10-day Japan Tour

Konichiwa (hello!), and welcome to Japan's street food capital, Osaka! Dive straight into your first foodie experience in an izakaya, the type of casual eatery where Japanese professionals head after work for a drink and bite to eat. Enjoy Osaka's famous takoyaki balls as you get to know your guide and fellow travellers.

Today you'll experience the highlights of Osaka, starting with a visit to see its majestic castle. With five stories above and three beneath the ground and gold plating decorating it, the castle is a classic on many Japanese postcards.

Later you'll dive into the colourful entertainment area of Dotonbori, where bright billboards and 3D figures advertise food and other delights. You'll notice that Japanese restaurants display plastic versions of the food they serve, so hungry guests know what to expect. Get stuck into this quirky tradition, and compete with your fellow travellers to make the most authentic looking "shokuhin sampuru" - food sample! You'll make your own plastic imitation of a traditional dish from Osaka that you can take home as a fun memento.

During a breakfast market stroll, you'll fill your belly a last time in one of Osaka's eateries.

Then you head away from the bright lights, towards a more serene place - welcome to Koyasan, a mountain area covered with temples. This is the home of Shingon Buddhism. Over the next two days, you'll dive into Japanese spirituality. Start by visiting a sacred temple, and taking part in a guided meditation, called ajikan.

A simple dinner is served in your temple accommodation. Feel the calm afterglow of your meditation as you bed down in a traditional Japanese setting.

You join monks in their early morning prayer for a peaceful start to your day. Take breakfast at the monastery, before going for a stroll around Okunoin. This sacred area, nestled amongst trees, is the biggest cemetery in Japan. Gain fascinating insights into local beliefs as you wander around the figurines and graves. You'll gaze in awe at 10,000 lanterns that are kept lit eternally in Torodo worship hall, a sight you won't forget!

Then it's time to bid a quiet farewell to Koyasan, and travel north, to the gem that is Kyoto.

Today we invite you to fall in love with Kyoto. The city has so many interesting sites to visit, and we've hand-picked the best to show you!

Will you prefer Yasaka Koshindo temple with its quirky, vibrant displays, or the more traditional Kiyomizudera temple? Marvel at the many beautiful kimonos and other typical clothes worn by many visitors, before the enigmatic red pagoda beckons you to take a "classic Japan" souvenir photo.

And of course you must try tea when in Japan! Take part in a traditional tea ceremony, and learn more about the rituals involved.

End the day in Gion, Kyoto's geisha district. If you're patient, you'll spot geiko's - the local name for geisha's - as they hurry through the alleys to their workplaces.

Fushimi Inari is an important shrine dedicated to Inari, the God of rice. Thousands of bright orange torii gates lead visitors through the shrine's pathways. As you contemplate the area, how many fox statues will you spot? Find out why there are so many!

In nearby Arashiyama you'll visit a zen garden, with zen being an important philosophy in Japanese culture. At first glance, these gardens seem very simply attractive, but your appreciation for them will grow when you learn the thoughts behind them.

As a final highlight, get ready to feel tiny amongst enormous bamboos in Arashiyama's forest, before heading back to downtown Kyoto.

Today is the day - we're heading to the big city!

Arriving in Tokyo, puff up your chest and get ready for a unique experience: let's meet some sumo wrestlers! The lives of these giant sportsmen are highly regimented, with many of them living in wrestling stables where their lifestyle and even the way they dress can be dictated. Watch some retired wrestlers as they clash during training, before sitting down for a sumo-style lunch with them to hear more about their lives.

After we've waved goodbye to our strong new buddies, a complete change of scenery. We're diving straight into Tokyo, with a visit to Akihabara. This is the edgy manga and anime district of the capital, with hundreds of shops catering to mainstream topics as well as niche subcultures. Your guide takes to explore some of the fascinating places hidden in high buildings, before you challenge each other to game in one of the many games cafés. Mario Cart, anyone??

What would a visit to Japan be without seeing Fuji-san, as Mount Fuji is known by locals? The snow-capped mountain is the biggest in Japan and such a beauty to see!

Come to Oshino Hakkai, a picturesque town that is the perfect foreground to marvel at Fuji from. Sweet houses decorate the lakes of the town, making it a wonderful place to stroll around and enjoy the view.

In the evening, head back into town to enjoy Tokyo.

Your last full day will have you singing with joy! Enjoy a city tour that will take you back in time first, to the grand Imperial Palace, where the Emperor is expected to live.

Then click back to contemporary Japan when visiting the most fashionable areas in Tokyo. In Harajuku, people in cosplay outfits, pastel goths and other style conscious characters congregate. Shibuya, on the other hand, is known for its world-famous pedestrian crossing network through the shopping area - which route will you take from A to B? Throughout the day, browse for pretty or interesting memorabilia to take home with you.

After a short break at the hotel, head out to end your East Asian adventure in spectacular Tokyo style: at karaoke! We've booked a place in a bar with a large international catalogue, so get ready to unleash your inner Robbie Williams or Shakira!

It's your last morning in Japan. If you'd like to stay in Tokyo for longer, we can help arrange accommodation for you. Arigato - thank you - for the shared adventure and have a safe journey home!