BOOKING INFORMATION
March 27 - April 12, 2028
Land Only: $9,975.00 per person double occupancy.
Single supplement: $2,250
BOOK TOURDOWNLOAD PDF OF ITINERARY
*If the tour is SOLD OUT, please contact us to be added to the waitlist.
Tokyo — Mt. Fuji — Himeji — Okayama - Kurashiki - Hiroshima — Kyoto with side trips to Nara and Uji and more.
17 days: Monday, March 27 to Wednesday, April 12, 2028
An exotic adventure in a Far Eastern culture with more than 2000 years of history: the land of the Shogun, the tea ceremony, serene gardens, and Sony. Steve and Sandra will lead the way together with our expert local guide.
Land Only:$9,975.00 per person double occupancy. Single room supplement: $2,250.00
March 27 - April 12, 2028
Single supplement: $2,250
BOOK TOURDOWNLOAD PDF OF ITINERARY
*If the tour is SOLD OUT, please contact us to be added to the waitlist.
To meet the tour at the start, you require early afternoon departure on Air Canada's non-stop flight from Toronto for Tokyo or similar. The duration of the flight is approximately 12 hours. Meals and refreshments will be served at appropriate times. (Flight not included in cost.)
Arrival at Tokyo's Narita Airport in mid-afternoon, local time. Transfer to the centrally located Hotel Keio Plaza (www.keioplaza.com/index.html) or similar in Tokyo, and free time to settle in. Welcome dinner in the hotel.
Full-day sightseeing of Tokyo by private coach, with as highlights the Imperial Palace, City Hall. Tokyo Tower, the Kabuki Theatre, and a visit to the Asakusa Kannon Temple. We will also explore shopping districts such as the famous Ginza, Shibuya, Akihabara, and/or Nakamise. Lunch in a typical restaurant.
Another day of sightseeing by private coach in the Japanese capital. In the morning we visit to the Hamarikyu-teien Garden, and after lunch in a local restaurant we continue with visits to the Meiji Shrine and Garden and the lively Harajuku Teenagers' street gallery. Also some free time to shop or explore Tokyo on your own.
Full-day excursion to Kamakura, the former seaside capital south of Tokyo, visiting Kotoku-in Temple with its celebrated Great Buddha, followed by Hase Kannon Temple with its tranquil gardens and sweeping views over Sagami Bay; after lunch at a local restaurant, continue to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Kamakura’s most important Shinto site, before returning to Tokyo
Full-day excursion from Tokyo to the Mt. Fuji and Hakone region, beginning with a visit to the Fujisan World Heritage Center for an introduction to the mountain’s cultural and geological significance, followed by the Mt.?Fuji 5th Station for panoramic views over the Fuji Five Lakes; after lunch at a local restaurant, continue to Hakone for a scenic cruise on Lake Ashi aboard a replica pirate ship and a ride on the Mt.?Komagatake Ropeway for sweeping 360-degree vistas, before transferring to your ryokan—Yumoto Fujiya or similar—for dinner and an overnight stay.
After breakfast, transfer from our hotel to Odawara Railway Station and departure by "Shinkansen," Japan's famous fast train, to Himeji. Arrival about 2 1/2 hours later, and transfer to Hotel Tokyo Inn or similar. A short walk allows us to view Himeji Castle, the most famous castle in Japan, known as the White Egret, built in 1580 by General Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Return to the hotel and dinner in its restaurant.
This morning we travel by coach from Himeji to the town of Okayama where we will visit one of the three most important gardens in Japan, Korakuen, located on an island in the Asahi River. Another local attraction is Okayama Castle. built in the late 1600s. Group lunch in a restaurant on Momotaro Street. In the afternoon we visit the neighbouring town of Kurashiki, with focus on the local Folk Craft Museum. Overnight in Hotel Mitsui Garden or similar in Okayama. (www.gardenhotels.co.jp/eng/okayama.html).
After breakfast, short transfer to the railway station and departure by fast train for Hiroshima. Upon arrival, city tour by private coach, featuring the Peace Memorial Park and the A-bomb Dome. After lunch in a local restaurant, short ferry ride to the wonderful seaside shrine of Itsukushima. Return to Hiroshima and overnight in Hotel Crowne Plaza (www.anacrowneplaza hiroshima.jp/en).
This morning we travel by "Shinkansen" to Kyoto on the main island of Honshu, capital of Japan from 794 until 1868, and still its cultural centre. Arrival and immediate transfer to the centrally located Holiday Inn (www.hi-kyoto.co.jp/english/index.html). After our group lunch, walking tour of the downtown Kyoto districts of Ponto-cho and Gion, which exude the traditional air of Kyoto's architecture and culture and feature many picturesque shops and restaurants. Also some free time to shop and explore on your own before we return to our hotel.
Begin the day at Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, whose gold-leaf exterior reflects beautifully in its mirror-like pond, before continuing to the serene Ryoan-ji Temple to view its celebrated Zen rock garden, a minimalist composition that has inspired quiet contemplation for centuries; after lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Urasenke Tea Museum for insight into the history and philosophy of the Way of Tea, then return to the hotel in the late afternoon, with the evening free and no group dinner arranged.
Begin the day with a private coach transfer to Kameoka for a scenic two-hour Hozu River cruise, where skilled boatmen guide traditional flat-bottomed boats through forested gorges, striking rock formations, and tranquil stretches of water (weather and river conditions permitting); arrive in Arashiyama to enjoy its celebrated scenery and bamboo groves before lunch at a local restaurant, then continue by private coach to the exclusive Saiho-ji “Moss Temple,” a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its heart-shaped garden carpeted with over 120 varieties of moss, offering a serene and reflective conclusion to the day, before returning to Kyoto with the remainder of the afternoon at leisure and dinner under your own arrangement.
Continue your sightseeing in Kyoto with a visit to the Nishijin Textile Center to learn about the city’s renowned silk-weaving traditions, enjoy a vibrant kimono fashion show, and browse beautifully crafted textiles; after lunch at a local restaurant, explore Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pavilion, with its celebrated sand garden and tranquil moss and stone landscapes, then continue to Nanzen-ji to walk through its imposing Sanmon Gate, admire its peaceful dry landscape gardens, and visit the historic Abbot’s Quarters with their elegant sliding-door paintings and brick aqueduct, before returning to your hotel by private coach in the late afternoon, with dinner under your own arrangement and an overnight stay in Kyoto.
Depart Kyoto by private coach for a morning excursion to Uji, the historic heartland of Japan’s finest green tea, where you can browse traditional tea shops before visiting the 11th-century Byodoin Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its graceful Phoenix Hall reflected over a tranquil pond; after lunch at a local restaurant, return to Kyoto to explore the Kanjiro Kawai House, the preserved home, studio, and climbing kiln of the celebrated Mingei folk-craft artist, offering a captivating glimpse into traditional craftsmanship and creative philosophy, before returning to your hotel in the late afternoon.
Depart Kyoto by private coach for a full-day excursion to Nara, Japan’s ancient capital, beginning at Todaiji Temple to see the monumental Great Buddha, one of the world’s largest bronze statues and a powerful symbol of the city’s spiritual heritage; continue with a walk through Nara Park, where the sacred deer—considered messengers of the gods—roam freely and may approach for special crackers, before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant; in the afternoon, visit Kasuga Taisha, Nara’s most celebrated Shinto shrine, renowned for its thousands of bronze and stone lanterns lining forested paths and temple buildings, then return to Kyoto by private coach in the late afternoon.
Begin the morning at the Kyoto Imperial Palace, once the residence of Japan’s Imperial Family, strolling through its grand gates and serene garden grounds before continuing to the striking Heian Shrine, built to commemorate Kyoto’s 1,100th anniversary and distinguished by its vibrant vermilion architecture and expansive classical gardens; afterward, visit the Kyoto Handicraft Center to observe artisans creating woodblock prints, pottery, lacquerware, and damascene art, with time to browse for high-quality traditional crafts, then return to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure, gathering with fellow travelers in the evening for a special Farewell Group Dinner to celebrate your journey across Japan.
Free morning until the departure for the airport. Motor by private coach to Osaka Airport (approx. 2 hours away) to check in for our afternoon return flight to Canada (departing around 5:00 PM).
Included in the price are: • Transfer to and from airport in Japan for selected flights; • Accommodation in 4- and sometimes 5-star hotels; • Breakfast and (mostly) lunch or (sometimes) dinner daily; • Overland transportation by comfortable private coach, equipped with WC and AC, and fast train; • All visits and sightseeing as outlined in the itinerary, including admission to museums and monuments mentioned above; • Hotel taxes and gratuities; • Porterage where available.
• All expenses of a personal nature • Optional travel insurance
September 19 - 28, 2026
$8,949 based on double occupancy. Includes airfare from Toronto.
September 24 - October 05, 2026
Land Only from Zurich Airport: $4,395 based on double occupancy
October 16 - 26, 2026
Land only: $5,545 based on double occupancy
