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8 Day itinerary in Japan, Asia

Japan Highlights

Starting in Tokyo, travel on bullet trains to the cities of Hakone, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka, seeing the Japanese countryside along the way. Enjoy your free time and appreciate the amazing culture, culinary delights, technological wonders and enchanting natural beauty of Japan along your way, befo... Read More

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Taro

By Taro

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Light
help_outline

Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

Tokyo

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Visit markets

Meet local people

Indigenous culture

Historic & cultural landmarks

Outdoors & Nature

Classic Sights

Food & Drink

Start/End

Night

Highlights

1

Travel by bullet train to Hakone and explore onsen hot springs

2

Visit Fushimi Inari, Sanjusangendo Temple and Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto

3

Explore Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Taman In Temple, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Umeda Sk

4

Travel by Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Shin-Osaka and Tokyo

Itinerary

Mid-Range ($$) expand_more

Day 1

place Airport transfer

Upon your arrival at Narita International Airport, meet our representative outside the arrival hall - they will be holding a sign with your name. Enjoy a convenient, hassle-free shared shuttle transfer to your hotel.

Accommodation:

  • 3* Hotels: 3* Hotel or similar
Day 2

place Travel by bullet train to Hakone

A 7-day standard class Japan Rail Pass is included, to cover all your intercity journeys for the period as specified in this itinerary. Please go to the Rail Pass exchange desk at any major station, present the rail pass vouchers provided and bring passports as ID. Give the start date as advised in this itinerary. The desk staff will then issue your actual Rail Pass. Once you have it in your hands, you can make free advance seat reservations at the ticket desk. Use the Rail Pass to catch a Hikari or Kodama bullet train 30 minutes to Odawara, the gateway to Hakone National Park. Free seat reservations can be made in advance at station ticket desk. Hakone, one of Japan ́s most famous hot spring (onsen) areas and rich in unspoiled nature, is within easy traveling distance of Tokyo. The 2 Day Hakone Freepass is an excursion ticket offering full coverage of the popular sightseeing destinations in Hakone. Hakone Freepass allows you to get on and off freely within a specified area, as well as providing discount admission to various attractions in the area, and also includes return transportation on the Odakyu Line. With Hakone Freepass, you can also ride on 8 different types of transport in the area, such as the Hakone Tozan Line and the Hakone Ropeway, allowing you the freedom to thoroughly explore Hakone. Enjoy your trip to Hakone with the convenient Hakone Freepass. Spend the night in a traditional Japanese Ryokan, a type of inn that originated in the Edo period. Feast on a local dinner and soak in the natural onsen hot spring baths.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation:

  • 3* Hotels: Japanese Ryokan
Day 3

place Take a train to Kyoto - the cultural capital of Japan and explore on your own

From Odawara, you will take the Shinkansen to Kyoto today. The Shinkansen trains travel at speeds of up to 300km/hr and cover the 430km distance to Kyoto in approximately 2 hours. Upon arrival at Kyoto Station, make your own way to your hotel in Kyoto centre. Then the rest of your day is free to explore the old capital of Japan. OPTIONAL TOUR: Shared Tea Ceremony Experience In this program, you can try making a cup of tea under an English-speaking instructor’s guidance as well as learn a wide range of Japanese culture including tea room and tea tools, along with the history of the Way of Tea. This is a 1-hour small group experiences, maximum 9 participants. Please make your own way to and from the venue.

Accommodation:

  • 3* Hotels: 3* Hotel or similar
Day 4

place Enjoy a half-day excursion through the city to explore the shrines & temples.

A free morning to discover the city on your own.In the afternoon, join a shared bus tour around Kyoto to see the best highlights of the city. Start by visiting Fushimi Inari, an important Shinto shrine in Kyoto and famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates. Next, visit Sanjusangendo Temple, the name literally stands for "Hall with thirty three spaces between the columns". Here you can find historical architectures as well as sculptures impressive sculptures. Finally, head to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Japan. OPTIONAL TOUR: Bento Box Morning Shared Cooking Class Morning Bento Class a great way to learn about typical japanese dishes such as sushi, tempura, and miso soup. In addition, you will learn the cultural background of the well-known Japanese "Bento". During the 3 and a half hour class, your teacher will demonstrate and explain the tricks to making these beautiful dishes, then you will give it a try. After preparing you will enjoy the bento lunch you just made!

Accommodation:

  • 3* Hotels: 3* Hotel or similar
Day 5

place Travel via train through the Japanese countryside to Hiroshima

Catch a bullet train 90 mins from Kyoto to Hiroshima today, using the Rail Pass to make free advance seat reservations at station ticket desk if you wish. The recommended schedule is below: Hikari 535 bullet train departs Kyoto 0829, arrives into Hiroshima 1032.

Accommodation:

  • 3* Hotels: 3* Hotel or similar
Day 6

place Explore Hiroshima on your own

The city of Hiroshima, now the largest city in the Chugoku Shikoku region, is also referred to as the "City of Water." Why not start the day with The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, which is located at the centre of Hiroshima City. The A-Bomb Dome, also known as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, is what remains of the former Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. The building served as a location to promote Hiroshima's industries. When the bomb exploded, it was one of the few buildings to remain standing, and remains so today. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the A-Bomb Dome is a tangible link to Hiroshima's unique past Hijiyama park is the perfect park to go to after spending the morning visiting the museums and the Peace Memorial Park. It's a good place to unwind, perfect for walking, reading, and there are several things to see: on the one hand there's the Taman In Temple, with its buildings, statues and in the middle with a cemetery, and at the top of the park is the museum of contemporary art and a manga library for those interested in culture. Today is a free day and there are no services organised. OPTIONAL TOUR: Hiroshima & Miyajima Full Day Shared Tour Join this round-trip tour and visit the popular world heritage sites Itsukushima Shrine and the Atomic Bomb Dome. After meeting your group at Hotel Granvia Hiroshima, take a bus then hop on board a boat and make your way to the historic and spiritual island of Miyajima. After meeting your group at Hotel Granvia Hiroshima, take a bus then hop on board a boat and make your way to the historic and spiritual island of Miyajima. Make your way to Hiroshima and view the sobering Atomic Bomb Dome, a memorial to the thousands that died in the atomic bombing of 1945. Finally, learn about the fascinating history of this World Heritage Site at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Museum.

Accommodation:

  • 3* Hotels: 3* Hotel or similar
Day 7

place Travel to Osaka for your last night on the tour with time to explore on your own

Travel by Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Shin-Osaka using your Rail Pass, the journey takes under 1.5 hours to cover 342km. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to further explore this vibrant city. Maybe start with a visit to Osaka castle. Built in 1583 as the intended capital of Japan before the capital was moved to Edo (now known as Tokyo), it is now a symbol of Osaka. After Osaka castle, make your way to Umeda Sky Building and go up to the observatory. While enjoying the breathtaking sights, you can also directly feel the wind―which at 170 meters off the ground can get quite strong. Here, not only you can see all of Osaka but also you can see as far away as Awaji Island. The basement of the building houses the Takimi-Koji gourmet street with old fashioned images of Osaka from the 1920s. Today is a free day and there are no services organised.

Accommodation:

  • 3* Hotels: 3* Hotel or similar
Day 8

place Transfer back to Tokyo with an airport drop-off

Please use the Rail Pass to catch a Hikari bullet train from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo today. Upon arrival at Tokyo Station, please take the Narita Express 1 hour to Narita Airport. Note that it stops at Terminal 2 before Terminal 1. Rail Pass users MUST reserve seats in advance at the Narita Express desks in Tokyo station before travel. It's a one hour journey, there are departures about every half an hour from 06.18 a.m. to 20.03 p.m., the seat reservation staff can advise you of the best departure time at least 2 hours before your scheduled flight departure time.

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Japanese Ryokan
  • 3* Hotel or similar

Meals expand_less

  • Dinner (1)

Transport expand_less

  • Japan Rail Pass
  • Hakone FreePass

Not Included expand_less

  • Other meals & drinks
  • Tips
  • Personal Expenses
  • Travel Insurance
  • International Airfare

About Taro

TEAM LEAD

verified Baboo Certified

Expertise: 

Skiing/Snowboarding

Hiking

Visit markets

Meet local people

Rural home stays

Historic & cultural landmarks

Outdoors & Nature

Classic Sights

Food & Drink

Travel with Purpose

Beach & Sea

As a passionate traveler and experienced local expert for Japan and Korea, I am dedicated to providing the best travel experience possible. I have a deep knowledge and understanding of the local culture, history, and attractions.

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FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

$1,825.00 USD