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2025 Tour Details »2026 Tour Details
Small groups lead to big experiences on this Small Group Discovery tour of Japan. From its heaven-piercing skyscrapers to its heavenly gardens down below, Tokyo is a feast for mind, body, and soul. From the lush man-made forest surrounding the magnificent Meiji Jingu Shrine to vibrant nightlife, vintage teahouses, and venerable temples, Tokyo comes to life with spring’s first cherry blossoms and the first catch of the day in its sushi houses. Be whisked away by Shinkansen (bullet train) to Nagoya for more adventure, including a traditional sake tasting. Continue by high-speed rail to captivating Kyoto where thousands of brightly hued Torii Gates welcome you to the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Step into ancient bliss at the Golden Pavilion (and "zen" some!) with a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Glide into tranquility on the serene waters lapping the shores of the Amanohashidate sandbar and ponder the power of nature in Koraku-en Garden. Your tour of Japan takes you to the hallowed grounds of Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park and Memorial, preserved just as it was on August 6, 1945. So much history, mystery, and magnificent beauty awaits you on this fascinating Small Group Discovery tour of Japan.
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Miyajima Island cable-car ride is dependent upon weather conditions. Due to limited space on the bullet train to Nagoya, please plan to pack an overnight bag while main luggage will be sent via complimentary 2-day luggage service.
ARRIVE IN TOKYO, JAPAN Your Small Group Discovery tour begins! Welcome to Tokyo, Japan’s capital city. Hotel check-in is available mid-afternoon.
TOKYO Monumental Metropolis Hop on Tokyo’s subway system to explore this fascinating city with guided sightseeing, featuring the Meiji Shrine, Asakusa Kannon Temple, and Nakamise shopping arcade. . Tonight, join your travel companions at a welcome dinner hosted by your Tour Director.
Breakfast Lunch DinnerTOUR HIGHLIGHTSMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Exploring Tokyo on the metro starts with a visit to Meiji Shrine, a magnificent 20th-century Shinto monument set in a man-made forest. Then, visit Asakusa Kannon Temple and Nakamise shopping arcade, the oldest of their kind in Tokyo.ENHANCED FREE TIMEEXPLORE MORE Tokyo has something for everyone so visit one of the city’s unique neighborhoods like Ginza or Shibuya districts, dine at the street food markets, or catch a game at the Tokyo Dome.
TOKYO–NAGOYA Fourth with a Bullet Today, travel by shinkansen (bullet train) to Nagoya, Japan’s fourth-largest city. Visit Nagoya Castle, a proud symbol of the city, then enjoy a sake tasting.
BreakfastLOCAL FAVORITESMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Celebrate with your small group with a sake tasting in Nagoya’s yokocho, traditional Japanese alleyways, today hosting many small restaurants, pubs, and shops.
NAGOYA–KYOTO Textiles & Temples This morning, visit the Toyota Commemorative Museum, showcasing the rise of the company’s start as a textile machinery manufacturer to a worldwide industrial superpower. Then, board a train for Kyoto. Upon arrival, visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine, renowned for the thousands of brightly hued Torii Gates.
Breakfast DinnerFREE TIME TIPSEXPLORE MORE Join your Tour Director for a walking tour through Gion or visit more of Kyoto’s historic temples.
KYOTO A Golden Gift Cruise on the tranquil waters surrounding the pine-covered Amanohashidate sandbar, home to one of Japan’s three most scenic views. Return to Kyoto and visit to stunning Kinkakuji, the Temple of the Gold Pavilion, then partake in a tea ceremony.
Breakfast Lunch LOCAL FAVORITEPLANNED TO A TEA Participate in a tea ceremony, the ancient tradition and carefully choreographed ritual of preparing and serving Japanese green tea.
KYOTO–HIMEJI–BIZEN–OKAYAMA Palace Aisles & Pottery Styles Take the shinkansen bullet train to Himeji to visit Himeji Castle. Drive south to Bizen, where you’ll visit a traditional pottery workshop to learn more about Bizen-yaki, one of Japan’s six ancient pottery styles dating back over 1,000 years. Continue to Okayama.
BreakfastTOUR HIGHLIGHTHISTORIC SIGHTS Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Himeji Castle to marvel at the finest surviving example of early 17th-century Japanese castle architecture.
OKAYAMA. EXCURSION TO KURASHIKI. Garden Sights & City Whites This morning, visit Koraku-en Garden. Journey to Kurashiki, to visit the Ohara Museum and Bikan Historical Quarter, once the political and commercial center of the city. The canal-lined, white-washed, stone streets reflect the Edo period (1603-1867) and are quintessentially Japanese.
Breakfast DinnerTOUR HIGHLIGHTTHE POWER OF TRANQUILITY The 30-acre Koraku-en Garden features ponds, plum groves, and tea fields, earning its place as one of the “Three Great Gardens of Japan.” The wide lawns, believed to uplift the spirit and promote open mindedness, are unique to Koraku-en and not a traditional feature of Japanese gardens.
OKAYAMA–MATSUE–YONAGO Picturing Japan Drive northwest to Matsue and visit Matsue Castle on the shores of Lake Shinji. After lunch, continue to the Adachi Museum of Art to view the renowned work of artist, Yokoyama Taikan. Your hotel tonight is in the city of Yonago on the coast of the Sea of Japan.
Breakfast Lunch TOUR HIGHLIGHT ART & ARTISTRY Revel in the Japanese-style gardens of the Adachi Museum of Art and admire the revolutionary style of painter Yokoyama Taikan. Considered one of Japan’s greatest painters, this major figure in pre-WWII Japanese painting helped create the stunning technique of Nihonga—ink and mineral pigments on silk or paper canvas.
YONAGO–HIROSHIMA Serenity & Solemnity Drive south to Hiroshima this morning. Upon arrival, visit the 400-year-old Shukkei-en Garden, where natural landscapes are represented in miniature form. Also visit the moving Peace Memorial Park.
BreakfastTOUR HIGHLIGHTMONUMENTS & MEMORIALS Peace Memorial Park is home to the Peace Memorial, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has been preserved just as it was on August 6, 1945, immediately after the devastating bombing. You will also visit the Memorial Museum and Memorial Hall, which commemorate the lives lost that day.
HIROSHIMA Travel by ferry to Miyajima Island. Visit Itsukushima Shrine and take cable-car ride to the top of Mount Misen for panoramic views of the Seto Island Sea, and on a clear day, Hiroshima city. Participate in a Japanese cooking class for lunch. Return to Hiroshima for some time on your own. Tonight, your Tour Director hosts a farewell dinner to celebrate your discovery of Japan.
Breakfast Lunch Dinner LOCAL FAVORITESMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Learn how to make Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, delicious savory pancake layered with ingredients as you choose. This legendary dish of Japan comes from the words okonomi (as you like it)and yaki (to grill).
HIROSHIMA Say it Ain’t Sayonara Your tour ends with breakfast this morning.
Breakfast
With Globus, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of your Tour Director. Averaging over a decade... we’d like you to meet a Tour Director, who is representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.
Escorting tours for more than 20 years
" Hello! My name is Keiko. I've been a licensed guide since 2002. I love cooking, walking, Japanese history, and singing karaoke! In Japan there is so much to see. Let me help you have a great experience in my beautiful country of unique culture."
Escorting tours for more than 20 years
" Hi I'm Takako. I have traveled extensively as a certified tour guide. In addition to being a Globus Tour Director, I've guided for government delegates from around the world. From high-tech industry to ancient tastes and rich nature, I'm excited to show my diverse country to you and share fascinating and educational insights throughout your journey."