Luxury Japan

Your guide will meet you today in the hotel lobby to run through your trip and offer any local advice to you so you can enjoy the country with confidence. In the first section the guide will explain your itinerary in more detail and answer any questions you might have. This can take up to two hours so afterwards head out with your guide to see some of the highlights of the city. Perhaps start with taking a cruise up from the Hamarikyu gardens up to the old district of Asakusa to see the beautiful Sensoji temple.

Spend the morning at a Sumo stable in the Ryogoku area of the city to watch Sumo wrestlers training up close. The national sport in Japan is still widely followed today and has millions of avid followers worldwide. After the training, head out for a typical Sumo lunch accompanied by some of the wrestlers to get a unique look at their lifestyles.

Travel by bullet train and local lines to Tsumago, a quiet post town in the Kiso Valley. This afternoon walk along the scenic Nakasendo Highway, which once connected Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo) in the 1800s

At leisure to walk along and explore the Nakasendo Highway

Take the train back to Nagoya and then travel West to Hiroshima.

Have a full day at leisure to explore Hiroshima and nearby Miyajima island, with its "floating" torii gate.

Travel to Kyoto. With 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, more than 1600 Buddhist temples and over 400 Shinto Shrines, Kyoto is one of the worlds most culturally rich cities. Take the afternoon at leisure to find your feet in Kyoto. Perhaps follow the Kamo river North to see the philosopher's walk and silver pavillion (Kinkakuji).

In the morning, head out with a local guide to see some of the spectacular temples in Kyoto. Stop at Kodai-ji, one of the most exclusive places for tea ceremonies in the city, before continuing on to the Higashiyama district to gaze upon the awe-inspiring architecture of the area. In the evening, set out to the Gion geisha district to the East of the city to hopefully spot a geisha as they go about their business.

This morning, head out on a tour of the Nishiki market in Kyoto also known as "Kyoto's kitchen". The guide is the owner and head chef at a restaurant nearby. In the tour, you will walk around the market where the guide selects their locally produced ingredients such as vegetables from Ohara and Satsuma beef raised in Southern Kyushu. Return to his restaurant in the evening for a special dinner cooked using all the ingredients you source together.

Visit the Fushimi Inari shrine, famous for its never-ending vermillion gates. Then, visit Nara where you can see the Todaiji Temple (the largest wooden structure in the country) and see the bowing deer - they have learned to bow for food in typical Japanese fashion!

Transfer to the Hakone National Park area by bullet train and local lines. You have the rest of the day to explore at your own pace or simply relax in your luxurious accommodation.

At leisure in the Hakone National Park

Return to Tokyo for your final afternoon at leisure in Japan

Today you are transferred by private car to Narita airport in time for your return flight. Your return flight will arrive the same day.