Japan

Japan closed to visitors for centuries, this land is steeped in history, tradition and a culture unique to other countries of the world.  Highlights include the capital Tokyo; Nikko, home to Japan's shrines and temples including the famous 'hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil' monkeys; Mount Fuji, now a symbol of Japan, near to the Hakone National Park; Hiroshima, a city with a tragic past but lively and welcoming air; Miyajima Island, one of the historic and scenic highlights of Japan; and Kyoto the heart of ancient Japan.

Enigmatic and enchanting, bewitching and bewildering in turn, Japan offers an adventure travel experience like no other. Japan is a place where you can depart from a futuristic city aboard a space-age train in the morning, and that afternoon experience a tea ceremony served by kimono-clad hosts in a traditional inn with paper walls, deep in the countryside. This contradiction between ancient and modern is just one of the many things that makes Japan such a fascinating country to visit.

Our designers have travelled extensively in Japan and across Asia; researching the best hotels, sites and activities. Click here to send us an enquiry for Japan

A Cultural Odyssey through Northern Japan

In 1689, Matsuo Basho, Japan’s most celebrated haiku poet, traveled as an itinerary priest and wandering poet-philosopher through northern Japan. His famous diary, The Narrow Road to the Deep North, still stands as one of the best travel journals ever written. You follow Basho’s path from Matsushima, one of the most scenic spots in Japan, with its pine-clad islets, to Iwate, where you travel by pole boat through the Geibei Gorge, with brilliant fall colors all around us. You also explore the 12th century town of Hiraizumi and its breathtaking pavilions and ancient temples, climb the thousand steps to the pilgrim temples at Yamadera, and boat down the Mogami surrounded by scenery right out of a Japanese brush painting. Your journey ends at a special onsen (hot springs hotel) on the magnificent coastline of the Sea of Japan. Most nights are in rustic ryokans that envelope us in a cozy world of Japanese tradition, complete with tatami-matted rooms, yukata robes, and the ritual hot bath.

Orient-Go; Journeys with special faces & places

Exploring Hidden Worlds of Japan, from Kyoto to Takayama

Japan is an ancient and enigmatic land. The perfect way to unravel its mysteries is by exploring it on a walking journey. You delve deeply into places like old Kyoto, the romantic city of lantern-lit lanes and two thousand temples, and a variety of other settings that reveal Japan’s inner secrets. Along the way, we discover the kindness of the people and the innate sense of beauty and attention to detail that define every aspect of life. Most nights we stay in ryokans, the serene inns that reflect Japanese culture in miniature, with one night in a Buddhist monastery perched on a mountaintop. We can also tailor this holiday to meet your exact needs.

A Cultural Odyssey in Traditional Japan

Tranquil Shikoku, the mountain-ringed island of Japan’s classic Buddhist pilgrimage circuit, has a lushly rural atmosphere and a history rich with elements of traditional Japan found nowhere else in the country.  You spend your days exploring exquisite pagodas and shrines, meeting local people from all walks of life, and learning about the ancient ways of Shikoku Island. The island is renowned for its folk arts, as you learn on visits to traditional weavers and dyers, washi (paper) makers, and candlemakers. You also explore multi-roofed Edo-period castles, masterfully landscaped gardens designed for feudal lords, and village hamlets tucked into green mountains. Most nights you stay in ryokans, the serene inns that are a perfect reflection of Japanese culture. We can also tailor this holiday to meet your exact needs.

Orient-Go; Journeys with special faces & places

With hot springs, mountains and cozy tea houses, immerse yourself into the cool culture of Japan. Watch monkeys bathing in hot springs, see the oldest castle in the country, pop into the comedy capital, Kyoto, and shop in modern malls situated alongside ancient temples in Tokyo. We can also tailor this holiday to meet your exact needs.

Temples, shrines, tea ceremony & hot natural spa 

While the bustling cities won’t fail to impress those in search of the modern Japanese success story – skyscrapers, bullet trains, and trendy nightlife – beneath the brash modernity beats an ancient heart. This is the realm of the spiritual, where Zen Buddhist monks refine their immaculate gardens and ancient local festivals are celebrated according to the seasons and relate to the well-being of the community. Today, the two primary religions - Shinto & Buddhism -are so engrained into the everyday lives of the Japanese people, that one can hardly separate them. Spirituality infuses everything from planting the annual rice crop to traditional art forms such as martial arts, tea ceremony and flower arrangement. We can also tailor this holiday to meet your exact needs.

The gardens of Japan have long enjoyed a reputation as some of the most beautiful and original in the World and the principles and elements of design have been copied many times over. Cultivated spaces can be found everywhere and even the smallest space can be turned into something beautiful. The most famous gardens however, lie in the grounds of temples and shrines or have been specifically created to be enjoyed. The seasons play a major role in Japanese garden design, and the best gardens will have a particular feature in all seasons; cherry blossoms in the spring; irises in the summer; fiery red maple trees in the autumn, and stunning snow-caps in the winter.

As one of the World’s best destinations for garden enthusiasts we will be delighted to help you plan your visit. Please send an email to packurbag@orient-go.com

Orient-Go; Journeys with special faces & places