Japan Heritage

This heritage-focused Japan holiday is designed for those who would like to experience the country’s history, culture and traditional landscapes in real depth.

Begin in Tokyo, where modern Japan sits alongside historic shrines, gardens and old neighbourhoods. Continue to Nikko to see its richly decorated UNESCO World Heritage temples and shrines before travelling into the Japanese Alps.

In Kanazawa, discover one of Japan’s finest gardens, traditional districts and samurai heritage, before continuing to the thatched village of Shirakawa-go, one of the country’s most atmospheric rural settings.

Travel south to Hiroshima, with time to reflect at the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, before continuing to Himeji, home to Japan’s finest surviving feudal castle.

The journey then takes you to Mount Koya, one of Japan’s most important spiritual centres, where you will stay in temple lodging and experience a quieter, more reflective side of the country.

Finish in Kyoto, where three nights allow time to explore the temples, gardens, historic streets and cultural traditions of Japan’s former imperial capital.

This is a well-balanced journey for travellers interested in Japan’s heritage, combining guided sightseeing with time to explore at your own pace.

Is this a private or group tour?

All of our Japan tours are private, tailor-made itineraries - customised entirely for you. This trip includes guided excursions in Tokyo, Kanazawa and Kyoto, plus flights, accommodation, rail travel and transfers.

What are the departure dates?

As this is a private trip, there are no fixed departure dates - we work around your preferred travel dates and find the best flights to match.

We're also happy to advise on the best times to travel and what to avoid.

Which airlines do you use?

We work with all major airlines flying to Japan. For most itineraries we typically use British Airways, Japan Airlines or Finnair - Finnair in particular offers excellent fares and fast connections via Helsinki.

If you have a preferred airline, just let us know. We can also arrange flights from regional UK airports, and there are direct services from the UK to both Tokyo and Osaka.

Which hotels do you use?

We specialise in boutique hotels and will suggest our favourites where suitable - but we're equally guided by your preferences. If you have hotels in mind, just let us know.

• Most city hotels in Japan are functional business-style - but impeccably clean and well located
• Rooms can be small, especially in Tokyo - if space matters, tell us and we'll prioritise accordingly
• Location is crucial in Tokyo - being near the right station saves significant time
• Check-in is often as late as 3pm; check-out as early as 10 or 11am

View itinerary in detail

To get a feel for the trip, choose one of the options below to view a sample day-by-day itinerary. This will open in a new window.

All of our Japan holidays are completely tailor-made, so this is simply a starting point.

We can of course adjust the route, hotels and pace to suit your plans.