Itinerary
- Day 1
Tokyo
After you clear customs, a shared shuttle bus will take you to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day getting settled and resting up from your flight. Later in the afternoon, you'll get information about how the tour kicks off tomorrow.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shinagawa Prince Hotel)
- Day 2
Tokyo
Today covers a lot of Tokyo's main neighborhoods on a guided tour. You'll start at Zojoji Temple with views of Tokyo Tower, then head to Shibuya Crossing and Meiji Shrine. From there, walk through Omotesando Avenue and check out the Imperial Palace gardens and Nijubashi Bridge. Akihabara's electronics shops come next, followed by a trip up Tokyo Skytree for views across the city. By evening, you'll take the subway to Asakusa to see Sensoji Temple and Nakamise Street, then finish up in Shinjuku with a guided walk and dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner (Local restaurant in Shinjuku area)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shinagawa Prince Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Tokyo (approximately five hours)
- Visit to Zojoji Temple
- Visit to Shibuya Crossing
- Visit to Meiji Shrine
- Drive through Omotesando Avenue
- Explore Imperial Palace and gardens
- Visit to Nijubashi Bridge
- Drive through Akihabara
- Tokyo Skytree admission and panoramic view
- Visit to Sensoji Temple
- Explore Nakamise Street
- Subway tour of Shinjuku area
- Dinner at local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs 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 Kyoto
Head to Tokyo Station early to catch the bullet train to Kyoto, which takes just over two hours to cover roughly 500 km. The whole day is spent exploring Kyoto, starting with Fushimi Inari Shrine, then moving on to the Imperial Palace and the Golden Pavilion at Kinkakuji Temple with its gardens. After that, wander through Gion, the traditional district known for geishas, and you'll have free time to explore on your own.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (New Miyako Hotel)
Included Activities
- Bullet train transportation Tokyo to Kyoto
- Visit to Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Visit to Imperial Palace
- Visit to Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion)
- Exploration of Gion district
Landmarks/POIs Fushimi Inari Shrine Kyoto Imperial Palace Kinkakuji Temple Gion 
- Day 4
Kyoto to Kanazawa
After breakfast, you'll travel along one of Japan's largest lakes to Shirahige Shrine, then continue to Eihei-ji, a historic temple-monastery from 1244 that's central to Zen Buddhism. In Katsuyama, spend time at the Dinosaur Museum, one of Japan's largest fossil sites with over 40 dinosaur skeletons and a chance to grab lunch. Next comes the Great Buddha of Echizen and its temple, plus a climb up the five-story pagoda for views. You'll reach Kanazawa in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Free time for lunch at Dinosaur Museum)
Included Activities
- Visit to Shirahige Shrine
- Visit to Eihei-ji Temple-Monastery
- Visit to Dinosaur Museum
- Visit to Great Buddha of Echizen
- Visit to five-story pagoda with climbing access
Landmarks/POIs Shirahige Shrine Eihei-ji Temple Dinosaur Museum Great Buddha of Echizen 
- Day 5
Kanazawa
Spend the day exploring Kanazawa, a city that once competed with Kyoto and Tokyo. Begin with a guided morning tour of the castle area and its walls. Stroll through Nagamachi, the historic neighborhood where samurai lived, with its earthen walls and narrow streets. You'll get into Kenrokuen, one of Japan's three best gardens. The tour finishes at Omicho market, ideal for lunch, leaving the afternoon free to explore on your own.
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Kanazawa
- Visit to castle area
- Walk through Nagamachi neighborhood
- Admission to Kenrokuen Garden
Optional Activities
- Lunch at Omicho traditional market
Landmarks/POIs Kanazawa Castle Nagamachi Kenrokuen Garden Omicho Market - Day 6
Kanazawa to Takayama
Journey through mountain landscapes to the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Gokayama and Shirakawago. Visit Ainokura village and Shirakawa-go Ogimachi, where houses have steep sloped roofs built to handle heavy winter snow. Time to walk around and eat lunch included. Continue to Takayama for the Hida Folk Village Museum, an open-air collection of over 30 traditional houses moved from the Edo Period. You'll have free time at the end to walk through the old town with its wooden buildings and traditional shops.
- Meals
- Lunch (Time to stroll and enjoy lunch)
Included Activities
- Visit to Ainokura village
- Visit to Shirakawa-go Ogimachi
- Visit to Hida Folk Village Museum
Landmarks/POIs Ainokura Shirakawa-go Ogimachi Hida Folk Village Museum Takayama Old Town 
- Day 7
Takayama to Nagano
After breakfast, head to Hida Furukawa to walk through its old town and visit the museum with festival floats, costumes, and drums, part of Japan's Intangible Cultural Heritage. Cross through the Japanese Alps and their snow-covered peaks on your way to Matsumoto. There you'll see Matsumoto Castle, called the 'Crow Castle' for its black exterior, built in the 16th century. Free time for exploration and lunch follows before you head to Nagano for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Metropolitan Nagano)
Included Activities
- Stroll through Hida Furukawa old town
- Museum admission showcasing festival floats, costumes, and drums
- Visit to Matsumoto Castle
Landmarks/POIs Hida Furukawa Matsumoto Castle Japanese Alps 
- Day 8
Nagano - Kusatsu - Ikaho
Start at Zenko-ji Temple in Nagano, a famous pilgrimage site with Japan's first Buddhist image, and take part in the Gomakuyo ceremony for good fortune. Head into the Japanese Alps to Jigokudani Monkey Park, where you'll walk through forested areas and see Japanese macaques bathing in natural hot springs. Continue through high mountain scenery at 2,172 meters with semi-active volcanoes in view. Visit Kusatsu hot-spring town and stroll its park with open-air onsen, then finish in Ikaho, known for traditional stone stairways. Stay overnight in a ryokan with traditional Japanese dinner.
- Meals
- Lunch (Free time for lunch in Kusatsu), Dinner (Traditional Japanese dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Moriaki Ryokan)
Included Activities
- Visit to Zenko-ji Temple
- Participation in Gomakuyo ceremony
- Jigokudani Monkey Park walk
- Stroll through Kusatsu city park
- Traditional stairway stroll in Ikaho
- Overnight stay at Ryokan with hot-spring baths
Landmarks/POIs Zenko-ji Temple Jigokudani Monkey Park Kusatsu Ikaho 
- Day 9
Ikaho to Tokyo
Travel to Nikko to visit Nikko-Toshogu Temple, known for its 'room with the sound of a dragon.' Check out Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum next, then walk along Kanmangafuchi Abyss with its hundreds of Jizo statues. You'll have free time to explore the town center before heading back to Tokyo, arriving around 6:30 p.m.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shinagawa Prince Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit to Nikko-Toshogu Temple
- Visit to Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum
- Stroll along Kanmangafuchi Abyss
Landmarks/POIs Nikko-Toshogu Temple Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum Kanmangafuchi Abyss 
- Day 10
Tokyo
After breakfast, your trip ends here, leaving you with great memories of Japan to take home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
