Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Tokyo
You'll clear customs and take a shared shuttle bus to your hotel. The rest of your day is open for settling in and resting up. Later in the afternoon, you'll get all the details about what's coming next on your tour.
- Day 2
Tokyo
This morning you have a five-hour guided tour through Tokyo hitting the major spots. You'll see Zojoji Temple with Tokyo Tower views, walk through Shibuya Crossing, check out Meiji Shrine and Omotesando Avenue, pass by the Imperial Palace and Nijubashi Bridge, then head to Akihabara's Electric Town and the Kokugikan sumo arena before finishing at Asakusa's Sensoji Temple. Lunch is included. That evening, meet your guide and take the metro to Shinjuku for dinner in the nightlife district, then head back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local restaurant), Dinner (Local restaurant in Shinjuku)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Tokyo (approximately five hours)
- Visit to Zojoji Temple
- Shibuya Crossing visit
- Meiji Shrine visit
- Omotesando Avenue drive-past
- Imperial Palace and gardens viewing
- Nijubashi Bridge viewing
- Akihabara district drive-past
- Kokugikan sumo wrestling arena drive-past
- Sensoji Temple visit
- Nakamise Street visit
- Evening stroll through Shinjuku district
- Metro travel with guide (tickets included)
Landmarks/POIs Zojoji Temple Tokyo Tower Shibuya Crossing Meiji Shrine Omotesando Avenue Imperial Palace Nijubashi Bridge Akihabara Kokugikan Sensoji Temple Nakamise Street Shinjuku - Day 3
Mount Fuji and Kawaguchiko
You'll travel through scenic countryside to the Mount Fuji area and stop at Arakurayama Sengen Park for views and pagodas. From there, head to the lakeside town of Kawaguchiko and visit Fuji Sengen Shrine, where you can walk through tall trees. You'll take a boat ride on Lake Kawaguchiko, then drive up the scenic road to Mount Fuji's Fifth Station at 7,560 feet surrounded by forest. Later, go back to Kawaguchiko for free time along the lake. You're staying overnight at a traditional ryokan where you can use the onsen.
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional Japanese dinner at ryokan)
Included Activities
- Arakurayama Sengen Park visit
- Fuji Sengen Shrine visit
- Boat ride on Lake Kawaguchiko
- Mount Fuji Fifth Station ascent via scenic road
Landmarks/POIs Arakurayama Sengen Park Mount Fuji Lake Kawaguchiko Fuji Sengen Shrine - Day 4
Kawaguchiko to Kyoto
You'll drive scenic roads around lakes to reach Iyashi no Sato Nenba, an open-air museum village with restored traditional houses that are now shops, restaurants, and cultural spaces. Next stop is Shiraito Falls with its 20-meter drops. After that, visit the Toyota Museum in Nagoya (admission covered), then continue on to Kyoto for the night.
Included Activities
- Iyashi no Sato Nenba village visit
- Shiraito Falls visit
- Toyota Museum visit
Landmarks/POIs Iyashi no Sato Nenba Shiraito Falls Toyota Museum - Day 5
Kyoto
Spend your day exploring Kyoto, the ancient capital. Start in Arashiyama and walk across Togetsukyo Bridge. You'll visit Tenryuji Temple, one of Kyoto's five great Zen temples, and walk through its bamboo forest. The day also includes Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Imperial Palace, and Kinkakuji Temple with its gardens (the order may change). Afterward, you have free time to explore Gion, the traditional geisha district.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Kyoto
- Togetsukyo Bridge viewing
- Tenryuji Temple visit
- Bamboo forest walk
- Fushimi Inari Shrine visit
- Imperial Palace visit
- Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) visit
Optional Activities
- Explore Gion traditional district
Landmarks/POIs Arashiyama Togetsukyo Bridge Tenryuji Temple Fushimi Inari Shrine Kyoto Imperial Palace Kinkakuji Temple Gion - Day 6
Kyoto to Nagano
Travel through countryside to Tsumago, a village known for its traditional wooden houses and ranked as one of Japan's prettiest places. You'll have free time to walk around and lunch is included. From there, head to Matsumoto to see the 16th-century castle called 'The Crow' and explore the city on your own. Later, travel on to Nagano for your overnight stay.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch in Tsumago)
Included Activities
- Tsumago village exploration
- Matsumoto Castle visit
Landmarks/POIs Tsumago Matsumoto Castle - Day 7
Japanese Alps - Kusatsu - Ikaho
You'll start at Zenko-ji temple, an important pilgrimage site with Japan's first Buddhist image, where you can participate in the included Gomakuyo ceremony for blessings. Then head to the Japanese Alps and visit Jigokudani Monkey Park to see Japanese macaques in hot springs, with lunch included. You'll drive through forests and rivers, then ascend to mountain scenery at 7,126 feet passing near semi-active volcanoes. Visit Kusatsu spa town with its open-air onsen park, then continue to historic Ikaho spa town with its distinctive stair-stepped streets. You're staying at a traditional ryokan with a traditional Japanese dinner included.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Jigokudani Monkey Park), Dinner (Traditional Japanese dinner at ryokan)
Included Activities
- Zenko-ji temple visit
- Gomakuyo ceremony
- Jigokudani Monkey Park visit
- Japanese Alps exploration
- Kusatsu spa town walk
- Kusatsu city park and open-air onsen visit
- Ikaho historic center exploration
Landmarks/POIs Zenko-ji Temple Japanese Alps Jigokudani Monkey Park Kusatsu Ikaho - Day 8
Ikaho to Tokyo
Travel to Nikko and visit the impressive Nikko-Toshogu Temple, famous for its 'room with the sound of a dragon.' You'll also see the Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum and walk along Kanmangafuchi Abyss where hundreds of Jizo statues line the riverbanks. Spend your free time exploring the town center before heading back to Tokyo, arriving around 6:30 p.m.
Included Activities
- Nikko-Toshogu Temple visit
- Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum visit
- Kanmangafuchi Abyss stroll
Optional Activities
- Explore Nikko town center
Landmarks/POIs Nikko-Toshogu Temple Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum Kanmangafuchi Abyss - Day 9
Departure
After breakfast, your tour ends, leaving you with memories of your time in Japan.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet)
