Japan with Bethany Cora Taylor

You will walk 10 minutes to the welcome dinner at a local Japanese restaurant. Your meal will typically be a 3-course set menu with water included, subject to change. Additional food and beverages at your own expense. *Please note that Japanese cuisine frequently uses ingredients with animal products and/or gluten. For the included meals, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and shellfish-free diets CANNOT be accommodated.

Overnight in Tokyo

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/American, or buffet style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel. *Please note that Japanese cuisine frequently uses ingredients with animal products and/or gluten. For the included meals, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and shellfish-free diets CANNOT be accommodated.

Private transfer from Tokyo accommodation to hike start point.

The Amazake Chaya tea house is a 4-century old teahouse that was visited by Emperors and Shogun to drink tea, just like you will. After tea, commence hiking 500-year-Old Tokaido Highway along cobble stones to Lake Ashi (crater lake). During the Edo period, the Tokaido Highway is the road that connected the two main centre of Japan’s political, religious, and economic power, commonly known as Tokyo and Kyoto. After a picnic lunch, walk out to Hakone Shrine with its famous red tori gates in the lake before continuing your hike. If the weather permits, you can see Mt Fuji clearly in the distance from this point onwards. Cedar trees grow along the side of the Old Tokaido Highway. Planted by the order of the Shogun in 1618, the trees that line on both sides of the road are around 400 years old. Soon, you will reach the recreation of the Hakone Checkpoint to give a sense of how life was during the Shogun period. Distance: 3.5 miles / Elevation Gain: 437 ft / Duration: 3 hours / Difficulty: Easy-Moderate

Enjoy a picnic lunch by the beautiful Lake Ashi in Hakone area. Your guide will take you to a nearby shop to choose foods like onigiri or sandwiches, along with a drink. After grabbing your lunch, you’ll enjoy it by picnicking beside Lake Ashi. *Please note that Japanese cuisine frequently uses ingredients with animal products and/or gluten. For the included meals, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and shellfish-free diets CANNOT be accommodated.

Private transfer from hike end point to Mishima accommodation.

Overnight in Mishima

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/American, or buffet style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel. *Please note that Japanese cuisine frequently uses ingredients with animal products and/or gluten. For the included meals, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and shellfish-free diets CANNOT be accommodated.

Private transfer from Mishima accommodation to hike start point.

Hike up to Panoramadai, a scenic viewpoint overlooking the beautiful Fuji Five Lakes region. From the summit, enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and the iconic Mount Fuji rising above the lakes below. From here, follow the trail as it descends through peaceful forest toward the shores of Lake Motosu. Along the way, take in changing perspectives of the landscape before arriving at the lakeshore, where you can admire the classic view of Mt Fuji with Lake Motosu in the foreground, once featured on the former Japanese 1,000-yen banknote. Distance: 4 miles / Elevation Gain: 1500 ft / Duration: 4-5 hours / Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult

Private transfer hike end point to Mishima accommodation.

Overnight in Mishima

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/American, or buffet style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel. *Please note that Japanese cuisine frequently uses ingredients with animal products and/or gluten. For the included meals, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and shellfish-free diets CANNOT be accommodated.

Private transfer from Mishima accommodation to Kakegawa.

Once you have arrived in Kakegawa station, you’ll be picked up for a 30 minute private transfer to the tea farm. Along the way you’ll see the giant Japanese kanji for tea, “茶”. This small city is mostly known to be the center of tea production in Shizuoka, the number one tea producing prefecture in Japan. The high production of tea is supported by the mineral-rich soil and clear water provided by Mt Fuji. As you enjoy the clean air and the view, don’t forget to take some photos! During tea picking season, April through October, (*season dependent) you’ll be able to try out your hand at tea picking. If you are lucky, you might be able to see Mt Fuji from the tea fields. When tea picking is not in season, the local tea farmer will come and sit with you to talk about their daily work and answer any questions you might have.

Finish the tour with lunch. This homemade bento is made by incorporating tea leaves as one of their ingredients. From the observation terrace, take in the view of the Izu Peninsula, Suruga Bay, and many more. *Please note that Japanese cuisine frequently uses ingredients with animal products and/or gluten. For the included meals, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and shellfish-free diets CANNOT be accommodated.

Private transfer from Kakegawa to Shizuoka.

Shizuoka is famous for their soba (buckwheat noodle) created from buckwheat flour and water straight from Mt Fuji. In this class the Soba master will guide and teach you the steps to make the perfect soba. You will partner up with a group member and each work a piece of dough. Using your dough, you will create soba noodles for dinner between the two of you. Make sure to do your best since at the end of dinner, the soba master will score you on how well your soba came out!

Enjoy a handmade Soba dinner course with 3 choices alcohol or soft drinks. *Please note that Japanese cuisine frequently uses ingredients with animal products and/or gluten. For the included meals, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and shellfish-free diets CANNOT be accommodated.

Board a Shinkansen bullet train from Shizuoka station to Mishima station

Overnight in Mishima

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/American, or buffet style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel. *Please note that Japanese cuisine frequently uses ingredients with animal products and/or gluten. For the included meals, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and shellfish-free diets CANNOT be accommodated.

Private transfer from Mishima accommodation to hike start point.

Travel south along the historic Old Shimoda Foot Highway, a trail that runs through the heart of the Izu Peninsula UNESCO Global Geopark. From Mishima Station, your bus journey brings you to Joren Falls, where today’s hike begins. Following this historic route linking the southern port town of Shimoda with the rest of the country, the trail winds through lush forests and river valleys beneath the peaks of the Amagi Mountains. The path was once travelled by merchants, pilgrims, and notable figures such as Townsend Harris on his journeys between Shimoda and Edo. The hike finishes in the scenic Kawazu Seven Waterfalls area, where the rushing river has carved a series of beautiful waterfalls through layers of volcanic rock. Distance: 8.7 miles / Elevation Gain: 705 ft / Duration: 6-7 hours / Difficulty: Difficult

Private transfer from Kawazu Seven Falls to Mishima.

Overnight in Mishima

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/American, or buffet style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel. *Please note that Japanese cuisine frequently uses ingredients with animal products and/or gluten. For the included meals, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and shellfish-free diets CANNOT be accommodated.

Private transfer from Mishima accommodation to Jogasaki Coast.

The Jogasaki Coast Coastal Trail offers an excellent opportunity to appreciate the powerful volcanic and tectonic forces that have shaped the landscape of the Izu Peninsula. This scenic cliff-top walk follows ancient lava flows that once poured into the Pacific Ocean before cooling and solidifying to form the rugged coastline seen today. The Jogasaki Coast Coastal Trail offers an excellent opportunity to appreciate the powerful volcanic and tectonic forces that have shaped the landscape of the Izu Peninsula. This scenic cliff-top walk follows ancient lava flows that once poured into the Pacific Ocean before cooling and solidifying to form the rugged coastline seen today. As you walk along the trail, dramatic ocean vistas open up across Sagami Bay, where waves from the Pacific roll in and crash against the rocky shoreline below. The route winds through coastal forest and along striking lava formations, offering a fascinating glimpse into the region’s volcanic origins as well as plenty of photo opportunities. Distance: 6.3 miles / Elevation Gain: 1400 ft / Duration: 5 hours / Difficulty: Moderate

Private transfer from Jogasaki Coast to Tokyo accommodation.

Overnight in Tokyo

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/American, or buffet style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel. *Please note that Japanese cuisine frequently uses ingredients with animal products and/or gluten. For the included meals, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and shellfish-free diets CANNOT be accommodated.

Begin your adventure with a visit to Asakusa District. Asakusa was an entertainment district in the Edo era, featuring traditional theatre, Kabuki, but lost its role in the modern era. Nowadays, it is home to charming shops and restaurants, not to mention the oldest temple in the city, Sensoji. Walk along Nakamise Street, a centuries old souvenir street, do some shopping for that perfect souvenir or pick up a local delicacy.

Learn about the techniques, history and importance of the Japanese tea ceremony with guidance from a tea master at a ceremony room in Asakusa, Tokyo. This small group immersive experience invites you to partake in the ceremony, kneeling and sipping green tea in the same way it’s been done for centuries. This unique excursion promises an unforgettable cultural experience

After visiting Asakusa, you will travel across Tokyo to Meiji Shrine. Dedicated to the deified spirits of the former Emperor and his wife, Meiji Shrine is one of the most famous Shinto shrines in Japan. Enter through the 12-metre-high Torii gate into the tranquil grounds, where you'll wash your hands as per Shinto ritual of cleansing before entering this sacred space. Observe Shinto rituals and prayers as you walk through the area, connecting with the traditions of this unique culture. You will also have free time to explore Harajuku and its fashion street: Takeshita-dori.

From Takeshita-dori, you’ll continue via the metro to Shibuya. Dive headfirst into the pulsating center of Tokyo's youth culture, exploring some of Tokyo's latest trends and fashions in Shibuya, one of the most famous shopping locations in Tokyo. This district is teeming with funky and subversive fashion, as well as some of the best entertainment in town. Take in the hectic pace of Tokyo as you cross the world famous "scramble" before ending the tour at Shibuya Station. Here you’ll have the rest of the day to explore, have lunch on your own, or take the metro back to your hotel on your own to rest and relax.

End your tour with a farewell dinner. It's a great time to look back on all the fun memories made all together. Dinner is typically a set menu of Japanese cuisine, with water included. Additional food and beverages are at your own expense. The restaurant will be walking distance from your accommodation. *Please note that Japanese cuisine frequently uses ingredients with animal products and/or gluten, therefore vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free diets CANNOT be accommodated.

Overnight in Tokyo

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/American, or buffet style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel. *Please note that Japanese cuisine frequently uses ingredients with animal products and/or gluten. For the included meals, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and shellfish-free diets CANNOT be accommodated.