Great Traverse of Japan

► Attractions: Tsukiji Outer Market, Meiji Jingu Shrine, Imperial Palace, Senso-ji Temple, Kaminarimon Gate, Nakamise-dori Street, a distant view of Tokyo Skytree
► Inclusions: Hotel breakfast, morning pickup & evening return escort, full-day guide, entrance fees to attractions, public transport passes, hotel in Tokyo

After the hotel meet-up, hop on the Tokyo metro with your guide for an immersive exploration! Our journey kicks off at the Tsukiji Outer Market, where dense rows of seafood stalls, each dedicated to a single culinary art, offer a glimpse into the spirit of Japanese artisanal mastery. Yet, these owners also embrace modern evolution: from preserving seafood in kelp and performing tuna-cutting art to crafting high-moisture, bouncy ramen noodles and launching single-serving ready-to-eat treats, shining a global spotlight on Japanese food culture.Next, let’s venture deep into the forested Meiji Jingu Shrine, and you’ll instantly grasp its prominence upon seeing Japan’s largest torii gate, crafted from a 1,500-year-old cypress tree. To express gratitude for Emperor Meiji (1852 - 1912 AD)’s contribution to Japanese modernization, locals have been searching for the most precious tree tall enough to build the gate, eventually transporting this one back from Taiwan via truck, rail, and sea, as there is no one that perfectly matches their ‘respect’ domestically. 

Following a peaceful stroll through the Imperial Palace, ready to crash into the vibrant Senso-ji Temple with your guide. Behind its Kaminarimon Gate lies the Nakamise-dori Street packed with bustling crowds, calling vendors, and endless snacks and souvenirs. As early as the 17th century, residents set up stalls here. Rather than chasing them away, the temple tacitly permitted and even encouraged this practice. Because in Japanese Buddhism, true practice never separates from daily life. Someone may walk in just craving snacks but naturally pause to pray in the main hall - that process is seeking wisdom itself. At the square before the main hall, you can admire the Five-story Pagoda and the distant Tokyo Skytree. After that, your guide will accompany you back to your hotel.

► Attractions: Hakone Owakudani Valley, a distant view of Mt. Fuji, Lake Ashi cruise
► Inclusions: Hotel breakfast, morning pickup & evening return escort, full-day guide, entrance fees to attractions, Hakone black egg tasting, public transport (including Tokyo-Hakone round-trip express trains, Hakone Tozan Train, Panoramic Ropeway, and Lake Ashi cruise ship), hotel in Tokyo

Today’s prime aim: tick Mount Fuji off your life goals list! Early this morning, your guide will pick you up at your hotel for an express train ride to Odawara Station, the gateway to the Hakone area known for layered landscapes, distant Mt. Fuji view, and fewer crowds. Once there, switch to the Hakone Tozan Train to zigzag up the steep Hakone mountains like a gecko at an average speed of 14 km/h (9 mph), during which you will return to being a child of nature from just a cog in Tokyo’s bustle. 

When raw, yellowish-brown volcanic rocks appear, we’ll arrive at Owakudani Valley. Steam plumes billowing out nonstop add to its sci-fi vibes, earning it the former name of ‘Hell Valley’. However, when Emperor Meiji and his wife came to Hakone for a retreat, officials thought visiting a place called ‘Hell’ sounded inauspicious, and thus renamed it Owakudani. Check out its panoramic views from the observation deck while savoring a famous black egg provided by us.

Then the grand finale comes: distant views of Mt. Fuji! The ropeway will take us to the shore of Lake Ashi, and then take a retro pirate ship to capture the silhouette of Fuji’s peak. Traditionally, Japanese communities settled in valleys and thereby held reverence for mountains guarding them. When they relocated into Tokyo’s flat plains, losing familiar protection triggered their alienation. Luckily, Mt. Fuji is visible in the distance from everywhere, later becoming an eternal spiritual anchor. Completing the Lake Ashi cruise, your guide will escort you back to your hotel in Tokyo.

★ Considerate Service Concerning Mt. Fuji’s Visibility

Mt. Fuji always rewards patient and well-prepared travelers, as it only breaks out of the mists and clouds 80 days a year, mainly from October to February. To tip the odds in your favor, we do not lock your Tokyo itinerary, so that you can arrange your Hakone tour with better weather conditions during your two-day stay. Due to this flexibility, you may get non-reserved tickets on bullet trains, as the reserved ones for regular itineraries must be booked a month in advance. However, seeing our unwavering efforts to fulfill your dreams, we trust you will accept the 5% risk of not finding a seat during the off-season.

► Attractions: Golden Pavilion, Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, Pure Water Temple, Gion geisha district
► Inclusions: Hotel breakfast, Tokyo-to-Kyoto bullet train, Kyoto guide, entrance fees to attractions, public transport passes in Kyoto, evening return escort, hotel in Kyoto

After breakfast, please make your own way to Tokyo Station, a 9-minute walk from the 3-star hotel or a 7-minute walk from the 4-star hotel. With our pre-booked ticket, you’ll take a 2-hour bullet train to Kyoto.

After your Kyoto guide picks you up at the station, let’s head to the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, which was commissioned by the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (1358 - 1408 AD). He amassed significant wealth through trade with China, building this temple covered in gold leaf to demonstrate the legitimacy of the shogunate’s rule and Japan’s financial strength to foreign envoys.Next, we will follow the slopes of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka to the Pure Water Temple, with photo opportunities of traditional townhouses and the iconic Yasaka Pagoda. Upon arrival, marvel at Kyoto’s panoramic views at the Pure Water Stage. The Japanese proverb ‘Jump off the Pure Water Stage’ originated here, describing someone ready to ‘take the plunge’. However, this bravery often conceals the suppression of individual emotions in a collectivist society. In traditional Japanese thought, death is sometimes viewed as an escape from suffering, and this extreme way may symbolize their cravings for rebirth.

Then continue our way to the charming Gion District, renowned for its geisha culture. Geisha are somewhat similar to modern idols; behind their graceful appearances lie six years of rigorous apprenticeship, extensive technical training, and sacrifices regarding personal love, marriage, and freedom. Often, they must also endure the curious stares and stereotypes projected by tourists.

Finally, your tour guide will escort you back to your hotel. If you’d like, you are welcome to explore the area further on your own. Have dinner and view the lanterns at Yasaka Shrine. To return to your hotel, choose between a 15-minute taxi ride or a 25-minute 207 City Bus from Shijo Keihan-mae Station to Kujo Subway Station.

► Attractions: Fushimi Inari Shrine, Nara Park, Great Eastern Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine (Goryo Shrine & Naramachi Lattice House if time permits)
► Inclusions: Hotel breakfast, morning pickup & evening return escort, full-day guide, entrance fees to attractions, Kyoto-Nara round-trip trains, other public transport passes, hotel in Kyoto

After breakfast, leave early from the hotel with your guide for Fushimi Inari Shrine. Remember to wear light-colored attire so that the camera loves you at its iconic orange-red Senbon Torii. Rather than dribbling along the ‘human conveyor belt’ through densely arranged torii gates of the initial section, hike 30 to 40 minutes halfway up the mountain, where you can overlook Kyoto and capture photos with a strong sense of depth relatively undisturbed.As your Kyoto journey ends here, take the bullet train to Nara with your guide. Japan’s first capital is now a Zootopia hooked by deer, and let’s encounter them at Nara Park upon arrival! Polite ones will respond to your bow to ask for special rice crackers, while those impatient guys may ‘kiss’ your butts, especially when there are other competitors. 

Followed by the visit to the Great Eastern Temple, we’ll meander shortly to Kasuga Taisha Shrine, which boasts the same vermilion appearance as other Japanese shrines. In local faith, the vibrant color is linked to the sun and believed to ward off evil spirits, while painted lacquer is antibacterial and antiseptic, helping shrines stand longer. Finally, your guide will accompany you back to your hotel in Kyoto.

* If time permits, your guide will also show you around the Goryo Shrine and Naramachi Lattice House in Nara.

► Attractions: Nijo Castle, Osaka Castle, Dotonbori & Shinsaibashi, Hozen-ji Temple
► Inclusions: Hotel breakfast, morning pickup & evening return escort, full-day guide, entrance fees to attractions, Kyoto-to-Osaka bullet train, other public transport passes, hotel in Osaka

Morning! Your guide will meet you at your hotel and kick off today’s exploration at Nijo Castle, built by the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate as a residence and military outpost. Wandering around the stunning Ninomaru Palace, you’ll be overwhelmed by intricate openwork carvings, gilded metalwork, and the legendary ‘nightingale floor’ for defense. Not even the most skilled ninja could sneak across undetected. Imagine his frustration when the squeaking of the wooden floor drives you crazy!

Then, hop on a train to Osaka with your guide and visit Osaka Castle once there, built by the shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598 AD), who rose from a humble sandal-bearer to the pinnacle of power through wit and vision. In the Main Tower, many exhibits illustrate his accomplishments and inflections on Osaka’s urban layout. 

Deep commercial roots have cultivated the friendly and open Osakans, and we’ll then catch a sight of that at Dotonbori & Shinsaibashi. The more lanes you wind through, the more signals reveal: ostentatious storefronts, street performances, and shopkeepers bantering with visitors using exaggerated body language and upbeat tunes. All reflect local creed: Be interesting, or bust! 

Today’s sightseeing will conclude at the lesser-known Hozen-ji Temple, and then your guide will escort you back to your hotel. You’re also encouraged to explore the area further on your own, as our handpicked hotel is just a 10-minute walk from Shinsaibashi Street. Perhaps enjoy a Dotonbori cruise to immerse yourself in the ‘city of laughter’!

► Attractions: Miyajima Island, Itsukushima Shrine, Floating Torii Gate, Atomic Bomb Dome, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Museum
► Inclusions: Hotel breakfast, Osaka-Hiroshima round-trip trains, Hiroshima guide, entrance fees to attractions, ferry to Miyajima Island, other public transport passes, hotel in Osaka

Today, leave Osaka behind and head for Hiroshima. After check-out, walk 3 to 5 minutes from your hotel to Shinsaibashi Metro Station, and a 12-minute Midosuji Line ride will take you to Shin-Osaka Station, where you’ll board the 1.5-hour bullet train to Hiroshima by yourself, with the pre-booked tickets offered by us. Given that several transfers are involved in the following days, we recommend travelling light by delivering your large luggage to Tokyo in advance with the help of your guide.

Upon your arrival at Hiroshima Station, your local guide will pick you up for a ferry ride to Miyajima Island, defined by the revered Itsukushima Shrine and its remarkable Grand Torii Gate ‘floating’ on the sea. To keep the island and shrine eternal Shinto sites, death and childbirth have been long prohibited until today, as blood is deemed impure to desecrate the divine. Ironically, many couples flock to the shrine for their wedding ceremonies. Why it can embrace the wedding vows but to repel both the beginning and end of life?

This afternoon, let’s journey into the heart of Hiroshima to explore its poignant history. We’ll first proceed to the Atomic Bomb Dome within Peace Memorial Park, one of the few structures left standing within 200 meters of the hypocenter. With its twisted steel frame and scarred walls, the city chose to preserve these battle scars to symbolize peace and rebirth. Next up is the Peace Memorial Museum, where the clock frozen at 8:15, the shadowy imprint of a human vaporized by a temperature of 6,000℃ (10,832℉) on stone steps, and harrowing survivor testimonies are Hiroshima’s plea to the world: “Never again”.

Afterward, your guide will escort you to Hiroshima Station, where you will use our pre-booked tickets to return independently to Osaka.

► Attractions: Kenroku-en Garden, Higashi Chaya District, Nagamachi Samurai District
► Inclusions: Hotel breakfast, Osaka-to-Kanazawa bullet train, Kanazawa guide, entrance fees to attractions, other public transport passes, evening return escort, hotel in Kanazawa

Today will begin with your independent departure from Shin-Osaka Station, boarding a bullet train for a 2.5-hour journey to Kanazawa with our pre-arranged tickets. Upon arrival, your local guide will greet you at Kanazawa Station and accompany you to your hotel. 

After a short rest, a wonderful afternoon will kick off at Kenrokuen Garden, one of Japan’s top 3 gardens. The Kasumi Pond, the towering Karasaki pines, the lanterns reminiscent of ancient zither pillars, and Japan’s oldest fountain driven entirely by natural water pressure exemplify the Japanese aesthetics - profound depth found in subtle restraint.

Later, continue our exploration to the Higashi Chaya District (Eastern Teahouse District). From the 17th to the 19th centuries, high-ranking officials and the wealthy frequented dense teahouses here for geisha performances. Strolling around, you’ll notice that the houses are almost adorned with lattice windows, which block outside views to safeguard the private gatherings within, while inviting the imagination to wander inside as light filters through them after dusk.

Our last stop is the Nagamachi Samurai District, whose layout reflects the quintessential samurai society. Highly raised roofs and imposed gates hint samurais’ classes, while intentionally L-shaped and dead-ended streets disorient potential attackers. At Nomura-ke Samurai Heritage Residence, beyond historic samurai armor relic, you can also unveil their delicate inner soul at the tea-ceremony room against streams, waterfall, and a 400-year-old tree. After that, your guide will escort you back to your hotel.

► Attractions: Shirakawa-go Village, Wada House, Kanda House, Ogimachi Castle Observation Deck
► Inclusions: Hotel breakfast & morning pickup, Kanazawa & Shirakawa-go guide, Kanazawa-Shirakawa-go round-trip bus, entrance fees to attractions, other public transport passes, Kanazawa Station see-off, Kanazawa-to-Tokyo bullet train, hotel in Tokyo

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at your hotel lobby and escort you on a 1.5-hour express bus ride to Shirakawa-go Village.

It remains unspoiled amid mountains and rice paddies, with photogenic Gassho-zukuri farmhouses featuring clasped-hand roofs built for heavy snowfall and extra interior space. Let’s enjoy sweeping views from the Ogimachi Castle Observation Deck first. Save for the thick thatched roofs, you’d easily mistake this place for Switzerland! Later, explore the representative Wada House and Kanda House, during which marvel at no-nail wooden architecture while hearing from your guide about the re-thatching tradition, both for strengthening communal ties and passing skills down to younger generations.

Around noon, your guide will escort you back to Kanazawa Train Station for the 2.5-hour independent train ride to Tokyo with tickets we’ve booked for you. Upon arrival, please head to your hotel on your own: a 9-minute walk to the 3-star hotel or a 7-minute walk to the 4-star hotel.

► Inclusions: Hotel breakfast

Today marks the end of your tour. Please check out based on your flight schedule and manage your own transportation to the airport! Safe journey home! 

► Last-minute Hotspot Suggestion Before Departure
First encounter Japan through anime and manga? Don’t miss visiting the Ichibangai inside Tokyo Station, a quick 10-minute walk from your hotel! Hot IPs sweep every corner of Tokyo Character Street, where you can take selfies with them while hunting for limited-edition merchandise, such as the plush Pokemon wearing a stationmaster’s uniform. From there, to Narita Airport, you can take the 50-minute Narita Express from the underground JR platform, or a 1.5-hour taxi costs USD 210-240; to Haneda Airport, it’s a 35-minute journey by taking the Keihin-Tohoku Line to Hamamatsucho Station and transferring to the Tokyo Monorail for direct access, while a 30-minute taxi costs USD 60-70.