This day marks the beginning of your journey to Japan. As you board your international flight, the anticipation builds—soon you’ll be trading familiar horizons for a land of timeless tradition and cutting-edge modernity. Settle in, relax, and let the long flight become a moment of quiet preparation. Tomorrow, you’ll step into Japan’s rich culture and beauty, but tonight carries the excitement of knowing a once-in-a-lifetime adventure is about to unfold.

Experience four nights of modern elegance at the Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier, ideally situated in the vibrant heart of Ginza. Enjoy stunning city views and savor local cuisine at the on-site restaurant. With a stylish design and 24-hour personalized service, this hotel ensures a comfortable and memorable stay.

A transfer is included from Haneda Airport to your hotel, located in central Tokyo and just a short walk away from some of the city's most popular shopping areas. This evening, please join us for a welcome reception and dinner.

Begin in Asakusa, Tokyo’s most evocative historic neighborhood. Here, religion is not abstract or institutional—it is woven into morning routines, seasonal festivals, food stalls, and family life.

At the heart of the district stands Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple. Passing through the Kaminarimon Gate and along Nakamise Street, guests experience incense, prayer rituals, traditional sweets, and handcrafted goods—many produced by families who have worked these trades for generations.

This walk offers insight into: How Shinto and Buddhist practices coexist, why ritual remains accessible and everyday and how tradition in Japan is preserved through participation, not preservation alone.

Continue to Kappabashi Street, known as Tokyo’s “Kitchen Street.” This artisan district supplies professional chefs across Japan with knives, cookware, ceramics, lacquerware, and the famously realistic food replicas displayed outside restaurants.

Kappabashi reveals Japan’s reverence for craftsmanship. Tools are treated as extensions of the craftsperson and precision is a moral value, not just a technical one. Beauty and function are never separated. This is a tactile encounter with the Japanese philosophy of excellence in the ordinary.

The day culminates with a Sumo experience, offering a rare window into one of Japan’s most misunderstood traditions. Sumo is not simply a sport. It is a ritualized practice rooted in Shinto belief, where every movement—foot stomps, salt throwing, ceremonial dress—carries symbolic meaning. Wrestlers embody ideals of discipline, hierarchy, endurance, and respect, values deeply embedded in Japanese society.

Rise early for the option of experiencing the tuna auction at Toyosu Market.

Later in the morning observe the energetic, friendly people working at the Tsukiji Outer Market. Here, food is approached not merely as sustenance, but as vocation, honor, and relationship. Generations of vendors demonstrate what it means to pursue excellence in the everyday—precision, respect for ingredients, and pride in one’s craft.. A large variety of fish, seafood, fruit, and other well-selected domestic foodstuffs will be on offer. This market is full of small shops and restaurants, making it a wonderful place for trying local Japanese cuisine.

From Tsukiji, continue to a hands-on sushi-making class in Yotsuya. Using high-quality tuna sourced from vendors who supply top hotels, guests learn to prepare several styles enjoyed in Japanese homes:We will make Oshizushi, Temarizushi, Nigirizushi, and Chirashizushi.

Recipes are provided so participants can recreate the experience at home, and the session concludes with a brief matcha experience led by a tea professor—an invitation into Japan’s quieter rhythms of beauty and hospitality.

Step into the layered heart of the nation at the Tokyo Imperial Palace. In the midst of Tokyo’s vibrant energy lies a world set apart—the residence of Japan’s Emperor and a living emblem of the nation’s heritage. Beyond stone walls and grand gates, graceful bridges lead to expansive lawns, centuries-old ruins, and meticulously tended gardens that change with the seasons. While much of the inner palace remains private, the surrounding grounds invite reflection on continuity, restraint, and the enduring symbolism of leadership in Japan.

From there, enter the forested calm of Meiji Jingu Shrine, perhaps Tokyo’s best-known Shinto shrine. Dedicated to Emperor Meiji, Meiji Jingu has stood as a cultural icon for nearly a century. Walking beneath towering trees and through massive torii gates, guests encounter a vision of Japan’s spiritual renewal—where ancient Shinto belief and modern nationhood were intentionally woven together.

Stroll to Hamarikyu Gardens, once a feudal Lord's retreat, and take pleasure in a matcha in a lakeside teahouse.

The afternoon concludes with a choice of modern Tokyo highlights: The immersive digital art installations of teamLab experience, where light, sound, and movement invite wonder and reflection... Or Ginza Shopping.

Tokyo DisneySea is a fantasy theme park in Tokyo Disney Resort that is unique to Japan. Inspired by the myths and legends of the sea, Tokyo DisneySea is made up of eight themed ports of call: Mediterranean Harbor, Mysterious Island, Mermaid Lagoon, Arabian Coast, Lost River Delta, Port Discovery, American Waterfront and Fantasy Springs.

Tokyo DisneySea appeals to all ages, yet was designed with adults in mind. With exquisite dining, immersive storytelling, and elegant design, it’s one of Japan’s most beloved experiences—often ranked the world’s best theme park.

With exquisite dining, immersive storytelling, and elegant design, it’s one of Japan’s most beloved experiences—often ranked the World’s best theme park.

On this unforgettable day, you’ll pause your journey between Tokyo and Kyoto to discover the charms of Hakone—where Japan’s natural splendor and timeless traditions meet.

Board the sleek Shinkansen from Tokyo and glide to Odawara Station, gateway to Hakone. Step into a world of breathtaking scenery as you cruise across Lake Ashi, its mirror-like waters reflecting the majestic, snow-capped peak of Mount Fuji. From there, soar above the dramatic volcanic landscape of Owakudani Valley on the Hakone Ropeway, where steaming vents and sweeping vistas unfold beneath you.

By afternoon, return to Odawara Station and board the Shinkansen. In just two hours, you’ll arrive in Kyoto, where the historic Gion district awaits. Check into the luxurious Gion Ichirin Hotel, perfectly placed to immerse you in the cultural heart of Japan.

Experience three nights of refined comfort at Hotel Gion Ichirin, a serene boutique retreat tucked into the heart of Kyoto’s historic Gion district. Just steps from Hanamikoji Street, traditional teahouses, and quiet temple lanes, the hotel offers a rare sense of calm amid one of Kyoto’s most storied neighborhoods. Thoughtfully designed guest rooms blend understated Japanese aesthetics with modern comfort, creating a peaceful place to rest after days of exploration. With its intimate scale, attentive hospitality, and deeply local setting, Hotel Gion Ichirin invites you to slow down and experience Kyoto with grace and intention.

Begin the morning in the magical hush of Arashiyama’s Bamboo Grove, where sunlight filters through towering stalks to create an otherworldly glow. Wander the landscaped gardens of Tenryu-ji Temple before following the Katsura Riverbank on foot—or by gentle e-bike—to the Monkey Park lookout, where sweeping views of Kyoto unfold below. Early blooming, weeping cherries can be enjoyed at Maruyama Park.

By midday, step into the quiet elegance of a restored machiya townhouse for a private Tea ceremony. Under the guidance of your host, learn the refined art of whisking matcha and savor the delicate sweetness of wagashi confections.

The afternoon invites you deeper into Kyoto’s world of craftsmanship: choose from ceramics painting, indigo dyeing, or calligraphy, each workshop guided by a local artisan eager to share their skill.

Then, explore the historic lanes of Gion, where wooden teahouses line the streets and kimono-clad geisha move gracefully to evening appointments. Often misunderstood in the West, geisha are essentially artists: highly skilled in traditional arts such as fan dancing and shamisen playing, and masters of wordplay and social etiquette. Although geisha numbers have dropped, therefore, in today's Japan, they are also the caretakers of these traditions making sure time-honoured Japanese arts and crafts are not lost. 

Conclude the day with a seasonal kaiseki dinner—each course a delicate expression of Kyoto’s culinary heritage. Stroll the lantern-lit lanes of Ponto-chō Alley, where the city’s timeless charm lingers in every shadowed doorway.

A short morning train carries you to Nara, Japan’s first capital and a cradle of tradition. Take bike tour and step inside the massive wooden halls of Todai-ji Temple to behold the Great Buddha, a bronze icon of devotion and artistry. Continue into Nara Park, where free-roaming deer bow in gentle greeting, and plum blossoms add a splash of color. Before returning, pause in Naramachi, the preserved merchant quarter, where narrow streets invite you to taste regional specialties such as persimmon-leaf sushi or hand-pounded mochi.

Returning to Kyoto after lunch, step into a world of vivid color at Fushimi Inari Taisha, where thousands of vermilion torii gates wind their way up the sacred hillside. Walk partway through this iconic pathway for breathtaking photo opportunities and a sense of the shrine’s importance in the culture.

The afternoon turns to living history. At the Samurai & Ninja Museum, discover authentic armor, swords, and stories of Japan’s legendary warriors. Try on samurai gear or test your skills with a ninja blowgun—an engaging, hands-on encounter with traditions that once shaped the nation. The day concludes not only with a both a greater understanding as well as with memories of standing where emperors, monks, and warriors once walked.

Take your transfer to the airport and fly home or board the train to enjoy your Kanazawa and Japanese Alps extension.

Click this Website Link to see the Japan Extension