A Taste of Japan - Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka

Our tour starts today in Tokyo, Japan's ultra-modern capital. A sprawling metropolis, Tokyo is one of the world's most populous cities and a dazzling blend of traditional culture and all things new.



For those arriving in time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6.30pm for a welcome meeting. Afterwards, there is the option to head out for dinner at a nearby local restaurant where you will have the chance to sample various dishes in an 'izakaya' style Japanese restaurant. If some of the group are arriving on later flights, the main introductory briefing will take place on the morning of Day 2 with everybody present.



There are no activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Tokyo at any time. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.



If you'd like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Haneda Airport (HND) or Narita Airport (NRT). The city centre is around an hour away from Haneda Airport and an hour and a half from Narita. You'll be met in the arrivals hall and transferred to the hotel by public shuttle bus or private vehicle. The shuttle bus may stop at other hotels, before dropping you at our hotel.



Japanese hotels have strict rules regarding check in and all customers are required to wait until 3 PM for room access. You will be able to store your luggage while waiting but if you require an early check in, then you should request this at the time of booking. We do not guarantee this will be possible and depending on availability an extra fee will be charged.

This morning, we'll start our exploration of this thriving metropolis on foot and by metro. Firstly, we'll visit Tsukiji Outer Market, one of the biggest and busiest fish markets in Japan where freshly caught fish and seafood are on display. The inner market, famous for its tuna auctions, was moved in 2018 and is no longer open to tourists. Taking a break from the hustle and bustle, we'll visit the beautiful Hamarikyu Gardens with a backdrop of skyscrapers for our first introduction to a traditional Japanese garden. A sushi lunch is included today, so you can sample some of the delicious fresh seafood and learn all about what makes great sushi.



After lunch, we'll take a stroll through Kappabashi Street. Known locally as Kitchen Town, the shops here have been selling everything a professional or home cook could dream of for nearly a century - it's a great pitstop for souvenirs. Aside from artisan pottery, high-quality knives and ornate chopsticks, you can also see sampuru or plastic models of food that have become popular to display in front of most Japanese restaurants.



Finally, in the centre of historic Asakusa, one of downtown Tokyo's low-rise central districts, we'll visit Nakamise Shopping Street for a dessert street food tour where you can see and try local street food such as Senbei (Japanese rice crackers, usually savoury but sometimes sweet), ningyoyaki (sweet baked doll shapes filled with sweet red bean paste) or age manju (bun filled with same paste then battered and deep-fried). We should be finished by the late afternoon.



Tokyo has endless fine dining options including the most Michelin star eateries in the world. We've left tonight and tomorrow evening free for you to visit the restaurants of your choice - if you're hoping to get into a Michelin-starred hot spot, expect to book in advance!

We'll start our second day in the capital with a visit to Meiji Jingu, an important Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of the first Emperor and Empress of modern Japan at the end of Japan's feudal era. Its forested grounds offer a peaceful haven in this densely built-up city.



For lunch, we're going to try okonomiyaki, a delicious savoury pancake that translates literally as 'griddled as you like'. There are regional variations and it's cooked on a teppan or hot plate, combining a batter with cabbage and meat, topped with okonomiyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise and pickled ginger. Even better, you get to cook on your own teppan at the table with expert instruction.



The Harajuku area, and in particular Takeshita Street, is the beating heart of Japanese youth fashion culture. Apart from shopping, the streets are lined with unique cafes, restaurants and bars and we have the treat of included dessert from one of the side street food carts - a proper Tokyo right of passage. Take your pick from Japanese-style crepes, giant cotton candy or cute character-shaped ice cream.



The late afternoon and evening are at your leisure and options include a visit to the Asahi Beer Tower and Hall.

Say 'sayonara' to Tokyo - today, we'll travel by fast train to historic Takayama, a town in the mountainous Hida region. The journey will take around four to five hours, firstly on the Shinkansen bullet train to Nagoya, followed by a regional train to Takayama. Why not take the opportunity to buy an Ekiben for the journey? Ekiben are beautifully curated bento box meals made especially for the train, they're often made from local food specialities and give you a real taste of Japanese culture.



The preserved old town of Takayama retains an authentic, traditional feel like few others in Japan. During feudal times the city was a source of highly skilled carpenters and therefore controlled directly by the shogun, leading to a thriving and prosperous trading community. The narrow streets of the Sanmachi Suji district are lined with dark wooden merchants' houses, many of which are 300 to 400 years old. In the afternoon, we'll visit the fascinating Hida No Sato thatched roof village on the outskirts of town. This open-air museum is made of original houses from the Edo period (1603 to 1867), where you can gain an insight into the rural life of the region during this period.



Tonight, we'll stay in a family-run minshuku. A type of ryokan (guesthouse) usually found in the countryside, they offer a very traditional Japanese experience, sleeping in twin rooms with tatami mats and futon beds, with shared bathroom facilities. A traditional Japanese dinner will be cooked and served by the host family. The region's pure mountain water and cold winters provide the ideal conditions for making sake and you might like to try some from one of the traditional local sake distilleries.



We'll travel light today with an overnight bag and our main luggage will be forwarded on to Kanazawa.

This morning, we'll explore the old town of Takayama, visiting the morning market, where you'll be able to try the famous and delicious Hida beef. Made from a breed of Japanese black cattle reared in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, this prized local product is known for high-quality fat marbling, tender texture and delicious flavour. You can try a BBQ skewer and nigiri sushi style, with lightly seared beef sitting on a small bed of rice.



In the late morning, we'll catch the highway public bus through the remote countryside of the Shogawa River Valley to the historic village of Shirakawago (declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995) where we'll find several beautifully preserved gassho-zukuri farmhouses. With their steep thatched roofs, constructed to resemble the praying hands of Buddhist monks, some of these houses are over 250 years old. Developed over many generations and designed to withstand the heavy falls of snow that regularly envelop the region in winter, these roofs are constructed without nails and the large attics were traditionally used to cultivate silkworms.



In the late afternoon, we'll take the public bus to Kanazawa (a two-hour journey), a city that rivalled Kyoto and Tokyo in the 17th and 18th centuries, when it was home to the powerful Maeda samurai clan.

As the town was not targeted during World War II, Kanazawa retains its traditional charm and historic buildings, giving a sense of what Japan was like in the 19th century. This morning, we'll visit Kenrokuen Garden, designated as one of Japan's three most beautiful gardens. Taking nearly two centuries to complete and translating from their original Japanese as the 'Garden of the Six Sublimities', Kenrouken was begun by the Maedas in 1632 and covers over 11 hectares of land on the outskirts of Kanazawa Castle. For lunch, we'll try temaki, a type of sushi wrapped in toasted seaweed and formed into a cone, and you can choose your ingredients that combine with the rice.



Our next stop will be to try our hands at making wagashi, a traditional Japanese confectionery made of red bean paste and mochi rice dough. The dough gets moulded into shapes that symbolize Japanese items or the four seasons and they're usually served with green tea.



We should be finished by around 4pm and the rest of the afternoon is free. Time permitting, you might like to take a stroll in Higashichaya district, one of the country's best-preserved geisha districts, with stunningly elegant buildings dating back to the Edo period. The surviving geisha establishments remain off-limits to tourists. You can wander around the atmospheric samurai district with its narrow lanes and earthen walls, learning about how the legendary warrior class lived. Another highlight is the Myoryuji Temple, commonly known as the 'Ninja Temple' due to its ingenious defensive devices which include secret rooms, hidden tunnels, traps, and a labyrinth of corridors and staircases.

We have a busy day ahead and first thing this morning, we'll wander around the colourful stalls of Omicho market, where some of the best seafood in Japan is brought daily from the Sea of Japan. Again, we'll send our main luggage ahead of us and travel with day bags, so we have a peaceful journey (of over two hours) to Kyoto - the cradle of all things uniquely Japanese. This imperial capital was at the heart of events that shaped Japan's destiny for more than 1,000 years. As the only major Japanese city to remain unscathed by World War II bombings, signs of the past remain in its grand temples and palaces, as well as in the many quaint shops selling traditional wares.



Kyoto is regarded as Japan's loveliest city, with more than 2,000 temples and shrines, many set in manicured landscaped gardens. We'll start with a visit to Nijo Castle. Built in 1603 as a Shogun palace, it's a great example of the sumptuous setting in which the Shogun would have held audiences with his samurai warriors. The grounds and gates are impressive, but the real highlights are the nightingale floors and the extensive gardens.



Later this afternoon, we'll head to the famous geisha district of Gion. Here, we hope to catch a glimpse of these enigmatic entertainers as they scuttle to work in the teahouses or high-class restaurants.



This evening, we have an included izakaya dinner. These casual drinking establishments are one of the most common restaurant types in Japan, with a lively, relaxed atmosphere similar to tapas bars, customers order a variety of small dishes that can be shared at the table, with a wide variety of Japanese and sometimes international dishes.

We'll start the day with a short train ride to Uji, famous for growing the highest quality of green tea, whose finest leaves are milled into a fine powder and used for matcha. We'll visit Byodoin Temple, a striking example of Buddhist Pure Land architecture, which features on the ten yen coin. After trying some matcha sweets and ice cream, we'll return to Kyoto.



This afternoon, we'll visit the Higashiyama district, one of the city's best-preserved historic districts and take part in a private tea ceremony. A tradition steeped in history with deep roots in Zen, it's a traditional method of preparing and drinking matcha green tea by following a precise ritual, typically in a tearoom with a tatami floor. You'll also be guided on the process of making your own tea by the master. At the end of the day, we'll drink in a breathtaking view over Kyoto from Kiyomizudera Temple.



The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Getting around Kyoto is easy and there is a lot you can explore this morning. Nishiki Market is an important market for locals and tourists alike, you'll find all sorts of pickles, snacks, and typical Kyoto dishes. This afternoon we visit the entrance to Fushimi Inari Shrine, the most important of thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari - the Shinto god of rice - famous for its endless vermilion torri gates that feature in the film 'Memoirs of a Geisha'.



Next, we'll stop at the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum where we'll learn all about this alcoholic fermented rice drink and try different varieties of sake to appreciate the difference in flavour, aroma and taste. Dinner tonight is a Teppanyaki, a post-war style of Japanese cuisine where the chef cooks in front of guests on a hot plate or teppan, and the entertainment is as much watching the skilled chef as enjoying the delicious food.

We'll leave Kyoto this morning and take the train a short distance to our final destination of the holiday, the large metropolis of Osaka. Known by many as the food capital of Japan, Osaka is ultra-modern, bright, vivacious and friendly. We'll travel with our luggage this time and drop it off at our hotel on arrival.



We'll start exploring Osaka with a visit to Osaka Castle, a 1930s reconstruction of the 16th-century castle tower, with great views of the surrounding park and city beyond.



This evening, we'll head out on a street food tour through the Shinsekai district where you'll be able to try dishes including local favourites kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers) and takoyaki (octopus and dashi mixed in batter and fried).

This morning, we'll explore the Namba area, one of Osaka's most vibrant and interesting districts where kilometres of covered arcades criss-crossed by canals and rivers, open up to back streets filled with history and small shops. Our first visit today is to Namba Yasaka shrine, an atypical Shinto shrine featuring a ritualistic performance stage in the shape of a lion's head. Our next stop is the world-famous Dotonburi area where you can see towering neon signs, the unofficial mascot the Glico Man and endless shops and restaurants. We'll then take a trip up the impressive Umeda Sky Building for unobstructed 360-degree views of the whole city.



You're then free to take lunch at your leisure and spend the afternoon exploring more at your own pace.



We'll meet later this evening for our farewell dinner. Shabu-shabu is a Japanese hot pot with thinly sliced meat and vegetables cooked in a broth and served with dipping sauces. Inspired from mainland Asia in the 20th century, the name is onomatopoeic derived from the 'swish swish' sound when the ingredients are stirred in the cooking pot.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Osaka.



There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel.



Transfers to the airport will be by train or shared shuttle bus, your tour leader will provide tickets locally and advise on the best train or bus time to meet your flight. Please note, you'll travel unescorted. You'll need to walk a short distance from the hotel to the train station or bus collection point. If you'd like tickets for a transfer today, you'll need to depart from Kansai International Airport (KIX) which is approximately one hour by train, or Osaka International Airport (ITM) which takes around an hour by shuttle bus.