Your journey starts in Tokyo, a city of contrasts. Japan’s capital is famous for its pioneering modernity, iconic neon cityscapes and soaring skyscrapers, yet dotted with peaceful parks, shrines, temples, and tranquil gardens. Despite its mania for pop culture, anime, fashion, digital trends and discernible consumption, the city embraces an ancient heritage evident in the temples and shrines scattered amongst the towering high-rise buildings.
Next, visit Hakone, a tranquil mountain lake retreat renowned for its natural beauty and therapeutic hot springs. Visitors can cruise across Lake Ashi, marveling at Mount Fuji's reflection, or ascend to Owakudani to witness volcanic activity and savor black eggs boiled in sulfuric hot springs. Riding the zig-zag railway and ropeway up to Gora to visit the open-air museum is recommended. Your accommodation here is in a traditional Japanese Inn called a ryokan, offering an immersive cultural experience steeped in hospitality and tranquility.
Travel by bullet and express train to Takayama. The journey is incredibly scenic as the train winds its way through mountains and gorges in this stunningly picturesque region. With its plethora of temples, shrines, festivals, rivers and bridges, the mountain town of Takayama is also known as “little Kyoto”. The region is agricultural, and every day fresh vegetables and fruit are brought to Takayama’s lively morning market by local farmers. Due to the town’s previously secluded location in the mountainous Hida region, a remarkable number of its unique traditions have been preserved.
Continue by bus to Kanazawa stopping for a few hours at Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri (“Praying hands”) farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old.
Kanazawa is famed for its well-preserved Edo-era districts, traditional tea houses, and samurai residences. Kenrokuen Garden is one of Japan’s Top Three gardens. Kanazawa's rich cultural heritage is discovered through its museums and craft workshops.
Head to Hiroshima, a poignant symbol of peace and resilience. Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Dome to honor the victims of the atomic bombing. Explore the rebuilt city, vibrant with culture, cuisine, and a thriving arts scene, showcasing its enduring spirit. Nearby is Miyajima, an island considered to be one of Japan’s most scenic spots.
Take the bullet train to Kyoto, Japan's cultural capital. From historic landmarks to scenic landscapes, Kyoto's timeless beauty and rich cultural heritage enchant visitors, offering a profound journey into Japan's past. Home to over 2,000 temples and shrines, including the iconic Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) and Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto exudes a serene ambiance. Stroll through historic districts like Gion, where trainee geisha gracefully glide through cobblestone streets. Discover the beauty of Japanese gardens at Arashiyama or savor traditional tea ceremonies in tranquil tea houses. Plan a visit to Nishiki market at lunchtime and choose from a wide array of tantalizing foods on offer. Buy a high quality Japanese knife and have your name engraved on the blade – the perfect souvenir.
In Nara, Japan's first capital, you’ll find a treasure trove of history and culture. Renowned for its ancient temples, including the majestic Todai-ji with its colossal Great Buddha statue, Nara Park offers tranquil strolls amidst friendly deer. Explore the picturesque streets of Naramachi, lined with traditional machiya houses, and sample local delicacies like mochi and sake. Nara's serene ambiance, rich heritage, and natural beauty make it a captivating destination, perfect for immersing oneself in Japan's timeless traditions.
At the conclusion of this itinerary, travel to one of the Tokyo airports, or to Osaka’s Kansai airport.
13 nights | Call for pricing
Featured Destinations
Hiroshima
Hiroshima in southwestern Honshu has grown rapidly as a commercial city, and after 1868 it was developed as a military base. Every August 6 since 1947, thousands participate in multidenominational services in the Peace Memorial Park built on the site where the bomb exploded. After the war the city was largely rebuilt, and commercial activity gradually resumed. Visit the Peace Park but also explore Miyajima Island and its colourful shrines and mysterious forests.
Kanazawa
Kanazawa's importance grew in the 15th century, when the powerful and militant Ikko sect established its new headquarters there after being chased out of Kyoto by the monks of Mt.Hiei.
During the Edo Period, Kanazawa was the seat of the Maeda clan, the second most powerful clan after the Tokugawa in terms of rice production and fief size. Accordingly, Kanazawa grew to become a town of great cultural achievements, rivaling Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo).
In World War Two, Kanazawa was Japan's second largest city (after Kyoto) to escape destruction by air raids. Consequently, parts of the old castle town, such as samurai, temple and pleasure districts, have survived in pretty good condition.
Kanazawa is capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, a prefecture along the Sea of Japan.
Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan, presents a different view at every turn. It's one of the world's main economic centers and its most populous agglomeration. The business of Tokyo is business, but you can still find harmony and small-scale gardens on back streets. Around the corner from neon and concrete, you may find the bonsai-lined courtyard of a traditional inn.
Tokyo was nearly destroyed by bombs and fires during World War II, and by earthquakes at other times, but it has always rebuilt itself. As a result, there is little left of Old Japan in the city, but there's plenty of New Japan to take its place.
The streets are a confusing maze, so a map is essential. The transit system is excellent, however, and there are kobans (police boxes) throughout the metropolis, as well as a populace generally willing to answer questions.
Visitors to Tokyo represent both business and leisure travelers. And despite its past reputation, Tokyo is no longer fearsomely expensive. It's relatively easy to visit Tokyo on a budget.
Excursions
Shinjuku - Night in The City - 4 Hours
Shinjuku - Night in The City - 4 Hours
Highlights:
- Visit Kabuki Cho, the world’s safest “red light” district
- Explore Golden-gai, known for its quirky food stalls and micro pubs
- Sample local snacks and drinks at various izakayas
- Visit the 17th-century Hanazono Shrine
Tour Duration: 4 hours (18:00-22:00)
Tour can operate: Evening
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Guided tour
- Transportation to/from the hotel
- Snacks and drinks at selected stops
Not Included:
- International flights
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
Wheeling Your Way Through Tokyo - 6 Hours
Wheeling Your Way Through Tokyo - 6 Hours
Forget the bus, get out of the car, and by no means take the subway – experience Tokyo by bicycle a seemingly unusual way to explore one of the world’s largest megalopolises. But once on your bike and pedaling through the city’s many and varied neighborhoods you will experience Tokyo in a truly unique way.
You will transfer to Chuo-ku, Tokyo where you choose your bicycle and try it out before setting off. Once ready and under the supervision of your cycling guide set off for the Tour de Tokyo pedaling your way through some of the distinctive districts that make Tokyo so memorable:–
↓
Tsukishima (traditional market area famed for its monjayaki savoury pancake) and Tsukiji Outer Market the largest seafood market in the world.
↓
Ginza (Tokyo’s chic shopping district – the city’s “Fifth Avenue”)
↓
Shinbashi Station (Japan’s oldest railway station)
↓
Azabu Juban Village (eclectic, eccentric and exciting – where trendy meets traditional)
↓
Roppongi, Aoyama and Harajuku & Omotesando (iconic architecture and fashion forward for today’s Tokyo)
↓
Yoyogi Park (site of the 1964 Olympic Village – weather permitting enjoy a picnic lunch)
↓
The New National Stadium (site of the 2020 Opening Ceremonies)
↓
Meiji Jingu Shrine (Tokyo’s revered Shinto Shrine set within a verdant forest park)
↓
Yoyogi National Stadium (Tange Kenzo’s stunning design for the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games)
↓
Jingu Gaien Mall (the beautiful Gingko lined Avenue)
↓
Akasaka Palace (the magnificent State Guest House)
↓
Parliament House (the site of the National Diet)
↓
Imperial Palace Grounds (The Iconic Nijubashi Bridge and the moat)
↓
Tokyo Station + KITTE (Marunouchi Minami Exit side)
↓
15:00: Arrive at Chuo-ku, Tokyo – the end of this Tokyo tour
Hakone
The city of Hakone lies nestled in the midst of spectacular Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. About 20 million tourists from overseas as well as from all over Japan visit Hakone every year, seeking the resplendent enjoyments this famous resort area offers throughout the year. In order to both encourage and accommodate the growing number of visitors to Hakone, the latest information on the area's natural wonders is made available and exhaustive effort is made to improve accommodations, local transportation and recreational facilities. Considerable attention has been paid to the preservation of the area's scenic beauty and of its unique cultural heritage.
Kyoto
If you can visit only one city in Japan, Kyoto is the one. This ancient city, 30 mi/50 km northeast of Osaka, was the capital of Japan for more than 1,000 years and still is considered the country's spiritual capital. Thousands of shrines and temples dot the city, including more than a dozen on the UNESCO World Heritage list. That list is far from all-inclusive, and many excellent places that might be the star attractions of other cities crowd the streets of Kyoto. It is a center of Japanese Zen and has several huge monastery complexes where serious students still sit in meditation.
Kyoto is also the nation's capital of traditional arts. Whether your interest be in pottery, textiles, dance, the tea ceremony or any of the other innumerable arts, Kyoto has excellent galleries, museums, shops and tea houses. Japanese people from the countryside and foreign students flock there to learn under the great masters. Much of what is considered Japanese haute cuisine was developed there too, as an offshoot of the tea ceremony.
Kyoto is Japan's heartland of history. With 1,300 years of tumultuous existence, the city's past intrudes upon the present day as in few other Japanese cities. In Gion, you can spot a geisha (or geiko, as they are called in Kyoto), one of the last hundred or so in Japan, slipping down a side-street to entertain rich guests with witty conversation, dance or music. A shopping arcade may suddenly fill with discordant clanging music as a shrine festival passes among the shoppers, or you may hear the long chant as Zen monks pass through the neighborhood, calling for alms.
Kyoto is an understated city that might disappoint visitors at first (at first glance, it is a large city with modern buildings that might not align with one's original perception); its charm lies in small details, pocket gardens, tiny traditional restaurants and refined artwork.
Osaka
This large, bustling port is the starting point for tours to the ancient cities of Kyoto and Nara, the cultural fountainheads of classical Japan. Kyoto's Old Imperial Palace and the shogunal Nijo Castle remain glorious symbols of the power the city held for over 1,000 years. Until 1868, Kyoto was the capital of Japan, filled with elegant timber buildings and, perhaps more than any other Japanese city, imbued with Kami, the divine spirit. You'll sense it everywhere, for there are hundreds of Shinto shrines and over a thousand Buddhist temples, as well as sacred treasure-houses of religious sculpture, painting and exquisite gardens. Nara, City of the Seven Great Temples, lies in an idyllic setting.
Excursions
Kobe - Osaka Day Tour
Kobe - Osaka Day Tour
Highlights:
- Osaka Castle
- Umeda Sky Building
- Shitennoji Temple
- Dontonbori
Tour Duration: Approx. 6 hours (13:00 – 19:00)
Tour can operate: Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: No – due to the nature of the sites and the transportation
Physical Activity Level: Moderate – involves walking and exploring multiple sites
Inclusions: (include any info regarding transportation to/from the Cruise ship in this section)
- Transfers and sightseeing as specified in the itinerary by private vehicle
- Services of driver and private English-speaking guide during sightseeing and transfers (different guide and driver in each city)
- Local restaurant lunches including 1 drink per person (soft drink, local beer, bottled water, tea or coffee)
- Complimentary local bottled water during sightseeing/transfers
- Entrance fees while sightseeing
Not Included:
- Any accommodations/ meals/ flights/ sightseeing/ transfers other than specified
- Excess baggage charges
- Gratuities to the local guides and drivers
- Travel insurance (recommended)
- Any expenses of a personal nature such as laundry, minibar charges, telephone charges, etc.
- Any visa
Vacation Details
Valid Date Ranges
01/01/2025 -
09/30/2025
Call for pricing
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
Prices Start At
Call for pricing
Air City
Call for airfares from your city.
Vacation Rating
Deluxe
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.
Remarks
Prices listed may vary by departure dates. Full terms and conditions apply. Rates vary by date of travel and services; please inquire for the best prices for your preferred travel dates.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
OFFER ID
1595904
Reference this number when contacting our agency so we may better serve you. Also keeping this number handy will allow you to locate this document again quickly.
Vogue Vacations
160 NW Central Park Plaza - Suite 102
Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
USA
(772) 344-6474
(877) 864-8306