Itinerary
- Day 1
Tokyo
You'll clear customs and take a shared shuttle to your hotel. The afternoon is free to settle in and rest. Later, you'll get briefed on how the tour starts tomorrow.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shinagawa Prince Hotel)
- Day 2
Tokyo
Your five-hour guided tour covers Tokyo's contrasts. You'll see Zojoji Temple overlooking Tokyo Tower, cross Shibuya Crossing, walk through Meiji Shrine and Omotesando Avenue, check out the Imperial Palace and Nijubashi Bridge, drive through Akihabara, head up Tokyo Skytree for city views, then finish at Sensoji Temple in Asakusa. Later, take the subway to Shinjuku's lively streets and grab dinner at a local spot before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant in Shinjuku)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shinagawa Prince Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Tokyo (approximately five hours)
- Visit Zojoji Temple
- Experience Shibuya Crossing
- Visit Meiji Shrine
- Drive along Omotesando Avenue
- Explore Imperial Palace and gardens
- Visit Nijubashi Bridge
- Drive through Akihabara district
- Visit Tokyo Skytree with admission included
- Explore Sensoji Temple
- Walk through Nakamise Street
- Evening subway tour to Shinjuku (tickets included)
- Walk through Shinjuku district
- Dinner at local restaurant
- Return to hotel by subway with guide
Landmarks Zojoji Temple Tokyo Tower Shibuya Crossing Meiji Shrine Omotesando Avenue Imperial Palace Nijubashi Bridge Akihabara Tokyo Skytree Sensoji Temple Nakamise Street Shinjuku 
- Day 3
Tokyo to Hiroshima - Miyajima
After breakfast, you'll board the bullet train to Hiroshima, about four hours for 800 kilometers. There you'll walk through Peace Memorial Park, see the Atomic Bomb Dome, and spend time at the Peace Memorial Museum. Next, take a ferry to Miyajima island to visit Itsukushima Shrine partially built over water. You'll have time to explore the shrine and island center, grab lunch, then return to Hiroshima for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Candeo Hatchobori), Hotel (Hilton Hiroshima)
Included Activities
- Bullet train from Tokyo to Hiroshima (approximately four hours)
- Explore Peace Memorial Park
- Visit Atomic Bomb Dome
- Visit Peace Memorial Museum
- Ferry to Miyajima island
- Visit Itsukushima Shrine
- Explore Miyajima shrine and island center
- Lunch on Miyajima island
- Return to Hiroshima
- Dinner in Hiroshima
Landmarks Peace Memorial Park Atomic Bomb Dome Peace Memorial Museum Itsukushima Shrine 
- Day 4
Hiroshima to Matsuyama
A two-and-a-half-hour ferry takes you to Shikoku Island. In Matsuyama, ride the cable car up to the castle, then walk through Ishiteji, a Buddhist temple and pilgrimage destination. After lunch at a local restaurant, head to Dogo Onsen to soak in this 19th-century bathhouse.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ana Crowne Plaza Matsuyama)
Included Activities
- Ferry to Shikoku Island (approximately two-and-a-half hours)
- Cable car ride to Matsuyama Castle
- Visit Matsuyama Castle
- Visit Ishiteji Temple
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Visit Dogo Onsen with admission included
Landmarks Matsuyama Castle Ishiteji Temple Dogo Onsen 
- Day 5
Matsuyama - Kotohira - Takamatsu - Naruto - Kobe
Travel to Kotohira to climb 785 steps up Mount Zosu to a Shinto shrine honoring the God of sailors. Then head to Takamatsu to walk through Ritsurin, one of Japan's most beautiful gardens. You'll have lunch at a local restaurant, then drive to Naruto where a glass-floor sea bridge lets you see powerful whirlpools from 45 meters up. After crossing island-connecting bridges, you'll arrive in Kobe for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Kotohira Shinto shrine (accessible by 785 steps up Mount Zosu)
- Visit Ritsurin Garden
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Walk across Naruto bridge with glass floor observation
- Explore sea whirlpools from bridge
- Drive across scenic island-connecting bridges
Landmarks Kotohira Shrine Mount Zosu Ritsurin Garden Naruto Bridge 
- Day 6
Kobe - Mount Koya
Start at Kobe's Earthquake Memorial Museum learning about the 1995 quake and rebuilding efforts. Then travel to Mount Koya, home to 120 temples and the center of Shingon Buddhism. You'll explore Okuno Mausoleum with its 200,000 graves and visit Kongobuji Temple from 1593. That night, stay in a Buddhist monastery where monks lead you in Zen meditation practice and serve vegetarian dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Vegetarian meal at the monastery)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Monasterio Hojoin)
Included Activities
- Visit Earthquake Memorial Museum
- Visit Okuno Mausoleum
- Visit Kongobuji Temple
- Zen meditation practice (Ajikan) led by monks
- Vegetarian dinner
- Optional: attend temple religious ceremony before breakfast
Optional Activities
- Attend religious ceremony at the temple before breakfast
Landmarks Earthquake Memorial Museum Okuno Mausoleum Kongobuji Temple 
- Day 7
Mount Koya to Kyoto
You'll have traditional Japanese breakfast at the temple before heading to Kyoto, which was the capital from 794 to 1868. This city survived World War II bombing and holds remarkable artistic and cultural heritage. Visit Fushimi Inari Shinto Shrine, check out the Imperial Palace, and see Kinkaku-ji Temple with its gardens. You'll have free time to explore, then head to Gion, the traditional district known for Geisha culture.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional Japanese breakfast at the temple)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (New Miyako Hotel)
Included Activities
- Traditional Japanese breakfast at temple
- Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Explore Imperial Palace
- Visit Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion)
- Explore temple gardens
- Visit Gion traditional district
Landmarks Fushimi Inari Shrine Imperial Palace Kinkaku-ji Temple Gion 
- Day 8
Kyoto - Tsumago - Matsumoto - Nagano
Head out to Tsumago through countryside scenery. This small wooden-house village is considered one of Japan's nicest places. You'll have free time to walk around and grab lunch. Later, go to Matsumoto to tour the impressive 16th-century castle nicknamed the 'Crow.' After exploring the castle, you'll have time to check out the city on your own before traveling to Nagano for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Metropolitan Nagano)
Included Activities
- Travel through countryside to Tsumago
- Explore Tsumago village
- Lunch in Tsumago
- Visit Matsumoto Castle
- Free time to explore Matsumoto
Landmarks Tsumago Matsumoto Castle 
- Day 9
Nagano - Jigokudani Monkey Park - Kusatsu - Ikaho
Begin at Zenko-ji Temple in Nagano, a famous pilgrimage site with Japan's first Buddhist image. You'll participate in the Gomakuyo ceremony for good fortune. Then head into the Japanese Alps through mountain scenery to Jigokudani Monkey Park where you'll walk forested trails and see Japanese macaques bathing in hot springs. You'll pass volcanic landscapes reaching 2,172 meters before stopping in Kusatsu, a hot-spring town, for lunch and an open-air onsen. End in Ikaho, another hot-spring town, exploring old stone stairways. Stay in a traditional Ryokan with hot-spring baths and Japanese dinner included.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner (Traditional Japanese dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Moriaki Ryokan)
Included Activities
- Visit Zenko-ji Temple
- Participate in Gomakuyo ceremony
- Explore Jigokudani Monkey Park
- Walk through forested trails and rivers
- Stroll through Kusatsu city park with open-air onsen
- Explore Ikaho's traditional stone stairways
- Stay overnight in Ryokan
- Enjoy hot-spring baths at Ryokan
- Traditional Japanese dinner
Landmarks Zenko-ji Temple Jigokudani Monkey Park Japanese Alps Kusatsu Ikaho - Day 10
Ikaho - Nikko - Tokyo
Travel to Nikko and visit the Nikko-Toshogu Temple featuring its famous 'room with the sound of a dragon.' You'll explore Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum, a serene site, and walk along Kanmangafuchi Abyss lined with hundreds of Jizo statues. After free time in the town center, you'll head back to Tokyo, arriving around 6:30 p.m.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shinagawa Prince Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Nikko-Toshogu Temple
- Explore Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum
- Stroll along Kanmangafuchi Abyss
- Explore Nikko town center
Landmarks Nikko-Toshogu Temple Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum Kanmangafuchi Abyss - Day 11
Tokyo
After breakfast, your Japan journey ends, and you'll head home with lasting memories of the trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast
