Itinerary
- Day 1
Tokyo
You'll arrive in Tokyo, Japan's capital, with time to settle in. Hotel check-in happens in the mid-afternoon, so you can get to your room, freshen up, and start getting oriented to the city. This evening is yours to relax or explore nearby neighborhoods if you have the energy.
- Day 2
Tokyo
Meet your tour director and fellow travelers this morning before heading out for sightseeing. You'll start at Meiji Shrine, a 20th-century Shinto monument set within a man-made forest. From there, head to Shinjuku Gyoen Garden, where about a thousand cherry blossom trees create a peaceful setting. Next stop is Asakusa Kannon Temple, followed by wandering through the Nakamise shopping arcade. The rest of your afternoon is free to do whatever you'd like around the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Meiji Shrine
- Visit Shinjuku Gyoen Garden
- Visit Asakusa Kannon Temple
- Browse Nakamise shopping arcade
Landmarks Meiji Shrine Shinjuku Gyoen Garden Asakusa Kannon Temple Nakamise shopping arcade - Day 3
Tokyo
Today is completely yours. Tokyo is a sprawling metropolis with plenty to discover on your own terms, whether that's checking out neighborhoods, shopping districts, museums, or just grabbing food and walking around. You'll have the full day without any scheduled activities or tour group obligations.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 4
Tokyo to Mount Fuji Area
You'll leave Tokyo and head south along the coast toward the Five Lakes region. Once you arrive, take a cable-car ride that gives you panoramic views of Lake Kawaguchi and Mount Fuji rising in the distance. Later, head to Chureito Pagoda, where you'll get that classic photo opportunity with the iconic pagoda and Mount Fuji together in one frame.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Cable-car ride for views of Lake Kawaguchi and Mount Fuji
- Visit Chureito Pagoda
Landmarks Lake Kawaguchi Mount Fuji Chureito Pagoda 
- Day 5
Mount Fuji Area to Osaka
You'll board Japan's famous shinkansen bullet train heading to Osaka. Once you arrive, your tour director takes you on a walking tour through Minami, where you'll see the fashionable shopping and dining districts of Shinsaibashi, Namba, and Dotonbori. After the tour wraps up, the rest of the evening is yours to explore the city however you'd like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Shinkansen (bullet train) to Osaka
- Walking tour of Minami district (Shinsaibashi, Namba, Dotonbori)
Landmarks Shinsaibashi Namba Dotonbori 
- Day 6
Osaka
This morning you head to the Open-Air Museum of Old Japanese Farmhouses to check out traditional thatched-roof structures from the Edo period. From there, you'll go to Osaka Castle to walk around its grounds and see the architecture up close. The afternoon and evening are free, so you can spend time however you want, or head back to Dotonbori for local food and the neon-lit nightlife.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Open-Air Museum of Old Japanese Farmhouses
- Osaka Castle sightseeing tour
Optional Activities
- Evening exploration of Dotonbori for local cuisine and nightlife
Landmarks Open-Air Museum of Old Japanese Farmhouses Osaka Castle Dotonbori - Day 7
Osaka - Okayama - Kurashiki - Hiroshima
You'll drive south to Okayama and visit Koraku-en, one of Japan's Three Great Gardens, where you can walk through 30 acres of ponds, plum groves, and tea fields. Next you head to Kurashiki for free time in the Bikan Historical Quarter, where canal-lined white-washed stone streets give you a feel for the Edo period. Later you travel on to Hiroshima.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Koraku-en garden visit
- Free time in Bikan Historical Quarter, Kurashiki
Landmarks Koraku-en Bikan Historical Quarter 
- Day 8
Hiroshima
This full day focuses on two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You'll start at Peace Memorial Park, where you'll see the Atomic Bomb Dome preserved from August 6, 1945, and visit both the Memorial Museum and Memorial Hall. Lunch features okonomiyaki, a Japanese-style savory pancake. After that, travel to Miyajima Island to visit Itsukushima Shrine, known for its beautiful floating Torii Gate.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Okonomiyaki, a Japanese-style savory pancake)
Included Activities
- Visit Peace Memorial Park
- Visit Atomic Bomb Dome
- Visit Memorial Museum
- Visit Memorial Hall
- Lunch featuring okonomiyaki
- Visit Itsukushima Shrine
- See floating Torii Gate
Landmarks Peace Memorial Park Atomic Bomb Dome Memorial Museum Itsukushima Shrine - Day 9
Hiroshima - Bizen - Himeji - Kyoto
The drive north takes you to Bizen, where you'll visit a traditional pottery workshop and learn about Bizen-yaki, one of Japan's six ancient pottery styles. After that, you stop in Himeji to see Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with early 17th-century Japanese castle architecture. From there you continue on to Kyoto. If you're interested, a traditional Japanese ryokan stay is available with pre-booking and an extra fee.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Traditional pottery workshop visit in Bizen
- Himeji Castle visit
Optional Activities
- Overnight stay at a traditional Japanese ryokan with traditional Japanese dinner and breakfast included (additional fee, pre-booking required)
Landmarks Bizen pottery workshop Himeji Castle 
- Day 10
Kyoto
You start the day at Kinkakuji, the Temple of the Gold Pavilion, covered in shimmering gold leaf. Then you walk through bustling Nishiki Market with over one hundred shops and restaurants. Later you participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. After lunch, you visit Sanjusajendo Temple with its 1,001 statues of Kannon and Fushimi Inari Shrine with its thousands of brightly colored torii gates. You'll finish with a walking tour through Gion, Kyoto's famous geisha district.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Kinkakuji (Temple of the Gold Pavilion) visit
- Nishiki Market walking tour
- Japanese tea ceremony
- Sanjusajendo Temple visit
- Fushimi Inari Shrine visit
- Walking tour of Gion geisha district
- Local Japanese treat sampling
Landmarks Kinkakuji Nishiki Market Sanjusajendo Temple Fushimi Inari Shrine Gion - Day 11
Kyoto
You have the full day free to explore more of Kyoto's historic sites and shrines at your own pace. If you'd like, there's an optional afternoon trip to Nara Park, where you can see free-roaming deer wandering around shrines and temples.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Optional afternoon trip to Nara Park
Landmarks Nara Park - Day 12
Kyoto
Your tour ends this morning after breakfast. You'll head to the airport or your next destination, taking the memories and experiences from your Japan journey with you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
