Enchanting Japan Tokyo to Osaka Adventure - 7 days

Welcome to Japan. After clearing customs in Tokyo, we’ll arrange a shared shuttle transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure – this afternoon you’ll receive details about the start of your tour.
Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

This morning we set out on a guided city tour of around seven hours, taking in Tokyo’s contrasts of lively modern districts and calm, historic spaces. We make a brief stop at Zojoji Temple for one of the best views of Tokyo Tower, and to see rows of Jizo statues – guardians of children – adorned with knitted hats, bibs and pinwheels. From there we continue to Shibuya Crossing, viewed from the bus, famous as the busiest intersection in the world. We then visit Meiji Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his wife, before ascending Tokyo Skytree – admission included to the Tembo Deck at 350 metres – for sweeping views across the city. Our tour ends in Asakusa with time to explore Sensoji Temple and Nakamise Street. On the drive back to the hotel we pass Akihabara – the Electric City and a centre of Japanese manga and anime culture – and the Ginza district. At 6:30 p.m. we meet our guide in the hotel lobby and take the subway – tickets included – to Shinjuku. After a short walk through this lively neighbourhood, we sit down to dinner at a local restaurant – included. We return to the hotel by subway with our guide. The order of visits may vary depending on the admission time for Tokyo Skytree. In case of bad weather or other exceptional circumstances, access to Tokyo Skytree may be limited – in that case an alternative visit to another iconic city viewpoint will be offered.

We depart Tokyo for the Mount Fuji region, taking in the scenery en route. Our first stop is Arakurayama Sengen Park, known for its pagoda and classic views of Fuji. We continue to Kawaguchiko, a lakeside town ringed by mountains, and on arrival visit Fuji Sengen Shrine – traditionally the starting point for pilgrimages up Mount Fuji – where we pause before moving on. We then enjoy a relaxing boat ride on Lake Kawaguchiko, followed by a drive towards the mountain’s Fifth Station at 2,305 metres, passing through forested slopes. In winter the road is often closed by snow – if so, we travel as far as conditions allow. We return to Kawaguchiko for an overnight stay in a ryokan, where you can unwind and use the onsen – dinner is included. Please note that some rooms are Japanese style with tatami and others are Western style, and on occasion accommodation may be in a Western-style hotel instead.

This morning we follow a scenic lakeside road to Iyashi no Sato Nenba, a village destroyed by a 1966 typhoon and later rebuilt as an open air museum. Its traditional houses now host arts and crafts shops, small restaurants and cultural displays that offer a glimpse of rural life. We then continue to Shiraito Falls – a renowned natural site where water drops around 20 metres. From here we travel to Nagoya to visit the Toyota Museum – admission included – a visit of interest to car enthusiasts and the simply curious. We then continue to Kyoto for the night.

We’ll devote a full day to Kyoto – the imperial capital from 794 to 1868 – a city whose heritage survived the Second World War and where the Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997. We begin in Arashiyama to admire the Togetsukyo Bridge before visiting Tenryuji, one of Kyoto’s five great Zen temples and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, followed by a serene walk through the bamboo grove. We then continue to Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Imperial Palace and Kinkakuji – the Golden Pavilion – set within its striking gardens. The order of visits may vary. After the tour, you can wander through Gion, Kyoto’s traditional district known for its atmospheric streets and geishas.

This morning we depart Kyoto for Nara for a guided visit to Todaiji – a grand Buddhist temple founded in 752 and home to an immense Buddha. In the surrounding park you can take photos and, if you wish, interact with the friendly deer. Lunch is included. We then continue to Horyuji Temple – a UNESCO World Heritage site with a seminary, monasteries and temples – whose central pagoda is among the oldest wooden structures in the world and marks Japan’s oldest Buddhist temple. By evening we reach Osaka and stay overnight. Later we visit Dotonbori, a lively district renowned for its bustling nightlife.

After breakfast, we conclude our journey in Osaka – thank you for travelling with us. We hope you leave with lasting memories of your time in Japan.