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)
Be My Guest
- Kyoto: Meet Nakamura Family for a kaiseki lunch at a traditional Japanese Restaurant near Kyoto and learn about local customs.
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.
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
Trip Details
Product Code: 34489
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Explorer, Budget
Tour Operator:
Trafalgar (CA)
Supplier Code: 177.1556C
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.
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
Robert Ferrucci - Traveled, June 2025
Yes. This is my 6th trip with Trafalgar, starting with the Scandinavian countries in 2001. I have not done any group tours with other groups. 6 trips speaks for itself. Great trip to 5 cities. I had never been across the Pacific before. I enjoyed experiencing the culture and friendliness of the Japanese people. I could have spent more time at the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima. I had this same feeling on another Trafalgar trip at the Viking Museum in Oslo. The food was good too, especially the Japanese pizza on the final night. We were a congenial group of 21 travelers, 19 Americans and a couple from Australia. I myself met a friend who lives just outside Niigata, who took a 2 hour bullet train to stay at our first hotel, the New Otani in Tokyo., with a beautiful Japanese garden with a waterfall and a great view of Skytree from my 23rd floor room. going up Skytree was a great experience. I'm glad I made the trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/05/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, June 2025
Booking was easy and service provided by our tour director was very good. A great itinerary as there were lots of interactive activities such as paper making, sushi making and tea ceremony. There was also a lot of site seeing and we covered a good part of the country. The food was excellent, the included dinners were good and not too rushed. Most accommodation was good but some hotel rooms were quite small. Out tour director, *Personal information removed by Feefo*, was exceptional with great knowledge and humour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/22/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, June 2025
Yes Good tours. More time in Hiroshima Advance notice that our luggage would not be at every hotel. Tour director was very knowledgeable and helpful. Should have organized email addresses of this on the tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/28/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, June 2025
The tour guide, *Personal information removed by Feefo*, was excellent. She could not have been more caring and knowledgeable about Japan. It is a busy itinerary that keeps you on your toes. There are two long bus days. The hotels were of a high standard, some better than others. Included meals were good, with the exception of the "special" lunch in Kyoto which was almost universally poorly received by the group. The meal consisted of small portions of gourmet fish dishes, but it lacked popular appeal. The meet and transfer at Haneda was handled wonderfully.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/22/2025
Myra Mazlin - Traveled, May 2025
very accommodating took great care of us. tour operator Ako great hotels great location pace was excellent good group.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/13/2025
Nigel Hall - Traveled, May 2025
Wonderful service. Showcased many amazing aspects of Japan. Food, history, temples, shrines, onsens, great hotels, fabulous tour director and safe efficient bus drivers.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/13/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, May 2025
*Personal information removed by Feefo* our guide was excellent, she clearly loves her country. All the drivers were good, professional and the buses were clean. Overall the itinerary was good. It would have been better if we had spent less time at the smaller shrines allowing for more time to explore on our own.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/02/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, May 2025
Overall Trafalgar service was very good with nice hotels in good locations. Tour manager could have a bit more organized. Bus seats should have been assigned and seat rotation explicitly implemented rather than asking people to do it voluntarily which didn't work very well. Tour manager should make sure that all people are out of the bus before we start walking for sightseeing. Providing name tags will result in better communication within the group. It was a good itinerary. Tour manager was very nice, knowledgeable and helpful with extensive knowledge about history and culture of Japan.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/04/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, May 2025
Some public places were extremely busy and hard to follow our tour guide. Some hotels were short handed and the arrival arrangements were a little dis-organized. We got to see a lot of Japan and learned about its history through our tour guide.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/02/2025
Cesario Gentallan - Traveled, April 2025
Trip was well organized, *Personal information removed by Feefo* 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: 05/06/2025
