The Colours of Japan Group Tour

Arrive in Tokyo, Japan’s vibrant capital, where cutting-edge technology meets centuries-old tradition. After completing airport formalities, an English-speaking assistant will accompany you into the city, offering guidance and support during the transfer and hotel check-in. Travel is by Japan’s efficient public transport network, providing an early chance to see how seamlessly this vast metropolis moves. Rooms are available from the afternoon, leaving time to rest or explore at leisure.

• Hotel Description

Begin the day with breakfast at the hotel before setting out with your English-speaking guide to explore Tokyo. Start with sweeping views across the vast city from the Bunkyo Civic Center observatory, followed by a panoramic look at the Imperial Palace and its iconic Nijubashi Bridge. Continue at the Edo Fukagawa Museum, where life-size reconstructions bring the atmosphere of old Tokyo to life, offering a vivid sense of daily life during the Edo period.

The afternoon is dedicated to Asakusa, one of the city’s most historic districts. Here you will visit Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, with its striking Thunder Gate and incense-filled forecourt. Alongside it stretches Nakamise-dori, a lively boulevard lined with traditional shops selling snacks, souvenirs and crafts that have been traded here for centuries. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

Enjoy a relaxed morning with breakfast at your hotel. The day is free to explore at your own pace or join an optional guided tour (advance booking required) to Kamakura and Hakone. In Kamakura, see the Great Buddha, a monumental bronze statue that has stood in the open since 1495, surviving centuries and the destruction of its temple. Visit Hasedera Temple, famed for its vibrant gardens of hydrangeas and seasonal flowers, and admire the intricate wooden temple architecture.

In the afternoon, explore Hakone’s natural beauty, with views of Mount Fuji on clear days. Discover the serene Hakone Shrine tucked by the lake and witness the volcanic activity at Owakudani, known as the ‘boiling valley.’ (B)

Note: This optional tour is not included in the itinerary. Please contact one of our travel specialists to add it along with the corresponding cost.

• Hotel Description

Your luggage will be transported separately to Osaka, so prepare hand luggage for one night in Kaga Onsen. After breakfast at the hotel, transfer on foot to Tokyo Station and board the Shinkansen bullet train to Kanazawa. Explore this city that evokes feudal Japan, starting with Kenrokuen, celebrated as one of Japan’s three finest landscape gardens, offering beautifully designed ponds, streams, and seasonal flora. Visit the Nomura Family house-museum to experience the samurai lifestyle preserved across 11 generations. Stroll through Higashi Chaya, Kanazawa’s historic geisha quarter, lined with wooden tea houses and atmospheric streets.

In the evening, transfer to the renowned Kaga Onsen resort and check in at your ryokan. Unwind with a hot bath, enjoy a traditional Japanese dinner, and, if you wish, experience the soothing onsen waters. (B,D)

• Hotel Description

After breakfast at your ryokan, depart by private bus to Shirakawago, a village famous for its distinctive thatched-roof houses. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is often compared to Italy’s Alberobello and offers a unique glimpse into traditional Japanese rural life. Wander among the iconic gassho-zukuri houses, admire the steeply pitched roofs designed to withstand heavy snow, and experience the peaceful village atmosphere.

After the visit, travel by express train to Osaka. Upon arrival and hotel check-in, explore the city centre at your leisure. Osaka is known for its dynamic streets, lively entertainment, and vibrant nightlife, offering countless dining, shopping, and cultural experiences to discover on your own. (B)

• Hotel Description

Your luggage will be transported separately to Kyoto, so prepare hand luggage for one night in Hiroshima. After breakfast at the hotel, depart by private bus to Himeji. Visit Koko-en Park, a beautifully restored Edo-period garden, before exploring Himeji Castle, one of Japan’s most iconic castles. Known as the ‘White Heron’ for its brilliant white exterior, the castle dates from the Sengoku period and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.

Continue by private bus to Hiroshima and check in at your hotel. (B,D)

• Hotel Description

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer by private bus and ferry to Miyajima, an island where nature and spirituality intertwine. Explore Itsukushima Shrine, a stunning complex of stilted buildings dating back to the 6th century, famed for its iconic torii gate standing majestically on the water. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant with okonomiyaki, a savoury regional speciality cooked on the griddle.

Return to Hiroshima to visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, reflecting on the city’s resilience, and see the Atomic Bomb Dome, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that survived the 1945 bombing. In the afternoon, travel by Shinkansen to Kyoto and check in at your hotel, ready to begin exploring the cultural heart of Japan. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

After breakfast at the hotel, spend the day exploring Kyoto and Nara by private bus with an English-speaking guide. Begin in Kyoto with Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, an iconic temple set amidst reflective ponds and gardens, immortalised in literature and a symbol of the city. Visit Ryoan-ji Temple to see its renowned Zen rock garden, a masterpiece of simplicity and contemplation.

In the afternoon, transfer to Nara to visit Todai-ji, home to the Great Buddha, one of the largest bronze statues in the world, set within Nara Park where deer roam freely. On the return to Kyoto, stop at Fushimi Inari Taisha to admire the striking corridor of endless red torii gates, a spiritual and visual highlight. Lunch is included, allowing time to enjoy local flavours. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

Enjoy a leisurely morning with breakfast at your hotel. The day is free to relax or join an optional guided tour (advance booking required) to explore Kyoto and Arashiyama. In the morning, visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple, originally founded in 798 and reconstructed in 1633, and stroll through its charming surroundings of Ninen-zaka and Sannenzaka streets, lined with traditional shops and teahouses. Explore the historic Gion district, where geisha culture remains alive.

In the afternoon, head to Arashiyama, discovering the iconic Togetsu Bridge over the Oi River, the serene Tenryu-ji Zen Temple with its mountainside garden, and the famous Bamboo Forest, a place of quiet reflection and unique natural beauty. Return to your hotel. (B)

Note: This optional tour is not included in the itinerary. Please contact one of our travel specialists to add it along with the corresponding cost.

• Hotel Description

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer independently to Kansai Airport using public transport, with tickets provided for your convenience. (B)