Gone is the over-travelled Golden Route of the past – now it’s all about Japan’s New Golden Route. With a whole host of traditional areas and luxurious spots along the Hokuriku Shinkansen connecting Tokyo to Kanazawa, for 25,500 yen per adult, you can explore 12 prefectures via the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line with the Hokuriku Arch Pass.

The pass gives you unlimited access to the trains and bullet trains in the area for seven consecutive days, allowing you to experience the modern excitement of Tokyo, the natural beauty of Karuizawa, and so much more. Not only can you visit these spots on the high-speed bullet trains, but you can also have the chance to travel in style on the tourist trains of JR West, such as the Belles Montagnes et Mer sightseeing train through Toyama.

Below, we explore some of the most breath-taking natural and traditional spots on the route and places to stay to make the most of your time in Japan.

Kintsugi: Breathing new life into broken ceramics

Breathe new life into broken ceramics with this traditional art of kintsugi. The perfect embodiment of ‘wabi-sabi’ – the Japanese philosophy of accepting transience and imperfection – kintsugi takes the imperfection of something broken and turns it into a new art form by repairing the cracks with gold, silver, and other metals. Take some time to sit down with award-winning artist Showzi Tsukamoto, and learn how to find beauty in these imperfections.