We begin in Tokyo where our modern hotel is well situated in Asakusa, the oldest and perhaps the most interesting district of Japan's capital city with Sensoji temple and Nakamise-dori right on our doorstep. On the first night we have included a group meal at a local restaurant and then we have the following day to explore the city.

From Tokyo we take the Bullet train to Hikone, famed for its stunning original samurai Castle.  Exploring this area you gain an interesting insight into feudal Japan and enter the ancient world of the samurai. There is also the opportunity to visit the beautiful gardens surrounding the castle as well as the interesting castle museum.

Another journey on the super-fast Shinkansen will take us to Hiroshima, where we will the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum to gain a more poignant reminder of Japan's more recent history.

From Hiroshima it is only a short hop to the Island of Miyajima. Miyajima is one of Japan's three top sights and has a truly magical atmosphere. We have a whole day strolling amongst the deer, taking in the shrines and walking through the primeval forests. This will be our first stay in Japanese style accommodation and a delicious dinner is included at the hotel.

We will take a scenic ferry ride from Miyajima to Hiroshima Port and then pick up the Hydrofoil to rural Shikoku Island. We will begin our stay on Shikoku in the castle town of Matsuyama where we stay in Dogo Onsen, which offers a chance to take a dip in the oldest hot spring baths in Japan.

You will also have a great opportunity to try Japanese style baths at our next stop in Kotohira. Staying at a luxury Japanese Ryokan this will be a truly unique experience and the dinners are superb. This is a small pilgrimage town full of character and from here we will also do a day trip to the stunning Iya Valley where we explore vine bridges and see some beautiful scenery.

From Kotohira we head back to Honshu and a one night stay in Nara, one of Japan's former capitals. There will be plenty of time to stroll through the deer park and visit the Daibutsu (Giant Buddha) of Todai-ji temple.

We will then make our way by train and cable car to the mysterious Mt. Koya religious complex. Here we will stay at temple lodgings and have the chance to witness traditional ceremonies as well as try some fantastic Buddhist vegetarian cuisine.

Next stop is Kyoto, the old capital of Japan and still very much its cultural heart. Our smart, western style hotel is located by the river Kamo and is a short walk to the centre of town. We have a full two and a half days to explore Kyoto and there is certainly lots to see!

We finish the tour with a final night back amidst the bright lights of Tokyo.

This is a unique tour and is for those who wish to see the main cities but also delve a little deeper into rural Japan. It is a great opportunity to see a Japan rarely seen by most visitors and features some excellent ryokan and hotel stays as well as numerous great meals.