Japan’s Cultural Treasures

Japan: Cultural Discovery of Honshu

Escorted Group Tour – 2025
Meal Key: B – Breakfast | L – Lunch | D – Dinner | N – No meals

Overview

Discover the rich cultural heritage of Japan on this immersive journey across Honshu, the country’s main island. Begin with the electric atmosphere of Tokyo and the natural beauty of Hakone National Park, then travel to Kanazawa for its famous gardens and traditional architecture. Explore Kyoto’s temples, shrines, and historic markets, followed by Hiroshima’s poignant wartime memorials and the iconic floating torii gate of Miyajima. The tour concludes in Himeji, home to Japan’s finest surviving medieval castle, before returning to Tokyo for your flight home.

Day 1: Fly to Tokyo via Dubai

Overnight flight from London (regional connections available) to Tokyo Haneda Airport with British Airways.
Meals: N

Day 2: Tokyo

Arrive in Tokyo and transfer to Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa for a 3-night stay.
Meals: N

Day 3: Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park

Full-day excursion to Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park:

• Scenic views of Mount Fuji
• Cruise on Lake Ashi
• Ride the Mount Komagatake Ropeway
• Visit the Hakone Open-Air Museum
  Meals: B, L

Day 4: Tokyo

Full-day guided tour of Tokyo:

• Asakusa Kannon Temple
• Tokyo National Museum
• Imperial East Garden
• Meiji Shrine
  Lunch: Traditional kushiage meal (fried meat and vegetables).
  Meals: B, L

Day 5: Kanazawa

Take the shinkansen (bullet train) to Kanazawa. Visit:

• Kanazawa Castle Park
• Kenroku-en Garden – one of Japan’s most celebrated landscape gardens
  Accommodation: Crowne Plaza ANA Kanazawa (or similar) – 2 nights
  Meals: B

Day 6: Kanazawa • Shirakawago

Morning: Stroll through Higashi-Chayamachi, a historic geisha district.
Visit Omi Market, known for its fresh local produce.
Afternoon: Excursion to Shirakawago, a UNESCO-listed village with unique gassho-zukuri farmhouses.
Meals: B

Days 7–8: Kyoto

Travel by express train to Kyoto.
Visits include:

• Nijo Castle
• Nishiki Market – guided walk among food stalls
• WAK Cultural Centre: Cooking class + traditional tea ceremony in a machiya (wooden townhouse)

Day 8: At leisure to explore Kyoto independently or take optional excursions.
Accommodation: New Miyako Hotel (or similar) – 2 nights
Meals: B

Day 9: Kyoto • Nara • Hiroshima

Morning:

• Visit Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
• Explore Ryoan-ji Temple and its famous Zen rock garden
  Afternoon:
• Visit the historic city of Nara
• Transfer to Osaka to board the bullet train to Hiroshima
  Accommodation: Granvia Hiroshima or Sheraton Hiroshima – 2 nights
  Meals: B

Day 10: Miyajima Island • Hiroshima

Take the ferry to Miyajima Island to visit:

• Itsukushima Shrine
• View the iconic floating torii gate

Return to Hiroshima to visit:

• Peace Memorial Park
• Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
  Meals: B

Day 11: Himeji • Tokyo

Take the bullet train to Himeji and tour:

• Himeji Castle – Japan’s finest original feudal castle
• Koko-en Gardens – a collection of nine Edo-style gardens

Continue to Tokyo and stay 1 night at Royal Park Haneda (or similar).
Meals: B, L

Day 12: Fly to London

Transfer to Tokyo Haneda Airport and fly back to London with British Airways, arriving the same day.
Meals: B