Highlights of Japan
Japan’s Iconic Destinations
9 Days/ 8 Nights – Tokyo / Hakone / Kyoto / Nara / Osaka
From USD700 per person per day
Essential Japan Tour
Get a taste of Japan’s rich culture and history on a memorable, self-guided tour.
You will immerse yourself in the fascinating culture of Japan by combining the essentials with futuristic cities & imperial heritage.
And discover Japan’s most iconic natural, modern and historic sites on this Highlights of Japan Tour.
From Tokyo to Osaka through Hakone and Kyoto, this trip makes you discover the essentials of this fascinating country.
- A tailor-made itinerary crafted personally for you
- English-Speaking resident tour director and local guides
- Hand-Selected Luxury accommodations
- Large choice of exclusive experiences
- Airport Meet and Greet with private transfers
- Internet access
- Thoughtful customer service
- And more !
- Explore Japan’s destinations and travel highlights like a local with your own private tour guide.
- Explore the heart and soul of Japan through curated experiences and gain deeper insight into Japanese culture.
- Step into a world, a unique culture that fascinates many to which even some Japanese people have no access.
Perfect for
- First-time visitors to Japan
- Those who want to discover the beauty and essence of Japan in a short time
- Travelers who wish to immerse themselves into Japanese culture while exploring the must-sees spots
Day 1 – Tokyo Arrival
Yokoso 日本へようこそ！– Welcome to Japan !
After clearing customs and immigration, transfer by private car to your ideally located hotel.
Then you’ll likely spend your first day in Japan just getting settled.
You might want to lock down some of the best food in Tokyo and enjoy a truly unique meal! A multi-course kaiseki, an omakase sushi experience…
Or follow the lead of our food-obsessed expert and spend an early evening hopping between Izakaya! and discover the delights of small-plate dining and sake.
Overnight at your hotel.
After breakfast your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel.
Tokyo (東京) is a huge, wealthy and fascinating metropolis which brings high-tech visions of the future side by side with glimpses of old Japan, and has something for everyone.
Most visitors to Tokyo will visit the most well-known sights – Asakusa, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku and the Meiji Shrine.
These are all of course worth visiting, but Tokyo also offer a multitude of choices for travelers looking for a less touristy and typical Japanese experience.
The real charm of Tokyo is more discreet. We can discover it in the maze of streets behind the main one, with a village atmosphere, miles away from urban life.
It is warm and simple, full of nice shops with clean design as well as charming cafes and small bars…
Overnight at your hotel.
Day 3 – Tokyo
Start your day watching morning training at a Tokyo Sumo Stable where rishiki (sumo wrestlers) live, eat, sleep and train throughout their career.
Then enjoy Chanko-nabe, a rich and filling stew with vegetables, tofu, cabbage and bean sprouts mixed with seafood, chicken, pork or beef, and seasonings commonly eaten in vast quantity by rishiki.
Or enjoy one of these curated experiences & activities.
- Visit Toyosu Fish Market with a sushi chef
- Experience Chanoyu or Japanese Tea Ceremony
- Immerse your entire body in the vast artworks of teamLab Planets
- Discover Tokyo from above at Shibuya Sky
- …
Overnight at your hotel.
Day 4 – Tokyo / Hakone
Travel by shinkansen (bullet train) or Romance Car to Hakone.
Much of the area surrounding Hakone (箱根) is part of a national park with spectacular views of Mount Fuji (if the weather permit). It is a resort town that boasts a number of museums including the Hakone Open Air Museum with its Picasso exhibit.
You will be charmed by the magnificent scenery of this spa resort, Lake Ashi and its view of Mount Fuji (in good weather!). Not forgetting the volcanic site of Owakudani, accessible by cable car.
At night at the ryokan, you will be treated to a tasty traditional Japanese dinner before retiring to your room and your private hot spring bath.
Overnight at your ryokan.
Day 5 – Hakone / Kyoto
If not done the day before, visit one of the hot spring baths found across the hills and valleys of Hakone.
Transfer to Odawara, then take shinkansen to Kyoto.
In the evening with your guide, you will visit Gion (祇園) part of the Higashiyama or “Eastern Mountain” area of Kyoto and one of the famous geisha (called “geiko” in Kyoto) districts in the city, stretching from Yasaka Shrine in the east to the Kamo River in the west, and from the Shirakawa Canal in the north to Kenninji Temple in the south.
Catching a glimpse of a geiko, with her white face and beautiful kimono, rushing to an appointment in the narrow streets of Kyoto’s Gion district is a moment of pure magic.
Overnight at your hotel.
Day 6 – Kyoto
After breakfast your guide and private car will pick you up at your hotel.
Visit of Kyoto, once the capital of Japan, considered by many as Japan’s most beautiful city.
Kyoto (京都) was the capital of Japan for over a millennium, and has the reputation of being its most beautiful city. However, visitors may be surprised by how much work they will have to do to see Kyoto’s beautiful side.
The first impressions will be of the urban sprawl of central Kyoto, around the ultra-modern glass-and-steel train station, which is itself an example of a city steeped in tradition colliding with the modern world.
Unlike Tokyo, Kyoto was able to keep the customs and traditions of the Old Japan, as it was spared from the bombing of the Second World War and was never affected by earthquakes and other natural disasters.
Nonetheless, the persistent visitor will soon discover Kyoto’s hidden beauty in the temples and parks which ring the city center, and find that the city has much more to offer than immediately meets the eye.
Overnight at your hotel.
Day 7 – Kyoto
In the morning you may want to visit Nishiki Market (錦市場), also known as Nishiki Ichiba or Kyoto’s Kitchen, a vibrant and historical marketplace located in the heart of Kyoto, dating back over four centuries.
Or visit Koke-dera, also known as Kokedera or Saiho-ji (西芳寺), a serene and historic Buddhist temple located in the western part of Kyoto. The temple is renowned for its stunning moss garden, which covers a significant portion of its grounds, creating a peaceful and otherworldly atmosphere.
And discover one of the most impressive and memorable sights in all of Kyoto, the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine or Fushimi Inari-Taisha (伏見稲荷大社) is the head of Inari shrines in Japan, dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice, sake, and prosperity.
Overnight at your hotel.
Day 8 – Nara / Osaka
After breakfast your guide and private car will pick you up at your hotel to visit Nara.
Nara (奈良) was in the 8th century the first fixed capital of Japan, under the name of Heijo-kyo (平城 京), as before, according to the Shinto beliefs, death was impure and it was necessary to destroy everything that was related to the Emperor after his death.
Nara is home to many important historical sites, such as Todai-ji Temple, the world’s largest wooden structure, with its Daibutsuden (Hall of the Great Buddha).
Then in the evening Osaka (大阪), the underestimated, nevertheless the capital of Japanese cuisine and a city for gourmets who is proud of its reputation as kuidaore (eat until you drop).
We never get bored in Osaka and its real treasures are in its bustling street life, neon-clad streetscapes, its arcades, markets and and this is after dark Osaka really comes to life, when locals come out for tasty eats, sake and good times.
Overnight at your hotel.
Day 9 – International return flight
Depending on your departure time, you may want to do some last shopping.
Osaka is a shopper’s paradise with several famous shopping districts selling everything from the latest fashions, delightful souvenirs and advanced electronics to fresh food produce, home interior goods, kitchenware, and toys.
Whether it’s bargain goods or high end brands, there is a store in Osaka that has what you are looking for.
Transfer by private car to Osaka KIX airport for your flight back home.
Customized sightseeing tours
Explore Japan’s destinations and travel highlights like a local with your own private tour guide.
Experience Japanese Culture
Explore the heart and soul of Japan through curated experiences and gain deeper insight into Japanese culture.
Curated Insights Japan
Step into a world, a unique culture that fascinates many to which even some Japanese people have no access.
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