A tailor-made two-week tour of wild Hokkaido Island and Honshu’s Golden Route to take in all the very best of Japan
Choose when you go and where you go on this tailor-made tour of the best of Japan — use our suggestion here to kick-start your imagination.
Travel through Japan’s ‘wild island’ of Hokkaido experiencing its volcanic and geothermal wonders, indigenous peoples and food markets, before exploring the Golden Route of Kyoto, Osaka and of course Tokyo, experiencing Japanese cuisine and renowned hospitality throughout on this magical 14 day tour
After your international flight into Tokyo, you’ll transfer by air to the bustling city of Hakodate in Hokkaido.
Your English-speaking guide for the next week will meet you at Hakodate Airport and escort you into the city for a spot of sightseeing. They will drive you around the island by private car until your departure on Day 7
We suggest that you take an overnight international flight so that you have the balance of the day to rest and relax before your tour starts tomorrow.
Hakodate is a gorgeous, compact city on Hokkaido’s southern coast, dominated by the looming Mt Hakodate.
After exploring, you’ll enjoy afternoon tea at Salon Hishii, a refined tea house famous for its roasted green tea ‘hojicha’ parfait – an ice cream sundae with distinct Japanese flavours.
Check in at your hotel for the next two nights, the four-star Bourou Noguchi Hakodate for an exquisite welcome dinner of kaiseki – Japanese haute cuisine in the traditional style, featuring Hakodate’s seafood specialties.
Your guide will meet you after breakfast at your hotel. You’ll tour more of the city today – first stop being Goryokaku Tower, which at 107m tall offers unparalleled views of the whole city, including the spectacular star fort from which it takes its name.
Goryokaku Park is now one of the most celebrated sakura spots in all Japan, with 1,600 blossom trees planted on the banks of the moat. You’ll have plenty of time to explore.
Next visit Hakodate Magistrate’s Office, now a museum, on a site that has been integral to the nation’s recent history.
Lunch is at the famous Hakodate Shio Ramen Ajisai, which serves exquisite local varieties of ramen noodles. This afternoon is all about the sakura – the cherry blossom trees that paint the whole city pink each spring. Sakuragaoka Dori is a well-kept local secret, a splendid sakura-lined street you’ll never forget.
Now head to Sumiyoshi Shinto Shrine at the foot of Mt Hakodate, bursting with yet more vivid blossom trees – before driving to Hakodate’s picturesque bay for an evening stroll. Tonight’s meal is at Sazan Shokudo for delicious miso crab. Once twilight falls, you’ll take the ropeway up the mountain for an unforgettable night-time panorama of the whole city – a spot that earned three stars in the Michelin Green Guide
You’ll want to keep your breakfast light this morning before you hit the Hakodate Morning Market, a bustling food market that specialises in fresh-caught seafood – after all, you may not be able to help yourself sampling all the tasty morsels for sale!
Today you’ll make for Onuma Quasi-National Park, a lake-strewn beauty spot much beloved by local nature-lovers, hikers and bird-watchers. Lunch will be at Table de Rivage, which puts an umami twist on European classics.
You’ll then drive further north to Niseko, a mountain village best known in the winter months as Japan’s premier ski resort. It’s too late in the year now to try out the fabled Niseko powder, but the area is gorgeous in the spring, best seen while rambling in Kyogoku Fukidashi Park, with its pure naturally occurring springs and their sakura-lined banks.
Tonight, you’ll stay at the four-star Hilton Niseko Village and tuck into a buffet for your evening meal.
After breakfast, visit the Silo Observatory at the Shikotsu-Toya National Park, the perfect spot to gaze onto the placid blue waters of Lake Toya, punctuated by tree-lined mountains.
Stop off at the Volcano Science Museum. The local Mt Usu last erupted as recently as the year 2000 but it’s now perfectly safe for your cable car ride that takes you right to the summit!
After exploring the area, including several actively steaming craters, you’ll eat at Wakasaimo Honpo Toyako, a restaurant with astonishing views out onto Lake Toya and the surrounding area. Sukiyaki is on the menu.
Kitakogane Shell Mound is the first UNESCO World Heritage Site you’ll see on your tour of Hokkaido – once inhabited by the Jomon culture, the first islanders who came to Japan up to 15,000 years ago.
This evening, you’re at the four-star Bourou Noguchi Noboribetsu Hotel in Noboribetsu, Hokkaido’s premier hot-spring resort. Hot springs – ‘onsen’ – are a Japanese national obsession, one of the best by products of all the geothermal activity.
This little town has many incredible natural onsen, perfect for melting away the day’s exertions. You’ll also see ‘Hell Valley’ – where sulphurous steam pushes its way out of the ground, said to be inhabited by Oni, ogres from Japanese folklore.
Dine at your hotel tonight.
After breakfast, drive with your guide to the Upopoy, the first national museum dedicated to the Ainu, the indigenous people of Hokkaido. A distinct ethnic group, the Ainu have their own unique arts, religion, language and culture.
Lunch will be at Farm Uemura Beyond, where you’ll dine on shiraoi beef – the local variety of wagyu.
You’ll then pop over to Sapporo, the largest city on Hokkaido. You’ll be seeing Sapporo at its springtime best, visiting Odori Park, the Sapporo Clock Tower and the continental-style Hokkaido University. You’ll also have the chance to see more sakura at Moerenuma Park.
Your hotel tonight is the four-star JR Tower Nikko Sapporo, the tallest building on the whole island with incredible views of the city twinkling below your feet.
You’ll eat at Genghis Khan Hige No Ushi, a Mongolian-style restaurant that specialises in a special local twist on aromatic lamb. And if you wish, we can arrange a night-time excursion to the nearby Mt Moiwa as an optional extra, for further incredible views of Sapporo.
Today is your last day on Hokkaido. After breakfast your guide will drive you to Otaru, an historic canal city to the north of Sapporo.
You’ll stroll well-preserved streets and visit the Kitaichi glassware emporium, before setting off on a canal-boat cruise. It’s a treat for lunch today: Ise Sushi, the proud recipient of a Michelin Star.
There’s time for a tasting tour at the Nikka Whisky Distillery in nearby Yoichi. Nikka is a renowned Japanese distillery, whose founder studied the art of whisky-making in Scotland just over a century ago. Suitably refreshed, you’ll make your way to New Chitose Airport, to catch your flight to Osaka on the main island of Honshu.
You’ll be met at the terminal by your second English-speaking guide who will accompany you until the end of the holiday. They will drive you to your next hotel, the four-star Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka (or a similar), where you’ll arrange dinner for yourself.
After breakfast, take a quick tour around Osaka before driving to Kyoto, the old imperial capital.
You’ll stop off at the beautiful city of Nara, an even older capital of Japan than Kyoto. Nara houses many of the nation’s most ancient and precious treasures. Here you’ll find temples and shrines as well as thousands of docile deer in Nara Park, regarded as messengers of the gods.
Todai-ji, a huge wooden temple, houses the largest bronze Buddha in the whole country and Kasuga Grand Shrine, a bright-red Shinto complex welcomes guests with hundreds of historic bronze lanterns.
It’s a short hop from Nara to Kyoto, where you’ll visit the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine, with its hundreds of vermillion torii gates winding their way up the hillside. This serene spot is one of the holiest sites in Shinto, the native Japanese religion.
You’ll be staying at the four-star Kyoto Century Hotel (or similar). This evening’s dinner is up to you, from any of the many restaurants in the city. Why not try the local speciality, tofu, prepared to ancient Buddhist vegetarian recipes?
After breakfast, you’ll drive to another of Kyoto’s iconic locations: the Arashiyama bamboo forest, a lush green district on the outskirts of the city that’s home to numerous treasures.
You’ll then see Kinkaku-ji Temple, known as the Golden Pavilion for obvious reasons. Kiyomizu-dera Temple, built on long stilts down a precipitous hillside, is the next stop, before you head to Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, two beautifully preserved medieval streets, and the historic Gion district, which is still home to many practising geisha.
Your guide will have many excellent recommendations for dinner this evening if you can’t decide what to pick.
It’s another historical excursion out of Kyoto today, as you journey to Himeji Castle. Board the Bullet Train heading west to see the most celebrated castle in Japan.
Known as the White Heron Castle for its bright white exterior, it was the seat of many of the most powerful warring clans during the long Sengoku period of bloody civil war. You’ll also see Koko-en, a pristine landscape garden in the castle grounds, before lunch at a nearby restaurant.
This afternoon, make your way to the picture-perfect Engyo-ji Temple in the hills via bus and ropeway. This is so authentically Japanese that parts were used in the Tom Cruise blockbuster ‘The Last Samurai’. Set in some incredible scenery, it’s for those who just want to get far off the beaten track.
Return to Kyoto by Bullet Train, then this evening is your own. Feel free to head into the many side streets and back alleys, looking for one of the many hidden-gem eateries that fill this magnificent city.
No journey to Japan can be considered complete without a stay in Tokyo.
Depart from Kyoto after breakfast, riding the Bullet Train at speeds of 200mph or more, to Tokyo’s central station.
You’ll explore Tokyo by public transport, including its clean and efficient Metro.
First stop is the trendy shopping district of Shibuya, home to global brands, huge department stores and the famous Shibuya ‘Scramble’ Crossing. There’ll be time for a trip to the top of Shibuya Sky, an open-air platform 230m above street level, with stunning views of the whole city.
Your hotel for the next three nights is the four-star Akasaka Excel Hotel Tokyu (or similar). Dinner tonight is up to you, but you won’t be short of inspiration!
Your guide will meet you after breakfast, taking you on a full-day tour of the most historic parts of Tokyo via public transport.
You’ll visit the nearby Imperial Palace, the official residence of the current emperor, taking in Nijubashi Bridge and the palace grounds. You’ll then move east to see Senso-ji Temple and the Nakamise shopping arcade, a quaint parade of stalls and vendors that’s a perfect spot to pick up souvenirs, gifts and trinkets for friends and family.
We’ve arranged a cruise down the Sumida River – the best way to see more of this fabulous city. You’ll disembark near Tokyo Bay, giving you time to stroll the Hama Rikyu gardens near the waterfront – once a duck-hunting area reserved for the local lords and now rather more ornamental! Exchange the chaos of the big city for the serene hospitality of the Tea Ceremony at a local venue. This most traditional of Japanese rituals will re-centre you after the hectic pace of the last two weeks.
You’ll eat dinner at Ninja Akasaka, a theme restaurant local to your hotel. Styled like a medieval ninja lair, this is a dining experience like no other complete with waiters performing ninja tricks and an acrobatic show while you eat.
After a hotel breakfast, you’ve a free day to explore Tokyo at your own pace. From museums and art galleries, through boutique shopping districts and traditional food markets, to historic sites and religious centres, this incredible city has a wealth of activities to suit any taste. Lunch and dinner are up to you today.
If you prefer a more structured day, we can arrange an optional full-day tour of Mt Fuji and Hakone.
This tour would take you all the way up to the fifth station to experience stunning views from more than halfway up the volcano, and includes a cruise on Lake Ashi, the caldera of another volcano extinct for 3,000 years, as well as a trip to Owakudani – which still steams and bubbles with vigorous geothermal activity.
Lunch is included on this tour, but dinner is up to you after you return to Tokyo.
You’ll eat your final breakfast at the hotel as usual, before being driven by private vehicle to Haneda Airport, where you’ll board your return flight home – with plenty of time to reflect on the myriad cultural experiences, historic sites, amazing shrines and temples and not to forget the incredible cuisine.
We sincerely hope you’ve had a wonderful time.
