Off the Beaten Track in Japan

Now you've caught up on sleep, it's time to start discovering the amazing sights that Japan has to offer! Your exclusive itinerary includes a private tour of Tokyo. Your first stop is the renowned Tokyo Tower - head to the top for breathtaking views of the capital as it wakes up in the morning. Can you make out the profile of Mount Fuji peering through the clouds? Visit the beautiful Meiji-Jingu Shrine, a tranquil haven hidden in the midst of the city. Immerse yourself in Japanese culture and buy a charm!

The next stop on your tour will be Asakusa Kannnon Temple - you'll be stunned by the beautiful scarlet gates with their huge lantern. Picking out a fortune is a must when visiting this temple, shake the box and hope to receive good luck! Enjoy a warm melon pan (a sweet bread and a Japanese favourite) and explore Nakamise Shopping Arcade. Your tour will finish in the up-market shopping district of Ginza. Explore the department stores before finding a place to eat dinner - perhaps a delicious serving of tempura?

It's time to discover Kamakura! Your fabulous itinerary includes a tour of this mystifying coastal town - you'll start with it's most iconic attraction, the Great Buddha (said to be the most handsome in Japan). This statue is beautiful with its natural hilly backdrop, a truly serene image. Next, you'll visit the Hase Kannon Temple, dedicated to the goddess of compassion and decorated with finesse and delicate accents. You'll love the bright colours of the gardens that surround this temple!

While you're in Kamakura, you have to try Shojin Ryori, a vegetarian meal popular with monks. You'll find many restaurants that offer this delicious food due to Kamakura's abundance of temples. Afterwards, follow your nose to Komachi-Dori shopping street to treat your tastebuds to some Kamakura street food - savour the crunch of crispy golden croquettes!

It's time to say goodbye to Tokyo and its many neon colours, and say hello to the peace and serenity of Hakone! Hop on the shinkansen (bullet train) and speed past small towns and emerald rice fields. Your itinerary includes an incredible tour of Hakone and Mount Fuji. You'll begin your adventure at the Fujisan World Heritage Center, before heading to Lake Ashi for an unforgettable boat trip. You'll love floating across these gentle, sparkling waters - what you are about to see will be unforgettable...

Your heart will stop as your boat comes into view of the majestic Mount Fuji. You are bobbing beneath an iconic silhouette that only the luckiest of people can see up close. This is an experience of a lifetime, a beautiful moment to share with your loved one. Enjoy panoramic views from the Komagatake Ropeway, each glance as breath-taking as the last. After a beautiful day, Hakone Kowakien Ten-Yu will be waiting to welcome you to your traditional Japanese-style room. You won't be able to resist the open air bathtub!

How you spend this day is completely down to you! A trip to Hakone would be incomplete without checking out the mystifying Hakone Shrine. Hidden within a dense forest, this mysterious shrine is signposted by ruby torri gates - follow a pathway lined with lanterns before you stumble across the shrine itself, standing proudly amongst the trees. The ambience of Hakone Shrine is magical, a magnificent sight when the mists of the mountains blanket it.

After the excitement of yesterday, this is the perfect opportunity for you to relax in the presence of nature. Hakone is home to an array of onsens, and you don't need to stray far to find one! Hakone Kowakien Ten-Yu is home to an amazing infinity onsen - think infinity pool, but warmer and more soul-soothing - as well as a gorgeous onsen surrounded by luscious forestry. Enjoy the comforting sounds of nature, from the gentle wind rustling through the leaves to the tumbling waterfall beside you... this is paradise.

When you've woken up and savoured a cosy traditional breakfast, meet your guide to begin your private tour of Kyoto! The first destination on this fabulous tour is the awesome Kinkakuji Temple. You'll be stunned as you spot this temple as it shines in the sunlight - did we mention that it is covered in real gold leaf? This golden temple is a majestic sight to see as you look over the lake, see it reflected in the rippling waters like something out of a fairy tale. 

Your guide will take you to Heian Jingu Shrine - enter the gardens to see the gorgeous weeping cherry blossom trees that hang over the lake, this is one of the best spots to see the blossoms in Kyoto!

After a relaxing evening at the Kyoto Brighton Hotel, your exciting itinerary will continue with a trip to the magical Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. You'll love walking between the soaring bamboos as they sway gently in the wind - this mystifying forest feels like it doesn't belong in this world, the bamboos a far cry from those skyscrapers you saw in Tokyo! You'll be amazed by the beautiful products that the locals craft from the bamboo, they make everything from mats and baskets to cups, perfect to take home.

Your itinerary will take you to the temples of Sagano; Tenryuji Temple is a world heritage site, and is unmissable. This is the perfect place to find your zen, particularly in the stunning landscaped gardens, centuries old and in their original form. You'll stop at the Nonomiya Shrine, where you can purchase marriage talismans. Touch the mysterious turtle rock and make a wish - legend has it that it will grant this wish within a year!