Grand Tour of Japan

Day 1 - Tokyo

Join your tour group at the hotel.

Day 2 - Tokyo

Begin this grand tour of Japan with a full day in Tokyo, a city shaped by rapid modern growth alongside long-standing traditions. Visit the Imperial Palace Plaza, where stone bridges, moats and landscaped grounds mark the former seat of imperial power. From here, travel through central districts to Sensō-ji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, approached via Nakamise Street with its traditional stalls and incense-filled air. After a bento box lunch, visit Ameyoko Market, a busy shopping area beneath the railway tracks, before ending the day at Hamarikyu Gardens, a former feudal garden set against the city skyline.

Day 3 - Hakone

Travel southwest into the Hakone region, where volcanic activity has shaped the landscape of mountains, lakes and geothermal features. At Owakudani Valley, sulphur vents release steam from the mountainside, revealing the area’s volcanic origins. Take the Hakone Ropeway between Owakudani and Sounzan, enjoying views across the region, and on clear days, Mount Fuji can be seen on the horizon. Later, learn about yosegi-zaiku marquetry, a local craft that uses natural wood colours to form intricate geometric patterns. Finish with a guided walk along part of the Old Tōkaidō Road, following stone paths beneath tall cedar trees towards the shores of Lake Ashi.

Day 4 - Tokyo

Today is free to explore Tokyo at leisure. You may choose to visit neighbourhoods such as Shibuya or Asakusa, explore one of the city’s museums, or take in the view from Tokyo Skytree’s observation decks.

Day 5 - Nagano

With an overnight bag (our main luggage is sent ahead to Kyoto), take a bullet train to Nagano, surrounded by forested mountains. Visit Zenkō-ji Temple, an important Buddhist site dating back to the 7th century and known for its role as a pilgrimage destination. In the afternoon, walk to Jigokudani Monkey Park, where Japanese macaques live freely in the valley and are often seen bathing in the warm waters during colder months. Later, take part in an oyaki-making experience, preparing traditional buns filled with local ingredients.

Day 6 - Nagano - Kyoto

After some free time, travel into the Kiso Valley to visit Magome and Tsumago, two former post towns along the Nakasendo Trail. Their preserved wooden buildings, stone streets and forested surroundings offer insight into travel during the Edo period. Continue by train via Nagoya to Kyoto, the country’s former imperial capital.

Day 7 - Kyoto

Start the day at Kiyomizu-dera, a hillside temple supported by wooden pillars and overlooking the city. Nearby, walk along Ninenzaka, where traditional townhouses line the sloping stone street. Later, take part in a traditional tea ceremony, learning about its rituals and cultural importance. In the Gion district, enjoy lunch accompanied by a maiko performance before visiting Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, set beside a reflective pond within landscaped grounds.

Day 8 - Kyoto

The whole day is at leisure to see more of Kyoto at your own pace. The Kyoto Railway Museum set in the former Nijo Station is a must for rail enthusiasts. Or head to Nijo Castle, famous for its nightingale floors that ‘chirp’ under foot.

Day 9 - Kyoto - Osaka

Start the day with a walk through the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, a forest where densely packed bamboo stalks rise high above narrow walking paths. Then travel to Osaka. The afternoon is free, with optional excursions available. In the early evening, take an orientation walk through Dotonbori, known for its illuminated signs, canals and street-food culture.

Day 10 - Koyasan

Travel south of Osaka to the small town of Koyasan on Mount Kōya, the centre of Shingon Buddhism. Visit Kongōbu-ji Temple known for its delicately painted sliding doors (fusuma). The temple is protected by the largest rock garden in Japan, representing a pair of dragons emerging from a sea of clouds. At lunchtime, sample shojin ryori, a vegetarian cuisine at a traditional Buddhist cuisine. Finish the day with a visit to Japan’s largest graveyard. Set deep in an ancient forest, the UNESCO-listed Okunoin Cemetery is a 2km spectacle of tombstones, statues and the graves of at least 20,000 monks.

Day 11 - Takamatsu

Stop at Himeji Castle, a UNESCO-listed site and one of Japan’s best-preserved feudal castles, recognisable by its white exterior and hilltop setting. Leave Japan’s largest island of Honshu for the much smaller island of Shikoku. In Takamatsu, take part in an udon noodle-making experience before visiting Ritsurin Garden, a landscaped garden developed from the late 16th century with ponds, bridges and pavilions.

Day 12 - Naoshima

Visit Japan’s unique art island, Naoshima, for a tour of fascinating art installations, including Benesse House, which integrates indoor galleries with outdoor works. We also explore preserved neighbourhoods, Art House Project sites and Miyaura Port.

Day 13 - Okayama - Hiroshima

Cross back to Honshu via the Great Seto Bridge system. In Okayama, visit Kōraku-en Garden, one of Japan’s historic landscape gardens, with views towards Okayama Castle. After walking through the canal-lined streets of Kurashiki, travel to Saijo for a sake tasting, learning about regional brewing traditions, before continuing to Hiroshima.

Day 14 - Hiroshima

Take a ferry across Hiroshima Bay to Miyajima Island, to visit Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO-listed site best known for its torii gate standing in the water, visible at high tide. Back in Hiroshima, take a guided tour of the city before joining an okonomiyaki-making experience, learning how to prepare this savoury local speciality. In the afternoon, join a guided walking tour through Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park, a broad area of riverside green space laid out on the site of the former city centre. The park commemorates the victims of the world’s first atomic bomb, and the visit includes the Peace Memorial Museum, which presents a detailed account of the events of 1945 and their lasting impact.

Day 15 - Beppu - Aso

Pack an overnight bag while your main luggage is transferred ahead to Nagasaki, then travel by bullet train and express train to Kyushu. In Beppu, visit the jigoku, or “hells,” a collection of geothermal sites featuring steaming ponds, bubbling mud pools, and mineral-rich hot springs, each with unique colours and characteristics. After exploring these natural wonders, continue to Aso, located near one of the world’s largest active volcanic calderas. Stay in a ryokan-style hotel, where there is time to relax in the onsen before enjoying a traditional kaiseki dinner.

Day 16 - Aso - Kumamoto

Explore the Mount Aso region, visiting the Volcano Museum and walking across the Kusasenri plateau. In Kumamoto, visit Suizenji Garden, designed to represent stages of the historic Tōkaidō Road, before viewing Kumamoto Castle from the outside. An orientation walk follows, including a stop at Kumamoto Food Village.

Day 17 - Nagasaki

Reach Nagasaki by ferry and visit Dejima, a 17th-century man-made island that served as a Dutch trading post. The site preserves historical buildings including houses, warehouses, and gates, offering a glimpse into Nagasaki’s early international trade. In the afternoon, visit the Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture, which features exhibits on the city’s development, maritime history, and cultural exchanges. The rest of the day is free to explore independently or relax.

Day 18 - Nagasaki

Spend the morning at Nagasaki Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum, learning about the city’s experience during World War II and the subsequent focus on peace and reconstruction. Afterwards, visit Glover Garden, an open-air museum of Western-style residences from the 19th century, and Ōura Church, built in 1864 and recognised as the oldest surviving Christian church in Japan. The afternoon is free to explore Nagasaki at your own pace, shop, or enjoy local cuisine.

Day 19 - Dazaifu - Fukuoka

Today’s excursion includes a visit to Dazaifu and Fukuoka. In Dazaifu, visit Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, where students hang ema (good luck charms), and the Kyushu National Museum, which features exhibits on Japanese history and culture. In Fukuoka, take a guided walking tour of the Nakasu entertainment district and visit Fukuoka Tower’s 123-metre-high observation deck. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at an izakaya with drinks.

Day 20 - Fukuoka

Say goodbye to your tour group for your onward travel.