Depart Australia for Japan. All tour members arrive Sapporo – the capital of Japan's most northerly main island. And because of this northerly location, our timing is such that we hope to be travelling around this beautiful island when the cherry blossoms – and other stunning spring blooms – are on their most glorious display.

Welcome reception this evening.

Hokkaido is one of the agricultural hubs of the nation. Often called Japan's frontier, Hokkaido is the least densely populated part of Japan, has beautiful national parks and a large area of suitable soils making it the premier food production region. With 1.2 million hectares of arable land, Hokkaido lays claim to 25 per cent of the entire nation's cultivated farmlands.

At about 43 degrees north, Hokkaido has long and cool summer days with a large swing between daytime and nighttime temperatures. Farming faces many environmental challenges including severe cold and water-logging. There are also some very difficult peat and heavy clay soils.

Along with our local guide, we board our charter coach and take the very scenic route along Hokkaido's south-eastern coastline, to Obihiro.

Farm and other visits around Obihiro and the Tokachi district where 20 per cent of Japan's wheat is grown.

Farm and other visits around Obihiro and the Tokachi Valley region and then a free afternoon and evening in and around Obihiro.

This morning we travel to the east through glorious mountain and farmland scenery and onto the beautiful Lake Shikotsu, one of the deepest and clearest lakes in Japan. It is also Japan's most northerly open water lake.

Surrounded by beautiful mountains such as Mount Eniwadake, Mount Fuppushidake and Mount Tarumaezan, the lake has some stunning backdrops.

We continue on to the spectacular Rusutsu area where diverse farming enterprises mix harmoniously with world class winter-sports activities.

Amidst this beautiful landscape we make our way to Hakodate, on Hokkaido's southwest coast, where we begin our first Shinkansen (bullet) train journey. The is no ordinary ride with the Seikan Rail Tunnel carrying our bullet train for more than 23 km under the sea-bed to Japan's main island, Honshu. Opened in 1988, the Seikan Tunnel took 16 years to build, and at a construction cost of around US$7 billion, was 12-times over budget (sound familiar?).

Our destination is Sendai in Yamagata Prefecture, about 500 km to the south... and we get there in a bit over 3 hours!

We are transferred to nearby Yamagata, the capital of the Prefecture.

Visits in and around Yamagata. The area of Yamagata Prefecture is 930,000 hectares with more than 70 per cent being forested. The Mogami River flows along the centre of the prefecture forming the three inland basins of Yonezawa, Yamagata and Shinjo. Before flowing into the Sea of Japan, the Mogami River delta is known as the Shonai Plains.

Rice, some cereals and a vast array of vegetables are the major crops while Yonezawa cattle provide beef which is considered some of the best, melt-in-your-mouth, wagyu in Japan.

Since the modernisation of Japan beginning around 150 years ago, the Japanese Black breed of cattle has been gradually improved, and the cattle are now collectively known as wagyu - meaning Japanese beef.

Today, around 90 per cent of wagyu is of the Japanese Black breed and its hybrids. There are over 200 brands of wagyu beef with different names based on production area and methods used for raising the cattle.

The Yonezawa region – just an hour to the south of Yamagata – lies in a basin surrounded by mountains and is characterised by hot summers and frigid winters. Yonezawa cattle are raised on a unique feed blend of wheat and corn to produce a very high quality beef with just the right balance of lean meat and intra-muscular fat.

Along with Matsuzaka and Kobe, Yonezawa is widely counted among Japan’s "Three Great Wagyu" regions and brands. After enjoying a meal of the fabulous product, we overnight in Yonezawa city.

This morning we board another bullet train south-bound for Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture.

Not only famous for its food production, much of which takes place in the Kofu Basin, the Prefecture boasts highlands, hot springs, the Five Lakes and a natural beauty encouraging many outdoor activities. And there is of course Mt Fuji, the nation's natural, and often very shy, icon.

Yamanashi also has an intriguing history of war-lords, feudal battles, samurai and various shogunates (military governments). Shogunates essentially ruled Japan for about 700 years before the 'Meiji Restoration' when control of the country returned to the Emperor Meiji. This set the political scene and a concerted drive to modernise the nation's industry from 1868 through to the end of WWII.

We will visit farms and other sights during our time in Yamanashi.

From 1945 onwards, agricultural land reforms significantly increased the number of individual farms and promoted agriculture throughout Yamanashi. Small scale manufacturing industries and commerce also grew at rapid speed during the expansion of the post-war Japanese economy.

More farms and other visits in the region.

We board our coach this morning and head north, via a visit to Matsumoto and it's magnificent castle, and onto Takayama.

Takayama is located in the Hida region and the city retains a traditional touch with a beautifully preserved old town.

Takayama gained importance as a source of high-quality timber and highly skilled carpenters during the feudal ages. For these important resources, the city was put under direct control of the shogun and enjoyed quite a bit of prosperity considering its remote mountain location.

While in Takayama there will be free time to explore the shops, galleries and other attractions of the beautiful old town area.

Hida cattle from Gifu produce a very popular marbled beef for both domestic and export consumption. Hida beef has gained a reputation as a luxury brand. We will meet with some Hida beef producers while in the Takayama area and of course, sample the sublime product at one of Takayama's famous beef-themed restaurants.

For those interested, there is an optional tour today to the nearby and very beautiful Shirakawago village. This timeless village is famous for 'gasshou-style' wooden farmhouses. We'll visit the Tenshukaku Observatory for an unforgettable bird's eye view of the village before returning to Takayama.

We board our caoch this morning and head westwards, through the beautiful Japanese Alps, and onto the farming region of Echizen. This is a famous buckwheat production area where the local buckwheat is manufactured into soba noodles - a regional delicacy.

The Echizen area is also famous for its 700 plus years knife and sword-making tradition. During the 1970s, when Japan was enjoying rapid economic growth and the trappings of modern 'stainless steel' living were pushing many traditions aside, the young craftsmen of Echizen were worried about their future. After a fortuitous meeting with designer Kazuo Kawasaki, they were the subsequent founders of Takefu Knife Village where their unique craft and tradition now lives on.

If you have an interest in beautifully hand-crafted knives, and would like to take one home, this is the place to make your investment.

We then get back on board our coach and travel south past Lake Biwa, the largest fresh-water lake in Japan and the site of intensive rice production. The 7-km long Lake Biwa Canal to Kyoto was constructed between 1885 and 1890 and provided transportation, irrigation and fire fighting water to the city. It also powered Japan's first (small) hydroelectric power station.

At the time, the project was seen as a symbol of Japan's rising industrial might as it was the first such project to be completed without the input of foreign engineers.

In the late afternoon, we arrive at Kyoto. Up until 1868, when the then Emperor re-located to Edo (now Tokyo), Kyoto had been the Japanese capital for over 1000 years.

Today we enjoy an orientation tour of this beautiful city. Over the centuries, Kyoto was destroyed by many wars and fires, but due to its exceptional historic value, the city was dropped from the list of target cities for the atomic bomb and escaped destruction during WWII. Countless historically priceless structures survive in the city today.

After our guided tour there is free time today to enjoy the city at your own pace. One suggestion is a visit to the famous Nishiki Market, a narrow, five-block long shopping street known as "Kyoto's Kitchen". The market specialises in fresh food and produce and all things related, including knives and cookware.

Or you might like to prepare your own meal (under expert guidance) in a typical Kyoto-family home. An old friend of Greenmount Travel's, Taro Saeki, with his excellent English skills, opens his home to small groups to introduce them to Japanese cooking and an insight into the everyday life of Japanese people.

Maybe a traditional Kaiseki dinner would appeal or perhaps a Maiko (apprentice geisha girl) dance performance.

There are also a number of fantastic museums, from fine and traditional arts through to bullet trains, as well as great restaurants and plenty of nightlife options, particularly in the Gion area.

This morning we board our bullet train in Kyoto for a day-trip to Hiroshima. In about 2 hours we travel the 400 km! We will visit the Peace Park and the A-bomb museum, both built around the 'A-bomb dome' which is the skeletal remains of the former Industrial Promotion Hall.

The Hall was one of the very few buildings near the centre of Hiroshima which was left at least partially standing after the first atomic bomb blast on the morning of August 6, 1945.

The Peace Park is a fitting memorial to the horrors of nuclear war.

We return to Kyoto by late afternoon.

We board another bullet train this morning and travel eastwards to Tokyo. If the weather is on our side, we might just be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the very shy Mt Fuji on the way.

A bit over 2 and a half hours later (and 500 km!) we arrive into downtown Tokyo. We will enjoy an orientation tour to help get our bearings. But first stop will be a magnificent smorgasbord lunch at Musashi overlooking the Sumida River and the Sensoji Buddhist Temple.

We are in the Asakusa district where an atmosphere of the Tokyo of past decades survives. Other sights to visit today will include the Tokyo Tower, for a bird's eye view of one the world's biggest cities, as well the Imperial Palace and a chance to enjoy the beautifully kept gardens.

Free time in Tokyo today before a farewell dinner this evening.

Departure for home today or you can continue your exploration of Japan or other Asian destinations.