Unforgettable Japan & Hokkaido Extension

Day 1 - Sapporo

Hotel - Karaksa Hotel Sapporo

Welcome to Japan! Today begins your magnificent tour through Japan! Please make your own way to the starting point hotel. Take the evening to relax after your flight and prepare for your first full day of touring tomorrow. 

Arrival & Check-in information

The easiest and most convenient way to travel from Sapporo New Chitose Airport (CTS) is to book airport transfers using your Traveller Hub (booked 7+ days in advance). Alternatively, the airport has reliable public transport services into central Sapporo as well as the Limousine Bus which services many hotels in the central Sapporo area. For more information or assistance with these services, please check with the Passenger Information Desk after leaving the Baggage Claim area.

Airport transfers are not included. 

Day 2 - Sapporo  Otaru  Sapporo

Hotel - Karaksa Hotel Sapporo

Meal: Breakfast

After breakfast, your local guide will meet you around 8am at your hotel for a full day tour of Otaru. Located about half an hour north-west of Sapporo, Otaru is a stunning port city famous for it's wonderfully preserved canal, sake distilleries and rich fishing culture.

You'll visit Otaru Canal, Sakaimachi Street, Tanaka Sake Brewery and other landmarks throughout the town.

On arrival back to Sapporo this afternoon, around 5pm, enjoy time at leisure to explore the nightlife of Hokkaido's largest city. 

Inspiring Highlights

•  Otaru Canal
• Sakaimachi Street
• Tanaka Sake Brewery

Special Information 

Please be in the lobby 5 minutes before the meeting time at latest and bring passport to activate the rail pass at JR Sapporo station before heading to Otaru.

Your travel time today will be approximately 1 hour.

Day 3 - Sapporo  Hakodate

Hotel - Hotel Resol Hakodate

Meal: Breakfast

At the appropriate time today, make your way to the station to board your train to Hakodate. 

It's an approximately 4 hour train journey through stunning countryside to Hakodate. On arrival, make your way to your centrally located hotel and spend the afternoon at leisure. Perhaps make your way via cable car up Mount Hakodate for stunning night-time views over the city. The mountain looms 330m over the city and is the best place to get a birds-eye view of the city.

Special Information 

Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.

Day 4 - Hakodate

Hotel - Hotel Resol Hakodate

Meal: Breakfast

Today your local guide will meet you at your hotel around 9am for a half-day walking tour of Hakodate. 

Your first stop will be the Hakodate morning market. The market boasts over 250 stalls offering fresh produce and souvenirs. You might like to try the mouth-watering seafood donburi here to start your day with a bowl of steaming rice topped with freshly-caught seafood.

Next up we visit the famous Red Brick Warehouses of Hakodate. Dating back to the trading days of the past, the warehouses have been thoughtfully restored and now host an atmospheric shopping, dining and entertainment complex. 

Afterwards we visit the Motomachi district and wander through the eclectic mix of Russian, British and Chinese architecture that was built when Japan ended its period of isolation from the world in the 1850's. 

We will finish the day with a visit to the Goryokaku Fort at around 1pm. 

Inspiring Highlights

•  Hakodate Market
• Red Brick Warehouses
• Motomachi District
• Goryokaku Fort

Special Information 

Please be in the lobby 5 minutes before the meeting time at latest to meet your local guide

Day 5 - Hakodate  Sendai

Hotel - Hotel Metropolitan Sendai East

Meal: Breakfast

Today, make your way to the train station to board the shinkansen bullet train to Sendai. On arrival, make your way to your hotel and spend the afternoon at leisure.

Special Information 

Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.

Day 6 - Sendai

Hotel - Hotel Metropolitan Sendai East

Meal: Breakfast

After breakfast this morning, meet your local guide in the lobby around 9:30am for your half day tour to Matsushima.

The first stop is the Zuiganji Temple, founded in 828 AD during the Heian period by Jikaku Daish. The temple is a National Treasure and one of the most important Buddhist sites in northern Japan. 

Afterwards you will enjoy a scenic cruise around the islands of Matsushima Bay. The bay is known as one of the most scenic spots in Japan, and is characterised by hundreds of islands covered in pine trees.

Return to Sendai around 3pm and enjoy the afternoon and evening at leisure.

Inspiring Highlights

•  Matsushima
• Zuiganji Temple
• Scenic Bay Cruise

Special Information 

Please be in the lobby 5 minutes before the meeting time at latest to meet your local guide

Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.

Day 7 - Sendai  Tokyo

Hotel - Shinjuku Washington Hotel - Tokyo

Meal: Breakfast

After breakfast today may your way to the station and board the train to Tokyo. On arrival, make your way to your centrally located hotel. 

Day 8 - Tokyo

Hotel - Shinjuku Washington Hotel - Tokyo

Meal: Breakfast

This morning, you will begin your full-day coach tour of Japan's ultramodern capital - Tokyo! Ensure you allow enough time to enjoy your breakfast and to meet your Tour Leader in the lobby at 8:15am.

Our tour will begin with a visit to Meiji Shrine, located within a 170 acre forest in the centre of the city. Constructed of cypress wood and copper, the shrine commemorates Emperor Meiji, Japan’s 122nd emperor, who presided over Japan’s industrial revolution and emergence onto the world stage.

We will then visit the Tokyo Skytree. Open since May 2012, the Skytree is a television and radio broadcast site, and contains a restaurant and two viewing platforms. At 634m, it's among the tallest structures in the world. Our entry ticket includes access to Floor350, giving us a birdseye view over the sprawling city.

Next we visit Asakusa district, and the Sensō-ji Temple. This is Tokyo’s oldest temple, and it's dedicated to Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. On the approach to Sensō-ji is Nakamise Shopping Street, a centuries-old promenade of shops selling traditional snacks and souvenirs like kimonos and bottles of saké.

We also spend some time exploring the grounds of the Imperial Palace. Here, we view the two bridges that form one of the entrances to the inner palace grounds. The current Imperial Palace is home to Japan's Imperial Family and is located in the former site of Edo Castle, surrounded by an imposing stone wall and moat system. 

Inspiring Highlights

• Meiji Shrine
• Tokyo Skytree
• Sensō-ji Temple
• Imperial Palace

Day 9 - Tokyo

Hotel - Shinjuku Washington Hotel - Tokyo

Meal: Breakfast

Today is a full free day in Tokyo. There is no end to the spectacular sightseeing and activities available to you, as Tokyo truly has something for everyone. Take as much time as you like to relax at your leisure, explore the city, shop for souvenirs and eat the delectable cuisine. Be sure to ask your guide for recommendations on more must-see spots around the city.

Day 10 - Tokyo  Hakone  Lake Ashi Cruise  Kawaguchiko

Hotel - Route Inn Kawaguchiko (Onsen Hotel)

Meal: Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast we will leave Tokyo and head to the national park region of Hakone, with a lunch stop in Hakone-Machi on the way. 

On arrival, we'll take a boat cruise on Lake Ashi. The lake sits within the caldera of Mount Hakone, and is famed for its views of Mount Fuji. Boats inspired by western warships cruise the scenic lake, and the picturesque, forested region has been popular with hikers and sightseers for centuries.

We then transfer to Lake Kawaguchiko, an absolutely stunning area that's home to the second largest of the Fuji Five Lakes and promises more fabulous views of Mount Fuji.

Later we'll arrive at the hotel and prepare for a lovely dinner with our fellow travellers.

Inspiring Highlights

• Lake Ashi
• Lake Kawaguchiko

Special information 
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours

Day 11 - Kawaguchiko  Mount Fuji  Takayama

Hotel - TOKYU STAY Hida -Takayama Musubi no Yu - Gifu

Meal: Breakfast

After breakfast we will depart Kawaguchiko, and travel by coach to visit Mount Fuji's 5th Station (weather permitting), which is halfway up the active volcano. Mount Fuji is the country’s tallest peak and it is considered one of Japan’s three holy mountains. Here, above the clouds, we'll view the mountain’s enormous summit if weather permits.

Today's lunch will be at a highway service stop, but in Japan, these stops are renowned for offering high-quality food. After lunch, we'll continue on to our final destination today, the city of Takayama. 

Inspiring Highlights

• Mount Fuji's 5th Station

Special information 

Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours. 

Day 12 - Takayama

Hotel - TOKYU STAY Hida -Takayama Musubi no Yu - Gifu

Meal: Breakfast

Today is a full free day in Takayama. Be sure to ask your guide for their recommendations on must-see spots around the city.

Day 13 - Takayama  Shirakawago  Kanazawa

Hotel - Kanazawa Manten Hotel Ekimae

Meal: Breakfast

Before leaving Takayama this morning we'll tour Kamisannomachi Street in Takayama’s Old Town, a wonderfully well-preserved slice of old Japan, with houses and shops dating back to the Edo period (1600-1868). As well as the charming architecture, there are several quaint cafés and a number of old saké breweries to explore.

We'll then travel to Shirakawa-gō Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has more than 100 'Gassho-style' houses, which feature steeply-pitched roofs. Built many hundreds of years ago, these historic houses stand together in a beautiful natural setting. Enjoy exploring this unique village with its thatched-roof houses sitting among gorgeous mountain scenery, and taking some time to have lunch.

Following this we will transfer to Kanazawa. On arrival we will take a brief tour around Higashi Chaya District, a beautifully preserved and picturesque historical area of Kanazawa.

Inspiring Highlights

• Takayama’s Old Town
• Shirakawa-gō Village
• Higashi Chaya District

Special information 

Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours. 

Day 14 - Kanazawa  Kyoto

Hotel - Hotel Keihan Kyoto Grande

Meal: Breakfast

This morning, after breakfast, we’ll visit the stunning Kenrokuen Garden – one of the most beautiful in Japan. Developed over more than 200 years, starting in 1620, the garden contains almost 9000 trees and 200 plant species.

We also visit Nomura Samurai House, the historic residence of the Nomura Samurai clan. The intriguing house and grounds provide an insight into the lifestyle of the samurai, or military nobility, during the 16-19th centuries. The residence features beautiful architecture, gardens and décor, such as intricately painted screen doors.

After a break for lunch at one of Japan's high quality service stops, we’ll transfer by coach from Kanazawa to Kyoto. Upon arrival in Kyoto, the rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure.

Inspiring Highlights

• Kenrokuen Garden
• Nomura Samurai House

Special information 

Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.

Day 15 - Kyoto

Hotel - Hotel Keihan Kyoto Grande

Meal: Breakfast

Today is a full free day to spend in Kyoto. This golden city was once the capital of Japan and sits on the island of Honshu. It's famous for its numerous classical Buddhist temples, as well as gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses. Beautiful Geisha are often found in the Gion district.

Day 16 - Kyoto  Nara  Kyoto

Hotel - Hotel Keihan Kyoto Grande

Meal: Breakfast

This morning, after breakfast, we'll drive-by Heian-jingū (Heian Shinto Shrine) on our way to visit Kinkaku-ji Temple, otherwise known as the Golden Pavilion. This is a Zen temple and a UNESCO World Heritage Site with two floors covered entirely in thin layers of pure gold. The site is set within a beautiful classical Zen garden. The detailed architecture of Kinkaku-ji incorporates three distinct architectural styles – Shinden, Samurai, and Zen. We then travel the short distance to Nara for lunch at leisure.

Following this we'll wander through gorgeous Nara Park, where more than 1200 tame sika deer roam freely. We then visit Tōdai-ji (Great Eastern Temple), famed for its Great Buddha Hall, which remains one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. This impressive building houses a 15m-tall bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana. 

Back in Kyoto, you have the evening to yourself

Inspiring Highlights

• Tōdai-ji
• Kinkaku-ji Temple
• Heian Shinto Shrine

Special information 

Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.

Day 17 - Kyoto  Osaka

Hotel - Osaka Garden Palace

Meal: Breakfast

After breakfast we begin a full-day coach tour of Kyoto. Our first stop will be Arashiyama, a stunning area known for its thick bamboo forest, which is also designated by the Japanese government as a Place of Scenic Beauty. Today's lunch will be in Arashiyama. 

Next we'll visit magnificent Fushimi Inari Shrine. Famous for its thousands of vermilion torii (shrine gates), which straddle a network of trails behind its main temples, the Fushimi Inari Shrine is incredibly photogenic. The trails lead into the forest of the sacred Mount Inari, which stands at 233m and belongs to the shrine grounds. Fushimi Inari is the most important of several thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. 

Following our tour we'll depart Kyoto and head to Osaka, where we'll check into our hotel and spend the evening relaxing.

Inspiring Highlights

• Arashiyama
• Fushimi Inari Shrine.

Special information 

Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.

Day 18 - Osaka  Himeji  Hiroshima

Hotel - Hiroshima Grand Intelligent Hotel

Meal: Breakfast

After breakfast we'll depart Osaka to visit the so-called 'White Heron Castle', Himeji – it's the largest surviving example of a traditional Japanese castle. Comprising 83 buildings, the white roof of this UNESCO World Heritage-listed complex is said to evoke the wings of a heron taking flight, hence the popular name Shirasagi-jō (White Heron Castle). This is the most visited castle in Japan and the site offers some wonderful views of surrounding Himeji city. We will have time in Hemeji for lunch around the castle area. 

After our visit here we'll transfer to our hotel in Hiroshima via Fukuyama. 

Inspiring Highlights

• Himeji Castle

Special information 

Today your main luggage will remain at the hotel in Osaka to meet you upon your return in two days time. Please ensure you have an overnight bag packed for your two evenings in Hiroshima.

Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.

Day 19 - Hiroshima  Miyajima  Hiroshima

Hotel - Hiroshima Grand Intelligent Hotel

Meal: Breakfast

After breakfast this morning our guide will meet us in the hotel lobby. Together we'll board a ferry for the short trip to Miyajima, an island known for its forests and ancient temples. Just offshore, there's a 'floating' torii, which becomes partially submerged at high tide. It marks the entrance to the Itsukushima Shrine, which was first built in the 12th century. Nearby, the Museum of History and Folklore has cultural artifacts in a 19th-century merchant's home. We’ll take a walk along Omotesando Shopping Street where you can grab some lunch before returning to Hiroshima by ferry.

Once we're back in Hiroshima we'll visit the Atomic Bomb Dome, otherwise known as the Genbaku Dome, or the Hiroshima Peace Memorial. A shell of a building that was one of very few left standing after the United States bombed Hiroshima in 1945. In Hiroshima today, locals have mixed feelings about the UNESCO World Heritage-listed structure: some see it as a reminder of war, while others consider it a tribute to the lost that ensures we'll never forget the tragic events that took place here.

Later, we'll visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which contains many poignant, yet important, exhibits. The flame in the cenotaph is intended to burn until the last nuclear weapon has been destroyed.

Inspiring Highlights

• Miyajima Island
• Itsukushima Shrine
• Miyajima Museum of History and Folklore
• Atomic Bomb Dome
• Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Special information 

Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours

Day 20 - Hiroshima  Osaka

Hotel - Osaka Garden Palace

Meal: Breakfast

This morning, after breakfast, we'll depart Hiroshima via the bullet train to Shin-Osaka Station. Upon arrival in Osaka we'll begin a coach tour with our guide, passing Osaka Castle, which played a major role in the unification of Japan during the Azuchi-Momoyama period in the 16th century.

After arriving at the Dōtonbori area, we will have a walk through one of Japan’s typical downtowns. One of Osaka's most popular tourist destinations, this street runs parallel to the Dōtonbori canal and is a hugely popular destination for shopping, street food, bars and entertainment. At night, the streets here are illuminated by hundreds of colourful neon lights and mechanised signs, including the famous running Glico Man sign and the Kani Doraku crab sign.

Inspiring Highlights

• Osaka Castle
• Dōtonbori area

Special information 

Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours

Day 21 - Osaka

Hotel - Osaka Garden Palace

Meal: Breakfast, Dinner

Today is a full free day in Osaka to spend at your leisure. Be sure to ask your guide for recommendations on great places to see and eat.

This evening we’ll enjoy dinner as a group at a local restaurant.

Day 22 - Osaka

Today marks the end of your spectacular journey through Japan. 

At the appropriate time please make your own way to the airport for your flight home or embark on your own independent onward journey.

Special Information

Airport transfers are not included.