Discover Japan

5.0/5 Based on 1 Reviews No Booking FeesDedicated Travel Advisor
Fully Guided Coach Small Group Scenic
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 Trip Length
10 Days
 Trip Starts
Tokyo
 Trip Finishes
Kyoto
10 Day Discover Japan Itinerary (Globus)
Countries Explored: Japan
Trip Operator
Trip Style
Small Group
Accommodation
4 - 4.5 Star
Max. Group Size
24
Guide Level
Fully Guided
Trip Code
OJ

Overview

Read reviews and enjoy exclusive savings on Globus 10 Day Discover Japan. Forget everything your mother taught you about table manners. In Japan, it’s considered rude not to slurp. Get ready to joyously drink in traditional hot sake, green tea, big brothy noodle bowls and the delicious views from neon-lit Tokyo to historic Kyoto. Peaks, palaces, pavilions, and pagodas provide picture-perfect backdrops for your photos, but don’t expect to stand still for very long on this enthralling tour of Japan. A hands-on calligraphy class, a special kimono fitting, an...read more interactive cooking demonstration, and a gold-leaf design class—where you’ll make your own keepsake bento box—are all part of the fun. You’ll also browse the produce at a Takayama farmer’s market, stroll through Kanazawa’s famous Kenroku-en gardens, and experience the thrill of a ride on the famous bullet train. Prepare to be floored in more ways than one!

Itinerary

Konnichiwa Japan.

Welcome to Tokyo, Japan's capital city. Hotel check-in available mid-afternoon.

Monumental Metropolis.

Start with a visit to Meiji Shrine, a magnificent 20th-century Shinto monument set in a man-made forest. At an artist's studio, learn to write like a local during a calligraphy lesson with a master calligrapher, have the opportunity to try on a traditional kimono, and partake in a tea ceremony. Last stop is the Asakusa Kannon Temple and Nakamise shopping arcade. Tonight, join your travel companions at a welcome dinner hosted by your Tour Director. (B/L/D)

LOCAL FAVOURITE - TEA TRADITIONS: Participate in a tea ceremony, time-honoured tradition, and wonderfully choreographed ritual of preparing and serving Japanese green tea.

Soaring Heights & Sweeping Views.

Drive south to the beautiful Five Lakes region for a panoramic cable-car ride to view Mount Fuji. (B/L)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - EPIC RIDE: Soar high with a cable-car ride for panoramic views of Lake Kawaguchi and spectacular Mount Fuji, Japan's highest mountain. You will also have a spectacular view of Mount Fuji from Chureito Pagoda, part of the Arakura Sengen Shrine, built as a peace memorial in 1963.

City to Farm to Table.

Journey to Matsumoto, gateway to the ruggedly beautiful Japanese Alps, and enjoy visits to a local wasabi farm and Matsumoto Castle. Tonight, enjoy a wonderful Japanese-style dinner at your hotel. (B/L/D)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - WHY WASABI: Take a private tour of a wasabi farm to learn more about how it's grown and what it means to Japanese cuisine. Eat lunch at the farm and sample wasabi ice cream.

Takayama Treasures.

Today begins at the morning market, where farmers display locally grown fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Visit Takayama Jinya, a former government office during the Edo Period from 1692-1868. This well-preserved building is a national historic site and the only remaining building of its kind in Japan. End with a fun sake tasting. (B)

LOCAL FAVOURITE - FOR SAKE: 'S SAKE Go sake tasting in the San-Machi Suji historic district-famous for lacquerware shops and sake breweries, and identified by the sugidama, balls made of cedar branches that hang over the entrances.

FREE TIME TIPS - EXPLORE MORE: After included sightseeing, the balance of the day is at leisure, providing you with time to explore the narrow streets where merchants buy and sell as they have for 300 years. Transfers between town and your resort will run every two hours.

Enchanting Valleys & Tranquil Gardens.

This morning, enjoy a drive through the mountainous Shokawa Valley to Shirakawa, a remote region of Japan is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Here explore the unique gassho-zukuri-style (joined hands) thatched houses that can be found only here. Continue to the scenic town of Kanazawa, situated between the mountains and the Sea of Japan. Explore Kenroku-en Garden and partake in a gold leaf class, where you'll learn about this ancient craft and make your own bento box. (B/L)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - PERFECTION OF TRANQUILITY: Kenroku-en is one of Japan's three great gardens and dates from the 1670s. Translated to English the name means "Garden of Six Qualities," referring to the six essential attributes that make up a perfect garden: spaciousness, tranquility, artifice, antiquity, water, and magnificent views. One of the garden's most stunning attractions is Kasumigaike pond with its island called Horai, which are meant to symbolise long life and eternal prosperity.

Rail, Shrines & Temples.

This morning, board the Thunderbird Express Train for your journey to Kyoto. For lunch, participate in a Japanese cooking class. You'll also visit some of the city's most important sites including Sanjusajendo Temple, Fushimi Inari Shrine, and Kiyomizu Temple. This evening, you have the option to stay in a traditional Japanese ryokan (additional expense). (B/L)

LOCAL FAVOURITE - TURNING JAPANESE, I REALLY THINK SO!: Japan is known for its cuisine, which is deeply engrained into the culture. What better way to gain insights into the local way of life than through your stomach? Participate in a special cooking class where, under the instruction of a local chef, you will learn how to make miso soup, teriyaki chicken, and makizushi, more commonly known as a sushi roll.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - SENSATIONAL SHRINES: While in Kyoto one must take a step back in time to explore this historic former capital and its important wooden shrines and temples. Start at Sanjusajendo Temple, famous for its 1,001 statues of Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. Flanking the main statue are 1,000 more life-sized statues, covered in gold leaf, with 40 arms said to have the power to save 25 worlds.

Explore Fushimi Inari Shrine, renowned for the thousands of brightly coloured Torii Gates. Afterward, continue to the Higashiyama District to visit Kiyomizu Temple, the "Pure Water Temple," with stunning views over Kyoto. Along the way, walk through the busy streets, where shops and restaurants have been catering to pilgrims for centuries.

Golden Gift.

This morning starts with a visit to stunning Kinkakuji, the Temple of the Gold Pavilion. Next, visit Yuzen Handmade Corner to learn about the yuzen dyeing technique used to decorate kimonos by painting dye directly on the cloth. Make your own souvenir using this traditional method. (B)

FREE TIME TIPS - EXPLORE MORE: Join your Tour Director for a walking tour through Gion, visit more of Kyoto's historic temples, or join an evening maiko (apprentice geisha) performance with dinner. This and many more options throughout your tour are available for purchase with My Account.

Living Large, No Giant.

Travel to nearby Nara, to visit Kasuga Shrine and Todaiji Temple, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Tonight, your Tour Director hosts a farewell dinner to celebrate your discovery of Japan. (B/D)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - NARA GIANTS: Travel to Nara Park, one of the largest in Japan, and famous for its free-roaming deer, shrines, and temples. Kasuga Shrine, the most celebrated in Nara, is a Shinto shrine with some 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns. On the opposite end of the park is Todaiji Temple, one of Japan's most significant temples. Originally built in 752 AD and again after a fire in 1692, the temple is only two-thirds its original size, yet remains the world's largest wooden building. The Daibutsu (Giant Buddha) inside the main hall is made of copper and bronze, and is the largest in all of Japan, weighing 250 tons and standing some 49 feet tall!

Say it Ain't Sayonara.

Your tour ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Trip Inclusions

We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect holiday—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides, to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites!

  • 9 Breakfasts
  • 5 Lunches
  • 3 Dinners

  • Tokyo Hilton Tokyo (Moderate Deluxe)
  • Takayama Hotel Associa Takayama Resort (First-Class)
  • Kanazawa Hotel Nikko Kanazawa (First-Class)
  • Kyoto Hotel Okura Kyoto (Superior First-Class)

  • Airport transfers at your arrival and departure destination are not included in the price of the tour.
  • Itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
  • Price is for land, cruise and specified internal flights. International flights not included.
  • The cable-car ride at Mount Fuji is weather dependent.
Sightseeing & VIP Access
Sightseeing & VIP Access

Globus includes all must-see sites, with special VIP access that lets you skip to the front of the queue. Read more

Culture Through Cuisine
Culture Through Cuisine

Globus has the recipe for a great holiday. Savour the flavours of Asia through its regional cuisine. Read more

Expert Local Guides
Expert Local Guides

Travel with professional Tour Directors and Local Guides who share their vast knowledge of Asia. Read more

Superior Hotels
Superior Hotels

Globus' selection of hotels in unforgettable places ensure you stay right in the heart of each destination. Read more

We Handle the Details
We Handle the Details

Globus takes care of the components that make your tour unforgettable, so just sit back and relax. Read more

Local Favourites
Local Favourites

Experience Asia like an insider with Local Favourites that you wouldn't find touring on your own. Read more

Trip Reviews (1) Most Recent 'Discover Japan' Reviews

5.0
AVG. RATING 5.0 / 5
1 Review
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1 Star
Japan - What a delightful experience 4 , New Zealand, May 2017
May was the right time to travel - up to 30 degrees some days in the Tokyo area but only two wet days throughout the tour. June starts the wet season. Good group size of 33; buses could have larger seats and a few more amenities e.g. seat trays etc. No problem with frequent stops during the bus rides for snacks and toilets. Guide Yuki was excellent ...read more in all respects, and Mr Asano very good driver. Of the four hotels two were excellent and 2 very good; all with hassle-free check-in and check-out procedures.

The Japanese gardens are well worth the visit as are the other included attractions. Enough shrines and pagodas! Really liked the inclusions such as Tea ceremony, calligraphy and cooking class. Sake tasting was a disappointment as most of the group thought we would see he manufacturing process - we just stood in a courtyard and tasted two different classes of sake. Overall a good tour of the right length.
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Brochure

Worldwide

Globus Worldwide (2023-24)

From the Great Pyramids to the Great Barrier Reef; from the Grand Canyon to the Colosseum, each Globus tour includes the legendary landmarks and must-see sights with an eye for hidden local gems you won’t find in any guidebook. Globus takes you to the head of the line at the world’s most awe-inspiring and iconic attractions, while sharing nearly a century...more of travel expertise in discovering off-the-beaten-path surprises for immersive experiences in the true cultures and traditions.

Prices & Dates

There are currently no departures available on this trip. Either it's the end of the season and new departures will be released shortly, or this itinerary has been changed and will no longer continue. Feel free to contact us for information about when next seasons dates will be released or click here to view the general release dates for all destinations.

Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Globus. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Globus. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.

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