Book Early and Save $400 Per Person ![](/sites/default/files/2025-06/1%20Meals%20%28red%29.png) 29 Meals ![](/sites/default/files/2025-06/3%20CT%20Ratings%20%28red%29.png) CT Rating 3.5/5 - Challenging ![](/sites/default/files/2025-08/4%20Leader%20%28red%29_1.png) Led by Phil Newman **Experience Japan's Autumn Season** Japan is a multifaceted gem, where neon-lit cities meet tranquil alpine villages, timeless countryside, and well-preserved relics of its imperial and feudal past. Join us when autumn colours are vibrant, painting the landscape with a golden glow. We'll also step back in time in Takayama’s Old Town, and immerse ourselves in the timeless traditions of a ryokan, enjoying tatami mats, futons, and onsen baths. [**Book Now**](https://enrollment.craigtravel.com/booking?departurecode=TAS081127:20271108) [**Download Brochure**](https://mkt.craigtravel.com/ct--landing-page--brochure-download?brochure=golden-leaves-japan-nov-2027) #### Alternate Departure:[ ](https://www.craigtravel.com/journeys/japan-november-7-2026) [March 25, 2027](https://www.craigtravel.com/journeys/sakura-japan-march-25-2027) [Female Willing to Share Accommodation](/destinations/female-willing-share-accommodation) [![Map of Japan](/sites/default/files/2026-08/Map%20of%20Japan%20%28Fall%202027%29%20-%20AS%20OF%2005AUG26.jpg)](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2026-08/Map%20of%20Japan%20%28Fall%202027%29%20-%20AS%20OF%2005AUG26.jpg) ### Tour Highlights - UNESCO GEMS - Explore Shirakawago’s thatched farmhouses, Himeji Castle’s feudal towers, Miyajima’s floating torii gate and Kyoto’s Kinkakuji Temple and Nijo Castle with its legendary nightingale floors. - TEMPLES & SHRINES - Visit Sensoji in Asakusa and walk through the vermillion torii gates of Fushimi Inari. Explore Todaiji Temple in Nara, home to Japan’s largest bronze Buddha. - CULTURAL ENCOUNTERS - Make sushi, craft washi paper, apply gold leaf and join a tea ceremony. Visit Takayama’s Kusakabe Folk Museum and Festival Floats Museum and reflect at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum. - CITY LIFE - Ascend Tokyo Skytree, cross Shibuya Scramble Crossing and visit the Imperial Palace Gardens. Walk Kenroku-en Garden, Kyoto’s Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Gion’s geisha quarter and Osaka’s Dotonbori. ### Inclusive Features - International and domestic flights, plus airport transfers, with air-inclusive packages - Carefully selected accommodation as listed, or similar - All sightseeing and entrance fees as described - Meals as indicated in the itinerary - B: BREAKFAST (13) L: LUNCH (8) D: DINNER (8) - Dedicated journey leader, national guides, and local specialists where applicable - All gratuities, surcharges, fees, and taxes - International eSIM to keep you connected - Visa support for Canadian citizens as required - Free insurance quote (contact us for details) ### Itinerary Overview Full View DEPART CANADA November 8, 2027 Tour members from across Canada will gather in Vancouver for the overnight flight to Narita (Tokyo). ARRIVE TOKYO November 9, 2027 Welcome to Japan! Upon arrival, we transfer to our hotel in the heart of the city. ***Hotel New Otani Garden Tower - 4 nights*** TOKYO November 10, 2027 Our introduction to Tokyo begins in Asakusa, its narrow lanes and centuries-old Sensoji Temple offering a striking contrast to the city’s relentless modernity. From there, we ascend Tokyo Skytree for views across the metropolis before heading to Shibuya Scramble Crossing, one of the busiest pedestrian intersections in the world. Just outside Shibuya Station, we see the Hachiko Statue that commemorates the Akita dog who returned to wait for his owner every day for nearly 10 years after his death. In the evening, we attend a sumo demonstration, one of Japan’s most revered traditions. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner KAMAKURA November 11, 2027 A day trip brings us to Kamakura, where the Kotoku-in Temple’s Great Buddha, a bronze seated figure 13 metres tall, has presided over the surrounding hills since the 13th century. We visit Hasedera Temple and its gilded 9-metre Kannon statue before reaching the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, the spiritual centre of Kamakura. We end the day on Komachi Street, a lively lane of local crafts and snacks. Breakfast, Lunch TOKYO November 12, 2027 At the centre of the city, the Imperial Palace sits on the former grounds of Edo Castle, surrounded by moats and stone walls that once protected the seat of the Tokugawa shogunate. We walk through the East Gardens before a sushi-making class where we learn to prepare maki and nigiri for lunch. The afternoon is free to explore Ginza, Tokyo’s most celebrated shopping and dining district. Breakfast, Lunch HAKONE November 13, 2027 We leave Tokyo for Hakone and Hakone Shrine, a Shinto sanctuary hidden within dense forest that drew samurai worshippers as far back as the 12th century. We cross Lake Ashi by pirate boat, the lake itself sitting inside a volcanic crater, before riding the ropeway up to Owakudani, where active vents release sulphurous steam from the hillside. ***Susukinohara Ichinoyu - 1 night*** Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner TAKAYAMA November 14, 2027 We board the bullet train at Odawara and make our way to Takayama in the Japanese Alps, stopping to visit the Kusakabe Folk Museum, a preserved Edo-period merchant house designated as an important cultural property. ***Mercure Hida Takayama - 2 nights*** Breakfast, Dinner TAKAYAMA November 15, 2027 The smell of fresh produce greets us at the Miyagawa Morning Market, one of Japan’s most beloved, where only local farmers and craftspeople are permitted to sell. Then, we continue to Takayama Jinya, where we explore the only surviving government building from the Edo period. After some free time at Kami Sannomachi Street, we visit the Festival Floats Exhibition Hall, home to the ornate floats from Takayama’s famous seasonal festivals. Breakfast, Dinner SHIRAKAWAGO / KANAZAWA November 16, 2027 Drive to Shirakawago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some over 250 years old, their steeply pitched thatched roofs built to shed the region’s heavy snowfall. In nearby Gokayama we try our hand at washi, the traditional Japanese paper that has been made in this valley for centuries. ***Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kanazawa MIYABI - 1 night*** Breakfast, Dinner KANAZAWA / HIROSHIMA November 17, 2027 Today we try our hand at gold leaf making, decorating a small lacquer plate with the paper-thin material that has made Kanazawa one of Japan’s foremost centres of traditional craft. A walk through Kenroku-en, one of Japan’s three great gardens, brings us among trees, ornamental ponds and carefully composed vistas. We then board the bullet train south toward Hiroshima. ***Hotel Granvia Hiroshima South Gate - 2 nights*** Breakfast, Lunch MIYAJIMA / HIROSHIMA November 18, 2027 A short ferry ride takes us to Miyajima Island, where the torii gate of UNESCO-listed Itsukushima Shrine appears to float on the water at high tide. We take the cable car up Mount Misen before returning to Hiroshima to visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, which documents the events of 1945 and their aftermath. Breakfast, Lunch HIMEJI / KYOTO November 19, 2027 This morning we travel by rail for a visit to Himeji Castle, a UNESCO Site and one of Japan’s finest surviving feudal fortresses, its white layered towers earning it the name White Heron Castle. Continue to Kyoto by motorcoach. ***Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo - 3 nights*** Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner KYOTO November 20, 2027 Japan’s imperial capital for over a thousand years, Kyoto was home to the Emperor until 1869 and today holds more UNESCO sites than any other city in the country. Among them, Nijo Castle is known for its corridors fitted with nightingale floors designed to alert the shogun to intruders, and Kinkaku-ji Temple, renowned for its gold leaf-covered pavilion. We also walk the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, its towering stalks filtering the light into something almost otherworldly. The afternoon takes us through the cobblestone lanes of Higashiyama and into Gion, Kyoto’s geisha quarter. Breakfast, Dinner NARA / KYOTO November 21, 2027 This morning we participate in a tea ceremony to understand the instruments and varieties used to prepare it. We will discover the meaning behind each precise movement, and the deep cultural roots of tea service in Japan. We then walk the thousands of torii gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine before heading to Nara. There, we visit the Daibutsuden Hall at Todaiji Temple and stroll in the nearby Deer Park, home to freely roaming deer considered sacred. Back in Kyoto, we gather for a farewell dinner. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner OSAKA / DEPART November 22, 2027 Our final morning takes us to Osaka’s Cup Noodle Museum, where we learn the history of instant ramen and make our own version to take home. After some free time in Dotonbori, the city’s lively food and entertainment district, we transfer to Kansai Airport for our flight home. Breakfast [Download Brochure](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2026-08/Golden%20Leaves%20of%20Japan%20%2807AUG2026%29.pdf) [![Mt. Fuji](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2025-06/AdobeStock_232895465%20ash.jpeg?h=b2774bcf&itok=vb4lA7G7 "Mt. Fuji")](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2025-06/AdobeStock_232895465%20ash.jpeg) [![Arashiyama Bamboo Grove](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2025-06/AdobeStock_218463415_adj.jpg?h=cccd5c70&itok=CWGar1DY "Arashiyama Bamboo Grove")](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2025-06/AdobeStock_218463415_adj.jpg) [![Experience Japan during the beautiful fall season](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2025-06/AdobeStock_211901050_web.jpg?h=b0f017ac&itok=YKExvQaz "Experience Japan during the beautiful fall season")](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2025-06/AdobeStock_211901050_web.jpg) [![Kotoku-in Temple](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2025-06/Kotokuin%20Temple_Kamakura_Pixabay_crop.jpg?h=a38106bd&itok=tPXBJF1c "Kotoku-in Temple")](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2025-06/Kotokuin%20Temple_Kamakura_Pixabay_crop.jpg) [![Discover Gion, where geishas still live and work](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2025-07/Untitled%20%281920%20x%201239%20px%29%20%2810%29.jpg?h=998931c7&itok=ricSxBsa "Discover Gion, where geishas still live and work")](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2025-07/Untitled%20%281920%20x%201239%20px%29%20%2810%29.jpg) [![Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, voted a top must-see spot in Japan](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2025-07/Untitled%20%281920%20x%201239%20px%29%20%288%29.jpg?h=a66ba266&itok=td0NFbwC "Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, voted a top must-see spot in Japan")](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2025-07/Untitled%20%281920%20x%201239%20px%29%20%288%29.jpg) [![Shirakawa Historic Village](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2025-07/Untitled%20%281920%20x%201239%20px%29%20%2811%29.jpg?h=a66ba266&itok=7LOed-kt "Shirakawa Historic Village")](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2025-07/Untitled%20%281920%20x%201239%20px%29%20%2811%29.jpg) ### Have any questions? Contact Sharon at sbahadur \[at\] craigtravel.com or call [1-800-387-8890](tel:1-800-387-8890) ### Tour Cost in Canadian Dollars Per Person Land Only* (Join / Leave at hotel) $12,945 Vancouver $14,315 Victoria $14,315 Calgary / Edmonton $14,465 Winnipeg / Saskatoon / Regina $14,565 Toronto $14,595 Montreal / Ottawa $14,755 Halifax / St. John's $14,825 Single Supplement $3,365 [Book Now](https://enrollment.craigtravel.com/booking?departurecode=TAS081127:20271108) ### **Payment and Booking Terms** Deposit is **$900 per person** Final payment is due **July 21, 2027** Prices are in Canadian dollars per person. Land only members join at the hotel in Tokyo and leave at the hotel in Kyoto. Airfares from other gateways are available on request. Tour price is based on sharing a twin-bedded room. Prices are based on a minimum of 20 members and on rates, taxes and fees effective July 2026 and are subject to change due to factors beyond our control. Group to be escorted with a minimum of 20 members. For full terms and conditions, visit our website: [craigtravel.com/terms-conditions](/terms-conditions). Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended. #### CT Rating **3.5/5 - CHALLENGING** This journey offers an in-depth exploration of Japan at a relatively fast pace, covering significant ground across the country with some long travel days and rail connections. Members should be fully mobile and in good physical health, as many sites involve extensive walking and steps. The itinerary includes an overnight stay in a traditional ryokan, with tatami-matted rooms, and a variety of traditional Japanese cuisine throughout. Do you have any questions about this journey? [Email Us](mailto:sales@craigtravel.com?subject=Japan%20November%202027) #### Journey Leader ![Profile picture for user Phil Newman](/sites/default/files/styles/user/public/pictures/2025-03/Picture12.png?h=fce90158&itok=hX9Fxg07) Phil Newman - has escorted groups to Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Ireland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK, the Czech Republic, and Russia. Phil and Kim, his spouse, continue to discover the beauty of Canada camping in their RV, and also chase the sun to fun destinations in the USA, Caribbean, Mexico and the Mediterranean. Phil spent 40 years in pastoral ministry in the United Church of Canada with congregations in New Brunswick, Ontario, and BC, with remarkable experiences in Australia and Israel. ![](/sites/default/files/2025-06/1%20CT%20Loyalty%20Points.png) [Craig Travel Loyalty Points ](/loyalty-club) ![](/sites/default/files/2025-06/2%20Pay%20By%20Cheque.png) [Pay by Cheque Discount](/pay-cheque-discount) ![](/sites/default/files/2025-06/3%20Refer%20a%20Friend.png) [Refer a Friend](/refer-friend) ![](/sites/default/files/2025-06/4%20About%20CT%20Ratings.png) [About CT Ratings](/craig-travel-ratings) ![](/sites/default/files/2025-06/5%20Travel%20Insurance.png) [Travel Insurance](/travel-insurance)