Read about past tours to gain an impression of what you can experience in the next tour.
We start with the most recent, which took place about one year before Covid 19 came onto the scene to disrupt our lives. Travel in Japan began for Jim in 1975, and organising tours for other people began in late 2011.
All photographs below are taken on tour.
October 2018
Itinerary
21 days : Tokyo > Kanazawa > Kyoto > Osaka > Okaya > Tokyo
Highlights
Kanazawa : Day trip to Shirakawa Go UNESCO World Heritage mountain village (formerly a home to the silk industry), Kanazawa Feudal Castle and Kenrokuen landscaped gardens (on of the most famous in Japan), Kanazawa city markets.
Kyoto : Day trip to the Miho Museum of antiquities in rural Shiga province north east of Kyoto; visit the most culturally significant attractions including, Train museum (significant for the country with the most trains), Kyoto Imperial Palace, Temple of the Silver Pavilion (Ginkakuji), Ninenzaka historic shopping street, Kyomizu Temple, Temple of the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji), Ryoanji (Zen inspired dry rock and sand garden), Arashiyama (Katsura River Gorge).
Osaka : Day trip to Hiroshima and the nearby picturesque island of Miyajima famous for many sights including the large red gate (Torii) in the water. Day trip to the mountain HQ of the Shingon Buddhist sect Mt Koya, with a spectacular display of autumn leaves as backdrop to the historic temple compounts. Tsutenkaku restaurant district.
December 2011 – January 2012 (Winter)
Itinerary
10 days : Tokyo > Nikko > Mt Fuji > Kyoto > Kamakura > Tokyo
HIghlights
Visit a Japanese Home. Studio Ghibli anime Museum (Mitaka Tokyo). Luxury 2 night stay with direct views of Mt Fuji. Ueno Zoo (Ueno Tokyo). Tokyo river cruise. Nikko and centuries old Shrines set in mountainside forest, built for the Tokugawa Shoguns. Historic highlights of Kyoto, including Kyomizu Temple, Nijo Castle.
January 2013 (Winter)
Itinerary
14 days : Tokyo > Kyoto > Mt Koya > Kobe > Naoshima > Osaka > Tokyo
Highlights
Stay in Temple lodging and experience vegetarian cuisine (Mt Koya). Stay in a fishing village (Naoshima). Visit unique underground Art Museums designed by world renowned architect Tadao Ando with works of Monet, James Turrell, Lee Ufan and Walter De Maria (Naoshima).
Tokyo : Backstreets of the entertainment district of Shinjuku, Fashion district of Harajuku, Meiji Shrine.
Kyoto ; cultural and historical experiences of Kyoto.
Mt Koya : the contemplative and scenic beauty of Mt Koya.
March April 2014 (Spring)
Itinerary
17 days : Osaka > Kyoto > Naoshima > Osaka > Tokyo > Kamakura
Highlights
Kyoto <…>. Himeji Castle – the most famous and well preserved major feudal castle in Japan. Naoshima art island, touring around on hire bicycles.
Naoshima : Visit unique underground Art Museums designed by world renowned architect Tadao Ando with works of Monet, James Turrell, Lee Ufan and Walter De Maria.
January 2015 (Winter)
Itinerary
15 Days : Tokyo > Kamakura > Hakone / Mt Fuji > Nagoya > Ise > Nara > Kyoto >
Highlights
Kamakura : upside down monorail and coastal narrow gauge tramway rides, open air bronze buddha at Hase, offshore island of Enoshima
Hakone / Fuji region : Ropeway journey across a valley with sulphurous steam vents, clear views of Mt Fuji, boat tour on Lake Ashi.
Ise : The most important Shinto Shrine in Japan, rebuilt on alternate adjacent sites in the forest every 20 years for centuries.
Nara: Todaiji Temple home of the Daibutsuden the largest centuries old timber temple in the world housing one of the largest statues of the Buddha.
Kyoto : Nijo Castle, Heian Shrine and gardens, Ginkakuji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion), Ryoanji (Temple of the Zen inspired dry garden of mossy rocks and sand), Kyomizu Temple, Kinkakuji Temple and gardens, Katsura Imperial Summer Villa complex. Day trip to the best accessible small Castle in Japan at Hikone, on the shore of Lake Biwa.
Tokyo : Asakusa district including Sensoji Temple and nearby shopping streets, Peony garden and Ikebana exhibit at Ueno Toshogu Shrine. Samurai hunting garden at Hamarikyu, stroll in the Ginza at night.
March April 2015 (Spring)
Itinerary
15 Days : Kyoto > Takayama > Shirakawago > Tokyo
Highlights
Kyoto : Kimono & textile museum, Kyoto traditional Crafts museum, Architectural bookshop, Stroll the Kamo cherry blossom laden tree-lined riverbank, Katsura Imperial Summer Villa & landscaped garden, Shugakuin Imperial Villa and landscaped garden, Nijo Castle & Kyomizu Temple, Day trip to the Miho museum of antiquities in rural Shiga Province.
Takayama : ShirakawaGo UNESCO World Heritage traditional mountain village, Takayama festival floats museum, City Market, traditional bathhouse experience.
Tokyo : Free College Ikebukuro (Frank Lloyd Wright influence), Odawara Castle, St Mary’s Cathedral, Meiji Shrine, Shinjuku Botanical Gardens.
October 2015
Itinerary
29 Days : Tokyo > Matsumoto > Nagiso > Nagoya > Toyota Car Plant > Ise & Toba > Kyoto > Okayama > Naoshima > Hiroshima > Narita
Highlights
Tokyo : Tokyo Metropolitan Government lookout, Day trip to Enoshima resort village, Studio Ghibli Anime Museum, Day trip to Nikko, Robot Restaurant Shinjuku, Shibuya automated Sushi Bar, Harajuku and Omotesando fashion district, Kappabashi Kitchen Town, Asakusa Nakamise shopping street.
Matsumoto Castle (central Japan),
Walk on part of the Nakasendo feudal route between Tokyo and Kyoto at Tsumago. Stay in a country traditional style inn.
Nagoya : Day trip to Ninja exhibit and demonstrations, Ise Shrine.
Kyoto : Katsura River gorge at Arashiyama, Temple of the Golden Pavilion.