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
- 8 Breakfast (B)
- 3 Lunch (L)
- 4 Dinner (D)
Must-see Highlights
- Explore Tokyo and Kyoto
- Visit the Sensoji Temple, the Skytree Observation Tower, the National Museum in Tokyo, the 5th Station of Mount Fuji, as well as the Kinkaku-ji Temple, Fushimi Inari Shrine, and Sanjusangen-do Hall in Kyoto.
- 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.
- Kyoto: Explore Gion District, Kyoto’s renowned geisha quarter. Stroll past beautifully preserved wooden machiya townhouses and soak up the atmosphere of this storied neighborhood.
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.
Trip Details
Product Code: 34488
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Explorer, Budget
Tour Operator:
Trafalgar (CA)
Supplier Code: 177.1556B
Starts: Tokyo, Japan
Finishes: Osaka, Japan
Duration: 9 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 $8050 ($894 /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, where you’ll visit the UNESCO-listed Kinkakuji Temple. Originally a 14th-century villa, this striking Zen temple is now best known for its Golden Pavilion, reflected in the surrounding pond and gardens. Later, connect with locals at a traditional restaurant during your Be My Guest experience. Learn about Japanese customs as your hosts share stories of everyday life and regional traditions over a shared meal. The evening is yours to spend as you wish.
Accommodation: Kyoto Tokyu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
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. Then, enjoy a walking tour through the Gion district, known for its traditional wooden machiya houses and geisha culture. This evening, indulge in dinner with your Travel Director and fellow travelers.
Accommodation: Kyoto Tokyu
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
Well Done Trafalgar. Excellent guided tour. Great, well -organized, clearly explained and shepherded. Just enough free time to enjoy exploring. Feel we know Japan much more than before, even with research. Be prepared for jet lag both ways. Lots of walking and steps to climb. Worth the cost. Expert guide and optional tour worth while. Incredible transportation systems. Wide ranging, extensive and thorough.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/12/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2025
The number of 29 people was enough that all people were relaxed and more friendly than other Trafalgar trips of 50 people I have travelled with in other counties. The experiences of making sushi, cooking lunch ourselves and other activities made the trip very enjoyable.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/10/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2025
A special memory. Very helpful from local travel agent to chat online. Good advance material on customs, weather appreciated, acknowledgement of my special birthday. Good coverage of highlights. Would have liked more time at some stops. Would like a sample of national music or time for theater. Enjoyed ryokan experience, variety in transport, chance to try kimonos.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/10/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2025
Great tour itinerary, Great accommodation, Great food! Great locations to visit! Great transport! Tour Director whilst hard working and knowledgeable was highly repetitive, controlling and at times nasty to some guests! Not enough free time, and respect for capabilities of more independent guests! No coach seat rotation! Some guests got favoured treatment!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/03/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2025
There is basically no free time to see the area. The hour or so we got in places was not enough time because the tour director made follow her to show us her favorite places and then we had to find lunch so while we went to a lot of places we really didn't "see" them. Group dinner food was not good. Some places we stopped at definitely could have been skipped in order to allow more time at places of importance like Hiroshima. I broke away from the group that day so I could spend the day at the museums, etc. The group only got 50 minutes at the museum which is nowhere near enough time.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/03/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2025
Splendors of Japan was Splendid. The trip and itinerary for Japan was well thought out and perfect given the time constraints of two weeks. The hotels were all excellent and accommodating. The food/meals (with a few exceptions) were excellent and our Japanese tour guide was super (and spoke excellent English). The itinerary as a whole was excellent (in part due to our knowledgeable and articulate tour guide who was absolutely superb!) Perhaps could have spent more time in Tokyo but wouldn’t want to miss any of the other sights on the itinerary.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/07/2025
Cesario Gentallan - Traveled, May 2025
Amazing experience in Japan. Trip was well organized, our Travel Director was very efficient and Coach Drivers were highly trained and safe. My recent trip to Japan was amazing, especially the places I visited, delicious food, bullet train experience, culture, observed how disciplined are the Japanese people, their hospitality and honesty.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/16/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, May 2025
Great one to Japan! The guide was excellent, adding personal anecdotes to help with our understanding of the culture. The itinerary is well thought out and planned. We visited some of the highlights of urban and rural Japan.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/16/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2025
Excellent hotels and knowledgeable guide, but could use a bit more free time. I think there could have been more information provided to help prepare for the trip. For example, there could have a list of things to keep in mind about traveling that were specific to Japan. We did not know certain medications would require a doctor's note to bring in legally until it was pointed out elsewhere. It would be very easy for Trafalgar to send a general email regarding things to do and consider like that. It would also be nice to include information about local customs and expectations so that tourists could be less of a burden on the communities they're visiting. Even adding in a list of helpful words and phrases to know would be nice. The service on the trip itself was very good. I just think it would be simple and appreciated to add a little bit more info up top. I thought the tour guide was wonderful and I was very impressed with the quality of the hotels. I appreciate how much was done on our behalf, so that we could focus on enjoying ourselves and not wait in line to buy tickets or arrange every meal. My criticisms are that there were too many set meals. It would have been better to offer a stipend so that we could order what we want, either at a communal meal or on our own. I appreciate the opportunity to experience elevated local cuisine, but I wanted to try more street level food sometimes. I also think there was not enough free time. There were WAY too many shrines and temples on the agenda. By the end of the tour, most people were zoned out and just wanted to do their own thing. There also could have been more optional experiences. There were two on this trip, but people who had taken other tours with Trafalgar said there were up to six. This is a great thing because it offers group-oriented and guide-led experiences, but if it doesn't appeal to everyone, they have the time to explore on their own. Overall, it was a very nice trip and worth the cost. I would recommend Trafalgar to others.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/12/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2025
Great tour, but it would be improved. The itinerary was great and I saw many of the things I wanted to see. I have a great deal of feedback to share about our trip. I HOPE YOU WILL READ MY REVIEW OF THE TRIP AS I HAVE SOME VERY SPECIFIC COMMENTS. 1. Disappointed not to see more japanese cutlural venues in Tokyo. We got more of that as the trip progressed to the small old towns, islands, Kotyo, Hiroshima and southern Japan. 2. We didn't get to see very many good museums. 3. Disappointed the buses were not setup with WIFI or electric plugs, especially when we spent many days traveling on a bus. 4. The tour was a bit rushed. We should have had more time at the many of the small towns and shrine / temples to explore. Time limit was about an hr at each location. Trip could have been longer than 14 days. Trip especially rushed at MT Fuji and the 5 lake district. 5. Tokyo: Poor decision to drop us off in downtown Tokyo main highrise shopping district. We didn't go to Tokyo / Japan to shop at major department stores. We want to see the unique things made in Japan. Like seeing silk fabric and how it is made. The imperial park didn't show much other than the flowers in bloom, couldn't even see the outside of the Impreial Palace. We arrived a day early and saw some sights that should have been included in the tour. 6. FOOD: My NO 1 issue of dissatifaction! Didn't like the fact we had no CHOICE in the food we ate! Often times no explanation on what the food was that was put in front of us. Everything preordered and in most cases cold and tempura food not hot and crispy. No explanation of the food meal protocol in terms of courses, like the rice being served last. I don't like sushi or fish, so in most cases I had little to eat at the meals included in the tour. I prefer the option to pick the food I eat. There were NEVER any American type offerings in the menu. Even the food options in the buffet were mainly Japanese food items. We had better meals on our own. 7. Guide did a great job, but she could have used a 2nd person to assist her or had some local guides like what was ADVERTISED in the tour literature. She was very organized , but she could benefit from more training to be more efficient and then she wouldn't have been so stressed. Trafalgar need to provide their guides with technical aides to make it easier, more effective and understandable for communicating with the guests on the tour. She had to write the daily schedule every day on white paper and tape it to the bus driver's back plastic shield, so everyone could always reference the schedule. 8. *Personal information removed by Feefo* had a husband and wife who caused her and the other guests problems everyday and it became a real problem for her. She tried to handle the problem best she could, but they created an incident that everyone was exposed to. 9. Hotels: They were all excellent. 10. Buses were all good, great drivers and comfortable. 11. Disappointed NO performances of Japanese dancers, drum show or any type of musical performances. We wanted to see Japanese culture and that is a big component of the culture we missed. I have seen such performances in the US and that was key to the culture. 12. I understand all travel companies have made major cuts to the venues they offer and the sights /components we see during the tours. this has made traveling less enjoyable. In this trip we privately arranged for a kimono dress up evening. Everyone who participated LOVED the experience and many who didn't participate were sorry they didn't. You should provide more optional tours. The tea tasting tour was one of your extra tours, but that option wasn't very interesting. 13. Bullet train: This was a great experience and the guide navigated us through the station efficiently. 14. We could have used more time in Hiroshima. Beautiful city. 15. Cherry Blossom season was why I picked this time of year to visit Japan. Climate change is impacting the bloom season in Japan, you might rethink when you schedule this trip as there were little Blossoms in Tokyo, but we did find one town near Mt. Fuji that had a nice display of Cherry Blossoms. 15. Provide more information on history, explanation on sites we saw along the route, customs and information on Japan while traveling in the bus. We had a very engaged group of people on our tour and they asked lots of questions our guide wasn't able to always answer. She had to look up the answer on the internet or the bus driver.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/11/2025
