Step into the past in traditional Kyoto

Welcome to Japan! A private car will be waiting at Kobe Port to take you in comfort on the 2 hour journey to your hotel in Kyoto.

On your first full day in the city we'll arrange for you to have a half day with a private guide to help you get around Kyoto to see the places you've always wanted to visit. During the afternoon you can swap temples for tea as you enjoy a private tea ceremony experience. If you have any requests of particularly places you'd like to see, let us know in advance and we can pass along your interests to your guide to ensure you have the best day possible.

The following day you'll have a guided excursion to nearby Nara, which was the capital of Japan during the 8th century. These days it's a popular draw for visitors wanting to visit some of the oldest temples in the country, including Todai-ji Temple with its vast bronze Buddha statue, and its hordes of curious deer who've been known to interrupt a picnic or two…

Your hotel will be within the impressive, award-winning Kyoto station building with easy access to the public transport network around the city.

Overnight: Granvia

Unwind in Hakone's hot spring pools

This morning you'll take your first ride on the sleek Shinkansen bullet train as you speed east to Hakone, in the foothills of Mount Fuji. The hot spring resort of Hakone stretches along valleys and mountainsides around Lake Ashi, and is best enjoyed by making full use of the buses, mountain trains, and cable car that criss cross the area. Your included Hakone Freepass will be valid on all the transport, including the kitschy yet fun ‘pirate ship' cruise across the lake, which offers views of Mount Fuji on a clear day.

In Hakone you'll be staying in an authentic ryokan inn that dates back to 1614. Ryokan inns have tatami mat flooring, and comfortable, traditional futon mattresses spread on the floor, and a highlight of any stay is the hot spring baths and the kaiseki cuisine, made up of course after course of exquisitely presented small dishes.

Overnight: Motoyu Kansuiro

Discover Tokyo's alluring mix of tradition and modernity

Another Shinkansen bullet train will whisk you in style to Tokyo, your final destination. From upmarket shopping districts to raucous entertainment areas to serene parks and gardens and world-class galleries, Tokyo has more to do than you can possibly fit into a few days. That's why you'll have the services of a private guide on your first full day there to help you make sense of the vast yet surprisingly well-organized transport network. No matter your interests, your guide will be able to adjust the itinerary to suit your requirements.

On the following day you can either continue to explore Tokyo at your leisure, or you might like to escape the hustle and bustle for a day trip to coastal Kamakura, majestic Nikko, or go for a leisurely hike up Mount Takao.

Sadly all good things must come to an end, and on your final day we'll make the arrangements for a private car to take you from your central hotel out to the airport. We hope you have a safe flight.

Overnight: Park Hotel Tokyo