Classic 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

Today, your guide will meet you at your hotel for a Tokyo tour using public transportation. At the first stop, Tsukiji Outer Market, you’ll find artisan-crafted Edomae sushi, melt-in-your-mouth sashimi made from thinly sliced raw fish, sweet tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelet), and seafood bowls - all known for their lightness, a hallmark of Japanese cuisine. Combined with the common Japanese practice of eating only until about 70% full and an active lifestyle suitable for all ages, locals remain remarkably slender despite the abundance of tasty food.

Next, let’s visit the Meiji Jingu Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji (1852 - 1912 AD) and his wife. Japan’s shift from a poor, resource-limited island nation to a prospering capitalist society was deeply linked to the Meiji Restoration, and the shrine remains an enduring tribute from the Japanese people to the Emperor. Seeing over 100,000 lush trees in the bustling city, where land is highly prized, highlights Emperor Meiji’s vital role in Japanese history.

Then, we’ll move on to the Imperial Palace, a peaceful oasis amid Tokyo’s bustling skyline. While strolling through the lush gardens for a serene escape, listen to your guide share Japan’s rich history of the Kikyo Gate, Sakurada Gate, Nijubashi Bridge, and Fujimi Turret.

In the afternoon, follow your guide to explore Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest and most renowned temple. Walk through the large lantern at Kaminarimon Gate and enjoy the lively atmosphere along Nakamise-dori Street, lined with ukiyo-e-style shops. Inside the temple, look up at the 53-meter (173-foot), five-story pagoda with its wooden eaves reaching toward the sky, set against the Tokyo Skytree in the background, creating a striking contrast. If you like, you can rent a kimono at your own expense to experience traditional Japanese attire. Your guide will then escort 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

Get ready for an exciting Hakone adventure! This morning, your guide will accompany you from your hotel to Odawara by train, where you’ll then enjoy a thrilling mountain-climbing experience on the Hakone Tozan Train and Cable Car amid seasonal natural beauty, especially from June to July, when the railway is hugged by blooming hydrangeas.

After taking the ropeway, our journey continues to Owakudani Valley, where exposed rocks and geothermal steam rise from cracks, as if the planet were breathing. On clear days, the observation deck offers a stunning view of Mt. Fuji, standing out against the volcanic backdrop. You’ll also see a unique shrine dedicated to the Bodhisattva of longevity. According to legend, about 1,200 years ago, the famous Japanese monk Kukai (774–835 AD) was astonished by the hellish Owakudani and carved a statue of Buddha to pray for the locals. Today, the valley is a popular tourist destination, drawing visitors to enjoy its volcanic scenery and its hot-spring-fed black eggs.

We’ll then arrive at Togendai Port in central Hakone to explore Lake Ashi by cruise. While enjoying the breeze and views of Mt. Fuji, Lake Ashi, and the Hakone Shrine Peace Torii - three of Hakone’s most iconic sights - don’t miss out on taking Instagrammable photos from the best viewpoints! At the end, your guide will escort you back to your Tokyo hotel by train.

★ Exclusive Date Exchange Service for Visiting Mt. Fuji 

Given tourists’ interest in seeing Mt. Fuji and its limited visibility for about 80 days a year, we offer a unique date-exchange service among all Japan tour operators. This allows you to select the better-weather day during your two days in Tokyo to visit Mt. Fuji, boosting the chances of good visibility by 50%. One point to note is that even during the best morning viewing times, visibility remains limited when humidity is high from June to August. Clearer views are more common in dry air from October to February.
► If you use such a service, the reserved bullet train tickets we prioritize for you may be changed to non-reserved tickets because the former requires a 1-month advance booking. Still, it’s worth both of us making the effort to see Mt. Fuji, and in fact, there’s only a 5% chance you’ll have to stand the entire journey in 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

This morning, please head to Tokyo Station on your own – a 9-minute walk from the 3-star hotel and a 7-minute walk from the 4-star hotel. As the pre-booked 2.5-hour train ride leads you to the Kyoto Basin, you’ll see clusters of black-tiled, wooden-beamed townhouses spreading out like waves, contrasting with Tokyo’s bright neon skyscrapers.

After your guide welcomes you at Kyoto Station, we will proceed to the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, an exemplar of your imagination of Japan’s old capital, with luxurious shogunate palaces and traditional Japanese gardens. If you’ve watched the Japanese anime “Clever Ikkyu,” it might seem familiar, as the shogun who often outsmarts the young monk Ikkyu is actually the owner of this residence: Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (1358 - 1408 AD). He was the first to unify Japan as shogun and later fostered Japan’s economic growth, reaching the zenith of the Muromachi shogunate.

Later, head to the Pure Water Temple with your guide, following the winding slopes of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, where sukiya-style townhouses evoke a nostalgic charm. Passing Niomon Gate and the three-story pagoda, you’ll reach the striking Pure Water Stage for a bird’s-eye view of Kyoto. Worried it might collapse under a crowd? Rest assured: it is built with a mortise-and-tenon system connecting columns and beams in a lattice pattern to enhance earthquake resistance—also used in the Great Roof Ring of the 2025 Osaka Kansai Expo.

Once outside the temple, let’s walk to the nearby Gion district, where Hanamikoji Street is often recommended for spotting geishas. However, most people in kimonos are tourists, which might be disappointing. Don’t worry, though – if you’re interested in seeing authentic geishas, you can explore on your own after the tour ends instead of returning to your hotel with your guide.

► Hidden Spots to Meet Real Geishas by Yourself
Based on our expert insight, locate “Crown Restaurant” on Google Maps. Within a 100-meter radius, you’ll see geishas heading to teahouses around 9:00 PM. Why does Japan promote geisha culture to attract tourists, yet hesitate to reveal their authentic work? Private local teahouses often function as red-light districts, making them unsuitable for formal promotion in East Asian culture. For the return trip, you can take the 207 City Bus from nearby Shijo Keihan-mae Station - reachable in less than 25 minutes - to Subway Kujo Station near your hotel, or take a 15-minute taxi ride back.

► 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

In the early morning, your guide will meet you at the hotel to begin today’s visit to Fushimi Inari Shrine. Historically, daily life in Japan centered on farming, with rice as a dietary staple. As a result, Inari, the goddess of agriculture, is highly revered. Do you notice names of individuals or companies on the donated Senbon Torii? They are expressing their gratitude to the goddess for her blessings. Even the smallest torii gate costs about JPY 175,000 (USD 1,200).Around noon, your guide will accompany you on a train ride to Nara, renowned for its rich cultural heritage. The first stop is Nara Park, where you’ll encounter numerous adorable deer. Some are approachable and eagerly seek crackers, while others remain distant and indifferent. How clever are they? In the summer heat, they often seek cool air outside convenience stores, and some even press the buttons with their noses to get in.

Continue our steps to the 1,300-year-old Great Eastern Temple to marvel at the Great Buddha of Nara. As the central hub of Japan’s 68 Buddhist temples, it highlights Buddhism’s prominence in 8th-century society. However, Buddhism’s significant influence even strengthened the abbot’s political power, prompting the Emperor to move the capital to Kyoto and diminish the authority of Nara’s temples.

We’ll eventually head into the nearby primeval forest to visit Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Legend has it that the deity enshrined here arrived on a white deer, which explains why deer have been protected in Nara since ancient times. Observe closely—the stone lanterns are carved with reliefs of sika deer. Beyond its religious significance, the shrine houses an extensive collection of ritual objects, paintings, and sculptures that offer a glimpse into the artistic traditions of old Nara.

*If time allows, we’ll also explore the Goryo Shrine and Naramachi Lattice House in the historic district.

In the late afternoon, follow your guide on a return train ride to your hotel in Kyoto.

► 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

Today, your guide will escort you from your hotel to Nijo Castle, home to the Tokugawa shoguns from the 17th to 19th centuries. As a powerful symbol during its peak, the castle’s roofs and beams featured the Tokugawa family crest—the clover leaf. This led the Emperor to command the removal of any crest taller than the imperial one. Yet, one crest was too tall to be noticed and unexpectedly became a favorite photo spot. Follow your guide to discover it!

Later, we’ll take a train to Osaka, which many say is known mainly for its food and shopping, unlike Kyoto’s rich history. Still, our first stop, Osaka Castle, might change that perception. Built by the Japanese daimyo Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598 AD), it was designed to demonstrate his power after unifying Japan. Despite multiple destructions and reconstructions, its gates, towering walls, and expansive moats remain magnificent. Inside its Main Keep, you can learn about Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s life in detail and enjoy panoramic views of Osaka from the top.

As evening falls, the city transforms into a vibrant display of lights and flavors, making visits to Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi especially rewarding. Strolling along Dotonbori’s canal, the Glico Man sign creates a cinematic scene, while Hozen-ji Temple provides a peaceful break.

After a brief tour, your guide will escort you back to your hotel, or you may stay to enjoy the nightlife. Nearby Shinsaibashi Street offers abundant shopping and dining options, perfect for a nighttime exploration. Our handpicked hotel is only a 10-minute walk away, so you won’t worry about staying out late.

► 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, please walk independently from your hotel to Shinsaibashi Metro Station for 3 to 5 minutes. Then, take the Midosuji Line for 6 stops in 12 minutes to Shin-Osaka Station, then board a 1.5-hour bullet train to Hiroshima, with tickets reserved and included. Your local guide will meet you at Hiroshima Station and accompany you on a ferry trip to Miyajima Island.

As you sail across the sea, the vermilion Grand Torii Gate rises above the water, immediately drawing your attention. Upon reaching Itsukushima Shrine, observe how it harmonizes with the tides: during high tide, the main hall and corridors seem to float like a royal palace, while at low tide, you can walk up to the Grand Torii Gate. The shrine’s eye-catching red-and-white architecture, blending seamlessly with the natural seascape, often evokes a strong emotional connection to Japanese Shinto tradition.

In the afternoon, we’ll transfer to downtown Hiroshima. Though it was the first city ever struck by an atomic bomb, its scars have merged with vibrant parks, bustling markets, and communities dedicated to remembrance and education. Upon entering the Peace Memorial Park, you’ll see the iconic Atomic Bomb Dome, a UNESCO World Heritage site that stands as a stark reminder of the tragedy on August 6, 1945. Nearby, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum offers in-depth exhibits, including relics, photographs, and personal stories from survivors, leaving us profoundly moved by Hiroshima’s heavy history and inspired by its ongoing efforts toward peace. Before leaving, you can share your thoughts in the museum’s guestbook.

Let’s wrap up for today! Your guide will escort you to Hiroshima Station and provide your return train tickets to Osaka. Upon arrival, please return to the hotel on your own.

► Inclusions: Hotel breakfast

On your last day in Japan, check out on time and make your own way to Kansai International Airport. From either the 3- or 4-star hotel, take the Midosuji Line from Shinsaibashi Station for one stop to Namba Station, then take the Nankai Line Airport Express for about 45 minutes to the airport. We can also help arrange return tickets to Tokyo. Safe travels!

► Suggestions for Your Final Free Exploration in Osaka
If your flight schedule permits, you can visit Kuromon Market on your own by a short 10-minute taxi ride from your hotel. While primarily a tourist-focused shopping area, it offers a wonderful glimpse into Japan’s seasonal food traditions, such as strawberry daifuku during cherry blossom season and chestnut and matsutake mushroom dishes in autumn. Keep in mind, however, the food prices are typically double those in Dotonbori, so it’s better to prioritize sightseeing over eating.