Itinerary
- Day 1
Overnight Flight to Tokyo
Your flight departs Frankfurt tonight, heading to Tokyo on an overnight journey. You'll arrive the next morning, so settle in for the long haul across Europe and Asia.
- Day 2
Arrival in Tokyo
After landing in Tokyo, you'll take public transportation to your hotel and check in. The rest of your evening is yours to explore the city at whatever pace feels right, whether that means a quick walk around the neighborhood or heading out to grab dinner.
- Day 3
Tokyo Sightseeing
Start at Meiji Shrine and walk through its large park, then head to Tokyo Metropolitan Building for views across the city. From there, you'll move through Ginza's high-end shopping streets before making your way to the traditional Asakusa area. Walk down Nakamise-dori with its souvenir shops, pass through the Thunder Gate, and visit Kannon Temple. End your day by viewing Tokyo Skytree from the Sumida River.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Meiji Shrine
- Panoramic view from Tokyo Metropolitan Building observation floor
- Stroll through Ginza district
- Visit Kannon Temple in Asakusa
- View Tokyo Skytree from Sumida River
Landmarks/POIs Meiji Shrine Tokyo Metropolitan Building Ginza Kannon Temple Thunder Gate (Nakamise-dori) Tokyo Skytree - Day 4
Tokyo at Leisure
Today's yours to spend however you'd like in Tokyo. If you want something different, there's an optional day trip available to Nikko, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a large shrine and temple complex surrounded by national park land.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Optional day trip to Nikko National Park with shrine and temple district (125 € per person, minimum 2 people, must be booked with reservation)
Landmarks/POIs Nikko National Park - Day 5
Tokyo to Kawaguchiko
Your drive takes you from Tokyo toward Lake Motosuko, known for its Mount Fuji views. Stop at Oishi Park on Lake Fujikawaguchiko and have a traditional bento box lunch at the Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center. In the afternoon, you can choose to visit the small village of Oshino, then climb about 398 steps at Arakurayama Sengen Shrine to catch the sunset before arriving at your Kawaguchiko hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional bento box at Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center)
Included Activities
- Visit Lake Motosuko
- Visit Oishi Park on Lake Fujikawaguchiko
- Traditional bento box lunch at Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center
- Visit Arakurayama Sengen Shrine
Optional Activities
- Visit idyllic village of Oshino (bookable on site)
Landmarks/POIs Lake Motosuko Mount Fuji Oishi Park Lake Fujikawaguchiko Oshino village Arakurayama Sengen Shrine - Day 6
Kawaguchiko to Nagano
This morning, you'll see the Hakone Open Air Museum where modern Western art sits within natural park settings. Later, a coach takes you through scenic routes to Matsumoto to see its famous black castle, often called 'Crow Castle' because of its dark appearance. You'll continue on to Nagano, the city that hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Hakone Open Air Museum
- Visit Matsumoto Castle (Crow Castle)
Landmarks/POIs Hakone Open Air Museum Matsumoto Castle Nagano - Day 7
Nagano to Shirakawago
Start your morning at Zenkoji temple, then head to Jigokudani Monkey Park where you might see local macaques relaxing in hot springs (timing matters here). By late afternoon, you'll reach Shirakawago, a UNESCO site in the foothills of the Japanese Alps. Walk through this village to see its distinctive thatched-roof farmhouses and get a feel for how rural Japan looked centuries ago.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Zenkoji temple
- Visit Jigokudani Monkey Park
Landmarks/POIs Zenkoji Temple Jigokudani Monkey Park Shirakawago Japanese Alps - Day 8
Shirakawago to Takayama
Travel through alpine scenery to reach Takayama, a town with a well-preserved old center and traditional buildings throughout. Walk through the morning market where locals sell regional goods, then wander down historic streets lined with sake breweries and miso shops. Stop by the Yatai Kaikan Museum to learn more about the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Stroll through Takayama morning market
- Explore historic old town of Takayama
- Visit Yatai Kaikan Museum
Landmarks/POIs Takayama Yatai Kaikan Museum - Day 9
Takayama to Koya-san
A scenic train ride brings you to Koya-san, the sacred mountain temple of Shingon Buddhism. You'll walk through Japan's most famous cemetery and see the memorial for the founder of Shingon Buddhism. After exploring the temple grounds, you'll stay overnight in a traditional temple guesthouse with the monks, eating vegetarian meals prepared by the monastery.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Train ride to Koya-san
- Walk across Japan's most famous cemetery
- Explore temple complex at Koya-san
- Stay in traditional temple guesthouse with monks
Landmarks/POIs Koya-san - Day 10
Koya-san to Kyoto
If interested, join an optional morning Shingon prayer ritual before eating a vegetarian breakfast. Take the train to Kyoto. There's an optional sushi cooking class where a chef teaches you how to roll sushi properly. Later, explore downtown Kyoto and walk through Nishiki market street. In the afternoon, search Gion district's alleys for geisha. If you're visiting in summer or autumn, Kodaiji Zen Temple offers evening garden illumination.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Vegetarian breakfast)
Included Activities
- Vegetarian breakfast at temple
- Train to Kyoto
- Explore Nishiki market street
- Explore Gion historic district
Optional Activities
- Morning Shingon ritual prayer participation
- Sushi cooking class with Japanese sushi chef (70 € per person, minimum 4 people, must be booked when registering)
Landmarks/POIs Nishiki Market Gion Kodaiji Zen Temple - Day 11
Kyoto
Your guided tour covers Kyoto's cultural highlights as Japan's former imperial city. You'll see Ryoanji Temple and Kinkaku Temple (the Golden Pavilion), then visit Sanjusangendo with its 1001 wooden statues of Kannon. An optional evening Kyoto Night Tour is available if you want to see more after dark.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ryoanji Temple
- Visit Kinkaku Temple
- Visit Sanjusangendo temple hall
Optional Activities
- Kyoto Night Tour (45 € per person, bookable on site)
Landmarks/POIs Ryoanji Temple Kinkaku Temple Sanjusangendo Temple - Day 12
Kyoto to Osaka (Departure)
Continue exploring Kyoto's temples and gardens, returning to Ryoanji Temple and Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) for another look. Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine with its famous tunnels of shrine gates, then see the 1001 Kannon statues at Sanjusangendo. Depending on what's available, you can join a Zen meditation session or traditional tea ceremony. Afterward, take public transportation to the airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ryoanji Temple
- Visit Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion)
- Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Visit Sanjusangendo temple hall
Optional Activities
- Introduction to Zen meditation at Shunkoi Temple
- Traditional tea ceremony
Landmarks/POIs Ryoanji Temple Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) Fushimi Inari Shrine Sanjusangendo Temple Shunkoi Temple - Day 13
Arrival Home
You'll arrive back in your home country, bringing your Japan journey to a close.
