Meet in Tokyo

Make your own way to the group hotel in central Tokyo. Meet the group and tour leaders in the hotel lobby at 6pm before a welcome dinner.

Empire and Wartime Experience in Tokyo

Begin at the Imperial Palace, the symbolic heart of the Japanese state and a lens into imperial continuity from the Meiji era to the present. Visit the Yasukuni Shrine, a deeply contested site of commemoration where Japan’s war dead are enshrine. Gain insight into the civilian experience at the Shōwa Memorial Museum, a poignant perspective on life in Japan during the wartime period.

The Meiji Period 

Gain insight into the transformative period through a visit to Meiji Jingu Shrine and Museum. Explore the Meiji Jingu Outer Gardens and iconic Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery which visually narrates the era’s transformation from feudal isolation to modern nationhood. 

Impact of War | Urban Identity in Tokyo

Visit the Tokyo Memorial Hall to reflect on the human toll of conflict and disaster, commemorating those lost in wartime air raids and earlier catastrophes. The Centre of the Tokyo Raids and War Damage provides a powerful, grassroots perspective on the devastating firebombing of Tokyo. This narrative is broadened at the Edo-Tokyo Museum, where the sweeping transformation of the city from early modern Edo to contemporary Tokyo contextualises both its destruction and resilience. In the evening, enjoy a traditional cultural experience at a performance of Kabuki theatre. 

To Hiroshima

Travel by high speed Shinkansen (bullet train) to Hiroshima. Step into Hiroshima’s military past and early modern foundations with a visit to Hiroshima Castle and surrounding former military precincts. In the evening, participate in a hands‑on okonomiyaki cooking class, an iconic regional dish.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Park

Discover a powerful and confronting collection of materials that convey the human impact of the atomic bombing at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. A guided walk through the Peace Memorial Park contextualises key sites, including the Atomic Bomb Dome and commemorative monuments. The experience is deepened by a Hibakusha family successor lecture, offering a powerful intergenerational perspective that preserves personal testimony.

Takehara | Okunoshima Island

Stroll through the beautifully preserved historic streets of Takehara Historical Townscape, offering insight into Edo‑period merchant life and regional prosperity. Continue by ferry to Ōkunoshima Island, known these days as ‘Rabbit Island’ for its cute free roaming inhabitants. Learn more about its dark side at the Poison Gas Museum, along with a guided walk of former wartime ruins around the island.

To Fukuoka

Back on the Shinkansen to travel to Fukuoka, a coastal city on Kyushu island. Explore the Hakata district sites, a long-standing gateway for trade and cultural exchange with China and Korea. Visit the Kōrokan Ruins Museum, showcasing the remains of an ancient diplomatic guesthouse used to host foreign envoys during Japan’s early state formation. Continue to the Genkō Bōrui (Mongol Invasion Defensive Walls), constructed in the 13th century to repel Mongol fleets.

Yayoi Culture | Early State Formation in Fukuoka

Step back into Japan’s earliest urban landscapes at Yoshinogari Historical Park, one of the most important archaeological sites of the Yayoi period. Explore the site and museum on a guided tour to gain a valuable insight into the foundations of early state formation in Japan. Subject to availability, participate in an interactive educational workshop.

Dazaifu

Discover the cultural and political significance of Dazaifu, once the administrative centre of Kyushu and a vital gateway in Japan’s early state formation. Visit Dazaifu Tenmangū Shinto shrine and the surrounding historic precinct, where remnants of government offices, temples, and planned streetscapes reveal Dazaifu’s role as a regional capital during the Nara and Heian periods. Tonight, we enjoy a final debrief on the tour followed by a farewell dinner.

Tour ends in Fukuoka

The tour program will conclude after breakfast.