A TASTE OF JAPAN

Day 1 Arrive Tokyo

Land in Tokyo and transfer privately to your hotel in the Kioicho district. Kioicho, embraced by greenery and with a rich history, is where Japanese traditions and Western culture intertwine. The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho is a modern hotel in keeping with the modernity of the mega-city all around, it is well-connected to the city's public transport network and sits just behind the Imperial Palace Gardens. After you have settled into your room, you will be welcomed by Red Savannah's representative who will meet you, provide walking maps, phrase sheets and lots of good advice to assist you during your stay in Japan. You will also be given SUICA Cards, loaded with credit, which you can use for travelling on the super-efficient Tokyo Metro.

Overnight: The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho

Day 2 Tokyo

Meet your guide to explore Tokyo. Visit Meiji Jingu, Tokyo's most important shrine and the beautiful Inner Gardens. By contrast, wander through the districts of Harajuku, Omotesando, and Shibuya to get a feel for modern Tokyo before experiencing the tranquillity of Shinjuku Gyoen Gardens. In the early evening, explore Tokyo's nightlife as the locals do. Start your tour in Omoide Yokocho, a charming little area not far from Shinjuku Station. A black market back in the late 1940s, it's now a tiny alley full of restaurants and bars. Feel the nostalgia of post WWII Tokyo as you dive into popular izakaya food and drinks. Then, head on to the Kabukicho area of Shinjuku, full of neon lights and bright stores. It's full of shops and bars, and the streets are bustling. The final stop on the tour is Golden Gai, a group of six small alleys packed with a total of 200 bars. You'll be able to explore bars that are usually reserved for regular customers and enjoy some great food and drink and feel a side to local Tokyo.

Overnight: The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho

Day 3 Tokyo

This morning, take a privately guided tour of the famous Tsukiji market and wander along the rows of stalls selling an amazing variety of fresh seafood. Afterwards, head to one of the surrounding restaurants to try your hand at making sushi under the supervision of a professional chef, then tuck into lunch - unsurprisingly this is one of the best areas in the city for a fresh fish feast. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure exploring Tokyo. Perhaps head to Hama Rikyu Garden or enjoy a boat ride along the Sumida River to Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple, the Senso-Ji. Here you will also be able to see the Philippe Starck designed Asahi Beer Hall; one of Tokyo's most recognisable modern landmarks. Enjoy the bustling Ameykoko Market Street or head to the fascinating restaurant supply district of Kappabashi.

Overnight: The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho

Day 4 Hiroshima & Miyajima Island

After breakfast, transfer by Shinkansen bullet train to Hiroshima. Start with a visit to Hiroshima Castle and the lovely Shukkei-en Strolling Gardens, then later you'll have the chance to pay your respects and learn about the city's history at the moving Peace Park and Peace Memorial Museum. After learning about the fateful events of 6th August 1945, receive a truly unique insight into one of the turning point of the 20th Century with a private talk with one the survivors of the bomb blast, known in Japan as a hibakusha. Hear their first hand account of the day, how it has shaped their lives and learn of their continued wish for peace.

At the end of the afternoon, you will be transferred across the Inland Sea to your lovely ryokan on the sacred and beautiful island of Miyajima. Kurayado Iroha ryokan is a modern version of a traditional Japanese Inn facing the Seto Inland Sea. There is an open-air bath located on the roof of the building, which can be reserved and from which you can have a panoramic view over the sea and the Island of Honshu. The dining room looks out to sea and serves a delicious Japanese breakfast, followed by an amazing, multi-course kaiseki dinner, combining the finest traditions of Japanese cuisine with impeccable presentation and fresh seasonal ingredients.

Note: The talk with a bomb survivor is only available on Mondays and Tuesdays. Also, due to the age and medical conditions of bomb survivors, this experience may be cancelled a late notice. If so, we will aim to provide a private talk with one of the Japans youth peace activists, many of whom had grandparents who experienced the bomb first hand.

Overnight: Kurayado Iroha Ryokan

Day 5 Miyajima Island

Meet your guide to explore Miyajima Island on foot. Visit the Itsukushima Shrine, the famous 'floating' torii gate, the five tier pagoda and Daisho-In Temple. For lunch, try okonomiyaki, a regional speciality. These layered pancakes are prepared in front of you on a hot teppan, filled with vegetables, your choice of meat and smothered in sauce. Work off your lunch with a hike or a cable car ride up the island's highest peak, Mount Misen before heading back for a relaxing evening at your ryokan.

Overnight: Kurayado Iroha Ryokan

Day 6 Kyoto

Transfer by bullet train to Kyoto. Upon arrival, visit the stunning Golden Pavilion and Ryoanji Zen Garden with your guide. Head to the nearby Ninnaji, which houses one of Kyoto's loveliest gardens, before checking into your delightful, traditional hotel on the edge of the Gion district.

You're never far from a ramen-ya in Japan. As the name suggests, these casual restaurants specialise in the much-loved noodle soup dish that originated in China but has evolved over the centuries to create a seemingly endless array of local and regional variations. Expand your culinary repertoire - and learn how this humble dish became one of the country's most widely eaten specialities - with a hands-on cooking session with a master maker. You'll learn about the basic broths and how to flavour them to perfection, the different varieties of wheat noodles and the vast range of possible toppings from roast pork to dried seaweed. You'll also discover how to prepare a selection of typical side dishes and how ingredients such as preserved bamboo shoots are made. As you might expect, the workshop ends with a delicious ramen feast in the company of your fellow students.

Overnight: Sowaka

Day 7 Kyoto

Enjoy a full day guided tour of more of Kyoto's highlights with your private guide. Start the day with a visit to Sanjusangendo Temple, which was partly destroyed by fire in 1249 and reconstructed in 1266. Next, see the lovely Kiyomizu Temple, which takes its name from the pure water of the cascade which runs down the hill behind the complex. Then move on to Gion, where you may be lucky enough to spot some geiko and apprentice maiko scuttling off for their appointments. Then visit the nearby Yasaka Shrine. From there head to Ginkakuji with its beautiful gardens and then on to Nijojo - don't miss the 'nightingale floors', made to creak on purpose to give away any intruding assassins.

Overnight: Sowaka

Day 8 Kyoto

You have the day at leisure to explore Kyoto independently. Perhaps start the day with a visit to Nishiki Market - a long, narrow covered street packed with shops selling local specialties; it's sometimes called Kyoto's kitchen, and it's easy to see why. Barrels of fresh and pickled vegetables spill out into the street, and the air is fragrant with the savoury smell of grilling sembei crackers and steaming fish dumplings. Or head out to nearby Nara, Japan's ancient capital, where you can start by visiting the impressive giant bronze Buddha, housed in the famous Todai-ji temple. Then enjoy a walk through Nara-koen Park, home to friendly local deer who will follow you hoping for tasty treats! The Kasuga Taisha Shrine, which dates from Nara's time as the capital of Japan, is also located in the park and is well worth a visit. Spend time enjoying the beautiful Isuien, a very pretty Japanese garden close to Todaiji Temple which dates back to the mid-17th century, before returning to Kyoto, calling in en route at the amazing Fushimi Inari Shrine, with its famous, blood-red tunnel of torii gates.

Overnight: Sowaka

Day 9 Tokyo

After breakfast, take the bullet train back to Tokyo. Transfer to your hotel for an afternoon of relaxation before your final night in Tokyo. Perhaps spend a few hours browsing Ginza's designer fashion boutiques and department stores with their basement 'depachika' food halls, where Tokyoites pile their baskets high with delicacies from delicatessen snacks such as yakitori to ornate bottles of sake.

Overnight: The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho

Day 10 Depart

After breakfast, you will be met and privately transferred to the airport for your flight home.