Overview
Embark on a captivating journey through Japan’s cultural heart with our tour of Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Kaga, Kanazawa, and Hiroshima. This carefully curated itinerary blends modern cityscapes, timeless traditions, soothing hot springs, and historic landmarks for a truly enriching experience.
Itinerary
Upon arrival at Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND) or Narita International Airport (NRT), our representative will welcome you to Japan and assist you to transfer by the airport bus to your hotel in central Tokyo.
2-2-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-8330
The Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo is the ideal location to explore the delights of the city of Tokyo. Only minutes away from the most popular shopping and entertainment spots, our luxury hotel provides stunning views over central Tokyo. A cozy bed, a good meal, friendly faces…. these are just some of the comforts that you seek after stepping inside the hotel door. Located in Shinjuku, in the very heart of the Tokyo metropolis, the Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo extends top rated services and facilities, features that guests come to expect of a world class hotel.
This morning our guide will meet you and together you will spend the day exploring Tokyo like a local would. You will ride local trains and subways to efficiently get around the city visiting the neighbourhoods of Shibuya, Asakusa and Ginza.
Learn how to purify yourself at the entrance of Meiji-jingu shrine. Stroll down colorful Takeshita street in Harajuku with its youthful fashionable atmosphere and Kawaii culture. You may even run into some cosplayers all decked out as their favourite anime character. Next is the elegant tree lined Omotesando with its high style buildings and one of a kind architecture housing designer luxury boutiques.
The Asakusa traditional district in the northwest section of the city boasts the magnificent Senso-ji temple and its five story pagoda. Here, incense burning worshippers are oblivious to the selfie taking tourists. Let our guide help translate the good fortunes printed on your Omikuji and save as a souvenir of Tokyo. Some shopping time for souvenirs or Japanese rice crackers is in order along Nakamise shopping street which leads to the outer gate of the temple. Not to be missed on a visit of Tokyo is the entertainment, dining and upmarket shopping district of Ginza. Here you will find the flagship stores of major Japanese and International brands.
2-2-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-8330
The Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo is the ideal location to explore the delights of the city of Tokyo. Only minutes away from the most popular shopping and entertainment spots, our luxury hotel provides stunning views over central Tokyo. A cozy bed, a good meal, friendly faces…. these are just some of the comforts that you seek after stepping inside the hotel door. Located in Shinjuku, in the very heart of the Tokyo metropolis, the Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo extends top rated services and facilities, features that guests come to expect of a world class hotel.
This morning you will join a group bus tour of Mt. Fuji and Hakone. You will visit Mt. Fuji’s 5th station at an altitude of 2,300 meteres. The tour continues to the town of Hakone where you can admire the spectaclar view of Mt. Fuji from aboard a ship and a ropeway ride to the peak of Mt. Komagatake. Lunch is included during the tour.
*Mt. Fuji views are weather permitting
2-2-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-8330
The Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo is the ideal location to explore the delights of the city of Tokyo. Only minutes away from the most popular shopping and entertainment spots, our luxury hotel provides stunning views over central Tokyo. A cozy bed, a good meal, friendly faces…. these are just some of the comforts that you seek after stepping inside the hotel door. Located in Shinjuku, in the very heart of the Tokyo metropolis, the Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo extends top rated services and facilities, features that guests come to expect of a world class hotel.
Our staff will meet you at your hotel in the early morning and assist you to get to the sumo stable to watch the sumo wrestlers morning training. This is a great opportunity to watch sumo wrestlers’ serious practice and training from a short distance. After the practice, you will have time to take a photo with the sumo wrestlers.
Rest of the day is free for your own activities.
2-2-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-8330
The Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo is the ideal location to explore the delights of the city of Tokyo. Only minutes away from the most popular shopping and entertainment spots, our luxury hotel provides stunning views over central Tokyo. A cozy bed, a good meal, friendly faces…. these are just some of the comforts that you seek after stepping inside the hotel door. Located in Shinjuku, in the very heart of the Tokyo metropolis, the Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo extends top rated services and facilities, features that guests come to expect of a world class hotel.
Our staff will meet you at your hotel and assist you to get to Tokyo station and see you off on the platform as you board the bullet train for the 3 hour ride to Kanazawa.
Upon meeting our guide at Kyoto station, head out to Omicho market with its many stalls full of sea creatures fresh out of the Sea of Japan. Omicho market has over 170 shops providing the locals including restaurant chefs with fresh fish, meat, oysters, pickles, produce, sweets, sake, coffee and more. Proceed to the well preserved historic Higashi Chaya district. First thing you will get outfitted in traditional kimonos so you may visit this historical Geisha area in full character. The beautiful wooden chayas (tea houses) were the venues where Geishas once entertained nobility and rich merchants. The number of Geishas have dwindled over the years but there remains a few active tea houses here where Geishas still entertain their well off clients on a nightly basis. Our guide will point them out to you.
1-5-2 Hirooka Ishikawa-ken, Kanazawa 920-0031
Situated just seconds from the Kanazawa station, Hyatt Centric Kanazawa is the perfect spot from which to explore the authentic art, shops, restaurants and culture of Kanazawa. Hyatt Centric Kanazawa features a restaurant, fitness center, a bar and garden in Kanazawa. This 4-star hotel offers a concierge service and luggage storage space. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk, room service and currency exchange for guests. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a desk, a coffee machine, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. At Hyatt Centric Kanazawa all rooms are equipped with bed linen and towels. A buffet breakfast is available every morning at the accommodation.
Together with our local guide, you will spend the day exploring Kanazawa by local transportation including hopping on and off a loop bus.
Kenrokuen Garden is a strolling park-like Japanese landscape garden. The garden invokes all six design elements of spaciousness, seclusion, serenity, subtleness, panoramas and water courses. Learn about the history of tea and the spirit of tea ceremony, then you can try making a cup of tea under an instructor’s guidance at the oldest tea room in Kanazawa with a beautiful garden. Take in the historic atmosphere of the Nagamachi Samurai District as you walk the narrow lanes flanked by the traditional residences where the Samurais and their families lived during the Edo period. Visit the restored Nomura Samurai house and its exquisite tiny garden best viewed from the second floor tea room. Explore the outdoor installations of the futuristic looking 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art.
1-5-2 Hirooka Ishikawa-ken, Kanazawa 920-0031
Situated just seconds from the Kanazawa station, Hyatt Centric Kanazawa is the perfect spot from which to explore the authentic art, shops, restaurants and culture of Kanazawa. Hyatt Centric Kanazawa features a restaurant, fitness center, a bar and garden in Kanazawa. This 4-star hotel offers a concierge service and luggage storage space. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk, room service and currency exchange for guests. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a desk, a coffee machine, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. At Hyatt Centric Kanazawa all rooms are equipped with bed linen and towels. A buffet breakfast is available every morning at the accommodation.
Make your own way to Kanazawa station and board a local train for the 30 minute ride to Kaga Onsen station.
On arrival at your ryokan, you will be warmly welcomed by the staff. You will experience the deeply rooted Japanese custom of Ometenashi (to whole heartedly look after guests). Your stay here will be a most unique Japanese experience from how you dress, sleep and bathe. Relax and embrace the experience and do as the locals do.
Yamashiroonsen, Kaga, Ishikawa 922-0242
Guest rooms are designed for you to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere in natural surroundings. Also, you can enjoy two types of baths. You will feel your fatigue melt away, as if you were in a secret hot spring in a forest, surrounded by the power of nature.
After checking out, board the Ryokan’s shuttle bus to the station and board the train for the approximately 2 hour ride to Kyoto.
Upon meeting our guide at Kyoto station, you will head to the south of Kyoto to Fushimi Inari Taisha. This shrine dedicated to the Shinto God of rice is famous for its thousands of vermillion colored torii gates leading through the wooded forest to Mount Inari.
Next, you will visit Kiyomizudera (pure water) temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1994. Make your way up to the wooden stage of the main hall with beautiful views of city of Kyoto and the surrounding mountains.
The tour ends in Gion, the most famous Geisha neighborhood of Kyoto. Here you will see the many well preserved traditional wooden houses (machiya) of old Japan, many of which are tea houses where Geishas entertain their well to do clientele. After the tour our guide will take you back to your hotel or you can remain in the area and further explore the area around Gion. Our guide will give you instructions how to get back to the hotel on your own.
1 Higashikujonishisannocho,Minami-ku, Kyoto 601-8003
The RIHGA Gran Kyoto is a new RIHGA Royal Hotels Group hotel, located a three-minute walk from Kyoto Station Hachijo-East Exit. This hotel is one to savor with all five senses, naturally reflecting Kyoto’s atmosphere.
You will spend the day in the foothills of Northern and Western Kyoto. You will visit Kinkaku-ji, a Zen temple also known as the Golden Pavilion. The top two floors of the building completely covered in gold leaf. Our guide will lead you through the beautiful gardens to the tea house where you will exit the temple.
A short walk down the street is Ryoan-ji. The attraction of this temple is its famous rock garden with its deceptively simple and clever arrangement of 15 stones. After some contemplative moments at the rock garden, you will leave the area and travel to the western side of Kyoto.
In Arashiyama, you will tour Tenryu-ji Zen temple with one of the finest gardens in Kyoto. You will exit the temple by the north gate which brings you right onto the famous verdant bamboo groves of Arashiyama.
1 Higashikujonishisannocho,Minami-ku, Kyoto 601-8003
The RIHGA Gran Kyoto is a new RIHGA Royal Hotels Group hotel, located a three-minute walk from Kyoto Station Hachijo-East Exit. This hotel is one to savor with all five senses, naturally reflecting Kyoto’s atmosphere.
In the morning you will take a bullet train from Kyoto to Hiroshima.Our guide will meet you upon arrival in Hiroshima, then take a short ferry ride to Miyajima Island. Walk around the island and visit Itsukushima Shrine. The name Itsukushima literally means ‘island of worship’ and from ancient times the island itself was worshipped as a god. The mystical Itsukushima Shrine built on the water was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1996. After exploring Miyajima, back to Hiroshima and visit the Atomic Bomb Dome with the Peace and Memorial park. For lunch, your guide will take you to a local Okonomiyaki restaurant. Okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake) is the most famous as Hiroshima’s soul food.
1 Higashikujonishisannocho,Minami-ku, Kyoto 601-8003
The RIHGA Gran Kyoto is a new RIHGA Royal Hotels Group hotel, located a three-minute walk from Kyoto Station Hachijo-East Exit. This hotel is one to savor with all five senses, naturally reflecting Kyoto’s atmosphere.
Free day for your own activities.
1 Higashikujonishisannocho,Minami-ku, Kyoto 601-8003
The RIHGA Gran Kyoto is a new RIHGA Royal Hotels Group hotel, located a three-minute walk from Kyoto Station Hachijo-East Exit. This hotel is one to savor with all five senses, naturally reflecting Kyoto’s atmosphere.
Take the airport shuttle bus to Kansai International Airport (KIX) or Osaka International (Itami) Airport (ITM) for your departure.