15-Day Best of Japan

Upon arrival at the airport, an English-speaking assistant will meet you on the arrival lobby.

A shared transfer will take you to your accommodation.

One of the world's most cutting-edge capitals, Tokyo is a city of contrasts. Famous for its sprawling neon-lit landscape it is also home to expansive parkland, peaceful shrines and temples, and lovingly tended gardens. On the surface, Tokyo is a mix of digital trends and conspicuous consumption, but dig deeper and you will find a city rooted deeply in the traditional culture. Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples stand close to skyscrapers as a reminder of a more contemplative time. At the heart of the hyperactive center lies the serene Imperial Palace, the home of the ruling emperor that provides a tangible link to the city's historical past. Behind the shopping, entertainment, and commercial emporia you will find quaint wooden houses, private gardens with meticulously clipped bonsai trees and the calm of the Hamarikyu Gardens.

Meals included: n/a
Mid-Range Accommodations: Shiba Park Hotel (Tokyo)

Take a half-day tour of this fascinating city with a local guide by public transport.

The day begins with a visit to Asakusa, Tokyo's old town where you can soak in the atmosphere of traditional Tokyo. Visit Sensoji, Tokyo's oldest temple, and wander down Nakamise, a shopping street that has been providing temple visitors with a variety of traditional, local snacks and tourist souvenirs for centuries.

Travel across town to Omotesando; after exploring the ritzy flagship stores and spectacular architecture on the main boulevard, you will walk up to Meiji Shrine, a shrine dedicated to the deified spirit of Emperor Meiji and a popular place for traditional Japanese weddings

Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Shiba Park Hotel (Tokyo)

Discover the flavors and understated charm of Tokyo on a street‑food walk through the downtown districts of Togoshi‑Ginza and Musashi-Koyama. This tour leads you away from the usual sightseeing areas and into neighborhoods shaped by everyday routines, where long‑standing food shops, family‑run counters and local vendors support the flow of daily life. Along the way, you'll sample a range of classic snacks and small bites, gaining a sense of how these shopping streets support the community's rhythm and tastes.

Togoshi‑Ginza, one of Tokyo's longest shopping streets, has an unusual origin: after the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, rubble from the Ginza district was used to rebuild the road here, lending the area its familiar name. Nearby Musashi-Koyama offers a different feel, combining older storefronts with newer cafes beneath one of Japan's longest covered arcades.

Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Shiba Park Hotel (Tokyo)

Today you will visit the Imperial Palace area, located on the former site of Edo Castle, a large park area surrounded by moats and massive stone walls in the center of Tokyo, and the residence of Japan's imperial family. Although the palace is not open to the public, you can view the Nijubashi, two bridges that form an entrance to the inner palace grounds, from the large Kokyo Gaien plaza in front of the Imperial Palace. The stone bridge in front is called Meganebashi (Eyeglass Bridge) for its looks. Enter the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, a tranquil green oasis in the center of Tokyo.

Next, take a stroll through the upscale Marunouchi area, home to the red brick Tokyo Station, rooftop terraces with views of the rail tracks and some of the city's most romantic winter illuminations. The iconic European-style station building is a virtual maze, hiding unique shops and depachika (underground food court) in its interior.

Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Shiba Park Hotel (Tokyo)

Today, leave Tokyo behind as you journey to Hakone, one of the gateways to Mt. Fuji and surrounding national park.

Travel to Hakone by public transportation to explore the Hakone "Loop". The loop can be done in clockwise or counter-clockwise direction and typically includes a journey up to the Gora area to ride the Hakone Ropeway to the Owakudani volcano crater. Here, you can try the tasty black eggs boiled in water bubbling up from within the volcano itself. Also included in today's arrangements is a cruise across Lake Ashi before checking in to your accommodation in Hakone.

On this tour you might be lucky to catch a glimpse of Mt. Fuji, but please note that she is a notoriously shy mountain and the weather needs to be perfectly clear for her to be visible. Visibility is best from November to March.

Hakone is a natural nature wonderland and is famous for its hot springs, outdoor pursuits and the view of the nearby Mount Fuji. It is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and is less than 100-km from Tokyo, thereby providing a popular weekend destination for city residents keen to escape the frenzy of the capital. Beautiful Hakone has about everything a vacationer could wish for. Besides the towering mountains, lakes and views of Mount Fuji, it is also blessed with interesting historical sites.

Before departure, you will be assisted with forwarding your luggage to your next destination (Kyoto hotel). The luggage will arrive within the following 2 days, so we do recommend that you bring a small bag for the overnight stays.

Note: Local transportation can be very crowded in Hakone, so let us know if you want to ugrade to a private transfer.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Ichinoyu Honkan (Hakone)

Free Day in Hakone

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Ichinoyu Honkan (Hakone)

Today your driver will meet you at your hotel and escort you to the train station by private car. You will take the Shinkansen Odawara train to Kyoto (Standard Class). An English-speaking assistant will meet you at the arrival platform and escort you to your accommodation by private car.

Today you will have the opportunity to visit a traditional house and experience a classic Japanese artform. Get dressed in a beautiful casual kimono before participating in an authentic tea ceremony. Learn about tea history, various types of tea and tea ceremony etiquette from a professional instructor. You will see how every movement has a meaning and understand what the act of serving tea to guests means in Japan.

Kyoto is a must-see destination in Japan. Kyoto is the nation's former capital and was the residence of the emperor from 794 until 1868. With 2000 religious buildings, including 1600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines, as well as palaces, gardens and associated architecture, it is one of the best-preserved cities in Japan and has 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Kyoto represents the "Japan of old" and beyond the high-rise skyscrapers built as a monument to progress, the real monument to Japan's historical and cultural past can be found in the city's narrow alleyways where tea houses abound and kimono-clad geisha hurry from elegant function to function.

Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Vista Premio Kyoto Nagomitei

From dramatic power struggles that led to almost 200 years of civil war, to the oldest geisha district and its beautifully preserved teahouses, northern Kyoto is rich in history and spectacular architecture. Although this region is home to the most popular tourist site in Kyoto, The Golden Pavilion, many visitors overlook the surrounding neighborhoods despite their remarkable charm and importance to the city.

You will find that Kyoto is not only a city steeped in history, but full of modern monks, artisans, baristas, and college students still working towards its lively future. Kinkakuji Temple draws millions of visitors each year, and you will quickly understand why this jewel in the northern hills of Kyoto is one of the country's most visited sites. A far cry from Buddhist austerity, it is covered in real gold leaf, photogenically stunning at any time of year the no matter the weather. The story of the warlord who had this pavilion built will surely capture your mind, too.

Next, stop by Ryoanji Temple, which was built on the grounds of a villa of the Fujiwara clan in the Heian period (794-1185). The temple is home to one of the most famous zen rock gardens in Japan.

Finally, visit Kitano-Temanngu, a remarkable shrine to scholarship built to appease the spirit of an angry ghost. Buy a lucky pencil as local students do for their college entry exams, and then marvel at the surrounding entertainment district. After a fire in 1444, a large section of the temple was rebuilt, and the remaining timber was used to construct 7 tea houses that became the first "flower town" or geisha district. in Kyoto. Kamishichiken is every bit as charming as its more touristy cousin Gion, with the bonus of fewer crowds and excellent photo opportunities.

Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Vista Premio Kyoto Nagomitei

Today you will go on a hike through a beautiful, forested area far from the main tourist attractions of Kyoto. Nestled in the Kitayama mountains north of Kyoto, Kurama and Kibune are rustic villages full of traditional Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines.

Upon arrival at the trailhead, you will begin your hike towards Kibune. Along the way, you will see Kurama-dera, a famous Buddhist temple, bright vermillion lanterns, and beautiful natural scenery. At the end of the hike, you will arrive at Kibune and head to nearby Kifune Shrine, dedicated to the god of water and rain, before heading back to Kyoto.

This is a 4-kilometer hike that takes approximately 1.5-2 hours to complete and is of moderate difficulty. It can be changed to a sightseeing tour in central Kyoto.

Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Vista Premio Kyoto Nagomitei

During the 8th century, Nara was Japan's capital for 74 years, and many important religious sites still remain. Wander through Nara Park, also known as the "deer park" due to the more than 1000 free-roaming deer living there. Within Nara Park is Todaiji Temple, the world's largest wooden building and home to Japan's biggest Buddha statue. Transfers by public transportation.

Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Vista Premio Kyoto Nagomitei

Today, your driver will meet you at your accommodation in Kyoto and take you to Osaka by private car.

Osaka is one of Japan's most vibrant cities, and especially known for its lively and social people - and its food. Your guide will introduce you to the wonders of Osaka's casual cuisine and the culture of "kuidaore" - literally, "eating oneself to bankruptcy"!

Meet your guide in one of Osaka's local neighborhoods where residents of all ages go out to enjoy the culinary pleasures of the nation's soul food kitchen. It is the perfect place to sample authentic comfort food from a mix of street stalls, standing bars and atmospheric izakaya while listening to stories from Japan's foodie capital. 3 food stops and a drink at each place are included.

The historical commercial capital of Japan, Osaka is Japan's third largest metropolis and it has been the economic powerhouse of the Kansai region for centuries. Osaka first gained prominence when a powerful warlord built the country's most magnificent castle in the 16th century. To develop resources for his castle town, the ruler persuaded merchants from other parts of the nation to resettle in Osaka and it became an important distribution center. As the merchant class prospered, the town grew and traditional arts such as kabuki and bunraku flourished. With the legacy of the city's commercial beginnings still intact, Osaka is renowned as a hub for international business. It is also famous for its local cuisine, large aquarium, underground shopping arcade, and its popular Universal Studios amusement park.

Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Hotel Vischio Osaka

Your guide will meet you at your hotel to take you on a half-day tour of Osaka by public transport.

Start your day visiting the magnificent Osaka Castle. The castle is one of Japan's most famous and played a major role in the unification of Japan during the 16th century. It has been completely rebuilt, faithful to its original appearance, after its destruction during World War II. The inside is modern, functional space serving as a museum showcasing the history of Osaka.

Later, walk through Dotonbori, a popular shopping and entertainment district, which is also known as a food destination. At night, it is lit up by hundreds of neon signs, including the famous Glico Running Man sign and the mechanic Kani Doraku crab sign.

Before departure, you will be assisted with forwarding your luggage to your next destination (Tokyo hotel).

Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Hotel Vischio Osaka

An English-speaking assistant will meet you at your hotel and escort you to the train station by private car. Today, take the Shinkansen Shin-Osaka to Tokyo (Standard Class) with the included tickets. An English-speaking assistant will meet you at the arrival platform and escort you to your accommodation by private car.

Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Shiba Park Hotel (Tokyo)

Enjoy a sumo fighting demonstration by former professional sumo wrestlers and try chankonabe: a delicious stew with vegetables and meat, and a staple in all sumo wrestlers' diets. Learn all about Japan's most peculiar and fascinating sport during this exciting tour (shared).

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Mid-Range Accommodations: Shiba Park Hotel (Tokyo)

A shared transfer will take you from your accommodation to the departure airport.

Meals included: Breakfast