Japan's cities: Tokyo & Kyoto

You'll spend the morning with one of our guides for an orientation. They will run through your trip and offer any local advice to you so you can enjoy the country with confidence. You can then spend the afternoon exploring the bustling metropolis of Tokyo. The Hamarikyu Gardens and Asakusa Old Town are excellent places to start. In the evening, head out with a guide to sample some of the local Tokyo cuisine in the vibrant district of Ebisu.

Spend the day exploring Kamakura, a pretty seaside town which was once Japan's capital and is home to the Great Bronze Buddha. You can take the train there unaccompanied — trains depart regularly from Tokyo and the journey takes an hour and a quarter. There are many temples and shrines which you can visit here and one of our favourites is the Hase Kannon Temple.

Today travel by bullet train to Kyoto, home to some of Japan's most important works of art, its richest culture and its most refined cuisine. This is a journey of around three hours. In the afternoon, we can arrange for you to take part in a private cultural activity at Kyoto's Women's Association. With the help of experienced English-speaking practitioners, you can have an introduction to Japanese culture by trying a tea ceremony.

You'll have a guide take you around the sights of Kyoto for the day. We suggest starting at Nijo Castle, visiting a few covered markets and the Nishiki-dori food market to sample some Japanese delicacies such as squid, octopus, eel and matcha powder sweets. Wander the narrow streets of Gion, the Geisha district, and visit a few of Kyoto's most iconic temples and shrines nearby.

Take the bullet train (a journey of just over two and a half hours) to Hiroshima to explore the moving Peace Park and Memorial Museum. Be sure to stop for lunch for the local speciality of okonomiyaki (a gourmet savoury pancake eaten with cabbage and many other different ingredients).

Today we suggest taking a day trip to nearby Nara, Japan's ancient capital and celebrated for its Giant Buddha and Todaiji Temple. Returning to Kyoto visit Fushimi Inari Shrine to see its 'tunnels' of red torii gates swirling up the hillside. The journey can be made independently and the train journey each way lasts just under an hour. Return to Tokyo in the afternoon/early evening for a final night in the capital.

Take the shared airport shuttle bus to the airport for your return flight. The shuttle will collect you from your hotel. Your return flight will arrive the same day.