Itinerary
- Day 1
Departure
Your journey starts as you fly out to Japan. It's a long flight, so settle in and get some rest if you can. You'll arrive refreshed and ready to explore.
- Day 2
Osaka to Kyoto
Touch down and your tour guide meets you at the airport. From there, it's a transfer to your hotel in Kyoto, which gives you time to check in, freshen up, and get oriented before dinner.
- Day 3
Kyoto
Kyoto's temples and shrines fill your day. You'll see Sanjusangendo with its 1,001 wooden statues, walk through the gardens at Heian Shrine, catch the iconic Silver Pavilion, and reach Fushimi-Inari Shrine. By evening, dinner at a traditional izakaya restaurant is included.
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional izakaya restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Sanjusangendo Buddhist temple
- Stroll through Heian Shrine gardens
- Visit Silver Pavilion
- Explore Fushimi-Inari Shrine
- Dinner at traditional izakaya restaurant
Landmarks Sanjusangendo Heian Shrine Silver Pavilion Fushimi-Inari Shrine - Day 4
Kyoto
Start with the emerald bamboo groves of Arashiyama, then visit Tenryuji Temple to see its Zen garden. The Golden Pavilion and historic Nijo Castle follow. After lunch, you can walk through Ninenzaka street up to Kiyomizu Temple and through Gion if interested. Optional shabu-shabu dinner and geisha performance available in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
- Explore Tenryuji Temple with Zen garden
- Visit Golden Pavilion
- Stroll through Nijo Castle and imperial gardens
- Visit Kodaiji Temple
Optional Activities
- Walk through Ninenzaka cobblestone street to Kiyomizu Temple
- Stroll through Gion old town district
- Japanese evening with shabu-shabu meat fondue dinner and Kyoto geisha (maiko) performance with souvenir photos - €170 per person (minimum 10 participants, booking required up to 6 weeks before departure)
Landmarks Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Tenryuji Golden Pavilion Nijo Castle Kodaiji Temple Ninenzaka Kiyomizu Temple Gion - Day 5
Kyoto to Koya-san
Drive to Nara to see the massive bronze Buddha at Todaiji Temple. Then board a bus to Koya-san, the sacred mountain temple site. Walk through Japan's most famous cemetery and visit Kongobuji main temple. You'll stay overnight in a traditional temple guesthouse with vegetarian dinner included.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Vegetarian dinner)
Included Activities
- Visit Todaiji Temple and large bronze Buddha statue
- Walk through Koya-san cemetery
- Visit Kongobuji Temple
- Overnight stay at traditional temple guesthouse
- Vegetarian dinner
Landmarks Todaiji Temple Koya-san Kongobuji Temple - Day 6
Koya-san to Oita
Early risers join Shingon ritual prayers with monks before breakfast. After a vegetarian morning meal, take the bus back to Osaka, then board the Shinkansen super express to Kokura on Kyushu island. Continue by regional express to Oita, stopping at UNESCO World Heritage Himeji Castle along the way to see Japan's largest and most beautiful castle.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Vegetarian breakfast)
Included Activities
- Shingon ritual prayers (early morning, optional)
- Vegetarian breakfast
- Visit Himeji Castle
Landmarks Himeji Castle - Day 7
Oita to Kumamoto
Morning visit to the colorful 'Sea Hell' hot spring in Beppu. Drive through cedar and bamboo forests into Aso-Kuju National Park's volcanic landscape. You'll pass extinct volcanic chains and reach the crater rim of the still-active Nakadake volcano. Later, arrive in Kumamoto to see its imposing castle complex.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit 'Sea Hell' hot spring
- Explore Aso-Kuju National Park
- View Nakadake volcano crater
- Visit Kumamoto Castle complex
Landmarks Sea Hell Aso-Kuju National Park Nakadake Kumamoto Castle - Day 8
Kumamoto to Nagasaki
Travel through charming countryside with rice terraces and fruit farms toward Nagasaki, Japan's gateway to the world historically. Check out Chinatown and the temple town of Teramachi with its Ming-era Sofukuji Temple. The Christian village of Urakami and Glover Park round out your afternoon and evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Nagasaki city
- Visit Chinatown
- Visit Teramachi temple town
- Visit Sofukuji Temple
- Explore Urakami Christian village
- Stroll through Glover Park
Landmarks Sofukuji Temple Glover Park - Day 9
Nagasaki to Hiroshima to Miyajima
Board the Shinkansen early from Nagasaki to Hiroshima. Spend time at the Peace Museum and walk through Peace Park. Travel by train and ferry to Miyajima island to see one of Japan's most beautiful shrines with its iconic red gate reflecting in the water at high tide. The group shares Japanese pizza for the meal.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Japanese pizza)
Included Activities
- Visit Peace Museum
- Walk through Peace Park
- Visit Miyajima island shrine
- Meal featuring Japanese pizza
Landmarks Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park Itsukushima Shrine Miyajima - Day 10
Hiroshima to Takayama
Take the Shinkansen to Nagoya, then regional express to Takayama. Your hotel includes a traditional Japanese onsen hot spring, and you'll have the option to soak and learn proper etiquette from your guide. Dinner highlights the region's famous Hida Beef.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Hida Beef)
Included Activities
- Dinner with Hida Beef
Optional Activities
- Evening soak in onsen hot spring baths with etiquette guidance from tour guide
Landmarks Takayama - Day 11
Takayama to Shirakawago
Morning starts at Takayama's market, then visit the old provincial administration building to learn about the Tokugawa shogunate. Explore the old town to find sake breweries and miso stores. Afternoon takes you to the UNESCO World Heritage village of Shirakawago with its charming thatched farmhouses.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Takayama morning market
- Visit old provincial administration
- Explore sake breweries and miso stores
- Visit Shirakawago UNESCO World Heritage village
Landmarks Takayama Shirakawago - Day 12
Shirakawago to Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park
See Matsumoto's landmark black castle, beautifully preserved from the 16th century. Continue to Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park where you might catch views of Mount Fuji-san. Evening brings time to soak in the hot springs and relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Matsumoto black castle
Optional Activities
- Evening hot spring bath in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park
Landmarks Matsumoto Castle Mount Fuji Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park - Day 13
Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park to Tokyo
Drive into the mountains around Lake Kawaguchi with potential views of Mount Fuji-san. Head to Kamakura to see the impressive 13.4-meter bronze Buddha statue. Arrive in Tokyo by late afternoon. Optional sumo wrestling show with professional wrestlers, history lesson, and traditional Chanko-nabe stew available in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Lake Kawaguchi and Mount Fuji views
- Visit Kamakura
- View bronze Buddha statue
Optional Activities
- Sumo wrestling show evening dinner with professional wrestlers, introduction to ritual wrestling history, Chanko-nabe stew (traditional sumo wrestler meal), and souvenir photos with wrestlers - €135 per person (minimum 4 participants, booking required up to 6 weeks before departure)
Landmarks Lake Kawaguchi Mount Fuji Kamakura Great Buddha of Kamakura - Day 14
Tokyo to Nikko
Optional excursion to Nikko National Park. See intricate carvings at Toshogu Shrine and learn how Buddhism and Shintoism fused in Japan. Visit the 97-meter-high Kegon waterfall on Lake Chuzenji. An evening group dinner lets everyone reflect on the trip so far.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Nikko National Park excursion including Toshogu Shrine, Kegon waterfall, and Lake Chuzenji - €135 per person (minimum 4 participants, booking required up to 6 weeks before departure)
Landmarks Toshogu Shrine Nikko National Park Kegon waterfall Lake Chuzenji - Day 15
Tokyo
Tokyo is yours to explore independently or with optional activities. Consider visiting Meiji Shrine, taking a boat trip along Tokyo's banks, checking out the famous Kannon Temple in Asakusa, ascending Tokyo Skytree in a high-speed elevator to 450 meters for views, or experiencing Shibuya Crossing's energy.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Tokyo excursion including Meiji Shrine, boat trip along Tokyo banks, Kannon Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree ascent to 450 meters with panoramic views, and Shibuya Crossing visit - €135 per person (minimum 4 participants, booking required up to 6 weeks before departure)
Landmarks Meiji Shrine Kannon Temple Tokyo Skytree Shibuya Crossing - Day 16
Tokyo to Home
A shared bus transfer takes you to the international airport. After your incredible journey through Japan, you're headed back home with plenty of memories.
