This morning you will be taken from your hotel in Tokyo by private car to Tokyo station to take Japan’s world famous Shinkansen to Kanazawa. The Shinkansen, Japan's bullet train, is an exceptional feat of modern engineering. You'll have the opportunity today to embark on a 2.5 hour journey aboard this ultra high-speed train and witness firsthand the unmatched levels of comfort, speed, and efficiency offered by one of the world's most remarkable transportation systems.

On arrival at Kanazawa station, you will be met by your Travel Expert and taken to Omicho Market. This colourful food market has been around since the Edo Period (1603 – 1868) and is home to over 200 stalls and restaurants.  Omicho is known for seasonal specialties from the abundant Sea of Japan – from Snow Crab in the winter to Kan-buri (fatty yellowtail) in the spring.  

We will explore the stalls, winding our way through the bustling crowds to see the best in-season ingredients. From a fish stall, showing the very best offerings from the Sea of Japan to a tofu shop that will amaze you with the multitude of different varieties.  We will grab lunch here from one of the stalls, eating side by side with the locals.

From the market, it is only a short walk to  Katani, a gold leaf manufacturer for over 100 years, for a gold leaf making experience. Kanazawa's tradition of producing gold leaf dates back centuries, and the city has become a centre of excellence for this intricate craft.

Kanazawa gold leaf is renowned for its quality and craftsmanship. It's produced by hammering thin layers of gold into extremely thin sheets, often around 0.1 micrometers in thickness. These delicate gold sheets are then used to decorate various objects, including ceramics, lacquerware, textiles, and even food items. 

After you make your gold leaf which you can take home for a souvenir, we will take a walk down Kanazawa Omotesando, a stylish shopping street featuring many local and independent stores selling handicrafts.  Here we will stop for a coffee, or perhaps a green tea, as we watch the street life of this charming city.  Your Travel Expert will take you to check in at your hotel, and your evening is free to explore this exciting city.

Today we will get to learn about some of Japan’s traditional crafts, and have the fascinating opportunity to take part in making them.

First we will take an hour drive to Toyama, located in the heart of the Hokuriku region, to visit a glass studio. Toyama has a long history of glass making. Initially, the focus was on producing utilitarian glassware such as bottles and jars for everyday use, as well as for use by the region’s many pharmaceutical companies. However, over time, artisans in Toyama began to experiment with different techniques and styles, gradually transitioning to the creation of more artistic and decorative glass pieces.

Edo-kiriko, or Japanese glass blowing, is characterised by intricate glass-cutting techniques that create mesmerising patterns on glassware. Skilled artisans employ traditional tools like blowpipes and cutting wheels to shape and embellish the glass surface, often using coloured glass for added vibrancy.

While preserving traditional methods, contemporary Japanese glass artists infuse modern designs and materials into their creations, striking a balance between the old and the new

Here you will the chance to make your own wine glass. You will choose the glass shape, colour and design, and together with your instructor create your own masterpiece.

We continue on to the small town of Yatsuo. Between the 14th - 16th Centuries, Yatsuo was one of the leading producers of washi paper, Japanese paper that is handmade using traditional methods.

With the advent of mechanised manufacturing of paper, the paper industry slowly declined, however there are still some studios here that are still making washi using traditional methods. We will visit one of these studios, and take part in a paper making experience.

Tonight you will be staying at the River Retreat Garaku, a boutique luxury hotel nestled serenely along the Jinzu River in Toyama. The hotel offers a tranquil escape with impressive art and a sophisticated design.

It boasts over 300 pieces of contemporary Japanese art strategically placed throughout its premises, enhancing your visit and ensuring a delightful stay. Each of the 25 rooms is different, creating unique staying experiences.

The walls and ceiling of the rooms are adorned with Japanese paper made locally by a paper artisan in the same process you experienced today.

Tonight you will enjoy dinner at the hotel. The restaurant features sublime seasonal Japanese and Western cuisine, using ingredients grown locally in Toyama.

We continue our journey deep into the mountains to Shirakawago.  Located in the heart of Gifu prefecture, this charming village is a UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses. Gassho  translates to ‘praying hands,’ named because of their sharp steep roofs clasped together resembling two hands in prayer.  The structures are made of wooden beams and straw thatch, creating a unique architectural style that is characteristic of the region. 

Some of the houses have been turned into small museums, focusing on the life and work of their previous inhabitants. Exploring these with your Travel Expert will give you a glimpse into the villagers lives from centuries ago. In addition to the farmhouses, Shirakawa-go offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.  

We will enjoy a lunch of handmade soba at a local restaurant. Soba (buckwheat) noodles are commonly made in mountainous areas as even in the mountain areas where other crops do not usually grow, buckwheat can. The buckwheat is ground with a stone mill on the spot and boiling it in the pristine mountain water at the perfect temperature gives it its superb taste and great aroma. 

After lunch, we continue on to Takayama, a charming city completely surrounded by mountains.

Due its inaccessibility, it was cut off from the surrounding areas, particularly during the winter when it experienced heavy snowfalls. This allowed it to create its own unique culture, which we can still see today.

Known for its well-preserved Edo-period streetscape, the streets are lined with wooden merchant houses, many of which have been converted into shops, sake breweries, and museums.

Tonight you will be staying in a traditional ryokan - a Japanese luxury inn complete with tatami floors, futon bedding and kimono clad staff.

We recommend that you try an onsen before dinner - these are natural hot spring baths, with a choice of indoor or outdoor soaking. The perfect way to unwind after a day of travelling!

Tonight’s Kaiseki dinner is included at your ryokan. Kaiseki cuisine is an elaborate multi course meal that is changed each season to include the best produce of the time. The emphasis is on the visuals as well as taste, so you can feel like you are eating a work of art. Kaiseki is perfectly paired with sake, Japanese umeshu plum wine or a nice cold Asahi beer.

This morning you can either head to Tokyo or Kyoto by train. The first leg of this journey is a memorable one, as you will be boarding the Hida Express for what is one of the most scenic railway journeys in Japan, as it winds its ways through the mountains and over the rivers of Gifu Prefecture.

This train has earned the name “Wide View Hida” due to its expansive windows that offer a panoramic view of the passing countryside. From this vantage point, throughout the 2 hour journey you will see the charming countryside as well as well-preserved historic structures.

At Nagoya Station, one of our friendly assistants will meet you on the platform and take you onto the Shinkansen platform for your bullet train to your next destination.