Escorted Tours 2020-2021

Classic Japan
9 days/8 nights | From £9,425 per person | Maximum 18 guests
LUXURY
SMALL GROUP
JOURNEYS
Combining fantastic foodie experiences, remote natural retreats, and a chance to
discover Japan’s historic and ultra-modern marvels, this diverse itinerary leads you
to the heart of an extraordinary and unique country
INCLUSIONS
33
Five-star luxury
accommodation
33
Resident tour director
& English-speaking expert
local guides
33
Airport meet & greet,
& return private transfers
33
Entrance fees, taxes & tips,
& excursions as stated
33
Welcome & farewell dinners
33
8 breakfasts, 6 lunches
& 4 dinners
33
Wifi in accommodation
33
Scenic sundowner
33
Design your Day ® on Day 3
33
Travelling Bellboy ®
33
Traveller’s Valet ®
once per journey
33
Complimentary breakfast in
bed on two selected days
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
››
Capture the spirit
of Japan in a traditional
tea ceremony
››
Experience Japan’s culture,
from ancient traditions to
ultra-modern bullet trains
››
Meet a geiko and a maiko at an
exclusive shabu-shabu dinner
››
Relax in an authentic ryokan
at a popular hot-spring
destination
››
View cherry blossoms in
spring or enjoy astonishing
autumnal colours
ARRIVE/DEPART
ROAD
RAIL
EXTENSION
Hiroshima
Kyoto
Osaka
JAPAN
Tokyo
Hakone
DAY 1: Arrive Tokyo, Japan
Arrive in Tokyo, Japan’s exciting, modern
capital. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy the
expansive views over the city’s skyline.
The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo
DAY 2: Tokyo
Start your day at Tsukiji Fish Market, a
bustling hub of Japanese daily life where a
dizzying array of seafood is on show. Continue
to an exclusive local workshop that specialises
in Japanese drum making and try your hand
at playing the taiko. Enjoy lunch at a local
restaurant, and then visit Asakusa Kannon
Temple, completed in 645 AD, before pausing
in the tiny shops of Nakamise-dori. Tonight,
enjoy a welcome dinner.
The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo | Meals: B L D
DAY 3: Tokyo
Start your day at the Samurai Museum,
where you learn about the customs of this elite
warrior class and get an up-close look at an
authentic collection of their ritualistic armour
and weaponry. Then, receive a lesson in sushi
making followed by lunch.
This afternoon, Design your Day® – giving
you the freedom to choose the experience
that is best suited to you. Select from the
following options:
OPTION 1: Experience Tokyo’s art
Explore the MORI Art Museum to take
in local, contemporary art.
OPTION 2: Step back in time
Learn about the country’s history at the
Edo-Tokyo Museum, built to preserve
the heritage of the city’s last 400 years.
OPTION 3: Sample Japan’s finest sake
Indulge in sake tasting, sampling some of
Japan’s finest rice wine and learning about
its cultural importance.
Return to your hotel for an evening at leisure.
The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo | Meals: B L
DAY 4: Hakone
Travel to Hakone, among Japan’s most popular
hot-spring destinations, and view Hakone
National Park’s coastlines, mountains, lakes,
and many volcanic islands. Board an aerial
tram for inspiring views of Mount Fuji. Enjoy
lunch at a local restaurant before strolling the
grassy hillsides of Hakone Open Air Museum
to admire the contemporary sculptures and
artwork on display, including one of the
world’s finest Picasso exhibits, showcasing
some 300 works by the cubist master. Tonight,
enjoy unparalleled service and traditional
Japanese cuisine at Gora Kadan, a top-rated
ryokan (traditional inn).
Gora Kadan | Meals: B L D
DAY 5: Osaka
After breakfast at your ryokan, visit the Okada
Museum of Art to view its stunning paintings,
ceramics, lacquerware, and bronzes from
Japan, Korea, and China. Then, Ride like a
Local by bullet train to Osaka. Historically
known as a merchant city, today Osaka is
Japan’s undisputed culinary capital. Indulge
in everything from octopus dumplings to
okonomiyaki – a battered, grilled concoction
of cabbage, meat, or seafood, and seaweed,
topped with mayo. This evening, explore the
popular Dotonbori district on a foodie tour,
stopping at a diverse array of restaurants.
The St Regis Osaka | Meals: B L
DAY 6: Nara
Travel to Nara, Japan’s first capital, to visit
Todai-ji, a temple complex and UNESCO
World Heritage Site containing the largest
bronze Buddha statue in Japan. Proceed
to Nara Park, home to hundreds of deer,
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