Upon arrival, meet with your Personal Assistant and transfer to central Tokyo and check in to your accommodation. Rest of the day free at your leisure after your long flight. Feel free to get your bearings or explore the area if you're up for it. Your assistant can provide you with local recommendations to this exciting city. Read more

Tokyo 4★+ Hotel

Day 2, transfer to Kanazawa on your first Shinkansen Bullet Train ride of your trip. Meet your English Speaking Guide on the train platform upon arrival and begin your exploration of this unique cultural city on the west coast of Japan. See one of the top 3 gardens in all of Japan - Kenrokuen. Visit the Nagamachi Buke Yashiki area to see some of the most well-preserved residences of the samurai where you can still feel their bushido spirit in the air. Walk the streets of Higashichaya where once samurai and geisha would mingle on these same roads. Finally, end up in the Oumicho "The Kitchen of Kanazawa" where you will discover delicious seafood delicacies that will exceed your wildest dreams. Read more

Kanazawa 4★+ Hotel

Today, you will join a consolidated bus tour taking you to the traditional hamlets of Shirakawago and Takayama led by an English Speaking Guide. In Shirakawago, see the World Heritage "gassho-zukuri" (thatched roof) style farmhouses, the Fukube Falls and Toganokidai. Next, transfer to the beautifully-preserved mountain village of Takayama to see a similar but different style of architecture. Walk the main streets here which haven't changed much since the Edo Period. Finally, try your hand at the ancient art of sembei (rick cracker) baking before heading back to your hotel in Kanazawa. Read more

Kanazawa 4★+ Hotel

Day 4, transfer to Hiroshima by Shinkansen Bullet Train. Upon arrival, commence sightseeing of some of Hiroshima's "must sees" with your Hiroshima Tourist Pass. Be moved by the Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park and Museum in this area. After checking in to your hotel, your guide will show you where all the hot spots for the evening are and what makes this city one of Japan's foodie paradises. The oysters and okonomiyaki (a form of Japanese pizza) are local specialties and must tries. Read more

Hiroshima 4★ Hotel

Day 5, in the morning you will get to see one of the most beautiful views in Japan - Itsukushima Shrine and the Giant Floating Red Torii Gate. Take the cable car (or hike!) up Mount Misen for breathtaking 360 degree views of Seto Island Sea. The Mount Misen Observatory is just a few steps away from the cable car station. Before you leave this island be sure to play with a few of the hundreds of free roaming deer that you'll run into on the way back to the ferry port. Next, you will take a short Shinkansen Bullet Train ride to Okayama - a small but historically impactful town in Japan. Korakuen Gardens is also a top 3 rated garden in Japan and you can compare its beauty to Kenrokuen in Kanazawa. Next, you will be transported to the Makido Cave to see this 450 m long limestone cavern with an underground lake covering the back of the cave. It is completely illuminated to add to the mystique and is designated as a Natural Monument in Okayama. In addition, the cavern maintains a comfortable temperature around 15°C year round. Like the Trevi Fountain in Italy, visitors throw coins in the “Sensui” (garden pond) in hopes their wishes will come true. Read more

Okayama 4★+ Hotel

Day 6, takes you to Naoshima which is famous for its art museums, architecture and sculptures. Part of Kagawa Prefecture, the island with its Mediterranean atmosphere, sandy beaches and sunny weather, combined with a laid back, rural feel is a relaxing getaway from Japan's large urban cities. Visit the Benesse House, Chichu Art Museum, Naoshima Pavillion and Art House Project to see their wonderful collections of contemporary art while you calmly reflect on its deeper meaning. Be sure to see the giant red and yellow pumpkins painted by Japan's greatest pop art legend Yayoi Kusama who greatly influenced Andy Warhol's style of art. Relax by the secluded beach here before you head back to the mainland. Read more

Okayama 4★+ Hotel

Transfer by Shinkansen Bullet Train to the last destination of your trip, Kyoto, which is the cultural capital of Japan. Once you arrive, you will be met with your English Speaking Guide who will take you on a tour of Arashiyama - one of the most popular and scenic areas of Kyoto. See the mysterious bamboo forest, the Togetsukyo Bridge and seek enlightenment at the headquarters of the Zen Buddhist sect in Tenryuji Temple. After checking into your accommodations, have the rest of your evening to explore the local area at your leisure. Read more

Kyoto 4★+ Hotel

Day 8, put on your hiking shoes today as you will do quite a bit of walking. With your personal guide you will start at the Kibune area of Northern Kyoto which was once only allowed to be entered by the very senior and important samurai class some 200 years ago. Here you can partake in what the Japanese call "shinrin-yoku" or forest bathing as a form of de-stressing. The benefits of this meditative practice include boosting your immune system, improving sleep and relieving a host of health-related ailments. The mountainous air and nearby stream here, famous for its pure water, provides a delight for the senses and a calming spot for rejuvenation. For lunch you will have a unique "Kawadoko" dining experience that you might have never tried before. You'll be seated on tatami mats on top of a flowing river while you enjoy Kyoto-style cuisine. The cool breeze accompanying the flowing river is meant to help relieve the seasonal heat and humidity. In the cooler months, you will be served a "Hidoko" lunch which consists of a hot pot meal cooked over a fireplace to heat you up and rejuvenate you from the cold hike. After lunch, continue your hike towards Kurama Temple. Make your way back into town and stop off at Ichijoji, also known as Ramen Street. Try a bowl of this ubiquitous soul food here amongst the dozens of restaurants which beckon your taste buds. Read more

Kyoto 4★+ Hotel

Free day at your leisure. Finish any last minute shopping or eat to your heart's content. Also, if you would like to go do some sightseeing, this can be arranged too.

Kyoto 4★+ Hotel

Meet with your English speaking assistant in the hotel lobby after check-out and board the Haruka Airport Express train with pre-reserved seating to the Airport. Your assistant will answer any final questions or requests you may have an help facilitate the check in the process. Catch your international flight home with your suitcases filled with souvenirs and your hearts filled with unforgettable memories. Read more