Japan Unfolded - From Snow Monkeys to Memories of Peace

After breakfast, meet your guide for a full-day tour using public transportation. Visit the bustling Tsukiji Market – a cluster of food stalls and specialist shops, ascend Tokyo Skytree Japan’s landmark broadcast tower with dramatic city vistas from its high observation decks, great for orienting yourself to Tokyo’s scale and river corridors, and explore Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo’s oldest temple, approached via the colourful Nakamise shopping street lined with traditional crafts and snacks. Return to the hotel in the afternoon.

Travel with your guide via public transport to visit TeamLab, an immersive, map-free digital art museum where projections and interactive installations flow from room to room; it’s sensory and unlike a traditional museum. Borderless, admire the Imperial Palace outer grounds, calm palace gardens and elegant bridges give a sense of Japan’s imperial history amid modern Tokyo; Shinjuku Gyoen — a peaceful, beautifully maintained park that mixes formal French and English gardens with traditional Japanese landscaping. The evening is free.

Depart Tokyo with your guide and driver for Hakone where accommodation is reserved for two nights. Here see Hakone’s dramatic volcanic landscapes and lake which are a contrast to Tokyo’s light and glass. You’ll experience the sulfur-smoking, ride the Hakone Ropeway for sweeping valley and (on clear days) Mt Fuji views, and take a scenic Lake Ashi cruise that frames the shoreline from the water. Overnight Hakone.
Tip: Mountain weather changes quickly — bring a lightweight waterproof layer and expect visibility for Mt Fuji to vary with conditions.

Embark on a scenic day tour with your guide and driver to the iconic Mt. Fuji area. Begin with a visit to Lake Kawaguchi, where you can take in the panoramic views of Mt. Fuji reflected on the tranquil waters (on clear days). Continue to the charming village of Oshino Hakkai, known for its crystal-clear spring ponds and traditional thatched-roof houses. Then, head to Arakurayama Sengen Park, home to the famous Chureito Pagoda, offering one of the most picturesque views of Mt. Fuji framed by cherry blossoms or autumn foliage (season-dependent). After a full day of exploration, return to Hakone for an overnight stay.

After breakfast, transfer to the station and board a bullet train bound for Nagano (tickets included. In winter, visit (Snow Monkey Park) where wild Japanese macaques bathe in steaming hot springs against a mountain backdrop — an unforgettable wildlife moment. In summer months, alternative highland visits (eg. Shiga-Kogen) offer alpine scenery and cooler walks. Overnight in Nagano.

Discover Nagano’s heritage with visits to Zenkoji Temple and Zenkoji Street. In winter, try your hand at soba-making in Togakushi; in summer, visit the Ninja House instead. Return to your hotel for an evening at leisure.

After breakfast, transfer to the station with your guide and board the bullet train to Kyoto, Japan’s cultural heart. After arrival, explore the atmospheric Gion district — narrow streets, wooden machiya houses and (at dusk) the chance to glimpse geisha or maiko moving between appointments. Kyoto evokes Japan’s pre-modern capital in every alley and shrine.
Tip: Evening in Gion is atmospheric — keep your voice low and respect local privacy when photographing streets and people.

Travel by public transport with your guide to Kyoto’s scenic Arashiyama district. Walk the Bamboo Path for that otherworldly columnar light and shadow, cross Togetsukyo Bridge, and visit Tenryuji Temple with its carefully designed landscape garden—classic Zen aesthetics and seasonal colour. Consider a stroll along the Oi River for local cafés and craft shops. Afternoon at leisure.

After breakfast, transfer to Osaka with your guide using public transport and dive into a city famed for its food culture. Kuromon Market offers fresh seafood, street snacks and a chance to sample tiny tastes; Dotonbori is Osaka’s iconic neon foodscape — takoyaki, kushikatsu and okonomiyaki are local specialties. Shinsaibashi is the go-to shopping arcade for fashion and souvenirs. Explore Kuromon Market, the neon-lit Dotonbori district, and the fashionable Shinsaibashi shopping street. Evening free to sample Osaka’s street food scene.

Continue exploring Osaka with your guide. Visit the Umeda Sky Building for panoramic views. Osaka Castle sits in a broad park and tells the story of samurai-era power and reconstruction. Shinsekai is a retro neighbourhood with street food and the old Tsutenkaku Tower — a lively slice of Showa-era Osaka.

Transfer to the station with your guide and take the bullet train to Hiroshima. This afternoon, visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum and the Atomic Bomb Dome — a solemn, carefully interpreted site about the events of 1945 and a global message of peace. The museum’s displays combine personal stories, artifacts and historical context.

Travel with your guide to Miyajimaguchi and take a ferry to Miyajima Island. Visit the famous Itsukushima Shrine, famed for its dramatic torii gate that appears to float at high tide, and its shrine complex built over the sea. The island’s lanes sell grilled oysters and maple-leaf cakes (momiji manju); a ropeway and trails lead to Mt Misen for panoramic views over the Inland Sea.

After breakfast, transfer with your guide to the station for the bullet train back to Osaka. The afternoon is free for last-minute shopping or independent exploration.

Meet your guide for a transfer via public transportation to Kansai International Airport.

• 15 nights' accommodation in a mix of 3-4* hotels
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (breakfast daily)
• Meet and greet at Tokyo Narita or Haneda Airport by English speaking assistant
• Transfer by private vehicle Tokyo-Hakone
• Bullet trains Hakone-Nagano-Kyoto & Hiroshima-Osaka
• Train Kyoto-Osaka-Hiroshima & Osaka Hotel to Osaka Airport
• Ferry at Hiroshima
• Sightseeing as specified including entrance fees
• English-speaking local guides, public transport for day tours
• Entrance fees
• 24/7 local operator support in Japan
• Japan Travel Notes – issued by Innovative Travel

• International airfares
• Meals other than those specified
• Optional tours and excursions
• Porterage
• Tipping/Gratuities (please refer to tour notes for a recommended guideline)
• Personal Expenses
• Departure taxes
• Hotel charges for minibar or any extra charges
• Visas (unless specified)
• Insurance
• Any other services not clearly mentioned in the inclusions above