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12-Day Highlights of Japan

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Overview

Explore all the highlights on a Japan sightseeing tour with a mixture of free time and guided tours in 12 days. Starting with a few days in Tokyo, you'll take time to get to know the city your way, enjoying the slow pace of travel.

You'll move on to Hakone to spend your days gazing at Mount Fuji before moving onto Kyoto. Spending time in Kyoto, you'll be transported back in time to the days of clans in Japan. You'll have a day trip to visit the ancient capital Nara.

Your final days will be in Osaka, where you'll go to the less-visited Himeji to learn a little more about Samurais. By this point, you'll be operating Japan's transport systems like a local, you'll be free to explore on your own.
Sightseeing
Outdoors & Nature
Culture & Arts

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Tokyo

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Arrival in Tokyo

Start this Japan sightseeing adventure with an arrival in Tokyo, and then transfer to your hotel. A local assistant will help you collect your JR Passes and accompany you to the hotel. They will explain how transportation in Japan works. Collect your "Pocket WiFi" that will give you high speed and unlimited internet access all over Japan. Activate your Suica prepaid card to be used on JR East trains, metro and buses. Once settled, you can relax at the hotel or go out to explore the city.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Karaksa Hotel Tokyo Station3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Half-Day Tokyo TourOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Haneda Airport to TokyoOptional Activity

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Chūō

    Tokyo

Day 2

Guided Tour of Tokyo

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Guided Tour of Tokyo

Stroll through Hama Rikyu Garden and the Imperial Palace the gardens, which form the largest park in the capital. Discover the Hie Jinja Shrine, dedicated to the deity of Mount Hie. Take a stroll in the beautiful Gyoen Imperial Park and go to Meiji Jingu Shrine, one of the most famous places of worship in Japan. Take a stroll through Yoyogi Park, Shibuya –don't forget to visit the statue of the dog, Hâchiko–, Harajuku District and Omote-Sando street; immerse yourself in the diversity of Tokyo.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Karaksa Hotel Tokyo Station3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Hamarikyu Gardens

    Imperial Palace and Nijubashi Bridge

    Hie Shrine

    Shinjuku Gyoen Garden

    Meiji Shrine

    Yoyogi Park

    Shibuya

    Harajuku

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Chūō

    Tokyo

Day 3

Free Day in Tokyo

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Free Day in Tokyo

Take a stroll through the Asakusa district, and discover the historic centre of Japan's capital. Visit the Sensô-Ji Temple which has stood for over 1,000 years, and don't forget to pass by Nakamise Street. Stroll through Akihabara, the capital of otaku, fans of virtual culture. Then go to the Zojo-Ji Temple, one of the largest Buddhist complexes in the capital. Finish the day by climbing the Tokyo Sky Tree Tower and take a closer look at the radio tower that is the pride of the Japanese people.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Fukuzumiro4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    AsakusaOptional Activity

    Sensoji Temple and Nakamise StreetOptional Activity

    Ueno ParkOptional Activity

    AkihabaraOptional Activity

    Tokyo SkytreeOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Train from Tokyo Station to Odawara Station

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Chūō

    Tokyo

    Ashigarashimo District

Day 4

Free Day in Hakone

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Free Day in Hakone

Visit the famous Hakone Shrine, a Shinto shrine on the shore of Lake Ashi. Erected in 757, the main building in a beautiful cedar forest. Distinguished by its Torii, it is the best-known view of Mount Fuji. Take a stroll around Lake Ashi, a crater lake within a volcano that erupted 3,000 years ago. Take the cable car along Lake Ashi to Owakudani Volcanic Valley to admire its steam vents, hot springs and hot rivers. On clear days, you may see a spectacular panoramic view of Mount Fuji.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Fukuzumiro4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Hakone ShrineOptional Activity

    Lake AshinokoOptional Activity

    Owakudani ValleyOptional Activity

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Ashigarashimo District

Day 5

Free Day in Hakone

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Free Day in Hakone

Part of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, a day in Hakone will take you to bask in the areas natural beauty and bathe in its famous hot springs. Today, you could hop on the ropeway for a panoramic view that stretches across to Mount Fuji or take the time to lap up the luxury of an onsen. Alternatively, you could spend the day hopping between gardens and museums to learn about the region. Late afternoon, take the train to Kyoto.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Kyomachiya Ryokan Sakura Hongan-G3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Hakone Gora ParkOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Train from Odawara to Kyoto Station

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Ashigarashimo District

    Kyoto

Day 6

Kyoto

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Kyoto

Visit the famous Yasaka-Jinja Shrine, dedicated to the goddess of the sea and Maruyama Park, an essential place for the Ohanami during Sakura. Visit the Kodai-ji Temple, full of maple and bamboo trees and troll through the Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka alleys that look like they come straight out of a samurai movie. Visit the astonishing Kiyomizu-Dera Temple and walk through Gion District. You'll finish the day at the two of the most important temples in Japan, Higashi Hongen-ji and Nishi Hongen-gi.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Kyomachiya Ryokan Sakura Hongan-G3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Yasaka Shrine

    Maruyama Park

    Kōdaiji Temple

    Ninenzaka Street

    Sanneizaka

    Kiyomizu-dera Temple

    Gion District

    Nishiki Market

    Higashi Hongan-ji Temple

    Nishi Hongan-ji Temple

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Kyoto

Day 7

Free Day in Kyoto

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Free Day in Kyoto

Today is yours to enjoy Japan sightseeing on your own time. You could start the day out in Arashiyama, a part of the city that is known for its bamboo grove and monkey park. Then, you could go on a self-guide temple tour of the city, stopping at all the must-see sights such as Tenryu, Nonomiya-Jinja and Nison-in. You could finish the day on the iconic Saga scenic train; it's the only scenic train in Japan.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Kyomachiya Ryokan Sakura Hongan-G3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Arashiyama Bamboo GroveOptional Activity

    Tenryu-ji TempleOptional Activity

    Saga Toriimoto Preserved StreetOptional Activity

    Sagano Scenic RailwayOptional Activity

    Arashiyama Monkey Park IwatayamaOptional Activity

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Kyoto

Day 8

Free Day in Kyoto

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Free Day in Kyoto

Forming a red arch winding through the forest, more than 30,000 torii follow one another to Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, the largest Shinto shrine in Japan. Discover the Philosopher's Path, a two-kilometre long trail, that follows a cherry tree-lined canal joining the Ginkaku Ji Silver Pavilion. Take a stroll along Kiyamachi-dori street, another Sakura spot. In the evening, stroll through Pontocho District to enjoy its countless Ochaya tea houses, where Geiko come to practice their arts.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Kyomachiya Ryokan Sakura Hongan-G3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Fushimi Inari TaishaOptional Activity

    Philosopher's PathOptional Activity

    GinkakujiOptional Activity

    Kiyamachi DoriOptional Activity

    Pontocho AlleyOptional Activity

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Kyoto

Day 9

Explore Nara from Kyoto

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Explore Nara from Kyoto

Today is free to explore: stroll through the large park in the city of Nara, discover the Kasuga Taisha Shrine with its buildings painted in vermilion red and visit the large Todai-ji Temple, home to the Daibutsu-den building, the largest wooden construction in the world which houses a monumental Big Buddha. Admire the magnificent Nigatsu-Do Temple built on wooden stilts and visit the Hokke-Do Temple also called Sangatsu-do, the oldest building in Todai-ji.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Kyomachiya Ryokan Sakura Hongan-G3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Nara Deer ParkOptional Activity

    Kasuga-Taisha ShrineOptional Activity

    Todai-ji TempleOptional Activity

    Kōfuku-ji TempleOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Train from Kyoto Station to Nara StationOptional Activity

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Kyoto

    Tenri

    Nara

Day 10

A Day in Himeji

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A Day in Himeji

Visit the magnificent Himeji Castle, one of the most famous castles in the country. This masterpiece of feudal architecture that dominates the Harima plain from a height of 46 metres. Visit the Koko-en Garden situated not far from the castle. The park was designed in 1992 on the model of samurai house gardens from the Edo period. Finish the day by taking a walk on Mount Shosha. On the edge of the city of Himeji, it is home to a superb Buddhist complex that is rarely visited: the Engyo-ji

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Mystays Midosuji Honmachi4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Himeji CastleOptional Activity

    Koko-en GardensOptional Activity

    Mount ShoshaOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Train from Kyoto to Himeji

    Train from HIMEJI STATION to Osaka Station

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Kyoto

    Himeji

    Osaka

Day 11

Explore Osaka

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Explore Osaka

Visit the Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, considered to be an authentic example of Japanese architecture. Take a stroll through Tenno-ji Park which features a beautiful botanical garden. Then, visit the elegant Osaka Castle, home to a museum exhibiting samurai weapons, armour and information about the great samurai, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Late afternoon, stroll down Osaka's most popular street, Dotonbori. The epicentre of the city at dusk, here, you are in the most festive area of ​​the city!

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Mystays Midosuji Honmachi4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Sumiyoshi TaishaOptional Activity

    Tennoji TempleOptional Activity

    Osaka CastleOptional Activity

    Osaka Museum of HistoryOptional Activity

    DotonboriOptional Activity

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Osaka

Day 12

Departure Day

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Departure Day

This morning, you'll be free to explore the city a little more. Then, you will get the train to Osaka's Kansai airport.

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Train from Namba Station to Kansai International Airport

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Osaka

Included in Price

  • 11 nights accommodation
  • 18 activities
  • 11 breakfasts
  • Airport transfer
  • Ground transportation

Not Included in Price

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entrance fees
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Licensed English speaking guides
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
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