Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Fukuoka - Hiroshima - Kobe - Osaka - Shizuoka - Tokyo
100% customisable for you
Your Japanese adventure kicks off this evening, so pack your bags and head to the airport for your overnight flight to Fukuoka. There are no direct flights, so you’ll have a stopover and a connecting flight to catch, touching down in Kyushu’s largest city the next morning.
Upon arrival, pick up your Japan Rail Pass and hop on the metro to your hotel, where you’ll stay for two nights. The best way to stave off jet lag is to keep moving – so why not spend the rest of today exploring? Uncover the peace and quiet of temples and shrines like Shofuku-ji and Kashii, wander the beautiful Ohori Park or take in panoramic views from the top of Fukuoka Tower. When it comes to food, make sure to sample the city’s steaming speciality: tonkotsu ramen.
Today, discover more of Fukuoka’s sights. Fancy learning about the city’s rich history? Head to the castle ruins, the Fukuoka City Museum or the Hakata Machiya Folk Museum for an insight into the past. Marvel at more ancient Shinto shrines, like Kushida, and Buddhist temples, including Tocho-ji, home to the largest wooden Buddha in Japan. Shop for textiles in Nishinjin, peruse the food market of Yanagibashi and find tranquillity in Yusentei Park.
Fukuoka is also famous for its many yatai, street food stalls which serve up a range of local and international specialities. Follow your nose and tuck into flavourful dishes including ramen, udon, yakitori and gyoza. If you’d rather wander the yatai with a guide, we can arrange a private street food tour with a local expert on all things edible (just make sure to bring your appetite).
Leave Kyushu behind and say hello to Honshu. Hop on a train and travel four hours to the fascinating city of Hiroshima, your home for the next two nights. Once you’ve settled into your hotel, cross the river to reach Peace Memorial Park and museum, which documents the horrors of the 1945 atomic bombing. You can also see the ruins of the industrial exhibition palace and the eerily beautiful Genbaku Dome.
This evening, we’ve arranged a walking tour with a local guide. They’ll introduce you to some of their favourite spots around the city and recommend tasty traditional dishes like Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes), tsukemen (ramen), tantanmen (a Japanese noodle dish), oysters, anago (saltwater eels) and even local gin...
Fancy a day trip today? Tranquil Miyajima Island awaits. Located less than an hour away from Hiroshima in the Seto Inland Sea, Miyajima (also called Itsukushima) is a spiritual spot – and UNESCO World Heritage site – home to a fourth-century Shinto shrine. Marvel at the island’s magnificent monuments, including the famous floating torii gate, and climb Mount Misen (or travel by cable car) for spectacular views. On the way down, stop at the beautiful Daisho-in Buddhist temple or wander the trails through the thick beech forest. Depending on the season, look out for clusters of cherry blossoms or maple trees, as well as Miyajima’s resident deer population.
When you're back in Hiroshima for dinner, consult our Dossier for tried-and-tested eateries in the city, whether you fancy sampling more local delicacies or sticking to your favourites.
Another day, another destination. Hop on a speedy bullet train bound for the cosmopolitan port city of Kobe, renowned for its beef. If you want a culture fix en route, we can arrange a private tour of Himeji Castle before you whizz into the city. Otherwise, hit the ground running in Kobe, your home for the night. Explore the distinctive districts of Kitano-cho (where foreign diplomats and merchants once lived) and Nankinmachi (Chinatown). Stroll through Meriken Park on the harbour and climb the Port Tower for panoramic city views.
Worked up an appetite? Good, because we’ve organised a food-focused walking tour with a local guide (you’re welcome). Along one of Kobe’s historic alleyways, stop at a restaurant to try the region’s famous marbled meat. Next, head to a sake brewery in the city centre to discover the secrets behind the production of this iconic rice wine (and sample several varieties, of course).
Take another bullet train this morning, heading for Osaka which is around one-and-a-half hours away. After settling into your hotel, it’s time to start exploring. There’s plenty to do, but don’t miss the ornate Osaka Castle, impressive Buddhist temples including Hozen-ji, or, if you fancy a shopping spree, Shinsaibashi-suji street.
When it comes to street food, Osaka’s scene is second to none. Make a beeline for the bustling Dotonbori district, where you can find a plethora of food stalls serving delicious dishes like takoyaki (octopus dumplings – the city’s speciality), okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes), kushikatsu (skewered meat and vegetables) and taiko-manju (a sponge cake filled with red bean paste). Follow your noses and you won’t be disappointed. If you’d rather have a local expert lead the way, however, we can arrange a private food tour.
After a delicious breakfast in Osaka, hop on a speedy train towards Shizuoka – a journey which takes around one hour and 40 minutes. Spend one night in the city watched over by Mount Fuji, set in a verdant region of forests, tea plantations and wasabi fields.
Once you’ve dropped your bags at the hotel, why not start exploring? From Nihondaira Yume Terrace, you can enjoy 360-degree views of Suruga Bay and Fujiyama. Taste Japanese cider at a local distillery and visit the beautiful Shinto shrine of Kunouzan Toshogu which is intricately decorated with black lacquer paintings and gold leaf. Come dinner, consult our Dossier for our recommended eateries – fresh seafood from the surrounding seas is a standout.
It's time for an education in two essential ingredients of Japanese life: green tea and wasabi. Thanks to its temperate climate, Shizuoka is the nation’s tea capital. On a guided tour of a green tea factory, delve into the different stages of tea leaf processing, from planting to marketing. Then, stroll through the green wasabi fields along the Abe River. The region is renowned for its historic wasabi cultivation, which thrives on abundant mountain spring water. It’s grown in the traditional farming method of tatamiishi, which has been passed down through the generations for centuries.
After a day of learning all about Shizuoka’s green goods, hop on a one-hour train to Tokyo, the final destination of your trip. Settle into your hotel, which will be home for the next three nights, before grabbing a bite to eat at a nearby restaurant.
Trend-setting Tokyo is yours for the taking today. To get a taste of the city, set out to explore its eclectic neighbourhoods from the neon lights of Shinjuku and the anime-mania of Akihabara to the old-world charm of Yanaka. Whether you’re most interested in history, shopping or pop culture, your Concierge can recommend the best sights.
Tokyo is also a food-lover’s paradise, home to approximately 160,000 restaurants (and the most Michelin stars in the world). This evening, set out on foot for a private food tour with a clued-up guide who knows Tokyo's top eateries and can introduce you to traditional culinary specialities, extravagant Instagrammable dishes, samurai sweets and legendary street food dishes.
It’s the final full day of your Japanese adventure, so pack in as much as possible. Wake up early to visit the famed Tsukiji Fish Market; admire the cosplayers in the Harajuku district; attend a kabuki or Noh theatre performance; indulge in a shopping spree in the elegant Omotesando district; or soak up the beautiful greenery in urban parks like Rikugi-en and Koishikawa Koraku-en.
For your final evening in Tokyo, we’ve arranged a whisky tasting with a view. Perched on the top floors of a Shinjuku skyscraper, settle into a stylish bar and sample a variety of whiskies distilled in Japan’s northernmost island, Hokkaido. If you’re enjoying the panoramic vista, we can organise dinner in the same spectacular spot.
The best (and only) way to end your time in Tokyo? Singing your heart out in a karaoke bar in Shibuya, of course.
Sadly, your epic foodie tour of Japan comes to an end today. You have some time to spare before you catch your flight, so pick up any last souvenirs, revisit your favourite spots or sample local delicacies you’re yet to try.
This evening, head to the airport for your 14-and-a-half-hour overnight flight back to the UK, arriving the next morning. Beat the holiday blues and plan a dinner party for your friends – the best way to channel your newfound appetite for Japanese cuisine…
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
