Jewels of Japan by Rail

Your Japanese adventure begins as you touch down in Tokyo. With a population similar to that of California in an area smaller than Delaware, urban Tokyo is the world's most populus city. Yet, it regularly finds itself in the top ranks for livability due to its well-organized dynamism and cleanliness.

After transferring independently to our four-star hotel in the popular Shinjuku district, there's the opportunity to view this metropolis from the observatory deck of the nearby Tokyo Metropolitan Government building. Here we can soak up the panoramic views of the iconic Tokyo skyline. Alternatively, spend some time at leisure before we gather for a welcome drink and dinner this evening. As night falls, Tokyo is illuminated by twinkling lights from towers stretching as far as the eye can see. This stunning spectacle is ours to observe from our vantage point in the hotel's restaurant on the 45th floor. Overnight Tokyo.

• Dinner

After breakfast at our hotel, we meet our English-speaking guide, who will remain with us throughout the vacation. On a coach tour of Tokyo, we witness the city's contrasts, starting at Harajuku's Meiji-Jingu shine. Boasting fantastic Shinto design, it was constructed in 1920 to honor modern Japan's first emperor.

As if to demonstrate the intertwining of the tranquil and bustling, we travel a short distance to the famed Shibuya crossing, where up to 3,000 people at a time inundate the crossing from all directions. A symbol of the city, the Senso-Ji temple in Asakusa is our next destination. Dating from the 7th century, it was built to honor Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. With its sweeping, tiled roof, intricately carved wood and giant red lanterns, Senso-Ji is the epitome of Japanese Buddhist architecture.

Our tour ends in Asakusa, and with the rest of the day free, you can return to the hotel by coach or begin exploring independently. This evening, you may like to seek out some Japanese cuisine, with Tokyo renowned for its sushi, ramen, and tempura. Overnight Tokyo.

• Breakfast

A relaxed morning with breakfast at our hotel is followed by our first trip on the famous Japanese railways. Walking the short distance to the world's busiest station, Shinjuku, we board the Shonan Express to Odawara station. From here, we transfer into the mountains for an amazing ride on the Hakone Ropeway - a 20-minute cable car journey providing views of iconic Mount Fuji in the distance. As we travel above this area of outstanding natural wonders, we witness rising plumes of steam from the sulfurous hot springs surrounding Mount Hakone - a volcano that last erupted in 1170.

Arriving on the shores of Lake Ashi, our journey continues with a cruise across the crater lake to our hotel. Enroute, look for the striking red of Shinto torii gates along the shoreline and keep an eye out for more beautiful views of Mount Fuji.

Our hotel overlooks the lake, framed by overlapping mountains dipping towards the serene water. There is time to relax before dinner at the hotel's restaurant this evening. Overnight Hakone.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today is all about Japan's most revered peak, Mount Fuji - the UNESCO World Heritage active volcano. Recognizable from artworks including woodcut prints by Hokusai, the country's sacred symbol is one of Japan's Historic Sites and is remarkable due to its symmetry and prominence.

After breakfast at our hotel, we travel by coach to Mount Fuji Fifth Station (weather permitting). Climbing ever higher through lush woodlands, we reach this popular sightseeing spot. There's time to admire the views of both Fuji and the surrounding countryside from this excellent vantage point. From here, we visit the World Heritage Centre to learn more about Mount Fuji.

Some of the most iconic images of the volcano are taken from Oishi Park, beside Lake Kawaguchi. We spend time here this afternoon, where you can search for that picture-perfect view. Later, we head into the mountains to the alpine town of Matsumoto, where there is a free evening after checking in to our hotel. Overnight Matsumoto.

• Breakfast

Our explorations of enchanting Matsumoto begin after breakfast. First, we take a guided tour of a miso factory to discover why this paste - a mixture of fermented soy beans with salt and other umami-based ingredients - is so important in Japanese cooking, before tasting the distinctive flavors for ourselves.

A highlight of our day is Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan's premier historic castles. This five-story pagoda-style fortress is also known as 'Crow Castle', due to its unusual black exterior. Built in the 1500s, the castle is the oldest of its kind in Japan.

After time to look around, we continue through the scenic Kiso Valley to Nagoya. Along this historic Edo-period trade route between Tokyo and Kyoto, we experience Japan's glorious countryside and stop off to view the traditional towns of Tsumago and Magome. Characterized by dark-wood buildings and ancient cobbled streets, these towns offer a glimpse of rural Japan from a bygone era. Arriving in Nagoya, we check in to our five-star hotel in the city center. Overnight Nagoya.

• Breakfast

Hopping aboard a train after breakfast this morning, we make our way to Himeji to view its incredible castle. Dating from the early 1600s, this sprawling UNESCO-listed fortress is Japan's largest and most visited castle. With its striking white exterior, it is said to resemble an egret or heron taking flight. Outside the castle moat, we find Koko-en, a traditional Japanese garden with nine sections, displaying water features, cherry trees and koi carp ponds.

After free time over lunch, we enjoy our first taste of the world-renowned Shinkansen bullet trains as we dash to Hiroshima at speeds of up to 186 miles per hour. This emotive city is renowned for the unprecedented devastation it suffered during World War Two, but Hiroshima's parks and museums now stand as embodiments of peace.

After checking in to our hotel, there is a free evening to dine independently. Japan is famed for its delicious food, and you might like to find a restaurant serving fresh sushi, ramen noodles, yakiniku barbeque or highly rated wagyu beef. Overnight Hiroshima.

• Breakfast

Traveling by local train and boat to Miyajima today, we soak up the tranquility of this secluded destination known for its age-old temples and ancient forests. Also known as Itsukushima (Island of the Gods), we enjoy a walking tour which includes a visit to Itsukushima Shrine and the iconic Great Torii Gate that guards its entrance. Partially submerged at high tide, this stunning red structure was built in the 12th century and is an enduring image of traditional Japan.

There is free time over lunch to explore the peaceful shrines and museums along the serene shoreline before we return to Hiroshima later this afternoon.

The evening is at leisure, and you might like to take a stroll along the popular Hondori shopping street or head to a restaurant to sample one of the city's famous dishes - okonomiyaki, a delicious savory, teppanyaki pancake. Alternatively, spend some time in a lively "izakaya" - an informal Japanese bar - in the nearby Nagarekawacho district where you can enjoy a drink with some tapas-style snacks. Overnight Hiroshima.

• Breakfast

This morning, we embark on a tour of Hiroshima's most moving locations. The city has become a byword for the horrors of war after an atomic bomb was dropped by the US Air Force at 8:15 a.m. on Monday, August 6th, 1945. Friendly Hiroshima now stands as a symbol of peace.

We begin with a tour of the Peace Memorial Park which commemorates the victims and visit the Atomic Bomb Dome - the emotive remains of the scorched shell of a building destroyed on that fateful day. In the Peace Memorial Museum, we view items salvaged from the rubble.

Early this afternoon, we board a bullet train to Kyoto - Japan's former capital that's now a living museum of the country's artistic heritage, with an impressive 17 UNESCO-listed sites. We enjoy a walking tour of the Gion district - one of the few places where you might catch a glimpse of a real-life geisha. After watching a performance at the Gion Corner Theatre, we indulge in a Japanese dinner in Ponto-cho Alley, a lantern-lit street filled with authentic restaurants and shops. Overnight Kyoto.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A historic city where the beauty of old Japan is writ large, we explore Kyoto's spellbinding sights today. After breakfast at our hotel, we embark on a half-day tour, starting with a visit to the enchanting Sagano Bamboo Forest. Our next stop is the famous Kinkakuji Temple, popularly known as the 'Golden Pavilion'. Dating from 1397, this iconic temple shimmers in brilliant gold leaf on the edge of a reflecting pond, surrounded by lush forest.

Afterwards, we take part in a zen tea ceremony, a tradition steeped in history. Learning how to brew, serve and drink the celebrated matcha tea, we also gain a glimpse into the spirituality and culture of Japan. Afterwards, we visit Nishiki market, where there's free time to find some lunch.

The rest of the day is free, and you might like to visit Kiyomizu Temple, the Kyoto Railway Museum or the Fushimi Inari shrine. Kyoto has many excellent restaurants for you to experience tonight, serving everything from refined dining to casual street food. Overnight Kyoto.

• Breakfast

Pre-dating Kyoto as the nation's premier city, Nara is our destination after breakfast today. As the capital from 710 to 794 AD, this beautiful and compact city embodies history and grace, with a backdrop of wooded hills.

Accompanied by our expert, English-speaking guide, we are taken on a walking tour of sites, including the Todaji Temple where we view one of the world's largest bronze statues. The Great Buddha or 'Daibutsu' was first installed in 752 AD and is set within an ornate temple recorded as the largest wooden building in the world. Nearby, the landscaped grounds of Nara's serene deer park are ponds and deer. These animals were once revered as messengers of the gods and now roam freely. They are so used to human visitors that they often bow in greeting. Leaving Nara, we stop at a traditional sake brewery on our way back to Kyoto, where we gain an insight into this traditional beverage.

This evening is at leisure, so you are free to explore Kyoto's atmospheric streets and peaceful parks or sample the local cuisine independently. Overnight Kyoto.

• Breakfast

Before leaving Kyoto after breakfast this morning, we experience an authentic Japanese tea ceremony.

Continuing by coach to Osaka, we get to know this relaxed port city on a guided tour. Our explorations start from one of the city's most jaw-dropping sights. Connecting the two distinctive 40-story towers of the Umeda Sky Building is the Floating Garden Observatory. Standing nearly 570 feet above the ground, this unique vantage point provides panoramic views across Osaka. After observing Japan's third most populous city from above, we delve into its neon-lit Dotonbori district to experience the beating heart of Osaka from street level. With illuminated signs, mechanical billboards and even a huge blowfish lantern adding to the atmosphere of the streets, Dotonbori is a quintessentially Japanese experience, full of vibrant entertainment and appealing restaurants.

There is free time to relax after checking in to our four-star hotel before dinner tonight. Overnight Osaka.

• Breakfast, Dinner

The peaceful spirituality of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines sit alongside dynamic cities to create a captivating and compelling country. From the slopes of iconic Mount Fuji and the tranquility of the ancient Kiso Valley, we traveled by world-famous bullet train to emotive Hiroshima. Japan's historic former capitals of Kyoto and Nara enthralled with their temples and welcoming wildlife, before Osaka impressed with its blend of history, bustling streets and laid-back charm.

Your discovery of Japan concludes after breakfast today. Checking out of our hotel, you can make your own way to Osaka airport for your flight home.

• Breakfast