Splendours of Japan
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Experience Overview
Embrace the timeless tradition and modern spirit of Japan’s iconic sites, from the neon skyline of Tokyo to the foodie hotspot of Osaka. Relax in the soothing hot springs of Kotohira, spend the night in a traditional ryokan and contemplate world peace in Hiroshima. The Activity Level of this tour is Dynamic, meaning this journey features 4+ miles of walking on some days and may involve steep hills.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 12 Breakfast (B)
- 4 Lunch (L)
- 6 Dinner (D)
Must-see Highlights
- Explore Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Kanazawa
- Visit the Sensō-ji Temple, Tokyo Skytree, Mt. Fuji 5th Station, Kinkaku-ji Temple, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Sanjusangendo Hall in Kyoto, the Water Temple on Awaji Island, Zentsuji Temple, Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum and Osaka Castle
- View Mt. Fuji
- See the traditional Gassho-zukuri houses in Gokayama and the beautiful gardens of Kenrokuen in Kanazawa
How You'll Travel
- Selected hotel dinners plus a locally hosted meal
Iconic Experience
- Tokyo: Explore Tokyo’s oldest temple, Sensoji, in the historic Asakusa district. Wander through Nakamise Arcade, lined with traditional treats and crafts, before arriving at the main hall, a symbol of faith, resilience and local spirit.
- Tokyo: Rise above the skyline at Tokyo Skytree, the tallest structure in Japan. From its observation deck, you’ll take in panoramic views of the city, from Mount Fuji to Tokyo Bay. It’s a modern marvel and an unforgettable moment that will leave you awestruck.
- Ginza: With the guidance of your professional sushi chef, make your own selection of sushi specialties. Afterwards enjoy the fruits of your labor with a delicious lunch.
- Tokyo: Visit the Tokyo National Museum to browse collections of Japanese art and archaeological objects.
- Mt Fuji: Admire the stunning countryside at Mt. Fuji 5th Station.
- Gokayama: Take some time to admire the peaceful mountain village of Gokayama. Discover their unique homes that have been built without the use of nails and their sloped thatched roofs.
- Kanazawa: Learn about the delicacy of the 16th-century craft gold leaf painting with your Local Specialist.
- Kanazawa: Step back in time at the Nomura Samurai House, once home to a respected warrior family. Explore its gardens, traditional architecture and treasured artifacts. You’ll learn about samurai life and honor in feudal Japan with a rare glimpse into the elegance of Edo-period craftsmanship.
- Kyoto: Admire the beautiful golden pavilion of Kinkakuji Temple.
- Kotohira: Bask in the breath-taking views as we visit Kotohiragu Shrine.
- Hiroshima: Admire the islands of the Seto Inland Sea as you travel across the Shimanami Kaido Expressway.
- Hiroshima: Spend some time admiring the majestic Itsukushima Shrine.
- Hiroshima: Discover the rich history when you visit the Peace Memorial Museum and Park.
- Hiroshima: Sample the famous Hiroshima style okonomiyaki.
- Osaka: Discover another side of Osaka in Dotonbori, a lively entertainment district known for its theaters and street food. You’ll walk the main strip before turning into Hōzenji Yokocho, a stone-paved alley lined with traditional eateries leading to a small temple where locals splash water over a moss-covered statue for good luck. You may also wish to pause at one of the nearby street stalls to try takoyaki — Osaka’s famous octopus snack, said to have originated here.
- Osaka Castle: Visit Osaka Castle, built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a powerful samurai leader who unified Japan for the first time in 1590.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
- Gokayama: Help support a local business with a visit to a washi paper workshop. You'll watch the family at work and test your paper-making skills for yourself. Your experience directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Be My Guest
- Kyoto: Meet Nakamura Family for a kaiseki lunch at a traditional Japanese Restaurant near Kyoto and learn about local customs.
Trafalgar Difference
- Kyoto: Enjoy genuine Japanese hospitality at a traditional ryokan in the mountain hot springs village of Kotohira.
Trip Details
Product Code: 28210
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Explorer, Budget
Tour Operator:
Trafalgar (CA)
Supplier Code: 177.886B
Starts: Tokyo, Japan
Finishes: Osaka, Japan
Duration: 13 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Whats Included
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- Optional Experiences and free time
- On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $9135 ($703 /day)
Itinerary
Your in-depth exploration of Japan begins in Tokyo. On arrival at Narita or Haneda Airport, take a shuttle bus transfer to your centrally located hotel, where you’ll join your Travel Director and fellow guests for a drink and local appetizers.
Accommodation: New Otani Garden Tower
Begin your city tour in Asakusa, Tokyo’s historic entertainment district, where you’ll encounter the Sensoji Buddhist Temple, one of the city’s most colorful and popular temples. Founded in 628 and rebuilt many times over the centuries, Sensoji is Tokyo’s oldest temple site. Next, stroll down Nakamise Street and immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of Shitamachi (downtown Tokyo), admiring the wooden dolls, colorful chiyogami (origami paper) and traditional Japanese sweets. Ascend Tokyo Skytree, the world’s tallest free-standing broadcasting tower, for panoramic views of the city skyline. End the day with a stroll around Ginza, Tokyo’s famous shopping district or join an Optional Experience to explore Shinjuku by night with your Travel Director.
Accommodation: New Otani Garden Tower
Meals: Breakfast
Start your day at the Imperial Palace Plaza, where you’ll view the two bridges leading to the palace’s inner grounds. Walk through the East Gardens, a peaceful space once part of the original Edo Castle. At the Tokyo National Museum, take time to browse the country’s oldest collection of Japanese art. Then, join a sushi chef to learn how to prepare this iconic dish. Head into the Fuji Five Lakes District and look out for Mt. Fuji dominating the horizon. In the small village of Oshino Hakkai, discover eight clear spring‑fed ponds—registered as a component of the Mount Fuji UNESCO World Heritage site—and see how snowmelt from Mt. Fuji supports rural life in this scenic part of Japan.
Accommodation: Fuji Marriott Yamanakako
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Journey up Mt. Fuji by road to the 5th Station, sitting 2,300 m (7,546 ft) above sea level. From here, take in sweeping views over Lake Kawaguchiko and the surrounding peaks before traveling through the scenic landscapes of the Japanese Alps to Takayama, a hillside town known for its traditional streets and mountain setting. Tonight, settle into your hotel where you’ll sit down to dinner together.
Accommodation: Associa Takayama Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Immerse yourself in tradition as you walk through the Edo-style streets of Takayama's Old Town. Indulge a lunch of Japanese Hida-gyu – beef from a black-haired Japanese cattle breed, renowned as one of the finest quality varieties of beef. Journey back in time this afternoon during a visit to the peaceful UNESCO-listed Gokayama, a mountain village set amidst five valleys. Admire the unique construction of the local Gassho-zukuri wooden houses that have been built without the use of nails with steeply sloped thatched roofs to prevent snow from building up on them. Meet with a local family in one of these houses. Observe local artisans making washi paper and try your hand at making your own. Make a difference to the sustainability of this small business during MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Stay overnight in Kanazawa.
Accommodation: Kanazawa Tokyu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Join a Local Specialist this morning to learn about gold leaf painting, a delicate craft practised in Japan since the 16th century. Continue to Kenroku-en, one of Japan’s most celebrated gardens, shaped over more than 100 years with ponds, bridges and planted landscapes. Here, you may choose an Optional Experience to try on a traditional kimono for a photo in the garden. Later, explore Omicho Market, where seafood stalls reflect Kanazawa’s coastal setting, before stepping into the Nagamachi District to see preserved samurai houses and visit Nomura House.
Accommodation: Kanazawa Tokyu
Meals: Breakfast
Board an express train to Kyoto, Japan’s cultural capital. Begin your visit with a walking tour through the Gion district, known for its wooden machiya townhouses and long-standing geisha traditions. Then visit the UNESCO-listed Kinkakuji Temple. Set in peaceful gardens beside a reflective pond, this Zen temple is best known for the Kinkaku, or Golden Pavilion — once a 14th-century villa and now one of Kyoto’s most recognizable landmarks.
Accommodation: Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto
Meals: Breakfast
The blazing orange torii gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine guide your path through the forest, up into the mountains and to a sacred site that has heard prayers for prosperity and happiness since the 8th century. Continue to Sanjusangen-do Hall and admire the intricate detail of its 1,001 statues of the “thousand-handed” goddesses of mercy. Later, Connect with Locals at a traditional restaurant on your Be My Guest experience. Learn about local Japanese customs from your hosts over a shared meal. This evening, enjoy dinner with your Travel Director and fellow travelers.
Accommodation: Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, leave Japan’s main island Honshu behind as you cross the world’s largest suspension bridge over the Seto Inland Sea to Awaji Island. Enjoy free time for lunch, then take a walk around Yumebutai, a complex of buildings built on the side of the mountain. One of the most striking features is the ‘100 Stepped Garden’ — a group of 100 flowerbeds in small square gardens arranged in grids across several levels on an incline. Visit the Water Temple and admire the reflection of the surrounding mountains, rice paddies and bamboo groves as you descend the steps to the Buddhist temple beneath its still waters. Journey to the small mountain hot springs village of Kotohira, where tonight's accommodation is one of Trafalgar's Stays With Stories - a traditional Japanese ryokan. You'll have time this evening to climb the steps adjacent to the hotel to visit Kotohira-gu Shrine and enjoy breathtaking views of the countryside. Later, perhaps unwind with a relaxing soak in the onsen (hot spring) bath at the hotel.
Accommodation: Kotohira Grand Sakuranosho Ryokan
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning visit the Zentsuji Temple, the birthplace of one of the most revered figures of Japanese Buddhism, the high priest Kobo Daishi. It is the 75th temple on the 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage, a spiritual journey covering approximately 1,200 kilometers, traditionally completed on foot over 60 days. Today, many pilgrims undertake the route, though modern methods includes cars, taxis, buses, bicycles and motorcycles. Continue to Ōshima Island and stop at a local restaurant for lunch. Then, drive to Hiroshima via the scenic Setouchi Shimanami Kaido Expressway, a 60-kilometer highway that links the islands of the Seto Inland Sea with nine individual bridges. Check into your hotel for a relaxing evening.
Accommodation: Rihga Royal
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Travel by ferry to the sacred Miyajima Island, where you’ll see the UNESCO-listed Itsukushima Shrine and admire its iconic torii gate, which stands majestically in the sea. After some free time for lunch and to explore the island’s spiritual sanctuaries, return to Hiroshima for a visit to the Peace Memorial Park and Museum. Imagine the devastation and horror that followed the world’s first atomic explosion in 1945 as you see the UNESCO-listed Peace Memorial, the only structure left standing in the area, now a powerful symbol of hope for world peace. This evening, indulge in Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, a savory pancake made with egg, cabbage, soba noodles, and meat, seafood or cheese, grilled in layers on a hot plate.
Accommodation: Rihga Royal
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Board the high-speed bullet train to Osaka this morning and enjoy some free time for lunch and shopping in the Dotonbori Street area. Visit Osaka Castle, a historic landmark that played a major role in the unification of Japan during the 16th century. This evening, join your Travel Director and fellow guests for dinner at a local restaurant, celebrating the memories made during your journey.
Accommodation: Sheraton Miyako
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Your encounter with Japan’s age-old traditions and modern cityscapes comes to an end, take a transfer by airport shuttle service to Kansai International Airport or Osaka Itami Airport for your onward flight.
Meals: Breakfast
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Tour Operator
Trafalgar (CA)
Family owned and run since 1920, The Travel Corporation (TTC) is the world leader in immersive travel experiences across an extensive range of travel categories. Each year TTC's 40 award winning hospitality and travel brands connect over 1 million happy travellers to the world. We give you access to the 12 DMC’s behind these brands, so you can build your business by capitalizing on the extensive experience, local expertise, and financial assurance of TTC. LOCAL EXPERTISE The world leaders in travel for over 100 years, we offer unparalleled local expertise with a global footprint. Our 12 DMCs, led by experienced in-destination teams, deliver experience rich travel solutions in more than 80 countries. Additionally, our market based teams are on hand to support across our 40 offices worldwide
In Business Since 1931
Reviews
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2025
Overall, it was good. However, I am questioning a few things that can be improved. First and foremost, I have to say that the group size was not what I signed up for. It was supposed to be a smaller group and we ended up with 32 people. Very disappointing for me. Not sure why that was allowed..... Also I would have liked to spend more time at the sites to explore more fully, like at Osaka castle or Hiroshima Museum or even at a temple. As far as I am concerned, some visits were not necessary, like the 100 Stepped Garden or going to the guide's favourite bookstore. Why???? To fill up time???? This was a most interesting trip with its full-packed itinerary. I truly enjoyed the hands-on experiences like making sushi and washi paper postcards, taking local transportation (Shinkansen), experiencing onsen, sampling local delicacies, visiting temples, and, of course, seeing cherry blossoms. All things so much part of the Japanese culture.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/27/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2025
Very busy itinerary hosted by an excellent guide.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/26/2025
Howard O. - Traveled, April 2025
We had a great time. Our first time to Japan and it was more than we could imagine. We were on the go every day and were able to see and visit so many historical sites in Japan. We also had fun participating in activities like sushi making, making cards from crafted paper, with our travel guide. She was so knowledgeable about the country and culture. And on top of that she did an amazing job of taking care of everybody on the tour. And I don't want to forget out tour bus drivers. Some of the hardest working people in the organization. I commend them for handling all of the very large luggage and the excellent driving making the trip enjoyable for the tour group. Thank you, Trafalgar, for a great visit to Japan and to our tour guide for a memorable trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/20/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, March 2025
A very enjoyable experience. Really enjoyed seeing the sites of Japan. The accommodation at each stopover was very comfortable. When we had to find our own evening meals we were able to quite easily. We had plenty of bottled water supplied to us each day as it did get warm some days. Any queries we had were easily answered. Our Tour Guide was very knowledgeable and shared a lot of information about each area we were visiting as well as general knowledge of her own country. This was our first Trafalgar tour to date. It was a great experience with most things going as they should. The weather was against us at Mt. Fuji, however our Guide made a call for us to get to see Mt. Fuji the evening we stayed over. We woke up to fresh snow the next morning. For an Aussie this was just an amazing experience. She had some challenging issues along the way also, but handled them very well. Our accommodation at each stopover was comfortable and sometimes full of surprises. My husband and I really enjoyed this tour and would highly recommend Trafalgar Tours.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/10/2025
Trafalgar Japan - Traveled, March 2025
Trafalgar Japan. Well organized and ran smoothly. The hotels were nice and all very clean. The tour was well organized and ran smoothly. The guide was an amazing group guide. She was very obliging and could not do enough for all of us.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/06/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, March 2025
Excellent Introduction to Japan. Very well-organized, and everything went smoothly. The itinerary is a good mix of urban and rural areas, and a good mix of temples/shrines, gardens, and neighborhoods. Our guide was excellent, smart, funny, kind, helpful, and very informative. The hotels were all comfortable and well-appointed. An excellent tour!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/04/2025
Garry Louis Duncan - Traveled, March 2025
We paid extra for a small tour of about 20 people and had 32 which slowed all movements down considerably. Our guide was a nice person but her English was well below required for an international group of people. There was way too much focus on visiting shrines, temples and shopping with very little free time available. We had a visit to paper making and gold leaf but nothing on calligraphy, silk screen making, general artwork, wood turning or pottery. It’s now doubtful we will ever return to Japan. Thanks.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/11/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, March 2024
Historical accounts of various cities and shrines were excellent. Tour guide was excellent. However, Trafalgar pre-trip info stated that one should bring a water bottle to be refilled in Japan. This was misinformation as we were supplied fresh water daily on our bus as well as in the hotels. The tour was a step into the culture of Japan and history but also touched much of the important larger cities and shrines. Tour director gave many one to one answers to all their questions. I would recommend however, that seats on the bus be rotated daily so that everyone gets prime seats.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/07/2025
Pamela Koot - Traveled, March 2024
Awesome memorable Japan! Super organized,all hotels and buses were clean, good service. Very organized, all staff were very efficient, kind, helpful. It was a busy trip but happy with all the areas we touched on. Our tour guide was phenomenal, great historian, very helpful to all members in group. She made sure everyone was able to participate no matter what their abilities were.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/11/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2025
Our tour guide was amazing. Was so considerate to all of our needs and questions. Explained everything as throughly as possible, we had a great group too!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/30/2025
