Zen Japan

This private Japan journey focuses on the country’s traditional side, combining ancient shrines, atmospheric temples, scenic landscapes and time in some of Japan’s most historic towns and cities.

Begin in Tokyo, with time to explore the city and a visit to the great temple of Senso-ji. An early morning visit to the Meiji Shrine is also included, along with time to discover a quieter side of Tokyo that many visitors miss.

Travel north to Nikko, where you will see the UNESCO World Heritage shrines and stay by the lake, before returning south via Kamakura, known for its temples, coastal setting and the famous Great Buddha.

Continue to Hakone by Romance Car train, with a night in a traditional ryokan and time to enjoy the scenery around Mount Fuji.

From Hakone, travel by bullet train to Kyoto, where you have four nights and a full-day guided tour included.

The journey continues to Mount Koya, where you will stay in temple lodging and experience one of Japan’s most spiritual settings.

Finish in Osaka, with time to enjoy the city before returning to the UK.

All of our Japan holidays are tailor-made and can be adjusted to suit your interests, pace and budget.

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.