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: 34490
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Explorer, Budget
Tour Operator:
Trafalgar (CA)
Supplier Code: 177.1556A
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 $7075 ($786 /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
Gayle Moidel - Traveled, April 2025
Japan was Splendid. The collection of our luggage at (almost all) the hotels was very accommodating. The locations of the hotels gave us a chance to see & experience the local culture. The itinerary was demanding but worth it! All of our transport needs were taken care of. It was a fantastic ride. You get to experience as much as possible of the landscape & culture in the 2 weeks of touring. Our guide was THE BEST! She was passionate about the tour. She took us individually into account. She was very organized & kept us on task. Our accommodations were very comfortable and extremely clean. We were introduced to several levels of Japanese food fare, some better than others. A lot of FUN activities. The buses were clean & comfortable. There was a lot of bus travel and it would have been nice to have wi-fi and charging outlets on the buses. The interaction with our other tourmates was great. I HIGHLY recommend this tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/07/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2025
This was a great trip. The itinerary was excellent. The Tour Guide was fabulous. Give her a raise! I had some mobility problems while on the tour and she was excellent in helping me and being patient. Overall, a wonderful experience. A beautiful country as well.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/06/2025
John Primomo - Traveled, April 2025
First time in Japan. Exceptional! I do wish Trafalgar had told me that you must have permission to bring certain medications into Japan. Great experience! We saw wonderful parts of Japan, including Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, and Hiroshima. The hotels were wonderful! Our travel director was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. My advice to Trafalgar is to reduce the number of visits to temples and shrines. Maybe allow more free time. Also, there were too many set Japanese meals with no options.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/06/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2025
A great tour, covering all the important 'must sees' of Japan. The hotels were excellent however I would prefer to stay in more authentic Japanese hotels. (You could be anywhere in the world in large American chains). It's imperative to have Wi-Fi in ALL the buses. It's 2025 after all. On the first night we should have been given name tags. Hugely helpful in getting to know fellow travelers. Our guide, Noriko was excellent.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/06/2025
Vemula Reddy - Traveled, April 2025
Good, enjoyable trip. Tours were on time, and tour directors managed the time. It included most of the places we wanted to see.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/05/2025
Valerie Foster - Traveled, April 2025
Was disappointed in this experience, it was promoted as small group but 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: 04/30/2025
Garry Louis Duncan - Traveled, April 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: 04/30/2025
Mark Rantz - Traveled, April 2025
This was our second tour we took with Trafalgar. Italy was so well organized and fabulous location as well as informative tour guide. Japan, lovely country but felt rushed for entire 2 week tour. Less than an hour for lunch in Osaka. Takes time to locate the restaurant you want to eat. Same with site tours had to quickly take pictures tour guide fast walking through. My wife loves shopping for unique things , very little time for that. Hotels were good , breakfast was superb. We will use Trafalgar again but will plan to stay a few days after to recover.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/03/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2025
Excellent service. This is my third time. Diverse and nice tour. Covered a large area of Japan. Great accommodations. I recommend to allow more free time when visiting new towns.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/02/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2025
The tour was great.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/02/2025
