Experience Japan From the Sea to the Mountains

With thousands of years of history, a distinctive culture and breathtaking scenery, Japan is even better when you’re guided by a seasoned tour operator.

As veterans in luxury small-group travel, Alexander + Roberts offers a range of thoughtfully crafted journeys across Asia, including four immersive Japan tours.

Guests can expect an intimate experience in groups that never exceed 16 travelers, and every detail, from sightseeing to gourmet dining and exceptional accommodations, is taken care of, including all flights and transfers along the way.

Here is an example of what you can enjoy on the popular itinerary From Japan’s Inland Sea to the Alps, an 11-day adventure that begins in Kyoto and continues through a collection of memorable towns and villages to Tokyo, Mount Fuji and more. As part of the AAA Vacations collection, members receive a complimentary extra night in Kyoto before the start of the tour, valued at $600 per couple, plus a $115-per-person AAA Member Benefit discount.

Go Where Shoguns Walked

Start your trip in Kyoto, checking in at the luxury Hotel Granvia, where amenities include a musical theater, department store and museum. During a visit to Nijo Castle, walk in the steps of the fabled shoguns, Japan’s warrior rulers of old. Test your skills crossing the famous Nightingale Floor, designed to “chirp” alerts if invaders creep in. Tour Kinkakuhi Temple and its lush gardens before dining with a mako, a woman training to be a geisha. Explore Kyoto’s Gion district and finish the day at a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

The next day, board a train and ferry to journey to the Seto Inland Sea and on to Miyajima Island to visit the Itsukushima Temple. Built on a pier overlooking the bay, this landmark dates back to the 6th century.

One of the more somber stops on this leg of the tour is Hiroshima, the first city struck by an atomic bomb in 1945. A Japanese guide will provide background and lead you through this rebuilt, modern city. Important landmarks include the shell of a domed building that survived the blast, Peace Memorial Park, the Peace Memorial Museum and the Memorial Cenotaph for Atomic Bomb Victims.

Bid “sayonara” (goodbye) to Kyoto and get ready for a day of sightseeing in the city of Kanazawa after arriving via high-speed rail.

Next up is Japan’s original capital, Nara, the site of Buddhism’s introduction to the nation more than 1,000 years ago. Nara is home to one of the largest wooden structures in the world, Todai-ji Temple, which houses a 50-foot-tall bronze statue of Buddha, as well as the cherished shrine, Kasuga Taisha. Guests can return to Kyoto and explore the city, or they have the option of staying overnight at a traditional Japanese inn with tatami-matted rooms and enjoying a typical Japanese dinner and breakfast.

The city is rich with gardens. Kenrokuen Garden is one of the country’s most famous and has stunning examples of teahouse architecture, which you can view while strolling through the Higashi Chaya District. Your guide will outline the key elements of Japanese landscape design, a skill at which the Japanese have excelled for more than 1,000 years.

Explore Japan

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Mount Fuji and More

Get ready for a major change of scenery the next day as you head off to the Japanese Alps to explore Shirakawa-go, one of Japan’s most well-known Alpine regions. Learn about Wasi, the area’s local papermaking art and get a panoramic view of the valley from Shiroyama Viewpoint before descending to the village. Here centuries-old traditions remain, like houses built with thatched roofs to bear the snow. Some are now restaurants and guesthouses.

A tour of the city of Takayama is truly a step back in time. Its old town section consists of buildings from the Edo period, between 1601 and about 1868, a time when the nation enjoyed prosperity and stability. Expert Japanese carpenters took advantage of the sturdy local timber to create homes and buildings that have endured. Twice a year the town has a festival featuring floats, many of which have moveable figures and are hundreds of years old. Floats from parades past are on display at a local museum.

Bustling Tokyo

After the mountains, it’s off to Tokyo, the nation’s capital and largest city by population. Get your sneakers and wallet ready for a walking tour of the Shinjuku District, popular for shopping and its many restaurants.

Next on the agenda is one of the world’s most famous peaks, Mount Fuji. After a stop to take in the views almost halfway to the summit, continue to Hakone National Park, with lush pine forests and more mountain views. Then it’s boats and ropes: Cruise across Lake Ashi then get ready for a ride on the Mount Komagatake ropeway for sweeping views of the area’s natural beauty.

When you think of Japan, you think sushi, right? On your last day of the tour, visit the famous Tsukiji fish market, beloved by locals and professional chefs. Take s sushi-making class and then enjoy your creation for lunch. End the day and your stay in Japan with an hourslong tour of Tokyo, filled with shopping, historic landmarks and participation in a Taiko drum class.

You’ve Read About it — Now Experience It

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All photos are courtesy of Alexander + Roberts.

Ellen R. Delisio

Ellen is a content producer for AAA Northeast, covering automotive, finance, public affairs and electric vehicle news. She is a former newspaper reporter with experience writing for print and online publications about everything from higher education to sustainability. She recently returned to her native Long Island after living in Connecticut for 20-plus years, and has never met a beach she didn’t like.