Zen Japan

A slower journey through traditional Japan, with ancient shrines and temples, a lakeside stay in Nikko, a ryokan night in Hakone and temple lodging on Mount Koya.

Start with three nights in Tokyo, with three private half-day tours including Senso-ji temple and an early-morning visit to Meiji Shrine. Head north to Nikko for a night by the lake near its UNESCO-listed shrines, then return to Tokyo for two more nights, with time to visit Kamakura and its Great Buddha.

Ride the Romance Car to Hakone for a night in a traditional ryokan with a kaiseki dinner, then take the bullet train to Kyoto for four nights, including a private full-day tour. Spend a night in temple lodging on Mount Koya, with a tour of Okunoin Cemetery, before two final nights in Osaka.

Like all our trips, it’s easy to adjust: add nights where you’d like longer, upgrade your hotels or change the route to suit you.

Is this a private trip, and can I change it?

It’s a private trip built around your dates, not a group tour on fixed departures. You have three private half-day tours in Tokyo, including an early-morning visit to Meiji Shrine, and a private full-day tour in Kyoto. The rest of the time is yours. You can change anything: add nights, swap places, upgrade hotels or slow the pace, and we’ll reprice it for you.

When is the best time to go?

Spring (late March to May) and autumn (October and November) are the most comfortable times, with mild weather, cherry blossom in spring and autumn leaves later in the year. Both are popular, so it pays to book early.

June to mid-July is the rainy season, and July and August are hot and humid. Winter is cold and clear, quieter in the cities, and good for snow in the north. Golden Week, from late April to early May, is one of Japan’s busiest holiday periods, so we usually plan around it.

Which airlines do you use?

We most often use British Airways or Japan Airlines, which fly direct from London to Tokyo, or Finnair via Helsinki, which is often good value. We can also book flights from regional UK airports.

Flights to Japan are overnight, so you arrive the day after you leave. Most flights home leave in the morning and land in the UK the same day, though some connecting flights are overnight.

What are the hotels like?

In the cities we choose well-run hotels close to the main stations, which makes travelling by train much easier. Boutique hotels are rare in Japanese cities, so many are modern business-style hotels. They’re spotless and efficient, but the rooms are small, especially in Tokyo. Check-in is usually from 3pm and check-out around 10 or 11am. On most trips you can upgrade to superior or deluxe hotels.

What’s it like staying in a ryokan?

A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn. You sleep on futons laid out on tatami mats, dinner is usually a multi-course kaiseki meal, and most have hot spring baths. The baths are often shared and separated by gender, and some still don’t allow visible tattoos. If that’s a concern, we can choose a ryokan with a private bath. We can add a ryokan night to any trip.

View itinerary in detail

To get a feel for the trip, choose one of the options below to view a sample day-by-day itinerary. This will open in a new window.

All of our Japan holidays are completely tailor-made, so this is simply a starting point.

We can of course adjust the route, hotels and pace to suit your plans.