DEPART your Sendai Hotel & Grab Breakfast at Mori no Ichiba (Forest Market)

Begin your day with a visit to a small local market where locals shop for produce, handmade tofu and pickles. Grab an onigiri or zunda mochi (Sendai's sweet soybean speciality) and a coffee to go.

VISIT the Historic Town of Akiu Onsen Village

You can either hire a driver or rental car, or the bus from Sendai Station takes about 50 minutes.
This quaint onsen village has been serving travelers since the Edo period. Walk through the local artisan shops - you'll find woodworkers, kokeshi doll painters and local sake brewers. You can try a kokeshi painting experience at Akiu Craft Park or wine tasting at Akiu Winery.

LUNCH at a Local Soba House

HEAD BACK to Sendai & Enjoy Dinner in the Backstreets of Kokubuncho

Skip the big izakayas - dive into alleyway bars & restaurants in Iroha Yokocho, a tiny maze of local drinking dens and mom-and-pop eateries. Try local specialties like gyutan(beef tongue), vegetable oden & local sake and beer.

TAKE THE FERRY to Miyajima Island

Travel by the JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi Station (approximately 25 minutes) + 10 minute ferry ride.
Head to Miyajima, a sacred island known for its serene forests, ancient temples & one of Japan's most iconic views - the floating torii gate.

VISIT Daisho-in Temple

Stop by Daisho-in Temple - visit the peaceful meditation hall, spinning mantra wheels, and spot the hundreds of small rakan statues with unique facial expressions.

HIKE MOUNT MISEN via the Daisho-in Trail

Skip the ropeway and hike the Daisho-in Trail, a shaded path through the forest and mossy stone steps, dotted with Buddhist statues & quiet meditation spots. The walk is moderate difficulty, about 1.5 hours up. At the summit there are panoramic views of the Seto Inland Sea & distant islands. (You can also return by ropeway)

LOCAL LUNCH

Enjoy seasonal grilled oysters, or anago-meshi (grilled sea eel over rice) along with Miyajima grown vegetables at a local restaurant. Try Yakigaki No Hayashi, Kakiya or Mametanuki.

VISIT Itsukushima Shrine

Don't miss a stop at this iconic torii gate that appears to float on the water during high tide.

FERRY BACK to Hiroshima & Peace Memorial Park

Return to the mainland & head straight to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
Quiet your mind & walk among the memorials, cenotaphs & paper cranes. You can also visit the Peace Memorial Museum - deeply moving and important.

EXPLORE Shukkeien Garden

End the day with a calming stroll through Shukkeien, a traditional landscape garden just 15 minutes from the Peace Park. Small, but exquisite, with koi ponds, bamboo groves and beautiful seasonal flowers.

BREAKFAST & COFFEE at Blue Bottle Coffee (Kiyosumi-Shirakawa)

Start your day in Tokyo's "coffee mecca" at the sleek, minimalist cafe in Kiyosumi-Shirakawa. It's in a renovated warehouse & offers light breakfast options, great pour-overs, & strong English signage.

EXPLORE A "BOOK TOWN" at Jimbocho

Head to Jimbocho, Tokyo's famed "Book Town". It's a paradise for bibliophiles, with over 150 second hand bookstores. English friendly highlights are Kitazawa Bookstore (best English Language Collection), Isseido Books (Art & Antique titles), and Taco Che (Quirky & Manga).

LUNCH at DILL COFFEE PARLOR (next to Sanseido Bookstore)

Rest your feet & grab a light lunch at Dill Coffee Parlor, located close to the large Sanseido Bookstore. They serve light meals, coffee & sandwiches in a modern atmosphere.

VISIT A CURATED BOOKSTORE at Bunkitsu (Roppongi)

Take the subway to Roppongi & head to Bunkitsu, a
beautifully designed bookstore-meets-art-gallery. The
entry fee includes a free drink and there are lots of
inspiring art, design and philosophy books in Japanese & English.

TEA & CAKE at Aoyama Book Centre (Omotesando)

A short walk from Roppongi, this stylish bookshop is known for its art & fashion sections & quiet cafe. Great for browsing visually rich titles & relaxing.

START THE DAY at Ohori Park

Kick things off with a peaceful stroll around Ohori Park, Fukuoka's urban oasis. The large pond, stone bridges and lotus gardens offer an atmospheric, almost Zen-like start to the day. If you need a morning coffee there's also a Starbucks with outdoor seating open from 7:00 in the park grounds.

VISIT Atago Shrine

Enter via Atago Otojiro Inari Shrine and climb the steps to reach Atago Shrine with its stunning city views. On the way stop for a traditional sweets break at Atago Iwaiya which opens at 9:00 each day.

EXPLORE ITOSHIMA PENINSULA

Less than an hour's drive out of Fukuoka City is the Itoshima Coast, a paradise of hidden beaches, surfer cafes and artist studios. Rent surfboards or bikes at Futamigaura, and explore beaches and iconic views at Sakurai
& Couple Rock. Have lunch at one of the many cafes along the beautiful coast.

OPTIONAL Craft Experience

If you want to add another adventure into the day then a pottery workshop at Shima Studio is worth considering. This hands-on experience with real artisans give you the option of trying a potters wheel or trying decorative techiniques.

BREAKFAST at Your Hotel

For guests with families we recommend staying at OMO7 Hotel in the centre of Asahikawa City - the breakfast buffet is great for kids of all ages

VISIT Asahiyama Zoo

From Asahikawa City it takes about 30 minutes by car or bus to reach the zoo. This beloved spot is famous for its interactive animal enclosures. Families love watching seals swim overhead in a glass tunnel or penguins waddling close by in winter.

LUNCH at Asahikawa Ramen Village

Choose your favourite ramen from 8 famous shops on one spot. Many offer half size portions - perfect for kids or trying more than one.

AFTERNOON ACTIVITY

In spring - autumn, adventure awaits on a
paddle board tour on the Ishikari River.
Glide across the water surrounded by the
vibrant landscape of Hokkaido. For younger children, spend a more relaxing afternoon at Ueno Farm - a storybook-like landscape that

offers a flower scavenger hunt sheet for kids.
In winter, take a family ski lesson with a private instructor at Kamui Links - a ski resort loved by locals and perfect for families and beginners.

DEPART your Tokyo Hotel

Either take the JR Saikyo Line to Kawagoe or choose this day as one to use a private driver for the journey of just over 1 hour.

EXPLORE KURAZUKURI STREET

Explore the Edo-era style buildings in the heart of Kawagoe's historic district, with their distinctive clay and tile construction. Many of these buildings have been converted into souvenirs shops, or small restaurants selling local delicacies.

VISIT HIKAWA SHRINE & Bell Tower

Spend time at Hikawa Shrine, built around 1500 years ago during the Kofun period, and then take in Tokinokane, the bell tower that is still rung 4 times throughout the day in Kawagoe.

UNAGI LUNCH at one of Kawagoe's High Quality Restaurants

Enjoy a speciality eel lunch at Ogakiku, Hayashiya or Ichinoya. If you don't like eel, then the local soba is also amazing.

VISIT CANDY ALLEY

Kashiya Yokocho, literally "Candy Alley", is a little shopping street adjacent to the warehouse district lined with stores selling traditional Japanese sweets & cakes.

SAKE TASTING at Koedo Kurari

Finish your day trying local sake in Koedo Kurari, spread over the three buildings of the Kagamiyama Brewery, founded in 1875.

DEPART your Kyoto Hotel

Either take the JR Sagano Line or choose this day as one to use a private driver or guide to take you around. We recommend leaving early to beat the crowds.

ARRIVE IN ARASHIYAMA & Have Breakfast 'Espresso and'

On the way to Tenru-ji Temple, have a breakfast stop at this delicious local coffee and bread store to get fueled up for the walking day ahead.

EXPLORE Tenryu-ji Temple Grounds & Walk Through the Bamboo Grove

Approach one of Kyoto's most iconic sights, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, from the side gate of Tenryu-ji Temple. Take your time standing amongst the soaring stalks of bamboo and explore the pathways throughout.

VISIT Iwatayama Monkey Park

Arashiyama Monkey Park is located on top of Mount Arashiyama, and boasts around 120 snow monkeys (Japanese Macaque). The monkeys are not caged and roam freely in the park, so although they are fed by staff, be careful when they approach..

LUNCH, such as Tofu at Yudofu Sagano

Enjoy lunch at one of the atmospheric small restaurants in Arashiyama, such as the famous tofu lunch sets at Yudofu Sagano.

STROLL Through Okochi Sanso Villa

Stroll and try the matcha at Okochi Sanso Villa, located in the foothills of Mount Ogura.

BOAT RIDE Or Sweets Break

Enjoy a traditional boat ride on the Hozugawa River, or just take a relaxing sweets break in the area.

LOCAL BREAKFAST at Osaka Kizu Market

Start your day at Osaka's largest wholesale market with a history of over 300 years. There are many small restaurants and places to try delicious local ingredients. If not, head to Brooklyn Roasting Company for excellent coffee & toast with yuzu jam.

EXPLORE one of Japan's Longest Shopping Streets at Tenjinbashi-suji

Walk this 2.6km long shotengai filled with local greengrocers, family owned rice cracker shops, old-school kissaten (cafes) and Showa-era clothing stores. Grab snacks like mochi or potato yokan from local confectionery stores.

VISIT Osaka Museum of Housing & Living

Still in Tenjinbashi, head upstairs in this humble building to explore a life sized replica of an Edo-period Osaka neighbourhood. Not crowded, great for families and photos - and you can even rent a yukata to try.

LOCAL LUNCH at Tsuruhashi Koreatown

Travel 20 minutes by JR Loop Line to Tsuruhashi - Osaka's hidden culinary powerhouse, that offers a unique blend of Korean culture & Japanese influence. Tsuruhashi is a haven for food lovers, boasting numerous restaurants serving authentic Korean dishes like yakiniku, tteokbokki and various types of kimchi.

EXPLORE Higashi-Osaka's Fabric & Knife District

Travel 25 minutes by train (Kintetsu & Nankai Lines to Sakai). Visit this artisan town famous for its handmade kitchen knives & incense. Tour a Sakai knife studio & see blacksmiths at work, visit Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum or take an incense workshop for a calming sensory break.