Japanese Alps and the best of Japan
See Japan’s fascinating cultural heritage, natural wonders and buzzing capital on this 16-day tour.
Discover the best of Japan on this superlative 16-day tour, encompassing the buzzing capital of Tokyo, the natural beauty of the Japanese Alps in Matsumoto, Kamikochi and Shirakawago, as well as the rich cultural heritage and traditions in Takayama and Kyoto. The secrets of the Geisha will be revealed in Kyoto and the mysteries of the past in the preserved town of Takayama. Amble through the jade-coloured mountains around Kamikochi to see sparkling waterfalls and snow-capped peaks, as well as birdlife and monkeys. This tour takes in the best of the modern, the ancient and the beautiful.
Days 1-3: Tokyo
Depart the UK. You will be met upon arrival in Tokyo and transferred to your hotel. Tokyo is one of the most populated urban areas in the world, making it very crowded. However Tokyo also has some of the best shopping, entertainment and dining in the world, and has been awarded more Michelin stars than any other city. On your second day you will enjoy a full-day private tour around Tokyo with a local guide. You have flexibility on what you visit, so discuss with your guide what you would like to do (entrance fees to attractions are not included).
Day 4: Optional day trip (Nikko/Kamakura/Mt Takao)
Tokyo is a fascinating city and today you have another full day to enjoy the array of sights, sounds and tastes it has to offer. Or, if you prefer, take a day trip to one of the many nearby sights.
The two most popular options are the towns of Nikko and Kamakura. Nikko is renowned for its religious buildings, some of the most important in all of Japan. Kamakura is a small town on the coast that served briefly as capital of Japan in the 1100s. Alternatively, head to sacred Mt Takao, with its range of hiking trails and beautiful mountain-top temple complex.
Day 5: Matsumoto
Take an express train to Matsumoto, through the Japanese countryside, passing the famous Mt. Fuji. Matsumoto is an alpine city, surrounded by the soaring peaks of the Japanese Alps. The city is most well known for its stunning castle, as well as apples and soba noodles, and was the birth place of the Suzuki method of teaching violin. The city also boasts a number of good sake breweries and a museum of Ukiyoe woodblock prints.
Days 6-7: Kamikochi
Travel to Kamikochi, a stunning town set high in the mountains and surrounded by snow-covered peaks and emerald forests. Take walks around the area, which range from easy rambles to serious hikes to the summits. The area is home to a wide variety of plant and bird species, as well as lots of monkeys. Kamikochi is one side of Japan that many foreign tourists never get to see. Spend the next day exploring at your own leisure.
Days 8-9: Takayama
Continue to Takayama, set within the Hida Mountain Range and overlooked by a magnificent castle. Step back in time as you visit its perfectly preserved old town with traditional wooden houses, shops and teahouses. Be sure to also check out the fascinating Hida folk village, a collection of old farmhouses which have been collected and rebuilt on top of a hill. The next morning take a stroll round Takayama’s market to see local folk-art crafts and try some regional vegetables and as well miso (fermented soybean paste). Sample some of the town’s most famous product - sake, at some of the excellent microbreweries.
Days 10-11: Shirakawago-Kanazawa
Take the bus to Shirakawago, a beautiful area surrounded by pine tree-covered mountains, rivers and paddy fields. It’s most famous for its unique Japanese thatched-roof farmhouses or ’gassho-zukuri’ (’praying hands houses’), which were built about 200-300 years ago. They were built with large attic spaces, for the cultivation of silk worms. Also take a visit to Ogimachi, the most well-known village in the area, which in 1995 was declared a World Cultural and Heritage Site.
In the afternoon take a bus to Kanazawa. In the past Kanazawa has been an important city in Japan, and was Japan’s second largest city during World War II. It’s now a relatively small and pretty city containing a few small Geisha districts. Take a drink in one of the district’s old tea houses and visit the samurai houses, a ninja temple and the city’s most famous sight, the stunning Kenroku-En gardens; one of the best landscaped gardens in Japan.
Days 12-14: Kyoto
Take the train to Kyoto through gorgeous scenery and past Japan’s largest lake. Kyoto is Japan’s cultural capital; it’s the traditional Japan you imagine, home to bamboo houses, golden temples and geisha elegantly shuffling down the backstreets. It’s also home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, over 1,600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines. However, you will not immediately see all this on the surface and will have to delve into shopping arcades and modern business districts to find this amazing cultural heritage tucked away down the alleyways. In the early evening you will head to Gion; Kyoto’s famous Geisha district, to join a group tour with an English-speaking guide, who will introduce you to this traditional and elegant area of Kyoto and help you discover the secrets of the geiko and maiko, apprentice geisha.
On the second day enjoy a full-day tour with a private guide who will take you on a tour of the city’s sights. The third day in Kyoto is for you to explore the city’s charm for yourself.
Days 15-16: Tokyo
Return to Tokyo and stay overnight. The next day transfer to the airport for your onward or return flight.
The Japan Alps & best of Japan itinerary map
To book, call 0845 643 6561
To book this travel offer, call one of our tailor-made travel experts now, quoting reference WEX102306.
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