Splendours of Japan
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Experience Overview
Celebrate the changing seasons as the jangle of bells and boom-boom-bang of drums accompany a captivating parade of festival floats on the streets of hillside Takayama. 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)
- 7 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.
- Takayama: Join the locals at the Takayama Festival.
- 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: 34485
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Explorer, Budget
Tour Operator:
Trafalgar (CA)
Supplier Code: 177.1555B
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 $11450 ($881 /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. Enjoy lunch featuring Japanese Hida-gyu, beef from a black-haired Japanese cattle breed renowned for its quality. After lunch, soak up the town’s festive atmosphere as you admire the intricately carved yatai (floats), some dating back to the 17th century, featuring karakuri ningyo (mechanical marionettes) that move and dance under the skilled control of tsuna kata (puppeteers). This evening, head to the peaceful UNESCO-listed village of Gokayama, set among five mountain valleys, to watch local artisans make washi paper and try your hand at crafting your own during a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience that supports the sustainability of this small business. Later, return to your hotel.
Accommodation: Associa Takayama Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Continue your time in the peaceful UNESCO-listed village of Gokayama this morning. Admire the unique construction of the local Gassho-zukuri wooden houses, built without the use of nails, with steeply sloped thatched roofs designed to prevent snow from accumulating. Then, continue to Kanazawa, take a short walk through Omicho Market and enjoy an insider’s view of everyday life in this busy coastal town. Next, visit the gardens of Kenroku-en, shaped over a hundred years before meeting a Local Specialist to learn the secrets of gold leaf painting.
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
Similar Tours
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
Elizabeth Weichtmann - Traveled, April 2025
Japan with Trafalgar, April, 2025. Everyday was well-organized. Our guides, bus drivers, and hotels were top-notch. We were given the opportunity to experience Japan in comfort and safety. I can't say enough to describe the beauty we experienced. The Japanese people, the landscape, and our fellow travelers all added up to a terrific trip! Our guides were fantastic. Everyday was packed with beauty and adventure. The hotels were all comfortable and again, very beautiful. One suggestion is to provide faster transportation to the hotel upon arrival in Tokyo. We arrived and met our Trafalgar person at the airport at 5:40PM. We were informed we would be taking the transport bus to our hotel at 7:00PM. The bus trip included several stops to drop off other travelers at other hotels. We arrived at our hotel at 8:45PM. If we had known this was going to happen we would have arranged our transfer and been at our hotel within an hour of arrival. Again, fabulous trip overall!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/26/2025
Rubina Sarkisyan - Traveled, April 2025
Everything about this itinerary was the best and we had the best tour manager.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/28/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2025
Excellent memories of Japan. Excellent service, great tour director and drivers. Very courteous and helpful. Excellent tour with a great Tour Director. The only disappointment was the “Tea Ceremony” excursion which was waste of time and money. It was a theatrical instead of going to a real tea ceremony. I have traveled with Trafalgar many times and this excursion was the worse.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/29/2025
Valerie Foster - Traveled, April 2025
Was disappointed in this experience, it was promoted as small group had 32 people. The group was too big for trying to get around Japan. I don’t feel like this trip lived up to previous experiences I have had with this company.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/19/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2025
I was so impressed how every detail was planned for and we never missed a step due to the attention to detail. The itinerary was thoughtfully planned. There was a good mix of high and low level sightseeing exercise. our guide was excellent and provided a good amount cultural history using creative and fun activities. The food and lodging was very good.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/23/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2025
Often a few too many itinerary items in one day and not enough time on our own.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/23/2025
Stan - Traveled, April 2025
An excellent tour. Very organized. It's a great tour and an excellent way to explore Japan in 2 weeks.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/23/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2025
Splendors of Japan, fun exciting new sensations. Excellent, we were well taken care of with a full schedule of exciting activities always on the go. Great trip! I would love to have slowdown and explored Kyoto a little more. My feet were sore so I was in a little pain. I would have loved to see some entertainment. I would have loved more quality shopping, I saw lots of trinkets but didn’t see much in kitchen knives or menswear. A little more free time to buy stuff I came home pretty empty handed.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/23/2025
John Iriks - Traveled, April 2025
Splendors of Japan was an accurate description. Entire booking and trip arrangement was very professional. Itinerary was very detailed and enabled us to prepare for the activities and sites we were visiting. Enjoyable trip showing us experiences we could not have had on our own. Accommodation and tour Director was also 5 stars.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/24/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2025
Splendors of Japan. Need to clarify the arrival procedure. Travel consultant gave contrary information. Itinerary is good. Greater attention needs to be spent on dietary requirements of travelers.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/22/2025
