Day 1London
Fly from London to Tokyo direct, arriving the following day.
You arrive in Tokyo, and will be met by our representative and shown to the correct limousine bus to take you to your town centre hotel.
Have a day in Tokyo to explore at your leisure and acclimatise.
After a relaxed morning, head on to Yudanaka Onsen via Nagano.
Explore Yudanaka's hot springs and watch the snow monkey's bathing in the warm waters. Later take the train to the artisan town of Obuse to see the Hokkusai paintings.
Travel by private line train, JR train and bus to Kamikochi; a long but scenic journey through the mountains to the heart of the Alps region.
Take a full day to enjoy the glorious scenery and walk some of the trails here.
Return Matsumoto by bus and train. Spend the afternoon looking around the city and the Crow Castle, one of the oldest remaining in Japan dating back to the 1500s.
Take the train north to Shinano-Omachi, where you can begin your traverse across the mountains towards Kanazawa. Walk in the Murodo area in the afternoon.
Take the morning to do some more light walking in the area and then continue on to Kanazawa at your leisure.
Visit the beautiful Kenrokuen garden this morning, one of Japan's top three gardens. Later there's time to explore some more of this interesting and artisan city.
Take the limited express train to Kyoto, Japan's cultural heartland. After checking into your hotel you are collected by a guide and taken to a local home to try your hand at a cultural pastime of your choice, such as tea ceremony or calligraphy.
Take in the temples, shrines and gardens of Kyoto at your own pace today. In the evening you visit the Geisha Gion district with a private guide, to try and spot some of these elusive ladies scurrying to and from their appointments.
Just north of Kyoto is the secluded temples of Enryaku-ji, nestled amongst the hills. Take a local train here and spend some time hiking amongst the temples.
Take the bullet train up to Tokyo and have the final afternoon at leisure here.
Take the limousine bus to the airport for your flight onward. Arrive home the same day.