Discovery of Japan

May 19 - 28, 2028 | Travel with: Julie Defee & April McDuffie

Japan has a way of surprising you. Even if you've seen the photos, nothing quite prepares you for the scale of Tokyo, the stillness of a bamboo grove at dawn, or the weight of standing in Hiroshima. This 9-day group journey is designed to give you the real thing, not a rushed sampler, but a thoughtfully paced experience across three of Japan's most iconic destinations.

We'll spend time in Tokyo, take a day trip to the base of Mt. Fuji and through Hakone, ride the bullet train to Kyoto, explore Nara, dive deep into Kyoto's temple circuit, and end with a moving visit to Hiroshima and Miyajima Island. Every day has something worth showing up for. And because you'll have a local English-speaking guide with you throughout, you can stay curious without having to figure everything out on your own.

This trip is built for people who want to experience Japan with a great group of fellow travelers, have the logistics handled, and still have room to wander on their own terms. If that sounds like you, keep reading or click the button on the right to reserve your spot now.
9 Days/8 nightsSmall Group with Escorted Guide

Day 1 – May 19, 2028Your overnight flights to Japan are to be determined.
Day 2 – May 20, 2028Konnichiwa! Welcome to Japan!
Transfer from Narita or Haneda airport to the hotel by private coach.
Hotel Metropolitan Ikebukuro (May 20–23, 3 Nights)

Day 3 – May 21, 2028Tokyo Highlights Sightseeing
Tsukiji Outer Fish Market — One of the world's great food markets, with some 450 kinds of seafood bought and sold around the clock. A feast for the senses.
Sushi Making Experience — Join a professional sushi chef and roll your own. You'll eat what you make, which means lunch is entirely up to you. (Lunch included)
Sensoji Temple (Asakusa) — Tokyo's oldest temple, famous for its striking red gate and giant lantern. Over 30 million visitors come here every year, and it is not hard to see why.
Nakamise Shopping Arcade — A covered street of souvenir shops and traditional snacks leading up to Sensoji. Great for gifts.
TeamLab Planets — An immersive digital art museum unlike anything you've seen before. You walk through it, wade through it, and lose yourself in it.
Meals: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch included (Sushi Making)

Day 4 – May 22, 2028Tokyo, JapanFull-Day Mt. Fuji and Hakone Tour
Mt. Fuji — Japan's most iconic mountain has a reputation for being shy on cloudy days. On a clear day, she is absolutely breathtaking. The coach will go to the 5th station or the highest accessible point, depending on weather conditions.
Bento box lunch enjoyed on the coach.
Mt. Komagatake Ropeway — A scenic ropeway ride in Hakone with sweeping views of Mt. Fuji from a distance.
Lake Ashi Cruise — A short cruise from Hakone-en to Hakone Sekisho on one of Japan's most beautiful lakes. Subject to rescheduling in bad weather.
A private coach will transfer you back to your hotel in Tokyo.
Meals: Breakfast at hotel, Bento box lunch included

Day 5 – May 23, 2028Kyoto, JapanTokyo to Kyoto by Bullet Train · Nara Full-Day Tour
Nara Nagomikan Gift Shop — A great first stop for Japanese souvenirs and local sweets.
Todai-ji Temple — The world's largest wooden building and home to Japan's largest bronze Buddha. Genuinely awe-inspiring.Nara Park (Deer Park) — Over 1,000 tame deer roam freely here. They will find you. Deer crackers are available for purchase and highly recommended.
Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo (May 23–26, 3 Nights)
Meals: Breakfast at hotel, Dinner included

Day 6 – May 24, 2028Kyoto, JapanKyoto Half-Day Tour · Tea Ceremony, Pontocho and Gion
Tea Ceremony Experience — A professional instructor walks you through the art and meaning of the Japanese tea ceremony. Every movement has intention. It is meditative, beautiful, and a genuine window into Japanese culture.
Pontocho Alley and Gion Geisha District — One of Kyoto's most atmospheric neighborhoods. Pontocho is a narrow lantern-lit alley running from Shijo to Sanjo, packed with restaurants ranging from casual yakitori to traditionalKyoto cuisine. The adjacent Gion district is where geisha culture still lives and breathes.
Optional: Dinner at local restaurant with Maiko performance (additional cost) — Dinner at a local restaurant with Maiko performance. You will enjoy dinner with a Private Maiko Performance consisting of conversation and dancing accompanied by the shamisen (Japanese stringed instrument). You will also have a chance to ask questions about the geisha and their world. A special night of food, drink, traditional entertainment, and great photo opportunities. *Drinks are not included.

Day 7 – May 25, 2028Kyoto, JapanKyoto Full-Day Tour – Kinkakuji, Bamboo Grove & Kiyomizu Temple
Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) — Originally a shogun's retirement villa, now one of Japan's most famous Buddhist temples. The top two floors are covered in gold leaf. Stunning on a clear morning.
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — Towering bamboo stalks on both sides, the light filtering through in shafts. There is no other place quite like it in Japan. Nearby, the 155-meter Togetsukyo Bridge spans the Katsura River with the western hills as a backdrop.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple — Founded in 780 on the wooded hills east of Kyoto, this celebrated temple is best known for its dramatic wooden stage jutting 13 meters above the hillside with sweeping views over the city.
Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka (if time permits) — Old cobblestone streets lined with historic Japanese buildings, souvenir shops, and a timeless Kyoto atmosphere. Kodai-ji Temple and Yasaka Shrine are nearby.

Day 8 – May 26, 2028Kyoto to Hiroshima – Bullet Train TransferMiyajima Island & Itsukushima Shrine, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Museum
Begin a full-day sightseeing in Hiroshima by chartered coach.
Private transfer to Miyajima-guchi port (45 mins) and board a ferry to Miyajima Island.
Visit Miyajima, a small sacred island located in the Inland Sea. It has been a holy place of Shintoism since the earliest times. Here you will find perhaps the most photographed site in Japan: Itsukushima Shrine (popularly known as Miyajima), best known for its "Floating Torii Gate" — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Japan's "3 Most Beautiful Views."
Explore Nakamise Street.
We take the ferry back to Miyajima-guchi port and then private transfer to Hiroshima (45 mins).
We visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, located in the center of the city. The park takes up over 120,000 square meters and is dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in history to suffer a nuclear attack. Before the atomic bomb, the area where the Peace Park now stands was the political and commercial heart of the city, and was chosen as the pilot's target during World War II. It was decided that the area would not be redeveloped, but instead devoted to peace memorial facilities.
The park's main attraction is the Peace Memorial Museum, which covers the history of Hiroshima and the advent of the nuclear bomb. It provides visitors an opportunity to hear eyewitness testimonies and learn about the devastating effects the A-bomb had on the city of Hiroshima and its people.
Hotel Granvia Hiroshima (May 26–27, 1 Night)
Meals: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch on own

Day 9 - May 27, 2028Hiroshima to Tokyo – Bullet Train
Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport
Day 10 - May 28, 2028Tokyo Departure

What's Included
8 nights of 4-star hotel accommodations (twin share/double occupancy)
Welcome meet-and-greet at the airport upon arrival and departure assistance
All transfers by private air-conditioned coach
Local English-speaking guide and assistant throughout the entire trip
Tourist/economy class reserved Shinkansen (bullet train) seats: Tokyo to Kyoto, Kyoto to Hiroshima, and Hiroshima back to Tokyo

Not included:
International airfare, departure taxes, fuel surcharges, and seat selection
Airport Transfers if arriving separate from the group
Optional Maiko Performance Dinner on May 24 (additional cost)
Meals not listed in the itinerary
Tips and gratuities
Travel insurance
Early check-in or late checkout
Personal expenses
Changes in government or local taxes
Visa and passport handling fees
Important note on attractions: Some entrance tickets cannot be guaranteed until the group is finalized and are subject to availability at late-release dates. I will do everything possible to secure all tickets.