Essence of Japan

Welcome to join our 7-day Japan group tour! Upon your arrival at Narita or Haneda Airport, we will meet you in the arrival hall and escort you to the hotel in downtown Tokyo by shared car. Please note that shared cars operate until 20:30. If you arrive later, kindly organize your transfer to the hotel independently. Alternatively, you can book a private pickup with us.

Accommodation: Keio Presso Inn Kayabacho, Tokyo (3 stars) or similar

The exciting sightseeing begins after a hearty breakfast. Meet your guide at the hotel, and then let’s head to the Tsukiji Outer Market, where you’ll be amazed by the variety of food stalls. You can try authentic local snacks, such as sushi and teppanyaki. Then, we’ll visit the Meiji Jingu Shrine, an important Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji. Surrounded by a dense forest, the shrine is the largest green space in the city. Here, you might encounter a traditional Japanese wedding. Next, head to the Imperial Palace, the residence of the Emperor of Japan and a legacy of the Edo period (1603-1867 AD). Let’s stroll around its outer gardens and plazas to feel its magnificent air. A special photo op is also arranged before the star of this excursion - Nijubashi Bridge, which leads to the gate of the palace.

In the afternoon, head to the Nakamise-dori Street and the Senso-ji Temple. On the street, you can see scenes that match your impression of Japan: rows of red lanterns, girls in kimonos, and various food or souvenir stands in antique buildings. The street leads to the gate of Senso-ji Temple, a Buddhist temple complex that includes a main hall where the goddess of mercy is worshipped. It’s the oldest temple in Tokyo, dating back to the 7th century. Here, Japan’s tallest tower, Tokyo Skytree, can also be viewed from afar.

Finally, the guide will take you back to the hotel. Have a good rest for tomorrow’s Hakone tour.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Keio Presso Inn Kayabacho, Tokyo (3 stars) or similar

Today marks the exciting trip to Hakone, where you can view Mt. Fuji from different angles. Your guide will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you on a bullet train ride to Odawara, where we will then ascend the mountains by Hakone Tozan Train and cable car. While admiring the volcanic landscape of Owakudani Valley up close from its viewing platform, you can capture the beautiful Mt. Fuji afar on clear days. Let’s continue the ropeway ride to Togendai Port, during which you can enjoy panoramic views of both Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi.

A special Lake Ashi cruise will be arranged for you to appreciate Mt. Fuji from another perspective across the valleys. Leisurely float on the volcanic Lake Ashi, which was formed more than 3,000 years ago, and enjoy views of the shore, including the Hakone Shrine and its iconic bright red torri by the water. At the end of today, we will take the local bus returning to Odawara and stay the night here.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Tenseien Odawara Station Annex (4 stars) or similar

This morning, you need to take a two-hour train ride to Kyoto by yourself (tickets reserved and included), and the local guide will pick you up at Kyoto Station. We’ll see the famous sights of Kyoto, a former capital city offering unique cultural experiences and scenic trails. The Temple of Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji Temple), a fascinating Buddhist monument adorned with dazzling gold leaf against a lush green forest backdrop, is the perfect place to start a Kyoto trip.

Our next stop is the Pure Water Temple, a 1,200-year-old temple dedicated to Kannon, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. You can pray before the deity and stand on the terrace of the main hall to look over Japan’s unique seasonal colors. Then, take a walk along the Ninenzaka & Sannezaka, sloping stone pedestrian streets, to find local food and souvenirs in traditional wooden buildings. To warn people of some weirdly steep parts at Sannezaka, a local saying has it that “if one trips and falls here, they will die in three years”, while another states that the curse can be broken by buying a gourd, and there is an old gourd shop just at the foot of the ramp. No doubt it’s without grounds, but the meaning is well. Before returning to the hotel, take a moment to enjoy a leisurely walk through these areas full of ancient charm.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Keihan Kyoto Hachijoguchi (4 stars) or similar

Before heading to Nara, visit the most essential site in Kyoto, the Fushimi Inari Shrine. It is famous for its iconic, densely packed thousands of vermilion torii gates, known as the Senbon Torii. While your imagination runs wild through these majestic gates, you may also encounter many statues of foxes, which are considered the messengers of Inari, the god of commerce and agriculture, enshrined here.

Afterwards, we’ll take the train to Nara, and first meet roaming deer herds in Nara Park. When deer bow their heads, you know they are begging for you to feed them! Next, visit the Great Eastern Temple to admire the magnificent bronze Buddha statue. Strolling along a quiet cobblestone path, you will be attracted by thousands of stone lanterns that line the road, some of which are covered in moss, telling the story of history and each donor. The path eventually leads you to the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, a serene and mysterious worship site deep in the forest.

Afterward, visit the small Goryo Shrine to learn about the exquisite architecture and the local Shinto religious beliefs. Then, step into the Naramachi Lattice House to see what a traditional Japanese machiya house looks like and discover how the ancient people of Nara lived. After all the visits, we’ll return to Kyoto.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Keihan Kyoto Hachijoguchi (4 stars) or similar

Today’s first destination is Nijo Castle, a World Heritage site. Built by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603 and surrounded by stone walls and moats, it retains the art of painting, sculpture, and architecture from the Momoyama Period (1573–1603 AD). It is the premier sakura viewing spot in Kyoto.

Next, let’s take the train to Osaka. We will arrange a special stop for you to visit the 190-year-old Kuromon Market, known as ‘Osaka’s kitchen’ and a must-see for food lovers. Here, you can experience real local life, with a variety of seafood shops and a constant flow of tourists and locals. Have your self-funded lunch at the famous restaurant Takoyaki Wanaka Sennichimae if you like, and here you can enjoy the most distinctive Takoyaki and Osakayaki, a type of pancake made from shredded cabbage and topped with various ingredients. Then, your guide will take you to the 450-year-old Osaka Castle and its surrounding park. The towering classical architecture, with its green tiles and white walls visible from a distance, is the Main Tower of the castle, an irreplaceable symbol of Osaka.

Later, head to Osaka and explore its lively Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi streets. Specifically, Shinsaibashi is a covered shopping arcade, while Dotonbori is mainly a food street near Shinsaibashi, making Osaka Japan’s food capital. The guide will leave you a free night after a brief introduction. If you’re looking for souvenirs or a taste of Japanese cuisine, don’t miss your last chance.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Henn Na Hotel Osaka Shinsaibashi (3 stars) or similar

As your tour comes to an end today, please check out and make your own way to Osaka Kansai Airport. Please inform your guide in advance of your flight details so that he or she can advise on the best means of transportation for you.

Meals: Breakfast