Japan

Upon arrival you’ll be picked up at the airport and taken to our hotel. For those who arrive early, or who are interested in some activities on this day, our team will be on hand to assist. After getting settled and having a good rest, we’ll start off with an evening orientation followed by an excellent dinner to kick off our Japan experience!

This morning, we’ll ease into Tokyo with a half-day introduction to the city’s gardens, tea culture and everyday life. We’ll begin at Hamarikyu Gardens, a former feudal lord’s garden near Tokyo Bay, where paths and water views sit below the modern skyline. We’ll also stop at a tea house to enjoy Japanese tea and a sweet while learning about this familiar part of local hospitality.

From there, we’ll head to Tsukiji’s Outer Market, where vendors, small counters and specialty shops fill the streets. We’ll see ingredients used in Japanese cooking and sample a selection of flavors as part of our included lunch. Stalls sell everything from grilled seafood and fresh tuna to rice crackers, matcha sweets and tamagoyaki, a slightly sweet rolled omelet.

The afternoon will be free, with time to rest at the hotel or explore a little more. You might visit Ginza for shopping, choose a nearby museum or take a short walk. Your tour leader will be available to help with suggestions, and dinner will be at your own expense this evening.

Today we’ll experience a more personal side of Japan with a visit to a local family’s home. Over lunch and conversation, we’ll have the chance to hear about daily life, ask questions and spend time with our hosts.

We’ll also try origami, the Japanese art of paper folding. With a little guidance, we’ll see how a few careful folds can turn a sheet of paper into a small figure. There’ll be time to follow along, compare our efforts and enjoy the conversation around the table.

After the visit, we’ll return to the hotel for a break before dinner. In the evening, we’ll eat at an izakaya, an informal Japanese restaurant where people gather over a variety of smaller dishes. This gives us another style of meal to try as we settle further into life in Japan.

Leaving Tokyo behind, we’ll board a high-speed train to Kyoto, the former imperial capital of Japan and a city known for its temples, arts and cultural traditions. The journey takes approximately two and a half hours.

After arrival, we’ll enjoy lunch and leave our luggage at the hotel before meeting a maiko, an apprentice geisha, for tea. This will be an opportunity to learn about her training, seasonal clothing and the etiquette that shapes this Kyoto tradition. We’ll have time to ask questions and hear about the work involved in learning these skills.

The rest of the afternoon will be free. You might take a short walk through Gion, browse shops selling ceramics and sweets, or settle into the hotel before we come together for dinner.

Today we’ll begin at Fushimi Inari Taisha, a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari, the deity associated with rice, prosperity and business. We’ll walk through a shorter section of its red torii gates, the gateways marking sacred ground, while learning why people and businesses have donated them for generations.

From there, we’ll continue to Nishiki Market, Kyoto’s best-known food shopping street. Our visit and included lunch will introduce us to regional ingredients and specialties, with shops selling pickled vegetables, tofu, sweets and other foods used in Kyoto’s cooking.

Afterwards, there’ll be time to rest or browse the surrounding downtown streets. Later, we’ll watch a samurai kenbu performance, where swords, fans, music and carefully controlled movements bring stories of Japan’s warrior class to the stage. Each gesture has meaning, from the way a sword is drawn to the position of the performer’s body.

We’ll start today with a slower morning at Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion. Its upper floors are covered in gold leaf, and the pavilion stands beside a pond that reflects the building when the water is still.

Following the garden paths, we’ll take in views from different angles and learn how the site began as a shogun’s retirement villa before becoming a Zen Buddhist temple.

Lunch and the afternoon will be yours to enjoy independently. There’s time to rest, shop or find a café before we meet for a kaiseki dinner. This seasonal multi-course meal introduces a different style of Japanese dining, with a series of dishes chosen for their flavors, textures and presentation.

After breakfast, we’ll head to Nara, one of Japan’s oldest capitals. We’ll begin in Nara Park, where deer wander freely between the paths and lawns, often coming close to see who might have a cracker to share. Considered messengers of the gods in Shinto tradition, they have become closely associated with the city. We’ll take our time exploring the park before sitting down for lunch.

In the afternoon, we’ll explore Naramachi, Nara’s historic merchant district, where narrow streets lead past traditional wooden townhouses, small shops and cafés. The old buildings offer a glimpse of how merchants once lived and worked, while the shops give us a chance to browse local crafts and specialties.

We’ll also plan to enjoy a sake tasting, giving us a chance to try this traditional rice drink and learn a little about the differences between styles. Those who prefer can enjoy a tea or coffee break instead. Depending on the day’s pace, there may also be time to try freshly made mochi, a soft, chewy rice sweet, or catch a mochi-pounding demonstration if one is taking place. Afterwards, we’ll return to Kyoto with time to relax and enjoy the evening.

Leaving Kyoto, we’ll travel by train for approximately two hours to Hiroshima. After arrival, we’ll have lunch before visiting Peace Memorial Park and the Peace Memorial Museum.

Here, we’ll learn about the atomic bombing, the people whose lives were affected and the city’s recovery. We’ll allow time to take in the exhibits and personal accounts, walk through the park and understand why Hiroshima has become such an important voice for peace.

In the evening, we’ll sit down for Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. This local specialty is cooked in layers on a hot griddle, usually combining noodles, cabbage, egg and savory sauce. It’s a substantial, informal meal and another example of how Japanese cooking changes from region to region.

Today we’ll travel by train to Kurashiki, a former merchant town known for its canals and white-walled storehouses. These waterways once carried rice and other goods, helping the town develop into a trading center.

Our day will focus on an indigo dyeing workshop, with time to enjoy the process. Indigo has a long history in Japanese textile work, and our instructor will explain how patterns are created and how the fabric’s color develops as it meets the air. We’ll take part ourselves, following the steps and seeing our designs emerge.

We’ll also enjoy lunch and a shorter walk through the Bikan Historical Quarter, where old homes, storehouses and stone bridges line the canal. There’ll be opportunities to sit down, browse or take photographs along the way.

If time and conditions allow, there may also be a chance for a short canal boat ride before we return by train to Hiroshima.

A high-speed train journey of approximately an hour and a half will take us to Shin-Osaka, where we’ll continue into the city. Osaka is known for its food culture, busy shopping streets and enthusiasm for eating out.

After leaving our bags at the hotel, we’ll head to a local home for a sushi class and lunch. With our host, we’ll learn about nigiri, hand-shaped rice topped with fish, maki, sushi rolls, and chirashi, a bowl of seasoned rice arranged with toppings. Preparing and eating the meal together also gives us a chance to learn more about how people cook and host at home.

Afterwards, there’ll be time to rest or take a short walk before dinner in the Dotonbori area. Bright signs hang above the streets, restaurants display their specialties outside and the canal reflects the lights as evening arrives. We’ll explore a little before sitting down to another meal together.

Leaving Kyoto, we’ll travel by train for approximately two hours to Hiroshima. After arrival, we’ll enjoy lunch before visiting Peace Memorial Park and the Peace Memorial Museum.

Through the exhibits and personal stories, we’ll learn about Hiroshima’s past, the people who helped rebuild it and the city’s lasting commitment to peace. There’ll also be time to walk through the park’s gardens and memorials, taking in this important part of the city at our own pace.

In the evening, we’ll explore Hiroshima’s food culture over a dinner of Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. Cooked in layers on a hot griddle, this local specialty combines noodles, cabbage, egg and savory sauce. It’s a filling, informal meal and a chance to discover another regional style of Japanese cooking.

You will be picked up at the hotel by a private driver who will take you to the airport for your departing flight.