Sake, sushi, samurai – Comprehensive train journey through Japan from north to south (2026/2027)

from $7,780

Today you will arrive in Hakodate, Hokkaido's most charming city, picturesquely located on the Tsugaru Strait. After a delicious dinner, you will spend the night in a comfortable hotel. (D)

With your expert tour guide, you will visit the city of Hakodate, located on a peninsula. First, you will drive to the five-pointed Goryokaku Fortress, which is now a park. The rest of the day will be spent in the maritime old town. You will see the old Aka-Renga Soko warehouses and take the cable car to Mount Hakodate to admire one of Japan's most famous skylines. (B)

Japan's trains, large and small, are legendary. To make your journey on public transport as comfortable as possible, your main luggage will be sent ahead to Tokyo. Without the burden of large suitcases, you will experience Japan's famous Shinkansen for the first time. In the impressive Seikan Tunnel, you will speed under the strait between Hokkaido and Honshu. Would you like to stroll along the waterfront promenade of the port city of Aomori? Today, you will stay in a centrally located, comfortable hotel in Aomori. (F)

Today, you will enjoy a typical Japanese travel experience: on the Resort Shirakami special train, you can admire the untouched mountain forests of Shirakami (UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site) on one side and the surf of the Sea of Japan on the other. The train ride from Aomori to Akita is spectacular! So is the Japanese design on board: light colors, fine woods, and large panoramic windows. Today you will spend the night in Morioka. (B)

First, take the Shinkansen and a regional train to Nikko, the idyllic capital of autumn leaves, where you will have the opportunity to visit the extensive temple district. The Toshogu Shrine is the central sanctuary of the park. In the evening, Tokyo's sparkling sea of lights welcomes you. (F)

In the geisha district of Asakusa, the Imperial Palace gardens, and Meiji Shrine, you will embark on a journey back in time to ancient Japan. In the afternoon, you can explore Tokyo on your own. Be sure to visit the bustling nightlife and shopping district of Shibuya and get to know the modern side of Tokyo. (F)

Today, you will travel by train along the Pacific coast from Tokyo to Hakone. Your large luggage will be sent ahead to Kyoto. You will float over fumaroles and sulfur springs on the second-longest cable car in the world. On a boat trip across Lake Ashi, with a little luck, you will enjoy a magnificent view of Mount Fuji, which is reflected in the lake when the weather is favorable. (B)

In the dramatic valley of the Oi River, you will feel transported back to rural life in centuries past: your route through the valley takes you through green tea gardens, bizarre forests, spectacular gorges, and over bridges spanning the Oi River. With unforgettable impressions in your luggage, you will take the express train for the last leg of the day from Kanaya to Kyoto. (B)

Kyoto is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the highlight of any trip to Japan. Magically beautiful like a painting: Japan's most famous Zen garden at Ryoanji Temple and the Golden Pavilion Kinkaku. The Fushimi Inari Shrine also offers wonderful motifs. The ascent through the avenues of thousands of scarlet torii gates is equally impressive. After a detour to the venerable Nijo Castle, there is still time for a stroll through the geisha district of Gion. (F)

A trip takes you to the picturesque mountainous region north of Kyoto. Take the historic narrow-gauge railway along the Hozugawa River from Sagano to Arashiyama. Arashiyama delights visitors with its numerous temples, shrines, and famous bamboo forest, a Zen meditation in green. Round off the day with a detour to Kyoto's impressive railway museum, a symbol of the Japanese enthusiasm for trains. (F)

This morning, your main luggage will be picked up by courier and sent ahead to Nagasaki. You will continue your journey to Hiroshima with only light hand luggage. First, you will take the Shinkansen to Himeji, home to what is arguably the most beautiful castle in the country, which has served as the backdrop for many films. After visiting the recently extensively restored castle, you will have time to stroll through the Kokoen Garden. Then you will continue to Hiroshima by express train. (B)

In Hiroshima, visit Peace Park with its museum and world-famous peace memorial. In the afternoon, take the Shinkansen from Honshu to Japan's southern main island of Kyushu. You will spend the next two nights in a hotel in Nagasaki. (B)

Today, you will visit Japan's westernmost city and Dejima Island, which served as Japan's gateway for European traders in the 17th century. Foreign influences can be seen, for example, in Glover Garden, with its merchant houses and magnificent views of the harbor. At the foot of the hill stands Oura Church, which was built for the community of Western traders in the 19th century. After sightseeing in the city, you can take part in our optional excursion to Hashima Island, nicknamed Gunkanjima, which means "battleship island." Ghost island would probably be more appropriate: formerly the site of a coal mine, today you can marvel at the gloomy, dramatic, photogenic ruins from that era. (FA)

Free time until airport transfer. Return flight via Tokyo to Germany. (B)