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 blend of gardens, tea culture, and everyday life. We’ll begin at Hamarikyu Gardens, a former feudal lord’s garden near Tokyo Bay, where calm paths and water views sit below the modern skyline. It’s a striking first look at how old and new Tokyo often share the same space. We’ll also visit a tea house for an introduction to Japanese tea culture, paired with mochi, a soft rice cake made from pounded glutinous rice. From there we’ll head to Tsukiji’s Outer Market, where the market streets are filled with vendors, small counters, and the morning rhythm of local shoppers. Here we’ll get a chance to understand how markets, ingredients, and small businesses remain part of daily life in Tokyo. We’ll also try favorites such as grilled seafood, tamagoyaki, fresh tuna, rice crackers, matcha sweets, world famous wagyu beef, and other bites as we taste our way through one of Tokyo’s most beloved food districts. The afternoon will be free at leisure, with options such as resting at the hotel, visiting Ginza for shopping, exploring a nearby museum, or walking along the Sumida River. Your tour leader will be available to help you make the most of your free time in this great city!

We’ll start in Shibuya, one of Tokyo’s busiest commercial districts and a place known for fashion, hip culture, shopping, and the famous street crossing outside the station. Breakfast will include Japan’s fluffy soufflé style pancakes before we explore the area, where large screens, department stores, side streets, and constant movement show Tokyo at its most energetic. We’ll also have time for exploring before visiting Meiji Shrine, a peaceful Shinto shrine set within a forested area between Shibuya and Harajuku. As we walk through the torii gates and along the gravel paths, we’ll learn about Shinto traditions, purification rituals, prayer offerings, and the role the shrine still plays in local life. Later we’ll head to Asakusa for lunch before exploring one of Tokyo’s oldest neighborhoods. We’ll walk toward Senso-ji Temple through Nakamise shopping street, where long standing shops and temple gates create a very different atmosphere from Shibuya. While in Asakusa, we’ll take part in a hands-on Mokuhankan woodblock printing workshop, where we’ll learn how traditional Japanese prints are made using carved wooden blocks, ink, and paper. In the evening we’ll have dinner at an izakaya, a casual Japanese pub where people gather over small plates, drinks, and conversation.

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, classic arts, and deep cultural roots. After arrival we’ll enjoy lunch before checking in to our hotel. Soon after, we'll set out for one of the most memorable cultural moments of the trip - tea time with a maiko, an apprentice geisha. This will be a rare opportunity to learn about her training, seasonal clothing, music, conversation, and the etiquette that shapes this respected Kyoto tradition. The rest of the afternoon will be free at leisure, with options such as walking through Gion’s lantern lit lanes, browsing small shops for ceramics or sweets, visiting a quiet temple, or simply settling into Kyoto at your own pace before dinner.

Today we’ll begin at Fushimi Inari Taisha, one of Kyoto’s standout Shinto shrines. This shrine is dedicated to Inari, the deity associated with rice, prosperity, and business. As we walk beneath the endless red gates, we’ll learn why people have donated them for generations as acts of gratitude or prayer. From there we’ll continue to Nishiki Market, Kyoto’s best known kitchen street. This visit will focus on the role of seasonality, local ingredients, and small family businesses in Kyoto’s food culture, with a few regional tastes along the way. Afterwards you’ll have some free time to rest, browse nearby shops, or explore the surrounding downtown area. Later we’ll visit the Samurai Kenbu Theater, where performers use swords, fans, music, and controlled movement to bring samurai stories to life on stage. The movements are precise and formal, and each gesture has meaning, from the way a sword is drawn to the way a stance is held.

We’ll start today with a slower morning in Kyoto at Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, one of the city’s most impressive temples. Its top floors are covered in gold leaf, and the pavilion sits beside a pond that can mirror the building when the water is still. We’ll walk the garden path at an easy pace, taking in the views from different angles while learning how the site began as a shogun’s retirement villa before becoming a Zen Buddhist temple. The afternoon will be free at leisure, with time to rest, shop, or enjoy a Kyoto snack such as mochi filled with red bean paste or matcha. Tonight we’ll sit down for a kaiseki dinner, Kyoto’s refined multi-course meal. This will be a chance to experience how season, presentation, and hospitality come together in one of the city’s most respected dining traditions.

After breakfast we’ll head to Nara for a full day in one of Japan’s oldest capitals. The small city has a gentle pace, with wide temple grounds and a long history tied to Buddhism and early court life. We’ll begin in Nara Deer Park, where the local deer wander freely and are considered messengers of the gods in Shinto tradition. We’ll also stop at a small British tea house to learn about Britain’s influence in Japan and enjoy a short break during the day. After lunch we’ll see a mochi pounding demonstration, where steamed rice is pounded at high speed until it becomes a soft, chewy sweet. In the afternoon, we’ll continue into the countryside for a sake brewery visit. There, we’ll learn how rice, water, yeast, and careful timing shape the brewing process. Then we’ll prepare our very own label before returning to Kyoto for the evening.

Leaving Kyoto, we’ll travel by train for 2 hours to Hiroshima, a city known for resilience, remembrance, and one of Japan’s most powerful stories of rebuilding. Upon arrival we’ll have lunch before visiting the Peace Memorial Park and the Peace Memorial Museum. Here we’ll learn about the history, the lives affected by it, and the city’s long recovery. This part of the day will be handled with care and respect, with time to take in the exhibits, 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, a local specialty made in layers with noodles, cabbage, egg, and savory sauce cooked on a hot griddle.

We'll board the train to Kurashiki, a historic merchant town that offers a very different look at Japan. Once we arrive we’ll explore the Bikan Historical Quarter, where old canals still run through the heart of the town. These waterways once carried rice and goods, helping Kurashiki grow into an important trading center. As we walk through the preserved streets, we’ll see how the town’s merchant past still shows in its white walled storehouses, old homes, and quiet bridges over the water. We’ll also take part in an indigo dyeing class, one of the most interesting hands-on experiences of the trip. Indigo has a long history in Japanese textile work, and we’ll learn how the dye is prepared, how patterns are created, and how fabric changes as it meets the air. After lunch we’ll enjoy a short canal boat ride through the historical quarter, seeing the town from the water before returning by train to Hiroshima for the evening.

Osaka will bring us into Japan’s most outgoing city, known for its humor, warmth, food culture, and strong neighborhood vibes. After traveling by train in the morning, we’ll arrive and settle in before heading to a local home for an early afternoon sushi class. With our host, we’ll learn how to prepare nigiri, maki, and chirashi using fish such as tuna, salmon, and yellowtail. This will be a hands-on meal, but also a personal look at how people cook, host, and share food in a home setting. Afterwards there will be time to take a stroll through the city's various central neighborhoods. Tonight, we’ll head to the Dotonbori area for dinner, where Osaka’s lively character fills the streets through bright signs, canal views, and the steady movement of people out for the evening.

For our final full day in Japan, we’ll explore Osaka through its history, city life, and local culture. We’ll begin at Osaka Castle, where we’ll learn about the city’s role in Japan’s feudal past and the powerful figures who shaped that era. The castle grounds also give us a chance to see a calmer side of Osaka before we move into one of its livelier market areas for lunch. Afterwards the afternoon will be free at leisure. You may want to return to Dotonbori, browse the covered shopping arcades, visit a museum, relax at the hotel, or take one last walk through the city. Whatever you decide, our tour leader will be on hand to help you plan your perfect afternoon. This evening we’ll gather for our wonderful farewell dinner and enjoy a final taste of Japanese cuisine together.

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