Day 1 – Tokyo
Arrive at any time.

Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travelers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don’t forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Accommodation
Shinjuku Washington Hotel

Day 2 – Tokyo/Kanazawa
In the morning collect your JR Pass. Board a bullet train for Kanazawa in the afternoon. The evening is yours to explore, or opt to attend a dinner with the group.

Take a short train ride to Kanazawa. In the 17th century, this beautifully preserved castle town was Japan’s wealthiest, and it became a thriving center for culture and arts.

Bullet Train Nagiso-eki – Kanazawa-eki 2h:30m-3h 400km
Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.

Free Time Kanazawa Evening
Spend the evening getting to know Kanazawa or opt to attend a group dinner at a local restaurant.

Accommodation
Garden Hotel Kanazawa

Day 3 – Kanazawa
Explore the city’s well-preserved geisha district. Then, stroll through Keroku-en, ranked one of the nation’s top three gardens before exploring the historic Nagamachi samurai district.

After strolling through the expansive gardens of Kenrokuen, opt to stop at the massive Kanazawa castle next door.

Kanazawa is also home to many interesting museums, opt to visit one or learn more about local crafts. Loving the food in the city? Take a trip to the local seafood market to see where some of the fresh, tasty ingredients come from.

Higashi Geisha District Visit
Step back in time with a visit to the Higashi Chaya geisha district of Kanazawa. Learn about the geisha culture, prevalent in Kanazawa since the 17th century. Visit the traditional two-story wooden houses decorated with lattice and discover the traditions behind this iconic Japanese way of life.

Kenroku-En Garden Visit
Walk around this breathtaking garden, ranked one of the top three in Japan. With unique bridges, ponds and fountains, pagodas, and tea houses there are lots to see here in any season.

Nagamachi Samurai District Walk
Step back in time with a visit to the Nagamachi Samurai district of Kanazawa. Take a walk through the historic samurai district located just below the Kanazawa Castle, where traditionally samurai and their families lived in mud huts.

Free Time Kanazawa Afternoon
Explore the city with some free time.

Optional Activities – Day 3

Kanazawa Castle Visit – Free-320JPY per person

Visit the massive castle located beside the Kenrokuen Garden. At over 400 years old, the castle has a great history and is the perfect place to wrap up exploration of the gardens.

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art – 450-1200JPY per person

If you are interested in eccentric art visit this beautiful museum with unique exhibits and architecture. Capture a trippy underwater photo in the simulated swimming pool.

Myoryuji Ninja Temple Visit – 1000JPY per person

Visit the famous Ninja Temple. While there’s no evidence linking the temple to ninjas, the hidden doorways, passages, and escape routes seem designed for stealthy attackers. Please leave all nunchucks with security.

Accommodation
Garden Hotel Kanazawa Hotel

Day 4 – Kanazawa/Takayama
Arrive in picturesque Takayama and relax in the traditional Japanese inn.

Arrive in Takayama in the afternoon and begin taking in the beautiful scenery of this traditional city.

Bullet Train Kanazawa – Takayama 2h

Free TimeTakayama Afternoon
Explore this charming town with a free afternoon.

Optional Activities – Day 4

Sake Street Visit Takayama 300-400JPY per person
Stroll down this quaint road, lined with sake breweries and vendors, and learn more about this typical Japanese beverage made from fermented rice. Have a sample or two to test it out.

Accommodation
Minshuku Iwatakan Ryokan

Day 5 – Takayama
Explore the Hida No Sato traditional folk village, and walk the quaint streets of the old town – lined with sake breweries and craft shops. Enjoy the rest of the day exploring the area.

Enjoy free time to explore this beautiful landscape. Discover traces of a feudal past in the thatched houses and rice fields. Opt to visit one of the markets or rent a bike and cycle out of the town center and into the countryside.

Hida no Sato (Hida Minzoku Mura Folk Village)
Visit the Hida Folk Village, an outdoor museum where various buildings from the 1600s are open to tour. The steep, thatched roofs of the farmhouses are said to resemble praying hands. Take a peek inside to see tools and furniture from the original village.

Free Time Takayama Full Day
Use free time to enjoy the area, sample sake, or visit a nearby hot spring for a soak.

Accommodation
Minshuku Iwatakan Ryokan

Day 6 – Takayama/Hiroshima
Arrive in Hiroshima and visit the Peace Park and Museum to learn more about the tragic history of this city.

The large Peace Park in the center of the city is an extremely moving place dotted with memorials of those killed by the atomic bomb and others who subsequently died. The burning flame in the park will only be extinguished when all nuclear weapons in the world have been destroyed. Take a tram ride through the city to reach Peace Park.

Hiroshima Park and Peace Memorial
Walk through the Peace Park in the center of Hiroshima, a living memorial dedicated to the tens of thousands who died from the atomic bomb blast in 1945. Visit the statue of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who died of leukemia as a result of the bomb blast, despite folding 1,000 origami paper cranes to appeal to the gods to make her well. See the frame of the Gembaku Dome, the sole building to withstand the explosion. Reflect, remember, and be reminded of the power we all hold to create peace.

Bullet Train Takayama – Hiroshima 5h
Accommodation
Toyoko Inn Hiroshima-eki Shinkansen-guchi No.2 Hotel

Day 7 – Hiroshima
Take a ferry to the sacred island of Miyajima to see the famous floating Torii Gate and meet the friendly local deer.

Take a short ferry ride to Miyajima Island, not far from the coast.

Here, view one of the most photographed sights in Japan— the floating Torii Gate. The shrine itself dates back to the 6th century and is designed in a pier-like structure.

Enjoy time to explore the island and its many shrines and temples. Sample local treats like maple leaf-shaped cakes, and opt to hike up to the peak of the island, Mt Misen, to see spectacular views of the surrounding islands.

Ferry Hiroshima
Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.

Miyajima Island Visit
Take a trip to Miyajima Island, famed as one of Japan’s most scenic spots, with a free afternoon to explore. See the famous floating Torii Gate, set out in the bay, which glows extraordinarily at sunset. The island is dotted with shrines and temples, populated by deer, and traversed with hiking trails for those who want to get some exercise. There are also lanes full of souvenirs and tasty treats. Visit Miyajima at your own pace, and have the option to hike up to the peak of the island, Mt Misen, to see spectacular views of the surrounding islands.

Free Time Miyajima Afternoon
Spend your free time however you choose. Opt to hike, try the region’s famed oysters, or check out the important sights and museums.

Ferry Miyajima – Hiroshima

Optional Activities – Day 7

Mt. Misen Visit Free-1840JPY per person
Set out for the summit of Mt. Misen, Miyajima’s highest peak at 500m (1,640 ft) above sea level. Opt to hike one of three trails through the forest and keep an eye out for wild deer or catch a ride on the ropeway and walk the remaining distance to the top. Take in great views of the Seto Inland Sea and on a clear day see as far as the city of Hiroshima.

Accommodation
Toyoko Inn Hiroshima-eki Shinkansen-guchi No.2 Hotel

Day 8 – Hiroshima/Kyoto
Travel to historic Kyoto. Explore the marvelous Fushimi Inari shrine and walk under thousands of torii gates.

Continue on to Kyoto, the former imperial capital and home of the country’s most treasured remnants of Japanese imperial life.

Walk around Gion and perhaps catch a glimpse of a geisha going from teahouse to teahouse.

Bullet Train Hiroshima – Kyoto 1h:30m-2h

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine Visit
Visit the Fushimi Inari shrine, located just outside of Kyoto. Walk under the thousands of iconic torii gates (as seen in the film Memoirs of a Geisha) and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. The shrine itself is at the base of the Inari mountain but includes many trails up to smaller shrines in the area.

Accommodation
Hearton Hotel Kyoto Hotel

Day 9 – Kyoto
Wander the impressive Nijo Castle and gardens before visiting Kyoto’s iconic Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion.

Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion Visit
Explore Kinkaku-ji or the Golden Pavilion, named for the temple’s top two floors that are covered in gold leaf. The temple is surrounded by trees and sits on a reflective pond, making this must-see in Kyoto a perfect place for photos. While the temple can be busy, there are gardens around the area to explore once you’ve had enough of the view.

Nijo Castle and Gardens
Visit the Nijo Castle, the residence of the first shogun of the Edo Period built in 1603. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the property is divided into three areas: the Honmaru (main circular fortification), Ninomaru (secondary circle of defense), and the gorgeous gardens that surround both.

Free Time Kyoto Afternoon
Discover more of this cultural city with some free time.

Accommodation
Hearton Hotel Kyoto Hotel

Day 10 – Kyoto
Spend a full free day discovering the Zen gardens, huge wooden temples, pagodas, and shrines of Kyoto. Opt to enjoy the Zen gardens of Ryoan-ji and the Silver Pavilion, and take a leisurely stroll down the lovely Philosopher’s path to Nanzen-ji.

Your Discover Moment Kyoto Full Day
There’s plenty to see and do in Kyoto, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like visiting the Kiyomizu-dera Temple, taking part in a traditional costume photoshoot, and enjoying a tea ceremony. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!

Optional Activities – Day 10

Zen Gardens of Ryōan-ji 500JPY per person

The Ryōan-ji garden is one of the best examples of kare-sansui, or dry landscape, a type of Zen garden. Fifteen large rocks are placed within a sea of white pebbles raked into linear patterns to facilitate meditation. Stand on the platform to get the best view from above. Stroll the grounds around the Ryoan-ji Temple and along the Kyoyo-chi pond.

Gion Walk Free

Walk through Gion, Kyoto’s most famous geisha district. Visit shops, restaurants, and ochaya (teahouses), where geiko (Kyoto dialect for geisha) and maiko (geiko apprentices) entertain.

Daisen-in Zen Rock Garden Visit 400JPY per person

Take a walk through the gardens around Daisen-in Temple. This zen garden uses gravel, sand, and stones to recreate a river and ocean, symbolizing the Buddhist journey through life.

Accommodation
Hearton Hotel Kyoto Hotel

Day 11 – Kyoto/Fujikawaguchiko
Travel to the Mt Fuji region and enjoy optional walks around Lake Kawaguchi. Savour an amazing multi-course Japanese kaiseki dinner.

Leave Kyoto and travel to Kawaguchiko arriving mid-afternoon. Take the rest of the afternoon to visit the Onsen Spa at tonight’s accommodation before dinner.

Train Kyoto – Fujikawaguchiko 5h:30m
There are multiple train changes during this ride and a short taxi ride at the end.

Onsen Spa Visit
Visit the natural hot springs in traditional style and soak in the waters and feel all your troubles float away.

Accommodation
Royal Hotel Kawaguchiko Hotel

Day 12 – Fujikawaguchiko/Tokyo
Enjoy a morning in Kawaguchiko exploring the Five Lakes region on foot. Later, travel to Tokyo by train.

Lake Kawaguchiko WalkFujikawaguchiko2h
Set out on a walk through this pocket of the Five Lakes region for unforgettable views of the local landscape. Depending on the weather, capture a glimpse of the snow-capped summit of Mt Fuji.

Train Fujikawaguchiko – Tokyo 3h
Accommodation
Shinjuku Washington Hotel

Day 13 – Tokyo
Explore buzzing Tokyo with a free day.

Opt to take in some more sights, visit the museums and gardens, or do some shopping. Meet with the group later tonight for our final dinner together.

Your Discover Moment Tokyo Full Day
There’s plenty to see and do in Tokyo, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like visiting the Tsukiji Fish Market, checking out Ueno Park, and visiting Tokyo Skytree. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!

Accommodation
Shinjuku Washington Hotel

Day 14 – Tokyo
Depart at any time. We highly recommend booking post-accommodation to fully experience this vibrant city.