Top of the list for any Japan tour are its iconic cities – Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. The largest city in the world, Tokyo is home to more than 37 million people, yet the Japanese capital remains impossibly orderly and endlessly captivating. Temples, museums, shopping, galleries and incredible food, from street stalls and ramen bars to Michelin-starred restaurants, await. In Kyoto, Japan’s ancient capital, walk through history along cobbled laneways, sip tea in traditional teahouses, marvel at glittering temples and learn the secrets of the geisha. Known as Japan’s friendliest city, Osaka is an intoxicating mix of lush green spaces, neon-lit nightlife and world-class dining, all centred around the breathtaking Osaka Castle.

Each month brings a new beauty to Japan through the ever-changing colours of the landscape. Emerald Tours visits Japan from March to May and in October to November, for two completely different experiences. Spring departures in March, April and early May coincide with cherry blossom season, a time when pink blooms abound and the whole country becomes obsessed with hanami (flower watching). Later in the year, autumn is defined by the striking red leaves of the Japanese maple tree. This tree has a profound symbolic importance and is said to bring blessings, peace, beauty, patience and resilience. Join the locals for a spot of momiji-gari (hunting red leaves).

In the centre of the bustling city of Nara is the sprawling Nara Park, a tranquil 600-hectare green space dotted with lakes, temples and tea houses. Its most famous attraction is the 1,300 or so deer that roam freely throughout the park (and often the surrounding streets). Though they are friendly and actively approach people, the deer are wild and have lived in the park for more than 1,300 years. They are considered sacred in the Shinto religion and were once thought to be messengers from the gods. Buy a packet of deer crackers from one of the small shops surrounding the park to feed them – you’ll be surrounded as soon as you open them.

Staying at a ryokan feels like stepping into authentic Japan. These traditional inns date back to the eighth century, and, though many have been given a luxury upgrade, the experience remains largely unchanged. From the yukata robes and soft slippers to the futon beds, tatami floor mats and paper walls, you’ll get a unique insight into Japanese culture. A stay includes an incredible kaiseki dinner, a multi-course meal that focuses on seasonal ingredients and exquisite presentation. Many ryokans also feature an onsen, a hot spring bath, where you can relax and unwind.

Temples and shrines are the defining features of the Japanese landscape with more than 150,000 scattered across the country. Many are more than a thousand years old, yet their ornate decorations and rich colours look as if they were created yesterday. Senso-ji is Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple and was first built in the year 628 A.D.. With its bright red pillars, swooping roof and gold features, it feels like travelling back to the Edo period. Nara’s black and white Todai-ji temple is one of the world’s largest wooden buildings and is home to a 15-metre-high (49-feet) bronze Buddha statue. In Kyoto, you can stroll through the tranquil gardens of the 14th century Tenryu-ji or admire the shimmering beauty of Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, reflecting the harmony of nature and spirituality.

Even if you’ve never been to Japan, you may recognise Gonpachi. This sprawling restaurant in the ritzy Tokyo neighbourhood of Nishi Azabu was the setting for a dazzling fight scene in the hit film, ‘Kill Bill.’ While you won’t see any warring gangs wielding samurai swords, the large yakitori bar in the centre provides enough entertainment. On an Emerald Tours DiscoverMORE experience, you can watch the chefs as they cook skewers of chicken skin, tuna belly, shishito peppers and kuroge beef on the sizzling charcoal grill.

Japan’s famed bullet trains, the Shinkansen, are a modern-day wonder. For many travellers, the journey is more exciting than the destination. With Emerald Tours, you’ll get the chance to catch one of these high-tech bullet trains between Osaka and Hiroshima, or Kyoto and Hakone. Pick up a delicious ekiben (bento boxes of sushi, gyoza or katsu sandwiches designed specifically for train travel), relax in your comfortable seat and watch the beautiful Japanese countryside fly by outside your window.

The name Hiroshima is synonymous with war and devastation. It was the first city ever to suffer a nuclear attack when it was bombed by the American armed forces in the closing days of World War II. The bomb flattened the city and killed around 80,000 people instantly, with thousands more to die in the months to come. Today, Hiroshima is a thriving, cosmopolitan centre that both honours its past and celebrates its future. Explore the poignant Peace Memorial Park, see the striking ruins of the Atomic Bomb Dome and visit the Peace Memorial Museum, which houses artefacts and photographs from that fateful day.

Your Asian exploration doesn’t have to end in Japan. Once your land tour has finished, transfer to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and board the contemporary stylish Emerald Harmony Star-Ship for an unforgettable 13-day ‘Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong’ cruise and land tour. Cruising the majestic Mekong River through southern Vietnam and into Cambodia, discover traditional riverine culture, stilt-house villages and lush riverside plantations, along with the grand colonial buildings and historic legacies of the ‘Pearl of Asia,’ Phnom Penh. After your cruise, travel north to Siem Reap to explore ancient Khmer temples within the World Heritage-listed Angkor Archaeological Park – including magnificent Angkor Wat.