Tokyo and Okinawa in Autumn

You'll depart from Europe to Tokyo with an overnight flight, try to get some sleep, and prepare for the upcoming adventure.

You arrive in Tokyo, and transfer by bus or shared taxi to your hotel in the city centre. If you have some energy, take a relaxed stroll through the spacious Hamarikyu Garden and/or Ginza area.

Alternatively, you could head to the Imperial Palace and continue on foot to Ginza, where you'll find deluxe boutiques, department stores, cocktail bars and sushi restaurants. While in the area, make sure to have a look (or a drink!) at the Teikoku (Imperial) Hotel Tokyo, a historic hotel landmark with a 100 year + history. The original hotel was mostly destroyed in the great Kanto earthquake of September 1923 and then redesigned by famous early 20th century American architect Frank Lloyd-Wright.

Get up early and visit the outer fish market in the Tsukiji area, home to the best seafood in the city.

Afterwards, it is time to continue to one of Tokyo's older classical neighbourhoods, Asakusa, where a visit to the impressive Senso-ji (or: Asakusa Kannon) temple should be on your priority list. On Nakamise Street, leading up to the temple, you'll find many interesting shops selling snacks and souvenirs.

In the afternoon, visit the Harajuku neighbourhood, with its delightful winding streets, fashion boutiques and cafes. After, head to Yoyogi Park and have a stroll up to the Meiji Jingu shrine, one of Japan's most important Shinto shrines.

In neighbouring Shibuya, visit the iconic Shibuya Scramble and enjoy an izakaya (Japanese pub) down one of the neighbourhood's backstreets.

Today, get away from the city and explore the natural wonders of Mt. Fujin and Hakone National Park.

Only one hour outside Tokyo by train, the park is a luxurious hot spring (onsen) getaway. It's home to many interesting sights. Buy a Hakone Free Pass in Tokyo for discounted transport from Tokyo and unlimited access to most modes of transport (buses, trains, cable cars, boats) throughout the park.

Take the mountain railway through the beautiful valleys, enjoy a relaxing boat ride on Lake Ashi and gaze up at the surrounding autumn scenery- all the while with the 3,776-metre-high Mt. Fuji towering proudly in the background.

If you have more time left before getting back to Tokyo, visit Chokoku no Mori open-air museum, which boasts 100 outdoor sculptures nestled in nature.

On your last day in Tokyo, time to embrace the city's futuristic side. Take the subway to Odaiba and visit the fascinating interactive teamLab Borderless exhibition and nearby MIRAIKAN (Tokyo National Museum of Emerging Science). Return to Shinjuku to explore the futuristic neon landscape before heading to Roppongi Hills complex to first have a nice sayonara (farewell) dinner at one of its many good restaurants. After dinner, take in the 360-degree panoramic night view from the Roppongi Hills observation deck.

It is time to leave the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and continue our journey to subtropical Japan. You'll head to Tokyo Haneda International airport (40 minutes), and board a domestic flight to Naha International Airport, on Okinawa's main island. A still relatively untouched corner of Japan, the island is home to palm trees, tropical fruit plantations, golf courses, lush green scenery, and a capital city with fascinating historical sights.

Upon your arrival, you will pick up your rent-a-car close to Naha airport domestic terminal. Next stop is your five-star hotel, just a 55-minute drive away. Make sure to take coastal road 58 for the best sea views!

Today is your first full day making the most of Okinawa. Your hotel, the ANA Intercontinental Hotel, is located in scenic Manza Bay in Onna district (the centre-west part of Okinawa's mainland), offering one of the best coastal views on the whole island.

If you are in for an afternoon activity, take the car and drive 45 kilometres further northwest to the Motobu area to visit Churaumi Aquarium, one of the best in Japan.

Would you like to try a one of a kind experience adventure in Okinawa? Try scuba diving at one of many diving schools in Onna and Motobu areas.

Today we suggest you take a plunge into Okinawa's history and culture.

After breakfast, drive to Naha, the capital city of Okinawa prefecture. In Naha, make sure to visit Shuri Castle. The castle served as the residence of the Ryukyu kings for several centuries until Okinawa became a Japanese prefecture in 1879.

The Okinawa Prefectural Museum in Naha is the perfect place to learn more about Okinawa history and culture. It also houses a small art museum dedicated to various art forms such as sculptures, paintings and videos.

As a final activity during your Naha visit, head to Kokusaidori Street, Naha's main shopping and entertainment district that stretches for two kilometres through downtown Naha.

For lunch, sample regional Okinawa cuisine is a fascinating mix between southern-Japanese, Taiwanese, and Chinese cooking styles. After lunch, drive back to your hotel to enjoy some more hours of sunshine, swimming and beach relaxation.

Today we suggest making the most of your time here with a visit to Southeast Botanical Gardens, a 25-minute drive from your hotel. After lunch, drive back to your hotel to enjoy one final afternoon of sunshine, swimming and beach relaxation, and treat yourself to a lovely farewell dinner at one of the hotel's excellent restaurants.

Today, you will return your car, fly to Tokyo and take an international flight to Europe. We hope this was a perfect introduction to Japan and the surprisingly different landscapes, climates and cultures throughout the country!