Essence of Japan

Welcome to join our 7 days Japan group tour! Upon your arrival in Tokyo, we will meet you in the airport’s arrival hall and escort you to a downtown hotel by shared car. Kindly note that shared cars run until 20:30. If you arrive later, please transfer to the hotel on your own or book a private pickup with us.

► Airport-Hotel Transfer for Your Reference
1. From Narita Airport: Take the Narita Express to Tokyo Station in about 50 minutes, walk 5 minutes to the metro station, take the Tozai Line to Kayabacho Station, and exit from Exit 3 to reach the hotel. A taxi costs USD 210-250.
2. From Haneda Airport: Take the Keikyu Airport Line to Daimon Station in about 15 minutes, transfer to the Toei Asakusa Line, and reach Kayabacho Station in approximately 10 minutes. A taxi costs USD 90-110.
Taxis in Japan are costly, but if you’re arriving late at night, have heavy luggage, or are traveling with 3 or more companions, you may want to consider taking a taxi, as it’s a convenient and quick option.

★ Why Choose Our Mini-Group Tour

This tour covers most of the iconic attractions in Japan’s four representative cities, making it ideal for first-time visitors to experience the essence of Japanese culture in a limited time. It combines classic sightseeing with visits to hidden local markets and traditional neighborhoods, offering a deeper insight into authentic Japanese life. Our small group size allows the guide to better meet everyone’s needs and deliver more personalized service, such as helping you interact with market stall owners to taste local foods, and showing you off-the-beaten-path photo spots. The schedule remains flexible for fine adjustments with unanimous member consent, allowing you to share experiences and chat with other group members, making the tour even more enjoyable.

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

Meet your guide at the hotel, and today’s exciting Tokyo sightseeing begins at the Tsukiji Outer Market, which has been open since 1935. Known as “Tokyo’s Kitchen,” the market is home to over 400 stores and comes alive each day at dawn. Taste traditional Japanese snacks, such as tamagoyaki omelets, if you like, and watch professional fish cutting demonstrations.

Let’s leave behind the hustle and head to the sacred Meiji Jingu Shrine. Located in a vast artificial forest between Shinjuku and Shibuya, it enshrines Emperor Meiji (1852-1912), who led Japan’s modernization, and his empress. Walking along the misty forest trails will make you forget you’re in the middle of Tokyo’s busiest districts. If you’re visiting a Japanese shrine for the first time, Meiji Jingu Shrine offers a perfect experience. Abundant informative signs in English, along with our knowledgeable guide, will help you understand and participate in traditional shrine rituals, such as praying in the main hall and writing wishes on votive tablets. Besides, since the shrine is popular for traditional weddings, you might witness a Japanese wedding ceremony with the bride in a white kimono and the groom in an all-black kimono.

Then, follow your guide to another peaceful oasis in central Tokyo, the Imperial Palace, which has been the residence of the Japanese royal family since Emperor Meiji moved the capital to Tokyo in 1868. The historic structures, such as Nijubashi Bridge and Fujimi Tower, preserved in the Imperial Palace Outer Garden, allow us to enjoy the beauty of the exquisite Japanese garden while also offering a glimpse of 17th-century Edo-style architecture. From late March to early April each year, this spot is ideal for viewing cherry blossoms, enhanced by the historic charm of the remaining ancient moat and gates.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit the Senso-ji Temple. Unlike typical solemn and quiet religious sites, we’ll first arrive at the busy Nakamise-dori Street after passing through the Kaminarimon Gate with a large lantern. On the crowded street lined with shops selling various traditional Japanese snacks, including matcha ice cream, strawberry daifuku (stuffed mochi), oden (fishcake stew), and taiyaki (fish-shaped cake), you can see tourists dressed in kimonos taking pictures everywhere. This close interweaving and harmonious coexistence of religion and commerce, as well as sacredness and secularity, enables us to experience the distinctive Japanese temple culture. At the end of the street, where the Tokyo Skytree is visible in the distance, you’ll naturally gravitate toward the main hall of Senso-ji Temple and its five-story pagoda, both vividly vermilion, appearing solemn yet glorious.

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

This morning, meet your guide at the hotel, and your Hakone tour begins with a bullet train ride to Odawara. From there, we’ll transfer to the Hakone Tozan Train, Japan’s oldest mountain railway, which passes over many bridges and through tunnels as it climbs the Hakone Mountains. The scenery outside the window is especially stunning in June and July, when thousands of hydrangeas bloom along the tracks.

After arriving at Sounzan Station, follow your guide to ride the ropeway to Owakudani Valley, a crater area formed when Mount Hakone erupted about 3,000 years ago, which remains an active volcano today. From the ropeway, you can see the barren mountainside with smoke and steaming vents. Standing on the observation deck, the smell of sulfur, along with the taste of a famous black egg cooked in the Owakudani hot springs, creates a multi-sensory experience of the geothermal landscape. On a clear day, you can also enjoy a mesmerizing view of faraway snow-capped Mt. Fuji from here, as well as from the subsequent ropeway to Lake Ashi.

As we reach Togendai Port of Lake Ashi, your guide will accompany you on a roughly 30-minute pirate ship cruise to enjoy the classic scenery of Hakone - the sparkling lake, the majestic Mt. Fuji, and the red Hakone Shrine Peace Torii by the water. However, Mt. Fuji isn’t visible every day, but mostly on clear days with good air quality. The best time to view it is from October to April, especially in December and January. While we depend on the weather to see Mt. Fuji, during the Edo period (1603-1868), people used Mt. Fuji as a weather indicator: it is said that when a conical-hat-shaped cloud forms above Mt. Fuji, it signals bad weather, and rain or snow may be coming; if two or more layers of such cloud appear, strong winds and heavy rain are expected, and locals would stay indoors.

After completing all the visits in Hakone, your guide will escort you on a train ride back to your hotel in Tokyo.

★ Why We Recommend Hakone to See Mt. Fuji

Hakone is just an hour’s train ride from Tokyo, so you won’t have to wait long for transportation. The local transport system is extensive and varied, with attractions connected by an exciting trip that includes the mountain railway, ropeway, and cruise. Besides viewing Mt. Fuji from afar, Hakone offers a wealth of sights, including the enchanting Lake Ashi and the geothermal landscape of Owakudani Valley, with scenery that changes throughout the seasons. If you stay for an extra couple of days here, you can also enjoy onsen ryokans, visit historic sites like Hakone Shrine, and explore art galleries like the Hakone Open-Air Museum. Of course, we also offer private tours for admiring Mt. Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi, as it is the closest lake to Mt. Fuji and offers the best views, along with comprehensive tourist facilities. Feel free to contact our travel consultant if you’re interested.

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

This morning, you need to take a bullet train to Kyoto on your own, with tickets reserved and provided by us. We suggest that you travel light, or if your luggage is heavy, consider asking the guide or hotel staff to arrange a paid delivery service in advance to send your luggage to Kyoto. Please manage your own way to Tokyo Station first (about 10 minutes): walk 3 minutes from your hotel to Kayabacho Station to take the Tozai Line to Otemachi Station, and walk 3 minutes to Tokyo Station. Relax on the 2.5-hour train ride, bidding farewell to the concrete jungle of Tokyo and the natural beauty of Hakone, and heading to the thousand-year-old capital of Kyoto, with what awaits you being the sprawling traditional Japanese townhouses. Upon arrival, meet your local guide at the train station and check into the hotel.

Ready to explore the beautiful Kyoto? Our first stop is the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, built in 1397 as a residence for the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. After his death, according to his will, the courtyard was transformed into a Zen temple and named after his Buddhist name. Upon entry, your eyes will be drawn deep into the magnificent Relic Hall, whose top two floors are covered in gold, and that’s why it is widely known as the Golden Pavilion. If you observe the roof, you’ll notice a gold-plated phoenix statue standing there, which shines brightly in the sun, symbolizing eternal life and power.

Next, let’s visit the Pure Water Temple, Kyoto’s oldest temple, located on Mount Otowa. As you walk along Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka streets, you’ll pass charming shops and traditional teahouses lined on both sides. The excitement builds as the winding paths lead up to the main hall of the Pure Water Temple, where the iconic suspended wooden stage comes into view at the top. From the stage, you can enjoy a scenic view of the city, and behind it, don’t miss the Jishujinja Shrine to pray for happy love. In front of the shrine, two large rocks stand; it’s said that if you can reach from one to the other with your eyes closed, you’ll find true love.

After leaving the temple, we’ll stroll through Gion, Kyoto’s most charming neighborhood. Surrounded by quiet, elegant Japanese townhouses, you might catch glimpses of geishas. Not far away is the Yasaka Shrine, a centuries-old site with a striking vermilion building that’s a popular photo spot. In the end, you can follow your guide back to the hotel, but it’s highly recommended to spend some free time here and return by yourself. You could try a tempura rice bowl, sip some matcha, and experience the peaceful, historic streets at night, which are pretty different from what you see during the day. The hotel is not far, and you can take a 15-minute taxi or City Bus 207 for a 20-minute ride to get back.

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

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at the hotel and take you to visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Considered the most important shrine for ordinary people in Japan seeking happiness, it is said there are over 30,000 Inari Shrines across the country, with Fushimi Inari Shrine as the headquarters. For 1,300 years, it has gathered countless wishes for a good harvest, business prosperity, family safety, and the fulfillment of many other dreams. The Senbon Torii we walk through was donated by people who prayed for their wishes to come true or to show gratitude for wishes that have been fulfilled. It consists of about 10,000 vermilion torii gates, built in a row on the mountainside, and has been drawing a steady flow of tourists to take photos.

Afterward, follow your guide to Nara by train. Since feeding the deer is probably the first thing that springs to mind when it comes to Nara, we’ll first arrive at Nara Park, home to over 1,000 free-roaming deer. The deer in Nara have long been regarded as messengers of the gods. In the past, killing one could lead to the death penalty. Legend tells of a shop owner in Nara who woke up one morning to find a dead deer outside his shop. Afraid of punishment, he secretly moved the deer to the door of the next shop. Interestingly, the next shop owner followed suit after seeing the dead deer, passing it along to several other shops. The person who was finally caught and executed was a shop owner who often overslept. Since then, all shop owners in Nara have developed the habit of opening their shops early.

Next, let’s visit the Great Eastern Temple. Built in 747 when Emperor Shomu promoted Buddhism to protect the country, this temple was designed to be impressive, showcasing the power, nobility, and piety of the Japanese royal family. The construction of the Vairocana Buddha Statue and the Great Buddha Hall took ten years, used 499 tons of copper, and involved 2.6 million people, including Japan’s top artisans skilled in advanced construction techniques. At that time, all Japanese citizens were required to pay a special tax for the building of the Great Eastern Temple.

Then, walk along the old forest-shaded trail to the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, where you can see the most lanterns of any shrine in Japan - around 2,000 stone lanterns and 1,000 hanging copper lanterns - lined along the approach and the corridor. Most of them were donated by former nobles and military leaders, reflecting the shrine’s deep history and enduring popularity. During the Festivals of Ten Thousand Lanterns, held annually in early February and mid-August, all 3,000 lanterns at the shrine are lit at night, creating a magical and dreamlike scene.

Later, the guide will take you to visit Goryo Shrine, a small shrine well-known among locals for praying for a good marriage, located in the old alleys of Naramachi neighborhood. Keep exploring the traditional district, and we’ll stop at Naramachi Lattice House, which perfectly replicates the style of Nara townhouses from the late 17th to the 18th century. It appears very narrow from the front and is called an eel bed due to its slim, elongated shape, but it’s actually quite deep. Why is it built this way? During the Edo period, houses were taxed based on their width facing the street, so property owners built narrow yet deep townhouses that served both as homes and businesses to lower their taxes. If you love Japanese architecture, you’ll want to spend more time here and experience the wisdom and charm of Nara’s nostalgic townhouse life. In the end, your guide will accompany you on the return train ride to Kyoto.

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

Today, we’ll first visit the Nijo Castle to witness the grandeur of Japan’s samurai regime. As the Kyoto residence of several generations of Tokugawa shoguns, Nijo Castle was the most luxurious and impressive complex in Japan during the Edo period, especially its lavishly appointed Ninomaru Palace. Additionally, the murals and decorations in various reception rooms were carefully selected to emphasize the shoguns’ power and prestige. For example, in the highest diplomatic chamber, a tiger painting was created using elements of Chinese art and the imagination of tiger lairs. Since Japan did not have tigers at that time, it’s likely that when lords and imperial envoys from across the country saw such a tiger, only in legend, at Nijo Castle, they would submit themselves to the unparalleled resources and authority of the Tokugawa shogunate.

For the rest of the day, your guided tour will continue with a quick train ride to Osaka. Once there, follow your guide to the over 170-year-old Kuromon Market. Known as the “Kitchen of Osaka,” it offers a wide variety of Japanese snacks and drinks, including classic takoyaki, grilled seafood, and a century-old soy milk shop that is reputed to serve the best soy milk in the Kansai region. You can relish a delicious lunch at your own expense in the lively atmosphere and experience Osaka’s unique charm. Then, let’s move on to Osaka Castle, built in 1583 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, known as the “Japanese Napoleon”. Unfortunately, the main tower of Osaka Castle has been destroyed on several occasions due to wars or lightning strikes. The elegant appearance and color scheme of the one we see today were rebuilt in 1931, making us forget that it was once a military fortification. Ascending the main tower by elevator, you can learn about the historical changes of Osaka Castle through the displayed cultural relics and enjoy a panoramic view of Osaka’s modern cityscape.

In the late afternoon, we’ll arrive at Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi, Osaka’s most vibrant areas for eating, shopping, and night view. After a brief introduction, your guide will leave, and you can explore at your own pace. Dotonbori at night resembles an open-air art museum of advertising, with massive signs hanging up one by one, perfectly blending the Ukiyo-e print style with the modern marvel of cyberpunk. From the giant, dynamic crab to the mouth-watering octopus balls, each iconic sign sparks endless imagination of deliciousness - including crab hot pot, crab sashimi, crab sushi, various flavors of takoyaki, and an assortment of meat and vegetable skewers - allowing you to experience Osaka’s unique vibe through both your eyes and your palate! After enjoying dinner in Dotonbori and continuing your walk along Shinsaibashi Street to pick out your favorite souvenirs, you can easily get back to the hotel, which is just a 10-minute walk from Shinsaibashi.

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

As your tour comes to an end today, please check out and proceed to Osaka Kansai Airport on your own. You can inform your guide in advance of your flight details so that they can advise you on the best means of transportation. Wish you a pleasant journey home!
* If you need to return to Tokyo for your following flight, we can help you book train or plane tickets.

If you’re interested in exploring more cities like Kobe, Hiroshima, Kanazawa, Kumamoto, or traveling across China, Japan, and South Korea, we offer both mini-group and private tours for you to choose from. Of course, we can also customize an itinerary to meet your specific needs. Feel free to contact our travel consultants.

► Hotel to Airport Transfer for Your Reference
Walk south from your hotel along Shinsaibashisuji Street for 5 minutes to Shinsaibashi Metro Station. Take the Midosuji Line toward Tennoji for two stops and get off at Namba Station. Walk about 10 minutes to Nankai Railway Namba Station to catch the express train, which will take you directly to Kansai International Airport in 35 minutes. A taxi from your hotel to the airport costs USD 110-140 and may exceed USD 170 during peak congestion periods (7:30-9:30, 17:00-19:00).

Meals: Breakfast