Splendours of Japan

(10 reviews)

From:

CAD $10625

13 Days

Best Rate: Guarantee

Trip Type: Group Tour

Activity Level: Easy

Celebrate the changing seasons as the jangle of bells and boom-boom-bang of drums accompany a captivating parade of festival floats on the streets of hillside Takayama.

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Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 11 Apr 2026

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Celebrate the changing seasons as the jangle of bells and boom-boom-bang of drums accompany a captivating parade of festival floats on the streets of hillside Takayama. The Activity Level of this tour is Dynamic, meaning this journey features 4+ miles of walking on some days and may involve steep hills.

Highlights

Dining Summary

12 Breakfast (B)
4 Lunch (L)
7 Dinner (D)

Be My Guest

Kyoto: Meet Nakamura Family for a kaiseki lunch at a traditional Japanese Restaurant near Kyoto and learn about local customs.

Dive into Culture

Ginza: With the guidance of your professional sushi chef, make your own selection of sushi specialties. Afterwards enjoy the fruits of your labor with a delicious lunch.
Takayama: Join the locals at the Takayama Festival.
Hiroshima: Sample the famous Hiroshima style okonomiyaki.

Iconic Experience

Tokyo: Visit Tokyo's renowned landmarks and gain insight into how this modern city preserves its ancient roots.
Tokyo: Visit the Tokyo National Museum to browse collections of Japanese art and archaeological objects.
Mt Fuji: Start your day by visiting the small rural village of Oshino Hakkai which is home to eight natural spring water ponds. Next on your travels is a 2,300-meter winding road to Mt. Fuji 5th Station. To end your day, you will ride up to Mt. Tenjo by ropeway and bask in the breath-taking views.
Gokayama: Take some time to admire the peaceful mountain village of Gokayama. Discover their unique homes that have been built without the use of nails and their sloped thatched roofs.
Kanazawa: Learn about the delicacy of the 16th-century craft gold leaf painting with your Local Specialist.
Kanazawa: Enjoy a stroll through Omicho market before making your way to the beautiful Gardens of Kenrokuen which have been shaped over the past one hundred years.
Kyoto: Admire the beautiful golden pavilion of Kinkakuji Temple.
Kyoto: Your city tour takes you to the orange gates of the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Admire this sacred site before visiting Sanjeusangen-do-Hall, where you can view the 1,001 "thousand-handed" goddesses of mercy statues. Continue your exploration of Kyoto with a walking tour through the Gion district.
Kotohira: Bask in the breath-taking views as we visit Kotohiragu Shrine.
Hiroshima: Admire the islands of the Seto Inland Sea as you travel across the Shimanami Kaido Expressway.
Hiroshima: Spend some time admiring the majestic Itsukushima Shrine.
Osaka: Hop aboard the bullet train to Osaka before visiting the sixteenth century Osaka Castle.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

Gokayama: Help support a local business with a visit to a washi paper workshop. You'll watch the family at work and test your paper-making skills for yourself. Your experience directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Must-see Highlights

Explore Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima
Visit the Sensō-ji Temple, Tokyo Skytree, Mt. Fuji 5th Station, Kinkaku-ji Temple, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Sanjusangendo Hall in Kyoto, the Water Temple on Awaji Island, Zentsuji Temple, Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum and Osaka Castle
View Mt. Fuji
See the traditional Gassho-zukuri houses in Gokayama and the beautiful gardens of Kenrokuen in Kanazawa

Trafalgar Difference

Kyoto: Enjoy genuine Japanese hospitality at a traditional ryokan in the mountain hot springs village of Kotohira.

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Trip Details

Product Code: 34487

Tour Type: Group Tour

Accommodation: Deluxe

Transport: Private

Guide Language: English

Travel Styles: Explorer

Tour Operator: Trafalgar (CA)

Supplier Code: 177.1555A

Starts: Tokyo, Japan

Finishes: Osaka, Japan

Duration: 13 days

Departures: Guaranteed

Physical Rating: Easy

Includes

Whats Included

An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
All porterage and restaurant gratuities
All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
Must-see sightseeing
Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
Optional Experiences and free time
On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.

Price

Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $10625 ($817 /day)

Itinerary

Day 1: Konnichiwa Tokyo

Your in-depth exploration of Japan begins in Tokyo. On arrival at Narita or Haneda Airport, take a shuttle bus transfer to your centrally located hotel, where you’ll join your Travel Director and fellow guests for a drink and local appetizers.

Accommodation: New Otani Garden Tower

Day 2: Explore Vibrant Tokyo

Begin your city tour in Asakusa,Tokyo's historic entertainment district, where you’ll encounter the Sensoji Buddhist Temple, one of the city's most colorful and popular temples. Founded in 628 and rebuilt many times over the centuries, Sensoji is Tokyo’s oldest temple site. Next, stroll down Nakamise Street and immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of Shitamachi (downtown Tokyo), admiring the wooden dolls, colorful chiyogami(origami paper) and traditional Japanese sweets. Ascend Tokyo Skytree, the world's tallest free-standing broadcasting tower, for panoramic views of the city skyline.

Accommodation: New Otani Garden Tower
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Off to the Five Lakes District

Your first stop today is the Imperial Palace Plaza, where you can view the two bridges that form the entrance to the inner grounds of the Imperial Palace. You'll have the opportunity to explore the leafy Imperial Palace East Gardens before continuing your city tour. At the Tokyo National Museum, browse collections of Japanese art, then continue to the Ginza district to learn the art of sushi-making with a professional sushi chef. Next, venture to the Five Lakes District, keeping a keen eye out for the UNESCO-listed Mt. Fuji, which dominates the landscape.

Accommodation: Fuji Marriott Yamanakako
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Majestic Mt. Fuji and Timeless Takayama

Admire the reflections of the sky and landscapes in the clear waters, then ascend Mt. Fuji by road to the 5th station at 2,300 meters. Ride up Mt. Tenjo on the Kachikachiyama Ropeway next, for jaw-dropping views (weather permitting) of Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchiko. Then, journey through the Japanese Alps to the beautiful hillside town of Takayama, where you'll enjoy dinner at the hotel. In the evening, visit the Takayama festival where you'll see the spectacular sight of floats decorated with glowing lanterns.

Accommodation: Associa Takayama Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5: Join the Locals at the Takayama Festival

Immerse yourself in tradition as you walk through the Edo-style streets of Takayama's Old Town. Enjoy a lunch of Japanese Hida-gyu – beef from a black-haired Japanese cattle breed, renowned as one of the finest quality varieties of beef. After lunch, soak up the town’s festive atmosphere. Admire the intricately carved yatai (floats), some dating back to the 17th century, featuring karakuri ningyo (mechanical marionettes) that move and dance under the skilled control of tsunakata (puppeteers). Later, return to the hotel.

Accommodation: Associa Takayama Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Experience Gokayama and on to Kanazawa

Journey back in time this morning during a visit to the peaceful, UNESCO-listed village of Gokayama, nestled among five mountain valleys. Admire the unique construction of the local Gassho-zukuri wooden houses that have been built without the use of nails with steeply sloped thatched roofs to prevent snow from accumulating. Later observe local artisans making washi paper and try your hand at crafting your own. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience contributes to the sustainability of this small business. Then, continue to Kanazawa, take a short walk through the Omicho market and enjoy an insider’s view of everyday life in a busy coastal town. Next, visit the gardens of Kenroku-en, shaped over a hundred years before meeting a Local Specialist to learn the secrets of gold leaf painting.

Accommodation: Kanazawa Tokyu
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Onwards to Kyoto Connect with Locals

Board an express train this morning to Kyoto, where you'll connect with locals at a traditional restaurant on your Be My Guest experience. Learn about local Japanese customs from your hosts. After lunch, visit the UNESCO-listed Kinkakuji Temple, home to the famous Kinkaku (Golden Pavilion), the proud symbol of Kyoto and a Zen temple, which has its origins as a 14th-century villa.

Accommodation: The Hotel Higashiyama
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8: Discover Enchanting Kyoto

The blazing orange torii gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine guide your path through the forest, up into the mountains and to a sacred site that has heard prayers for prosperity and happiness since the 8th century. Continue to Sanjusangen-do Hall and admire the intricate detail of its 1,001 statues of the “thousand-handed” goddesses of mercy. Then, enjoy a walking tour through the Gion district, known for its traditional wooden machiya houses and geisha culture. This evening, indulge in dinner with your Travel Director and fellow travelers.

Accommodation: The Hotel Higashiyama
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9: Cross the Seto Inland Sea to Awaji Island Stays With Stories

This morning, leave Japan’s main island Honshu behind as you cross the world’s largest suspension bridge over the Seto Inland Sea to Awaji Island. Enjoy free time for lunch, then take a walk around Yumebutai, a complex of buildings built on the side of the mountain. One of the most striking features is the ‘100 Stepped Garden’ — a group of 100 flowerbeds in small square gardens arranged in grids across several levels on an incline. Visit the Water Temple and admire the reflection of the surrounding mountains, rice paddies and bamboo groves as you descend the steps to the Buddhist temple beneath its still waters. Journey to the small mountain hot springs village of Kotohira, where tonight's accommodation is one of Trafalgar's Stays With Stories - a traditional Japanese ryokan. You'll have time this evening to climb the steps adjacent to the hotel to visit Kotohira-gu Shrine and enjoy breathtaking views of the countryside. Later, perhaps unwind with a relaxing soak in the onsen (hot spring) bath at the hotel.

Accommodation: Kotohira Grand Sakuranosho Ryokan
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10: Spiritual Kotohira and Onwards to Hiroshima

This morningm visit the Zentsuji Temple, the birthplace of one of the most revered figures of Japanese Buddhism, the high priest Kobo Daishi. It is the 75th temple on the 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage, a spiritual journey covering approximately 1,200 kilometers, traditionally completed on foot over 60 days. Today, many pilgrims undertake the route, though modern methods includes cars, taxis, buses, bicycles and motorcycles. Continue to Omishima Island and stop at a local restaurant for lunch. Then, drive to Hiroshima via the scenic Setouchi Shimanami Kaido Expressway, a 60-kilometer highway that links the islands of the Seto Inland Sea with nine individual bridges. Check into your hotel for a relaxing evening.

Accommodation: Rihga Royal
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 11: Set Sail for Miyajima Island Dive Into Culture

Travel by ferry to the sacred Miyajima Island, where you’ll see the UNESCO-listed Itsukushima Shrine and admire its iconic torii gate, which stands majestically in the sea. After some free time for lunch and to explore the island’s spiritual sanctuaries, return to Hiroshima for a visit to the Peace Memorial Park and Museum. Imagine the devastation and horror that followed the world’s first atomic explosion in 1945 as you see the UNESCO-listed Peace Memorial, the only structure left standing in the area, now a powerful symbol of hope for world peace. This evening, indulge in Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, a savory pancake made with egg, cabbage, soba noodles, and meat, seafood or cheese, grilled in layers on a hot plate.

Accommodation: Rihga Royal
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 12: High Speed Bullet Train to Osaka

Board the high-speed bullet train to Osaka this morning and enjoy some free time for lunch and shopping in the Dotonbori Street area. Visit Osaka Castle, a historic landmark that played a major role in the unification of Japan during the 16th century. This evening, join your Travel Director and fellow guests for dinner at a local restaurant, celebrating the memories made during your journey.

Accommodation: Sheraton Miyako
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 13: Sayonara Osaka

Your encounter with Japan’s age-old traditions and modern cityscapes comes to an end, take a transfer by airport shuttle service to Kansai International Airport or Osaka Itami Airport for our onward flight.

Meals: Breakfast

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Tour Operator

Trafalgar (CA)

Family owned and run since 1920, The Travel Corporation (TTC) is the world leader in immersive travel experiences across an extensive range of travel categories. Each year TTC's 40 award winning hospitality and travel brands connect over 1 million happy travellers to the world. We give you access to the 12 DMC’s behind these brands, so you can build your business by capitalizing on the extensive experience, local expertise, and financial assurance of TTC. LOCAL EXPERTISE The world leaders in travel for over 100 years, we offer unparalleled local expertise with a global footprint. Our 12 DMCs, led by experienced in-destination teams, deliver experience rich travel solutions in more than 80 countries. Additionally, our market based teams are on hand to support across our 40 offices worldwide

In Business Since 1931

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Reviews

Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2025

Excellent hotels and knowledgeable guide, but could use a bit more free time. I think there could have been more information provided to help prepare for the trip. For example, there could have a list of things to keep in mind about traveling that were specific to Japan. We did not know certain medications would require a doctor's note to bring it legally until it was pointed out elsewhere. It would be very easy for Trafalgar to send a general email regarding things to do and consider like that. It would also be nice to include information about local customs and expectations so that tourists could be less of a burden on the communities they're visiting. Even adding in a list of helpful words and phrases to know would be nice. The service on the trip itself was very good. I just think it would be simple and appreciated to add a little bit more info up top. I thought the tour guide was wonderful and I was very impressed with the quality of the hotels. I appreciate how much was done on our behalf, so that we could focus on enjoying ourselves and not wait in line to buy tickets or arrange every meal. My criticisms are that there were too many set meals. It would have been better to offer a stipend so that we could order what we want, either at a communal meal or on our own. I appreciate the opportunity to experience elevated local cuisine, but I wanted to try more street level food sometimes. I also think there was not enough free time. There were WAY too many shrines and temples on the agenda. By the end of the tour, most people were zoned out and just wanted to do their own thing. There also could have been more optional experiences. There were two on this trip, but people who had taken other tours with Trafalgar said there were up to six. This is a great thing because it offers group-oriented and guide-led experiences, but if it doesn't appeal to everyone, they have the time to explore on their own. Overall, it was a very nice trip and worth the cost. I would recommend Trafalgar to others.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/13/2025

Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2025

Great tour, but it would be improved. The itinerary was great and I saw many of the things I wanted to see. I have a great deal of feedback to share about our trip. I HOPE YOU WILL READ MY REVIEW OF THE TRIP AS I HAVE SOME VERY SPECIFIC COMMENTS. 1. Disappointed not to see more Japanese cultural venues in Tokyo. We got more of that as the trip progressed to the small old towns, islands, Koto, Hiroshima and southern Japan. 2. We didn't get to see very many good museums. 3. Disappointed the buses were not setup with WIFI or electric plugs, especially when we spent many days traveling on a bus. 4. The tour was a bit rushed. We should have had more time at the many of the small towns and shrine / temples to explore. Time limit was about an hr. at each location. Trip could have been longer than 14 days. Trip especially rushed at Mt. Fuji and the 5 lake district. 5. Tokyo: Poor decision to drop us off in downtown Tokyo main high rise shopping district. We didn't go to Tokyo / Japan to shop at major department stores. We want to see the unique things made in Japan. Like seeing silk fabric and how it is made. The imperial park didn't show much other than the flowers in bloom, couldn't even see the outside of the Imperial Palace. We arrived a day early and saw some sights that should have been included in the tour. 6. FOOD: My NO. 1 issue of dissatisfaction! Didn't like the fact we had no CHOICE in the food we ate! Often times no explanation on what the food was that was put in front of us. Everything preordered and in most cases cold and tempura food not hot and crispy. No explanation of the food meal protocol in terms of courses, like the rice being served last. I don't like sushi or fish, so in most cases I had little to eat at the meals included in the tour. I prefer the option to pick the food I eat. There were NEVER any American type offerings in the menu. Even the food options in the buffet were mainly Japanese food items. We had better meals on our own. 7. Guide did a great job, but she could have used a 2nd person to assist her or had some local guides like what was ADVERTISED in the tour literature. She was very organized , but she could benefit from more training to be more efficient and then she wouldn't have been so stressed. Trafalgar need to provide their guides with technical aides to make it easier, more effective and understandable for communicating with the guests on the tour. She had to write the daily schedule every day on white paper and tape it to the bus driver's back plastic shield, so everyone could always reference the schedule. 8. The guide had a husband and wife who caused her and the other guests problems everyday and it became a real problem for her. She tried to handle the problem best she could, but they created an incident that everyone was exposed to. 9. Hotels: They were all excellent. 10. Buses were all good, great drivers and comfortable. 11. Disappointed NO performances of Japanese dancers, drum show or any type of musical performances. We wanted to see Japanese culture and that is a big component of the culture we missed. I have seen such performances in the US and that was key to the culture. 12. I understand all travel companies have made major cuts to the venues they offer and the sights /components we see during the tours. this has made traveling less enjoyable. In this trip we privately arranged for a kimono dress up evening. Everyone who participated LOVED the experience and many who didn't participate were sorry they didn't. You should provide more optional tours. The tea tasting tour was one of your extra tours, but that option wasn't very interesting. 13. Bullet train: This was a great experience and The guide navigated us through the station efficiently. 14. We could have used more time in Hiroshima. Beautiful city. 15. Cherry Blossom season was why I picked this time of year to visit Japan. Climate change is impacting the bloom season in Japan, you might rethink when you schedule this trip as there were little Blossoms in Tokyo, but we did find one town near Mt. Fuji that had a nice display of Cherry Blossoms. 15. Provide more information on history, explanation on sites we saw along the route, customs and information on Japan while traveling in the bus. We had a very engaged group of people on our tour and they asked lots of questions our guide wasn't able to always answer. She had to look up the answer on the internet or the bus driver.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/10/2025

Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2025

Well Done Trafalgar. Excellent guided tour. Great and well organized, clearly explained and shepherded. Just enough free time to enjoy exploring. Feel we know Japan much more than before, even with research. Be prepared for jet lag both ways. Lots of walking and steps to climb. Worth the cost. Expert guide and optional tour worth while. Incredible transportation systems. Wide ranging, extensive and thorough.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/11/2025