Welcome to Japan! Upon arrival at Narita Airport today, you will be met by a local representative and taken by shuttle bus to your hotel in Tokyo. Please note that as other people will be in the same bus, there may be a few stops before you arrive at your hotel (maximum of 3 other stops). Journey time is around 2 hours, depending on traffic. Enjoy the ride, as this is a comfortable and easy way to make today's transfer. Look out for some great views along the elevated highways into town. Upon arrival at your hotel, check in and enjoy your first night in this bustling and vibrant city at your leisure! (This service is on a group basis.)

Tokyo

One quarter of all Japanese live in Tokyo or the near vicinity and with a population of over 12 million inhabitants, Tokyo is one of the largest cities in the world. With its huge skyscrapers, underpasses, overpasses and crowds of pedestrians, Tokyo may not seem the most attractive city on the surface, but the city has a vibrant charm all of its own. The street level detail is what makes Tokyo such an incredibly interesting place to explore and at every turn you will be met with an array of sights, sounds and smells to enliven the senses. The city has many major sights to visit such as Senso-ji Temple in the old downtown area of Asakusa or the fashion hub of Shibuya from where all new trends are said to emanate. All in all a stay in Tokyo is to experience one of the world's most vibrant and interesting cities; a capital hurtling headlong into the future while maintaining its links with the traditions of ancient Japan.

Included in your package, are Tokyo Transport Passes (Pasmo Cards). The passes are valid for all over ground railways and subways in the greater Tokyo region. The passes will have 2,500 yen of credit. When you run out, you can just top up at the automatic ticket machines at any station.

The Pasmo Card is far more than just an easy way of using the subway; you can also use the card to pay the fare in most taxis, to make purchases at many convenience stores and even to buy drinks from the countless vending machines that line Tokyo's streets.

Tokyo Full Day Guided Tour

Today, you will be taken on a full day private tour of the city with a local guide. In order to get a real feel for Japan's capital, you will travel by public transport, just like the locals. On this fascinating introduction to Tokyo, you will have the chance to explore the classic highlights and best kept secrets. Following in the footsteps of your expert guide, you will discover the exclusive features of Tokyo, known only to locals. You are free to set the pace of the day to be as busy or relaxed as you want, as you get to grips with the excellent transport network.

Your guide will meet you at the hotel around 9:00 AM this morning, or any other time you may prefer. Rather than making a fixed itinerary in advance, you will have full flexibility to select the attractions and activities that interest you. This means that you will need to pay for any entrance fees on the day of your tour, in addition to your transport costs. In order to make the most of this experience, please let us know if you have any specific areas of interest, and we will pass that on to your guide in advance. Around 5:00 PM, your tour will end either back to your hotel, or anywhere else in the city that you may wish to spend the evening. (This service is on a private basis.)

Tokyo: Full Day Guided Tour

Today we will arrange for you to meet one of our Insiders who will take you on a day tour of Tokyo. Hand-picked for their passion and knowledge, our Insider experts come from a range of backgrounds – from born-and-bred locals to people hailing from all over the English-speaking world who have chosen to make Japan their home. Your Insider will meet you at your hotel at 9am and from there the sightseeing itinerary is completely flexible. You could visit Tokyo's classic sights and museums, or perhaps you're looking for something a bit different! Instead of ticking off the must-see temples, why not meander through residential neighborhoods and check out some fashionable, new cafes. Or you could explore a video arcade or delve into a Japanese supermarket.

Whatever your interests, our Insiders are experienced professionals who can answer your questions and provide insight on everything from pop culture, restaurants and transportation to what it's like to live in modern Japan. At the end of the day (usually around 5) your Insider will drop you back at your hotel or somewhere in the city if you prefer to continue exploring. Please note that you will need to pay on the day for lunch
and any entrance fees. You can use your IC card for local transport.(This service is on a private basis.)

Today, you will be taking the direct express train to Matsumoto, which leaves from Tokyo's Shinjuku Station (the world’s busiest with nearly 3 million passengers a day passing through the ticket barriers!). Journey time is in the region of 2 hours and 30 minutes, as the train takes you out through the suburbs of Tokyo, before you reach the open countryside with paddy fields, rivers, lakes and of course, the steep-sided peaks of the Japanese Alps. You will be provided with Limited Express Ordinary tickets for this journey. If the weather is clear, be sure to keep an eye out for Mount Fuji from the left hand windows of the train, as you travel through Tokyo's outer suburbs.

Matsumoto

Matsumoto is an alpine city surrounded on all sides by the towering peaks of the Japan Alps and has an almost European feel to it. The city is most famous for its original castle which is only a short distance from the station. This is one of the only original castles in Japan and really gives you a sense of ancient Japan and how the samurai used to live and fight. The city also boasts a number of sake breweries; hidden in the backstreets amongst the traditional buildings, a good museum of Ukiyoe woodblock prints, and is the home of soba noodles, the local specialty which is particularly delicious. The city has a really relaxed atmosphere and a cosmopolitan feel befitting of a city renowned for its musicians and authors.

You should visit Matsumoto Castle. When you arrive at Matsumoto station you can leave your bags in a locker and head off to the castle, about a 10 minute walk away or short taxi ride. The castle is one of Japan's best examples of original castles and unique colored black known as the "black crow castle". There are often volunteer guides at the entrance which are well worth taking advantage of!

Your package includes the 7 Day Rail Pass (Ordinary Car). This pass entitles you to unlimited travel on any trains within the extensive Japan Railways (JR) network. This includes all of the famous Shinkansen "Bullet" Trains, with the exception of the Nozomi Shinkansen. You will be provided with an exchange voucher, which must be exchanged for the pass itself, once you have arrived in Japan. Full details of when and how to do this will be included with your travel documents. You can also use your Rail Pass to make seat reservations for no extra charge. However, this cannot be done until you have exchanged the voucher.

Today, you will delve further into the alps, to the exceedingly charming town of Tsumago. To get here, you will utilize your Japan Rail Pass and board the train to Nagiso, for a one hour ride.

Upon arrival at Nagiso station, you will then take a 5-minute taxi to Tsumago. The taxi will cost around 2,000 yen, and will need to be paid for on the day of your journey. Full details will be provided in your Info-Pack.

Tsumago

Tsumago, the jewel of the Kiso Valley, was once a post town on the old Nakasendo highway linking the ancient capital of Kyoto with Matsumoto. Today, Tsumago is loved for the residents’ efforts to preserve the town’s Edo Period ambiance. Power lines are hidden away and cars banned from the main roads during the daytime so that the beautiful, traditional buildings and flag-stone streets can be seen in their true glory. A stay in Tsumago is to step back in time and experience old Japan; a world away from the robots, gadgets and gizmos that many associate with modern Japanese cities. The walk along the old samurai trail from the neighboring village of Magome through Tsumago and on to Nagiso is highly recommended.

This morning you will start off by taking a bus from Tsumago to the nearby post town of Magome. After exploring Magome, you can continue your journey by walking back to Tsumago via the most beautiful remaining section of the old Nakasendo highway. The Nakasendo was one of the five routes used by samurai to travel between Tokyo and Kyoto during the Edo period and walking it today will reveal a side of Japan seldom seen by either foreigners or Japanese alike. Waterfalls, stone paths, mountain views, and tiny villages all make this a walk that truly shouldn't be missed. Enjoy your final night in Tsumago! Full details of this hike will be in your Info-Pack including a rainy day alternative route.

Today, it is time for your journey to continue onto Kyoto. From Nagiso station, you will board a train to Nagoya, a ride of just over one hour. From there, you will change to the Shinkansen to reach Kyoto, another 35-50 minutes. You should be able to spot the Sanyo Solar Arc on the way, just past Gifu Hashima station.

Kyoto

Kyoto is one of the most culturally rich cities in all of Asia. Home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, over 1,600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines, this ancient city showcases the heart and soul of traditional Japan. Kyoto boasts a variety of world class gardens, majestic festivals and delicate cuisine, which collaborate into something truly beautiful. The colorful changing seasons, feature a different adventure in itself, during every time of year. At first glance, Kyoto appears to have its fair share of neon and concrete, typical of large Japanese cities. However, you will quickly be able to pick out Kyoto’s charming treasures - sacred shrines tucked between shopping arcades, time-honored tea houses nestled amidst modern businesses and mysterious geishas scuttling down backstreets between tourists.

Kyoto Full Day Guided Tour

Today, you will be taken on a full day tour of Kyoto by public transport. Learning through the eyes of a local guide offers the best way to discover this city, that is so rich in UNESCO World Heritage sites, it can be hard to know where to begin! Your guide can offer the insight of a local's perspective, to truly reveal the city's authentic culture, iconic highlights and best kept secrets.

Your guide will meet you at the hotel around 9:00 AM, or any other time you choose this morning, from where you will begin your tour by public transport. Although Kyoto does offer an extensive bus route, we recommend taking a few taxis along the way as well, in order to speed things up and make the most of this experience. Please note that you will need to pay for your own lunch, transport costs and entrance fees on the day of your tour. It will be time to say goodbye to your guide around 5:00 PM, either back at your hotel, or anywhere else in the city you may wish to spend the evening. (This service is on a private basis.)

Sightseeing in Kyoto

Make the most of this free day in Kyoto to continue exploring on your own. This charming city has a tremendous amount to offer, whether you retreat to some of the smaller temples and hidden shrines, or stroll through the bustling Nishiki Shijo Market in search of tasty treats. The Kimono fashion show in the Nishijin textile district is a great way to spend an afternoon, or a traditional boat ride down the lovely Hozugawa River showcases some of the area's finest natural beauty. If you have any special requests for today, please ask and we will see what we can do.

Obubu Tea Farm Tour

Today you have the opportunity to visit Obubu tea farm in Wazuka, rural Kyoto prefecture. Obubu is Kyoto dialect for "green tea". The tour begins at 11am with a cup of tea and a brief introduction in English before you head into the mountains to visit several of the tea fields. Here your guide will explain a number of the growing and harvesting processes. A tea-soba noodle lunch is included with the tour and then later you will have a tea tasting session where you can try eight different varieties of tea. As a souvenir you'll be given two sample bags of tea to take home with you. Please note that to reach the tea farm you'll need to travel by JR train from Kyoto Station for 1 hour and then hop in a taxi for the last 15 minutes (not included) - full directions will be in your Info-Pack. (This service is on a group basis.)

Using your Japan Rail Pass, you will make the journey from Kyoto to Tokyo by Shinkansen today. This transfer will take about 2.5 hours. Not long past Shizuoka, keep your eyes out for beautiful views of Mt. Fuji from the left side windows of the train.

Unfortunately, your journey through the highlights and hidden treasures of Japan must officially come to an end today. From the hotel, you will take a shared shuttle bus to Tokyo Narita Airport. Your driver will be waiting to meet you in the hotel lobby, holding a sign with your name on it. As other people will be traveling on the same bus, you may have to make up to 3 other stops en route to the airport. All in all, this comfortable ride should take around 2 hours.

We hope you had an amazing adventure and we wish you safe and happy travels home! (This service is on a group basis.)