Land Of The Samurai - 12 Days

Saturday. Upon arrival to Tokyo you will be met at either Narita or Haneda International Airport by your guide. Travel by train into the heart of the city and check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to spend at your leisure. We recommend arriving before 3pm on this day, as there will be a Welcome Meeting at 6pm, where you will meet your guide and the rest of the group.

Today we explore the capital. First stop is Asakusa which is home to Sensoji, Tokyo's first temple which was built in the 7th century. Around the temple, in the lively Sensoji District, there are lots of interesting souvenir and craft stalls for us explore. We head to Harajuku in the afternoon, which is where the young and fashionable Tokyoites hangout, with its trendy shops and cafes. Here we’ll visit the important Meiji Shrine where the emperor Meiji and his wife are enshrined. Our final stop of today is Shibuya Crossing, regarded as one of the busiest intersections in the world. The famed intersection has no less than 7 pedestrian crossings and when the lights turn red at this busy junction, they all turn red at the same time in every direction. Traffic stops completely and pedestrians surge into the intersection from all sides. Known as 'the scramble' it’s an amazing spectacle which we'll watch from the second floor of Starbucks, located directly opposite. This evening offers free time, though if travelling during May or September you might like spend the evening watching a Sumo tournament (bookings must be made in advance). See our Trip Notes for more information.

Tokyo - Kamakura - Tokyo. Today we visit Kamakura, which is just an hour from Tokyo by train. Kamakura was Japan’s first feudal capital and is renowned for its beautiful Zen temples and pristine coastline. We’ll visit the iconic bronze Big Buddha and the Hokokuji Zen Temple which has a picturesque bamboo garden where you can drink tea and learn about tea ceremony’s, before walking the cobbled shopping district - adorned with lovely locally made items, before returning to Japan’s bustling capital for the night. Tonight, we organise a Shabu Shabu (a traditional Japanese hot pot meal) if the majority of the group are interested.