Tokyo, Japan (4 nights). Arrival in Tokyo, welcome by the French-speaking tour guide, coach transfer and check-in at the hotel.

Tokyo. The Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park, then Sensō-ji temple and Nakamise street, lined with stalls. Up the Tokyo Skytree, followed by a cruise on the Sumida River, which shows the city from an entirely different angle. (B/L)

Tokyo. Meiji Jingu shrine and Takeshita street, the Yamatane Museum, then the Kagurazaka district, Tokyo's Little Paris, where you try your hand at kumihimo, the braiding of silk cords. East gardens of the Imperial Palace and the famous Nijubashi double bridge. (B/L/D)

Ushiku and Ashikaga. The Ushiku Buddha, 120 metres of bronze, with its observation platform at 85 metres and a carpet of shibazakura stretching out of sight. Ashikaga Flower Park. Return to Tokyo in the early evening, dinner on your own. (B/L)

Lake Kawaguchi and Matsumoto (2 nights). The Itchiku Kubota Art Museum, devoted to the kimono, and the village of Oshino Hakkai with its spring-water ponds. On to Matsumoto, one of the gateways to the Japanese Alps. (B/L/D)

Matsumoto. Matsumoto Castle, one floor of which holds a collection of weapons, and an elementary school dating from 1873. Nakamachi-dori and Nawate-dori streets, the Ishii miso brewery, and the Matsumoto City Museum of Art with its works by Yayoi Kusama. (B/L)

Azumino and Takayama (2 nights). The Daio wasabi farm, irrigated by water from the Japanese Alps. On to Takayama and a visit to a sake distillery on Funasaka street. (B/L)

Takayama. The morning market along the banks of the Miyagawa, the former town hall Takayama-jinya, the Yatai Kaikan museum with its festival floats, and the Yoshijima house. Meeting with a craftsman who works yew wood. (B/L)

Gokayama and Kanazawa (2 nights). The UNESCO-listed village of Gokayama and its thatched gasshō-zukuri houses. In Kanazawa, the Higashi Chaya geisha district and the Sakuda gold leaf workshop. In the evening, a geiko performance at the Asanogawa Enyukai Hall. (B/L/D)

Kanazawa. The Nomura samurai house in the Nagamachi district, Kenroku-en garden, Seisonkaku villa, Omicho market, the Noh museum and the castle park. Green tea and wagashi at the Gyokusen-an pavilion. (B/D)

Hiroshima (2 nights). Shinkansen to Tsuruga, Thunderbird to Kyoto, then Nozomi to Hiroshima. One of your bags travels by private transfer and is waiting for you at the hotel the next day. Peace Memorial Park and the A-Bomb Dome. (B/L/D)

Miyajima. The Mazda Museum, then the ferry to the sacred island of Miyajima, Itsukushima shrine and its torii standing in the sea. (B/L/D)

Kurashiki and Okayama. The Bikan district of Kurashiki, explored by boat along the canal, then Kōraku-en garden in Okayama. (B/D)

Osaka. Dōtombori street and its signs, Kuromon Ichiba market and the Tower Knives shop. (B)

Mount Koya and Nara. Mount Koya and its 117 temples, the Kongobuji and the Okunoin necropolis. On to Nara. (B/L/D)

Nara, Uji and Kyoto (3 nights). Yoshiki-en garden, Tōdai-ji and its 16-metre bronze Daibutsu, and the free-roaming deer of Nara Park. In Uji, the Byōdō-in, where entry to the Phoenix Hall is at extra cost. (B/D)

Kyoto. Kinkaku-ji, the golden pavilion, Ryōan-ji and its kare-sansui dry garden, Kiyomizu-dera held up by its 18 wooden pillars, then Gion and Hanamikoji-dori street. (B/L/D)

Kyoto. Nijo Castle, its Kara-mon gate and the Ninomaru palace, then Nishiki market. A tea ceremony led by a maiko, followed by a farewell dinner. (B/D)

Return to Quebec. Transfer to Osaka airport and return flight with two connections. (B)