10-Nights Tailor Made Japan: Iconic Cities of the Mainland - Luxury Tailor Made Travel — CALL

Abercrombie & Kent: Tailor Made Japan: Iconic Cities of the Mainland

Day 1 TOKYO, JAPAN

Arrive in Tokyo, Japan’s exciting capital. Transfer to your hotel, and enjoy the expansive views over the city.

Begin your day with a photo stop at the Imperial Palace Plaza. Continue to the Tokyo National Museum, the oldest national museum in Japan and home to a vast collection of Japanese art and antiquities. Visit Asakusa Kannon Temple, pausing in the tiny shops of Nakamise-dori. The colorful pagoda-style temple was completed in 645 and is dedicated to Kannon, the goddess of mercy in several East Asian spiritual traditions.

This morning, see the Meiji Shrine, which is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. After passing under its large cypress torii gates, enjoy the peaceful, park-like atmosphere of its expansive 175-acre grounds. Continue Tokyo's vibrant Harajuku district, where the city's youth gather to see and be seen sporting colorful, eclectic fashions. Next, stroll Omotesando Street, another fashion hub of the local youth culture. Return to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure.

Travel to Hakone, among Japan’s most popular hot-spring destinations, and immerse yourself in the stunning beauty of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Embark on a scenic cruise of Lake Ashi, gliding past the wooded mountain slopes that enclose it. Board an aerial tram for stunning views of Mount Fuji. Stroll the grassy hillsides of Hakone’s Open Air Museum, taking in sculptures and artwork from the likes of Picasso and Henry Moore. Tonight, enjoy unparalleled service and traditional Japanese cuisine at Gôra Kadan, a top-rated ryokan.

This morning, travel like a local by rail to Takayama, changing trains en route in Nagoya. For the first leg of your journey, you are whisked at speeds of up to 175 miles per hour on a bullet train, while the second leg is a scenic delight, following a series of gorges as it travels deep into the mountains. Upon arrival in Takayama, visit the Takayama Float Festival Exhibition Hall to view the city’s portable parade shrines; the Folkcraft Museum; and the city’s Old Town, where you stroll streets and buildings preserved from Japan’s prosperous Edo period (1600–1868). Later, check in to your accommodations offering magnificent views of the Northern Japanese Alps.

Stroll with your private guide through Takayama’s Morning Market for an engaging look at everyday life in Japan. Next, drive to Shirakawa-go to explore its UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gassho-Zukuri Minkaen — a well-preserved village of traditional thatched-roof, A-frame “praying hands”-style buildings, including houses, barns, mills and a Shinto shrine. Also visit the Edo-period Wada Family Residence, and then survey the ruins of the 700-year-old Ogimachi Castle. Continue to Kanazawa, where you check in to your hotel.

Start your day with a visit to Omicho Market, the largest fresh-food market in Kanazawa, specializing in local seafood and produce. Then, view the authentic period artifacts on display at the Nagamachi Samurai Residence, a home restored to reflect the lifestyle of Japan’s legendary warrior class. Proceed to the sublime Kenrokuen Garden, which dates from the 17th century. Walk its quiet paths, cross its delicately arched bridges and enjoy its tranquil waterways. Then, contrast past with present when you tour the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, viewing eclectic displays by international and Japanese artists that seek to connect people with art and design from many facets of modern life.

Travel by limited express train to Kyoto this morning. Upon arrival in Kyoto, set out with your private guide, proceed to a local temple, where you experience the art of the tea ceremony, noting its refined sense of hospitality and etiquette, which date to the time of the samurai. Then, wander through centuries-old Nishiki Market, strolling its five-block-long stretch of shops and restaurants frequented by locals and visitors alike.

Begin your day with a visit to Nara, where Japan’s first permanent capital was established in 710. Tour Todaiji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most historically significant Buddhist temples in Japan. Enter its spacious main hall to behold the Daibutsu — the largest bronze Buddha statue in the world. Stroll the grounds of Nara Park, which surround the temple, watching for the deer that roam free there. Next, visit Kasuga Shrine, a renowned Shinto shrine noted for its architecture and the distinctive style of its hanging lamps. Tour a sake brewery and sample the elixir brewed using the clean, soft water drawn up from underground springs.

Today, discover the glittering Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), covered with gold leaf, surrounded by finely manicured green gardens; and set on a lovely, tranquil pond. Later, explore the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, a lush oasis home to monkeys and towering stalks of bamboo. Bask in the magical atmosphere here, peacefully walking a winding path, as sunlight filters down through bamboo gently swaying in the breeze. Later, visit Togetsu Bridge, a picturesque span in keeping with the Japanese aesthetic.

After breakfast, transfer to Kansai International Airport or Itami Airport, both located just outside of Osaka, for your flight home.