We Love —
- Immersing in Tokyo's vibrant city life, exploring its bustling streets, high-tech wonders, and rich cultural heritage.
- Staying overnight in a monastery for a unique cultural immersion and opting for a 10 or 12-night stay to experience the tranquility of a traditional Japanese Ryokan.
- Discovering Kyoto's ancient temples, stunning gardens, and traditional tea houses, and indulging in Osaka's culinary delights, from street food to fine dining.
Customer reviews —
Your itinerary in brief —
Embark on an enchanting journey through Japan's cultural heartlands on this 8, 10, or 12-night tour. Experience the bustling metropolis of Tokyo, where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with futuristic marvels. Immerse yourself in Kyoto's timeless beauty, wandering through serene temples and graceful gardens. Discover the vibrant energy of Osaka, renowned for its gastronomic delights and lively entertainment. You will even have a chance to spend a tranquil night in a traditional monastery.
Choose the length of your stay:
8-night tour:
Days 1 - 3: Tokyo
Day 4: Tokyo - Kyoto
Days 5 - 6: Kyoto
Day 7: Kyoto - Mount Koya
Day 8: Mount Koya - Kyoto
Day 9: Kyoto - Osaka - Departure
10-night tour:
Days 1 - 4: Similar to the 8-night itinerary
Day 5: Kyoto - Nara
Day 6: Nara - Kyoto
Day 7 - 8: Kyoto
Day 9: Kyoto - Mount Koya
Day 10: Mount Koya - Kyoto
Day 11: Kyoto - Osaka - Departure
12-night tour:
Days 1 - 4: Tokyo
Day 5: Tokyo - Kyoto
Day 6: Kyoto - Nara
Day 7: Nara - Kyoto
Day 8 - 10: Kyoto
Day 11: Kyoto - Mount Koya
Day 12: Mount Koya - Kyoto
Day 13: Kyoto - Osaka - Departure
Your itinerary in detail —
8-night tour
DAY 1-3: TOKYO
Tokyo, the bustling capital of Japan, is a vibrant metropolis renowned for its ultramodern skyline, rich cultural heritage, and technological innovations. With a unique blend of traditional Shinto shrines, serene gardens, futuristic skyscrapers, and an exceptional culinary scene, Tokyo offers visitors an immersive experience, showcasing the harmony between tradition and innovation.
- Transfer by shared shuttle bus to your hotel (your room will be available from 3 pm)
- Breakfast included
- Free days for exploration
- Night at Hotel Sotetsu Fresa Inn Nihombashi-Ningyocho 3*
DAY 4: TOKYO - KYOTO
- Breakfast included
- Train ticket Tokyo - Kyoto included
- Night at Hotel Il Verde Kyoto 3*
DAY 5 & 6: KYOTO
Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, captivates visitors with its timeless beauty, serene temples, and picturesque landscapes. Renowned for its well-preserved historic districts, such as Gion and Higashiyama, Kyoto offers a glimpse into Japan's rich cultural heritage through its traditional tea houses, stunning bamboo groves, and magnificent UNESCO World Heritage sites.
- Breakfast included
- Free days to explore
- Night at Hotel Il Verde Kyoto 3*
DAY 7: KYOTO - MOUNT KOYA
Mount Koya, or Koyasan, is a sacred mountain in Japan revered as the centre of Shingon Buddhism. Nestled amidst lush forests in Wakayama Prefecture, it's renowned for its serene atmosphere, ancient temples, and peaceful monastic lodgings called shukubo. Pilgrims and travellers visit Mount Koya to experience spiritual retreats, witness stunning pagodas, explore Okunoin Cemetery, the largest in Japan, and partake in meditation sessions, immersing themselves in the tranquillity and spiritual heritage of this sacred mountain sanctuary.
- Breakfast & dinner included
- Depart from Osaka Namba Station in the direction of Mount Koya
- Koya World Heritage Pass included (Osaka - Mount Koya - Osaka)
- Night at Fugen In
Please note: accommodation in the monastery is private, however bathrooms & toilets are shared.
DAY 8: MOUNT KOYA - KYOTO
- Breakfast included
- Transfer back to Kyoto
- Night at Hotel Il Verde Kyoto 3*
DAY 9: KYOTO - OSAKA - DEPARTURE
- Breakfast included
- Transfer to the airport
10 or 12-night tour:
You have the option to prolong your stay with more days in Tokyo & Kyoto and add one night in a Ryokan in Nara.
Nara, Japan's first permanent capital, holds an esteemed place as a treasure trove of cultural heritage and natural beauty. Renowned for its friendly deer that roam freely in Nara Park, the city is steeped in history, boasting ancient temples, including Todai-ji with its colossal Great Buddha, and UNESCO World Heritage sites like Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
- Train ticket Kyoto - Nara - Kyoto (for 10 and 12-night tours only)
- One dinner during the stay at Ryokan (drinks excluded, for 10 and 12-night tours only)
Important information about your tour and visits: The hotels, which comply with local standards, are indicative and may be changed locally for hotels of a similar category. The itinerary is subject to changes due to compelling reasons such as delayed flights, weather conditions or other cases of force majeure. The order of visits is also subject to change.
Your hotels —
Hand-picked just for you
Maximum room capacity
At each of your stops, you will be staying in comfortable rooms in thoughtfully chosen hotels.
Your hotels:
Tokyo: Hotel Sotetsu Fresa Inn Nihombashi-Ningyocho 3*
Kyoto: Hotel Il Verde Kyoto 3*
Mount Koya: Fugen In
Nara (for 10 and 12-night tours): Ryokan Nara Hakushikaso 3*
Please note: The accommodation category is based on local standards.
If the hotels listed above are unavailable, you will be provided with comfortable accommodation in similar hotels. Local standards apply.
Please note:
Staying at a monastery: Please note that monastery accommodation is traditional and authentic, located in the heart of the temples and offers only shared bathrooms and toilets.
Overnight at a Ryokan: Experience an authentic Japanese inn stay. Japanese hotel rooms often feature narrow spaces and small beds. Check-in typically occurs in the mid-afternoon, around 3 to 4 pm.
Your dining choices
Throughout your tour, enjoy meals as per your itinerary which consists of breakfast with one dinner included (excluding drinks) when you stay at the monastery and at the Ryokan in Nara (for on the 10 and 12-night itineraries ).
Your journey to Japan —
Flights:
You will be able to choose your airline and flight times when you make your booking. This flight may include one or more stopovers. The stopover may be technical (without a change of aircraft) or transit (with a change of aircraft).
Luggage information
Luggage, meals and other services on board may be subject to an additional fee on certain airlines. It is possible to view details of luggage allowances when you choose your flights at the next stage of the booking process. If luggage is not included with your flight, please go to the airline's website before your departure to purchase your luggage for an additional fee.
For domestic flights, airlines do not always offer the option of reserving luggage. In this case, you will need to pay for it at the airport counter.
You will receive all the information you need to check in for your flights after you have made your reservation.
Your destinations —
Tokyo
One of the world’s most cutting-edge capitals, Tokyo is a city of contrasts. Famous for its modernity, neon-lit landscape and towering skyscrapers, it is also home to sprawling parkland, peaceful shrines and temples and lovingly tended gardens.
Despite its love affair with manga pop culture, fashion, high-tech trends and conspicuous consumption, below the surface is a city that has its roots in ancient heritage. Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples stand close to skyscrapers as a reminder of a more contemplative time, and at the heart of the hyperactive centre lies the serene Imperial Palace, the home of the ruling emperor that provides a tangible link to the city’s historical past.
Behind the shopping, entertainment and commercial emporia can be found quaint wooden houses, private gardens with meticulously clipped bonsai trees and the Zen-like calm of the Hamarikyu Gardens. Discover the fascinating and exquisite culture of Japan, where the ancient and modern worlds collide. The city’s reputation as a mega-expensive metropolis is ill-conceived, and visitors can take advantage of inexpensive izakaya bars and neighbourhood cafés that serve delicious noodles and rice dishes.
Kyoto
If you're looking for old Japan, Kyoto is a must: tranquil gardens, sublime temples and colourful shrines can be found in abundance. While the rest of Japan has embraced modernity, Kyoto still keeps traditions alive.
Take a stroll through the Nishijin district and spy some of the older residents emerging from the machiya (traditional townhouses) to ladle water onto their porch. If you go by an old shōtengai (shopping street) you can admire the ancient speciality shops: tofu sellers, fishmongers, pickle vendors and tea merchants.
Osaka
Explore Japan's second city and enjoy the lively neighbourhoods of Namba and Dotombori, try an izakaya, Japanese bar-restaurants! Enjoy the local specialities: okonomiyaki, savoury cabbage pancake, or takoyaki, small octopus dough balls. Continue your adventure with a trip to Osaka Castle Park with its 300 Yoshino cherry trees or to Shi-Tennoji Temple which is the oldest in Japan.
