Discover Japan
Discover Japan
Discover Japan
13 Days Starting in UK and ending in UK
Tour operator:
Tour code:
366
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
12 - 28
Age range:
12-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Meat
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Journey across the Japanese Alps to the cultural centres of Takayama, Shirakawago and Kanazawa on this extensive tour of Japan. On this extraordinary Japan holiday you will of course see modern Tokyo and beautiful Mt Fuji as well as historical Kyoto and Nara.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 - 2 : Days 1-2: Fly To Tokyo
Meals Included: Dinner
Fly overnight to the dazzling metropolis of Tokyo, Japan's capital city. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.
Day 3: Tokyo City Tour
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tokyo is the ultimate 24-hour city, but look behind its frantic, high-tech frontage and you will find plenty of tranquil backstreets and old temples to explore. Begin at the observation deck of the 634-metre Skytree, Japan's tallest tower, before wandering through the old district of Asakusa. Stop to seek out the tranquility of the ancient Buddhist Sensoji Temple, Tokyo's oldest. Next, drive by the Imperial Palace Plaza and later stroll through the classical landscapes of Hamarikyu Gardens. This evening, take a relaxed dinner cruise on Tokyo Bay for excellent city vistas.
Day 4: Mount Fuji
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Take the super-fast bullet train to Odawara. Enjoy a boat trip on Lake Ashi for spectacular panoramas of this beautiful area before venturing up the Komagatake Ropeway. Next, ascend over 2,000 metres up Mount Fuji to the 5th Station, (weather permitting) and take in the breathtaking views over the Fuji Five Lakes area below.
Day 5: Matsumoto Castle
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transfer to Matsumoto and explore the formidable 16th-century Matsumoto Castle.
Stop at a Miso House to learn about the process of making this famous Japanese
seasoning. Travel on to Takayama, nestled high in the mountainous Hida region, also
known as the Japanese Alps.
Day 6: Explore Takayama
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Browse the local handicrafts and fresh produce at the Miyagawa morning market
and wander past some of the lovely traditional houses. You'll also visit several of the excellent local museums – including the Festival Floats Museum, Kusakabe Folk Crafts Museum and Takayama Jinya. Also enjoy some free time in Kamisannomachi Street.
Day 7: Shirakawago And Kanazawa
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Get a glimpse of rural Japan at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Shirakawago which is famous for its farmhouses built in the unique gassho-zukuri architectural style. Continue to Gokayama to have a go at washi paper making, then travel to Kanazawa and meander through the beautiful Kenrokuen Garden, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan.
Day 8: Gold Leaf Making
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Begin the day learning the process of making gold leaf. Next, stroll through
traditional Higashi Chaya (Eastern Teahouse District), visiting Ochaya Shima – a historical geisha house. Later, journey to Kyoto. Capital for 1,000 years, until 1879, today Kyoto is the legacy of ancient Japan, full of tranquil temples, silk-clad geisha and sublime gardens.
Day 9: Explore Kyoto
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Start the day with a visit to Ryoanji, the 'temple of the peaceful dragon' and the
famous Kinkakuji, also known as the 'Golden Pavilion'. In the afternoon, head to a restored Japanese wooden townhouse and try your hand at origami and enjoy the age-old rituals of a tea ceremony with a tea master.
Day 10: Discover Nara
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, remarkable for its 10,000 vermilion torii gates. Continue to
Nara, a relaxed and charming town virtually untouched by the ravages of modernity.
Home to many archetypal pieces of early art and architecture, stroll through Nara Park to Todaiji Temple, meeting the resident sika deer en-route, before exploring Isuien Garden.
Day 11: Koyasan
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The holy mountain of Koyasan is home to over 100 monasteries nestled in a valley enclosed by peaks said to resemble a lotus flower. Arguably the most sacred mountain in all of Japan, Koyasan is the heart of Shingon Buddhism and the resting place of Japan's best known Buddhist, known as both Kukai and Kobo Daishi. Wander around Okunoin – a vast cemetery of 200,000 stupas and enjoy the tranquillity and spectacular views as you discover Kongobuji Temple and the Garan Temple Complex. Later, continue to Osaka.
Day 12: Explore Osaka
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Begin the day exploring Osaka Castle, which is one of Japan's most famous. Next, take a short cruise along the Yodogawa River and stroll through Dotonbori, a restaurant mecca, where you can sample the local delicacies for lunch. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore this fascinating city.
Day 13: Fly Osaka To Uk
Meals Included: Breakfast
Fly to the UK, arriving home the same or following day
What's Included
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Accommodation
3* plus - 4* -
3* plus – 4* accommodation
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Domestic transportation
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Touring with guides and entrance fees
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All meals
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
Although tipping in Japan is not customary, if you feel you have received an excellent service, please feel free to tip your guide at your discretion
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Drinks with Meals
Accommodation
Sunshine City Prince HotelThe Sunshine Prince is located in Sunshine City, a shopping and entertainment hub of Tokyo and close to Ikebukuro Station, providing convenient transport links to the rest of the city. The hotel's en-suite rooms are simple, comfortable and traditionally furnished with a television, electric kettle, a mini fridge and a safety deposit box. Facilities in the hotel include onsite restaurants serving Japanese, Cantonese and Western cuisines, a café and bar and a 24 hour convenience store.
Rako Hananoi HotelBoasting beautiful views of Suwa Lake, the Rako Hananoi Hotel offers ensuite guest rooms equipped with free Wifi, a flat screen TV and a mini fridge. The hotel features relaxing spa and wellness facilities including a hot spring bath and sauna.
Hida Hotel PlazaConveniently located just a 5 minute's walk from Takayama Station and 13 minutes on foot from Takayama's Old Town, the 3* Hida Hotel Plaza offers guests a great stay. The hotel is equipped with its own hot spring baths as well as a restaurant, serving Japanese, Chinese and Western flavours. Your room will include a refrigerator, toiletry as well as an in-room safe plus much more!
Hotel KanazawaClose to Kanazawa Train Station, Hotel Kanazawa is conveniently located and offers guests modern accommodation with a choice of dining options. Pico restaurant serves Western dishes while Japanese cuisine can be found at Kitano Shoya restaurant.
Rihga Gran KyotoLocated near the hub of transportation Kyoto station and many of Kyoto's top attractions, the Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto is in a great location for exploring this beautiful city. It's contemporary guest rooms are complete with Japanese touches and ensuite bathrooms. The hotel features many facilities, including six restaurants, a luxurious bar, a heated indoor pool, and a fitness gym.
Piazza Hotel NaraThe 4-star Piazza Hotel Nara is located within walking distance of many of Nara's tourist attractions, including the national treasure Nara Park. All rooms are air conditioned and include a flat screen TV, ensuite bathroom and free WiFi.
Rihga Royal OsakaIn the heart of Osaka, the Rihga Royal Hotel Osaka provides modern guest rooms with air conditioning, a flat screen TV and free WiFi. The hotel features a fitness centre and an impressive 20 dining options, offering a variety of cuisines from French to traditional Japanese.
Experiences
Learn about Washi Paper MakingDiscover the traditional process of paper making before getting your hands dirty making 'washi' (Japanese paper) the age-old way.
The Art of Gold Leaf MakingJoin a dedicated craftsperson in a small workshop to learn all about the lovely and intricate art of gold leaf making, discover what the gold leaf is then used for and have
a go at doing it yourself!
Learn about Miso SeasoningLearn all about the traditional production of an essential element of Japanese cooking, the fermented soybean paste 'miso', at an old wooden miso house.
Check out our Q&As
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
Yes
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Yes
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
No
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What is the language barrier like?
Japan is a very welcoming place, making it easy to travel around. No matter what part of the country you are visiting, we will always ensure that you have every detail you’ll need to make your way from place to place. If you’ve never travelled to Japan before, the language barrier may be a little daunting, however, this is never a major problem. Often, signs are displayed in the Roman alphabet.
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Are flights included in this tour?
Yes
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
Yes
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If, after our confirmation invoice has been issued, you wish to change your travel arrangements in any way, we will endeavour to make these changes, but it may not always be possible. Any changes to confirmed bookings need to be sent to us in writing via your travel agent. Please refer to our booking conditions for further information and fees.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Customers booking to travel solo can choose our ‘Happy to Share’ option, which may enable them to share a twin room with other solo customers of the same gender who also request Happy to Share, thus avoiding the need to pay single room supplements. Note that ‘Happy to Share’ requests can be received when you make your booking with us but will not be confirmed until your final payment due date.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your Final Travel Documents are usually sent to you 2-3 weeks prior to your departure. Your travel pack will include your tour itinerary, hotel details, flight e-tickets and a travel guide. If you have booked with a travel agent, your tickets will be dispatched to your travel agent unless we have been otherwise informed.
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Will I be travelling with passengers from other countries?
Our passengers generally enjoy the mixture of British, Australian and American clients on tour. Occasionally we are joined by English-speaking passengers from other countries.
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What is 'Happy to Share'?
Customers booking to travel solo can choose our ‘Happy to Share’ option, which may enable them to share a twin room with other solo customers of the same gender who also request Happy to Share, thus avoiding the need to pay single room supplements. Note that ‘Happy to Share’ requests can be received when you make your booking with us but will not be confirmed until your final payment due date. If a share partner is found, the Single Supplement will be removed from your booking. If a share partner is not found, the Single Supplement will remain and is payable with your final balance in line with our normal booking conditions. Either way, our Operations Team will contact you around 75 days before departure to let you know whether a share partner has been found or not. We regret that Happy to Share requests cannot be accepted within 75 days of departure. Wendy Wu Tours reserves the right to change or withdraw this arrangement at any time.
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Do you allow children on your tours?
We allow children 12 years and over on our group tours. We recommend that families with children of any age take advantage of our private or tailormade tours. This will give you more flexibility while on tour.
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Nov 19, 2026 - Dec 01, 2026Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Wendy Wu requires a minimum deposit of 350 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of wendy wu charges.
Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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