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Splendours of Japan
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4.0Based on
13 days
“
I am still in the afterglow of my trip to Japan. It was busy but enough free time to not be overwhelmed. Scenically it was great. A bit of cultural music and dance in the itinerary would have been nice even if it was as optional experience.
Hugh M. | Traveled in May
5 - Excellent
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Customer Reviews
4.2
based on 14 reviews
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5
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Highlights
Explore Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Kanazawa
Visit the Sensō-ji Temple, Tokyo Skytree, Mt. Fuji 5th Station, Kinkaku-ji Temple, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Sanjusangendo Hall in Kyoto, the Water Temple on Awaji Island, Zentsuji Temple, Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum and Osaka Castle
View Mt. Fuji
See the traditional Gassho-zukuri houses in Gokayama and the beautiful gardens of Kenrokuen in Kanazawa
Selected hotel dinners plus a locally hosted meal
Tokyo: Explore Tokyo’s oldest temple, Sensoji, in the historic Asakusa district. Wander through Nakamise Arcade, lined with traditional treats and crafts, before arriving at the main hall, a symbol of faith, resilience and local spirit.
Tokyo: Rise above the skyline at Tokyo Skytree, the tallest structure in Japan. From its observation deck, you’ll take in panoramic views of the city, from Mount Fuji to Tokyo Bay. It’s a modern marvel and an unforgettable moment that will leave you awestruck.
Ginza: With the guidance of your professional sushi chef, make your own selection of sushi specialities. Afterwards enjoy the fruits of your labour with a delicious lunch.
Tokyo: Visit the Tokyo National Museum to browse collections of Japanese art and archaeological objects.
Mt Fuji: Admire the stunning countryside at Mt. Fuji 5th Station.
Takayama: Sample Japanese sake during a walking tour in the Edo-style streets of Takayama Old Town.
Gokayama: Take some time to admire the peaceful mountain village of Gokayama. Discover their unique homes that have been built without the use of nails and their sloped thatched roofs.
Kanazawa: Learn about the delicacy of the 16th-century craft gold leaf painting with your Local Specialist.
Kanazawa: Step back in time at the Nomura Samurai House, once home to a respected warrior family. Explore its gardens, traditional architecture and treasured artefacts. You’ll learn about samurai life and honour in feudal Japan with a rare glimpse into the elegance of Edo-period craftsmanship.
Kyoto: Admire the beautiful golden pavilion of Kinkakuji Temple.
Kotohira: Bask in the breath-taking views as we visit Kotohiragu Shrine.
Hiroshima: Admire the islands of the Seto Inland Sea as you travel across the Shimanami Kaido Expressway.
Hiroshima: Spend some time admiring the majestic Itsukushima Shrine.
Hiroshima: Discover the rich history when you visit the Peace Memorial Museum and Park.
Hiroshima: Sample the famous Hiroshima style okonomiyaki.
Osaka: Discover another side of Osaka in Dotonbori, a lively entertainment district known for its theatres and street food. You’ll walk the main strip before turning into Hōzenji Yokocho, a stone-paved alley lined with traditional eateries leading to a small temple where locals splash water over a moss-covered statue for good luck. You may also wish to pause at one of the nearby street stalls to try takoyaki — Osaka’s famous octopus snack, said to have originated here.
Osaka Castle: Visit Osaka Castle, built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a powerful samurai leader who unified Japan for the first time in 1590.
Gokayama: Help support a local business with a visit to a washi paper workshop. You'll watch the family at work and test your paper-making skills for yourself. Your experience directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Kyoto: Meet Nakamura Family for a kaiseki lunch at a traditional Japanese Restaurant near Kyoto and learn about local customs.
Kyoto: Enjoy genuine Japanese hospitality at a traditional ryokan in the mountain hot springs village of Kotohira.
Tokyo: Explore Tokyo’s oldest temple, Sensoji, in the historic Asakusa district. Wander through Nakamise Arcade, lined with traditional treats and crafts, before arriving at the main hall, a symbol of faith, resilience and local spirit.
Tokyo: Rise above the skyline at Tokyo Skytree, the tallest structure in Japan. From its observation deck, you’ll take in panoramic views of the city, from Mount Fuji to Tokyo Bay. It’s a modern marvel and an unforgettable moment that will leave you awestruck.
Ginza: With the guidance of your professional sushi chef, make your own selection of sushi specialities. Afterwards enjoy the fruits of your labour with a delicious lunch.
Tokyo: Visit the Tokyo National Museum to browse collections of Japanese art and archaeological objects.
Mt Fuji: Admire the stunning countryside at Mt. Fuji 5th Station.
Takayama: Sample Japanese sake during a walking tour in the Edo-style streets of Takayama Old Town.
Gokayama: Take some time to admire the peaceful mountain village of Gokayama. Discover their unique homes that have been built without the use of nails and their sloped thatched roofs.
Kanazawa: Learn about the delicacy of the 16th-century craft gold leaf painting with your Local Specialist.
Kanazawa: Step back in time at the Nomura Samurai House, once home to a respected warrior family. Explore its gardens, traditional architecture and treasured artefacts. You’ll learn about samurai life and honour in feudal Japan with a rare glimpse into the elegance of Edo-period craftsmanship.
Kyoto: Admire the beautiful golden pavilion of Kinkakuji Temple.
Kotohira: Bask in the breath-taking views as we visit Kotohiragu Shrine.
Hiroshima: Admire the islands of the Seto Inland Sea as you travel across the Shimanami Kaido Expressway.
Hiroshima: Spend some time admiring the majestic Itsukushima Shrine.
Hiroshima: Discover the rich history when you visit the Peace Memorial Museum and Park.
Hiroshima: Sample the famous Hiroshima style okonomiyaki.
Osaka: Discover another side of Osaka in Dotonbori, a lively entertainment district known for its theatres and street food. You’ll walk the main strip before turning into Hōzenji Yokocho, a stone-paved alley lined with traditional eateries leading to a small temple where locals splash water over a moss-covered statue for good luck. You may also wish to pause at one of the nearby street stalls to try takoyaki — Osaka’s famous octopus snack, said to have originated here.
Osaka Castle: Visit Osaka Castle, built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a powerful samurai leader who unified Japan for the first time in 1590.
Gokayama: Help support a local business with a visit to a washi paper workshop. You'll watch the family at work and test your paper-making skills for yourself. Your experience directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Kyoto: Meet Nakamura Family for a kaiseki lunch at a traditional Japanese Restaurant near Kyoto and learn about local customs.
Kyoto: Enjoy genuine Japanese hospitality at a traditional ryokan in the mountain hot springs village of Kotohira.
Cherrypicked hotels, all tried and trustedAll hotel tips, charges and local taxesOn occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised.
Meals
Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
Transport
Luxury airconditioned coach with WiFi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
Guide
An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
Others
All porterage and restaurant gratuitiesMustsee sightseeingAudio headsets for flexible sightseeingOptional Experiences and free time
13 daysDuration
Group TourJoin a group of travelers
48 peopleMaximum group size
5 - 99 yearsAge range for participants
EnglishGuide language
Easy
Light physical activity suitable for most people with average fitness levels.
Starts
Ends
Tokyo, Japan
Osaka, Japan
What's Excluded
Availability
Loading availability...
A
AnonymousVerified Traveler
2.0 | Poor
This was a once in life experience trip. We chose Trafalgar for their reputation though expensive. Trafalgar messed up. We had earlier booked the shorter trip that was available as the longer trip including Hiroshima showed unavailable.
Later, the longer trip with Hiroshima became available, we paid the difference. Then our daughter and son could get time off and could accompany but for a shorter duration, we called, specifically asked that if they could join us on our tour but shorter trip and would return early. We were told yes no problem, they took money.
We all reached Tokyo, to our shock and disappointment we were put on different tours, different coaches, different tour directors. It was a fiasco. We didn't go there to have a seperate vacations!
We contacted Trafalgar, they simply shrugged off as if we made a mistake. Everything was in same tour booking reference!! So how could they put us in different coaches, different experiences etc.
It was so nice of the local Japanese tour company (that Trafalgar subcontracts to eventually) and 2 tour directors to swing into action and do whatever they could. First couple days were seperate, sometimes we would meet at destinations, then we would simply leave the tour and 4 of us go on our own. Then they managed to get us on same coach, and did whatever they could. Absolutly amazing Japanese hospitality and professionalism (not their mistake, they fixed whatever they could and still apologized) . On the contrary, Trafalgar just keeps making stories even till today. Towards end, again the hotel and experience lunch/ dinner were seperate (the Japanese tour company absolutely did everything out of their way to help us) and it was just a bad experience overall. We spend so much money to have a family vacation but the overall experience was not anyone hopes.
If someone would have simply told us at the time of booking, we would not have booked. We would be very skeptical of Trafalgar in future. Hope they learn something and train their people /change processes.
A
AnonymousVerified Traveler
2.0 | Poor
I feel it was very poor it was supposed to be about the wonderful things about Japan and all it was was temples and shrines and running constantly the food was not good many times the bus that you've changed to are awful compared to what I've had before it felt very chaotic at times not knowing exactly what was going on not enough spare time to just look around and be with the street people Japan has a lot to offer and we saw very little of it
A
AnonymousVerified Traveler
4.0 | Very Good
Unhappy that some hotels had no porters.
Tour guide was sometimes unclear about meeting times, meeting spots.
Would have liked time for shopping at a place with high quality Japanese goods.
Overall the itinerary gave a very good feel for Japanese culture and history. Food was very high caliber. We enjoyed our trip and were left hoping to return to Japan someday.
R
Russell L.Verified Traveler
5.0 | Excellent
the most amount of sites in the littlest amount of time
A
AnonymousVerified Traveler
4.0 | Very Good
Itinerary was great but some hotel rooms were so small we could not even open our suitcases for the one night stay.
Also our guide was great but moved so quickly that those of us on the back of the bus could not even see her when we got off.
Itinerary
From Tokyo’s neon lights to Osaka’s culinary delights, the 'Splendours of Japan' trip is a 13-day city sightseeing journey that seamlessly blends tradition and modernity. Explore Kyoto’s timeless temples, relax in Kotohira’s hot springs, and reflect in Hiroshima’s peace memorials. Designed for experienced travelers who relish cultural immersion, the tour package includes a stay in a traditional ryokan and the chance to contemplate world peace. The unique highlight is the easy access to both iconic sites and authentic experiences, offering a holistic view of Japan’s spirit. If you seek a journey where every day reveals a new facet of Japan, this trip delivers.
day 1Konnichiwa Tokyo
Your in-depth exploration of Japan begins in Tokyo. On arrival at Narita or Haneda Airport, take a shuttle bus transfer to your centrally located hotel, where you'll join your Travel Director and fellow guests for a drink and local appetisers.
Location Visited
Tokyo
Accommodation
New Otani Garden Tower
day 2Explore Vibrant Tokyo
day 3Off to the Five Lakes District
day 4Majestic Mt. Fuji and Timeless Takayama
day 5Experience Gokayama and on to Kanazawa
day 6Traditional Kanazawa
day 7Onwards to Kyoto
day 8Discover Enchanting Kyoto
day 9Cross the Seto Inland Sea to Awaji Island
day 10Spiritual Kotohira and Onwards to Hiroshima
day 11Set Sail for Miyajima Island
day 12High Speed Bullet Train to Osaka
day 13Departure from Osaka
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