About the tour
Forget everything your mother taught you about table manners. In Japan, it’s considered rude not to slurp. Get ready to joyously drink in traditional hot sake, matcha green tea, big brothy noodle bowls and the delicious views from neon-lit Tokyo to time-honored Kyoto. Peaks, palaces, pavilions, and pagodas provide picture-perfect backdrops for your photos, but don’t expect to stand still for very long on this enthralling tour of Japan. A hands-on calligraphy class, a special kimono fitting, an interactive cooking demonstration, and a gold-leaf design class—where you’ll make your own keepsake bento box—are all part of the fun. You’ll also browse the produce at a Takayama farmer’s market, stroll through Kanazawa’s famous Kenroku-en gardens, and experience the thrill of a ride on the famous bullet train. Prepare to be floored in more ways than one!
Meals
Accommodation
Park Hotel Tokyo or Similar
3 night(s) in Tokyo
Hotel Associa Takayama Resort or Similar
2 night(s) in Takayama
Hotel Nikko Kanazawa or Similar
1 night(s) in Kanazawa
ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto or Similar
3 night(s) in Kyoto
Included in the price
Tokyo
- We’ve prepared everything you need for the perfect vacation—from transfers to and from your hotel and included intra-vacation flights to expert Local Guides and included VIP sightseeing access to the world’s iconic sites. Your Globus Tour Director is always there to help you make the most out of your free time!Accommodation Spotlight Immerse yourself in authentic Japanese culture and hospitality few travelers experience with a traditional ryokan (Japanese inn) stay. During your visit to Kyoto, choose optional accommodations at Gion Hatanaka—a ryokan. Enjoy traditional touches, including tatami mat floors, a thin sleeping mattress on the floor, private bathroom, and the chance to experience a Japanese-style bath. Your 1-night ryokan experience includes transfers to/from your inn and Kyoto hotel, and traditional Japanese dinner and breakfast. Note: Reserve your ryokan at the time of booking, as space is limited.
Tokyo
- We’ve prepared everything you need for the perfect vacation—from transfers to and from your hotel and included intra-vacation flights to expert Local Guides and included VIP sightseeing access to the world’s iconic sites. Your Globus Tour Director is always there to help you make the most out of your free time!Accommodation Spotlight Immerse yourself in authentic Japanese culture and hospitality few travelers experience with a traditional ryokan (Japanese inn) stay. During your visit to Kyoto, choose optional accommodations at Gion Hatanaka—a ryokan. Enjoy traditional touches, including tatami mat floors, a thin sleeping mattress on the floor, private bathroom, and the chance to experience a Japanese-style bath. Your 1-night ryokan experience includes transfers to/from your inn and Kyoto hotel, and traditional Japanese dinner and breakfast. Note: Reserve your ryokan at the time of booking, as space is limited.
Day-wise Itinerary
ExpandDay 1: Arrive In Tokyo, Japan
TOKYO Welcome to Tokyo! Hotel check-in available mid-afternoon.
Day 2: Tokyo
TOKYO Guided visit to the Meiji Shrine. Orientation drive past the Imperial Palace. Visit a local artist’s studio and participate in a calligraphy class, kimono fitting and [LF] traditional tea ceremony. Guided visit to Asakusa Kannon Temple and Nakamise Shopping Arcade. Free time this afternoon. (B,D)
Day 3: Tokyo. Excursion To Mount Fuji
MOUNT FUJI AREA Cable-car ride with views of Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi. Guided visit to Churieto Pagoda.TOKYO Free time late this afternoon and evening. (B,L)ENHANCE YOUR FREE TIME in Tokyo with suggestions from your Tour Director. Get local maps and tips for free time on your GlobusGO mobile app.
Day 4: Tokyo–matsumoto–takayama
MATSUMOTO Guided visits to Matsumoto Castle and Matsumoto City Museum. Scenic drive through the Japanese Alps en route to Takayama.TAKAYAMA Traditional Japanese-style dinner this evening. (B,L,D)
Day 5: Takayama
TAKAYAMA Guided sightseeing includes visits to the morning market and Takayama Jinya historic site. Free time to browse in San-Machi Suji historic district before a [LF] sake tasting at a local brewery. Free time this evening. (B)
Day 6: Takayama–shirakawa–kanazawa
TAKAYAMA Scenic drive through Shokawa Valley en route to Shirakawa.SHIRAKAWA Visit the Gassho-Zukuri thatched-roof houses (UNESCO World Heritage Site). .KANAZAWA Guided visit of Kenroku-en garden, followed by a gold-leaf design class to make your own keepsake bento box. (B)
Day 7: Kanazawa–kyoto
KANAZAWA Thunderbird Express train trip to Kyoto. KYOTO Guided sightseeing includes visits to Sanjusagendo Temple, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kiyomizu Temple, and a guided walk through Kyoto. Choose to stay in a traditional Japanese ryokan (additional expense). (B,L)
Day 8: Kyoto
KYOTO Guided visit to the Temple of the Gold Pavilion. Learn the ancient kimono fabric-dyeing techniques and create your own souvenir at Yuzen Handmade Corner. [LF] Prepare miso soup, teriyaki chicken, sushi and more with a local chef during your Japanese cooking class. Free time this afternoon and evening. (B,L)
Day 9: Kyoto. Excursion To Nara
KYOTO Excursion to Nara includes guided sightseeing at Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Shrine (UNESCO World Heritage Sites). Free time this afternoon before a farewell dinner. (B,D)
Day 10: Kyoto
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Schedule departing flights from Kansai International Airport in Osaka after 11 am. (B)
