Autumn Colours of Japan

Day 1 - Saturday 22 November 2025

Melbourne - Tokyo

Welcome to Sisterhood Womens Travel,  Meet your tour hostess and fellow travellers at the Melbourne Airport for your flight to Tokyo, Japan. 

Sit back, relax and enjoy the in-flight entertainment as we head towards our next adventure.

Upon arrival into Tokyo (Narita), we'll transfer to our hotel.

Tokyo is the capital of Japan, famous for its spectacular architecture, futuristic displays, upmarket shopping and unique fashion sense. Plenty of free time is allowed here to explore on your own.

Overnight - Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Nihombashi (or similar)

Day 2 - Sunday 23 November 2025

Tokyo (B,L,D)

Today, we will be taken on a full-day tour of Tokyo city. Autumn in Japan is one of the best seasons for sightseeing and we’re going to be introduced to some of Tokyo’s best autumn sightseeing spots on our first day of sightseeing, with an initial visit to Rikugien garden. Located in northern Tokyo, this strolling garden was established in 1702 and is often visited by the ruling leader of the time, featuring over 1000 trees made up of maple and gingko varieties.

This is followed by Asakusa, in the old part of Tokyo. Asakusa Sensoji Temple is one of the most celebrated temples in Tokyo, and a visit to Nakamise Shopping Arcade here will be a good opportunity to pick up some trinkets and local goods for souvenirs.

Lunch is included at a local restaurant, before heading to western Tokyo to take in the colours at Meiji Jingu Shrine and Shinjuku Gyoen Park. 

Returning to our hotel for a Welcome dinner tonight.

Overnight - Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Nihombashi (or similar)

Day 3 - Monday 24 November 2025

Tokyo (B,L.D)

We have a fairly relaxed start to our day, before heading to our Sushi Making lesson, conducted by a professional sushi chef.

Following our class, we'll enjoy a workshop on Japanese etiquette with free time for shopping in the hidden backstreets of Tokyo.

Early evening, we'll enjoy dinner onboard a Yakatabune (Japanese-style houseboat), with a cruise on Tokyo Bay.

Overnight - Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Nihombashi (or similar)

Day 4 - Tuesday 25 November 2025

Tokyo - Mount Fuji (B,L,D)

This morning, we head to IkenoboTokyo Kaikan for a unique flower arranging cultural experience called ikebana.

We then make our way to the stunning Fuji Five Lakes area, with a brief stop for lunch along the way, and then onward to the 8 ponds area of Jindaiji Temple.

We check into our accommodation on the shores of Lake Yamanaka. Dinner is included this evening.

Overnight - Hotel Mount Fuji (or similar)

This will be a traditional experience in Japanese-style accommodation; though, to ease you into this experience, we will still have Western bedding. 

Day 5 - Wednesday 26 November 2025

Mt Fuji and Surrounds (B,L,D)

We’ll be starting today with a visit to the picturesque Oshino Hakkai Ponds, followed by a pleasure cruise along Lake Yamanaka.

We’ll head to lunch in Lake Kawaguchi and take some nice photos at the observation deck at Fuji-Q.

This afternoon, we will visit the Kubota Itchiku Art Museum, dedicated to the remarkable works of master Kimono designer Kubota Itchiku.

Returning to our hotel with dinner included tonight.

Overnight - Hotel Mount Fuji (or similar)

Day 6 - Thursday 27 November 2025

Shizuoka - Lake Hamana (B,L,D)

A full day of cultural experiences awaits us today, as we head west through Shizuoka prefecture by coach, driving through Shizuoka’s famous tea fields. We’ll stop by a tea field known as “Chapia” or “Tea-pia”, to experience a practice known as “tea massaging”, the traditional method of preparing sencha tea. We enjoy a Japanese tea ceremony experience here.

Following this, we’re headed to Hokoji Temple to enjoy Buddhist monk cuisine for lunch, and then an afternoon course of “Zazen” meditation at this same temple.

We will then travel to our accommodation for the evening, on the shores of Lake Hamana. There will be an option today for participants to explore the nearby Hamamatsu Flower Park, before dinner at the hotel. Depending on the season, you may be treated to a full nighttime illumination even at the park!

Overnight - Grand Mercure Lake Hamana Resort (or similar)
 

Day 7 - Friday 28 November 2025

Toba - Nagashima (B,L,D)

Today, instead of conventional rail travel across the mainland, we’re headed across the strait via a ferry to the seaside town of Toba, famous for Mikimoto Pearl Island and its women divers (Ama).  We’ll have some time to stop and explore Mikomoto Pearl Island, before we’re treated to an exclusive grilled seafood lunch prepared by Ama women pearl divers, and our guide will talk us through a free-talk Q&A with the Ama while we enjoy lunch.

Afterwards, we make our way up north to Nagashima Spa Land, where we’ll be staying the night. An optional activity this evening will be to take in the awesome night lights of Nabana no Sato, before dinner.

Dinner is included tonight.

Overnight - Hotel Nagashima (or similar)

Day 8 - Saturday 29 November 2025

Nagashima - Nara - Kyoto (B,L,D)

Today, we’ll be driving through Nara, the first permanent capital of Japan. Famed for the large Buddha hall at Todaiji Temple and the many bowing deer roaming around, Nara will certainly be a delightful experience.

We will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Nara, before continuing onward to Kyoto, where we’ll be staying for the next 3 nights. With time to freshen up before our exclusive banquet kaiseki dinner, where the food itself is presented as art, together with a unique geisha accompaniment, it is a rare treat not often experienced by travellers in Japan.

Overnight - Cross Hotel, Kyoto (or similar)

Day 9 - Sunday 30 November 2025

Kyoto (B,L,D)

This morning, we travel to the Golden Pavilion, a World Heritage site featuring a picturesque gold leaf-covered pagoda beside a pond.

We then continue to the Arashiyama district for lunch, an area reminiscent of feudal-era Japanese films. We'll then enjoy a fun Kimono fitting experience as befitting the theme of the region.

Dinner at a local restaurant tonight.

Overnight - Cross Hotel, Kyoto (or similar)

Day 10 - Monday 1 December 2025

Autumn Colours of Kyoto (B,L)

We start today with further autumn colours viewing at the World Heritage site of Kiyomizu Temple, a stunning Temple on Kyoto’s west side with an observation platform; all constructed without nails. We then move to Nijo Castle (former Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa Shogunate, ruling party of Japan prior to the current royal family), another World Heritage site.

Lunch is included today at a local restaurant.

We’ve included a unique kimono fabric dyeing workshop this afternoon to enjoy.

Back to our hotel with dinner at leisure tonight - your tour hostess will arrange a venue and meet you in the hotel lobby.

Overnight – Cross Hotel Kyoto (or similar)

Day 11 - Tuesday 2 December 2025

Kyoto - Hiroshima - Miyajima (B.L)

This morning, our main luggage will be couriered to our hotel in Osaka, while we take a detour to the historic regions of Hiroshima and Miyajima. (An overnight bag will be required for our overnight stay.)

We'll travel by bullet train to Hiroshima before boarding a ferry across to Miyajima Island, an island famous for its natural scenery, many wild deer, and Itsukushima Shrine. The view from Itsukushima Shrine is considered one of the top 3 in Japan.

We'll return to Hiroshima with lunch at a local restaurant, followed by a visit to the sombre Peace Memorial Museum as well as the Atomic Bomb Dome.

Dinner at leisure tonight - your tour hostess will arrange a venue and meet you in the hotel lobby.

Overnight - Hotel Granvia Hiroshima (or similar)

Day 12 - Wednesday 3 December 2025

Miyajima - Osaka (B,D)

After checking out of our hotel this morning, we’re headed back to Osaka by bullet train with some free time for lunch (at your own expense). We’ll be exploring Shinsaibashi and Namba, considered by many Japanese to be the gourmet heart of Japan. Famous for its “Eat-til-you-drop” food culture, diversity of cuisine and an array of shops to explore, the best way to end our tour of Japan!

A farewell dinner tonight to celebrate the great times spent with new friends.

Overnight - Del Style Shinsaibashi Hotel by Daiwa Roynet (or similar)

Day 13 - Thursday 4 December 2025

Osaka - Melbourne (B)

A morning free until our transfer to the Osaka (Itami) Airport for our flight home via Tokyo. Sit back, relax and enjoy the in-flight services of our airline.

Day 14 - Friday 5 December 2025

Welcome Home

Welcome Home. Thank you for travelling with Sisterhood Womens Travel for your latest adventure and we look forward to welcoming you back.