Japan

Tour members from across Canada will gather in Vancouver for the overnight flight to Narita (Tokyo).

Upon arrival in Tokyo, we'll transfer to our centrally located hotel. After settling in, we will gather for our welcome dinner. 

New Otani Garden Hotel (3 nights) 

After breakfast, we’ll spend the day exploring Kamakura, the 13th-century capital and home to countless poets and artists. We’ll visit Kotoku-in Temple to see the 13.35-metre-high Daibutsu, a giant bronze Buddha. Next, we’ll explore Hasedera Temple, famous for its 9.18-metre gilded wooden statue of Kannon (goddess of mercy), and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, a significant 12th-century shrine dedicated to Hachiman, the Shinto god of war. End the day shopping for local souvenirs and delicacies on Komachi Street before returning to the hotel. 

Today, we’ll enjoy a full-day tour of Tokyo’s highlights. We’ll begin at Asakusa, exploring Nakamise-dori and the Senso-ji Buddhist temple to learn about Japan’s unique religious practices, with a photo stop at Asakusa Shinto shrine. Next, we’ll visit the Tokyo Skytree for stunning city views. After a delicious lunch of kushiage (fried meat and vegetables on bamboo skewers), we head to the Ginza district, home to some of the most expensive real estate in the world, for some free time to explore. Then, we’ll visit the Imperial Palace East Gardens, home to 210,000 square metres of green space that is open to the public. We conclude our tour at the world’s busiest intersection, Shibuya Crossing, where hundreds of people cross from all directions every time the signal changes.                                   

Departing Tokyo this morning, we journey south to the scenic region of Hakone, with the possibility of catching views of majestic Mt. Fuji along the way (weather permitting). Our first stop is Hakone Shrine, a serene 12th-century Shinto site once revered by samurai. Nestled in a forest, the shrine is famed for its striking torii gates that rise from the lakeshore.  Following lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll board a boat at Hakonesekisho-Ato and cruise to Hakone-En. From there, we travel by ropeway to the dramatic volcanic valley of Owakudani. You’ll see steam vents and bubbling pools, and perhaps sample the famous eggs cooked in the hot sulfur springs, said to add years to your life! Later this afternoon, we arrive at our ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn. You’ll experience authentic hospitality, sleeping on futons laid out on tatami mats, soaking in onsen baths fed by natural mineral springs, and enjoying a delicious Japanese dinner. 

Hakone Yunohana Prince Hotel (1 night) 

Today we board a bullet train to Nagoya, then switch to a limited express train to Takayama. Upon arrival, our private coach will take us sightseeing, beginning with the traditional wooden houses and shops along Kami Sannomachi Street. We’ll also visit the Kusakabe Folk Museum, formerly the residence of the Kusakabe family (merchants who served the shogunate in Takayama), now recognized as an important cultural property. We’ll then continue to our hotel for dinner.

Hotel and Spa Gift Takayama (2 nights) 

Starting at the Miyagawa Morning Market, one of Japan’s largest, we’ll enjoy local crafts and produce from independent farmers and craftsmen. Takayama Jinya, the only surviving Edo-period government office, is now a museum showcasing well-preserved conference and interrogation rooms with century-old artifacts. Next, explore Hida Folk Village, a museum of rural homes and barns, offering insight into traditional lifestyles of a bygone era. At the Matsuri-no-Mori Museum, we learn about Takayama traditions, featuring massive yatai (parade floats) from the spring and autumn festivals. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure before we head out for dinner. 

Our first stop will be at the mountain village of Shirakawago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site noted for its traditional gassho-zukuri (thatched roof) farmhouses, some of which are over 250 years old. Visit the residence of the Iwase family, with its magnificent thatched roof. Later visit Washi Kaikan’s Washi no Sato to observe the intricate and involved process of creating traditional Japanese paper (washi). 

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kanazawa Miyabi (1 night)

Walk through one of Japan’s most famous gardens, Kenroku-en, the “Garden of Six Qualities.” It features stunning landscaping, flowering trees, and lakes. Visit the Hakuichi Gold Leaf Museum for a demonstration on the art of gold leaf application before travelling by bullet train to Hiroshima. A lunch box is provided to enjoy on board as you take in the scenic ride. 

Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima (2 nights)

Today, we cross the Inland Sea by ferry to Miyajima Island, considered to be one of the top scenic experiences in Japan. On the island, we will ride the cable car to enjoy the incredible views from the peak and visit the Itsukushima-jinja Shrine dating from 1168 AD. Hiroshima is best remembered for the event of August 6, 1945, when the atomic bomb decimated the city and surrounding area. The Peace Memorial Museum and Peace Memorial Park are sobering testaments to the devastation and its aftermath. Time permitting, we shall visit Shukkei-en Garden for a quiet walk with time to reflect. 

Travel by bullet train to Himeji to visit of Himeji Castle, a 400-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site and national treasure. Continue by coach to historic Kyoto, the capital of Japan for almost 1,000 years until 1868. This delightful city conjures up classic images: streets of little wooden houses, geta (wooden sandals) clicking on the cobblestones, geisha in brightly coloured silk, tea ceremonies, traditional gardens, and more. 

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo (3 nights) 

Our day begins with a walk through the unique Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, one of Kyoto’s most popular attractions, followed by the Kinkaku-ji Temple, or Golden Pavilion. The three-storey pagoda, covered in gold leaf, is set next to a tranquil reflecting pool and surrounded by gardens and pine forests. Nearby are the gardens and palace of Nijo Castle, a UNESCO Site noted for the great Ninomaru Wing and Audience Hall with its nightingale floors. Next, we will walk through the Higashiyama District, with its narrow cobblestone streets and tiny shops, and into the Gion, where geisha still live and work. Tonight enjoy a special kaiseki dinner at a local restaurant.

We'll start our day with a tea ceremony experience, learning about the various types of tea and the instruments used to prepare it. You'll discover the significance of each movement and the cultural importance of serving tea in Japan. Next, we'll visit Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto's Fushimi ward, famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates that form an iconic pathway through the sacred forest of Mount Inari. Before lunch, we'll head to the gracious town of Nara to visit Kasuga Taisha Shrine, founded in the 8th century to protect the capital. The shrine grounds feature around 3,000 stone lanterns, which are lit during special festivals. At Todaiji Temple, we'll explore Daibutsuden Hall, once the largest wooden building in the world, housing a great bronze seated Buddha. Enjoy a stroll through the peaceful Deer Park. Tonight, we will gather for a farewell dinner.

After breakfast, we’ll board a bullet train to Shinagawa, then transfer to Narita Airport (Tokyo) to catch our flights bound for Canada, arriving home the same day.