Japan In Style
Example Itinerary
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Overview
On this itinerary you will have the services of a guide where mentioned in the itinerary however your transfers between cities will be self-guided, full details and information of the trains and routes will be provided.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
How Tailor-Made Works
Discuss your initial ideas with one of our experts, the types of things you want to see and do.
Your expert will start designing your perfect trip. Within a day or two we'll send a suggested itinerary.
At this stage you can still tweak anything from accommodation to experiences and dates, using our expert advice.
Time to prepare for your trip, safe in the knowledge you'll be in the expert hands of local guides and drivers throughout.
Relax and enjoy...through our partners you'll have support on the ground as well as 24-hour emergency assistance in the UK.
Example Itinerary
This is an example itinerary. Our experts have all travelled widely in the region and will be happy to tailor any of our itineraries to suit your tastes and budget, or build a trip from scratch.
Day 1 Tokyo: Arrival
Arriving in the Japanese capital, you will be met on arrival and assisted with the transfer to your hotel.
Day 2 Tokyo: Vibrant Neighbourhoods
Meet your guide to spend today exploring Tokyo by way of its efficient metro system. The day will be tailored by your guide for your interests, however you could start with an early morning visit to the Meiji Shrine, dedicated to the late emperor, entering through the torii gate into the forest of 100,000 trees. Beyond the shrine’s tree-lined confines lies Harajuku and the shops and cafes of Takeshita Street, explore this eclectic, vibrant neighbourhood and wander through nearby Omotesando, Tokyo's very own Champs-Elysées. After lunch take public transport to Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, a traditional Japanese garden introducing you to the traditional design concepts. End the day in Asakusa, the city's oldest Geisha district, home to the country’s oldest Buddhist temple, Senso-ji on Nakamise Street. Enjoy a stroll in this traditional neighbourhood, busy with market stalls.
Day 3 Tokyo: Temples & Shrines
A day of self-guided exploration in Tokyo, you may like to head to the Tsukiji Outer Market, a bustling area of around 400 shops selling delicious food and local specialities. Next visit the Zojoji Temple, the main temple for the Jodo sect of Buddhism in the region and dating from the 14th century. The Tokyo Tower is close by to photograph before heading to the Nijubashi Bridge in the grounds of the Imperial Palace. Next head to the National Diet of Japan, it is here that the Diet sessions of Japanese politics are held and various chambers are open to the public. For your final stop we recommend the Hie Shrine in Akasaka, a beautiful hilltop (with escalators!) shrine, head to the back of the shrine to see the 90 red torii gates stretching out under a canopy of trees.
Day 4 Tokyo – Kanazawa: Historical City
Take the train to Kanazawa, a city with a huge array of cultural highlights, on your self-guided exploration you could head first of all to the Kenroku-en garden, considered to be one of Japan’s top three gardens. The garden is also home to the oldest water fountain in the country and a couple of tea houses. From the gardens head through the Ishikawa-mon Gate to Kanazawa Castle Park, the castle was a huge structure in use for 300 years before being destroyed by fire. An excellent option for lunch is the Omicho Market, a hive of fishmongers and restaurants known for their seafood and sushi. In the afternoon head to the Samurai District and visit Nomura House, a restored house of the a high ranking Samurai family.
Day 5 Kanazawa: Local Cookery Experience
This morning you will meet a local from Kanazawa who will take you first of all to Omicho Market where together you will select some fresh produce, mainly vegetables and seafood ahead of cooking up some local cuisine. The season and what is available will dictate the menu but dishes may include sliced sashimi, miso soup, rolled egg omelet and a special Kanazawa dish. The afternoon is free for you to explore the city further, Kanazawa is known for its crafts such as gold leaf, silk dyes and lacquerware so you may like to explore some of the local craft shops.
Day 6 Kanazawa – Kyoto: Explore the Historic City
Hop on the train to Kyoto and then embark on a self-guided tour of this remarkable city, home to over 1000 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines with 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sights. Kyoto is compact and easily walkable and you will discover traditional neighbourhoods and beautiful parks and gardens. One option would be to head first to Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion to see the beautiful main hall, covered in gold leaf. In the afternoon visit the Imperial Palace, the original seat of the Emperor of Japan, in a large walled complex. After, as sunset approaches, enjoy views over Kyoto in Kiyomizo before heading down the hill to Gion, the traditional entertainment district lit with lanterns.
Day 7 Kyoto: Traditional Tea Ceremony
The morning is free for you to continue exploring, perhaps go to Arashiyama to see the much photographed bamboo grove and then walk the 4km path through the Fushimi Inari-Taisha, a large shrine complex with five shrines, bountiful torii gates and hundreds of stone foxes. If you have worked up an appetite on the walk, head to the Nishiki Market with its many food stalls for lunch. After lunch meet with your guide to visit a machiya, a traditional townhouse you will see throughout Kyoto, learn about the architecture and history as you tour the house. Then, slip into a kimono, the traditional garment worn by Japanese for formal events. You will then take part in a traditional ceremony with a tea master, see the process for brewing and serving the tea and of course enjoy some along with the traditional sweets. The evening is at leisure, you may like to see a Geisha performance in a traditional theatre.
Day 8 Kyoto – Ine: Coastal Exploration
Heading to the coast today, take the train to Amanohashidate to meet your guide and start exploring Kyoto by the Sea. This picturesque coast is home to delightful villages and wonderful views along with the Amanohashidate sandbar, an island stretching across the bay, it is said to have been a ladder used by the gods. After lunch visit the Motoise Kono Shrine, once where the Sun Goddess Amaterasu was enshrined and an important historical shrine. A cable car will take you up to Kasamatsu Park to admire the views before you board a speedboat for the journey along the coast to the fishing village of Ine and your funaya (boathouse) over the sea for the next two nights.
Day 9 Ine: Historic Fishing Village
The village of Ine is home to 200 funaya creating a unique waterside landscape and where the inhabitants have lived in harmony with the sea for centuries. On your self-guided day you will learn more about the village and the way of life here, experiences are carefully chosen and tourist numbers managed to maintain the essence of the village and avoid over tourism and crowding. Take a water taxi ride around the bay to learn about the history of the village and see the funaya from a different perspective. In the afternoon explore the village by visiting one of the preserved funaya, wandering through the narrow streets or stop in at the Visitors’ Centre for some handicrafts. Alternatively you may like to join an e-bike tour.
Day 10 Ine – Kinosaki Onsen: Local Crafts
Meet your guide and head to the Kyotango region where you will be introduced to some of the master crafts of the area. Start off at the sword forge where you will learn about the history of the Samurai swords, see them being forged and try your hand at it if you wish! Next head to the Tamiya Raden Weaving Workshop, Kyotango is known for producing some of the finest kimono silk and here you will see the processes and the weavers at work. You will be earning your lunch today with a hands-on cooking activity with a local food educator. The food in the region is often considered the reason why there are so many centenarians in Kyotango. You will learn about the sauces and ingredients that are the pillars of Japanese cooking. After your lunch you will drive on to Kinosaki Onsen a hot spring town and where you will stay in a ryokan, the classic Japanese style with futon beds, paper sliding doors, hot spring baths and a traditional multi-course meal.
Day 11 Kinosaki Onsen – Hachigoro Wetlands - Osaka: Oriental White Stork
Today is a chance to see something of Japan’s wildlife, visiting the Hachigoro Wetlands, an area of brackish marsh to see the Oriental White Stork, a large endangered bird with a wingspan of up to two metres. Breeding programmes and protection have seen numbers increase in recent decades after they fell dangerously low. Take a short walk with one of the local volunteers to see the birds before visiting the Oriental White Stork Museum. The reserve is set amongst organic paddy fields which provides both an excellent environment for the birds and also high quality sustainable rice. Enjoy a lunch with organic regional vegetables alongside the rice before returning to Kinosaki. From here you will take a train to Osaka, Japan’s gastronomic centre. We recommend hitting the streets of Dotonbori this evening to see the bright lights and enjoy some excellent food.
Day 12 Osaka: Departure
Take the train to Kansai Airport for your return flight.
EXAMPLE ACCOMMODATION
Park Hotel, Tokyo
Situated in the Ginza area of the city, the four-star Park Hotel offers up an elegant blend of modern comforts and Japanese style. Each generously appointed room offers outward facing views across the Shiodome and Shimbashi districts and comes with a range of amenities and comforts including en suite bathrooms, Wi-Fi and TVs. Conveniently located close to the Hamarikyu Gardens it is ideally situated for exploring the modern and historic parts of the city whilst the area directly surrounding the hotel is home to some of the city’s finest restaurants and bars. The hotel itself also boasts a choice of fine dining options with a Michelin star French restaurant and a more traditional Japanese menu on offer. The hotel is renowned for supporting Japanese artists and the "Artist rooms" offer a unique opportunity to stay in a one-off room painted by local artists.
Noku Hotel, Kyoto
The Noku Hotel Kyoto is a smart and comfortable boutique hotel. If you are looking for location and style, the Noku Hotel Kyoto is a great choice. The hotel is within walking distance of downtown but, more importantly, it’s right at the southwest corner of the Kyoto Imperial Palace Park, so you can start or end each day with a relaxing stroll in the park. It’s also directly above Marutamachi Station on the Marutamachi subway line, which gives you easy access to many parts of Kyoto.
Traditional Funaya, Ine
There are around 200 historic funaya boathouses lining the sea in Ine and number of them have been converted into boutique guesthouses. Each funaya varies in size and decor, most consist of two floors with a dining floor and then a bedroom and living area on the second floor. All however have views straight out onto the sea with large picture windows to make sure that guests feel like they are over the water. Some do have a terrace and there are a couple with bathtubs on the terrace. Most funaya will be traditional with tatami mats, futon beds and yukata provided for guests to wear. The hosts tend to provide dinner as well as breakfast but there are dining options in the village if you prefer. The funaya all offer a high standard of accommodation and this is very much a great experience and variation for your stay in Japan.
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Accommodation listed here is intended as a guide only, to give you a taste of what we can do. Our experts can tailor any aspect of this itinerary and accommodation to suit your budget and tastes.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
MEALS
TRANSPORT
ENTRANCE FEES
EXPERT TEAM
ACCOMMODATION
WILD MILES
ACCOMMODATION
Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
This itinerary is aimed to give you an idea of what we can offer. The price shown above is per person, based on two people travelling outside of peak periods. As this itinerary is only a suggestion and can be tailor-made to suit your interests and budget, your final price may differ.
Positive Impact of this Trip
Making a Difference
Community Tourism
People and local communities have always been at the heart of Wild Frontiers and the travel experiences we offer. Through community tourism we have the opportunity to generate real positive impact, supporting people we visit through sustainable local development, and in turn help to alleviate poverty and protect culture and environments in often more vulnerable destinations. While doing so, our clients gain richer travel experiences and more meaningful connections with the people they meet.
Conservation and Climate Action
As a travel company, we hold a responsibility to minimise our environmental footprint and contribute to sustainability, and work closely with local communities to support their efforts. By implementing initiatives such as carbon measuring, tree-planting, reducing single-use plastic and promoting eco-friendly practices, we can help mitigate the negative impacts of tourism on fragile ecosystems and local communities. Additionally, prioritising conservation efforts helps preserve natural habitats and wildlife, ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy the wonders of our planet.
Wild Frontiers Foundation
The Wild Frontiers Foundation aims to provide a platform to create awareness, raise money and deliver funding to projects in countries where we operate as a travel company. Through the foundation, we are able to channel money into grass roots projects, which we have either established ourselves or support through charity partners. These include initiatives focused around education, the empowerment of local people and community conservation.
START PLANNING YOUR TRIP
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WHY WILD FRONTIERS?
Expert travel consultants
Up-to-date knowledge and advice from our experienced consultants on the best places to stay, things to do and regions to visit to make your holiday the trip of a lifetime.
EXPERIENCED LOCAL GUIDES
We use experienced local guides to help bring the sights to life, introduce you to local characters and ensure you get under the skin of your destination.
HAND-PICKED ACCOMMODATION
Whether you are looking for a boutique hotel, homestay, local guesthouse, luxury spa, tented camp or heritage hotel, our experts can select the perfect property for you.
24-HOUR SUPPORT
Our local agents are there to help you on the ground should you need any assistance, and in addition you will be given a 24-hour UK emergency phone number.OTHER ITINERARIES IN JAPAN
Check out our group tours in Japan
As well as private tailor-made trips, we also offer small group tours (max size 12) to Japan. Led by an experienced tour leader, travel with a group of like-minded people on one of our award-winning group tours.
View Group Tours in Japan