Day 1 Arrive Tokyo
Upon arrival, you’ll be met and transferred by private car to your hotel. Settle in, then spend the afternoon at leisure—or step outside into the vibrant elegance of Ginza, Tokyo’s most celebrated district, where luxury boutiques, artful storefronts, and refined cafés create an unmistakable energy.

Day 2 Tokyo
Discover the dynamic contrasts of Japan’s capital on a privately guided tour. Enter the forested sanctuary of Meiji Jingu Shrine, honoring the emperor who opened Japan to the modern world, then explore the lively stalls of Tsukiji Market. Stroll the manicured Imperial Palace East Gardens before viewing contemporary works at the Mori Art Museum or the serene Nezu Museum by Kengo Kuma. End the day at Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa and browse Nakamise Street’s traditional shops. (B,L)

Day 3 Tokyo (Nikko)
A two-hour drive takes you into the mountains to Nikko, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where nature and devotion meet in breathtaking harmony. Mist drifts over Kegon Falls and the glassy surface of Lake Chuzenji, setting the stage for the jewel-like Toshogu Shrine, its every beam and carving a testament to master artisans of the Tokugawa era. Step into the hushed serenity of Futarasan Shrine, dedicated to the deities of Nikko’s sacred peaks, and Rinnoji Temple, where three gilded Buddhas glow in the temple’s dim light. Pause over a traditional lunch before returning to the city, carrying the quiet power of Nikko with you. (B,L)

Day 4 Tokyo
Enjoy a free day at your leisure. (B)

Day 5 Tokyo / Mount Fuji / Hakone

Leave Tokyo’s restless energy behind for the tranquil beauty of the Fuji Five Lakes region, where Japan’s most iconic peak reveals itself in shifting light and mood. At Kitaguchi Hongu Sengen Taisha, the ancient gateway to Mount Fuji, centuries of pilgrim footsteps echo beneath towering cedars and the shrine’s elegant rooflines. The Chureito Pagoda rises in bold red tiers against the mountain’s snow-capped form, while Oishi Park frames Fuji’s reflection in the still waters of Lake Kawaguchi, bordered by gardens that blaze with seasonal color.

After lunch, step into the world of master textile artist Icchiku Kubota at his namesake museum, where silk kimonos shimmer with intricate dyeing and hand-painted scenes—each one a meditation on nature’s beauty. Ascend by Fuji Panorama Cable Car for sweeping views across the lakes and the sacred mountain, its slopes fading into cloud and sky. By evening, arrive in Hakone to check into your luxury ryokan nestled in the mountains. Savor a seasonal kaiseki dinner and sink into the healing waters of your private onsen. (B,L,D)

Day 6 Hakone / Takayama (Travel Back in Time)
. Travel by Shinkansen and express train to the charming mountain town of Takayama. Wander through preserved Edo-era streets and explore the historic Takayama Jinya, once a regional government office. Sample local sake at a traditional brewery before checking in at your ryokan for an enchanting evening of kaiseki cuisine and onsen serenity. (B,D)

Day 7 Takayama (Free Day to Enjoy The Mountains)
Today is yours to explore the many hidden gems in and around Takayama — visit nearby Hida-Furukawa or bask in the natural beauty of Kamikochi, a pristine alpine preserve that captures the heart of the Japanese Alps. Your dedicated travel specialist can help you plan today’s itinerary based on your preferred pace and interests. (B)

Day 8 Takayama / Shirakawa-go / Gokayama / Kanazawa
Begin the morning at Takayama’s bustling market, where locals select fresh produce and seasonal delicacies for the day’s meals. Then, journey into the mountains to the UNESCO-listed villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama, where steeply-pitched, thatched-roof gassho-zukuri houses stand as they have for centuries. Once sustained by silkworm farming and mulberry cultivation, these remote hamlets preserve a way of life shaped by isolation and the rhythm of the seasons. In Gokayama, step inside a heritage workshop for a hands-on washi paper-making experience guided by local artisans — an intimate connection to a craft recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. Stroll the quiet lanes, taking in the scent of woodsmoke and the gentle hum of village life, before continuing your scenic drive to Kanazawa. (B)

Day 9 Kanazawa (Castles, Gardens & Tea)
Today, we’ll dive right into the cultural riches of Kanazawa, a city where tradition and artistry thrive – from bustling markets and peaceful gardens to samurai quarters. Start your morning wandering through Omicho Market, tour Kanazawa Castle, and experience a private Japanese tea ceremony at Saisetsu-tei, the oldest teahouse in Kanazawa dating back over three centuries. Take a quiet stroll through Kenroku-en Garden—one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens.  Visit the Nomura Samurai House, with its elegant gardens and artifacts of a warrior’s life, then end the day in the historic Higashi Chaya District, where wooden teahouses whisper of geisha and each step carries the quiet elegance of Kanazawa’s samurai past. (B)

Day 10 Kanazawa / Kyoto
Travel by rail to Kyoto, the cultural heart of Japan. Visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most celebrated temples in Japan founded in 780 on the site of the Otowa Waterfall. Descend into the lively bustle of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka—vibrant lanes lined with quaint shophouses, sweet shops, and street snacks. Sample Kobe beef on a stick or mochi ice cream as you stroll through the iconic Yasaka Shrine and into the Gion District, where tradition hums beneath the energy of the city. Check into your hotel and enjoy the balance of the afternoon at leisure. (B) 

Day 11 Kyoto (Arashima Bamboo Grove & Western Kyoto)
Begin in the tranquil Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, where slender green stalks sway overhead. Enjoy a 30-minute rickshaw ride through the forest before choosing between a hike to Iwatayama Monkey Park for sweeping city views or a ride on the Sagano Scenic Railway along the Hozugawa River. Continue to the shimmering Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), once the shogun’s villa and now one of Kyoto’s most photographed landmarks. Nearby, step into the serene Ryoan-ji Temple, where its Zen rock garden—15 stones amid raked gravel—embodies timeless Japanese aesthetics. Return to the hotel and enjoy the balance of the afternoon at leisure to relax, enjoy a spa session or explore Kyoto on your own.  (B)

Day 12 Kyoto (Fushimi Inari, Sake Tasting & Nara)
Begin the day at Fushimi Inari Taisha, where thousands of vermilion torii gates wind through wooded hillsides in graceful arcs. Walk at your own pace beneath vivid arches that lead deeper into the shrine’s sacred atmosphere. In nearby Fushimi, step into the storied world of Japanese sake at Gekkeikan Sake Brewery, one of Japan’s oldest producers. Learn about centuries-old brewing traditions then savor a guided tasting of signature brews. 

Continue to Nara, Japan’s first capital, where the grandeur of the Todaiji Temple houses the colossal Great Buddha. Wander through Nara Park, where free-roaming deer bow gently in greeting, and follow the stone and bronze lanterns that line the paths to Kasuga Taisha Shrine, a place of quiet reverence and timeless beauty. (B)

Day 13 Depart Kyoto
After breakfast, transfer to Osaka Airport by private vehicle for your departure flight onward. (B)