DAY 1: Welcome to Tokyo

You’ll touch down at one of the capital’s two major international airports and either be met by our representative or make your own way to your first a comfortable hotel in an enviable central location, for a good night’s sleep before the tour starts in earnest tomorrow.

DAY 2: Exploring the Metropolis

Welcome to Tokyo! Your first stop is the museum of Hokusai, the symbolic artist of Japan, followed by a visit to the Asakusa district and Senso-ji Temple, the oldest in the city and the long Nakamise-dori boulevard with its traditional shops. Walk outside the Imperial Palace, with the famous Nijubashi bridge, and through the elegant Ginza district, ending at the Bunkyo Civic Center skyscraper with its viewing platform from which to enjoy a splendid viewof the megalopolis.

Includes Breakfast, Tokyo tour guide and public transport around Tokyo

DAY 3: Tokyo

A full day at your own leisure or take our optional tour to discover the more lively and animated side of Tokyo. You’ll explore the famous fish market and the artificial island of Odaiba, where you’ll visit the Miraikan (National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation) with spectacular views of
the Rainbow Bridge over Tokyo Bay. Finally, transfer to the popular Shibuya district, famous for its impressive intersection with what is said to be the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world.

Includes Breakfast.

DAY 4: Kyoto

You’ll now depart for Kyoto by Shinkansen train using your Japan Rail Pass, arriving at Kyoto Station in the early afternoon. Your English-speaking guide will take you around the city of Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan. You’ll visit the Golden Pavilion of Kinkaku-ji, the most symbolic temple of the city, continuing with the Ryoan-ji Temple, famous for its Zen rock garden. Later stroll through the ancient district of Gion, known for its tea houses and for the Maiko, aspiring geisha, who occasionally can be seen wandering through its alleys.

Includes Breakfast, Kyoto tour guide and transport around Kyoto.

DAY 5: Kyoto & Nara

A full day free at your leisure or take our Optional guided tour, Visiting Nara and Fushimi.

On this you’ll depart Kyoto for Nara by rapid train using your Japan Rail Pass. You’ll visit Nara where numerous fallow deer live in semi-freedom in its great park. Visit Todai-ji temple where the Great Buddha is kept, one of the largest bronze statues in the world and the great Kasuga Shinto shrine, surrounded by about 10,000 lanterns.

Return to Kyoto stopping along the way at the Fushimi Inari Taisha to admire its endless vermilion Torii gates.

Includes breakfast.

DAY 6: Explore Kyoto in your own time

A full day free in Kyoto. We suggest visiting the Kiyomizu-dera Buddhist temple and the Sanjusangen-do, a building that houses 1001 wooden statues of Bodhisattva Kannon. Alternatively, you can choose to use your Japan Rail Pass to visit places not far from Kyoto such as Uji, famous for green tea and the UNESCO heritage temple of Byodo-in, or perhaps Lake Biwa, the largest in Japan.

Includes Breakfast.

DAY 7: Kanazawa

Depart to Kanazawa by express train using your Japan Rail Pass.

On arrival in Kanazawa we recommend visiting Kenroku-en park, considered one of the three most beautiful landscape gardens in Japan; the Omicho-ichiba market, especially renowned for its seafood products and the Nagamachi Yuzen-kan, where splendid kimonos made of Kaga Yuzen silk, the traditional technique of the area, are displayed.

Breakfast is included

DAY 8: Takayama & Shirakawa-Go

Depart for Takayama by Shinkansen bullet train then express train to Takayama using your Japan Rail Pass.

We recommend visiting the Sanmachi-suji district, the heart of the historic center, walking among sake factories and characteristic houses converted into craft shops. 

En route you could decide to visit Shirakawa-go, the village with characteristic sloping thatched-roof houses, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Breakfast and traditional dinner included with overnight stay in a distinctive Ryokan hotel.

DAY 9: Nagoya & Tokyo

Before leaving for Tokyo we suggest a walk to the morning market in Takayama.

You’ll depart by express train to Nagoya where you’ll stop for lunch.

Nagoya is famous for its grilled eel (unagi).

Continue to Tokyo with the Shinkansen bullet train using your Japan Rail Pass.

Breakfast included.

DAY 10: Tokyo departure

Breakfast at hotel.
Your room is available until 11:00.

Transfer to the airport using your Japan Rail Pass.

Depart from Narita / Haneda Airport.

Includes Breakfast.