Tokyo with Hakone & Mt. Fuji

► 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 TokyoLet’s check if Japan’s public transportation is worth its reputation as the world’s best throughout this trip! After the hotel meet-up, begin the journey with your guide to Tokyo’s culinary soul – Tsukiji Outer Market. Surrounded by the sea, the country champions raw dining culture and holds that ‘raw equals fresh and nutritious.’ Besides the well-known sashimi and sushi, raw chicken, beef, horse meat, and eggs are also common in local cuisine. Wandering among an array of stalls, you can watch chefs’ live preparation and have the chance to sample cuts of dock-to-table tuna and salmon.

Then, we’ll shield ourselves from the urban clamor at the quiet Meiji Jingu Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji (1852 - 1912 AD) and Empress Shoken. After passing through the 1,500-year-old grand Torii, walk along the gravel path believed in Shinto tradition to purify the mind and observe worshippers offering prayers before the main hall. During the local Spring Festival in late April to early May or the Autumn Festival in early November, the shrine will be more vibrant with performances of traditional Japanese drama, dance, and music. 

After visiting the Imperial Palace, including the Outer Garden, Chrysanthemum Gate, and Nijubashi Bridge, continue your afternoon with your guide to Senso-ji Temple. Unlike the stereotypical image of Buddhist temples with solemn vibes, it presents a bustling everyday life, thanks to its central location in the old downtown Tokyo, where most residents are merchants, working class, and artisans. Behind the Kaminarimon Gate lies the Nakamise-dori Street, where the atmosphere reaches a fever pitch with nearly 90 stalls selling everything from rice crackers and little sponge cakes to lucky cat figurines and woodblock prints. The scene changes again at the main hall, as the five-story pagoda’s sweeping eaves evoke old Tokyo. You can also see the Tokyo Skytree in the distance to the southeast. Finally, 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

This morning, your guide will pick you up from your hotel for a one-hour train ride into Hakone’s natural beauty. Upon arrival at Odawara Station, take the Hakone Tozan Train shuttling through scenes straight out of a romantic anime: wood-trimmed windows reveal lush ravines, bridges, and tunnels, with three dramatic switchbacks up the steep incline of Hakone mountains. After transferring to the Tozan Cable Car, try to grab a front-row seat to capture it climbing a 45-degree slope in just about 9 minutes.

From the Sounzan Station, let’s we’ll continue gliding via the ropeway over Owakudani Valley’s steaming thermal vents and bubbling hot springs. The rugged landscape becomes more otherworldly on clear days when the contour of Mount Fuji’s snow-covered peak shimmers in the distance. Here, we’ll prepare a memorable experience for our privileged guests: tasting volcanic-cooked black eggs, said to add seven years to your life in local folklore. Expect its creamier texture and unique earthy aroma!

The ropeway will then lead us towards Lake Ashi for a 30-minute cruise. Sail across the crater-formed waters surrounded by thick pine and cedar forests while catching sight of the vermilion Hakone Shrine Peace Torii. What leaves everyone in awe, however, is the distant view of Mt. Fuji, an eternal symbol of Japanese Shinto and Buddhist faith. It also deeply influenced Tokyo’s urban planning: height limits for unobstructed Fuji views, the Shogun’s castles in the 17th century were designed to face the mountain, and numerous street names literally mean Fuji-viewing slopes. Once ashore, your guide will escort you back to your hotel in Tokyo.

★ Thoughtful Date Exchanges Exclusive to Our Guests

Travel to Japan mainly for Mt. Fuji? Actually, you need to know that it only shows her face through the mist about 80 days annually. To improve your luck stat, we keep your schedule flexible, and you can choose any day with the best weather conditions. Usually, we reserve the bullet train tickets 1 month in advance; last-minute changes may result in a 5% chance of not finding a seat outside peak season after switching to non-reserved train tickets.► Why We Choose Hakone Over Lake Kawaguchi
Lake Kawaguchi boasts the full profile and closer views of Mt. Fuji, making its ropeway and photography spots quite congested. Our group itineraries choose Hakone to offer you a more tranquil experience, where visitors spread out across volcanic valleys, hot springs, and Lake Ashi. Even if clouds block Mt. Fuji, diverse activities promise an equally exciting trip. But it’s up to you; if you’re more interested in close-up views or hiking from Mt. Fuji’s Fifth Station, consider our private Japan tours that cover Lake Kawaguchi.

► Inclusions: Hotel breakfast

Time to say goodbye today! Please check out and head to the airport on your own.

► Late-departure Inspiration (at your own expense):
Consider exploring Ginza, an ultimate synonym for Tokyo. It’s just a 7-minute walk from the 3-star hotel; if you live in the 4-star hotel, a 15-minute walk or a three-stop Ginza Line ride from Mitsukoshimae Station will lead you there. You can thread through world-class flagships, contemporary art galleries, and century-old kimono shops, and then celebrate your last day with a cup of matcha latte and a sublime Michelin lunch. Finally, manage your own way to the airport. To Narita Airport, a 1-hour taxi costs USD 220-260, or you can take the Airport Bus Tyo-NRT from Ginza Station to reach there in 1.5 hours. To Haneda Airport, a 30-minute taxi costs USD 55-65, while the Asakusa-Keikyu Airport Line from Higashi-Ginza Station to the airport takes 40 minutes.