Route: Tokyo → Mount Fuji & Hakone → (Shinkansen) Kyoto → Nara → Osaka
This journey combines everything Japan is famous for. You explore Tokyo's historic Asakusa quarter and the famous Shibuya crossing, immerse yourself in the digital art of teamLab and admire Mount Fuji from the iconic Chureito Pagoda. A night in a traditional ryokan in Hakone, with an onsen bath and a multi-course kaiseki dinner, is one of the highlights of the trip.
By Shinkansen bullet train you then travel to Kyoto, the cultural heart of the country: thousands of vermilion torii gates at Fushimi Inari, the bamboo forest of Arashiyama, the Golden Pavilion and the geisha district of Gion. The tour ends with a day in Nara and an evening in Osaka's lively Dotonbori district. An experienced guide accompanies you throughout, and your luggage travels separately between cities.
Arrival at Narita or Haneda airport and private transfer to your hotel in central Tokyo. In the evening your guide takes you on a short orientation walk through Shinjuku, with its glittering skyscrapers and the tiny bars of Omoide Yokocho. Welcome dinner with yakitori and local specialities.
We start in Asakusa at Senso-ji, Tokyo's oldest temple, and stroll along the Nakamise shopping street. After a lunch break we visit the peaceful Meiji Shrine in its forest, then dive into the youth culture of Harajuku's Takeshita Street. At dusk we cross the famous Shibuya scramble and enjoy the panoramic view from the Shibuya Sky observation deck.
Morning visit to the Tsukiji Outer Market to taste fresh sushi, tamagoyaki and grilled seafood. Afterwards we experience teamLab Planets, an immersive museum where you walk barefoot through water and light installations. The afternoon is free – perhaps for the electronics shops of Akihabara or the elegant boutiques of Ginza.
By private vehicle we drive to the Fuji Five Lakes region. We climb the steps to the Chureito Pagoda for the classic postcard view of Mount Fuji, then walk along the shore of Lake Kawaguchi and visit the thatched-roof village of Oshino Hakkai with its crystal-clear spring ponds. In the afternoon we continue to Hakone and check into a traditional ryokan: relax in the onsen and enjoy a multi-course kaiseki dinner in your yukata.
After a Japanese breakfast we ride the ropeway over the steaming volcanic valley of Owakudani, where you can try the famous black eggs boiled in the hot springs. A pirate-ship cruise across Lake Ashi takes us to the red torii of Hakone Shrine standing in the water. From Odawara the Shinkansen whisks us to Kyoto in just two hours.
We start early at Fushimi Inari Taisha to walk through the tunnels of thousands of vermilion torii before the crowds arrive. Next comes Kiyomizu-dera, the wooden temple on stilts with sweeping views over the city, and the charming lanes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka. In the evening we explore Gion, Kyoto's geisha quarter, where with a little luck you may spot a maiko on her way to an appointment.
In the morning we walk through the towering bamboo grove of Arashiyama and visit the Zen garden of Tenryu-ji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After a vegetarian temple lunch we continue to Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion reflected in its mirror pond, and the famous rock garden of Ryoan-ji. The day ends with a traditional tea ceremony led by a tea master.
A short train ride takes us to Nara, Japan's first permanent capital. In Nara Park hundreds of tame deer bow for their crackers, and Todai-ji houses one of the largest bronze Buddhas in the world. In the afternoon we continue to Osaka, visit the grounds of Osaka Castle and end the tour in the neon-lit Dotonbori district – the perfect place to try takoyaki and okonomiyaki.
Breakfast at the hotel and free time for last-minute shopping, depending on your flight schedule. Private transfer to Kansai International Airport (KIX) for your flight home.
Prices per person in USD. The final price is confirmed with your booking. Child (2–11 years): −20%.
The cancellation terms for this tour are confirmed in writing together with your booking, before you pay anything.
Read our cancellation & refund policySpring (March–May) and autumn (October–November) offer the most pleasant weather. For cherry blossom and autumn leaves, please send your request 4–6 months ahead.
Unfortunately no one can guarantee it – Fuji is often hidden by clouds, especially in summer. Views are usually clearest from October to February.
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