On arrival in Haneda or Narita International airport, the capital of Japan, you will be met by an English-speaking representative and transfer approximately 1.5 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.

Begin your tour of Tokyo immersing yourself in the local culture by taking part in a traditional Japanese drumming (Taiko) class, where you will learn how to beat the 'wadaiko' with 'baichi'. Next, visit the Meiji Shrine and continue to the vibrant district of Harajuku before stopping by the famous Shibuya Crossing. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to further explore the city on your own.

Tokyo is the ultimate 24-hour city, but look behind its high-tech frontage and you’ll find plenty of tranquil backstreets and old temples to explore. Embark on a Tokyo city tour, starting with a stroll through the Imperial Palace East Garden and a visit to the 2nd observatory of the Tokyo Skytree for panoramic views over the city. Continue to the district of Asakusa, stopping at Sensoji Temple and strolling along Nakamise shopping street. Due to the limited coach parking, you may need to walk around 15 minutes on flat road. In the afternoon, explore the Tokyo National Museum and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. You will spend 3-4 hours on foot today. Sumo: Tickets to a Sumo tournament are included in the afternoon to some of our departures travelling in May and September. The ritual involved in the performance is just as fascinating to watch as the sport itself. Please note that the tickets are subject to availability.

This morning, transfer 2 and a half hours to Mt Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes area. The region is spectacular with the calm waters of the five lakes, formed by past volcanic eruptions, reflecting Fuji’s picture-perfect cone. Take a 3-hour easy walk around the base of this iconic mountain, through alpine forest. Take a short transfer to your hotel and check in for your overnight stay. For May departures only: A visit to the Fuji Shibazakura Festival has been included. This is the best time of the year and one of the most scenic places in Japan to see the pink moss phlox in full bloom. Please note, the flowers’ bloom is weather dependent. In the Fuji Five Lakes area we use a selection of hotels, some of which are more traditional in style. The rooms in these hotels typically feature Japanese elements. You may sleep on a futon with the mattress lying directly on a tatami mat floor and experience the Japanese culture. Overnight accommodation: stay overnight in a ryokan with onsen facilities. Here you will find a futon placed on top of a tatami mat.

Travel to Matsumoto, a journey of 3 hours 30 minutes and explore the magnificent 16th-century Matsumoto Castle, also known as ‘Crow Castle’, due to its intense black exterior. You will have to remove your shoes before walking along some of the wooden floors and there are some steep wooden steps to reach certain areas. From the coach parking to castle, it is around 15 minutes' walk on flat road. Next, stop in Yudanaka in search for the snow monkeys (Japanese Macaques) at Jigokudani Yaen-Koen Monkey Park. There is around a 30-minute walk through the forested valley along paths, occasionally on an incline, from the bus park to the main pool where the monkeys bathe. Accustomed to humans, the monkeys can be observed up-close, and they almost completely ignore their human guests. Please keep in mind that the snow monkeys are wild, not domestic animals and sighting them is never guaranteed, particularly during the breeding season which runs from late September through to November.

This morning, travel 2 hours to Hotaka to ride the Shin-Hotaka Ropeway into the Japanese Alps. You will reach the observation platform at 2,156 meters high to get stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Drive 1 and a half hours to Takayama, where you will have some free time to explore Kamisannomachi Street and sample the street food on offer (at your own expense). This evening, enjoy dinner in your ryokan. Please note the ropeway may be closed due to strong winds, if this is the case, you will continue directly to Takayama where alternative sightseeing will be arranged. Overnight accommodation: stay overnight in a ryokan with onsen facilities. Here you will find a futon placed on top of a tatami mat.

Today, take the bullet train to Kyoto. The journey consists of two trains, first the Limited express, which takes around 2 hours and 20 minutes to Nagoya, before changing to the Shinkansen bullet train for a 40-minute journey to Kyoto. On arrival this afternoon, visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine. 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. Also visit Kiyomizu Temple. Next, take a stroll around the old neighbourhoods of Higashiyama and Gion, the geisha district with a stop at Gion Corner. Please note: Your luggage will be transferred separately and will not arrive until the following day, so you will need to pack a separate overnight bag for your first night in Kyoto.

Start the day with a visit to Ryoanji, the ‘temple of the peaceful dragon’ and the famous Kinkakuji, also known as the ‘Golden Pavilion' due to its gold-like exterior. You will need to remove your shoes at both temples. Continue to the Arashiyama district where you will have some free time to explore the Bamboo Forest as well as enjoying a rickshaw ride. Later, witness the rituals involved in the preparation and pouring of matcha tea in a traditional tea ceremony. Due to the nature of the cultural experience, you will be required to remove your shoes before entering the venue. Sightseeing on foot will be approximately 3-4 hours on foot today.

This morning, explore the craft of Kimono creation at Nishijin Textile Centre, then continue your tour learning the art of Origami. Due to the nature of the cultural experience, you will be required to remove your shoes before entering the venue. This afternoon, travel by road to Koya-san for your overnight stay in a 13th century temple in a traditional tatami room. The journey is approximately 3 hours. The temple where you will lodge tonight is staffed by monks who generally do not speak English. Accommodation is traditional and basic; single mattresses known as futons will be laid on traditional tatami mats, tatami mat floors are not hard, and mattresses are designed for comfortable sleep. The doors to rooms are made from rice paper so noise will travel, and they cannot be locked. Rooms are individually heated but hallways are not. There will be shared bathrooms with shower and toilet facilities. Please note that the showers are open-plan with no screens. In the morning there is no hot water for showering or use of the public bath. The evening meal is a Buddhist vegetarian dinner, known as Shojin Ryori and is served promptly at 18:00. The evening is free for quiet reflection in your room, please note there are no TVs on the premises.

Rise early this morning to join the monks in their daily morning prayers before a traditional breakfast. Take an hour walking tour of Koya-San before visiting Kongobuji Temple. Afterwards, travel by chartered coach to visit Okunoin. Here, sightseeing will be approximately 4 hours on flat but rough terrain. This afternoon, continue your journey 2 and a half hours to Osaka this afternoon and check in to your hotel for the next 2 nights.

Today, drive 2 hours to Himeji to visit the 17th century Himeji Castle. The castle is largely in its original condition, so please use common sense and be mindful of your step when strolling around the castle. You will have to remove your shoes before walking along some of the wooden floors and there are some steep wooden steps to reach certain areas. You will be on your feet for 3-3.5 hours during the visit. After the reopening in March 2015, Himeji Castle has welcomed a large number of visitors. As such, they now issue numbered tickets to visitors in order to limit the number of people who can enter the Main Keep, reducing congestion, waiting time, and to protect the cultural properties. Please note that this means that there may be cases where some visitors are not allowed to enter the Main Keep. Continue on to a sake brewery to learn about the brewing process and enjoy some tasters. Travel back to Osaka, stopping at the bright lights of the Dotonbori district, where you will enjoy some free time before taking the coach back to the hotel. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner.

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.