Japan in Depth (13 Days)

Day 1: Tokyo Arrival

Upon arrival, our representative will greet you at the airport and transfer to hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Day 2: Tokyo – Sightseeing (B, L)

Begin today’s sightseeing with a visit to the Meiji Shrine – honoring the deified spirits of Japan’s Emperor Meiji and his wife then take in a live performance of traditional Shinto music and Kagura dancing. Visit central Tokyo’s renowned Tsukiji Market, the largest fish & seafood market in the world and walk around the outer market before heading to lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, enjoy a Tauck Exclusive – an exhilarating taiko drumming performance, including a hands-on instruction session and demonstration; try your hand at this time-honored tradition where rhythm, melody, and movement combine to create an extraordinary musical experience.

Day 3: Tokyo – Sightseeing (B)

Visit to the Edo – Tokyo Museum, whose exhibits focus on Tokyo’s history, culture and development from its roots as a fishing village called Edo; the ancient Buddhist Asakusa Kannon Temple; and the Nakamise Shopping Arcade, one of the oldest in the city. In the afternoon, join your Tauck Director for a walking tour of Tokyo’s celebrated Ginza shopping district, considered among the most elegant and expensive streets on Earth.

Day 4: Tokyo – Lake Ashi – Hakone (B)

Board the bullet train for a short ride south to Odawara, and continue on to the scenic hot springs resort town of Hakone in Kanagawa. En route, enjoy a cruise on Lake Ashi; weather permitting, see views of Mt. Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain, looming over the landscape. After lunch, continue on to your ideally located spa resort in Hakone. This afternoon, get your hands around an authentic Japanese culinary tradition during a private sushi and miso making demonstration.

Day 5: Hakone (B, D) 

Visit to the Itchiku Kubota Museum. Itchiku Kubota (1917-2003) is considered one of the most important Japanese textile artists of the 20th century, the museum you’ll visit today celebrates his art and legacy. After lunch, you can explore the Hakone Open Air Museum, renowned for its outdoor sculpture park with beautiful views of the mountain. Or visit the Kirin Fuji Gotemba Distillery, for a tour and tasting at one of the largest whisky-making facilities in Japan.

Day 6: Hakone – Matsumoto (B) 

Depart Hakone and head north through forested mountain landscapes of the “Japanese Alps,” through winding valleys dotted with rice farms, lakes, rushing rivers, and small villages, and visit a private farm. Continue on to the hot springs town of Matsumoto. After lunch, you will see 400-hundred-year-old Matsumoto Castle then relax at your hotel.

Day 7: Matsumoto – Takayama – Kanazawa (B) 

Depart Matsumoto and head for Takayama, a mountain city long famed for its artisans and woodworkers. Do some sightseeing along the narrow lanes of its historic center, and have lunch at a local restaurant known for its Hida beef. Following a lesson in sake making and a tasting at a local brewery in Takayama, continue on to your hotel in Kanazawa.

Day 8: Kanazawa (B) 

Begin your day with exploring the historic Samurai District, where samurai homes are tucked among narrow lanes and canals behind earthen walls and private entrance gates, with a visit to the restored Nomura Samurai Family Residence for a look at the lifestyle of the samurai during feudal times, when they were prosperous; a guided stroll through celebrated Kenroku-en Gardens, considered among the country’s top three landscaped gardens. After lunch, walk through the city’s Omicho Market then cap the day with a private Samurai show at a local temple.

Day 9: Kanazawa – Hiroshima (B) 

Depart Kanazawa by train for Kyoto, then continue on by train to the city of Hiroshima for an overnight stay. In the afternoon, you have a choice between visiting the iconic Miyajima-Itsukushima Shrine that seems to float on water (a photographer’s dream) on Miyajima Island or taking a tour of the local Mazda factory.

Day 10: Hiroshima – Kyoto (B) 

You will visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Museum, and the A-Bomb Dome (Genbaku Dome) – the only structure left standing in the area of the WWII atomic bomb blast that destroyed the city in August 1945, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and Orizuru Tower. After lunch, return this afternoon by bullet train to the historic city of Kyoto, where your evening is free to spend as you wish.

Day 11: Kyoto (B, L) 

Visit to the Kinkaku-ji Temple, set in an ancient garden on the edge of a lake. Hear the story of how this 14th-century temple was burned to the ground by a young monk and then completely reconstructed. Continue on to Nijo Castle, surrounded by stone walls and a moat; tour this 17th-century shogun’s residence and UNESCO World Heritage Site – and discover the secret of its “nightingale” floors. After lunch, meet up with a geisha expert who leads an exploration of the back streets of one of Kyoto’s geisha districts, and shares insights on the “flower and willow” world of the geishas, past and present.

Day 12: Kyoto (B) 

Begin your day with a prayer at the Kiyomizudera (Pure Water Temple) established in 778. Kyoto is known as the craft capital of Japan, and many traditional arts have been passed down through the generations. Experience the revered customs of Japanese culture firsthand during a visit to a private house and your gracious hostess will demonstrate the very specific rituals of a Japanese tea ceremony, followed by a lesson in the paper art of Origami.

Day 13: Kyoto – Osaka – Departure (B) 

After breakfast, take free time until transfer to the airport for your own departure flight home.