Itinerary
- Day 1
Tokyo
You'll arrive in Tokyo and get settled into your hostel. This evening there's a welcome dinner with Japanese cuisine, then you're heading out to see Senso-ji Temple at night when it's quieter and you can actually move around without fighting crowds.
- Meals
- Dinner (Big welcome dinner on your first night)
Included Activities
- Welcome dinner with Japanese cuisine
- Night visit to Tokyo Senso-ji Temple
Landmarks/POIs Senso-ji Temple - Day 2
Tokyo
Start with a Japan Orientation Briefing covering customs and basic phrases you'll find useful. After that, you're heading to Harajuku to grab traditional bento boxes and walk through Meiji Shrine in Yoyogi Park. Later you'll check out Akihabara's electric town for shopping and a round at the Sega Centre.
Included Activities
- Japan Orientation Briefing
- Explore Harajuku
- Make an offering at Meiji Shrine
- Walk through Akihabara electric town
- Sega Centre challenge
Optional Activities
- Traditional bento box lunch
Landmarks/POIs Harajuku Meiji Shrine Yoyogi Park Akihabara - Day 3
Tokyo
Following breakfast, you'll take a private sushi making class where you learn miso soup, three sushi types, and teriyaki techniques, then eat what you made for lunch. The afternoon is free to rest at the hostel before heading to Shinjuku for yakitori and beer. From there it's time to explore Kabukicho and finish at the famous Shibuya Pedestrian Crossing.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Sushi lunch from sushi making class)
Included Activities
- Private sushi making class
- Sushi lunch
- Bar-hop in Shinjuku
- Cross the famous Shibuya scramble
Optional Activities
- Explore Kabukicho
Landmarks/POIs Shinjuku Kabukicho Shibuya Crossing - Day 4
Tokyo to Hakone
You'll board the Romance Car train heading into the mountains toward Hakone and check into a guesthouse. The afternoon involves exploring surrounding areas using various local transports while taking in views of Mt Fuji. Dinner is a traditional Japanese nabe experience on the roof deck as you watch the sunset.
- Meals
- Dinner (Family style Nabe dinner on the roof deck with sunset views over the mountains)
Included Activities
- Romance Car from Tokyo to Hakone
- Cable car in Hakone
- Family style Nabe dinner overlooking incredible mountains
Optional Activities
- Explore surrounding Hakone areas
Landmarks/POIs Mount Fuji Hakone - Day 5
Hakone to Takayama
The bullet train takes you across mountain countryside to Takayama, a UNESCO World Heritage town where you'll stay in a traditional Japanese temple with tatami mat beds. In the afternoon you'll do sake tasting and have the option to try Hida beef, then spend time reflecting at the temple.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Scenic train to Takayama
- Sleep on tatami mats in a traditional temple stay
- Sake tasting in the Old Town
Optional Activities
- Hida beef dinner
Landmarks/POIs Takayama - Day 6
Takayama to Kyoto
You'll start with a guided walk through Takayama's old town and a morning market tour along the Miyagawa River banks. After lunch, trains take you to Nagoya and then Kyoto where you explore famous shrines, temples, and small alleyways. Later there's a guided walk through Gion, the traditional geisha quarter.
Included Activities
- Morning market visit
- Guided walk around Kyoto's Gion district with a local
Optional Activities
- Explore Kyoto shrines and temples
Landmarks/POIs Miyagawa River Gion - Day 7
Kyoto
An early subway ride gets you to Fushimi-Inari Shrine before crowds arrive, so you can walk through the mountain's endless red gate corridors at a relaxed pace. Next you'll see Kiyomizu-dera Temple, a wooden complex perched on the mountainside. The rest of your day is open to explore, shop, or take suggestions from your guide.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walk through the red gates of Fushimi-Inari without tourists
- Watch sunrise from Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Optional Activities
- Explore Kiyomizu-dera Temple area
- Shopping in the area
Landmarks/POIs Fushimi-Inari Shrine Kiyomizu-dera Temple - Day 8
Kyoto
You're heading to the Golden Pavilion, a building covered in actual gold surrounded by lakes and reflecting water. After that, you'll check out Daitoku-ji, a quieter temple complex away from most tourists. In the afternoon there's a traditional kendo class in the original dojo with an instructor who's a samurai descendant.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to the Golden Pavilion
- View lesser-known Zen gardens
- Learn Kendo with a samurai descendant
Landmarks/POIs Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji) Daitoku-ji - Day 9
Kyoto to Osaka
An early start takes you to Arashiyama between mountainous valleys where you'll walk through the bamboo forest, climb Monkey Mountain, then explore valleys by private rowboat the traditional way. Later you'll travel by train to Osaka and head to Dotonbori for street food tasting, then finish the evening with karaoke with your group.
- Meals
- Dinner (Street-food tasting along Dotonbori and Urinamba)
Included Activities
- Walk through the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
- Climb Monkey Mountain
- Bask in the amazing views of Arashiyama by gondola
- Go street-food tasting along Dotonbori and Urinamba
- Experience a wild karaoke night in Osaka
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Arashiyama
Landmarks/POIs Arashiyama Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Monkey Mountain Dotonbori - Day 10
Osaka
Your morning in Osaka is free to explore independently, visiting AmericaTown, the Shinsaibashi Shopping district, Spa World, or Den-Den Town electronics if you prefer. In the evening you'll meet up to visit Osaka Castle surrounded by gardens, catch the sunset, then head to Shinsekai for dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner in Shinsekai)
Included Activities
- Wonder around the stunning Osaka Castle Gardens at sunset
Optional Activities
- Visit AmericaTown
- Browse Shinsaibashi Shopping district
- Visit Spa World
- Browse Den-Den Town electronics
- Explore Shinsekai food district
Landmarks/POIs AmericaTown Shinsaibashi Shopping District Spa World Den-Den Town Osaka Castle Shinsekai - Day 11
Osaka to Koya-san
A short 30-minute train ride gets you to Nara where you'll walk through the park and temples keeping an eye out for friendly local deer. The town's known for living alongside them and was an ancient capital. You'll return to Osaka to grab your bags, then take a 90-minute journey with cable cars and bus to Koya-san, a temple town high in the mountains where you'll experience temple life and enjoy special vegetarian dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional temple vegetarian meal made from ingredients sourced by the monks in the local area)
Included Activities
- Serene park walks in Nara
- Overnight stay in traditional temple high in the mountains
- Traditional temple vegetarian meals
Optional Activities
- Explore Nara temples
Landmarks/POIs Nara Park Koya-san - Day 12
Koya-san to Hiroshima
You'll wake to nature sounds and join monks for morning chanting prayers, followed by temple-style breakfast made by monks. After making the most of your final morning, you'll head back to Osaka for the 90-minute bullet train to Hiroshima. Once you settle in your accommodation, take a walk with your local guide to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, see the Atomic Dome, ring the peace bell, and visit the museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional temple-style meal made by the monks), Dinner
Included Activities
- Morning sutra monk chanting
- Guided walk around the humbling Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
- Entrance to the Peace Memorial Museum to learn about Hiroshima's devastating past
Landmarks/POIs Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park Atomic Dome - Day 13
Hiroshima to Miyajima
You'll take the metro to Miyajima Island, about an hour from Hiroshima, then a short ferry to reach it. The island's known for its forests, ancient temples, and the giant orange Great Torii Gate partially submerged at high tide. You'll stroll around Miyajima Shrine for views of that famous gate, then the afternoon is yours to wander, grab lunch, and visit temples before returning to Hiroshima for one final group evening.
Included Activities
- All transport to Miyajima island including Ferry Crossing
- Entrance to the Itsukushima Floating Torii Gate
Optional Activities
- Explore Miyajima temples
- Lunch on Miyajima Island
Landmarks/POIs Miyajima Island Itsukushima Floating Torii Gate Miyajima Shrine - Day 14
Hiroshima
On your final day in Hiroshima, take one last walk around the memorial park or a sunrise run along the river. Your guide will help you with onward travel whether you're continuing to explore Japan, heading home, or joining another tour somewhere else.
Optional Activities
- Walk around the memorial park
- Sunrise run along the river
Landmarks/POIs Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
