Welcome to Japan! On arrival at either Narita or Haneda Airport, we meet our local team and transfer into Tokyo, one of the world’s most exciting and dynamic cities. After checking into our hotel, there is time to settle in after the international journey and take part in a full trip briefing. Later, we head out on foot for our first dinner in Japan. This first evening provides a relaxed introduction to our surroundings and an opportunity for the group to come together before the adventure begins. Overnight: Tokyo multi-share hotel rooms

Meals:  D

We begin bringing our Japanese language skills to life with a dedicated lesson before heading out to discover Tokyo. The former grounds of Edo Castle introduce us to Japan’s imperial and samurai history, while a hands-on sushi-making lesson gives us a very different taste of Japanese culture. We explore one of Tokyo’s oldest and most atmospheric temple districts, where traditional shops, snacks and souvenirs line the approach to the temple. Later, we experience the contrast of Akihabara, Tokyo’s famous electronics and pop-culture district, filled with technology, gaming and anime. It’s a great introduction to the remarkable mix of old and new that defines modern Japan. Overnight: Tokyo multi-share hotel rooms

Meals:  B,D

Today we discover Tokyo at its futuristic best. We step inside an extraordinary immersive digital art experience, moving through installations that use light, water, projection and movement to blur the boundaries between art and technology. Exploring Tokyo’s modern waterfront introduces us to another side of this constantly evolving city before we turn our attention to emerging science and innovation. Interactive exhibits explore areas such as robotics, space, sustainability and future technologies, while a robotics showroom gives us the chance to see advanced automation systems in action. Travelling around the city by public transport adds another glimpse into everyday life in one of the world’s great modern cities. Overnight: Tokyo multi-share hotel rooms

Meals:  B,D

One of the most personal experiences of our journey awaits as we spend time with students at a Japanese school. Rather than simply observing Japan as visitors, this is an opportunity to connect with young people and gain an insight into everyday school and community life. Activities will depend on arrangements with our host school, but the experience gives us the chance to communicate across cultures and discover some of the similarities and differences between school life in Japan and Australia. For language students, it’s also an exciting opportunity to build confidence and use Japanese in an authentic social setting where communication is about making genuine connections. Overnight: Tokyo multi-share hotel rooms

Meals:  B,D

We leave the energy of Tokyo behind and discover the mountains and volcanic landscapes of the Hakone region. A scenic cable car journey carries us above the landscape, with the possibility of views towards Lake Ashi and Mt Fuji on a clear day. Conditions permitting, we can experience an active volcanic valley where steam vents and sulphur springs reveal the geothermal forces beneath Japan. We visit a forested Shinto shrine before stretching our legs on an approximately 5km section of the historic Old Tokaido Road, once an important route between Tokyo and Kyoto. We finish with a distinctly Japanese experience – a traditional ryokan stay, Japanese-style dinner and the opportunity to experience an onsen hot spring bath. Overnight: Ito Onsen multi-share hotel rooms

Meals:  B,D

Today we experience an icon of modern Japan as we travel west aboard the Shinkansen, Japan’s famous high-speed bullet train, towards Hiroshima. Here, our focus turns to history, reflection and peace. A beautiful landscaped Japanese garden provides a peaceful contrast before we visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and surrounding memorial precinct. Seeing the preserved A-Bomb Dome and learning about the experiences of Hiroshima’s people provides an important human perspective on the atomic bombing of 1945 and its lasting impact. While confronting, Hiroshima’s story is also one of resilience and a commitment to peace, making this one of the most significant educational experiences of our journey. Overnight: Hiroshima multi-share hotel rooms

Meals:  B,D

We swap the city for mountains and sea as we visit Miyajima, a beautiful island in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea. Here we take to the trails of Mt Misen for an approximately two-hour hike through forested landscapes, rewarded with impressive viewpoints across the island, surrounding mountains and sea. A cable car journey offers another spectacular perspective over the landscape. Back near sea level, we experience one of Japan’s most recognisable cultural sights – the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Itsukushima Shrine and its famous torii gate standing offshore. After a day balancing physical activity, nature and culture, we continue to Kyoto, Japan’s celebrated cultural capital and the setting for the next stage of our journey. Overnight: Kyoto multi-share hotel rooms

Meals:  B,D

Our Japanese language learning continues with an extended lesson designed to build confidence and communication skills. We then step into everyday Kyoto at Nishiki Market, where food stalls, ingredients and local specialities provide a colourful introduction to the city’s culinary culture. Kyoto’s remarkable history comes alive at a UNESCO World Heritage-listed castle associated with Japan’s powerful shoguns, before we experience a completely different side of the city among the towering bamboo pathways of Arashiyama. Combining language, food, history and one of Kyoto’s most distinctive landscapes, today showcases why the city remains one of Japan’s great cultural destinations. Overnight: Kyoto multi-share hotel rooms

Meals:  B,D

Today we explore Nara, one of Japan’s great centres of cultural and religious heritage. We encounter the city’s famous free-roaming deer and discover their traditional connection with the sacred landscape around them. We visit a celebrated Shinto shrine known for its thousands of lanterns and one of Japan’s most significant Buddhist temples, home to an enormous bronze Buddha. Exploring the preserved Naramachi merchant district provides another perspective on the city, with traditional townhouses recalling everyday life in an earlier Japan. Together, these experiences introduce us to some of the beliefs, traditions and history that have shaped the country before we continue to the vibrant city of Osaka. Overnight: Osaka multi-share hotel rooms

Meals:  B,D

Our final full day showcases Osaka’s personality – historic, energetic, food-loving and fun. We discover one of Japan’s most famous castles and its connection to the period when the country was unified, before experiencing the colour and energy of Dotonbori, known for its enormous neon signs, busy streets and food culture. A bustling local market offers another taste of Osaka and its reputation as one of Japan’s great food cities. We finish with something completely different: HADO, a fast-paced augmented-reality sport where teams use motion sensors and virtual energy attacks to compete against each other. It’s active, futuristic and a memorable finale to our Japanese adventure. Overnight: Osaka multi-share hotel rooms

Meals:  B,D

Before saying goodbye to Japan, we have a final opportunity to enjoy the flavours and everyday experiences that have made the journey so memorable. Depending on our flight schedule, there may be time to pick up last-minute souvenirs, stock up on favourite Japanese snacks or enjoy one final taste of Japanese cuisine. It’s also a chance to put our language skills into practice one last time – ordering food, shopping and using the Japanese we’ve developed throughout the trip with greater confidence. We then make our way to Kansai International Airport for our flight home, leaving Japan with new language skills, cultural understanding and plenty of memories from our journey.

Meals:  B