Welcome to Japan! When you arrive in Tokyo, our English-speaking assistant will meet you at the arrival hall and help you take our airport-to-hotel transfer by shared car. However, if you arrive after 20:30, you’ll need to get to the hotel downtown on your own or reserve a private pickup service with us. Have a good rest tonight and be ready to embrace your Tokyo tour tomorrow!

After breakfast at the hotel, our guide will take you to visit the top attractions of downtown Tokyo using the convenient public transportation system. The first stop is the Tsukiji Outer Market. Built in 1935, it is one of the largest fisheries markets in the world and a popular spot for enjoying sushi and sashimi. Here, you can find many Japanese seafood restaurants. You can ask the guide for suggestions on trying authentic Japanese sushi or teppanyaki at one of these popular eateries.

Next, head to Meiji Jingu Shrine, which honors the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken, and would instantly put you into the context of Japan’s long history. The shrine, often referred to as an urban oasis, will leave you feeling relaxed with its lush forests, green spaces, and diverse wildlife.

Then, pay a visit to the Imperial Palace, the residence of the Emperor and the Japanese Imperial Family. Instead of a simple tour of the Front Gardens arranged by other travel agencies, we will specially take a route off the beaten track to the front square and the secluded East Gardens of the Imperial Palace. Our guide, who is well-versed in Japanese history and architecture, will give you a thorough understanding of this elegant and classical building from the Showa Period. Let’s walk along the scenic moat and take pictures at the remarkable Niju-bashi Bridge.

In the afternoon, slow down our pace to the Asakusa area. Walking through the busy Nakamise-dori Street, which connects the famous Kaminarimon Gate to the main hall of Senso-ji Temple, our guide will take you around this oldest temple in Tokyo, built in 628 AD and full of traditional Edo culture. You can draw an Omikuji fortune slip like the locals do. If you get an ominous one, tie it to a nearby railing to ward off bad luck. Ultimately, our guide will escort you back to the hotel.

Today, we will travel to Hakone to see Mt. Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain and a cultural icon. Meet our guide at the hotel, then take the express train to Hakone, which takes about an hour. The exciting part of the journey begins now. Ride the steepest mountain train in Japan, ascend in a zigzag route, and enjoy an exceptional experience. The little red train will take you up to Gora Station at 533 meters (1,749 feet) above sea level. Transfer to the cable car from Gora to Sounzan. A ride on the cable car offers the best way to experience the hilly Hakone area. Mt. Fuji is visible in the distance. Continue our cable car ride to Owakudani Valley. It will be an unforgettable experience to see the crater remains formed by the last eruption of Mount Hakone 3,000 years ago, which still emits steam and smoke with a distinct sulfur smell.

Afterwards, take the Hakone Ropeway to Togendai-ko Pier by Lake Ashi. From there, enjoy a 30-minute cruise on the Hakone Pirate Ship. On a clear day, you can see the majestic Mt. Fuji, with its summit covered in white snow. Disembark on the other side of the lake, and finally, the guide will take you to the hotel in Tokyo.

In the morning, you need to take a bullet train to Kyoto on your own (tickets are reserved and included). After a 2.5-hour train ride, you’ll meet our Kyoto guide at the railway station and be escorted to the hotel for check-in.

Then, start our Kyoto tour from the Temple of the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji Temple). The name reveals its nobility, as it contains a pavilion with solid gold leaves covering the eaves and walls. The best time to see it is at 10:00 and sunset, so we’ve arranged it as the first stop of the day. The sun shines on the Golden Pavilion, which is reflected in the green waters of the lake in front of it, creating a scene that is particularly sacred and evocative.

Let’s proceed to the Pure Water Temple (Kiyomizu-dera Temple), the pinnacle of Kyoto’s millennium-long history and culture. Follow our guide to take a commemorative photo in front of the iconic bright red Three-storied Pagoda and drink water from the Otowa Waterfall like a local to bless your study, health, and marriage. Climb up to the majestic Kiyomizu Stage, and you can get a commanding view of the whole of Kyoto.

Next, the guide will accompany you on a stroll down the continuous tourist ramps of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka. In the grocery stores that flanked the road, feast your eyes on a variety of interesting handicrafts and gadgets, and satisfy your appetite with local snacks such as dango, matcha cheesecake, and matcha ice cream. While admiring the Yasaka Pagoda, we arrive at the legendary Gion area, Kyoto’s famous geisha district. It would undoubtedly be a great treat this afternoon to enjoy the antique street scene, watch the ladies in kimonos walking back and forth, and see the occasional geishas in exquisite costumes and white oshiroi makeup. Finally, our guide will escort you back to the hotel.

Today, we will first marvel at the remarkable scene of a series of red torii gates in Fushimi Inari Shrine. The worship of the kami Inari, who is in charge of agricultural harvest and fertility, is essential to the locals, while for tourists, the Senbon Torii seems more attractive. Follow the guide step by step up the Inari Mountain along the line of the torii gates, and take great photos that will give you enough to brag about on social media for a while.

Take a quick train ride to Nara, and we will start exploring this ancient city with a rich history. It was Japan’s capital from 710 to 784 AD and has preserved many historic Buddhist buildings and artifacts. Our first stop will be Nara Park, a perfect mix of nature and history. Herds of roaming deer frequent the vast green spaces of Nara Park. You can feed the tame deer with crackers, which will be a wonderful experience! Be cautious of bites while enjoying this happy hour.

Later, as we head to the Great Eastern Temple (Todai-ji Temple), a unique landmark of Nara and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll be impressed by the grandeur of this temple, which dates back to the mid-8th century. Its Great Buddha Hall is one of the largest surviving wooden structures in the world.

Then, explore another World Heritage Site, the Kasuga Taisha Shrine.

Next, let’s walk around Naramachi area to experience the local vibe and visit an endearing Goryo Shrine.

Here, our guide will take you on a secret path leading to the Naramachi Lattice House, a charming and rarely visited authentic lattice house. This perfect replica of an Edo-era Machiya house is an excellent spot for taking photos. Late in the afternoon, we will take the train back to Kyoto for the night.

Before saying goodbye to Kyoto, we’ll visit Nijo Castle as our final stop here. Built by the first shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616 AD), the impressive castle demonstrates the authority and prominence of the general, representing the finest construction techniques of old Japan. You’ll notice that the roofs of the palaces are covered with dark, thatch-like materials, contrasting with the elaborate eave decorations. Is that strange? The earliest buildings in Japan were patterned after tiled roofs from China. However, since Japan is prone to earthquakes, tiles can break easily during seismic events, which can lead to accidents. So, architects developed a lightweight roof, like the one we see today, made of cypress bark.

Afterward, we will take a train for half an hour to Osaka. Next, visit Osaka Castle, one of Japan’s three historic castles.

Later, our guide will take you to Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori, and leave after providing a brief introduction. In Osaka’s busiest shopping and entertainment areas, known for their large illuminated signboards, a variety of shops, theaters, restaurants, cafes, and bars will make your free night fun and memorable. The Ebisubashi Bridge, over the 400-year-old canal near Dotonbori, is a popular photo spot with a view of the Running Man billboard by Glico. It’s a great experience to enjoy the night view or go on a boat tour along the Dotonbori River. Don’t worry about staying out late, as your hotel is within a ten-minute walk from Shinsaibashi.

In the morning, please take a 1.5-hour bullet train on your own (with tickets reserved and included) from Shin Osaka Station to Hiroshima Station, where you’ll meet our local guide.

Today, you need to first take a total of over 2 hours’ train on your own from Osaka to Kanazawa, with Tsuruga Station as a transit. All the tickets will be reserved for you in advance. Upon arrival, the Kanazawa guide will meet you and escort you to the hotel for check-in.

After a short break, let’s move on to Kenroku-en Garden, also known as the Six Attributes Garden, which adheres to the six essential elements of a perfect garden according to Japanese tradition: spaciousness, tranquility, human ingenuity, antiquity, waterscape, and vista. This is a classic wraparound garden centered around a pond. Take a relaxed walk with our guide and enjoy the traditional gardens and beautiful pavilions around you.

Later, we will visit the Higashichaya District (also known as the geisha district) and Nagamachi Samurai District, both rich in history and culture. Finally, return to the hotel with our guide.

After picking you up from the hotel, your guide will accompany you on a 1.5-hour express bus trip from Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go Village. As the scattered thatched Gassho-style houses, each rooftop standing in a triangular pattern like an open book, gradually come into view, you’ll arrive at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Shirakawa-go Gassho-style village, nestled among steep mountains. Besides enjoying the sweeping village scenery from the Ogimachi Castle Observation Deck, let’s explore Wada House and Kanda House, which showcase the essence of 17th-century Japanese rural architecture. Built with mortise and tenon joints and straw ropes instead of nails, they are designed to resist earthquakes. Besides, their roofs are covered with 50-centimeter-thick thatch, strong enough to withstand 2-3 meters of snow in winter. No wonder they are designated as National Treasures of Japan!

As our visit concludes, we’ll return to Kanazawa, where your guide will see you off at Kanazawa Train Station and provide you with tickets for the following journey to Tokyo on your own. Upon your arrival in about 2.5 hours, walk 3 minutes to Otemachi Station, take the Tozai Line, and get off at Kayabacho Station after two stops to reach our reserved hotel.

Wake up naturally and enjoy a leisurely breakfast to round off your Japan small group tours. It takes 1 to 1.5 hours to travel from downtown Tokyo to either of its two airports. Please plan your transportation according to your departure flight time. Alternatively, you can contact our travel consultants for airport transfer and see-off services.