DAY 1 AND 2: DEPART UK/ARRIVE IN JAPAN
Depart from London Heathrow Airport (with a change of plane en route) and arrive at Narita International Airport (Tokyo) the following day. (Non-UK passengers should make a flight booking to arrive before the main group so that we can meet you at the airport). Transfer to your hotel in central Tokyo by private coach and check-in for 4 nights on a bed and breakfast basis.

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DAY 3: (TOKYO) SHUNKA-EN AND ASAKUSA
Today we visit the Shunka-en Bonsai Museum which is owned by the Bonsai Master Kunio Kobayashi who has worked on numerous Kokufu prizewinning trees. We then take the subway to the bustling Sensoji Temple in Asakusa before returning to our hotel. Enjoy a delicious included Welcome Dinner tonight.

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DAY 4: TOKYO – KOKUFU BONSAI TEN
Today is the day we visit the wonderful Kokufu Bonsai-ten, the largest and most prestigious bonsai event held in Japan.

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DAY 5: OMIYA BONSAI VILLAGE
We travel a little further north today by train to visit a selection of beautiful nurseries at Omiya Bonsai Village in Saitama prefecture, followed by the wonderful Omiya Bonsai Museum.

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(Tonight, you'll need to pack your main luggage as this will be sent ahead to your hotel in Kyoto for your arrival. You will therefore need to carry a small overnight bag for tomorrow night).

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DAY 6: TOKYO TO KYOTO
Today we will spend a leisurely morning in Tokyo before speeding off on the Bullet Train to the old capital of Kyoto. This afternoon we will go for a walk around Gion, the traditional center of Kyoto. Enjoy free time in the evening and maybe spot a couple of Geisha going between appointments if you stay in this charming part of the city.

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DAY 7: KYOTO
After breakfast, depart on a full-day tour of Kyoto by private coach. Visit the beautiful Temple and gardens of the Golden Pavilion and then enjoy a series of Zen Buddhist rock gardens at Daitoku-ji Temple. Then on to the Kyoto Handicraft Centre where you have time to have an included lunch and browse a multitude of craft shops. Visit the stunning Sanjusangendo temple complete with 1001 human-sized Buddhist statues.

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DAY 8: NARA
We take a short train trip to the town of Nara. There we walk to Todaiji Temple – which used to be the largest wooden building in the world for centuries and contains the Great Buddha – Japan's largest. Take a stroll in Nara Park and feed the deer. You can either remain in Nara or return to Kyoto as the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure.

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(Tonight, you'll need to pack your main luggage as this will be sent ahead to your hotel in Tokyo for your arrival. You will therefore need to carry a small overnight bag for the next 2 days)

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DAY 9: KINASHI BONSAI VILLAGE/OKAYAMA

After checking out of the hotel in the morning, we travel westward on the Bullet Train to Shikoku – the smallest and least explored of Japan's  4 main islands. Here you have all day to explore the wonderful Kinashi Bonsai Village – the largest Bonsai village in Japan where, amongst other sights, you can view field upon field of miniature black pines. Later in the afternoon, we travel to our hotel in Okayama for 1 night.

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DAY 10: KORAKUEN GARDEN/TOKYO
Today visit Korakuen, a traditional stroll garden in Okayama and one of Japan’s three most celebrated gardens. In the afternoon, we will speed off to Tokyo and check into our hotel for 2 nights.

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DAY 11: KOKUFU BONSAI TEN PART II
Today you have a chance to revisit the Kokufu Bonsai-ten as there will be a new display of bonsai on show for the second exhibit. We will have a Farewell Dinner this evening.

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DAY 12: DEPART JAPAN
Sadly it is time to say sayonara. Transfer to Narita Airport (Tokyo) from where you depart home.