Meet your Tour Leader, Angie Thomas at Sydney International Airport. Depart on our Qantas daytime flight to Tokyo.

Villa Fontaine Grand, Tokyo

Ashikaga Flower Park this morning. Wisteria Festival will be in full swing with 350 in flower including The Great Wisteria, now 150 years old and spreading 1,000 sqm. Lunch included at the Kanaya Cottage. Check in to the Nikko Kanaya Hotel, Japan’s oldest western-style resort hotel. Dinner included tonight.

Kanaya Hotel, Nikko

Another splendid flower festival today, fields of ‘Baby Blue Eyes’ nemophila at Hitachi Seaside Park, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Back to the Kanaya with dinner included this evening.

Kanaya Hotel, Nikko

The elegant arched red lacquered Sacred Bridge over the Daiya River is first this morning, rebuilt in its current form in 1636, with last restoration in 2005. Climb the steps to Toshogu Shrine, resting place of the Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo period. Walk the ancient avenue of sacred Japanese Cedar (cryptomeria) that leads to the shrine.

New Otani Hotel, Tokyo

Festival of Azaleas today at Shiofune Kannon Temple. The garden surrounds an ancient Buddhist temple, known as the ‘Temple of Flowers’. Walk up through colourful azaleas to the giant statue of Buddha, with panoramic view. Afternoon free in Tokyo. Evening stroll around Kameido Shrine to see old wisteria.

New Otani Hotel, Tokyo

Incandescent colour today at Nezu Shrine, one of the ten shrines of the Meiji Era, a cultural treasure that dates back 1,900 years. Azaleas here are legendary. Peony breeding is next level in the Toshogu Peony Garden in Ueno Park. See 500 plants in the full range of glorious shape, colour and form including Itoh peonies, bred by Toichi Itoh.

New Otani Hotel, Tokyo

Take the morning train to Okayama to visit Koraku-en Garden, one of the Three Master Gardens of Japan, now 300 years old. This fine example of a Japanese stroll garden from the Edo Period, was built for the local feudal lord as a place to entertain his family and guests.

Granvia Hotel, Okoyama

Our coach takes us to the island of Shikoku across the Great Seto Bridge to the sublime Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu, another famous Master Garden. Built by feudal lords during the early Edo Period, it’s considered to be one of the finest gardens in Japan with its iconic Crescent Moon Bridge. Return to Okayama.

Granvia Hotel, Okoyama

DAY 9 MON 28 APRIL

Ferry trip today to Naoshima Art Island, small island in the Seto Inland Sea, famous for its museums of modern art, architecture and sculpture. Benesse Art Site Naoshima opened in 1989. Art is melded with the landscape of Naoshima in the most intriguing way. Afternoon train to Kokura. Dinner included tonight.

RIHGA Royal, Kokura

Visit to Kawachi Wisteria Garden, with twenty species of wisteria in two long tunnels. Lunch included today. Afternoon train to Matsue. Stay two nights at a traditional ryokan hotel. Dinner included tonight.

Hotel Gyokusen, Matsue

Peony heaven today at Yuushien Garden, a famous collection on Daikonshima Island, in the middle of Lake Nakaumi. Adachi Museum of Art was founded by Adachi Zenko in 1970, combining his passions for Japanese art and garden design. He hoped that viewing the gardens and artwork together would expand peoples’ appreciation and interest in Japanese art. Dinner included tonight.

Hotel Gyokusen, Matsue

A taste of old Japan at Matsue, famous for its feudal castle, one of the few remaining medieval castles built of wood. Visit a Samurai home and Local museum. A train ride to Okayama this afternoon. Farewell Dinner at our hotel tonight.

Granvia Hotel, Okoyama

OKAYAMA TO HOME (B)

Optional morning visit to the picturesque old town of Kurashiki with its preserved canal area that dates to the Edo Period (1603-1867). Shop for Japanese denim and local ‘Bizen’ ceramics. Afternoon transfer to Okayama Airport for homeward flights.