Japan In-Depth Exploration

Welcome to Japan! When you arrive in Tokyo, our English-speaking assistant will meet you at the arrival hall and help you take our airport-to-hotel transfer by shared car. However, if you arrive after 20:30, you’ll need to get to the hotel downtown on your own or reserve a private pickup service with us. Have a good rest tonight and be ready to embrace your Tokyo tour tomorrow!

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

After breakfast at the hotel, our guide will take you to visit the top attractions of downtown Tokyo using the convenient public transportation system. The first stop is the Tsukiji Outer Market. Built in 1935, it is one of the largest fisheries markets in the world and a popular spot for enjoying sushi and sashimi. Here, you can find many Japanese seafood restaurants. You can ask the guide for suggestions on trying authentic Japanese sushi or teppanyaki at one of these popular eateries.

Next, head to Meiji Jingu Shrine, which honors the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken, and would instantly put you into the context of Japan’s long history. The shrine, often referred to as an urban oasis, will leave you feeling relaxed with its lush forests, green spaces, and diverse wildlife. Then, pay a visit to the Imperial Palace, the residence of the Emperor and the Japanese Imperial Family. Instead of a simple tour of the Front Gardens arranged by other travel agencies, we will specially take a route off the beaten track to the front square and the secluded East Gardens of the Imperial Palace. Our guide, who is well-versed in Japanese history and architecture, will give you a thorough understanding of this elegant and classical building from the Showa Period. Let’s walk along the scenic moat and take pictures at the remarkable Niju-bashi Bridge.

In the afternoon, slow down our pace to the Asakusa area. Walking through the busy Nakamise-dori Street, which connects the famous Kaminarimon Gate to the main hall of Senso-ji Temple, our guide will take you around this oldest temple in Tokyo, built in 628 AD and full of traditional Edo culture. You can draw an Omikuji fortune slip like the locals do. If you get an ominous one, tie it to a nearby railing to ward off bad luck. Ultimately, our guide will escort you back to the hotel.

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

Today, we will travel to Hakone to see Mt. Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain and a cultural icon. Meet our guide at the hotel, then take the express train to Hakone, which takes about an hour. The exciting part of the journey begins now. Ride the steepest mountain train in Japan, ascend in a zigzag route, and enjoy an exceptional experience. The little red train will take you up to Gora Station at 533 meters (1,749 feet) above sea level. Transfer to the cable car from Gora to Sounzan. A ride on the cable car offers the best way to experience the hilly Hakone area. Mt. Fuji is visible in the distance.

Continue our cable car ride to Owakudani Valley. It will be an unforgettable experience to see the crater remains formed by the last eruption of Mount Hakone 3,000 years ago, which still emits steam and smoke with a distinct sulfur smell. Afterwards, take the Hakone Ropeway to Togendai-ko Pier by Lake Ashi. From there, enjoy a 30-minute cruise on the Hakone Pirate Ship. On a clear day, you can see the majestic Mt. Fuji, with its summit covered in white snow. Disembark on the other side of the lake, and finally, the guide will take you on a local bus to the hotel in Odawara.

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

In the morning, you need to take a bullet train to Kyoto on your own (tickets are reserved and included). After a two-hour train ride, you’ll meet our Kyoto guide at the railway station and be escorted to the hotel for check-in. Then, start our Kyoto tour from the Temple of the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji Temple). The name reveals its nobility, as it contains a pavilion with solid gold leaves covering the eaves and walls. The best time to see it is at 10:00 and sunset, so we’ve arranged it as the first stop of the day. The sun shines on the Golden Pavilion, which is reflected in the green waters of the lake in front of it, creating a scene that is particularly sacred and evocative.

Let’s proceed to the Pure Water Temple (Kiyomizu-dera Temple), the pinnacle of Kyoto’s millennium-long history and culture. Follow our guide to take a commemorative photo in front of the iconic bright red Three-storied Pagoda and drink water from the Otowa Waterfall like a local to bless your study, health, and marriage. Climb up to the majestic Kiyomizu Stage, and you can get a commanding view of the whole of Kyoto. Next, the guide will accompany you on a stroll down the continuous tourist ramps of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka. In the grocery stores that flanked the road, feast your eyes on a variety of interesting handicrafts and gadgets, and satisfy your appetite with local snacks such as dango, matcha cheesecake, and matcha ice cream. While admiring the Yasaka Pagoda, we arrive at the legendary Gion area, Kyoto’s famous geisha district. It would undoubtedly be a great treat this afternoon to enjoy the antique street scene, watch the ladies in kimonos walking back and forth, and see the occasional geishas in exquisite costumes and white oshiroi makeup.

Finally, our guide will escort you back to the hotel. Alternatively, if you prefer to stay longer, you can enjoy your free time here by having a Japanese kaiseki dinner, taking in the night view, or watching a geisha show in a traditional teahouse. After a satisfying day, take a 10-minute taxi ride back to your hotel.

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

Today, we will first marvel at the remarkable scene of a series of red torii gates in Fushimi Inari Shrine. The worship of the kami Inari, who is in charge of agricultural harvest and fertility, is essential to the locals, while for tourists, the Senbon Torii seems more attractive. Follow the guide step by step up the Inari Mountain along the line of the torii gates, and take great photos that will give you enough to brag about on social media for a while.

Take a quick train ride to Nara, and we will start exploring this ancient city with a rich history. It was Japan’s capital from 710 to 784 AD and has preserved many historic Buddhist buildings and artifacts. Our first stop will be Nara Park, a perfect mix of nature and history. Herds of roaming deer frequent the vast green spaces of Nara Park. You can feed the tame deer with crackers, which will be a wonderful experience! Be cautious of bites while enjoying this happy hour.

Later, as we head to the Great Eastern Temple (Todai-ji Temple), a unique landmark of Nara and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll be impressed by the grandeur of this temple, which dates back to the mid-8th century. Its Great Buddha Hall is one of the largest surviving wooden structures in the world. After exploring another World Heritage Site, the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, let’s walk around Naramachi area to experience the local vibe and visit an endearing Goryo Shrine. Here, our guide will take you on a secret path leading to the Naramachi Lattice House, a charming and rarely visited authentic lattice house. This perfect replica of an Edo-era Machiya house is an excellent spot for taking photos. Late in the afternoon, we will take the train back to Kyoto for the night.

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

Before saying goodbye to Kyoto, we’ll visit Nijo Castle as our final stop here. Built by the first shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616 AD), the impressive castle demonstrates the authority and prominence of the general, representing the finest construction techniques of old Japan. You’ll notice that the roofs of the palaces are covered with dark, thatch-like materials, contrasting with the elaborate eave decorations. Is that strange? The earliest buildings in Japan were patterned after tiled roofs from China. However, since Japan is prone to earthquakes, tiles can break easily during seismic events, which can lead to accidents. So, architects developed a lightweight roof, like the one we see today, made of cypress bark.

Afterward, we will take a train for half an hour to Osaka, followed by a tour of Kuromon Market, where fresh seafood and Japanese street food are served in a relaxed atmosphere, with numerous options available at reasonable prices. Next, visit Osaka Castle, one of Japan’s three historic castles. Although it has been damaged by war, you can still see the rebuilt castle, whose lower part is made of large stones, which was a very effective defensive measure in the era of cold weapons. Follow the guide into the Main Tower to view the various artifacts and models of historical battlefields on display, and reflect on the city’s epic history, marked by hardships.

Later, our guide will take you to Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori, and leave after providing a brief introduction. In Osaka’s busiest shopping and entertainment areas, known for their large illuminated signboards, a variety of shops, theaters, restaurants, cafes, and bars will make your free night fun and memorable. The Ebisubashi Bridge, over the 400-year-old canal near Dotonbori, is a popular photo spot with a view of the Running Man billboard by Glico. It’s a great experience to enjoy the night view or go on a boat tour along the Dotonbori River. Don’t worry about staying out late, as your hotel is within a ten-minute walk from Shinsaibashi.

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

In the morning, please take a 1.5-hour bullet train on your own (with tickets reserved and included) from Shin Osaka Station to Hiroshima Station, where you’ll meet our local guide. Our Hiroshima tour will start with a boat trip to the idyllic Miyajima Island, home to the splendid World Heritage site Itsukushima Shrine. It is probably the most special Shinto shrine in Japan, known for its eye-catching ‘floating’ red torii gate.

In the afternoon, get back to downtown Hiroshima to visit the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum, where you can view many real photographs and ruins recording the fearsome scenes and impact on people’s lives after the city was devastated by the atomic bombing during World War II. These shocking records serve as a poignant reminder of the importance of cherishing peace.

Finally, the guide will escort you to Hiroshima Station and provide you with the train ticket to Osaka. Take the return train by yourself, and then make your own way to the hotel.

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

Today, you need to first take a total of over 2 hours’ train on your own from Osaka to Kanazawa, with Tsuruga Station as a transit. All the tickets will be reserved for you in advance. Upon arrival, the Kanazawa guide will meet you and escort you to the hotel for check-in.

After a short break, let’s move on to Kenroku-en Garden, also known as the Six Attributes Garden, which adheres to the six essential elements of a perfect garden according to Japanese tradition: spaciousness, tranquility, human ingenuity, antiquity, waterscape, and vista. This is a classic wraparound garden centered around a pond. Take a relaxed walk with our guide and enjoy the traditional gardens and beautiful pavilions around you. Later, we will visit the Higashichaya District (also known as the geisha district) and Nagamachi Samurai District, both rich in history and culture. Finally, return to the hotel with our guide.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Torifito Kanazawa (3 stars) or similar

After picking you up from the hotel, our guide will accompany you on a 1.5-hour express bus ride from Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go Village.

Hidden in the mountains of Gifu and Toyama prefectures, this historic village has its unique charm. For a long time, the village was isolated from the outside world due to its remote location deep in the mountains. However, the people here managed to survive and support themselves by planting mulberry trees and raising silkworms, which they traded for raw silk. Thanks to its isolation, Shirakawa-go remains pristine, featuring dozens of historic houses. Take a look at the traditional Wada House and Kanda House, which are designed in the gassho-zukuri style. They have a distinctive structure and are built without nails or any other metal materials. Later, go to the Ogimachi Castle Observation Deck to enjoy a panoramic view of the entire village.

As our visit comes to an end, the guide will take you to the Shirakawa-go Bus Terminal and provide you with tickets for Takayama this afternoon and Tokyo for the following day. After a one-hour express bus ride by yourself, arrive and head to the hotel in Takayama.

► Suggested Activities in Takayama:
For the rest of your free time here, you can walk through Sanmachi Suji in the center of town and visit Takayama Jinya, Takayama Showa Museum, and the Hida Minzoku Mura Folk Village (Hida no Sato), where you can get a feel for the primitive life of the aborigines. Additionally, Hida Beef is an excellent choice for dinner, offering a variety of delicious delicacies.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Wing International Hida Takayama (3 stars) or similar

Today, please arrange your check-out time based on your given train tickets and travel from Takayama to Tokyo on your own. This trip includes a 2-hour train ride from Takayama Station to Nagoya Station, followed by a 1.5-hour train ride to Tokyo Station. Upon arrival, please proceed to our selected hotel.

► Where to Spend Your Free Time in Tokyo
You might explore Ueno Ameyoko, where you’ll be amazed at how lively this food hub is, with many grocery stores, seafood shops, and restaurants. Try the tasty Japanese Dango (dumplings), croquettes, seafood, a cute panda-shaped sweet, or other local dishes.

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

Wake up naturally and enjoy a leisurely breakfast to round off your Japan small group tours. It takes 1 to 1.5 hours to travel from downtown Tokyo to either of its two airports. Please plan your transportation according to your departure flight time. Alternatively, you can contact our travel consultants for airport transfer and see-off services.

Meals: Breakfast