18 Day Japan Tours & Trips

Begin your tour on the north island of Hokkaido. The island is a dream to behold in any season with cherry blossoms in spring and bright fall colors, but its heavy snowfall in winter makes Hokkaido Japan’s preferred winter playground, with exciting snow festivals every February. Summers also delight travelers with fields full of flowers including lavenders and sunflowers. Tokyo, Japan’s capital and largest city, with an incredible appeal to travelers whether they are interested in modern or historic Japan, where travelers can experience traditional culture in shrines and museums of the Edo period as well as dine in contemporary Michelin star restaurants. Head from the big city to the regional beauties of Hakone and iconic Mount Fuji. Up in the mountains of Gifu prefecture sits the picturesque town of Takayama. This town preserves a heritage Old Town, which comes to life every April and October during the Takayama Spring Festival and Fall Festival. The UNESCO Heritage village of Shirakawago is also in this region, and its wooden farmhouses with thickly thatched roofs surrounded by rice fields and pristine mountain scenery, makes for an idyllic panorama. Continuing down towards the coast brings you to the city of Kanazawa, famed for its gold leaf production. Within the city is one of Japan’s most treasured landscape gardens – Kenrokuen. As the “Garden of Six Sublimities”, the garden’s numerous ponds, trees, flowers, stone lanterns and teahouses. After, continue to Kyoto, the best place to experience centuries of preserved imperial history. Kinkauji covered in gold leaf, Kiyomizu Temple’s dramatic veranda, the Gion Geisha District – Kyoto is overflowing with classical Japanese charm. Nearby Nara is just as full to bursting with that old-fashioned ambience, though the chief reason to visit is the hundreds of friendly wild deer wandering around Nara Park and Todaiji Temple. Then travel to Osaka, with its own unique relaxed, down-to-earth culture and humor. The city is especially known for it’s eccentric, classy, and delicious cuisine, which can be tasted in the exciting Dotonbori Canal District. Be sure to visit incredible Osaka Castle, the city’s central landmark and the quintessential Japanese medieval fortress. Finally, travel to Hiroshima, an international City of Peace, for a stroll around the Peace Memorial Park followed by an excursion to Miyajima Island to view the large gate of Itsukushima Shrine, floating over the water just offshore.