12-Nights Off the Beaten Track in Japan - Tailormade Journeys — CALL

Itinerary Details

1 Arrive Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo oscillates between heightened refinement and sense-scrambling extremes. Stroll amid the moats and formal gardens of the Imperial Palace and the tranquil Meiji Shrine, then plunge into the vibrant whirl of Harajuku's anime-inspired fashion scene. The city’s charm lies in its ability to juxtapose timeless tradition with cutting-edge trends, from the historic Asakusa Kannon Temple to the eclectic street styles of Omotesando. Tokyo is where the past, present and future coexist in electrifying harmony.


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2 Tokyo | Where Old Meets New
Tokyo reveals its layered past and present as you wander the serene gardens surrounding the Imperial Palace and explore the halls of two of the city’s finest museums, celebrating centuries of cultural history and modern Japanese creativity. The day crescendos at Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, where incense smoke drifts through the air and mingles with the sounds of chanting and the lively bustle of Nakamise-dori’s traditional shopping street.


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3 Nakasendo | A Timeless Trail
Watch the sun sink behind Mount Kiso Ontake and the uninterrupted emergence of the stars in the beautiful Nagano prefecture, before returning to your ryokan to soak in geothermal springs and feast on farm-fresh local ingredients.


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4 Nakasendo | Echoes Of The Edo Era
Walk in the footsteps of samurai and merchants as you step back into Edo-period Japan. Follow a storied stretch of the Nakasendo Way between Magome and Tsumago, a scenic trail that winds through cedar forests, family farmsteads and traditional village homes, linking two of the Kiso Valley’s best-preserved post towns.


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5 Ise Shima Peninsula | Sacred And Scenic
Although its inky bay is smattered with islands containing hundreds of shrines and ancient traditions, Mie Prefecture’s Ise-Shima Peninsula flies below most international travellers’ radar. The Ise Shrines — known collectively as Ise Jingu — are the size of Paris and the complex is so sacred it was once recommended that every follower of Shinto visit at least once. The national park’s 150,000 acres include rustling bamboo groves and deep forests that can be explored on foot or mountain bike. The climb up slopes such as Mount Asama is steep, but views over Isla Bay — and on clear days, Mount Fuji — more than justify the effort.


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6 Ise Shima Peninsula | Stories From The Sea
Visit the Ise Grand Shrine, one of Japan’s holiest Shinto sites, nestled among ancient forests and mountain slopes. In nearby Mikimoto Pearl Island, meet the legendary Ama, women freedivers who have harvested pearls and shellfish for generations. Hear their stories firsthand as they share their enduring traditions.


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7 Ise Shima Peninsula | Spend The Day Your Way
This is a day to explore at your own pace. Choose to relax at your resort or venture deeper into the natural beauty of Ise-Shima, where forested trails, hidden shrines and sweeping mountain views await discovery.


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8 Kyoto | Kyoto Unveiled
As Japan’s former imperial capital for more than a thousand years, a place of shrines, bamboo groves and treasures, Kyoto has long been an incubator and preserver of high-art forms, from calligraphy and ceramics to tea ceremonies and refined geisha entertainments. Visit nearby Kinkakuji, a magnificent Zen temple overlooking Kyokochi Pond, and experience the sense of otherworldliness that makes this place so enchanting. Proceed to Togetsu Bridge, Arashiyama's most iconic landmark and the perfect point from which to relish the ever-changing colors of the mountain scenery. In springtime, the cherry trees that line the Oi River are a riot of pink blossoms.


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9 Kyoto | Temples And Traditions
Set out with your private guide to the superb Kiyomizu temple to immerse yourself in the meticulous art of the tea ceremony that traces back to the samurai era. Stroll down into Gojazaka, one of a number of nearby lanes that retain the charm of a bygone era, known for its many pottery studios. Visit Nishiki Market, taking in the tantalizing sights and sounds of fresh local food staples, and end the day with a leisurely amble through the quaint alleyways of Gion, a famed geisha district lined with bars, restaurants and teahouses sporting old-style wooden facades.


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10 Koyasan | Mountain Of The Monks
Ascend into the mountains to sacred Koyasan, the soul of Shingon Buddhism. As twilight falls, follow a local monk on a lantern-lit walk through Okuno-in’s hushed forest paths and mossy tombs, learning about the spirits said to linger here and gaining personal insight into monastic life. Tonight’s stay in a traditional shukubo temple lodge, complete with Buddhist cuisine, offers rare access to Japan’s spiritual heart.


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11 Koyasan | Final Steps
Trek the revered women’s pilgrimage trail that traces the forested ridges of Koyasan’s mountains. Once the only route women could take to access the sacred mountaintop, the Koya-sanzan path passes secluded shrines and prayer halls built just outside temple walls — a quiet reflection of faith and perseverance still felt in every step. After your mountain adventure, descend to Nara.


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12 Todaji And Nara Park
Explore Nara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to 1,400 free-roaming deer with a dreamlike quality. Considered in Shintoism to be messengers of the gods, the animals are sacred. Observing them — both alone and in clusters — reveals their diverse personalities. After spending time with them, head to Todai-ji Temple to see the largest bronze Buddha in the world.


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13 Depart Osaka