Panoramic Tour of Japan

Welcome to Japan! After you land in Tokyo, our English-speaking assistant will guide you to a shared car that will transport you to your hotel. Please note that shared cars operate until 20:30. If you arrive later, we recommend taking the metro or a taxi to the hotel on your own. Since a taxi is quite expensive, costing USD 210-250 from Narita Airport and USD 90-110 from Haneda Airport, roughly 10 times the cost of metro, it is advisable to choose based on factors such as your luggage weight and number of travelers. Alternatively, you can book a private pickup with us.

► Suggested Activities for Early Arrivals
Our handpicked hotel is situated in central Tokyo, just one metro stop from Ginza, making it conveniently close to Tokyo’s top luxury places. Many believe Ginza is simply a paradise for luxury goods, but what truly defines it as the face of Tokyo is the practical and visually striking architecture designed by many of the world’s top architects. For example, MIKIMOTO in Ginza No. 2 features a hollowed-out shell design that tells the brand’s story of pearls, and Ginza Place is inspired by traditional openwork carving. Don’t forget to look up when you visit Ginza in your free time - every building you see reflects the fusion of business, art, and ambition.

★ Why Our Mini-Group Tour Comes Before Others’

Our small group, consisting of just 2-6 people, allows the guide to better cater to everyone’s needs. While visiting each attraction, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture and experience authentic Japanese life by exploring local markets, traditional neighborhoods, and other hidden-gem sites. Also, you can rest assured that our itineraries will never waste your time on shopping spots, and there is no commission for the restaurants or activities we recommend for your free time. They are all sincere suggestions based on our extensive local experience for you to choose freely, as we hope you can enjoy your Japan trip to the fullest.

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

The first highlight of the day is a visit to the Tsukiji Outer Market, which showcases Tokyo’s traditional cuisine and street culture. As we walk through the narrow alleys of this food paradise, you’ll discover many time-honored restaurants for sushi, seafood bowls, and tamagoyaki omelette. It’s important to note that in Japan, eating while walking is considered unseemly because it can create a mess. Therefore, it’s best to finish your food at the designated areas in front of each shop.

The next stop is the Meiji Jingu Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his wife. Following the death of the highly respected Emperor Meiji in 1912, there was a strong demand to build a shrine in his honor. Why was it finally built in the Yoyogi area of central Tokyo? It turns out that Emperor Meiji once considered creating a natural garden here because of its quiet, natural surroundings. The name Yoyogi in Japanese also suggests locals’ aspiration for forests, which aligns with Emperor Meiji’s wishes. As a result, approximately 120,000 trees were transported from Japan and abroad, transforming a wasteland a hundred years ago into a lush city oasis today.

Later, let’s move on to the Imperial Palace. When we arrive at the square in front of the palace, the first thing we see is a solemn statue of Kusunoki Masashige (1294 - 1336), a Japanese military commander, quietly watching the ancient palace as if guarding this sacred place. Inside this residence of the Japanese emperor and his family, you’ll notice the traditional Japanese architecture, characterized by spacious courtyards, beautiful ponds, and elegant bridges. Looking across the road, a scene of rows of office buildings creates a fascinating contrast between a classical Japanese palace and the modern city skyline.

After a lunch break, we’ll head to the Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa area, one of the few remaining Shitamachi neighborhoods, aka “lower city” inhabited by commoners, thriving with businesses and authentic atmosphere of old Tokyo. At the entrance, take photos of the Kaminarimon Gate, which features a large red lantern and was initially built by a general about 1,000 years ago to pray for peace, prosperity, and a bountiful harvest. As we walk down the busy Nakamise-dori Street and see the Tokyo Skytree afar, the main hall of Senso-ji Temple is right in front of us. The smoke from an incense burner in the courtyard is believed to help relieve physical pain, so you might see many worshippers fanning the smoke toward their bodies to pray for healing from illnesses and disasters.

Ultimately, your guide will escort you back to the hotel. Rest early tonight and look forward to viewing Mt. Fuji tomorrow.

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

Today, we’re going on an exciting trip to Hakone, experiencing five different modes of Japan’s efficient transportation! In the morning, meet your guide at the hotel and take a bullet train to Odawara Station, where we’ll transfer to the Tozan Train. Known as Japan’s steepest mountain railway, it climbs up to 200 meters (655 feet). Running along a steep slope and looking out at the Hakone mountains through the large windows would make you feel like climbing the hill firsthand.

Connect to a ride on the Tozan Cable Car to Sounzan Station, where we’ll transfer to the ropeway. When the scenery suddenly shifts from lush greenery to white smoke slowly billowing from cracked and exposed rocks, we reach the volcanic crater, Owakudani Valley. From the observation deck, you can get a close-up view of the volcanic plume landscape. Another must-try here is the black eggs, which are cooked in high-temperature, acidic hot springs. It is said that eating one can add 7 years to your life. Would you like a bite?

During our next ride on the ropeway to Togendai Port, enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Lake Ashi and, on clear days, a majestic Mt. Fuji in the distance. Upon arrival, join your guide for a pirate ship cruise, offering a unique perspective of Mt. Fuji, Lake Ashi, and the surrounding mountains, along with the iconic red Hakone Shrine Peace Torii by the lakeside. Lake Ashi also has a mysterious side: legend says that the Nine-Headed Dragon God enshrined in Hakone Shrine was once an evil dragon in the ancient lake. A monk eventually subdued it and made it the guardian of the lake. As today’s Hakone tour comes to an end, your guide will escort you back to your hotel in Tokyo by train.

► How to Best View Mt. Fuji & Hakone
Many people are drawn to Japan because of Mt. Fuji. However, it is only visible for about one-third of the year, with the best times from October to early November or December to February, when the chances of seeing Mt. Fuji in our Hakone itinerary are as high as 80%. Hakone makes for a great 1 or 2 days’ trip. Besides enjoying different perspectives of Mt. Fuji from several points, including the cable car, Lake Ashi cruise, Narukawa Art Museum, and Mount Komagatake Ropeway, you can relax in a Japanese onsen ryokan and explore many unique art galleries. In April, walking under the hundreds of cherry trees of different varieties that bloom in Onshi Hakone Park, surrounding Lake Ashi, creates a rare and memorable experience. If you’re interested, contact us to plan a customized private tour.

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

This morning, you’ll start with a nearly 2.5-hour train ride to Kyoto on your own, using the reserved tickets we’ve already booked for you. You can walk in minutes from your hotel to Kayabacho Station, take the Tozai Line to Otemachi Station, and then walk 3 minutes to Tokyo Station. Here, you might notice various Japanese bento boxes, whose natural colors alone are enough to whet your appetite. This is Japan’s unique station culture, known as ekiben (railway bento), where different regional bento are cooked with local ingredients to leave you with memorable experiences.

Upon arrival in Kyoto Station, your local guide will greet you. After checking in to the hotel, let’s begin the cultural tour from the Temple of the Golden Pavilion. When you first see the Golden Pavilion, you might be surprised by its golden appearance and the Oriental beauty reflected in the mirror-like pond, but you might not realize what kind of wild antics it has caused. In 1950, the Golden Pavilion, a national treasure that had stood for over 700 years, was set on fire due to a monk’s jealousy of its beauty. This unusual motive, rooted in human nature and philosophy, inspired the writer Yukio Mishima to create his most famous novel, ‘The Temple of the Golden Pavilion,’ which also contributed to the temple’s increased fame.

Later, we will stroll along the narrow stone slopes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, with some stairs leading to the Pure Water Temple. Hugged by charming souvenir shops and historic stores, the stairs connect to time-honored townhouses on both sides, creating a very atmospheric scene that immerses you in the traditional Kyoto style. Many shops here rent kimonos and offer Japanese makeup and hair styling services.

As the oldest temple in Kyoto, the Pure Water Temple was originally founded by a practicing monk. Legend has it that a dream guided him to find Otowa Falls, where he met the Bodhisattva of Compassion and was given a statue carved from sacred wood. He built a thatched hut to enshrine it, which became the predecessor of Pure Water Temple. When you reach the main hall, you can see the famous observation deck, which was originally built as a stage for the Bodhisattva to oversee performances, supported by 18 massive wooden pillars over 400 years old, with no nails used at all.

Then, follow the guide to continue exploring the surrounding Gion area, one of the few neighborhoods where you can still see geishas and where the Oscar-winning movie “Memoirs of a Geisha” was filmed. The teahouses lining the stone paths and the occasional passing maiko will best satisfy your curiosity about Kyoto. Finally, our guide will escort you back to your hotel. Alternatively, you can enjoy independent exploration and have dinner here, and then take a 15-minute taxi ride or City Bus 207 back to the hotel on your own.

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

After breakfast, your guide will first take you to the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. There are over 30,000 shrines dedicated to the Inari god of harvest and wealth, found in offices, on building rooftops, or in private homes throughout Japan. Fushimi Inari Shrine acts as their headquarters, where even ancient emperors often worshipped. Feast your eyes on the enchanting Senbon Torii, a sacred pathway shaded by tens of thousands of vermilion torii gates that stretch from the main hall to the mountaintop. Don’t forget to take some photos here, just like in the movie “Memoirs of a Geisha”!

Afterward, our trip will continue with a short train ride to Nara. Once we arrive at Nara Park, the most exciting activity for everyone is getting up close and personal with the deer. You might wonder why there are so many deer in Nara. It turns out that when Japan’s capital was moved to Nara in 710, the war god Takenatsumi rode a white deer to what is now Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Since then, the deer have been living here as divine messengers for over 1,300 years. Nara people believe that spotting deer with white hair on their hind feet will bring good luck; let’s keep an eye out for the rare, lucky deer in the park!

Next, follow your guide to the Great Eastern Temple to see how Buddhism thrived in Nara. After Buddhism was introduced to Japan from China in the 8th century, its influence grew significantly during the Nara period; therefore, Nara became one of Japan’s leading centers for building Buddhist temples. Records show that over 2.5 million people participated in constructing the Great Eastern Temple in various roles, including gathering and transporting wood and metal, as well as providing food for the 350,000 workers involved in crafting the Buddha statues. This is how the Great Buddha of Nara, one of the world’s largest bronze Buddha statues, was built - a project that nearly bankrupted the Japanese government at the time.

Then, walk along the approach to the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, flanked by stone lanterns, where you’ll encounter roaming deer. Pass by a torii gate and a stone monument inscribed with the words “Cultural Property of Ancient Nara,” and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, which has blessed Nara for over a thousand years, stands amidst the lush greenery of Mt. Kasuga Primeval Forest. Thanks to the tradition of rebuilding every 20 years, when the cypress roof is replaced with fresh lacquer, the red and white main hall keeps its timeless, majestic appearance.

In the late afternoon, your guide will lead you through the off-the-beaten-path historic streets of Naramachi neighborhood, where you can enjoy peace and relaxation while visiting the small yet charming Goryo Shrine. Meandering through the houses with plaster or clay walls that hug the path on both sides feels like traveling back to the 17th century. Entering the Naramachi Lattice House, you’ll get a quick glimpse of the traditional lifestyle of old Nara residents. The courtyard’s atrium offers a space to experience nature, and the wooden grille windows create a balance between sunlight, privacy, and ventilation. The stairs to the second floor serve as both staircases and storage, showcasing the ingenuity of traditional townhouses.

By the end of the day, you’ll be accompanied on a return train ride to Kyoto. Since we’re staying in the same hotel in Osaka for the next two nights, if you have heavy luggage hard to carry, consider asking the hotel staff to help you send it to Osaka today.

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

The finale of our Kyoto tour unfolds as we visit the Nijo Castle, once the residence of the Tokugawa shoguns in Kyoto. After Japan was unified in 1603, the Tokugawa shogunate maintained peace and prosperity for over 260 years. The thick stone walls, grand gates, and magnificent main halls still stand as powerful symbols of its authority. In 1867, Nijo Castle quietly witnessed the last Tokugawa shogun hand over power to the emperor, marking the end of the Edo period.

Later, the guide will take you by train to Osaka, a city renowned for its generous spending on food. Therefore, we’ll visit the Kuromon Market to try the best local specialties and the freshest seafood in Osaka. Shops selling fresh fish, pufferfish, miso pickles, Japanese sweets, and other delicacies line both sides of the street, with enticing aromas and a lively atmosphere at every corner. You can grab a quick bite here for lunch at your own expense, and your guide will be glad to recommend authentic restaurants.

Next, let’s move on to the Osaka Castle. The original castle, which took about 15 years to build, was 4-5 times larger than its current size. However, since the castle was built during one of the most turbulent times in Japanese history, it has been destroyed multiple times over the past 300 years. Therefore, when the main tower was rebuilt in 1931, a golden fish sculpture was specially crafted for its rooftop. It is said that this Japanese monster not only wards off evil spirits but also prevents fires. You can admire the mascot while looking down at the entire city from the top floor of the main tower.

Finally, we’ll explore Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori areas, Osaka’s equivalent of Times Square, and your guide will leave after a general introduction. The rest of the time is free for you to enjoy Osaka’s unique nightlife, where neon-lit buildings fill the skyline and restaurants along the Dotonbori River display giant, eye-catching billboards, creating a vibrant retro-futuristic vibe. Along the crowded riverside walk, you’ll find stalls selling takoyaki (octopus balls), freshly cooked ramen, okonomiyaki pancake, and a variety of drinks. Why not stop for a drink and relax while admiring the lights reflected on the water? Afterwards, you can head to Shinsaibashi Street, Osaka’s busiest shopping district, to experience Japan’s bustling retail scene. If you love shopping, it’s okay to spend hours there, as your hotel is just a 10-minute walk away.

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

This morning, please take the bullet train by yourself from Shin-Osaka Station to Hiroshima Station using the tickets provided by your guide the day before. Walk for 3 minutes from the hotel to Shinsaibashi Metro Station, and then take a 12-minute ride on the Midosuji Line to Shin-Osaka Station; it’s best to leave the hotel one hour before the departure time listed on your ticket.

Arrive in about 1.5 hours, and the Hiroshima guide will meet you at the train station. We’ll start with a boat trip to the picturesque Miyajima Island, one of Japan’s Three Scenic Views. Since ancient times, the island has been revered as a place where gods are believed to dwell, and its shape resembles the sleeping posture of the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Accenting the island’s verdant old-growth forests are numerous shrines, Buddhist pavilions, and historic streets, giving it a sacred and mysterious atmosphere. Built where the tides rise and fall, the Itsukushima Shrine is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can see its vermilion architecture reflected in the blue sea and the lush greenery of Mount Misen, highlighting the beauty of the golden age of classical Japanese culture. At high tide, the Grand Torii Gate appears to float on the water, while at low tide, you can walk up close to admire its details.

In the afternoon, the guide will take you back downtown Hiroshima to reflect on its tragic history with the atomic bombing. As the first city in the world to be hit by an atomic bomb in 1945, tens of thousands of people in Hiroshima were indiscriminately killed in the explosion. Our first stop, the Atomic Bomb Dome, was instantly engulfed in flames, burning from the ceiling to the ground, yet the main structure miraculously remained intact. Today, it stands as a World Heritage Site that silently delivers a message of anti-nuclear sentiment and promotes global peace. Then, visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum to see historical documents, photographs, and relics of victims from before and after the nuclear blast. While many of the materials are disturbing, they help us gain a deeper understanding of the true meaning of peace, and we sincerely hope for “No More Hiroshimas.”

Finally, the guide will escort you to Hiroshima Station and give you the return tickets to Osaka. From there, you’ll catch the train back and manage your own way to the hotel.

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

This marks the end of your Japan guided group tour, and we bid you farewell this morning. For your own transfer to Osaka Airport, the most cost-effective options are the airport shuttle bus or the JR train, with taxi fares ranging from USD 110-140. We’re also happy to assist if you need help booking train or air tickets back to Tokyo.

► Where to Leave Your Last Memory of Osaka
Beyond the busy streets, a quiet, nostalgic alley awaits in Dotonbori, perfect for experiencing the most authentic Japanese style of Dotonbori during your free time on the last day. Walk 5 minutes from the hotel to Shinsaibashi Station, take the Midosuji Line for two stops to Namba Station. It’s another 5-minute walk to Hozenji Yokocho. In this charming area, where temple grounds and shops are intertwined, you can feel Osaka’s elegance that has lasted since the 17th century, and tuck into local dishes like oden (fishcake stew), robatayaki (Japanese barbeque), grilled chicken skewers, and pufferfish. Afterwards, it’s about a 10-minute walk to Nankai Namba Station to catch the express train, which takes 35 minutes to reach Osaka Kansai International Airport.

Meals: Breakfast