All In Japan
With all meals, local transport, and luggage handling included there's nothing for you to do on All-In Japan but sit back and enjoy. Covering Japan's classic destinations with a few unusual twists, this trip is full of cultural experiences to give you a stress-free introduction to Japan.
Sometimes, a holiday should just be a holiday: a chance to relinquish all responsibilities, make no decisions, and worry about absolutely nothing. On All-In Japan, you'll do just this. Leaving every aspect of your trip to us, from your lunch to your luggage, you'll be free to concentrate on immersing yourself in Japanese culture - safe in the knowledge that you don't have a penny to pay on the ground.
This tour is an exhilarating journey through Japan's history and traditions, from the refined geisha houses of Kyoto to Tokyo's exuberant taiko drumming workshops. Tour the ancient temples of Kyoto, visit the biggest original castle in Japan at Himeji, and experience zazen meditation at a beautiful temple deep in Fukui Prefecture.
Try your hand at confectionery-making in Kanazawa, visit the fascinating Peace Memorial Park and Museum at Hiroshima, and ride the cable car to the top of Mount Misen for spectacular views over the Seto Inland Sea. Forget the tour bus bubble - we'll take you to meet the artisans, restaurateurs and small business owners who make all this possible.
It's not all temples and tradition, however, and we'll make sure you're well-acquainted with modern Japan - a tour of Tokyo's fashionable Omotesando and Aoyama districts with its many architecturally interesting buildings to Kanazawa's outstanding 21st Century Art Museum.
One of the great features of this tour is the wide range of excellent evening entertainment, and you'll try a huge range of cuisines in all sorts of settings - including do-it-yourself okonomiyaki pancakes, multi-course kaiseki meals, plus an evening dinner with a dance performance from a trainee geisha.
All-In Japan is all about comfort and peace of mind, but don't let that fool you - this is all-inclusive as you've never seen it before: full-on, fast-paced, and packed full of action.
Day 1-2
Begin your all-inclusive adventure in Tokyo, Japan's capital and the most populous city in the world.
On arrival at Tokyo's airport you will be picked up for your shared shuttle back to your hotel in the heart of the city. Your tour leader will be waiting to meet you and answer any questions, and this evening you'll be able to begin getting to know your group over a delicious welcome meal at the hotel.
On day two we hope you'll be well-rested and raring to discover Tokyo. With a private coach at our disposal today, we'll head out to the historic Meiji Shrine, get a glimpse of the city's amazing architecture in the trendy Aoyama and Omotesando districts, before heading to our taiko drumming lesson where you will be introduced to the energetic, choreographed movements of Japan's traditional drumming. This afternoon we will explore the old-world streets and market stalls of the Asakusa district. This is the most traditional area in the city, and home to it's oldest temple: Senso-ji.
Overnight: Hotel Niwa
Day 3-4
Shoot cross-country on the bullet train to Hiroshima, one of western Japan's most vibrant cities.
On day three it's time to make our way west to Hiroshima, a city notorious for its catastrophic role in the events of World War II – yet determined not to be overshadowed by its tragic past. Leave your luggage at the front desk of the hotel this morning and we'll have it forwarded to tonight's hotel while you travel.
This morning we'll hop on the shinkansen, Japan's world-famous bullet train, for a speedy journey westwards. For lunch we'll sample the typical fare of the Japanese traveller – an ekiben “station lunchbox” – complete with included origami set to keep you entertained. In just under five hours, we'll have travelled over 800 kilometres across Japan to Hiroshima.
On arrival in Hiroshima, we'll travel by private coach from the station to our hotel and have a chance to freshen up before we head to the Peace Memorial Park and Museum to learn a little more about the events of 6th August 1945. This evening, we'll lighten the mood with a bit of cookery: learn how to make okonomiyaki, the cabbage or noodle-based pancake typical of this part of Japan.
On day four, we'll jump on a boat at the Peace Park for the 45 minute journey across Hiroshima Bay to the island of Miyajima, a beautiful island on the Seto Inland Sea. Though Miyajima is most famous for its World Heritage Shrine and “floating” torii gate, you're sure to enjoy the traditional town centre, friendly local deer, and cable car ride to the top of forested Mount Misen for fabulous views across the bay.
**Please note the torii gate at Itsukushima Shrine will undergo renovation work from June 2019 to August 2020 to repair salt water damage. The shrine may be partially covered with vinyl sheets during this work.**
Overnight: Rihga Royal Hiroshima
Day 5-7
Travel via Himeji Castle to Kyoto, Japan's cultural heartland and “City of Ten Thousand Temples”.
This morning we'll leave Hiroshima behind and head east toward Kyoto, Japan's former capital and cultural heart. Travelling once again by shinkansen, we'll stop off along the way in Himeji for a visit to one of Japan's finest castles.
Himeji is one of just a handful of original feudal castles left in Japan, and it's the biggest of all. After a five-year facelift, it's never looked so impressive! Finally, arriving in Kyoto, we'll check in to our hotel and have time to relax and freshen up before an evening that is sure to be one of the trip highlights. We'll be joined at dinner this evening by a maiko (trainee geisha) who will give a dance performance followed by time for photos and questions, giving us a rare insight into this secretive world.
On day six we'll have a full day of sightseeing in Kyoto with the help of local guides, giving you an in-depth introduction to this historic city. Travelling by private coach, we'll stop at the Golden Pavilion at Kinkaku-ji, the Zen rock garden at Ryoan-ji Temple, and some other of the city's hidden sites.
On day seven, we'll have another day to explore Kyoto and its impressive cultural heritage. Today's sightseeing will include visits to Gion, the old geisha quarter and Kennin-ji Temple, one of the five most important Zen temples in Kyoto. Finally, to round off our first busy day in Kyoto, we'll head out this evening to GEAR - an exciting, non-verbal theatre show that will provide an interesting modern counterpoint to Kyoto's more traditional arts!
Overnight: Okura Hotel Kyoto
Day 8
Get off the beaten track as we travel by private bus to Awara Onsen, a hot spring town in Fukui Prefecture.
On the way to Awara Onsen, we'll visit the partially reconstructed ruins of Ichijodani Castle Town, which was burned to the ground by Oda Nobunaga in 1573, and stop off at the beautiful temple of Daianzen-ji, where we'll enjoy a lesson in zazen meditation under the tutelage of a temple priest – all the better to appreciate the quiet beauty of our surroundings.
This evening we'll spend the night at a traditional Japanese inn, or ryokan, sleeping on comfortable futon bedding laid out on tatami-mat flooring, with sliding paper screens and an included dinner of fine kaiseki cuisine. Don't miss the chance to try out the hot spring baths – an integral part of any ryokan stay!
Overnight: Haiya Ryokan
Day 9-10
Discover the charms of Kanazawa – or “Little Kyoto” – one of Japan's best-preserved traditional cities.
On day nine enjoy a leisurely start to the morning, sleep in or rise early for another dip in the onsen baths, before taking our private coach on to our next destination: Kanazawa. Kanazawa retains some of Japan's best-preserved old-town districts, has one of the top 3 Japanese gardens in the country and is know for its rich artistic traditions. On arrival we will visit the outstanding 21st Century Museum and the garden placed in the top 3 of best gardens in Japan: Kenroku-en. We will then head to our hotel to check in and refresh before the included dinner served at our accommodation tonight.
Today, start the morning with sightseeing in the old-town districts of Higashi chaya and Nagamachi, to see these beautifully preserved areas and pay a visit to the Nomura Samurai House as well. This afternoon we will get the chance to make delicate Japanese confectionery with a local expert, before heading back to the hotel. This evening is at leisure for you to relax and take at your own pace.
Overnight: Nikko Hotel Kanazawa
Day 11-13
Return to Tokyo for a final two nights in one of the world's most exciting cities.
On day 11 it's time to jump back on the bullet train for the return journey to Tokyo, where you'll spend your final two nights in Japan. Arriving around lunchtime, we'll have plenty of time for an afternoon of sightseeing by public transport and on foot – including the lovely East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Tower (13 metres taller than its doppelganger, the Eiffel Tower), and Zozo-ji Temple – which X-Men fans will recognise as the set of the film Wolverine.
With a final full day in Tokyo, we'll have the morning at leisure on day 12 – giving you time to do a bit of last-minute shopping or fit in anything you haven't yet had time to do. Otherwise, your tour leader will be on hand to take you to the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation on Odaiba Island, a man-made island in Tokyo Bay, so feel free to join them if you choose.
This afternoon you're in for another afternoon of sightseeing by public transport and on foot, taking in the upmarket Ginza district as well as several other interesting sights before your final dinner of the tour.
At last your tour must come to an end on day 13, and you will be taken by shared shuttle back to the airport for your flight home.
Overnight: Okura Tokyo
16th Oct 2021
6th Nov 2021
26th March 2022
2nd April 2022
9th April 2022
16th April 2022
4th June 2022