After breakfast, meet your English-speaking guide in the hotel lobby at 9am, where you’ll take a private bus to the Historical Village of Hokkaido, an open-air museum. Wander among more than 60 preserved historical buildings, each telling a tale of bygone eras. From quaint homes to charming schools and even a nostalgic post office, this museum offers a glimpse into the rich tapestry of Hokkaido’s heritage.
Meander around Odori Park – 12 blocks of greenery in the heart of Sapporo’s CBD, brimming with over 90 tree species, fountains and a steady flow of locals. Stop by the Sapporo Clock Tower, before learning about the history of Japanese beer-making at the Sapporo Beer Museum.
Tonight, savour dinner at a local restaurant with your fellow travellers and then return to your hotel for a good night’s rest.
Travel time: Driving – approx. two hours
Enjoy breakfast before meeting your guide at 9am. Today you’ll visit the Otaru Canal lined with vintage warehouses and the picturesque bridges connecting them to the piers along Ishikari Bay.
Next, you’ll enter the glassware haven of Kitaichi Garasukan. Built into a heritage shipping warehouse, this treasure trove of artistic wonders features ornaments and functional glass pieces from all around the world. Climb to the second floor to discover the tearoom, lit only by glass lamps.
Return to your hotel and enjoy this afternoon at leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. two hours
Today you’ll head to Hakodate by private bus, with a stop at the Lake Toya along the way.
Nestled within a volcanic caldera, Lake Toya is a haven of natural beauty surrounded by lush fields and forests. Here, you’ll visit the Silo Observatory Deck, the best vantage point of the lake and its islands. Take in this landscape, before continuing to Hakodate, one of Japan’s first port cities for international trade.
Hakodate is known for its spectacular views, fresh seafood and the star-shaped Goryokaku Fort – once a military site, now a public park lined with cherry blossoms. Take in its beauty from Goryokaku Tower’s Observation Deck and the Hachiman Zaka Slope.
Return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 4.5 hours
After breakfast, join your guide for a trip to Hakodate Morning Market, where you can enjoy the freshest seafood and local produce.
Next, brace yourself for the first of three journeys aboard the Shinkansen bullet train, covering the distance to Aomori in just one hour. Feel a rush as the landscape whizzes by, unveiling the diverse vistas of Japan’s countryside.
Make a trip to Lake Towada, where the water mirrors the surrounding mountains on its glassy surface. Continue to Hanamaki and spend the rest of the day at your own pace.
Travel time: Bullet train – approx. one hour / Driving – approx. four hours
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before departing for Sendai, with a stop at Chūson-ji Temple along the way. Chūson-ji is a historic Buddhist temple complex, established by the Fujiwara Clan in 850. It’s the most famous attraction located in Hiraizumi, a town in southern Iwate Prefecture, and features a gold-leaf-covered hall home to Buddhist statues and sacred relics. Here, you’ll savour lunch at a local restaurant with your fellow travellers.
Make your way to Sendai, check into your hotel and then enjoy an evening at leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. five hours
Today you’ll uncover Sendai’s gems, where modern city life meets samurai heritage, framed by the sea and mountains. Set sail on a cruise through Matsushima Bay, weaving past pine-covered islands scattered across the water, with a stop at Oshima Island.
Next, walk through a cedar-tree-lined walkway, passing small caves monks once lived in, to reach the Zuiganji Temple. This temple is famed for its architecture, featuring intricate gates and grandeur interiors, especially the painted sliding doors that tell stories of nature and mythical beings.
Return to your hotel for an evening at leisure and a good night’s rest.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 90 minutes
After breakfast, meet your guide at 8am for your second exciting journey aboard the Shinkansen bullet train – this time to Nagano. The highest prefecture capital in Japan, Nagano is celebrated for its world-class skiing, hiking and hot spring bathing.
Once you have arrived, enjoy a traditional soba lunch before visiting Zenkoji, one of Japan’s most famous temples, dating back to the 7th century.
Later, check in to the hotel and spend the rest of the day as you please.
Travel time: Bullet train – approx. three hours
Begin your day with breakfast and a trip to Matsumoto Castle, a six-story masterpiece that has withstood the test of time since the feudal age.
Continue to Daio Wasabi Farm – the largest one of its kind in the world. Nestled in the peaceful outskirts of Matsumoto, take time your time to wander through the farm and sample a mix of wasabi-based cuisine at the onsite eateries (surcharges apply).
Return to your hotel and spend the rest of the day as you please.
Travel time: Driving – approx. three hours
Fuel for the day with breakfast and meet your guide at 10am for your last bullet train journey to Tokyo.
Arrival at Japan’s capital, where each suburb and side street captures a new element of the city’s many facets. The rest of the day is yours to explore Tokyo.
Travel time: Bullet train – approx. three hours
Today is your final day exploring the buzzing city. Explore its highlights on a sightseeing tour: discover The Ginza – Tokyo’s upmarket shopping, dining and entertainment precinct – and the Imperial Palace –where you can stroll through its gardens surrounded by moats and stone walls.
Tonight you’ll join your fellow travellers for a farewell dinner.
After one final breakfast, it’s time to say sayonara to Japan.
Departure & Transfers:
Checkout on your final day is at 11am. Please book your flights to depart from Tokyo International Airport (HND) or Narita International Airport (NRT) at any time.
Airport transfers are not included for your tour. The hotel is located approximately a 30-minute drive from Tokyo International Airport (HND) and a 70-minute drive from Narita International Airport (NRT).