The Award-Winning Tour Specialist
Summer Sizzler Sale! Save up to ￡600pp on a wide range of touring worldwide Offer ends: 01 Sep 2026 View Offer
Journey across the Japanese Alps to the cultural centres of Takayama, Shirakawa-go and Kanazawa on this extensive tour of Japan. On this extraordinary Japan holiday you will of course see modern Tokyo and beautiful Mt Fuji as well as historical Kyoto and Nara.
Our Discover Japan tour will see you exploring the most iconic sites, delving into deep-rooted culture and dining on delicious cuisine. We pack all of tours to Japan with incredible things to do - here are just a few of the highlights
Ascend Japan's iconic and inspirational highest mountain
Stop in amazement at the dramatic flair of the Matsumoto Castle
Explore this authentic Japanese city known as the 'thousand-year capital'
Meander through the 10,000 red torii gates of this stunning shrine
Our Discover Japan Tour has been thoughtfully designed and thoroughly researched to bring you a range of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, many of which are entirely exclusive to us.
Discover the traditional process of paper making before getting your hands dirty making 'washi' (Japanese paper) the age-old way.
Join a dedicated craftsperson in a small workshop to learn all about the lovely and intricate art of gold leaf making, discover what the gold leaf is then used for and have a go at doing it yourself!
Learn all about the traditional production of an essential element of Japanese cooking, the fermented soybean paste 'miso', at an old wooden miso house.
This adventure is ideal for travellers with a reasonable amount of time to spend and who want to see the very best bits of Japan. We have designed the tour to make the most of the time available to showcase the key highlights of Japan and have incorporated travel by road to give the opportunity to see the beautiful Japanese countryside.
Fly overnight to the dazzling metropolis of Tokyo, Japan's capital city. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.
Tokyo is the ultimate 24-hour city, but look behind its frantic, high-tech frontage and you will find plenty of tranquil backstreets and old temples to explore. Begin at the observation deck of the 634-metre Skytree, Japan's tallest tower, before wandering through the old district of Asakusa. Stop to seek out the tranquillity of Senso-ji Temple - the oldest in Tokyo. Next, drive by the Imperial Palace Plaza. This evening, take a relaxed dinner cruise on Tokyo Bay for excellent city vistas.
Take the super-fast bullet train to Odawara. Enjoy a boat trip on Lake Ashi for spectacular panoramas of this beautiful area, then hop on the Komagatake Ropeway cable car. Next, drive up to Mount Fuji's 5th Station and take in the views.
Explore the 16th-century Matsumoto Castle, with its beautiful blue-black facade. Stop at the nearby Ishii Miso House to hear about the process of making this famous Japanese seasoning, known for its rich umami flavour. Later, drive through the Japanese Alps to reach the charming mountain town of Takayama, beloved for its historic Old Town and friendly, laid-back atmosphere.
Stroll along Takayama's charming riverfront, perhaps indulging in the fresh produce at the daily morning market, and admire the old town's lovely traditional houses, which evoke the air of the Edo period. You'll also visit several of the excellent local museums – including the Festival Floats Museum, Kusakabe Folk Crafts Museum and Takayama Jinya. Also enjoy some free time to shop in the lovely boutiques along Kamisannomachi Street, brimming with local sweets and crafts.
Discover rural Japan at the UNESCO-listed village of Shirakawa-go, famous for its charming farmhouses with their steep thatched roofs. Continue to Gokayama to try your hand at washi paper making. This afternoon, continue to Kanazawa and explore the beautiful Kenroku-en - one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan.
Kanazawa is famous for its history of gold leaf production. Begin the day with a visit to a hands-on gold leaf workshop, trying the art of gold leaf application for yourself. Next, stroll through Kanazawa's traditional Higashi Chaya (Eastern Teahouse District), stopping to visit a former geisha house. Later, journey to Kyoto, Japan's cultural cradle.
Start the day with a visit to Ryoan-ji, the Zen 'temple of the peaceful dragon', known for its serene rock garden. Continue to the famous Golden Pavilion of Kinkaku-ji, set over a large pond in a beautiful strolling garden. Later, try your hand at origami before observing the age-old rituals of a tea ceremony.
Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, remarkable for its 10,000 vermilion torii gates. Depart Kyoto and travel south to Nara, Japan's former imperial capital. Look out for Nara's beautiful, free-roaming sika deer - who have learned to bow to visitors! Visit Todaiji Temple to admire its 15-metre-high bronze Buddha. Continue to Isui-en Garden, known for its natural ponds, then check into your hotel in Nara before dinner.
The holy mountain of Koyasan is home to over 100 monasteries, nestled in a valley said to resemble a lotus flower. Arguably the most sacred mountain in all of Japan, Koya is the heart of Shingon Buddhism and the resting place of Japan's best known Buddhist, known as both Kukai and Kobo Daishi. Wander around Okunoin – a vast cemetery of 200,000 stupas and enjoy the tranquillity and spectacular views as you discover Kongobu-ji Temple and the Garan Temple Complex. Later, continue to Osaka.
Visit the famous Osaka Castle, one of the city's most famous landmarks. Recently restored, it is home to more than four centuries of Japanese history. Next, enjoy a stroll around the ever-busy Dotonbori district before taking a short boat cruise. Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure before meeting your group for this evening's farewell dinner.
Fly to the UK, arriving home the same or following day
Our tours feature hand-picked properties selected for their comfort, modern amenities and convenient location for sightseeing. We occasionally include a stay in a guesthouse or lodge where we feel the character of the property will enhance your tour, or to allow access to a more unique and memorable location. Here is a taster of the type of hotels you will be staying in on your tour.
The best time to visit Japan is during spring (March to May) when the cherry blossoms are bursting into life and autumn (September to November) when the scenery is ablaze with colour.
Places Visited: UK - Tokyo (2N) - Mt Fuji - Suwa (1N) - Takayama (2N) - Kanazawa (1N) - Kyoto (2N) - Nara (1N) - Koyasan - Osaka (2N) - UK
Make the most of your time away. Whether you want to delve deeper into a destination, discover somewhere completely new, or simply unwind on a beautiful beach, we've created a range of ways to help you stay a little longer and see a little more.
If your tour departs in less than 30 days, please call our travel experts to book. Read our Price Match Promise
Save up to ￡600 per person on a wide selection of tours worldwide
Fetching Price Information - please wait
Dedicated Solo departures are available on selected dates for this tour.
These solos-only departures feature smaller group sizes of up to 18, along with free airport lounge access.
There are no dedicated Solo departures for this year. You can enjoy any of our tours with no Single Supplement on our Happy to Share option or explore the solo departures in other years.
The same great Wendy Wu tour - just with an extra level of comfort. Enjoy relaxed 5-star city hotels, unique properties, and overnight cruises, each selected to deliver an elevated experience. See Upgraded Tour Hotels above for more details.
Rated 4.7 out of 5 based on 7021 reviews on 
Read our latest articles or travel inspiration, exciting news about our destinations and all things Wendy Wu Tours
More than 25 years expertise offering extraordinary tours
