12 Day Cultural Flavours of Japan

You’ll be met on the arrival at Tokyo Airport and transferred to your hotel. Tonight, meet your Tour Leader and fellow travellers for a welcome dinner. 

Overnight: Hotel Groove Shinjuku 
Meals: Dinner

After breakfast, walk through Tokyo’s famed Tsukiji Outer Market, an eclectic mix of traditional shops and top-quality sushi eateries. Continue on to Asakusa, the city’s oldest geisha district, offering a deeper glimpse into old Tokyo.
Following lunch, take a short walk to Kappabashi, known as the Kitchenware Town, where dozens of specialty stores for handcrafted knives, Japanese tableware, and food replicas surround the area. 
Continue on to the Ueno district for Tokyo National Museum, home to the best collections of art and archaeological artifacts. Last stop is in Ueno’s Ameyokocho, a former post-war black market now transformed into a bustling shopping street lined with food stalls, a perfect spot to sample local snacks and soak up the lively atmosphere.

Overnight: Hotel Groove Shinjuku 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Embark on a culinary journey into the world of Jiro-style ramen, one of Japan’s most popular dishes. Led by skilled English-speaking instructors, you will begin by kneading and shaping thick wheat noodles from flour, before preparing a rich, aromatic garlic-infused broth and slow-cooking succulent chashu pork slices. Once prepared, sit down to savour the fruits of your labour in a hearty, generously topped bowl, and leave equipped with the skills and confidence to recreate this iconic Japanese dish at home. Transfer back to your hotel and spend the rest of your afternoon at leisure.
As night falls, join your guide to wander through the Tokyo’s old town streets, savouring a curated journey of flavours from fresh seafood to warm, sweet taiyaki – a delicious way to end the day.

Overnight: Hotel Groove Shinjuku 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, board Japan’s world famous bullet train to Kanazawa, a former castle town that flourished as a hub of art, culture, and craftsmanship during the Edo period. Visit Kenroku-en Garden and stroll through the Higashi Chaya District, the most famous of Kanazawa’s historic geisha neighbourhoods. Later, venture into the atmospheric back alleys of the Korinbo 
District for a refined food tour. Discover the best of local produce and seafood, found only along this remarkable stretch of coast. 
Afterwards, choose to continue exploring the city on your own or head back to the hotel for some well-deserved rest.

Overnight: Kanazawa Tokyu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Journey to Shirakawa-go village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its beautifully preserved gassho-zukuri farmhouses. Explore Wada House, the largest farmhouse in the Ogimachi Village and an extraordinary structure crafted entirely with ropes and wooden joinery. Enjoy lunch before continuing to Takayama for a private tour of one of the city’s oldest sake breweries, where you’ll discover traditional techniques and sample premium sake brewed on-site. Tonight, enjoy a kaiseki (multi-course) dinner and unwind in the natural mountain setting of your onsen (hot springs) hotel. 

Overnight: Ryu Resort and Spa 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
 

Begin your morning with a guided walking tour around Takayama, where alpine architecture and traditional houses can be found at every turn. Stop at local shops to sample regional delicacies and pay a visit to Takayama Jinya, where you can glimpse into the 
region’s political past. 
Transfer to the southern part of Nara and spend the night at a boutique hotel that blends the peaceful, spiritual ambience of temple life with modern comforts – offering a rare opportunity to stay within sacred temple grounds. For dinner, enjoy shojin ryori, a traditional Buddhist 
cuisine designed on the ‘principle of five’ where meals include a balance of five colours, five flavours and five cooking methods. 

This evening as dinner unfolds, you will be joined by a geisha 
who will bring grace to the evening, through traditional dance 
and engaging conversation – perfectly capturing Kyoto’s 
timeless artistry.
Overnight: Hotel Higashiyama Tokyu 
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Start the day with a tea ceremony held in a private tea room within one of Kyoto’s hidden temples. Continue to Nijo Castle, renowned for its exquisite painted walls and “chirping nightingale” floors that squeak under the feet of intruders. After lunch, visit the iconic Heian 
Jingu Shinto Shrine built in 1895 to honour Kyoto’s 1,100 years as Japan’s imperial capital. 
Overnight: Hotel Higashiyama Tokyu  
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Begin your next culinary journey at Nishiki Market, “Kyoto’s kitchen” that has fed the city for over 400 years. Wander through its vibrant arcades, watching vendors prepare traditional food and sample delicacies. 
After exploring the market’s treasures, head to a traditional restaurant and dive into the art of sushi-making. Prepare miso soup from scratch and craft beautiful maki rolls wrapped in crisp 
nori seaweed. 
Next, head to Sanjusangendo and take in the breathtaking Buddhist temple housing 1,001 life-sized golden statues within the world’s longest wooden hall. Finish your day at the iconic 
Fushimi Inari Shinto Shrine, famous for its endless tunnels of vermilion torii gates winding up the mountainside.

Overnight: Hotel Higashiyama Tokyu 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Spend today sightseeing in Nara, one of the ancient capitals of Japan. Begin your visit at Todaiji Temple, home to the awe-inspiring Great Buddha. Afterwards, take a scenic walk through Nara Park, where the deer roam freely. After lunch, continue on to Kasuga Taisha, the most celebrated Shinto shrine in Nara, renowned for its thousands of bronze and stone lanterns. 

Transfer to the southern part of Nara and spend the night at a boutique hotel that blends the peaceful, spiritual ambience of temple life with modern comforts – offering a rare opportunity to stay within sacred temple grounds. For dinner, enjoy shojin ryori, a traditional Buddhist 
cuisine designed on the ‘principle of five’ where meals include a balance of five colours, five flavours and five cooking methods. 

Overnight: WAQOO Horyu-ji  
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depart Nara and journey to a local Buddhist temple on Mt. Shigi, where you’ll be welcomed with sencha (green tea) and wagashi (sweets) in the temple’s tranquil surroundings. Join the monks for their morning praying service, then explore the temple lodgings and gardens, before settling into a zazen meditation session. Afterwards, continue on to Osaka, Japan’s culinary capital by private coach. Stroll through Shinsekai and gaze up at Tsutenkaku Tower, an emblem of the postwar revival. Visit Isshinji Temple and Japan’s tallest skyscraper, Abe no Harukas. Take in the awe-inspiring city panoramic views, 300 metres above Osaka.
This evening, visit a traditional izakaya (Japanese bar) for authentic pub grub, followed by a culinary wander through the bustling Osaka Ekimae buildings and stop by the historic Ohatsu Tenjin Shine. After three delicious food stops sure to satisfy your taste buds, head back to 
the hotel or continue exploring the city.

Overnight: Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel  
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, visit iconic Osaka Castle before enjoying a scenic cruise along Okawa River, with views of Nakanoshima Park and the red-bricked Mint Museum. Immerse yourself in the lively energy of Dotonbori’s bustling streets, then visit the Kamigata Ukiyo-e Museum, home to the world’s only permanent collection of Kamigata-style woodblock prints. Conclude your stroll in Hozenji Yokocho, an area with narrow alleys lined with many traditional restaurants and bars, to gather with your fellow travellers for a farewell dinner.

Overnight: Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel  
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, it’s time to bid farewell to Japan and transfer to the airport for your onward journey.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation/rooms detailed in this itinerary are subject to seasonal 
availability. If a property is unavailable, a comparable standard of 
accommodation will be provided.