Christmas in Japan

Fly overnight to Tokyo. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.

Discover Tokyo’s most famous highlights, from the lively Shibuya Crossing to explorations of well-known neighbourhoods like Shinjuku. Visit Meiji Jingu, a Shinto shrine surrounded by a small forest within the city, and learn about the emperor who presided over the Meiji Restoration – Japan’s transition from feudal state to world power.

Begin with a visit to the historic Asakusa district to see Sensoji, the city’s oldest Buddhist temple, then visit the National Museum in Ueno Park for an insight into the art and archaeology of centuries gone by. Ascend to the viewing deck at the Skytree for a bird’s eye view of the city. Later, get in the festive spirit with some time to admire Tokyo’s Christmas illuminations.

Today, head west to Hakone. Around here, winter is considered the best time of year for viewing Mount Fuji, when the skies are often cool and clear, and the mountain is usually wearing its famously beautiful snowcap. Take a cruise across Lake Ashi, then ride a cable car along the Hakone Ropeway to reach Owakudani, known for its volcanic hot springs and steaming vents. The wider Fuji area is your home for the next two nights.

Continue your Fuji adventure with a visit to Oshino Hakkai, a charming village filled with mineral-rich ponds and slowly spinning water wheels, before continuing to Kawaguchiko, a town famous for its Fuji views. Visit Fujisan World Heritage Centre, where you can learn about the mountain’s significance, and perhaps enjoy a photo opportunity on the viewing deck.

Head into the foothills of the Japanese Alps, stopping first at Matsumoto to admire its iconic black castle. Its main tower, built in the late 16th century, is the oldest surviving castle tower in Japan. Continue to Takayama, a small city nestled in the mountains of Gifu province.

Discover this charming alpine city, considered the crown jewel of Gifu province. Explore the traditional streets of the well-preserved old town and visit the excellent Festival Floats Museum before lunch. This afternoon, enjoy some free time to explore, or make use of the onsen facilities at your hotel.

Drive north to the UNESCO-listed village of Shirakawago, famous for its traditional wooden gassho houses. With their steep thatched roofs, often laden in snow, these houses are one of the most iconic winter views in Japan. Visit the largest – Wada House – and learn about life in this remote rural area. Continue to Kanazawa, a serene city known for its samurai history, and check in at your hotel.

Visit beautiful Kenrokuen, one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens. Here, admire the yukitsuri, a technique using ropes to support the pine trees and their heavy blankets of snow. Later, stroll the Edo-period Nagamachi District and visit one of its old samurai houses. This afternoon, board the Thunderbird train to Kyoto, Japan’s cultural heart.

Discover the highlights of Kyoto. Once the capital of Japan, this former seat of power wears its history proudly on its sleeve. Begin at Kiyomizu Temple, with its views over Kyoto. Later, admire the vermilion torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine and the Golden Pavilion of Kinkaku-ji.

Wake to a Christmas day like no other. Spend the morning at a traditional tea house, where you’ll don a kimono (optional) and enjoy a tea ceremony and wagashi sweet-making experience. Later, indulge in a special Christmas lunch before an afternoon at leisure to explore Kyoto, call loved ones or simply relax until dinner.

Bid farewell to Kyoto and drive to Nara, another former capital. Visit the UNESCO-listed Todaiji Temple, and meet its sacred deer, who roam here at leisure and enjoy bowing to visitors. Stop by a traditional Japanese garden, then continue to Osaka for a culinary adventure in the Dotonburi area.

Experience the tranquil winter beauty of Mount Koya, the heart of Shingon Buddhism. As the year draws to a close, wander through the vast, otherworldly Okunoin Cemetery, with its centuries-old gravestones, softly-glowing lanterns and towering cedars glittering with frost. Return to Osaka.

Drive to Himeji, one of Japan’s most magnificent castles. Explore the majestic 17th-century keep before lunch. Drive to Kobe, where you’ll visit a small sake brewery museum and a Christmas market before indulging in a farewell dinner. Try Kobe’s famous Wagyu beef or an alternative vegetarian dish. Return to Osaka.

Transfer to the airport and fly to New Zealand, arriving home the following day