Ancient & Modern Japan

The trip starts in Kyoto, an atmospheric city amid beautiful hills. We gather for the first time at the hotel and enjoy a welcome briefing – a good chance to ask any questions you may have about the adventure ahead.

With more than 2,000 temples, shrines and gardens, Kyoto is a treasure house of Japanese heritage and undoubtedly one of the most fascinating cities in Asia. Unlike many other Japanese towns, it escaped the ravages of both the Second World War and modern urban development, keeping intact much of the spirit and architecture of traditional Japan. Today, we have an introductory tour of the city. Starting with a visit to the Golden Temple of Kinkakuji, built in 1397 as a summer villa for the shogun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga and immortalised in Mishima Yukio's novel, The Golden Pavilion. We then visit the Ryoanji temple, home to the most famous rock garden in Japan, before moving onto the impressive Nijo castle, built in 1603 as a residence for the Tokugawa shoguns. At lunch, we head back to central Kyoto for a stroll around Nishiki Market, known as Kyoto's Kitchen, which specialises in all things food related and is a great place to find seasonal foods and Kyoto specialties, such as Japanese sweets, pickles, dried seafood and sushi. Those who wish may opt to take a leisurely lunch at one of the local restaurants in the area or rest at the hotel. Later in the afternoon, we can walk around historic Gion, the most famous geisha district in Kyoto. Packed with bars, restaurants and traditional teahouses, Gion is most atmospheric in the early evening, when the lanterns are lit and apprentice geishas flit about the back streets on their way to appointments.

Today we make a day trip to the ancient capital of Japan, Nara (approximately one hour each way). With eight Unesco World Heritage sites, it's second only to Kyoto as a repository of Japan's cultural legacy. Our walking tour includes a visit to the best known temples and shrines, including the Todaiji Great Buddha temple. Built in 752 by Emperor Shomu, this 49ft (15m) tall bronze Buddha is housed in what is reputed to be the largest wooden building in the world. We also spend time in the Nara Koen Park, home to large numbers of overfed and slightly unruly deer, and visit the attractive Kasuga Shinto shrine, before returning to Kyoto in the late afternoon.

Today is a free day for individual sightseeing. With so much to see and do in Kyoto it can be difficult to know where to begin. Our advice is to start with a very early visit to Fushimi Inari Shrine, the most important Shinto shrine in the city and known for having thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind the main buildings. Getting there before the crowds at sunrise is the secret for a magical experience. The rest of the day could be spent exploring one of the several well-established and easy-to-follow walking tours that take in many interesting sights. The eastern part of Kyoto is particularly rich in temples and gardens, and one can spend the day in this area, perhaps strolling along the tree-lined canal known as the Philosopher’s Path and taking time for contemplation in one of the many Zen gardens that dot the hillsides. Another day trip to consider is Arashiyama, a pleasant tourist district in the western outskirts of Kyoto. The area has been a popular destination since the Heian period (794-1185), when nobles would enjoy the natural setting. Arashiyama is particularly popular during the cherry blossom and autumn colour seasons. If you are interested in Japanese arts and cultural activities, there is also the option of visiting a cultural show to see ancient traditions, including a tea ceremony and Japanese theatre (these can be arranged locally by your tour leader and subject to availability).

Today is our first experience of the shinkansen (bullet train) as we speed to Hiroshima for the day (approximately two hours each way). Once in Hiroshima, we make a short excursion by local tram and ferry to the beautiful island of Miyajima; home to the floating tori (Shinto gate) of the Itsukushima-jinja Shrine. At high tide, when set against the backdrop of Mount Misen, this tori makes one of the most beautiful and photogenic sights in Japan. Please note, the floating tori is currently undergoing renovation works, but we still recommend a visit to this enchanting island as part of the day trip to Hiroshima. In the afternoon, we spend time at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, both monuments to the fateful day in August 1945 when the city was struck by the first wartime use of the atomic bomb. In the park, there’s a symbolic flame that will only be extinguished when the last nuclear weapon on Earth has been destroyed. We depart Hiroshima late afternoon, arriving at our Kyoto hotel in the evening.

Travelling by train through forested valleys, we make our way this morning to the peaceful and attractive old town of Takayama (approximately four hours) in the centre of the majestic Hida Mountains. We spend two nights here and have plenty of time to appreciate the charm and ambience of this delightful place. In the afternoon, we visit Hida Folk Village, an interesting outdoor museum of traditional rural architecture in pleasant, landscaped gardens, a short walk from our accommodation. We stay in a traditional Japanese accommodation where we can experience the Japanese lifestyle and hospitality (please refer to the accommodation section for more information).

With more than a dozen museums and galleries, and several well-kept temples and parks, there are plenty of ways to spend a relaxing day in Takayama. We start with a short orientation tour around the morning market, held daily along the banks of the Miyagawa River in the centre of town. Here, amid friendly farmers with their familiar (and not so familiar) agricultural produce, it is possible to find interesting souvenirs. Not so far away, and of particular interest, is the well-preserved collection of streets known as Sannomachi, where wooden-built shops, restaurants and sake breweries give the area a medieval feel. For an insight into the life of medieval Japanese officials and the way they dealt (often not so compassionately) with those in their charge, visit the old Government House of Takayama-jinya. The remainder of the day is free to explore the town at your own pace: we recommend a stroll along the temple-lined path called the Higashiyama Walkway and visit the several temples and attractions created by the medieval warlord, Kanamori Nagachika (1524-1600), who longed for Kyoto.

Today we travel by express and local trains to the historic castle town of Matsumoto (approximately four hours). En route, we visit the medieval village of Tsumago, which has changed little from its heyday as a post town in the Edo period. This is the best preserved of the many staging posts along the old Nakasendo Way, which fulfils the same role it did in centuries past: offering food and refuge to travellers. Those who wish can join the leader for a one-hour walk through peaceful forest trails, starting by the Odaki and Medaki waterfalls and finishing in Tsumago. We reach Matsumoto late afternoon, where we have time to relax and perhaps take a leisurely stroll after dinner to see the impressive castle by night.

This morning we visit the impressive Matsumoto Castle. Founded in 1504, this castle, otherwise known as Crow Castle due to its black colour, is one of the two best preserved in Japan, most others having been destroyed following the Meiji Restoration. Its imposing six-storey tower has been designated a national treasure. Please note, the castle preserves its original interior and structure, with very tall steps and steep staircases, which some might find difficult to ascend and descend. We return to Matsumoto train station for our afternoon journey (approximately three hours) to the spa town of Yudanaka, which has some fantastic natural hot springs, where we spend a night in another Japanese-style accommodation.

As well as being home to some of the best hot springs in Japan, the small spa-town of Yudanaka is mainly famous for being the gateway to the Jigokudani Onsen or Snow Monkey Park. Here, the indigenous macaque monkeys have discovered the benefits of descending from the hills to soak and play in hot baths. The sight is most spectacular in winter, when snow covers the grounds and the hot steam creates amazing visual effects but (despite the name) the snow monkeys actually inhabit the area year-round. To reach the park, we walk for approximately 25 minutes on an easy forest trail and we have approximately one-hour to admire and photograph these entertaining creatures. No visit to Japan would be complete without a trip to Tokyo. This afternoon, we travel from Yudanaka to the capital by bullet train (approximately four hours), arriving in the early evening. On arrival in Tokyo, we'll transfer to our hotel and start exploring the bright lights of the big city at night.

If you wish to see more of this wonderful country, today is the last day of your Japan Rail Pass, entitling you to free train journeys to many destinations. A popular daytrip from Tokyo is Hakone, part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, less than 1hr 30min away by train. Home to hot springs, natural beauty and Mount Fuji views, Hakone also encompasses Lake Ashi, which can be toured by boat. Another blissful escape is the coastal town of Kamakura, offering numerous temples, shrines, historical monuments and panoramic hiking trails. If you don’t want to leave Tokyo, soak up the atmosphere of this truly astounding city. While being perhaps the most energetic and futuristic capital in the world, Tokyo remains a remarkably friendly, safe, manageable and delightful place to visit.

Today we have a guided tour of Tokyo. Making use of the highly efficient tube system, we can visit some of the main attractions including Ueno (depending on season) and the lively Senso-ji Temple in the old entertainment district of Asakusa. We will also visit a park or garden, which become especially spectacular during cherry blossom and autumn season. There is also free time to discover other attractions at your own pace. For those with a head for heights, we recommend an optional visit to the Skytree Tower for views of the city. At 2,080ft (634m), it is the tallest building in Japan and the one of the tallest structures in the world. In the evening, the possibilities for entertainment are almost limitless with the Tokyo nightlife as exciting as anywhere in Asia.

Today has been left free for further individual exploration of Tokyo. We recommend visiting the Meiji Shrine; surrounded by tranquil forest, this Shinto shrine is one of the most popular in Japan and combines traditional Japanese architecture with love for nature. For those interested in culture or shopping, there are limitless opportunities with districts such as Ginza, Harajuku and Shinjuku catering for all tastes and needs. Your leader can advise how best to maximise your free day in Tokyo.  

Our Japanese adventure comes to end. Alternatively, if you’d like a bit more time to explore this energetic city, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay. 2023 departures only: Clients booked onto the group flights to London, UK, will be transferred to Tokyo Narita Airport in the evening. If you are not travelling on the group flight, it is possible to join a free shuttle service to Narita or Haneda airports. Please contact our operations team for more information or to request this. Please note, the free shared shuttle departure transfer must be requested in advance with Exodus before departure (all requests are subject to availability and must be confirmed before departure). It is not possible to request this service once a trip has commenced.