10-Day Golden Route of Japan

Your guide will accompany you to take the convenient public transportation to visit the Meiji Jingu Shrine. Surrounded by a dense forest, the shrine is the largest green space in the city and a popular spot for holding traditional Japanese weddings. Next, head to the Imperial Palace to visit the Kokyo Gaien National Garden, the large East Gardens, and the Nijubashi Bridge. In the afternoon, your guide will lead you to explore the buzzy Asakusa area. Enter from the Kaminarimon Gate and walk along the Nakamise Shopping Street, which is lined with typical Japanese snack stalls and souvenir shops selling kimonos and folding fans. You will visit the Senso-ji Temple at the end of the street, Tokyo’s oldest temple and a must-see. Finally, your guide will escort you to the Asakusa Pier for a Sumida River Cruise.Your guide will give you the tickets and leave here. Please board the ship by yourself and enjoy the gorgeous scenery along the way. And then return to hotel by yourself.

Your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby, and accompany you to the Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal to take an express bus for 2 hours to the Lake Kawaguchi, right at the foot of Mt. Fuji. Here you can try a short hike around the lake, and then take a Lake Kawaguchi cruise, and also the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway to allow a bird’s-eye view of the lake and the mountain silhouetted against each other like a beautiful painting. Finally, your guide will accompany you return to Tokyo by express bus.

Today, you will leave Tokyo and travel to Takayama by yourself. First, you need to get to the train station to take a bullet train to Nagoya, which takes about 1.5 hours. Then you need to change to another express train to Takayama and it takes 2.5 hours to arrive. guide will meet you at the train station and take you to the hotel. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Sanmachi Suji District in the Takayama Old Town. Visit the Nakabashi Bridge, Takayama Jinya (Old Governor's House), Takayama Showa Kan Museum and Hida Kokubunji Temple. In the evening, your guide will accompany you back to the hotel.

Later, your guide will take you for a 1.5-hour bus ride to Kanazawa, where you will have a walking tour in the afternoon to visit Kenroku-en Garden, Kanazawa Castle Park, Higashichaya Old Town (geisha district) and Nagamachi Samurai District. Finally, return to the hotel with your guide.

In the morning, please find you way to train station and take the express train Thunderbird for 2.5 hours to Kyoto. Upon arrival, your local guide will meet you at the Kyoto Station and show you to your hotel. Your tour guide will accompany you to have an afternoon Kyoto Traditional Tour. First, visit the Pure Water Temple (Kiyomizu-dera Temple). Stroll from Sannenzaka to Ninenzaka, two flagstone paths, you would be amazed by the delicate specialty shops. Next, visit the time-honored Yasaka Shrine. Your guide will finally lead you to a popular teahouse in Gion area. The guide will leave here, allowing you one hour to see a wonderful tea ceremony with stunning maiko performance. Afterwards, take a taxi back to your hotel on your own.

Step into the vast greenery of Nara Park to visit the quaint temples and shrines scattered throughout. First, check out the Kofuku-ji Temple, then follow the ancient path lined with moss-covered stone lanterns to the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara’s holiest shrine, to explore its secluded layout and stately architecture. Cross the vast green spaces and pass the Nara National Museum to reach the spectacular Great Eastern Temple, where you’ll marvel at the huge bronze Buddha statue. Take an afternoon stroll with our guide who knows well the local neighborhood, passing by the Gango-ji Temple, Goryo Shrine, and diving into the secret paths of Naramachi to feel the real life atmosphere. Visit the Naramachi Lattice House hidden in the back alley, a lovely and rarely visited traditional residence that is a great place to take photos. Finally, our guide will accompany you back to your hotel in Kyoto for the night.

Finally, the guide will accompany you back to your hotel to retrieve your luggage, see you off at the Kyoto Station for a bullet train to Hiroshima.

Your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and take you for a boat to the idyllic Miyajima Island, home to the splendid World Heritage site Itsukushima Shrine, which is probably the most special Shinto shrine in Japan, known for its ‘floating’ tori gate. You will later return to Hiroshima and visit the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum, which display many real photos and ruins recording the fearsome scenes and impact on people’s lives after the city was devastated by the atomic bombing during World War II. These shocking records would remind people of the importance of cherishing peace. Finally, your guide will take you to Hiroshima Station for a train to Osaka (train tickets reserved and included). Take the 1.5-hour bullet train ride by yourself, and then make your way to the hotel.

Your guide will pick you up and take you first visit the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living. Later your guide will show you the 450-year-old Osaka Castle (outside) and the park that surrounds it. Around noon, visit the 190-year-old Kuromon Market (close on Sunday), known as ‘Osaka’s Kitchen’ and a must-see for foodies. You can have lunch on your own there. In the afternoon, your guide will lead you to visit Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori. Later, spend some time in the Shitennoji Temple. Then your guide will accompany you back to the hotel to collect your luggage. Please make your own way to the airport for your flight home.