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. A welcome dinner for you and your group can be arranged at a local izakaya to launch you into your Japanese culinary adventure. Read more

Tokyo 4★+ Hotel

Day 2, today your Private English Speaking guide will show you what Tokyo has to offer. Start at the Tsukiji Fish (Outer) Market - one of the world's largest fish and seafood markets in the world for the past 90 years, supplying many of Tokyo's restaurants and residents alike with the freshest stock around. Try your hand at a sushi making workshop and then taste your own fresh creations afterwards. Visit Sensoji Temple (Kaminarimon) and Nakamise Market to see one of Tokyo's most popular and colorful temples with a romantic history. The Tokyo Sky Tree is also nearby where you can ascend half a kilometer up into the sky and get views of all of Tokyo and beyond! After having lunch, enjoy a relaxing cruise around Sumida River to see the city from a different perspective. Finish off the day at Ryogoku which is the Center of the Sumo World and have a dinner experience eating a sumo wrestler's favorite meal - chanko nabe and where you have a chance to go face-to-face with a real (retired) sumo wrestler in the ring! At night, grab a nightcap around the posh Ebisu neighbourhood where you'll be rubbing shoulders with celebrities at some of the best bars and clubs around the city. Read more

Tokyo 4★+ Hotel

Day 3, transfer to Kanazawa on your first Shinkansen Bullet Train ride of your trip. Meet your English Speaking Guide on the Kanazawa Station 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. As the sun descends, end up in the Oumicho "The Kitchen of Kanazawa" where you will discover delicious seafood delicacies that will exceed your wildest dreams. In the 17th-century, Kanazawa was one of the world’s most cultural cities, and a lot of that was due to its food. This market, however, is from this century and it is stuffed with delicacies with everything fresh rather than frozen. This is where you need to try sushi at a small little venue within the market, unknown to the rest of the world. Read more

Kazazawa 4★+ Hotel

Explore deeper into Kanazawa today. 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. Next, visit the majestic Kanazawa Castle perched on a hilltop in its stunning all-white glory. Enjoy the views of the city from here before you make your way back down. Tonight, you will be introduced to Kaga-Ryori which is only available in this region. Consisting of dishes with mainly seafood, vegetables and local ingredients - Jibuni, Hasumushi and gori-karaage are must tries! All are served on beautiful Kutani porcelain which is made in Ishikawa. 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 built entirely without a single nail, then see the Fukube Wateralls and Toganokidai. Try some of the unique home brew sake in one of these farmhouses here. Next, a short ride will bring you to the small hamlet of Gokayama. Here you will find more thatched roof houses but with a different style than Shirakawago. Some regard these as even being better than the more popular Shirakawago. Then, transfer to the beautifully-preserved mountain village of Takayama to see yet another of traditional 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 checking in to your Ryokan accommodation here. Enjoy a delicious kaiseki dinner here consisting of one of the best beef in all of Japan - Hida beef. Then before you retire for the night, take a dip in the relaxing hot springs bath while reflecting on your day. Read more

Takayama 4★+ Hot Springs

Transfer to the cultural capital of Japan - Kyoto for the next 2 days by Shinkansen Bullet Train. Once there, meet your private guide who will take you to Arashiyama which is one of the most popular and beautiful areas of Kyoto. Here, you will see the Togetsukyo Bridge and magical Bamboo Forest. Take a ride on a rickshaw for a little bit of fun! At the end of the forest trail, you will be met with Tenryuji Temple which is the headquarters of the Zen Buddhist Sect in Japan. A small hike from here will lead you to the Monkey Park where 100+ cute but mischievous Japanese macaque monkeys await your arrival. Feel free to feed and play with them. Check into your Kyoto accommodations and have the rest of your afternoon to take in the city's charming atmosphere and explore the nearby Nishiki Market which is known as the 'Kitchen of Kyoto'. Your dining experience tonight will be unbelievable. Once reserved only for the elite Imperial family and samurai, you will enjoy the exotic performance of a Maiko girl while having a delicious Kyoto-style dinner with tempura. Feel free to take pictures and play some traditional Japanese games with the Maiko afterwards. Read more

Kyoto 4★+ Hotel

Day 7, transfer to the Fushimi area of Kyoto first with your guide. This area is not only famous for being Kyoto's premier sake district but holds the headquarters for all Inari shrines in Japan. Fushimi Inari shrine is where you'll find the 10,000 red torii gates. It is known as the shrine that brings fortune and luck to all businesses who come and pray here. After, make your way along the river to one of the most famous sake distilleries in Japan. Enjoy a tour here and see how Japan's most popular liquor is produced. After, enjoy a tasting of various flavors of sake which you won't find anywhere else in the world. Hop on over to nearby Uji city and away from the crowds. This little known town is famous for being the birthplace of Japanese tea, and especially Matcha. Visit the World Heritage Sites of Byodo-in and Ujigami Shrine before taking a class in the art of the traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony in an authentic teahouse where you'll learn the strict manners and etiquette in making a perfect blend of tea. Transfer back to central Kyoto afterwards and make your way to the rustic cobblestone-lined streets of Pontocho along the Kamogawa River where, if the season is right, you'll enjoy a nice riverside dinner at one of the fine establishments here in the open-air. Read more

Kyoto 4★+ Hotel

Take a short express train over to Osaka, the second largest city in Japan but highly regarded as the first when it comes to cuisine. Once here, join a food tour of the major areas of the city while enjoying some of the delectable soul food this city has to offer. Kuromon Market, Shin-Sekai and Dotonbori are the areas that offer the most variety of street food to stake your hunger. Octopus balls (Takoyaki) are a must try! After, take a tour of Osaka Castle and the luscious surrounding grounds to work off all the food. After you check in to your accommodation, enjoy a night out in the Ura Namba area for a delicious Osaka dinner. Our office is nearby, so we can offer to guide you around or offer you recommendations to the best places in the area! Read more

Osaka 4★+ Hotel

Depending on the time of your flight home, you can do some more sightseeing of the city. Then, transfer to Kansai International Airport from your hotel. Catch your flight back home with suitcases filled with souvenirs and your hearts filled with unforgettable memories.