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Wonders of Japan by Land & Sea

Tour/Cruise

Encompassing all of Japan's iconic highlights, a few hidden gems, and a quick stop in South Korea, this tour is the perfect introduction to an incredible nation. Full of cultural encounters and a wonderful Princess cruise, prepare for a memorable adventure.
Tour experiences:
  • Ride Japan's Bullet Train, No visit to Japan would be complete without a ride on the world-famous bullet train, so sit back and relax as you travel at 200 miles per hour through Japan's landscapes.
  • Learn to make Sushi, Discover the history and etiquette of making and appreciating sushi with a hands-on lesson before sitting down with your instructing chef to enjoy Japan's most famous cuisine. It's the taking part that counts!
  • Dinner with a Maiko, A rare glimpse into Japan's geisha culture, sit down to a traditional Kyoto-style dinner with entertainment from a maiko. An apprentice geisha, the maiko will show off a variety of traditional skills, from dancing and singing to making conversation and leading games.
Places visited:
  • Kyoto (3N) – Kanazawa (1N) – Takayama (1N) – Yudanaka (1N) – Tokyo (2N) – Princess Cruise (11N) – Tokyo (1N)
Price notes:
  • $900p.p non refundable & non transferable deposit required.
  • Flight Inclusive rates only: These include airline fuel surcharge and taxes. Correct as of 1 June 2025. Please note supplements may apply if lead in economy rates are not available.
  • Depending on airline schedules, you may depart and/or arrive on Day 2. Extra nights' accommodation (pre or post tour) or stopovers may be required at an additional cost.
  • Flight Inclusive rates only: Based on departures from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide & Perth. Departures from other cities and flight upgrades available on request.
  • Please note: cherry blossoms & autumn leaves are weather dependent and it is not guaranteed that they will be in bloom at the time of your arrival.

From price

$18,580
$17,680
From price per person, twin share
Tour Provider Wendy Wu
Number Of Days
23
Start Location
Osaka, Japan
End Location
Tokyo, Japan
Age Range
Avg. 60+
Group Size
10
Tour Style
Standard
Tour Themes
No specific theme
Physical Rating
Easy
Includes Flights
Yes

Departure dates

From price per person, twin share
Start End Availability Price
09 May 2027 30 May 2027 7 $18,580
$17,680
07 Jun 2027 28 Jun 2027 14 $18,580
$17,680

Inclusions

  • International flights and current taxes (excluded if a land only option is selected)
  • 4* accommodation
  • 11 night cruise with Princess
  • Domestic transportation
  • Land Touring with guides and entrance fees
  • All meals
  • Princess Plus™ package
  • Cruise gratuities

    • Itinerary details

    Days 1-2: Fly to Osaka
    Fly overnight to the lively, fast-paced city of Osaka. On arrival, you will transfer to the ancient city of Kyoto. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is at leisure to start soaking up the local culture.
    Day 3: Explore Kyoto
    Japan's capital for over 1,000 years, Kyoto is a treasure trove of history and timeless culture. Start the day with a guided tour exploring some of the city’s highlights. Begin with a visit to the Kiyomizu Temple, situated halfway up the Otowayama Hill, allowing for stunning views of Kyoto. For lunch, enjoy a sukiyaki (hotpot), followed by a trip for some local sake tasting. Continue with a visit to the Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for its corridors of torii gates.
    Day 4: Explore Kyoto
    Enjoy a second day exploring Kyoto. Begin with a visit to the beautiful Kinkaku-ji Temple, also known as the “Golden Pavillion”. Go on to discover the Ryoan-ji Temple and it’s zen garden before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant. Afterwards, pay a visit to the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and the Togetsukyo Bridge. This evening, enjoy a Maiko (apprentice Geisha) performance with dinner before returning to your hotel.
    Day 5: Travel to Kanazawa
    Zoom across the country on high-speed trains, passing through scenic countryside. Arrive in Kanazawa and wander the atmospheric Higashi Chaya District, one of Japan's best-preserved geisha quarters. Take part in a gold leaf experience, a local, traditional craft, and visit a samurai residence for a glimpse of life as a member of the imperial warrior class.
    Day 6: Travel to Takayama
    Begin the day in the tranquil surroundings of Kenroku-en, one of Japan's Three Great Gardens. Transfer by road to Takayama, a beautiful, laidback town nestled in the western foothills of the Japanese Alps. This afternoon, visit two lovely museums – Kusakabe Folk Museum and Festival Floats Exhibition Hall – and stroll Kami-sannomachi, the old town.
    Day 7: On to Yudanaka
    Browse the wares of Takayama's morning market, one of Japan's oldest, before visiting the fascinating Takayama Jinya and the Hida Folk Village, an open-air museum of traditional rural architecture. Travel by road to Yudanaka, a hot spring town at the foot of the Japanese Alps, where you'll stay in a traditional ryokan and enjoy a kaiseki dinner.
    Day 8: Snow Monkeys
    Walk through the forest of the Jigokudani Monkey Park to reach the famous hot spring pool where a troop of Japanese macaques, snow monkeys, like to bathe. Later visit Zenko-ji, an age-old Buddhist temple then transfer to Tokyo, Japan's bold and bright capital.
    Day 9: Discover Tokyo
    Tokyo may seem a thoroughly modern cityscape at first glance but look beyond the soaring towers and neon signs and you'll find deeply rooted tradition and peaceful pockets of the past. Start at vibrant Senso-ji, the city's oldest temple before ascending Tokyo Skytree for magical views. Enjoy a sushi making masterclass before dining on your creations for lunch. Make a photo stop at the world-famous Shibuya Crossing and explore Meiji Jingu Shrine.
    Day 10: Embark the Sapphire Princes
    Transfer to Tokyo's cruise port to board your Princess cruise ship. Settle into your cabin and explore the ship's facilities. Throughout your cruise, when your ship comes into port, there will be a range of excursions available to help you explore each destination. These excursions are at your own expense and are bookable on your cruise reservation.
    Day 11: Cruise – Nagoya, Japan
    Arrive at the city of Nagoya. Built around its magnificent castle and a fascinating history, Nagoya has long been a centre of industry. As well as fascinating museums around manufacturing and technology, there are gardens, shrines and delicious food to discover.
    Day 12: Cruise – Osaka, Japan
    Arrive in Osaka, spend the day soaking up the buzz of Japan's second largest city, there is also much to explore here. Or, as this is the closest port to Kyoto, spend another day exploring ancient architecture, soaking up a rich, age-old culture or sampling some of the city's culinary delights.
    Day 13: Cruise – Kochi, Japan
    A surfer hang out with a UNESCO Global Geopark coastline, plentiful great outdoors and a magnificent 400-year-old castle, Kochi is a wonderful place to while away a day.
    Day 14: Cruise – Hiroshima, Japan
    Arrive at Hiroshima. The first city in the world to feel the power of the atomic bomb in 1945, Hiroshima has emerged for the ashes as a cosmopolitan and peaceful place. Consider visiting the tranquil Peace Memorial Park to learn about and reflect on the past.
    Day 15: Cruise – At Sea (Kanmon Straits, Japan)
    Cruise through the Kanmon Straits, the narrow stretch of water that separates two of Japan's main islands, Honshu and Kyushu.
    Day 16: Cruise – Busan, South Korea
    Hello, South Korea! Port at the bustling city of Busan for a quick taste of another wonderful nation. Boasting mountains, beaches, and hot springs, this is a city full of small-town charm.
    Day 17: Cruise – Nagasaki, Japan
    Head back to Japan, porting at Nagasaki. Like Hiroshima, Nagasaki is best known for the events of the 9th of August 1945 but there is so much more to it. Backed by rolling hills and forested islands, with unspoilt beaches, European-style architecture, and ancient roots, it is a delight to explore.
    Day 18: Cruise – Kagoshima
    Arrive at Kagoshima, a city at the southern tip of the island of Kyushu. Watched over by the active Sakurajima volcano it is rich in history and delicious food, and surrounded by glorious nature, there is plenty to discover here.
    Day 19: Cruise – At Sea
    Relax onboard your way – sitting by the pool, enjoying the bars and restaurants, or taking part in a sport or activity.
    Day 20: Cruise – Mount Fuji
    Port at Shimizu, a city of medieval castle ruins, ancient pine groves and traditional gardens. Here, you are ideally located for viewing Mount Fuji or exploring the series of fascinating cultural sites around its base.
    Day 21: Arrive back in Tokyo
    Bid farewell to the Sapphire Princess. Met by a guide, you will be transferred to your hotel in Tokyo where the rest of the day is at leisure, with a farewell dinner at a local restaurant this evening.
    Days 22-23: Fly Tokyo to Australia
    Fly to Australia, arriving home the same or the following day.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    This tour offers a comprehensive introduction to Japan, combining iconic highlights with hidden gems and a unique stop in South Korea. You will enjoy a diverse range of experiences, including a ride on the world-famous bullet train, a hands-on sushi making masterclass, a rare dinner with a Maiko in Kyoto, and an 11-night luxury Princess cruise.
    This tour is designed for those seeking a 'standard' touring style that blends cultural immersion with comfort. It is ideal for travellers who appreciate a mix of guided city exploration, traditional Japanese experiences like staying in a ryokan, and the relaxing pace of a cruise.
    The pros include an extensive itinerary covering multiple cities and countries, high-quality inclusions like international flights and visas, and unique cultural encounters. A potential con is that certain natural attractions, such as cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, are weather-dependent and not guaranteed to be in bloom during your visit.
    Yes, this tour is welcoming to everyone. Whether you prefer to travel solo, as a couple, or within a larger group, the tour is designed to accommodate all these types of travellers.
    This tour is an excellent choice for first-time visitors, as it is described as the perfect introduction to the nation, encompassing all of Japan's iconic highlights and providing a broad overview of its culture and geography.
    The tour is rated as 'Easy' in terms of physicality, which suggests it is accessible; however, specific accessibility details for all sites are not provided. We recommend contacting us for more detailed information regarding your specific mobility needs.
    This tour provides a balanced focus on both sightseeing and culture. You will visit major landmarks like the Tokyo Skytree and Fushimi Inari Shrine, while engaging in deep cultural experiences such as gold leaf crafting, samurai residence visits, and traditional kaiseki dining.
    The tour features a blended pace. The land portion involves traveling between several cities via bullet train and road, while the 11-night Princess cruise provides a more relaxed environment to unwind and enjoy the ship's facilities.
    The itinerary is comprehensive, covering many destinations in a structured manner. While the city tours are organized and efficient, the inclusion of a lengthy cruise and leisure time in Tokyo helps balance the experience so it does not feel overly rushed.
    Yes, the tour includes many key highlights such as Kyoto's Golden Pavilion and Kiyomizu Temple, Tokyo's Senso-ji and Shibuya Crossing, the Jigokudani Monkey Park, and opportunities to view Mount Fuji.
    Yes, the tour is supported by National Escorts and guides who accompany you through the itinerary, ensuring that the experiences are accessible and that the cultural encounters are well-managed.
    Disclaimer:
    These FAQs have been generated with the assistance of AI to provide a general overview. They are intended as a starting point only and should be reviewed based on your knowledge, current supplier information and client requirements.
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