Overview
Majestic Japan
Small groups lead to big experiences on this Small Group Discovery tour of Japan. From its heaven-piercing skyscrapers to its heavenly gardens down below, Tokyo is a feast for mind, body, and soul. From the lush man-made forest surrounding the magnificent Shinto monument to vibrant nightlife, vintage teahouses, and venerable temples, Tokyo comes to life with spring’s first cherry blossoms and the first catch of the day in its sushi houses. Be whisked away by shinkansen (bullet train) to Nagoya for more adventure, including a traditional sake tasting. Continue by high-speed rail to captivating Kyoto where thousands of brightly hued Torii Gates welcome you to the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Step into ancient bliss of the Temple of the Gold Pavilion and Zen some with a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Glide into tranquility on the serene waters lapping the shores of Amanohashidate sandbar and ponder the power of nature in Koraku-en Garden. Your tour of Japan takes you to the hallowed grounds of Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park and Memorial, preserved just as it was on August 6, 1945. So much history, mystery, and magnificent beauty awaits you on this fascinating Small Group Discovery tour of Japan.
Highlights of Majestic Japan
City Highlights
Notes
Miyajima Island cable-car ride is dependent upon weather conditions. Due to limited space on the bullet train to Nagoya, please plan to pack an overnight bag while main luggage will be sent via complimentary 2-day luggage service.
Price Details US
Transportation
Travelers Notes
Designed from the ground up for a maximum of 24 guests in Asia, this Small Group Discovery tour has everything you need to explore with up-close-and-exclusive experiences that go beyond traditional tours. We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect tour—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides, to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available). Enhance your free time with your GlobusGO mobile app!
Inclusions
We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect vacation—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available).
UNESCO Sites
Himeji Castle|Hiroshima Peace Memorial|Itsukushima Shrine|Temple of the Gold Pavilion
Itineraries
Day 1
ARRIVE IN TOKYO, JAPAN Your Small Group Discovery tour begins! Welcome to Tokyo, Japan’s capital city. Hotel check-in is available mid-afternoon.
Day 2
TOKYO Monumental Metropolis Hop on Tokyo’s subway system to explore this fascinating city with guided sightseeing, featuring the Meiji Shrine, Asakusa Kannon Temple, and Nakamise shopping arcade. . Tonight, join your travel companions at a welcome dinner hosted by your Tour Director. (B,L,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHTSMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Exploring Tokyo on the metro starts with a visit to Meiji Shrine, a magnificent 20th-century Shinto monument set in a man-made forest. Then, visit Asakusa Kannon Temple and Nakamise shopping arcade, the oldest of their kind in Tokyo.ENHANCED FREE TIMEEXPLORE MORE Tokyo has something for everyone so visit one of the city’s unique neighborhoods like Ginza or Shibuya districts, dine at the street food markets, or catch a game at the Tokyo Dome.
Day 3
TOKYO–NAGOYA Fourth with a Bullet Today, travel by shinkansen (bullet train) to Nagoya, Japan’s fourth-largest city. Visit Nagoya Castle, a proud symbol of the city, then enjoy a sake tasting. (B)LOCAL FAVORITESMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Celebrate with your small group with a sake tasting in Nagoya’s yokocho, traditional Japanese alleyways, today hosting many small restaurants, pubs, and shops.
Day 4
NAGOYA–KYOTO Textiles & Temples This morning, visit the Toyota Commemorative Museum, showcasing the rise of the company’s start as a textile machinery manufacturer to a worldwide industrial superpower. Then, board a train for Kyoto. Upon arrival, visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine, renowned for the thousands of brightly hued Torii Gates. (B,D)FREE TIME TIPSEXPLORE MORE Join your Tour Director for a walking tour through Gion or visit more of Kyoto’s historic temples.
Day 5
KYOTO A Golden Gift Cruise on the tranquil waters surrounding the pine-covered Amanohashidate sandbar, home to one of Japan’s three most scenic views. Return to Kyoto and visit to stunning Kinkakuji, the Temple of the Gold Pavilion, then partake in a [LF] tea ceremony. (B,L)LOCAL FAVORITEPLANNED TO A TEA Participate in a tea ceremony, the ancient tradition and carefully choreographed ritual of preparing and serving Japanese green tea.
Day 6
KYOTO–HIMEJI–BIZEN–OKAYAMA Palace Aisles & Pottery Styles Take the shinkansen bullet train to Himeji to visit Himeji Castle. Drive south to Bizen, where you’ll visit a traditional pottery workshop to learn more about Bizen-yaki, one of Japan’s six ancient pottery styles dating back over 1,000 years. Continue to Okayama. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHTHISTORIC SIGHTS Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Himeji Castle to marvel at the finest surviving example of early 17th-century Japanese castle architecture.
Day 7
OKAYAMA. EXCURSION TO KURASHIKI. Garden Sights & City Whites This morning, visit Koraku-en Garden. Journey to Kurashiki, to visit the Ohara Museum and Bikan Historical Quarter, once the political and commercial center of the city. The canal-lined, white-washed, stone streets reflect the Edo period (1603-1867) and are quintessentially Japanese. (B,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHTTHE POWER OF TRANQUILITY The 30-acre Koraku-en Garden features ponds, plum groves, and tea fields, earning its place as one of the “Three Great Gardens of Japan.” The wide lawns, believed to uplift the spirit and promote open mindedness, are unique to Koraku-en and not a traditional feature of Japanese gardens.
Day 8
OKAYAMA–MATSUE–YONAGO Picturing Japan Drive northwest to Matsue and visit Matsue Castle on the shores of Lake Shinji. After lunch, continue to the Adachi Museum of Art to view the renowned work of artist, Yokoyama Taikan. Your hotel tonight is in the city of Yonago on the coast of the Sea of Japan. (B,L)TOUR HIGHLIGHT ART & ARTISTRY Revel in the Japanese-style gardens of the Adachi Museum of Art and admire the revolutionary style of painter Yokoyama Taikan. Considered one of Japan’s greatest painters, this major figure in pre-WWII Japanese painting helped create the stunning technique of Nihonga—ink and mineral pigments on silk or paper canvas.
Day 9
YONAGO–HIROSHIMA Serenity & Solemnity Drive south to Hiroshima this morning. Upon arrival, visit the 400-year-old Shukkei-en Garden, where natural landscapes are represented in miniature form. Also visit the moving Peace Memorial Park. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHTMONUMENTS & MEMORIALS Peace Memorial Park is home to the Peace Memorial, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has been preserved just as it was on August 6, 1945, immediately after the devastating bombing. You will also visit the Memorial Museum and Memorial Hall, which commemorate the lives lost that day.
Day 10
HIROSHIMA Travel by ferry to Miyajima Island. Visit Itsukushima Shrine and take cable-car ride to the top of Mount Misen for panoramic views of the Seto Island Sea, and on a clear day, Hiroshima city. Participate in a Japanese cooking class for lunch. Return to Hiroshima for some time on your own. Tonight, your Tour Director hosts a farewell dinner to celebrate your discovery of Japan. (B,L,D) LOCAL FAVORITESMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Learn how to make Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, delicious savory pancake layered with ingredients as you choose. This legendary dish of Japan comes from the words okonomi (as you like it)and yaki (to grill).
Day 11
HIROSHIMA Say it Ain’t Sayonara Your tour ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Departures
| # | Air Start Date | Land Start Date | Land End Date | Land Only Price | Discount | Final | Departure Code | Status |
| 1 | 2025-03-28 | 2025-03-29 | 2025-04-08 | $5699 | $0 | $5699 | OG50329K | Available |
| 2 | 2025-04-11 | 2025-04-12 | 2025-04-22 | $5699 | $0 | $5699 | OG50412K | Available |
| 3 | 2025-05-09 | 2025-05-10 | 2025-05-20 | $5599 | $0 | $5599 | OG50510K | Available |
| 4 | 2025-05-23 | 2025-05-24 | 2025-06-03 | $5599 | $0 | $5599 | OG50524K | Available |
| 5 | 2025-08-22 | 2025-08-23 | 2025-09-02 | $5599 | $0 | $5599 | OG50823K | Available |
| 6 | 2025-09-05 | 2025-09-06 | 2025-09-16 | $5599 | $0 | $5599 | OG50906K | Available |
| 7 | 2025-09-19 | 2025-09-20 | 2025-09-30 | $5599 | $0 | $5599 | OG50920K | Available |
| 8 | 2025-10-03 | 2025-10-04 | 2025-10-14 | $5599 | $0 | $5599 | OG51004K | Available |
| 9 | 2025-10-17 | 2025-10-18 | 2025-10-28 | $5599 | $0 | $5599 | OG51018K | Available |
| 10 | 2026-03-27 | 2026-03-28 | 2026-04-07 | $6269 | $0 | $6269 | OG60328K | Available |
| 11 | 2026-04-10 | 2026-04-11 | 2026-04-21 | $6269 | $0 | $6269 | OG60411K | Available |
| 12 | 2026-05-08 | 2026-05-09 | 2026-05-19 | $6159 | $0 | $6159 | OG60509K | Available |
| 13 | 2026-05-22 | 2026-05-23 | 2026-06-02 | $6159 | $0 | $6159 | OG60523K | Available |
| 14 | 2026-08-21 | 2026-08-22 | 2026-09-01 | $6159 | $0 | $6159 | OG60822K | Available |
| 15 | 2026-09-04 | 2026-09-05 | 2026-09-15 | $6159 | $0 | $6159 | OG60905K | Available |
| 16 | 2026-09-18 | 2026-09-19 | 2026-09-29 | $6159 | $0 | $6159 | OG60919K | Available |
| 17 | 2026-10-02 | 2026-10-03 | 2026-10-13 | $6159 | $0 | $6159 | OG61003K | Available |
| 18 | 2026-10-16 | 2026-10-17 | 2026-10-27 | $6159 | $0 | $6159 | OG61017K | Available |
Hotels
| # | Name | Description | City | Address | Rating |
| 1 | Hilton Tokyo | The Hilton Tokyo is the the perfect base for exploring the vibrant, energetic city of Tokyo. The hotel offers complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the Lobby and Marble Lounge. Rejuvenate in the 24-hour health club within the hotel and relax in the sauna or soothing whirlpool spa. Choose from seven tempting restaurants offering a range of delicious cuisine. Favorites include Dynasty authentic Chinese restaurant, and Musashino, featuring sushi, tempura and teppanyaki. For a relaxing evening drink, visit St. George's Bar. | Tokyo | 6-2 Nishi-Shinjuku 6 Chome | Moderate Deluxe |
| 2 | The Hotel Higashiyama Kyoto | The Hotel Higashiyama is a modern hotel located in a traditional, authentic region with more than a century-old architecture, making it the ideal starting point from which to explore Kyoto and historic Japan. The décor is inspired by the gentle flow of the nearby Shirakawa River. | Kyoto | 175-2 Ebisucho Higashiyama Ward | Deluxe |
| 3 | Ana Hotel Okayama | The ANA Hotel Okayama stands proudly as a stylish and sophisticated addition to the city's skyline. Its modern interior is the handiwork of a team of world-famous, first-class hotel designers, and the restaurant (on the 20th floor) and bar offer great views of the city. Dine on delectable cuisine from sushi to teppanyaki while taking in the brilliant cityscape. | Okayama | 15-1 Ekimoto-Machi | First-Class |
| 4 | Hilton Hiroshima | In the heart of Hiroshima City, the Hilton Hiroshima is within five minutes of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum, Hiroshima Castle, and several transit stations. Heiwa-Odori¿s shops, restaurants, and entertainment are 10 minutes away. The hotel also offers four restaurants and views from the skyline terrace. | Hiroshima | 11-12 Fujimicho, Naka-ku | Moderate Deluxe |
