Relax in Hamarikyu gardens, discover historical Asakusa and be amazed by the crazy fashions of Harajuku as you explore Tokyo with a private guide.

Your Japanese adventure will begin amongst the skyscrapers of the sleek Shiodome district in Tokyo, where you'll be staying for the first night of your trip. For a leisurely introduction to the metropolis we recommend visiting the well-kempt Hamarikyu gardens near your hotel before exploring the neighbouring district of Yurakucho in the evening. This is a favourite stop-off point for Japanese businessmen on their way home from work and is home to plenty of izakaya (Japanese-style pubs) and open-air yakitori restaurants serving chicken skewers.

On your second day you will have the services of a professional guide for eight hours to help you explore the city, making full use of the capital's vast public transportation network. The itinerary for the day is completely flexible and your guide will be able to make suggestions, but if you have any specific requests or interests please do let us know in advance. For some inspiration, you might consider a boat cruise along the Sumida River to the historical Asakusa district; go people-watching in the trendy Harajuku district; or even pay a visit to a cat café.

Overnight: Villa Fontaine Shiodome

Enjoy the white beaches and primeval forests of Akajima and dive in the crystalline waters of the Kerama Islands.

On day three you will make your way to nearby Haneda Airport for a three-hour flight to Naha, the capital of Okinawa. From Naha, you will take a short ferry ride to Akajima in the Kerama Islands, where you will be based for the next stage of your trip. Your accommodation will be located a short walk from both the port and the island's white, sandy beaches and you'll be free to spend the afternoon as you wish. Perhaps you'd like to use this time to do some snorkelling, or to explore the primeval forests further inland before tucking in to dinner at your accommodation.

On your second day in Akajima we have scheduled three dives with local, English-speaking Dive Masters. The waters around the Kerama Islands are calm and clear, with visibility often exceeding 30 metres, meaning that diving conditions are perfect for both beginners and experts.

The islands boast around 70 dive sites, so whilst beginners can explore the reasonably shallow, coral-rich sites – the more advanced can make the most of superb drift diving opportunities and explore the nearby caves and pinnacles. Look out for colourful nudibranchs, reef sharks and turtles, which can be spotted all year round. Finally, after enjoying dinner at your accommodation, why not end your day with a relaxing soak in the rooftop jacuzzi as the sun sets?

On your final day on Akajima you'll have two more exciting dives, including the opportunity to participate in night diving, before another delicious meal at your accommodation. After this we recommend treating yourself to a drink in a local izakaya to experience the laid-back pace of island life.

Overnight: Marine House Seasir

Swim with Manta rays in the waters of Ishigaki, paddle through mangroves on Iriomote, or catch a ride on a water buffalo cart on the tiny island of Taketomi.

This morning you'll catch the ferry back to Naha and make the one-hour flight south to Ishigaki Island. You will be staying in the Nagura Cottages between Kabira Bay and Yonehara beach, where you'll find fantastic snorkelling opportunities and some of Japan's most beautiful beaches. In the evening, you may choose to relax at your cottage, visit a local restaurant, or patronise one of the many traditional izakaya pubs in Ishigaki city. We recommend trying the famous Ishigaki beef and beer!

Following your day of relaxation we have scheduled two dives around the island. Ishigaki's most famous dive site is Manta Point - but there are also some great, lesser-known sites. These include Yonehara, with over 300 types of coral and a colourful selection of marine life, and Yama Valley – a drop-off with a vast array of lionfish, stonefish, sea snakes and stingrays. A PADI license or other internationally recognised diving qualification is required to take part in the dive today.

Your final full day on Ishigaki will be free, leaving you time to arrange more diving, explore one of the nearby islands, or just relax on the beach. Ishigaki is the gateway to the Yaeyama Islands, so you can easily make a day trip to nearby Iriomote or Taketomi.

Iriomote is the second-largest and least developed island in the Okinawa chain, covered in dense, untouched jungle filled with rare wildlife such as the endemic Iriomote cat. We highly recommend spending a day kayaking through the mangroves to the impressive 60-metre waterfall here. Taketomi, by contrast, is one of the smallest islands and is home to a beautifully preserved Ryukyu village with characteristic red-tiled buildings. Here you can take a ride on a cart pulled by water buffalo!

Overnight: Nagura Village Cottages

Pay a visit to Okinawa's remotest island and discover the mystery of the Yonaguni Iseki stones.

Next it's time to say goodbye to Ishigaki and take the 30-minute flight to rugged Yonaguni, where you'll find a very different atmosphere to the other subtropical islands you have visited. Due to its extreme isolation, Yonaguni has no resort-style hotels and the only tourists you're likely to see are other divers. This will be an opportunity to witness truly remote island life, but your main priority will be diving! Over the next three days you will discover one of the most intriguing underwater locations that the world of diving has to offer, with dinner included every night.

Three dives have been scheduled for each of the next two days in Yonaguni, during which time you will exploring the Yonaguni Iseki stones. "Iseki" means "ruins" in Japanese, and this naming reflects the ambiguous nature of these underwater rock formations, which appear to include huge corridors, walls, columns and steps. Although many insist that the stones are simply an unusual natural phenomenon, some believe them to be part of a manmade construction predating the Egyptian pyramids. If this theory were found to be true, the Iseki stones would be the oldest manmade monument on Earth! Whichever theory you subscribe to, you will no doubt be enthralled by this vast and amazing structure.

Your final day of diving will consist of two more boat dives around Yonaguni. You may continue exploring the Iseki stones or you can take advantage of the strong currents around the island for some excellent drift diving away from the stones. Beautiful coral, an abundance of subtropical marine life, and schooling hammerhead sharks from November to June provide some breathtaking scenes for your last dives in Japan.

Overnight: Irifune Honkan

Say farewell in style with a visit to Shinjuku and Tokyo's famous Golden Gai district.

From Yonaguni you will fly back to Ishigaki and catch a connecting flight to Tokyo, landing in the late afternoon. You will be staying in Shinjuku – the beating heart of Tokyo – where you will find yourself in the thick of things as soon as you step out of your hotel. For your final night we recommend heading to the Golden Gai quarter, where over 200 tiny bars are crammed into just a few narrow backstreets. The perfect place to toast a memorable diving trip!

Finally it's time to say goodbye to Japan, and on your final morning you will transfer from your hotel to Narita Airport by limousine bus. The journey provides some great vistas as the bus speeds its way out of the city on the elevated expressway.

Overnight: Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku