The Hidden Japan tour is an odyssey through lost Japan; a journey of discovery - Imperial Kyoto, Matsuyama Castle, the vine bridges and gorges of the stunning Iya valley, traditional theatre in Tokushima, temple lodgings on Mt. Koya and fantastic art-works on the tiny island of Naoshima. This 'IJT Classic' tour reveals a quieter Japan away from the big cities and bright lights.

Accompanied throughout by your expert IJT Tour Leader, the tour starts and finishes in Kyoto, Japan's Imperial capital and home to a wealth of temples, shrines and gardens, many of which are designated UNESCO World Heritage sights. On the first night we have included a group meal at a local restaurant and then we have the following day to explore this fascinating city.

From Kyoto we travel by private minibus 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. We will be exploring the area including the expansive Oku-no-in cemetary with a local Japanese guide.

A ferry crossing takes us on to Shikoku Island which is the main focus of the tour and is a much more rural area of Japan than the main island of Honshu. Stays in Matsuyama, Tokushima and Takamatsu see us exploring a samurai castle, the fantastic Ritsurin Japanese gardens and visiting Naoshima 'art island'. We will also have the chance to see Awa Odori traditional dancing and Bunraku, Japanese puppet theatre.

Matsuyama is famed for Dogo Onsen, the oldest hot spring baths in Japan and you will also have a great opportunity to try Japanese style baths at our luxury ryokan stay in Kotohira. This will be a truly unique experience and the dinners are superb. Kotohira 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.

A short ferry crossing sees us arrive in Hiroshima where we will visit the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum to gain a more poignant reminder of Japan's more recent history. We spend two nights in this area allowing plenty of time to visit scenic Miyajima Island which has a truly magical atmosphere. We have a whole day strolling amongst the deer, taking in the shrines and walking through the primeval forests.

A shinkansen (bullet train) ride back to Kyoto sees us finish up with time to further explore this ancient city.

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.