Ultimate Japan - Absolute Asia Tours

On arrival in Japan, you'll be met by our representative, who will accompany you to your hotel for check-in.

Meet your guide and set off for a walking tour of Tokyo’s historic Shitamachi district, which boomed during the Edo era (1603 - 1868). You'll wander through the city’s oldest Geisha district, visit a drum museum to have a bash at playing some traditional instruments, and stroll down Kappabashi-dori - the well-known street that sells nothing but kitchenware and the famous life-sized replicas of food which Japanese restaurants often display instead of menus. Explore shops selling kimono, traditional sweets and crafts, and take in stunning views of the Tokyo Sky Tree. Drop in to the Edo Shitamachi Traditional Craft Museum, before paying your respects at Senso-ji (‘Asakusa Kannon’), which - at nearly 1,400 years old - is Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist site. Stop to enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before being driven to Ueno, which was the wealthiest district in Japan during the Edo period. This afternoon's walk will take in Jomyo-in, a temple containing 84,000 Jizo (Bodhisattva) statues, and the historic Kane-ji temple, along with some of Tokyo’s most famous museums in Ueno Park. Finish your tour at Ameyoko-cho, which was a black market after World War II and is now one of Japan’s few remaining outdoor markets. It's the ideal spot for tea and yakitori, and possibly a cold beer - the first round is on us!

Sitting on the southwestern slopes of Mt Fuji, Fujinomiya is a less well known but charming city from which to take in the scenic views of this iconic mountain. Take the train to Fujinomiya this morning and meet your local guide for a stroll through the local shotengai, a traditional pedestrianised shopping street. The city’s speciality dish is yakisoba – pan fried noodles sprinkled with fish and topped with crispy meat. Rather than simply stopping at a local restaurant for lunch, you will try your hand at making the dish for yourself. The afternoon is focused on traditional activities to get a flavour of Japanese culture, and you’ll learn how to put on and wear a kimono before heading to a local shrine suitably dressed for some photographs. Finally participate in a Japanese sweet-making workshop before returning to Tokyo.

After a leisurely morning in Tokyo, take a bullet train to Nagoya before enjoying one of Japan's more picturesque train journeys. You'll pass amongst the Central Japanese Alps, travelling through the stunning Kiso Valley region to reach Kiso-Fukushima. Tonight you’ll stay in traditional Japanese-style ryokan accommodation, complete with tatami mats and onsen baths. Spend the evening relaxing in your yukata (lightweight kimono), and dine on a sumptuous kaiseki multi-course feast. An onsen after dinner is highly recommended before you bed down on your futon.

Follow in the footsteps of Samurai warriors and Shogun lords as you hike part of the Nakasendo Way from the post town of Magome to Tsumago today. The Nakasendo is the old stone road that connected Edo (modern day Tokyo) to Kyoto - one of five trails that crossed central Honshu during the Edo period. This well-maintained section of the trail is beautiful and truly evocative of historic Japan. Walk at a leisurely pace through the countryside, passing local houses, waterfalls, forest and farmland, arriving at Tsumago, another beautifully preserved post town, to rest and enjoy the mountain views before returning to Kiso-Fukushima.

Take the train to Kyoto and later meet your guide for a food-focused afternoon. Visit Nishiki for the lively covered food market known as ‘Kyoto’s Kitchen’, which sells all things food related, from knives and cookware to fresh seafood and Japanese sweets. Your guide will help you buy ingredients for this afternoon's shared Japanese cooking class. Heading to a traditional wooden townhouse you will first learn about the iconic drink of sake (and enjoy a spot of tasting!) before cooking your own Japanese evening meal. Learn to roll sushi, make miso soup and prepare a Japanese salad, before sitting down and enjoy what you've made.

Meet your knowledgeable local guide for a tour of some Kyoto’s World Heritage Sites. Start with Nijo Castle, an ornamental structure surrounded by stunning gardens, built by the founder of the Edo Shogunate. The main building was completed in 1603 and is known for its distinctive architecture and chirping ‘nightingale’ floors. Continue to Ryoan-ji, the site of Japan's most famous Zen garden, and home to the Myoshinji School of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. Visit the picturesque district of Arashiyama, a popular destination since the 8th century (!) thanks to its striking bamboo forest and elegant shrines, taking in Togetsukyo (‘Moon Crossing’) Bridge over Katsura River, and making your way to the bamboo forest path on the west side of the river, where you may well hear the bamboo creaking as it sways in the breeze.

Your day will be at leisure to explore Kyoto further at your own pace.

Catch the train to Hiroshima where the rest of your day will be at leisure to begin exploring this inspiring city. Take time to visit the Peace Park and Museum for a sobering reminder of the events of 1945, and explore Hiroshima Castle.

Your day will be at leisure, with time to hop on the ferry over to Miyajima island, a small sacred island located in the Seto Inland Sea. Begin with Itsukushima Shrine and take in the beautiful views of the island’s ‘floating’ Torii gate. Then walk towards the mountain to visit Daisho-in, the most visited Buddhist temple on the island, spinning sutras to gain a blessing as you climb the stairs to the main hall.

Jump on the shinkansen, which will whisk you from Hiroshima to Osaka, where the remainder of your day will be at leisure.

Your day is at leisure until late afternoon, when you’ll meet your guide in the Tenma district for this evening’s food tour. A lively, unpretentious neighbourhood steeped in history, Tenma is home to Tenjinbashi-suji shopping street which claims to be the longest covered arcade in Japan, stretching more than 2.5 kilometres. The area’s maze of narrow streets and alleys come to life at night when locals flock to dine and relax in the many tiny bars and hole-in-the-wall eateries that open up. Forget Dotonburi - this is the place to get real local soul food, and your guide will show you where to find the classics.

After breakfast, travel by train to Kanazawa.

Meet your guide to visit one of Japan's most famous gardens, Kenroku-en - ‘Six Attributes Garden’. A perfect Japanese garden should balance six factors: spaciousness, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, water-courses and panoramas. Continue to Kanazawa Castle to learn about daily life under the samurai, followed by lunch at nearby Omicho market, known throughout Japan for its fresh seafood and fine sushi. In the afternoon, visit the Higashi Chaya District, a well-preserved tea-house district in Kanazawa, where geishas traditionally entertained their guests. Here you will also find the Hakuza workshop that produces Kanazawa’s speciality - objects richly decorated with gold leaf. If you’re feeling creative, you can try your hand at making gold-leaf covered chopsticks before returning to your hotel.

Leave Kanazawa for Takayama, pausing en route at Shirakawa-go, a living history village and UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its collection of traditional farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old. Characterised by steep thatched roofs, their distinctive architectural style evolved to withstand the heavy snow that falls here in winter. Continue through the scenic landscape to Takayama, where you will be staying in a traditional Japanese-style ryokan - an inn with tatami mat flooring, futon beds, and hot spring onsen baths. For dinner, a traditional multi-course kaiseki will be served, and will feature some of Takayama’s famous cuisine, including local vegetables, miso, and last but not the least, Hida beef, which rivals the better-known Kobe beef.

Meet your guide for a walking tour of the Sanmachi Suji district in Takayama's old town. The area is particularly well preserved, its streets lined with traditional houses, shops and restaurants. Some of the old merchant’s homes are open to the public, and will give you an insight into Takayama’s rich history and culture. Takayama also has a thriving food scene with unique local dishes that are not found elsewhere in Japan. You will visit several food shops, some of which have been in business for generations, to taste these local delicacies. Another speciality of the region is sake, and several old sake breweries can be found in the old town, recognized by balls made of cedar branches hung over their entrances. Sake sampling will also be included during the morning. After your walk, you'll be driven out of Takayama for an afternoon of cycling through the region’s stunning landscape, along trails past waterfalls and the typical thatch-roofed houses that make this area so famous. There will be plenty of opportunities to get off the bikes, hike the trails, and photograph the impressive scenery.

Leave Takayama for the scenic journey to Matsumoto, where the remainder of your day is at leisure to explore the castle and sample the local cuisine.

Travel to Kamikochi for a trek through some of Japan's most beautiful mountain scenery. Forming part of the Chubu Sangaku National Park, Kamikochi itself is a plateau set in the pristine Azusa-gawa River Valley, and surrounded by some of Japan’s highest peaks. Private cars are banned here, so access is only permitted by bus or taxi. We recommend starting your walk from Taisho-ike Pond, which reflects the Hotaka Mountain Range and Mt. Yakedake, an active volcano which stands at around 2,455 meters above sea level. Admire the extremely picturesque views from Kappa-bashi Bridge, before taking the trail to Myojin-bashi Bridge, the gateway to Hotaka-jinja Shrine and Myojin-ike Pond. There is also a small restaurant here where you may wish to have lunch.

Return to Tokyo for a final night at leisure before leaving the country.

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.