Itinerary
- Day 1
Tokyo
Your private driver picks you up at Tokyo's airport and takes you to your hotel. After you get settled in, spend the day getting used to the city at your own pace. Try some Japanese food and just wander around to get a feel for things.
- Start point
- Japan (Tokyo)
Optional Activities
- Explore Tokyo on your own
- Dine at local Japanese restaurants
- Day 2
Tokyo
A local guide shows you around Tokyo's main spots. You'll start at Meiji Jingu shrine in a quiet forest setting, then head to Senso-ji, Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple. After passing through the Thunder Gate, you'll walk the busy Nakamise shopping street. The day also includes seeing Tokyo Skytree and exploring Shinjuku's food street in the evening with your guide pointing out the highlights.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Meiji Jingu shrine and Inner Garden
- Visit Senso-ji Buddhist temple
- Explore Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate)
- Stroll through Nakamise shopping street
- View Tokyo Skytree
- Culinary journey along Shinjuku's food street
Landmarks Meiji Jingu Senso-ji Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) Nakamise shopping street Tokyo Skytree - Day 3
Tokyo
You'll spend your morning in a three-hour cooking class with a chef who teaches you how to prepare several dishes like Accordion Cucumber Salad, Shiratamadango, and sukiyaki hot pot. Whatever you cook becomes your lunch, so you get to sit down and eat what you made.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch prepared during cooking class)
Included Activities
- Three-hour Japanese cooking class with expert chef
- Learn to prepare Accordion Cucumber Salad
- Learn to prepare Shiratamadango (sticky rice dumplings with matcha syrup)
- Learn to prepare sukiyaki hot pot
- Day 4
Tokyo to Hakone
After breakfast, your driver takes you about 1.5 hours to Kawaguchiko Lake near Mount Fuji. You can either take a cruise on the lake or ride the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway to see the views. Next you'll visit Oshino Hakkai and Arakurayama Sengen Shrine. Then it's another 1.5-hour drive to Hakone, where you check into an onsen ryokan and relax in your private hot spring bath.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway or lake cruise at Kawaguchiko Lake
- Visit Oshino Hakkai
- Visit Arakurayama Sengen Shrine
- Private hot spring bath at onsen ryokan
Landmarks Kawaguchiko Lake Mount Fuji Oshino Hakkai Arakurayama Sengen Shrine 
- Day 5
Hakone
Spend the day in Hakone on your own schedule. Soak in the hot springs while looking at the mountains around you. If you want to get out and do things, your Hakone Free Pass gives you access to local transportation and discounted entry to places like the Open-Air Museum, the ropeway over Owakudani, or a cruise on Lake Ashi.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Relax in hot spring at ryokan
Optional Activities
- Visit Hakone Open-Air Museum
- Ropeway ride over Owakudani hot spring sulfur fields
- Scenic cruise around Lake Ashi
- Independent exploration of Hakone with Hakone Free Pass
Landmarks Hakone Open-Air Museum Owakudani Lake Ashi - Day 6
Hakone to Kyoto
After breakfast, continue exploring Hakone with your free pass. In the afternoon, you'll take a 2-hour Shinkansen train ride to Kyoto, Japan's old capital. Check into your hotel and the rest of the day is yours to do what you like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Independent exploration of Hakone with Hakone Free Pass
- Day 7
Kyoto
Your guide takes you through Kyoto's UNESCO sites. You'll see the golden Kinkaku-ji temple, the large Nijo Castle which used to be the Tokugawa Shogunate's seat, and the famous Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine with its thousands of red torii gates. Later you'll taste sake at the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum and learn how sake is made.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Kinkaku-ji (Golden Temple)
- Visit Nijo Castle
- Visit Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine
- Sake-tasting experience at Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum
Landmarks Kinkaku-ji Nijo Castle Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum 
- Day 8
Kyoto
You'll take a 25-minute ride on the Sagano Romantic Train to Kameoka, then come back on a traditional Yakatabune boat cruise along the Hozugawa River, which takes about two hours. In the evening, there's a private maiko dinner show arranged just for you at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sagano Romantic Train ride to Kameoka (25 minutes)
- Yakatabune traditional boat cruise along Hozugawa River (2 hours)
- Private maiko dinner show at fine restaurant
Landmarks Arashiyama Hozugawa River 
- Day 9
Kyoto to Izu Oshima
A 3-hour Shinkansen train takes you to Atami on the coast. From there, you'll take a 45-minute ferry to the quiet island of Izu Oshima. After you check in, spend some time getting a feel for the island's natural side.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Izu Oshima's natural beauty on your own
Landmarks Izu Oshima 
- Day 10
Izu Oshima
You have the day to yourself on Izu Oshima. Soak in the volcanic hot springs, relax on the beach, or try snorkeling and scuba diving to see the tropical sea life. Check out the northern or western coast of the island and pick activities based on what interests you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Soak in volcanic hot spring baths
- Bask on the beach
- Snorkeling
- Scuba diving
- Explore island's northern coast
- Explore island's western coast
- Day 11
Izu Oshima
Explore the island at your own pace. Walk around the fishing town and check out the Museum of Volcanoes. If you're up for something more active, hike up Mount Mihara, which is 758 meters tall, to see the volcano up close.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore fishing town
- Visit Museum of Volcanoes
- Hike up Mount Mihara (758 meters)
Landmarks Museum of Volcanoes Mount Mihara - Day 12
Izu Oshima to Tokyo
Sleep in a bit before catching a high-speed ferry back to Tokyo, which takes about 2 hours. The rest of the day is free for you to wander around Tokyo and pick up any last-minute souvenirs before you leave.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Shopping in Tokyo
- Explore Tokyo
- Day 13
Departure
After breakfast, it's time to head out and end your Japan trip. You leave with memories of everything you've done over the past week.
- End point
- Japan (Tokyo)
- Meals
- Breakfast
