Day 1 to 1 - Arrive Tokyo

The first day of your tour is simply an arrival day with no pre-organised activities. In order to allow time to relax and see some of the sights you may wish to add pre tour accommodation. On arrival please ask at the reception for information on when the pre departure meeting will be held.

New and old collide in Tokyo, Japan's capital city that never sleeps. As you discover the city you will find there is no actual centre to Tokyo but a collection of impressive districts, all full of attractions. Shinjuku is the main cosmopolitan entertainment quarter for restaurants, shopping and Japans busiest rail station. Here huge plasma screens blast out bright, neon advertisements, while side streets house strip clubs and smoky jazz bars. A quieter option is to spend time in Ueno (Koen) Park where you can visit the Tokyo Zoological Gardens, National Museums, wander among the cherry trees and the see the historical Toshogu Shrine.

Day 2 to 6 - Takayama – Kyoto

Your tour leader will assist you in validating your rail pass which you will use on your tour, and then take you on a morning orientation walk via the metro to the Imperial Palace, the Emperor Meiji Shrine and the area of Harajuku, famous for its quirky youth fashion culture. Just after lunch we will catch the train for Takayama.

We take the Shinkansen Bullet train through the beautiful Japanese Alps via Nagoya, Japan's fourth most populated city, bound for Takayama where you will have the chance to test the local rice wine. 'Sake' is brewed using rice, water and white koji mold as the main ingredients.

We begin our introduction to the traditional city of Takayama with a bike ride through the town to familiarise you with the famous sites. Takayama is located in the mountainous Hida region of Gifu Prefecture, which has retained a traditional feel unlike many other Japanese cities, especially in its beautifully preserved Old Town. The southern half of the Old Town, especially the Sannomachi Street, is particularly pretty with many old homes, shops, coffee houses and sake breweries, some of which have been in business for centuries. After our bike ride is over you can lose yourself in the back streets or venture out of town if you're feeling adventurous.

We take the early morning local train to our bullet train which will deliver us to the modern, vibrant Imperial Capital of Kyoto. Kyoto was fortunate to be spared in the World War II bombings and has retained literally thousands of ancient shrines, temples and palaces, some dating back centuries.

There is an optional tour of the city by foot and local bus, including a stop at old Gion Square where the movie 'Memoirs of a Geisha' was filmed. If you haven't read the book it's a great insight into traditional Japanese life and the effects of the war on society. You can also see a geisha dance performance or tea ceremony demonstration.

You will find that in Kyoto, the old and the new co-exist in perfect harmony. Close to the city's famous Toji temple is an impressive 57 metre high Buddhist pagoda dating back to 794AD, the year the city was established as the Imperial Capital. Right next door, the monthly Kobo-san flea market offers a bargain hunter's paradise, where you can rummage through a range of items from second hand kimonos to war memorabilia, food and sculptures.

If you are interested in Japanese cultural history, you may like to visit the Kamo Shrines, called the Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine, which are both recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are among the most important in Japan. Predating even the Toji temple, these shrines were traditionally visited by members of the Imperial court, who would worship Shinto gods called Kami, and ask them to protect the city and help it to prosper. The Shimogamo Shrine is surrounded by the Tadasu no Mori forest, which features trees that are up to 600 years old, while the nearby Kamigamo Shrine is known for sand cones at its entrance, which have been built and rebuilt since ancient times to help purify and protect the shrine.

Day 7 to 10 - Nagasaki – Yufuin

Today we take a morning train journey to visit one of Japan's most famous architectural wonders, Himeji Castle, which amazingly still remains in tact despite the heavy bombing of the nearby town throughout World War II. Known as the 'White Heron' castle because of its brilliant white exterior, the castle features more than 80 buildings, and an intricately designed series of paths within the fortified complex which are designed to confuse any potential invaders. An optional guide can be hired or you are free to explore on foot yourself.

After lunch we board the train bound for Nagasaki. Nagasaki is an attractive port city on the island of Kyushu and the capital of Nagasaki Prefecture. Nagasaki has played a prominent role in foreign trade relations for many centuries and as a result it became the second city after Hiroshima to be targeted and destroyed by an atomic bomb towards the end of World War II. There is an opportunity to take an early morning tour to the memorial park site which is dedicated to the dark day of August 9, 1945 when the bomb struck and destroyed vast parts of the city, killing tens of thousands of people. There is also a Peace Statue and other memorials such as a black pillar which marks the atomic explosion's epicentre in the nearby Hypocenter Park. Above the park stands the sobering Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, which you may like to explore during your free time.

Back on the train again, we head towards Yufuin, a spa town famed for its natural hot water springs or 'onsens'. This a great place for you to rest in the springs surrounded by a naturally beautiful environment. The rest of the day you will be free to explore on foot, or you may wish to rent bicycles.

Close by is Lake Kinrin-ko, named for the shining scales of fish in the setting sun. Hot water gushes from the bottom of the lake, and hot steam rises from its surface on a cold day - a very picturesque place to take photos.

Day 11 to 14 - Miyajima – Kawaguchiko – Tokyo

There is an option to climb Mt Yufu, if you choose this option it is an early morning start to begin the climb. At 1584 metres above sea level it's an impressive feature of the landscape, last erupting over 300 years ago. It's quite a hard climb to the top but the views over the city and the 'Bungo Fuji' area are spectacular. The rest of the day you will be free to explore on your own, either on foot or you may wish to rent bicycles. This a great place for you to rest in the springs surrounded by a naturally beautiful environment.

On our way to Miyajima we visit Hiroshima, the first city in history to be hit by an atomic bomb, and as a result is now dedicated to promoting peace. Your tour leader will take you to The Peace Memorial Park which was built to promote a peaceful world. Here you will see where the bomb hit on August 6, 1945 at approximately 8:15 am. You will also have a chance to visit the outstanding but chilling museum with real images, video footage, various surviving objects, and true accounts left by the survivors. The Atomic Bomb Dome is one of the few buildings around the explosion's epicentre that partially survived the blast and the city's only remaining bomb damaged building. The former Industrial Promotion Hall is now an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After this we take the tram down to the ferry building to Miyajima, the holiest island in Japan, where you can watch sun setting over the famous floating torii gate, which is the entry place to the Shinto shrine Itsukushima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Passing underneath a torii gate on the way to visit a shrine is an act of sanctification and purification. The floating torii can be accessed only when the tide is out. It is common practice for visitors to place coins in the cracks of the legs of the gate and make a wish. As the island is considered a sacred place, the maple trees which cover the island cannot be cut down and deer and monkeys roam freely.

Please Note: Transport to Hiroshima is included but you will need to pay on the day for some tram journeys (about 150yen into Hiroshima and then 400yen on to Miyajima-guchi for Miyajima island).

We travel onwards to Kawaguchiko, a lakeside resort town which offers fabulous views of Mt Fuji (weather permitting). There are other options you can do here such as boat on the lake with a stunning view of Mt Fuji, or take the rope way up the surrounding mountain for an equally impressive view, or take a bus out to Mt Fuji and although you won't be able to climb, you can still marvel at its presence.

Mount Fuji (Fujisan) is Japan's highest mountain at 3776 metres and can be seen from Tokyo and Yokohama on clear days. This dormant volcano, which last erupted in 1708, has long been worshipped as a sacred mountain and has always experienced huge popularity.

Please note: The climbing season is July and August only and if you are here during these months you will have an optional climb of Mt. Fuji staying in a mountain hut. Your tour leader will explain the details on arrival. Outside of these dates an alternative itinerary is offered in Kawaguchiko.

We now head back to Tokyo for our final farewell Japanese dinner together and possibly finish off with our last traditional Japanese experience, karaoke!

Day 15 to 15 - Depart Tokyo

Your adventure of a lifetime comes to an end today, please confirm with the reception the check out time. If you have a late flight or have lengthened your stay by adding post tour accommodation you will have more time to explore the sights.