Itinerary
- Intro
Introduction
- Day 1
Tokyo
Tokyo- Meals
- Dinner (Izakaya style Japanese cuisine at a nearby local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Sunroute Asakusa Hotel)
Included Activities
- Welcome meeting with tour leader (6:30pm, if arriving in time)
- Dinner at local izakaya restaurant
- Day 2
Tokyo
Tokyo- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Sunroute Asakusa Hotel)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Tokyo neighbourhoods (Nippori, Yanesen, Nezu, Ueno market)
- IC transport card with unlimited public transport travel
Optional Activities
- Visit Meiji Shrine
- Explore Shinjuku area with electronic shops
- Boat ride along Sumida River
Landmarks Meiji Shrine Ueno Market Sumida River Shinjuku - Day 3
Tokyo to Matsumoto
Tokyo to Matsumoto- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Iroha Grand Hotel)
Included Activities
- Express train journey from Shinjuku to Matsumoto through Japanese Alps
- Visit Matsumoto Castle (Crow Castle) and exploration of grounds
- Stroll through historic quarter
Optional Activities
- Visit Matsumoto City Museum of Art (includes Yayoi Kusama collections)
Landmarks Matsumoto Castle Matsumoto City Museum of Art - Day 4
Matsumoto - Magome - Tsumago to Kyoto
Matsumoto - Magome - Tsumago to Kyoto- Meals
- Lunch (Picnic lunch during hike)
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Miyako City Kintetsu Kyoto Station)
Included Activities
- Train to Nakatsugawa
- Public bus to Magome (approximately 30 minutes)
- Hike on Nakasendo Way from Magome to Tsumago through Kiso Valley
- Exploration of Edo-period post towns
- Express train from Tsumago to Nagoya
- Shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto
Landmarks Magome Tsumago Kiso Valley Nakasendo Way - Day 5
Kyoto
Kyoto- Meals
- Lunch (Street food at Nishiki Market including fresh seafood, seasonal fruits, tempura, sushi, or Japanese dumplings (gyoza))
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Miyako City Kintetsu Kyoto Station)
Included Activities
- Walking tour in Higashiyama District
- Walk along Philosophers Path
- Visit Silver Pavilion
- Visit Eikando temple
- Public bus to Nishiki Market
- Walking through Pontocho district
- Walk along Kamo River
- Walking through Gion district
- Walking to Kiyomizu district
Optional Activities
- Visit Kiyomizu Dera Temple
- Shopping in Ninenzaka and Sanenzaka Edo shopping streets
- Enjoy view from rooftop bar
Landmarks Philosophers Path Silver Pavilion Eikando Temple Nishiki Market Pontocho District Kamo River Gion District Kiyomizu District Kiyomizu Dera Temple Ninenzaka and Sanenzaka Streets - Day 6
Kyoto to Nara to Uji
Kyoto to Nara to Uji- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Miyako City Kintetsu Kyoto Station)
Included Activities
- Train to Nara
- Walking tour around Nara parks and city
- Visit Todaiji temple with world's largest Bronze Buddha
- Visit Kasuga Taisha shrine
- Train to Uji
- Visit Byodoin Temple
- Matcha tea tasting with sweets and ice cream
- Train back to Kyoto
Landmarks Todaiji Temple Kasuga Taisha Shrine Byodoin Temple - Day 7
Kyoto to Kii Peninsula to Tanabe
Kyoto to Kii Peninsula to Tanabe- Accommodation
- Hotel (Yunomineso)
Included Activities
- Train and bus to Takijiri-Oji
- Hike through ancient forest on Kumano Kodo to Takahara
- Transfer by vehicle to Tanabe
- Accommodation at ryokan with communal onsen bathing
Optional Activities
- Use private baths if available (cannot be pre-booked)
Landmarks Kumano Kodo Hongu Taisha Nachi Taisha Hayatama Taisha Takahara - Day 8
Tanabe - Kumano Kodo walk to Chikatsuyu
Tanabe - Kumano Kodo walk to Chikatsuyu- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at a rest station en route)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Yunomineso)
Included Activities
- Minibus to Takahara
- Hike on Kumano Kodo to Chikatsuyu
- Pass ruins of Uwada-jaya Teahouse
- Cross Hashiori-toge Pass with Gyubadoji statue
- Included lunch at rest station
Landmarks Hashiori-toge Pass Gyubadoji Statue Chikatsuyu - Day 9
Hosshinmon to Hongu Taisha
Hosshinmon to Hongu Taisha- Accommodation
- Hotel (Yunomineso)
Included Activities
- Guided hike from Hosshinmon to Hongu Taisha (7 kilometres/4.4 miles, approximately 3 hours 30 minutes)
- Visit Hongu Taisha shrine and view the largest torii gate in Japan
- Visit Hongu World Heritage Centre for exhibition on Kumano area
- Hot spring bath at Kawayu Onsen
Optional Activities
- Take public bus for part of today's route to shorten the hike
Landmarks Hongu Taisha Hongu World Heritage Centre Kumano Kodo Kawayu Onsen - Day 10
Kumano River - Hatayama Taisha - Nachi Taisha - Kii-Katsuura
Kumano River - Hatayama Taisha - Nachi Taisha - Kii-Katsuura- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant), Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant in Kii-Katsuura, early evening)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Pal's Inn)
Included Activities
- Boat trip along the Kumano River to Hatayama Taisha
- Visit Hatayama Taisha shrine
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- Walk from Daimonzaka Chushajo to Kumano Nachi Taisha (approximately 1 hour, 3 kilometres/1.9 miles)
- Experience the Daimonzaka cobbled stairway (600 metres/1,969 feet with 267 stairs)
- Visit Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine
- View Nachi-no-Otaki waterfall (Japan's tallest waterfall)
- Dinner at a local restaurant in Kii-Katsuura
Landmarks Kumano River Hatayama Taisha Daimonzaka Kumano Nachi Taisha Nachi-no-Otaki 
- Day 11
Kii-Katsuura to Osaka
Kii-Katsuura to Osaka- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Karaksa Hotel Grande Shin-Osaka Tower)
Included Activities
- Optional guided walk around Kii-Katsuura town with tour leader
- Visit to early-morning fish market
Optional Activities
- Explore Osaka's local cuisine and street food (octopus balls, okonomiyaki, sushi)
- Additional exploration of Osaka beyond included itinerary
Landmarks Kii-Katsuura Fish Market - Day 12
Osaka
Osaka- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Optional Activities
- Visit Instant Ramen Museum and create custom cup noodles
- Explore Namba district with covered arcades and canals
Landmarks Instant Ramen Museum Namba District
