Shogun Trail

Day 1  Tokyo    
On arrival, transfer to your hotel for a welcome meeting. Later, enjoy an included dinner at a nearby restaurant to sample your first taste of traditional Japanese cuisine.    

Day 2  Tokyo    
Take a morning stroll to Tokyo’s oldest temple before a boat ride down the Sumida River. Arrive in the heart of the city where you may wish to visit the famous Shinjuku area, a neon lit metropolis and perhaps explore lesser visited areas.    

Day 3  Tokyo to Hakone    
This morning, transfer to Hakone home to the towering Mt Fuji. Today’s transportation includes bus, funicular rail and cable car. Witness the bubbling sulphur springs at Owakudani, perhaps even join the locals in eating an egg boiled in the sulphur pools – legend states this will increase life expectancy by 7 years.    

Day 4  Hakone to Kyoto
Say goodbye to Hakone as you board the world famous bullet train to Kyoto. In the afternoon visit the geisha district of Gion, here you will meet with a traditional geisha for tea. The rest of the day is at leisure to continue your explorations.

Day 5  Kyoto    
Regarded as Japan’s loveliest city, Kyoto boasts over 2,000 temples and shrines, many set amongst stunning, landscaped gardens. Spend the morning visiting Kyoto’s best temples including the Gold Pavilion, a three storey building with the top two tiers covered in gold leaf. The rest of the day is spent exploring Kyoto’s charming streets and tree lined canals.

Day 6  Kyoto    
Continue the adventure with a visit to Nijo Castle. There is an optional trip to Nara this afternoon, one of Japan’s greenest cities and home to the Todai-Ji temple, until very recently the world largest wooden building.    

Day 7  Kyoto to Nagasaki    
This morning, board the train to Hiroshima, where you will spend the morning exploring this historic city. In the afternoon continue on to Nagasaki, home for the next 2 nights.

Day 8  Nagasaki    
This morning join a tour of historic Nagasaki. The afternoon is free for you to explore in your own time.

Day 9  Nagasaki to Hirado Island    
Travel the scenic route through beautiful tea plantations, before continuing onwards to the seaside city of Sasebo, where you will board the ferry to the charming harbour quayside in Hirado.

Day 10  Hirado Island    
Spend the full day exploring the pristine and unspoiled islands of Hirado and Ikitsuki, which are connected by a 400 metre long bridge, the longest of its kind in the world.  

Day 11  Hirado Island to Fukuoka
Enjoy spectacular views on a relaxing cruise through the fabled 99 islands, which are actually 170, mostly uninhabited islands dotted along the coastline. Afterwards, journey on to Fukuoka.

Day 12  Fukuoka    
Your journey ends after breakfast. Transfer at leisure to the airport.