On arrival in New Chitose International airport, you will be met by an English-speaking representative and transfer approximately 1 hours to your hotel. Please note: Early check in is not included. If your flight arrives in the morning and you wish to arrange this, please speak to your reservations consultant. You will be transferred by shared coach with other passengers who are not part of a Wendy Wu Tour. If you are on a shared bus transfer, you may have to walk for a few minutes to get to your hotel. Transfers will differ depending on group size. An informal Welcome Dinner will be held on Day 1. If you miss this due to your arrival time, all information will be provided to you at breakfast the following morning. Additional night's before and after your tour can be arranged.

In the morning, visit the Okurayama Viewing Point and take a 5-minute chair lift to the top of the Sapporo Winter Olympics Ski Jump to enjoy the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. Transfer around 1 hour to the pretty port town of Otaru, where you can enjoy strolling along the canal and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Return to the hotel and enjoy a couple of hours at leisure. For dinner, head to the Sapporo Beer Garden and sample the local beer on offer and enjoy a Genghis Khan dinner, a Sapporo specialty of BBQ Lamb (other meats and vegetables will be available for those who do not like lamb, but you must advise in advance).

Depart Sapporo and travel around 1 and a half hour to a lovely lakeside spot to visit a museum of Ainu culture, an indigenous people of the area. Continue to Noboribetsu Jigokudani (Hell Valley) and walk through a volcanic caldera where you can see steam jets, vents and hot springs. After lunch, board a limited express train and travel 2 and a half hours to the harbour city of Hakodate. Check in to the hotel before heading out for dinner and then ascending the Hakodate ropeway for magnificent views over the illuminated city (weather permitting). Please note: You will need to pack a small overnight bag for tonight as your main luggage will be transferred this morning directly to your hotel in Aomori, arriving the following day.

Start the day by strolling through Hakodate’s bustling asaichi (morning market), where hundreds of stores and stalls sell fresh local produce, seafood and the odd souvenir before ascending Goryokaku Tower for views over Goryokaku Fort and Mount Hakodate. After lunch, transfer to the train station and take a 1-hour bullet train to the city of Aomori in the north of Honshu, Japan’s largest island. On arrival in Aomori visit to the Nebuta Warasse Museum before transferring to your hotel in Hirosaki for your overnight stay.

Depart Hirosaki and travel around 3 hours by coach to Kakunodate, an old samurai stronghold still known for its samurai traditions. Visit the Aoyagi Samurai Manor Museum for a fascinating look at samurai culture and stroll around Ishiguro House, a traditional samurai residence. You will be required to remove your shoes upon entering. Continue a little over 1 hour to the hot spring resort of Tsunagi, where you can make use of the onsen facilities at the traditional Japanese ryokan where you’ll stay overnight. Overnight accommodation: stay overnight in a ryokan with onsen facilities. Here you will find a futon placed on top of a tatami mat. Please note: You will need to pack a small overnight bag for the next two nights, as your main luggage will be transferred this morning directly to your hotel in Tokyo.

Transfer 1 and a half hour to Hiraizumi, where you’ll explore Chusonji Temple, with its beautiful old gold leaf-covered hall. Continue another 1 and a half hour to Matsushima to enjoy a relaxed cruise on Matsushima Bay, passing amongst the small pine tree-covered islands of this picturesque seascape. Transfer to Sendai and check in to your hotel for the night.

Walk 10-15 minutes to Sendai station and take the bullet train for 1 and a half hour, then transfer 1 hour by coach to the small and charming city of Nikko. Drive by scenic Shinkyo Bridge before visiting the lavish Toshogu Shrine. At the shrine there will be some steps to climb. Continue to the magnificent Kegon Waterfall, taking a 100-metre tall elevator down to a viewpoint where you can look up at the stunning waterfall. You will be walking for approximately 2 hours in Nikko. Drive 2 and a half hours to Tokyo, Japan’s capital city, and check in to your hotel.

Tokyo is the ultimate 24-hour city, but look behind its frantic, high-tech frontage and you’ll find plenty of tranquil backstreets and old temples to explore; today take a tour by coach of this fascinating city. This morning, head to the vibrant Asakusa district and soak up the ambiance of Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple before exploring the Tokyo National Museum. Due to the limited coach parking, you may need to walk around 15 minutes on flat road. After lunch, visit Meiji Jingu Shrine, a tranquil Shinto shrine set amongst a stretch of woodland and then head up to the observatory deck of the Tokyo Government Office Building for panoramic views of Tokyo and beyond. You will be on your feet for 3-4 hours during your touring in Tokyo.

Journey around 2 hours to the base of the famous Mount Fuji. Head up Fuji’s 5th Station for spectacular mountain vistas, please note it is only possible to reach the 5th station if weather permits. If the 5th Station is closed, the Fuji San World Heritage Centre (formerly Fuji Visitor Centre) will be visited instead. Continue to the Hakone area and take a cruise on tranquil Lake Ashi before taking the Komagatake cable car for spectacular views of Mount Fuji and the lake below (weather permitting). Return to Tokyo.

This morning, transfer to the train station to board your 2-hour bullet train to Kyoto. An enchanting city, Kyoto was capital for a thousand years; today, it is the legacy of ancient Japan, full of tranquil temples, silk-clad geisha and sublime gardens. This afternoon, visit Togetsukyo Bridge in the heart of the vibrant Arashiyama district and walk through the bamboo forest. Please note that your luggage will be transferred separately to your hotel in Kyoto and arrive later the same day.

Start the day by visiting Kinkakuji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion due to its gold-plated exterior. Then, stroll through Nishiki Market, dubbed ‘Kyoto’s kitchen’, where there are many interesting food and sake stores to explore. Arrive back at your hotel and spend the afternoon at leisure until dinner tonight at a local restaurant.

Try your hand at handkerchief dyeing and then experience the rituals of a tea ceremony accompanied by a Tea Master. Due to the nature of the experience, you have to remove your shoes before entering the venue. After lunch, visit the mesmerising Fushimi Inari Shrine, which stretches from the bottom to the top of Mount Inari (233 metres high). You will walk up part of the mountain and the incline allows a steady-paced walk around 15 minutes with flat road and steps to reach tori gates. Due to the limited space of Fushimi Inari Shrine coach parking, you may need to walk from coach parking for 15 minutes. Tour a traditional sake brewery to learn about this traditional Japanese spirit before transferring 1 hour to the lively city of Osaka.

Any time before your flight is at leisure and breakfast will be included. You will be transferred from your hotel to Kansai International airport, according to the departure time of your international flight. Late check-out is not included. Additional night's before and after your tour can be arranged. Transfers: In the event that your flight departs outside of the majority group departure time, you will be transferred to the airport by a shared coach (not with other Wendy Wu Tours passengers). If you are on a shared coach transfer, you may have to walk for a few minutes to get to the coach.