Essence of Japan

Upon your arrival at either Narita or Haneda Airport in Tokyo, our English-speaking assistant will greet you and assist you in getting to our handpicked hotel via a shared car, which operates until 20:30. For later arrivals, please arrange your own transfer to the hotel or reserve a private pickup with us.

If you want to spend your free time enjoying Tokyo’s night views, it’s recommended to take the metro to Tokyo Tower and go up to the observation deck for a panoramic view of Tokyo.

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

Today, you’ll first join your guide for a morning tour of the Tsukiji Outer Market, Japan’s top seafood market, whose vast size and wide variety of goods will impress you. During our walk here, your guide will be happy to recommend famous restaurants where you can enjoy local specialties, such as sushi or Teppanyaki.

Our next destination is the Meiji Jingu Shrine, a stately shrine that has become a sacred site for traditional Japanese weddings. Surrounded by extensive forests, this location is beautiful and peaceful, featuring a seasonal iris garden.

Then, we’ll visit the Imperial Palace, the residence of Japanese emperors and their families since 1868, when the capital moved from Kyoto to Tokyo and Japan began its westernization. Surrounded by a moat and tucked away among trees, it’s like a peaceful oasis in the busy metropolis. Today, our knowledgeable guide will take you for a stroll along its outer perimeter, where you’ll see many iconic sites, such as the Niju-bashi Bridge, which leads to the inner palace.After lunch, let’s head to Senso-ji Temple, the oldest temple in Tokyo, which dates back to the 7th century. It was built to worship Kannon, the bodhisattva of mercy and compassion. Stroll through the Kaminarimon Gate and Nakamise-dori Street to reach the temple. Lined with various food stalls and souvenir shops, Nakamise-dori is an over-200-meter-long lively ancient street before the holy grounds. Besides showing respect to the Buddha, visitors also come from everywhere to have their fortune told by drawing a paper slip of Omikuji, or “god’s messages”. Here, you’ll also get an incredible view of the Tokyo Skytree - the tallest tower in Japan - to the east. Finally, the guide will escort you back to the hotel.

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

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at the hotel and take you to Odawara by train, where the Hakone mountain train will then ascend so you can enjoy Hakone’s beautiful scenery. Take the Hakone Ropeway at Sounzan Station to Owakudani Valley. From its observation deck, you can see constantly erupting volcanic plumes and the snow-capped summit of Mt. Fuji rising in the distance.

Continue along the ropeway with panoramic views of Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi, and you’ll understand why Mount Fuji, one of the world’s largest active volcanoes, is considered a sacred mountain by the Japanese and a national symbol. Upon arrival at Togendai Port, follow your guide to board a Lake Ashi Cruise for a relaxing afternoon experience. Floating on the turquoise waters, the vermilion torii gate of Hakone Shrine by the lakeside, with Mount Fuji in the background, exudes pure elegance and peace.

As today’s tour ends, the guide will take you back to Odawara by local bus for the night.
 
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Tenseien Odawara Station Annex (4 stars) or similar

This morning, check out and walk a short distance from your hotel to Odawara Station by yourself, where a two-hour train ride (ticket reserved and included) will take you to Japan’s historic capital, Kyoto. Upon arrival, the Kyoto guide will first take you to see the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, also known as the Kinkaku-ji Temple, named after its three-story Sarira Pavilion, which is covered in pure gold foil.Then, continue our journey to the Pure Water Temple, the oldest and grandest Buddhist temple in Kyoto. Afterwards, wander through the traditional vibe of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka Streets, which feature eateries, cafes, and craft shops in quaint wooden houses lining both sides. In half an hour, we’ll stop by Yasaka Shrine to learn about the Japanese God of Storm enshrined there, then take a walk through the Gion area, the perfect place to experience geisha culture. If you’re lucky, you might glimpse dressed-up geishas on their way to antique teahouses to entertain. Originating from the Edo Period (1603–1867), the Gion district, with its well-preserved ancient buildings, will take you back in time. The tour will end in the district, and you’ll be escorted back to the hotel. Also, you can explore the area for dinner before returning to your hotel on your own. If you need any recommendations or assistance, please don’t hesitate to ask your guide.

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

In the morning, let’s visit Fushimi Inari Shrine early to avoid crowds. This Shinto shrine complex, located from the base of Mt. Inari into its dense woods, is famous for the ten thousand red torii gates that line the walking trails. These torii gates mark the entrance into a sacred realm where Shinto deities are believed to dwell. It’s thought that anyone crossing this boundary will receive blessings from divine powers.

After taking a train to Nara, check into your hotel and follow the guide to explore Nara Park, a vast green space where nature and human civilization coexist peacefully. Several historic temples and shrines surround the park. We will visit some of the main sites, including the Great Eastern Temple (Todai-ji Temple) and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, which dates back to 768 AD. As the most famous shrine in Nara, it features 3,000 stone lanterns lining the approach. Besides the ancient architecture and religious art, the highlight is the deer roaming freely through the area. You can buy deer biscuits to feed them and take pictures with these gentle, adorable animals.Then, we’ll explore the Naramachi neighborhood, where authentic local life unfolds among charming alleys and traditional buildings. Pay a short visit to Goryo Shrine, see delicate local homes lining the narrow streets, and visit the Naramachi Lattice House to satisfy your curiosity about traditional Japanese residences. Admire its well-designed lattice façade, tatami tearoom, small patio, storage areas, and other functional spaces. Finally, the guide will escort you back to Kyoto.

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

Today, let’s explore our final stop in Kyoto: Nijo Castle, the residence of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, built in 1603 AD. Walk through the ruins of Honmaru Palace and admire the well-preserved architecture and murals of Ninomaru Palace. Walking on the ‘Nightingale Floor’ in the corridors is especially interesting because it makes a chirping sound as you walk, caused by the friction between nails and boards under the floor. One theory suggests it was designed to detect intruders quickly.

Afterward, we’ll head to Osaka by train. When you arrive, the guide will take you deep into local life as you visit Osaka’s most popular and historic marketplace, Kuromon Market, which is filled with various shops selling fresh seafood, fruits, and vegetables. Next, we’ll go to Osaka Castle and the surrounding park. Explore this castle, renowned for its significant historical importance, which is one of the three largest ancient castles in Japan. You’ll be impressed by the romantic scene if you visit during the cherry blossom season. The guide will point out the best spot to photograph the towering castle with pink flowers in the foreground.

In the late afternoon, visit Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori, Osaka’s most lively areas for shopping and dining. These places showcase the vibrant side of Osaka and even Japan. Dotonbori, a food street along a canal, is considered a symbol of Japan’s food culture. Your guide will leave after providing a brief introduction, and you can spend your free time exploring the area, trying local snacks for dinner, walking under the neon lights, and then returning to your hotel on your own.

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

It’s time to say goodbye to your Japan group tour. You can ask your guide for advice ahead of time on how to get to the airport efficiently and affordably. We wish you a pleasant journey home.

Meals: Breakfast