Summer Elegance

Tour Itinerary

• Day 1-3 • Tokyo

  Arrive in Tokyo and transfer to your hotel in Asakusa, with free time to explore nearby sights such as Imado Shrine and Hoppy Street before an included group dinner. Day 2 begins at Senso-ji, followed by a food tour in Sugamo sampling local treats, and a stroll through Rikugien Gardens; dinner is at leisure. On Day 3, choose between exploring more of Tokyo or joining an excursion to Kamakura, known for its Great Buddha and beaches, or Nikko to visit the ornate Toshogu Shrine, with your tour leader on hand to help plan.

• Day 4 • Matsumoto

  Today you'll travel to the city of Matsumoto, close to the Kita Alps mountain range. We head northwest from Tokyo by express train, passing close to Mount Fuji and the Minami Alps. Matsumoto is famous for its impressive “Black Crow” castle, one of the 12 remaining original samurai castles in Japan. Make sure you take the time to explore the donjon (main keep) and its museum. Beyond the castle, the city has a very relaxed atmosphere – exploring the riverside merchant's quarter, with its black and white fronted wooden buildings, is a good way to spend the afternoon. This evening, your tour leader arranges an optional group meal at one of their favourite local restaurants, and in summer, chilled zaru-soba noodles are likely to feature. Served on a bamboo mat with a soy-based dipping sauce, paired with an ice-cold drink, there's nothing quite like it. If you're feeling adventurous, you could try basashi – raw horse – a local speciality. After dinner, the illuminated grounds of the castle provide a stunning backdrop for an evening stroll.

• Day 5-6 • Takayama

  On Day 5, the morning is free to further explore Matsumoto before travelling deeper into the Japanese Alps, winding through summer-green valleys to Takayama — long renowned for its craftsmanship. Stroll the preserved wooden buildings of the Sanmachi Suji merchant district, browse artisan shops and enjoy a chilled sake tasting, with a local dinner included. The following morning brings a visit to Hida no Sato, an open-air museum of traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, before free time to explore options such as Takayama Jinya or the colourful floats of Takayama Matsuri Yatai Kaikan. With summer festival season in full swing, celebrations can appear around any corner — or simply spend the afternoon café-hopping and sampling Hida’s proudly celebrated local beef.

• Day 7 • Kanazawa

  Travelling by private coach, you leave the mountains behind in exchange for a day in Kanazawa on the Japan Sea coast. Like Kyoto, the city of Kanazawa escaped bombing during World War II – meaning that it's one of Japan's best-preserved historical cities today. We arrive in time for lunch, which we can grab from Omicho market (not included). Kanazawa is known for its seafood, and the market's kaisendon (fish-topped rice bowls) are local favourites (the queues are long, but worth the wait). Then, we head to the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, where permanent installations include Leandro Erlich's illusory "Swimming Pool". We wrap up the afternoon at the Nomura House in the city's preserved samurai district – where highlights include looking up at the coffered cypress ceiling and visiting the courtyard garden – ranked as one of the top three in Japan by the Journal of Japanese Gardening.

• Day 8-10 • Kyoto

  The day begins at Kenrokuen, explored in the cool of the morning before travelling by train to Kyoto, skirting Lake Biwa en route. After time to relax or wander the historic Higashiyama district, a late-afternoon stroll leads to Gion for a private audience with a maiko, followed by a seasonal dinner celebrating Kyoto’s famed culinary precision. The following day brings a flexible exploration of the “City of Ten Thousand Temples,” with possibilities including Nijo Castle and the bamboo groves of Arashiyama, before an immersive visit to teamLab’s newest digital art space. An early start on Day 10 reveals Fushimi Inari Taisha at sunrise, with free time thereafter for independent discoveries or optional visits to Nara or Hiroshima — each offering its own compelling perspective on Japan’s history and culture.

• Day 11-12 • Hakone

  It's all aboard the Shinkansen bullet train for the journey to Hakone, one of Japan's most popular hot spring resorts, part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Your tickets to the Chokoku no Mori Open-Air Museum are included, and this afternoon we'll visit the sculptures – including works by Moore, Rodin, Kusama and Picasso – set against vibrant green grasses and trees. We recommend trying a relaxing foot bath within the grounds. After you've worked up a healthy appetite in the fresh mountain air, it's time for dinner at our hotel. On Day 12 your (included) “Hakone Free Pass” tickets allow unlimited travel on nearly all transport in the Hakone region – including cable car, funicular railway and even a pirate ship. On today's itinerary is a visit to an old samurai checkpoint to find out about Hakone's past as a “post town” on the ancient Tokaido trail, a trip to Owakudani volcano and, if the weather obliges, spectacular views of Mount Fuji. There will be time to look at the marquetry crafts Hakone is famous for – decorative, inlayed patterns or images on wooden or veneer furniture. Don't forget to try black sesame ice cream before you leave. Dinner is included again at our hotel.

• Day 13-14 • Tokyo

  A private coach takes us back to Hakone Yumoto Station, where we board the train for our final destination, Tokyo. Based in Shinjuku, we're minutes from Tokyo's nightlife district, the Godzilla sculpture and the glittering new Kabukicho Tower. Shinjuku is one of the busiest and best-connected stations in Tokyo, so you can speed to just about anywhere on your final day. It's like a magic (if a little confusing) portal – so use your Insider's insight to your advantage! To round off the tour, we've included a final dinner with the group – a chance to reflect on an incredible two weeks and share memories of your journey through Japan. On Day 14 our tour ends and it's time to say goodbye, before making your way back to the airport, by arranged transfer. If you're continuing your holiday, enjoy the rest of your Japan, or Asia adventure! Our tours aim to be as flexible as possible, so there is no set-in-stone itinerary for each day. You will be provided with Day-by-Day sheets on the ground and your tour leader will outline what you'll do each day in detail. If you'd like to break away from the group and do something different, they can help you plan that, too.