Japan Highlights

Tokyo is a city of contrasts, where neon lights mix with tranquil temples and cutting-edge technology blends with age-old traditions. With your local guide, start at Senso-ji Temple, where incense smoke is believed to heal. Continue to the Meiji Shrine, honoring Emperor Meiji and his empress, then explore the vibrant Harajuku District, famed for bold fashion and youth culture.

Visit Tokyo’s Akihabara district, the epicentre of electronic goods and otaku culture. Explore countless shops filled with anime, manga, and video games, making it a paradise for fans and tech lovers alike.

Karaoke, which originated in Japan, remains one of Tokyo’s favourite pastimes. Step into a lively venue, grab a mic, pick your favourite song, and sing your heart out alongside friends.

Escape to Hakone, a favourite retreat for Tokyo locals, where lakes, gardens, and shrines create a scene like a living watercolour. Cruise across Lake Ashi with views of Mt. Fuji, then ride the Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani Boiling Valley, where sulfur vents and hot springs mark the volcanic landscape. Conclude with a visit to Hakone Shrine, hidden among towering cedars along the lakeshore.

One of Japan’s most impressive fortresses, Matsumoto Castle features a five-tiered, six-story main tower built in the late 16th century, the oldest surviving castle tower in the nation. Surrounded by a broad moat, graceful swans, and cherry blossoms each spring, it is also among the country’s most photogenic landmarks.

Explore Takayama with a guided tour that begins at the lively Morning Market, where vendors sell local crafts and fresh produce. Then wander the Old City, with its preserved wooden merchant houses, sake breweries, and narrow streets that evoke the charm of Edo-period Japan.

Discover Nara, where history and tradition come to life. At Todai-ji Temple, marvel at the 50-foot bronze Buddha, dedicated in AD 752, and learn the story of its symbolic “eye-opening.” Continue to Kasuga Grand Shrine, famed for its thousand bronze lanterns. Conclude with a stroll through Nara Deer Park, home to wild deer once regarded as messengers of the gods and still protected as a national treasure.

One of Japan’s best-preserved imperial cities, Kyoto, is home to more than 2,000 temples and shrines. Visit Kinkaku-ji, the famed Golden Pavilion, whose top floors gleam with gold leaf above a reflective pond. Continue to Fushimi Inari Taisha, where thousands of bright red torii gates wind up the hillside. Conclude at Sanjusangendo Temple, with its hall of 1,000 life-size guardian statues.