Tour the secret gardens and temples of Kyoto, Japan's Imperial capital for over a thousand years.

You will begin your adventure in Japan at Kansai International Airport, located on a man-made island outside Osaka. From here you will transfer by private car to Kyoto. The itinerary for the rest of the day is up to you – your personalised Info-Pack will include all sorts of ideas for how to spend your free time here, from the Golden Pavillion at Kinkaku-ji Temple to the traditional shopping streets of the Higashiyama quarter.

Having hopefully overcome your jetlag, you will spend your first full day in Kyoto with an expert private guide who will take you on a tour of some of the hidden gardens and ancient temples of this beautiful city. Stepping away from the main tourist sights will really allow you to enjoy Kyoto's gardens and to tour the city in relative tranquillity. You will be visiting a variety of garden styles, including dry stone gardens, stroll gardens, and gardens that use the “borrowed scenery” technique.

Day three of your itinerary will be free for you to continue exploring Kyoto at your own pace. We suggest that you wander through the bamboo groves in Arashiyama or browse the eclectic offerings at the central Nishiki market.

If you fancy getting out of the city, you could take a train to Todai-ji temple in nearby Nara, home to the world's largest bronze Buddha statue. Alternatively, you could walk through the hundreds of vermillion tori gates at Fushimi Inari shrine – as featured in the film Memoirs of a Geisha.

Overnight: Celestine Kyoto Gion

Take the bullet train to Hiroshima, then hop across to sacred Miyajima Island where you'll stay in a beautiful traditional inn.

From Kyoto you will travel in first class seats on the world famous bullet train to reach Hiroshima, a journey of 90 minutes. Infamous Hiroshima has risen phoenix-like from the ashes of World War Two and is now a vibrant, cosmopolitan city with great local street food. However the past is never forgotten - do visit the moving Peace Park Memorial in the centre of the city.

For the next two nights you'll stay in a beautiful ryokan on Miyajima Island, a 10 minute ferry ride from Hiroshima Port. Miyajima is most famous as the location of the magnificent Itsukushima Shrine with its "floating" torii gate - one of the most photographed sights in Japan.

Since you'll be staying in one of the island's traditional ryokan inns, be sure to take a stroll around the island this evening once the crowds have taken the last ferry back to Hiroshima. At the day's end you'll have the chance to try some of the delicacies of the region in a fabulous kaiseki-style dinner at your accommodation.

Overnight: Iwaso

Visit an original medieval castle and soak in the waters of Japan's oldest bathhouse in Matsuyama.

Today you will need to take two ferries: first from Miyajima back to Hiroshima and then a longer, scenic trip across the Seto Inland Sea to reach Shikoku Island. First step on Shikoku is Matsuyama, famous for its medieval castle and for Dogo Onsen, the oldest hot spring bathhouse in Japan. It's so old that it's even mentioned in the oldest book of Japanese classical history, the Nihon Shoki.

The top of the main hot spring building is decorated with the legendary white heron, and a large drum is beaten at 6.30am every morning to announce the opening of the baths. Once you've had a soak at the onsen, be sure to catch a ride on the Botchan Train – a diesel-fuelled replica of the steam locomotives that used to serve Matsuyama in the nineteenth century.

Dinner will be included on both nights at your stylish ryokan inn.

Overnight: Dogo Miyu

Start your driving adventure with your first stop: Kotohira, home of Shikoku's most famous shrine, Konpira-san.

This morning you'll collect your rental car for a four-day exploration across Shikoku. First up on your itinerary is Kotohira, home to Shikoku's most popular pilgrimage destination: Konpira-san Shrine. The shrine's main hall stands at the top of almost 800 steps, making for a challenging but rewarding ascent! Kotohira also plays host to the Kanamaru-za, Japan's oldest surviving complete kabuki playhouse, built in 1835. Although a popular destination for Japanese visitors, Kotohira is very much off the beaten track for overseas tourists, and the town retains a very sleepy, rural atmosphere.

This afternoon you will take part in an udon noodle-making class, during which you'll learn some special local cooking methods. The lesson lasts around 40-50 minutes and you'll be able to eat you noodles afterwards.

Tonight you will have an included Japanese-style meal at your riverside ryokan inn.

Overnight: Sakura-no-Sho

Test the vine bridges and explore the untouched natural beauty of the Iya Valley region.

Your next stop will be the Iya Valley, an area made up of narrow river gorges and steep mountain peaks, covered in thick vegetation and located deep in the heart of Shikoku. The isolated location and inhospitable terrain of the Iya region made it a favourite hideaway for defeated clans and exiled political dissidents in days gone by, but today the area is easily accessible by car. Despite this, you will find the Iya Valley largely unspoilt and full of undisturbed natural scenery. Activities in the Iya area include boat trips along the river, crossing the famous vine bridges, and some interesting museums.

The highlight of the Iya Valley is your home for the two nights: Ochiai village, a little community perched on the side of a mountain, and a chance to truly step back in time. Like many rural villages in Japan, Ochiai has seen the younger generations flock to the cities, leaving behind an ageing population. To combat that and to support the local economy and community, a number of traditional farmhouses were saved from ruin and renovated into beautiful accommodation, and one of these will be your home. The views over the misty valley as the sun rises are simply breathtaking.

The locals of Ochiai village grow all of their own produce, and we will arrange a dinner brought to you by some of the residents.

The second day will be yours at leisure, either to kick back and relax in your farmhouse with a good book (one of the farmhouses is aptly named ‘Reading in the Rain') or you can continue exploring the Iya Valley with your car.

Overnight: Tougenkyou-Iya Traditional Farmhouses

Visit Takamatsu's Ritsurin Garden and make a day trip to Naoshima ‘art island'.

Your final day of driving will bring you to Takamatsu, a town with a long history as an important domestic port. The city's top attraction is Ritsurin Koen, one of Japan's finest landscape gardens, but there are also plentiful shopping arcades to peruse and an interesting local Folkcraft Museum.

For dinner tonight you might like to try sanuki udon noodles – served chilled with a dipping sauce or in a hot broth with toppings.

On your second day in Takamatsu you will have the chance to take a day trip to Naoshima Island. With sandy beaches and a laid-back atmosphere, Naoshima might easily be just another pretty but forgotten island on the Seto Inland Sea, scraping a living from fishing. That is, if it wasn't for the art.

Naoshima is home to a large collection of contemporary art galleries, exhibits and installations, the sum of which is a tour de force of architectural expression integrating art and the natural environment. This unique art project has secured a global reputation for Naoshima, and we will include return ferry tickets for the trip and details of the island's principal sights in your Info-Pack. After your day on Naoshima you will return to Takamatsu for the evening.

Overnight: JR Clement Hotel

Cross the Inland Sea to celebrate the end of your holiday in style amongst the bars and restaurants of Osaka.

Leaving Shikoku Island behind, today you will journey back across the Inland Sea to vibrant Osaka – a dramatic contrast to your adventures in rural Japan. Osaka is Japan's second city and an extremely exciting and lively place to be.

Osakans are known throughout Japan for their fun-loving attitude, and the vast number of restaurants, bars and entertainment venues here really attests to that reputation! Also known for its excellent cuisine, this is perfect for a big final evening and some hearty local food.

Sadly your adventures in Japan must come to an end, and on your final morning you will take the rapid train from central Osaka to Kansai Airport in plenty of time for your departure flight. Have a safe journey home.

Overnight: Royal Park Iconic Osaka Midosuji