Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka Tour: Japan’s Big 3 (9 Days Tour)

Tokyo – Your Adventure Begins!

With your plane touching down at Narita International Airport in the early morning, there is plenty of daylight to get to know Japan’s capital. Your expert guide meets you at baggage claim and transfers you to central Tokyo.

Arriving in the city, you board Tokyo’s famous (and efficient) metro system to Harajuku, the center of the latest fashion trends and Japanese cosplay. Just outside the station, you are bound to see young men and women dressed in unique and exciting ways, or perhaps even a local band performing at the edge of Yoyogi Park. While there, enjoy Yoyogi Park’s natural beauty. Other sites of interest include Yoyogi National Stadium, which hosted many of the events during the 1964 Summer Olympics.

Just a quick metro ride away from Harajuku is Akihabara, regarded as a Mecca for fans of Japanese anime and video games. Wandering through the district’s back alleys, you can find hundreds of stores selling everything from manga comics to electrical components for obsolete computers.

In the late afternoon, you arrive in the Ginza, Tokyo’s premier shopping district. From high-class bags at Hermes to all manner of stationary supplies at Ito-Ya, just about anything can be found along the Ginza’s main boulevard. For technology lovers, visit the Sony Showroom, where the company displays its latest inventions not yet released in the West.

Every day, over 3,640,000 commuters travel through Shinjuku Station, making it the busiest in the world. Get caught up in the energy as you explore Japan’s urban core. Depending on your budget, your guide can arrange a fine dining experience at a Michelin star restaurant, or a laid back meal at an izakaya, a traditional Japanese restaurant that offers a variety of small comfort food dishes paired with alcohol.

If you’re not feeling too tired after dinner, soak in Shinjuku’s neon glory with a stroll through the district. Or perhaps stop at a pachinko parlor, where the loud sound and flashing lights rival any casino in Las Vegas.

When you decide to turn in, your guide sees you to your hotel.

What’s Included: airport transfer, guided tour, dinner, accommodation.

Tokyo to Mt. Fuji to Tokyo – Natural Beauty

This morning, your guide picks you up from your hotel. Boarding a private minivan, you leave Tokyo behind to travel to Hakone, a 90-minute journey. Before the trip is half over, though, you begin to see Mt. Fuji in the distance, its snow covered peak serving as your beacon throughout the day.

Arriving in Hakone, what to do and where to go is completely up to you. If you are an art lover, the Hakone Open Air Museum has one of Japan’s largest collections of Picassos in the country. If you’re looking for a little rest and relaxation, the city’s various onsen baths are an excellent way to relieve sore muscles.

After lunch in Hakone, your van takes you to Mt. Fuji. Your first stop is Yamamiya Sengen Shrine; a Shinto shrine erected at the foot of Mt. Fuji. Providing excellent views of the mountain, the shrine is still home to Shinto priests who use the shrine as a way to offer prayers to the mountain’s spirit.

From the shrine, your bus winds up the curvy road leading to Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station. A little more than halfway up the mountain, the 5th Station is the starting point for the majority of men, women, and even children who make the eight-hour climb to the summit every summer. The 5th Station is an excellent place to learn more about Mt. Fuji, buy a souvenir, or take a nature walk that reveals stunning views of the Fuji Five Lakes region.

In the late afternoon, your van takes you back to Tokyo. Dinner this evening is ramen, Japan’s famous hearty noodle dish that makes for a delicious way to end your day of adventure.

What’s Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner, transfer, guided tour, accommodation.

Kyoto – A Day of Religion and Cuisine

After breakfast at the hotel, your day begins early when your guide takes you by private car to Kinkaku-ji, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion. The temple is most beautiful right after dawn when the morning’s soft light reflects off its gold leaf surface. Arriving early also ensures that you miss the crowds that flock daily to this amazing attraction.

Kinkaku-ji may be Kyoto’s most spectacular shrine, but Kyomizu-dera provides Kyoto’s most stunning vista. Atop Otowa Mountain, Kyomizu-dera overlooks Kyoto and the surrounding valley. After soaking in the balcony’s views, your guide takes you on a tour of the temple complex, explaining how the tenants of Buddhism are expressed throughout this stunning structure.

This evening has what is likely the most memorable meal on the trip. Kaiseki ryori is a traditional Japanese cuisine perfected in Kyoto. Once served to the emperors who inhabited Kyoto’s Imperial Palace, kaiseki ryori is defined by a series of small, artistic dishes that highlight the region’s freshest meats and vegetables. This is definitely a meal where you will want to have your camera ready to take pictures.

What’s Included: breakfast, dinner, private transfer, guided tour, accommodation.

Kyoto to Osaka – Ancient to Modern

On your last morning in Kyoto, you take a walk up to Fushimi-Inari Shrine. During this walk, you pass under 2,000 bright red torii gates, a Shinto symbol that signifies one is entering a sacred space. During the walk, simply enjoy the peaceful tranquility. Your guide, however, is happy to spend the time teaching you about the shrine’s history and spiritual significance.

Arriving at the shrine, you are greeted by many statues of kitsune, foxes, and more stunning view of Kyoto. There is ample time to walk around the lush gardens. Perfect for taking pictures, the shrine is a peaceful oasis in the middle of modern Kyoto.

In late morning, board a private van for the short ride to Osaka. After arriving, take an hour’s rest in your hotel room before heading out for an amazing afternoon and a night on the town.

Your first stop is the Tempozan Ferris Wheel. Boarding your private compartment, the wheel slowly raises you to nearly 370 feet. With every surface made of glass, nothing stands between you and a perfect view of the city.

Osaka is world famous for its okonomiyaki, a savory pancake dish which incorporates cabbage, seafood, and thinly sliced pork belly. A rich treat, it goes down best with a pint (or two) of ice-cold Japanese beer.

What’s Included: breakfast, guided tour, private transfer, accommodation.

Osaka – So Much More to See

When you awake on your final morning in Japan, you won’t believe that only nine days have passed since you arrived. With souvenirs to take with you, and memories to last a lifetime, your guide sees you aboard a train to Kansai International Airport where your flight home awaits you.

Even on the ride to the airport, you feel compelled to return to Japan. Though you have done so much in just over a week, there is still so much more to see.

What’s Included: breakfast, airport transfer.