Highlights of Japan & Okinawa

Relax with included VIP airport lounge access before your overnight flight, arriving in Tokyo on day two.

On arrival at Narita Airport, a private driver will bring you to your city-centre hotel. You’ll have the first day to explore at leisure; perhaps head to Shinjuku. Home to the world’s busiest train station, giant government towers and a range of neon bars, restaurants and karaoke joints, it's the Japanese capital at its lively best. Look behind the skyscrapers into Golden Gai, where the brashness is replaced by a rabbit warren of intimate sushi counters and tiny bars.

Stay: Shiba Park Hotel (Standard), or Century Southern Tower Hotel (Superior)

Today you’ll make use of your preloaded transport card as you explore the city via a tailor-made private guide service. Visit Shibuya’s fashion hubs and Ginza’s art galleries, or perhaps it’s the city’s history that excites. You’ll find vermillion-lacquered torii gates that lead to 7th-century Buddhist temples, Meiji era shrines and a reconstructed Imperial Palace at odds with Tokyo’s urban bustle. Round it all off with a trip up the iconic Tokyo Skytree for panoramic city views.

Stay: Shiba Park Hotel (Standard), or Century Southern Tower Hotel (Superior)

While you might want to explore Tokyo further we’d recommend a day trip out of the city. For a breath of fresh air enjoy pretty walks and scenic cable car rides at sacred Mt. Takao. Alternatively, the former Japanese capital – Kamakura – is just an hour’s train ride away from Shinjuku Station. Those that make the trip will be rewarded with a sleepy coastal town dotted with shrines, temples and an oversized daibutsu Buddha. Lastly, there’s national park Nikko, best known for the Toshogu Shrine. This UNESCO-listed site is surrounded by waterfalls, lakes and packs of indigenous monkeys.

Stay: Shiba Park Hotel (Standard), or Century Southern Tower Hotel (Superior)

A short train journey will bring you out of Shinjuku Station to Hakone, Tokyo’s green lung. Making use of your included Freepass, you’ll have two days to explore its village hamlets, shimmering lakes, hot spring baths and forest walks – keep your eyes out for waterside shrines framed by fair-weather views of Mt. Fuji. Come evening, retreat to a  traditional ryokan, complete with tatami mat rooms, private onsen baths and kaiseki multi-course feasts – eggs boiled in volcanic waters are a local delicacy here. 

Stay: Ichinoyu Susukinohara (Standard), or Gora Hanaougi (Superior)

A private driver will bring you to Odawara Station, where you’ll board a Shinkansen bullet train bound for Kyoto. On your first day, perhaps familiarise yourself with some of the more central temples and shrines, leaving time to walk through the grand Imperial Palace gardens. On your second day here, make use of the included private guide service, bringing you to the time-honoured teahouses of the geisha district and some of Kyoto’s 17 UNESCO-listed World Heritage Sites. There’s everything from samurai castles to Buddhist temples established in the 8th century.

Stay: Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo (Standard), or Hotel The Celestine Kyoto Gion (Standard)

Just 40 minutes out of Kyoto by local train, Nara is an ideal day trip. It was here that Buddhist teaching first gained a foothold in Japan, arriving from China by way of the Silk Road around the 6th century. As such, you’ll find a range of monasteries and temples along with pretty Japanese gardens and a central park famed for its overly friendly deer. Nara is perhaps best known for its grand Todaji Temple, home to a 15-metre seated bronze Buddha.

Stay: Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo (Standard) Hotel The Celestine Kyoto Gion (Standard)

Head to Osaka airport for your flight to Okinawa. Flung out in the Pacific Ocean, some 400 miles from the rest of Japan, this idyllic island chain is a delightful contrast to the history, culture and urban bustle of the previous days. That's not to say that this island chain is without its own history. Indeed, from the hunter-gatherer society of the Early Shell Mound period to the grand castles of the Ryukyu Kingdom, this is a region every bit as culturally fascinating, and significant, as its famous Honshu cousin. On arrival, you'll be met by your private guide for a tour, heading first to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Zakimi Castle Ruins, once the site of the original castle built in the early 1400s. Visitors can enjoy stunning views from the ruins and learn about the unification of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Next, head a little further north to Cape Maeda to enjoy the beautiful ocean views Your guide will drop you off at your accommodation for the night.

Stay: Hotel Monterey Okinawa Spa & Resort (Standard), or Hilton Okinawa Chatan Resort (Superior)

Today you will explore further south on Okinawa Main Island in the capital city of Naha. Your guide and private car will meet you in the morning after breakfast. First, take part in a market tour and cooking class with a local chef where you can learn how to make some of Okinawa’s classic dishes. Next, visit the Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum to discover Okinawa’s history through its folklore, geology and archeology, then head to Tsuboya Yachimun Street, a charming stone paved thoroughfare home to a variety of pottery shops. In the evening, participate in a beginner’s karate class where you can learn about some of the foundations of karate and why it's such an important aspect of Okinawan culture and history. Indeed, the prefecture was the birthplace of the martial art, now practiced by over 130 million people worldwide.

Stay: Hotel Monterey Okinawa Spa & Resort (Standard), or Hilton Okinawa Chatan Resort (Superior)

Today is free to explore, so perhaps book an optional kayaking experience through the island mangroves or head to the Churaumi Aquarium (requires a stay further north on Main Island), or perhaps visit a local Awamori distillery. Otherwise, you might consider an island-hopping tour of the Kerama Islands – Zamami Island, Tokashiki Island and Aka Island – all host to world-class diving, pristine beaches, dramatic and diverse wildlife, including migrating humpback whales between January and March. Our Japan experts can help you plan. 

Stay: Hotel Monterey Okinawa Spa & Resort (Standard), or Hilton Okinawa Chatan Resort (Superior)

Fly to the Yaeyama Islands, a further 250 miles south of Okinawa Main Island. Gateway to this subtropical paradise is Ishigaki Island, an idyllic setting serving up sweeping ocean views ocean and a healthy dose of traditional island culture. As part of Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park, you can enjoy a full spread of outdoor activities. Spend nights  stargazing and days exploring seas rich in wildlife on everything from scuba diving trips to glass-bottom boat rides, spotting the likes of sea turtles and manta rays. There's even the chance to go diving with hammerhead sharks.

Stay: Grandvrio Resort Ishigakijima (Standard) or ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort (Superior)

A private transfer will see you to the airport for your flight back to Tokyo where you'll spend the night. Spend the rest of the day exploring at your own pace, perhaps taking in any sights you might have missed first time around. Otherwise, take the chance to relax and reflect on your adventure before your journey home.

Stay: Shiba Park Hotel (Standard), or Century Southern Tower Hotel (Superior)

Take a final private transfer to the airport in Tokyo, where you’ll board your flight to the UK, arriving the same day.