Traditions of Japan - Tokyo return
Deal number 26478333
Martin Randall Travel
19/04/2027
Japan
13-day tour
Departing from Tokyo
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Exclusive Inclusions
13 day Martin Randall Tour departing Tokyo
12 nights 4-star accommodation including stays in a traditional ryokan in Takayama & onsen hotel in Matsue
Meals including breakfast daily, 10 lunches and 9 dinners with wine, water & coffee
Domestic air travel with Fuji Dream Airlines from Nagoya to Izumo
High-speed rail travel (first class) from Tokyo to Kanazawa and from Kyoto to Tokyo
Private coach for transfers and excursions
All admission charges to museums
All gratuities for waiters, drivers and guides
The services of the lecturer and tour manager.
The service of a dedicated Travel Advisor managing your booking
Earn & Redeem Points on all travel with our new loyalty program, World360 Rewards*
One of the joys of exploring Japan is discovering its many different facets. It is a country of exquisite ancient beauty, but also at the cutting edge of modern design and creativity. Colourfully different characters constantly stride out both in history such as Minamoto no Yorimoto, the founder of the shogunate and today, in the pink-haired punks and Cosplay followers of Tokyos Shibuya. Japan is known for adapting ideas from elsewhere, but it has also always produced art and ideas of wonderful originality.
This tour has been designed to take us to the heart of Japan, to explore the many aspects of the country and its people: its stunning natural beauty and heritage; the continuing work of its crafts-people; art and architecture both old and new; its history and relations with neighbours; and modern Japan and its position in the world.
In the sixth century, Buddhism arrived from China. Kyoto, founded as the new capital in 794, perfectly displays this history through its gardens and Buddhist temples, many of which are located on the hillsides around the city. Even when the seat of power moved to Kamakura and later to Tokyo in 1603, Kyoto remained at the heart of Japan. A visit to an Imperial villa offers a special insight, as does an exploration of the work of Kyotos traditional craftspeople.
The long tradition of craft skills is also found in Kanazawa, which is well known for its Kutani pottery, lacquer and gold leaf. It is one of the few cities where tea houses and geisha are still in evidence. In the mountains not far away is Takayama, with its old merchants houses, and Shirakawas thatched gassho zukuri farmhouses.
At the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the emperor moved from Kyoto to Tokyo and Japan opened its doors to foreigners. Beginning in Tokyo, where there is an abundance of modern architecture, fashion and design, the tour offers a remarkable opportunity to engage with many aspects of this multi-layered country.
This tour has been designed to take us to the heart of Japan, to explore the many aspects of the country and its people: its stunning natural beauty and heritage; the continuing work of its crafts-people; art and architecture both old and new; its history and relations with neighbours; and modern Japan and its position in the world.
In the sixth century, Buddhism arrived from China. Kyoto, founded as the new capital in 794, perfectly displays this history through its gardens and Buddhist temples, many of which are located on the hillsides around the city. Even when the seat of power moved to Kamakura and later to Tokyo in 1603, Kyoto remained at the heart of Japan. A visit to an Imperial villa offers a special insight, as does an exploration of the work of Kyotos traditional craftspeople.
The long tradition of craft skills is also found in Kanazawa, which is well known for its Kutani pottery, lacquer and gold leaf. It is one of the few cities where tea houses and geisha are still in evidence. In the mountains not far away is Takayama, with its old merchants houses, and Shirakawas thatched gassho zukuri farmhouses.
At the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the emperor moved from Kyoto to Tokyo and Japan opened its doors to foreigners. Beginning in Tokyo, where there is an abundance of modern architecture, fashion and design, the tour offers a remarkable opportunity to engage with many aspects of this multi-layered country.
Itinerary
Day 1 Tokyo
The tour begins in Tokyo with lunch in the hotel. Your room is available from 3.00pm on 18th April 2027. (The night of 18th April 2027 is included in the price of the tour to allow for early check-in on Day 1).
There is an afternoon visit to the Nezu Museum. Nezu Kaichiros collection of Japanese arts is well presented in the eponymous museum, which also has a delightful garden (subject to confirmation due to exhibition schedules). First of two nights in Tokyo.
There is an afternoon visit to the Nezu Museum. Nezu Kaichiros collection of Japanese arts is well presented in the eponymous museum, which also has a delightful garden (subject to confirmation due to exhibition schedules). First of two nights in Tokyo.
Day 2 Tokyo
The Edo-Tokyo Museum re-opens in 2026 and traces the citys evolution from the Edo period to the modern day. There is time to explore the Omotesando area, where architecture meets fashion. By contrast, the Asakusa Kannon Temple in shitamachi (literally downtown) is surrounded by busy street stalls.
Day 3 Kanazawa
Bullet train to Kanazawa (luggage by road, same day service), an attractive city which retains much of its old
character. After lunch, visit the Kenrokuen, one of Japans finest strolling landscape gardens, and the traditional Seisonkaku villa. The circular, glass and steel form of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art is striking. First of three nights in Kanazawa.
character. After lunch, visit the Kenrokuen, one of Japans finest strolling landscape gardens, and the traditional Seisonkaku villa. The circular, glass and steel form of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art is striking. First of three nights in Kanazawa.
Day 4 Kanazawa
In the Nagamachi area there remain many old samurai houses. Visit the Nomura House, a beautifully restored example. A visit to the Noh Museum in the afternoon.
Day 5 Kanazawa
Morning walk to include Terajima Kurandos house, the geisha quarter with its charming latticed wooden houses, a gold leaf museum and the Utatsu Shrine. The rest of the day is free for exploration.
Day 6 Shirakawa-go, Takayama
Drive through Japans central Alps to visit Shirakawa-go, famous for its gassho-zukuri houses with their distinctive thatched roofs, and visit the folk museum. In Takayama, a small town with streets lined with heritage wooden merchant houses, visit Takayama Jinya, the seat of the Edo-period government in the region. Overnight in Takayama.
Day 7 Takayama, Matsue
An early morning walk along the Miyagawa river to visit the market and nearby temples before driving to Nagoya Airport. Fly to Izumo (Fuji Dream Airlines), arriving mid-afternoon. First of two nights at Matsue, beside Lake Shinji, in an onsen hotel. Onsen are natural hot springs and onsen bathing (optional) is a much-loved Japanese form of relaxation. First of two nights in Matsue.
Day 8 Izumo, Matsue
Ancient myths about the origin of Japan tell of Izumo and the Izumo Taisha, dating back before the Heian period, as well as the Kamosu and Yaegaki Shrines, which are all dedicated to early gods. Matsue Castle is one of the few remaining medieval castles. Here in the 1890s the writer Lafcadio Hearn, met his wife Koizumi Setsu and worked on his studies of so-called strange things Japanese ghost stories and superstitions. His home gives a flavour of his life.
Day 9 Yasugi, Bizen, Kyoto
The Adachi Museum, created by Adachi Zenko in 1980, has a spectacular landscape garden as well as his collection of paintings by Yokoyama Taikan, a leader of the Nihonga school in the 1930s. Drive south passing Mount Daisen to Bizen, famous for its brownish natural glaze earthenware pottery, where we visit a kiln. First of three nights in Kyoto.
Day 10 Kyoto
A day in the eastern foothills. Visit Ginkakuji, the temple of the silver pavilion built by Ashikaga Yoshimasa in the 15th century. In the Zen temple complex Nanzen-ji there is a famous tiger garden and fine 17th-century painted screens by Kano Tanyu. Nearby is the intimate sub-temple Konchi-in.
Day 11 Kyoto
Ryoan-jis dry garden is perhaps Kyotos most famous stone garden. The large walled temple compound of Daitoku-ji, established in the 14th century, is an important foundation of Japanese Zen Buddhism. Its many sub-temples contain dry landscape gardens; one of the finest (and smallest) is in the Daisen-in.
Day 12 Kyoto, Tokyo
Morning excursion to Uji, the location of the last few chapters of The Tale of Genji. The Byodo-in temple was a villa made into a temple in 1052 by Fujiwara no Yorimichi (of the Heian period power-holding family). Its Phoenix Hall appears to spread its wings in front of the lake. Bullet train to Tokyo and overnight.
Day 13 Tokyo
The tour ends after breakfast.
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