Our fabulous ‘Way of Mitsuboshi Kaido’ tour cuts through some of Japan’s lesser-explored pockets on a road that takes you between chaya houses, ancient
castles and the homes of samurai warriors. It runs from Matsumoto to Kanazawa in central Japan and is home to some of the most arresting scenery: grand landscapes, UNESCO-recognized villages, and gorgeous traditional gardens. Join us as we delve into the heart of Japan’s captivating heritage. You’ll taste authentic Japanese cuisine, see traditional arts and crafts, and journey through the Japanese Alps on the famed ‘Three Star Road’.
From Matsumoto, the Mitsuboshi Kaido traces an arcing line through gorgeous mountains to its final destination in Kanazawa. This extraordinary country journey takes us through Japanese history from modern Tokyo, known as Edo, during Japan’s period of rule by the Shoguns and connects five 3-star Michelin Green Guide sites. From Matsumoto and the 16th-century Matsumoto Castle, the Mitsuboshi Kaidou makes its way through the old market town of Takayama to the thatched-house villages of Shirakawa-go before culminating in Kanazawa and Kenroku-en Garden, considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan and noted for its beauty across all seasons. En route, we will arc a line through gorgeous mountains and fill ourselves with fresh air on a day trip to Kamikochi, located an hour west of Matsumoto. We ramble past tranquil ponds over bridges that straddle sake-clear waters and marvel at the mountainscapes.
In Matsumoto, where modernity and tradition coexist, we explore the old merchant district, now a hot spot for folk art shops. Kanazawa, known as the “City of Folk Art,” is home to meticulously manicured Japanese gardens, timeless chaya houses, and geishas scurrying in and out of narrow streets. Takayama is a hotbed of traditional crafts and shops for beautiful, unique, handcrafted items, and it is renowned as the birthplace of Hida beef.
Central Japan is a region of tall mountain ranges and remote villages, and today, many remain remarkably well-preserved and evocative of centuries past. Our ‘Way of Mitsuboshi Kaido’ journey takes us through Japanese history from modern Tokyo, through an array of World Heritage sites and National Treasures, and back to Tokyo. This incredible tour is perfect for first-time or returning visitors to Japan or returning visitors looking for a quick but immersive deep dive into an incredible culture.
26 September – 06 November 2025
– from $TBC per person Twin Rate
– from $TBC per person Single Rate
– from $TBC per person Twin Rate
– from $TBC per person Single Rate
*Rates are based on 6 Guests.
*Rates are per person based on Twin Share & Single Room.
*Prices are subject to change until paid in full.
*International Airfares are not included. PLEASE ASK US FOR A QUOTE.
Arrive at Tokyo, pass through immigration; collect your luggage and clear customs. If you have booked an arrival transfer through us, then our assistant will meet you just outside of the secure area, and they will take you to the hotel by private van transfer.
Check into the hotel and relax.
Arrival time is relatively late this evening, so have a good rest, ready for the week ahead.
Overnight: Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier.
The best way to discover a city is by walking it and riding it’s rails. Today we do both.
After breakfast this morning, we train to ‘Old Tokyo’, Yanaka Ginza. Yanaka is one of the few remaining districts in Tokyo where the shitamachi (downtown) atmosphere—a feeling of Tokyo from past decades—still survives. The area has a history as an artisan town where many famous writers and visual artists lived and worked. Today, it retains a similar spirit, and a morning stroll down the tiny side streets will highlight the diversity of crafts still being produced in the area: textiles, ink prints, wood carvings, traditional cuisines, stationery, pottery, jewellery, and much more. We will have the chance to try local street snacks, stop by shops over 100 years old and see local shrines and temples. We wander Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street with over 60 stores, visit the beautiful Torii gate at Nezu Shrine, and climb the Yuuyake Dandan stairs.
After this, we visit the Tsujiki Outer Market. The market is a maze of streets where we can feast on fresh sushi or pick up unique souvenirs, ranging from seaweed to sushi knives to handmade ceramics. (We may take some time to see the knives at the likes of Tsujiki Masamoto.)
From here, we walk to the Ginza district. Ginza is Tokyo’s most famous up-market shopping, dining, and entertainment district. You’ll find magnificent examples of architecture all over the city, but the upscale neighborhood of Ginza is the mecca of modernist Tokyo architecture. It centers around a major avenue called Chuo-dori, which some call the 5th Avenue of Tokyo: a broad street lined with high-end fashion stores, each trying to outdo one another with impressive displays and buildings. We will walk past the likes of Nissan Crossing, Ginza Place, Louis Vuitton Ginza, Hermes, Mikimoto Ginza, and Yamaha Ginza.
We visit the Mitsukoshi Ginza Depachika Food Hall. The in-house food halls, or depachika, are known for their comprehensive array of gorgeous sweets and confectionery, immaculately packaged food, ready-to-eat dishes, and picture-perfect bento. And no visit to Ginza is complete without a stop at Itoya – one of the city’s most beautiful and well-stocked stationary shops.
After a long day, we return to the hotel for a good night’s rest.
Overnight: Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier (B / L)
We will forward our luggage to Takayama this morning and travel with only an overnight bag. Our luggage will meet us in Takayama.
After breakfast, we taxi to the station and board our Shinkansen to Matsumoto. This is about a 2.5-hour journey. We will grab a bento box at the station before we board for our lunch. (Our Driver will meet us at Matsumoto Station.)
Home to one of Japan’s last remaining original castles, Matsumoto, located in the shadow of the Japanese Alps, is a small, historic city. As a registered national treasure, Matsumoto Castle is without doubt the beacon that draws visitors to the city, but once here, you’ll discover a lovely little town with lots to offer. It is part of the famed “Mitsuboshi Kaidou” (the Three-Star Road), one of the most notable sightseeing routes in Japan, connecting Kanazawa, Nanto, Shirakawa-go, Takayama, and Matsumoto.
Matsumoto is also the home of internationally renowned artist Yayoi Kusama. Many of the artist’s pieces can be seen in the Matsumoto City Museum of Art, which we will visit this afternoon.
We also visit Matsumoto Castle. Matsumoto has preserved many traces of its prosperity from the feudal period. But the most striking feature of a visit to the town is its imposing castle, known to the Japanese as “the crow” because of its black color. Matsumoto Castle is one of just twelve original castles that exist in Japan today and offers a stunning view in all seasons.
We then check into the Matsumoto Jujo Hotel for the night. Matsumoto is most famous for its castle, but it is also locally recognized for its onsen. With a history dating back more than 1300 years, Asama Onsen, Matsumoto’s hot spring area, was once frequented by Feudal Lords and Samurai. The area has long been lauded for its ‘water of beauty’, highly alkaline water that does wonders for the skin.
Matsumoto Juju, a Koyanagi property, is a ryokan (traditional inn) whose history dates back to 1686. It was designed as a book lover’s dream, with its old onsen converted into a bookstore. One of the primary reasons for designing the communal area as a bookstore is the fact that Asama Onsen has no bookstores. So Matsumoto Jujo aims to attract a community of bookworms, encouraging locals and tourists to appreciate and peruse their wide selection of literature—over 10,000 individual books, including Japanese classics, Western novels, architectural series, designer photo books, and manga. There is also an onsite bakery, shop, café, and apple cider brewery.
The guest rooms at Matsumoto Jujo are complete with their own open-air baths, featuring unparalleled views of the sun setting over the Japanese Alps beyond.
We dine tonight at the in-house restaurant, 365 + 2 (367). The menu is a culinary journey, from the headwaters of Mt. Kobushigatake to the waters of the Sea of Japan and as far north as Sado Island. Each dish is a tale of Japan’s unique topography, presented as a love letter to Japan’s rich abundance of excellent ingredients.
After dinner, it is time for a well-earned nap.
Overnight: Matsumoto Jujo, Asama Onsen (Bento Box, D)
Today is your choice.
A) Kamikōchi was nominated “most beautiful valley” in Nippon Hakkei (Japan’s Eight Most Scenic Landscapes) and is a designated Natural Monument and Place of Scenic Beauty. Kamikochi National Park is a superb way to spend a day on some of the best walking trails in Japan. Autumn is a great time to explore, it’s not too hot, not too cold and it’s generally clear. The views are incredible, the walking is easy, and hopefully fabulous views. It has been referred to as the “Japanese Yosemite Valley”, due to similarity of the terrains that can be found there. For day visitors like us, the trails leading to and from Kappabashi present easy and highly enjoyable walking. Trails leading from Kappabashi to Myojin Pond and Taisho Pond, are well-maintained with sections of raised wooden walkways to preserve the sensitive ecosystem.
B) After a long, lazy breakfast, take a stroll through charming Nawate Dori Shotengai Street and grab a coffee and lunch around Nakamachi-dori. Nakamachi Street is known for its traditional storehouses, called kura, which are characterized by their black-and-white, criss-cross patterned walls. This beautiful street is also a popular shopping area where you can buy Japanese handicrafts, such as pottery, lacquerware, and wooden crafts.
This evening, we all enjoy a lazy bath and dinner in our fabulous hotel.
Overnight: Matsumoto Jujo, Asama Onsen (Box Lunch (on trail), D)
After breakfast, we head out of the city and explore Azumino’s Daio Wasabi Farm – one of Japan’s largest producers of wasabi. Known in the West for its nasal-clearing heat, real wasabi has a much more subtle and versatile taste than many people realize. Wasabi needs large amounts of clear water to grow, and the streams and pools across the farm form a picturesque and idyllic setting.
We then track back towards Matsumoto and visit the Ishii Miso Brewery. Ishii Miso is one of the few remaining breweries that still crafts its miso using wooden barrels in the traditional way instead of using modern methods to quicken fermentation.
We continue to Takayama, located deep within the mountains of Central Japan, famous for the excellent preservation of its Edo Period (1603–1868) historical center, known as the ‘Sannomachi’.
We check into our hotel, Hotel Wood Takayama, a stunning design hotel featuring a Zen Room and a large public bath to wash away the day’s fatigue. Your evening is free.
Overnight: Hotel Wood Takayama. (B / L)
Takayama has retained much of its traditional architecture and is well-known for its crafts, particularly yew-wood carving, Shunkei lacquerware, pottery, and furniture. Today, we’re doing a walking tour where old traditions are alive and well. Along the narrow streets, we’ll stumble upon beautifully preserved wooden houses built in the Edo period. Takayama is a treasure house of stylish galleries and crafts shops; even the 7-Elevens here are elegant latticed-wood structures.
We will stroll through the Miyagawa Morning Market, Takayama Jinya, and Sanmachi Street, which will take us to historic shops sporting beautiful architecture. We visit Yoshijima Heritage House, built in 1908, which was a sake brewery and still sports a huge sakabayashi (sign of a shop dealing in sake made of Japanese cedar leaves) hanging under the eaves.
We visit the Kusakabe Folk Museum, constructed in 1879. Built to be solid with overlapping eaves, this house is the first old merchant’s house designated as a National Important Cultural Treasure, along with the adjoining Yoshijima House.
We eat lunch at the likes of Bistro Mieux, which has been serving the finest French cuisine using local Hida Takayama ingredients with a concept of ‘local production for local consumption’ for some 30 years.
After lunch, we check out a sake brewery like Funasaka. Then there will be free time for you to explore the city further and hunt for special treasures to bring home.
This evening, we enjoy a private dinner at a Japanese-style restaurant designated as a tangible cultural property of Takayama.
Overnight: Hotel Wood Takayama. (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we travel to Hida-Furukawa, a hidden treasure in the Japanese mountains. This enchanting town transports you to a bygone era with its beautifully preserved Edo-period architecture, rich history, and artisanal traditions. Hida-Furukawa offers a glimpse into the heart of traditional Japan.
We wander the historic Shirakabe Dozogai Street. Named after its iconic white plaster walls—sharply contrasting to the dark wooden beams—the street translates to “White Wall Warehouse District.” Once a bustling commercial heart of Furukawa, these streets saw warehouses brimming with goods like rice, sake, and miso. Today, the well-preserved Edo-period architecture stands as a testament to its rich past.
We continue to Kanazawa for lunch, an amazingly simple but delicious fish chirashi rice bowl, before we check into our hotel.
We check into our hotel, and after a busy day, your evening is free.
Overnight: Mitsui Garden Hotel Kanazawa (B / L)
Today, we’ll enjoy a full-day tour of Kanazawa.
We walk to the nearby Omicho market. It dates to the Edo period (17th century) and is known throughout Japan for its fresh seafood and delicate sushi. We’ll have lunch at the market.
We wander to the smaller and less crowded Kazuemachi Chaya area, a former Geisha district known for its beautiful cherry tree arcade. A stroll along the banks of the Asano-Gawa River is the perfect way to end the day in Kanazawa.
Across the Asano-gawa River, in the Higashi Chaya District, we visit the Kaikarao Tea House. With over 200 years of history, the Tea House is the largest chaya in the Higashi Chaya-gai District and is a registered historical building. Here, you have a rare opportunity to see the exquisite interior of a traditional chaya. We’ll sip matcha green tea and savor Japanese confectionery at a historical cafe with an old sunken hearth.
Over 99 percent of Japan’s gold leaf is produced in Kanazawa. Its boutiques, galleries, and even cafes celebrate this luxurious craft. We will stop at Hakuza Hikarigura in Higashi Chaya, which has a Japanese storehouse completely covered in a layer of gold leaf inside and out, with 20,000 sheets of gold leaf on the outside alone. The noonday sun bounces off the sides into the small garden with the glow of sunset.
We will also drop into Ochaya Shima in the Higashi Chaya-gai district. Ochaya Shima is a historical geisha house which is now a museum and offers a look at the life of the geisha who once entertained here. Many of the former geisha houses in this area have been converted into guest houses or restaurants. However, this house is dedicated to preserving and exhibiting memories of the past and is now a nationally designated Important Cultural Asset.
We return to the hotel, and after a fabulous day, our evening is free.
Overnight: Mitsui Garden Hotel Kanazawa (B / L)
We will forward our luggage to Tokyothis morning and travel with only an overnight bag.
After breakfast, we start an incredible day of art and gardens. First, we visit Nagamachi, the old samurai district of Kanazawa. Here, we find Nomura-ke, a restored samurai house with a stunning garden that showcases the artefacts from the golden era of the Japanese warriors.
Then, to the 21st Museum of Art. The museum comprises a circular building, 112.5 meters in diameter, with no facade or main entrance. It was designed without a front or back to discourage patrons from approaching the museum and its art from only one direction. Interspersed among the spaces of the museum are some permanent installations that include works such as Leandro Erlich’s “Swimming Pool”, a pool where people appear to be underwater, and James Turrell’s “Blue Planet Sky”, an exhibit exploring light as a medium which has counterpart exhibits around the world.
We then visit the D.T. Suzuki Museum, opened in 2011, to commemorate and celebrate the life and work of Suzuki Daisetz Teitaro (1870-1966), an influential Japanese Zen philosopher born in Kanazawa. The museum is not only a place to learn about Suzuki’s life and thinking, but its structure puts Zen thought into practice, and there is a special area where visitors can sit quietly and meditate. This garden is arguably the museum’s most important feature, as its clean and simple design embodies Suzuki’s teachings’ abstract beauty.
We have a delightful lunch of Kaga-ryori specialities (authentic Kanazawa/Ishikawa cuisine)
After lunch, we wander over to the divine Kenrokuen. Considered one of Japan’s three most beautiful gardens, Kenrokuen Garden, meaning “having six factors”, represents the attributes which bring out the garden’s stunning beauty: spaciousness, tranquillity, artifice, antiquity, water sources and magnificent views. Extending over almost 25 acres, it was once the outer garden of Kanazawa Castle.
We return to the hotel for rest and refresh.
We dine out on outstanding Kanazawa cuisine for our final evening in Ishikawa tonight.
Overnight: Mitsui Garden Hotel Kanazawa (B / L / D)
This morning, after a lazy breakfast, we‘ll board our train to Tokyo, traveling in Gran Class.
Our transfer assistant will be waiting at the train station to transfer us back to our hotel for our final evening.
We will enjoy a last meal together in the vicinity of the hotel.
Overnight: Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier (B / L / Farewell Dinner)
Your final day. Say farewell to Japan!
Enjoy a lazy breakfast, and then prepare for your transfer to the airport. (B)