Begin your journey in Tokyo. Our local guide will meet you on the second day to help orientate you in this gigantic city and prepare you for what is to come. Take a morning trip to the famous Tsukiji FIsh Market and follow up with a leisurely stroll through Hamarikyu Garden before crossing by train to Asakusa. Here you can get a real sense of old-town Tokyo and also visit one of the capital’s newest attractions – Tokyo Sky Tree –  which towers over the city at 634 meters tall.

The Northern Trail begins and ends in Tokyo where you will be given a brief over view of the cities highlights plus some free time for self-exploration at the end.

Nikko, for centuries a training centre for Buddhist monks, is home to the mausoleum – built in the 1600s and locatred at Toshogu Shrine – of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Tokugawa established the shogunate that ruled Japan for more than two hundred and fifty years before it came to an end in 1868 with the Meiji Restoration. Nikko National Park is blessed with stunning mountain landscapes, scenic lakes and waterfalls, hot springs, wild monkeys and hiking trails. Just a short distance from Nikko is the hot spring town of Kinugawa where you will spend one night soaking in hot springs and sampling kaiseki dinner at a local ryokan.

Famous as the source of Japan’s purest water, Niigata’s rice and sake (rice wine) are widely regarded as the best in the country. Here you will visit a local sake brewery and samurai house bringing you back to Japan’s feudal days. Spend one night in Niigata enjoying a more rural city nightlife at a local izakaya.

Just a few hours by ferry will take you to Sado Island – Japan’s sixth largest island. Spend three nights of digital detox here meeting the locals, exploring the sights, and taking part in local workshops like Taiko drumming. We highly recommend planning your trip around the annual Earth Celebration, a three day music festival featuring the world famous Kodo drummers, held around July/August every year.

From Sado, you will return to a different port on the mainland and make your way to Tateyama where you will spend your first night along the Kurobe Alpine Route in a mountain lodge. Located in Japan’s Northern Alps, between Toyama and Nagano (Omachi Town), this route is traversed by various means of transportation including mountain buses, cable cars, and ropeways. Along this adventure you will see not only Japan’s most incredible views of wildlife and landscape, but also the world’s highest and most impressive dam, the Kurobe Dam, which stands at 186 meters tall.

If you are here during the spring months (mid-April – early June) you will see the famous snow walls measuring up to 20m high either side of you. In the summer and autumn months, enjoy the dramatic colours and stunning backdrops along this route. After a full day trekking through the Japanese Alps you will be looking forward to a relaxing evening in the castle town of Matsumoto.

No tour to Japan is complete without a few days in the ancient capital Kyoto. We will spend three days/nights exploring the side streets, performing an authentic tea ceremony, glaring at Geisha in downtown Gion, visiting the magnificent temples, with one free day thrown in to do your own thing. Use this free day to visit Hiroshima, Himeiji, Miyajima using your Japan rail pass or spend the day relaxing in the bamboo forest in the Arashiyama area.

Join Us for an Unforgettable Farewell Dinner in Tokyo

As your journey in Tokyo draws to a close, we invite you to join us for a memorable farewell dinner filled with laughter, camaraderie, and delectable cuisine. Step into the vibrant atmosphere of a traditional izakaya, where lively conversations and shared plates create an unforgettable dining experience.

Indulge in the essence of Japanese cuisine as you sample an array of dishes, from savory tapas to succulent grilled skewers, expertly crafted to tantalize your taste buds. With beer flowing freely and inventive cocktails available, raise your glass to the unforgettable adventures and cherished friendships made during your time in Tokyo.

Join us for one last hurrah as we bid farewell to Tokyo in style. Whether it’s your first izakaya experience or a beloved tradition, this farewell dinner promises to be a night to remember—a perfect conclusion to your journey through the heart of Japan.

Standard: Daiwa Royal Hotel Kyoto
Superior: The Kyoto Century Hotel
Deluxe: The Thousand or The Okura Hotel
Super Deluxe: Ritz Carlton Kyoto, Four Seasons, or Hoshinoya

[Includes breakfast, taxes and service charges.]