Itinerary
- Day 1
Tokyo
You'll arrive in Tokyo and head to the Asakusa View Hotel for afternoon check-in. After you get settled, the rest of the day is yours to wander around the city at your own pace and get a feel for things.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
- Day 2
Tokyo
Today covers Tokyo's main attractions. You'll stop for photos at the Imperial Palace, then head to Meiji Shrine tucked into a wooded area. From there, walk through Harajuku's fashion scene on Takeshita Street, see the Buddhist Kannon temple Sensoji in Asakusa, and finish with views from Tokyo Sky Tree or Mori Tower in Roppongi.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Photo stop at Imperial Palace on Nijubashi Bridge
- Visit Meiji Shrine
- Explore Harajuku fashion district on Takeshita Street
- Visit Buddhist Kannon temple Sensoji in Asakusa
- Walk along Nakamise-dori shopping street
- Pass through Thunder Gate
- View Tokyo's Sky Tree television tower from Sumida River banks
- Visit viewing platform (Mori Tower in Roppongi or Azabudai Hills)
Landmarks Imperial Palace Nijubashi Bridge Meiji Shrine Takeshita Street Sensoji Temple Nakamise-dori Thunder Gate Tokyo Skytree Mori Tower Azabudai Hills 
- Day 3
Tokyo
You have the option to explore Tokyo on your own or take an optional trip to Nikko. If you go, you'll see UNESCO-listed shrine and temple complexes like the 17th century Toshogu Shrine with detailed wood carvings and Rinnoji Temple. An optional evening with traditional dinner and geisha visit is also available.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Optional bus excursion to Nikko
- Visit Toshogu Shrine and view wood carvings
- Visit Rinnoji Temple and view wooden Buddha figures
- Optional Japanese evening with traditional Japanese dinner and geisha visit
Landmarks Nikko National Park Toshogu Shrine Rinnoji Temple 
- Day 4
Kamakura to Hakone
A one-hour bus ride takes you to Kamakura on the Pacific coast. You'll visit Hasedera Temple with its gardens and Japan's largest Kannon statue, then see the famous Great Buddha. Later, a boat tour takes you through bamboo and cedar forests and rice fields to Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park for Mount Fuji views.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Bus ride to Kamakura
- Visit Hasedera Temple and walk through enchanting gardens
- View largest Kannon statue in Japan
- Visit Great Buddha of Kamakura
- Boat tour through Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park (weather permitting)
Landmarks Hasedera Temple Great Buddha of Kamakura Mount Fuji Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park 
- Day 5
Matsumoto to Nagano
You'll travel by bus through scenic routes to Matsumoto to see one of Japan's most beautifully preserved castles, also called the Crow Castle. In the afternoon, continue to Nagano, the 1998 Winter Olympics venue, to visit Zenkoji Temple, a popular Buddhist pilgrimage site.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Scenic bus ride to Matsumoto
- Visit Matsumoto Castle (Crow Castle)
- Travel to Nagano
- Visit Zenkoji Temple
Landmarks Matsumoto Castle Zenkoji Temple 
- Day 6
Nagano to Takayama
Morning brings a bus ride to Jigokudani Monkey Park at Yamanouchi hot springs where you can watch snow monkeys bathing in the springs. Late afternoon you'll reach Takayama at the foot of the Japanese Alps with panoramic views of the 3,000-metre-high mountain range on clear days.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Bus ride to Jigokudani Monkey Park
- Observe snow monkeys bathing in hot springs
Landmarks Jigokudani Monkey Park Japanese Alps 
- Day 7
Takayama to Shirakawa-go
Start at Takayama's morning market to see regional products, then visit the old provincial administration building for insights into Tokugawa shogunate culture. You'll stroll through the old town past sake breweries and miso stores. After that, travel to Shirakawa-go mountain village with its traditional thatched farmhouses before returning to Takayama for another night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit morning market in Takayama
- Visit old provincial administration building
- Stroll through old town streets with sake breweries and miso stores
- Travel to Shirakawa-go
- Explore UNESCO World Heritage village with traditional thatched farmhouses
Landmarks Shirakawa-go 
- Day 8
Takayama to Kyoto via Ise
A several-hour bus ride via Nagoya takes you to Ise on the Pacific coast. You'll visit the time-honored Naiku Shrine, the most important shrine of Shinto religion dedicated to the sun goddess. Afternoon brings a trip to Kyoto where you'll spend the evening exploring the old imperial city and checking out its culinary scene.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Several-hour bus ride via Nagoya to Ise
- Visit Naiku Shrine
Optional Activities
- Explore old imperial city of Kyoto in evening
Landmarks Naiku Shrine 
- Day 9
Kyoto
Kyoto's cultural sites are on today's agenda. You'll see Ryoanji Temple with its famous Zen garden, the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji), and Nijo residence of the Tokugawa shogunate. Visit Fushimi-Inari Shrine with its impressive shrine gate galleries, then end the day exploring Shijo and Kawaramachi streets for shopping and trying local food at Nishiki-dori market street.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ryoanji Temple with famous Zen garden
- Visit Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji)
- Visit Nijo residence of Tokugawa shogunate
- Visit Fushimi-Inari Shrine with shrine gate galleries
- Explore Shijo and Kawaramachi streets for shopping
- Visit Nishiki-dori traditional market street
Landmarks Ryoanji Temple Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji) Nijo Castle Fushimi-Inari Shrine Nishiki-dori - Day 10
Kyoto
You have the option to explore Kyoto on your own or join an optional excursion to Uji and Nara. The excursion includes Byodoin Phoenix Hall with its Amida Buddha statue near Uji's tea cultivation area, and Nara where you'll see the Great Buddha in Todaiji Temple (the world's largest wooden building), plus Nara Park with tame red deer and the 42-metre-high pagoda.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Optional excursion package to Uji
- Visit Byodoin Phoenix Hall and Amida Buddha statue
- Explore Uji's tea cultivation area and paradise garden
- Travel to Nara
- Visit Todaiji Temple and view the Great Buddha
- Explore Nara Park and observe tame red deer
- View 42-metre-high pagoda at Kofukuji Temple
- View rebuilt Golden Hall of Kofukuji Temple complex
Landmarks Byodoin Temple Todaiji Temple Nara Park Kofukuji Temple 
- Day 11
Kyoto to Hiroshima via Himeji
You'll leave Kyoto by bus toward Hiroshima with a stop in Himeji to see the White Heron Castle, Japan's largest and most beautiful castle recently restored. Late afternoon brings arrival in Hiroshima. Note that you should bring only light hand luggage since main luggage will be sent ahead by courier.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Bus ride from Kyoto towards Hiroshima
- Visit Himeji Castle (White Heron Castle)
Landmarks Himeji Castle 
- Day 12
Hiroshima to Osaka
Start your day in Hiroshima at Peace Park with memorials and the Atomic Bomb Dome. About 1 hour later via streetcar and ferry, you'll reach the sacred island of Miyajima to see the famous Itsukushima Shrine gate reflected in water at high tide. Late afternoon brings the Shinkansen Super Express bullet train to Osaka, a comfortable ride on the world's first high-speed rail system.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Peace Park and memorials in Hiroshima
- Visit Atomic Bomb Dome
- Streetcar and ferry to Miyajima
- View famous gate of Itsukushima Shrine
- Shinkansen Super Express train to Osaka (reserved seats 2nd class)
Landmarks Peace Memorial Park Atomic Bomb Dome Miyajima Island Itsukushima Shrine - Day 13
Osaka
You'll transfer to the airport on your own and begin your individual departure from Osaka.
- Meals
- Breakfast
