Itinerary
- Day 1
Tokyo
After you clear customs, a shared shuttle will take you to your hotel. The rest of the day is open for you to settle in and get comfortable. You'll get your tour details in the afternoon.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shinagawa Prince Hotel)
- Day 2
Tokyo
You'll spend five hours on a guided city tour through Tokyo's neighborhoods and temples. The route covers Zojoji Temple with Tokyo Tower views, Shibuya Crossing, Meiji Shrine, Omotesando Avenue, Imperial Palace gardens, and Nijubashi Bridge. Then you'll head through Akihabara's electronics district, go up Tokyo Skytree for the views, and check out Sensoji Temple and Nakamise Street in Asakusa. By evening, take the subway to Shinjuku for a walk and dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant in Shinjuku)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shinagawa Prince Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided five-hour city tour through Tokyo
- Visit Zojoji Temple
- Shibuya Crossing
- Meiji Shrine
- Omotesando Avenue
- Imperial Palace and gardens
- Nijubashi Bridge
- Tokyo Skytree with admission
- Sensoji Temple
- Nakamise Street
- Subway to Shinjuku area
- Walk through Shinjuku district
- Dinner at local restaurant
Landmarks Zojoji Temple Tokyo Tower Shibuya Crossing Meiji Shrine Omotesando Avenue Imperial Palace Nijubashi Bridge Akihabara Tokyo Skytree Sensoji Temple Nakamise Street Shinjuku 
- Day 3
Tokyo to Mount Fuji - Kawaguchiko
Your day heads toward Mount Fuji, starting at Arakurayama Sengen Park to see the pagodas and mountain scenery. From there you'll go to Kawaguchiko, a lakeside town, and visit Fuji Sengen Shrine. After a boat ride on Lake Kawaguchiko, you'll drive toward Mount Fuji's Fifth Station, climbing to 2,305 meters through forested areas. You'll stay overnight at a traditional ryokan where you can use the hot spring bath.
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional Japanese dinner included)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Fuji View Hotel Kawaguchiko)
Included Activities
- Visit Arakurayama Sengen Park
- Visit Fuji Sengen Shrine
- Boat ride on Lake Kawaguchiko
- Drive to Mount Fuji Fifth Station
Landmarks Arakurayama Sengen Park Mount Fuji Lake Kawaguchiko Fuji Sengen Shrine Mount Fuji Fifth Station 
- Day 4
Kawaguchiko to Kyoto
You'll follow scenic roads around lakes to reach Iyashi no Sato Nenba, a restored village that was destroyed by typhoon in 1966 and now has traditional houses converted to shops and cultural exhibits. Next is Shiraito Falls, a 20-meter cascade worth seeing. The route continues to Nagano where you can tour the Toyota Museum about automotive history. Later you'll travel onward to Kyoto for your overnight stay.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (New Miyako Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Iyashi no Sato Nenba village
- Visit Shiraito Falls
- Toyota Museum with admission
Landmarks Iyashi no Sato Nenba Shiraito Falls Toyota Museum 
- Day 5
Kyoto
You'll spend the full day in Kyoto, Japan's former imperial capital from 794 to 1868, which avoided WWII bombing. Start in Arashiyama at Togetsukyo Bridge for the views. Visit Tenryuji Temple, one of five great Zen temples and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, then walk through its bamboo forest. The day also includes Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Imperial Palace, and the Golden Pavilion with its gardens. You'll finish with free time to wander through Gion's traditional district.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (New Miyako Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Arashiyama and Togetsukyo Bridge
- Visit Tenryuji Temple with admission
- Bamboo forest walk
- Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Visit Imperial Palace
- Visit Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) with admission
Optional Activities
- Explore Gion traditional district
Landmarks Togetsukyo Bridge Tenryuji Temple Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Fushimi Inari Shrine Imperial Palace Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) Gion 
- Day 6
Kyoto to Kanazawa
After breakfast you'll depart along one of Japan's largest lakes toward Shirahige Ginra shrine. Then you'll visit Eihei-ji, a temple-monastery from 1244 where monks practice Zazen meditation as part of Zen Buddhism. In Katsuyama, you can explore the Dinosaur Museum at Japan's largest fossil site with over 40 dinosaur skeletons, see the Great Buddha of Echizen and its temple, and climb the five-story pagoda for views. You'll arrive in Kanazawa by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mystays Premier Kanazawa)
Included Activities
- Visit Shirahige Ginra shrine
- Visit Eihei-ji temple-monastery with admission
- Visit Dinosaur Museum
- Visit Great Buddha of Echizen and grand temple
- Climb five-story pagoda
Optional Activities
- Free time for lunch and explore Dinosaur Museum exhibits
Landmarks Shirahige Ginra Shrine Eihei-ji Dinosaur Museum (Katsuyama) Great Buddha of Echizen Echizen Five-Story Pagoda 
- Day 7
Kanazawa
You'll spend the day exploring Kanazawa, a city that once rivaled Kyoto and Tokyo and avoided WWII air raids. Start with a guided morning tour of the castle area with its impressive walls and the Nagamachi neighborhood where samurai lived, with preserved residences and traditional canals. Visit Kenrokuen, one of Japan's three most beautiful gardens. End the morning at Omicho, a lively traditional market where you can grab lunch. The afternoon is free for your own exploration.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mystays Premier Kanazawa)
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Kanazawa
- Visit castle area
- Explore Nagamachi neighborhood
- Visit Kenrokuen garden with admission
Optional Activities
- Lunch at Omicho traditional market
- Afternoon exploration
Landmarks Kanazawa Castle Nagamachi Neighborhood Kenrokuen Garden Omicho Market 
- Day 8
Kanazawa to Takayama
You'll travel through mountain landscapes and forests to UNESCO World Heritage villages. Visit Ainokura and Shirakawa-go Ogimachi, traditional villages with steep roofs shaped like praying hands, built to handle heavy winter snow. Time is set aside to walk around and have lunch. Then you'll go to Takayama to explore the Hida Folk Village Museum, an open-air site with over 30 traditional houses relocated from the Edo Period in 1971. You'll have free time after that to explore the old town's wooden houses and shops.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Hida Takayama)
Included Activities
- Visit Ainokura village
- Visit Shirakawa-go Ogimachi village
- Visit Hida Folk Village Museum
Optional Activities
- Stroll through villages
- Lunch in villages
- Explore Takayama old town
Landmarks Ainokura Shirakawa-go Ogimachi Hida Folk Village Museum 
- Day 9
Takayama to Nagano
After breakfast you'll stroll through Hida Furukawa's old town. The city's festival is recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage with large drums and decorated floats, and the museum shows the floats, costumes, and drums. Next you'll cross the Japanese Alps with their snow-covered landscapes. You'll reach Matsumoto to see the 'Crow Castle,' a 16th-century fortress known for its black exterior. Free time allows for lunch and town exploration before traveling to Nagano for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Metropolitan Nagano)
Included Activities
- Stroll through Hida Furukawa old town
- Visit Hida Furukawa Museum with admission
- Visit Matsumoto Castle
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Matsumoto
- Explore Matsumoto town
Landmarks Hida Furukawa Hida Furukawa Museum Japanese Alps Matsumoto Castle 
- Day 10
Nagano to Ikaho
You'll visit Zenko-ji Temple in Nagano, a famous pilgrimage site with Japan's first Buddhist image, where you participate in the Gomakuyo ceremony for good fortune. Then you'll venture into the Japanese Alps to Jigokudani Monkey Park, walking through forested trails and rivers where Japanese macaques live and bathe in hot springs. You'll reach 2,172 meters with views of semi-active volcanoes. After a stop in Kusatsu hot-spring town for a stroll and open-air onsen, you'll finish in Ikaho, another hot-spring town with traditional stone stairways. You'll stay at a ryokan with hot-spring bath access and a traditional Japanese dinner included.
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional Japanese dinner included)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Moriaki Ryokan)
Included Activities
- Visit Zenko-ji Temple
- Participate in Gomakuyo ceremony
- Visit Jigokudani Monkey Park with walk through forested trails
- Stroll through Kusatsu hot-spring town and city park
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Kusatsu (free time)
- Explore Ikaho old center
Landmarks Zenko-ji Temple Jigokudani Monkey Park Kusatsu Ikaho 
- Day 11
Ikaho to Tokyo
You'll travel to Nikko to visit the impressive Nikko-Toshogu Temple, famous for its 'room with the sound of a dragon,' and explore the calm Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum. Walk along the Kanmangafuchi Abyss where hundreds of Jizo statues line the riverbanks. You'll have free time to explore the town center before heading back to Tokyo, arriving around 6:30 p.m.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shinagawa Prince Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Nikko-Toshogu Temple
- Visit Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum
- Stroll along Kanmangafuchi Abyss
Optional Activities
- Explore Nikko town center
Landmarks Nikko-Toshogu Temple Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum Kanmangafuchi Abyss 
- Day 12
Tokyo
After breakfast, your journey ends here, leaving you with great memories from your trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast
