytrip to nearby Ibaraki to check out Japan’s tallest suspension bridge. However, we’re not just here to enjoy the view, it’s time to climb up to the top and take a leap of faith. Bungee jumping from 100 meters might not seem as much after jumping out of a plane, but this time you are on your own. From here move over to Kashima Jingu Shrine. It has a history reaching as far back as 600 BC and is considered one of the great shrines in Kanto. The shrine itself is dedicated to Takemikazuchi-no-Okami, a Shinto god of war and thunder, who is also associated with martial arts. In fact, you will find his image on scrolls inside dojos all over Japan. The shrine also hosts the longest sword in Japan, it is actually considered a national treasure in Japan.
Day 6 (Fujinomiya)
It’s finally time to say “goodbye” to Tokyo and head west towards Shizuoka prefecture and the home of Mt Fuji. With so much excitement the last couple of days, take the rest of the day to rest and get your feet back on the ground. Take the opportunity to explore your new surroundings and enjoy the view of mt Fuji. Shizuoka is famous both for its seafood and gyoza, so make sure to try some while you are walking around. You will also find plenty of stalls sending yakisoba all around with regional flavors for you to try out.
Day 7 (Fujinomiya)
Now that you have had a day to rest and recuperate from the last few days, it’s time to take flight again and enjoy some gorgeous views of your surroundings. On a clear day, you will even get to enjoy beautiful views of Mt Fuji as your soar through the sky during your paragliding-adventure. From here, you will head over to Asagiri food park where you will be able to sample even more of the delicious food that Shizuoka has to offer. We’ll end our day with a relaxing soak in a nearby onsen.
Day 8 + 9 (Mt Fuji)
As you have watched Mt Fuji from a far the last couple of days, it’s finally time to get up close to the mountain itself. In order to catch the sunrise from the peak, you will start your trek in the afternoon and spend the night in one of the mountain huts at the top. But don’t get too comfortable! Tomorrow you will have to rise early so you don’t miss the sunset from the peak.
Day 10 (Kamakura)
After scaling Mt Fuji, head back towards Tokyo to enjoy the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Matsuri in Kamakura. This is an ancient festival stretching back beyond the 6th century and it is said that it was created by the warlord Minamoto no Yoritomo to strengthen the mental powers of his samurai warriors. During this festival you will get the chance to watch Yabusame, which is archery performed on horses. Watching this will give you a good idea of just how impressive the skills of past samurai must have been.
Day 11 (Izu)
Today you will arrive in the mountainous region of the Izu Peninsula where a invigorating trek will take you to some of its beautiful waterfalls. The city of Kawazu is central of Izu and is located in a very mountainous area full of trekking trails. The one you are going to today goes past the famous seven waterfalls Nanadaru, all ranging in height from 2 to 30 meters. These waterfalls actually became famous thanks to a short story written by author and Nobel prize winner Yasunari Kawabata. Through the trek, you will be able to spot many references to this same story.
Day 12 (Atami)
Today you'll make your way to Atami, where you'll start the day with some scuba diving. Discover some of the many beautiful reefs that surround the islands. You’ll be able to see much of the rich ocean life that can be found around Japan. Before the day comes to an end, continue to Yugawara beach for some surfing on the beautiful beach.
Day 13 (Tokyo)
As your trip comes to an end, you will return to Tokyo for your last day in Japan. Take the opportunity to explore some more of the most popular parts of what the city has to offer before it’s time to go home. Take in an aerial view of Tokyo from its tallest tower, brave the popular Shibuya crossing or enjoy a digital art experience like no other in Odaiba - the choice is yours!
