DAY 1 USA - Tokyo: Fly to Japan

DAY 2 Arrive Tokyo: Arrival & Leisure Time

Arrive at Tokyo International Airport and transfer to your city hotel by airport limousine bus.

DAY 3 Tokyo: Full Day Tokyo Tour + Sukiyaki Dinner

Today, take the sightseeing tour that showcases its highlights. Visit Meiji Shrine, a shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. In the first days of the New Year, the shrine regularly welcomes more than three million visitors for the year's first prayers (hatsumode), more than any other shrine or temple in the country. Stoll at the Tsukiji Outer Market. Lunch on your own. Continue to fashionable Ginza, Tokyo’s best-known shopping, dining and entertainment hub. Visit Nakamise Street, an avenue of stalls leading to the Senso-Ji Temple. Peruse the stalls’ souvenirs and snacks, and marvel at the elaborate Buddhist temple, Tokyo’s oldest. Admire the Imperial Palace Plaza, a clutch of gardens and palaces that are home to Japan’s royal family. This evening, enjoy the Sukiyaki dinner at a local restaurant before heading back to the hotel.
Please prepare one piece of check-in luggage today for our complimentary transfer service. It will be collected tomorrow morning before the tour and sent directly to your Kyoto hotel, ready upon your arrival. This allows you to travel light and comfortably on the bullet train. An additional fee applies for a second piece.
 

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Dinner

DAY 4 Tokyo - Mt Fuji - Hakone - Tokyo: Full Day Mt. Fuji & Hakone Tour

Leave Tokyo by coach and travel to Hakone, a picturesque region of hills, forests and lakes spread below Mt Fuji, Japan’s most sacred peak. Take a drive up to Fuji’s 5th station (weather permitting), situated 7,555 feet above sea level, and behold the scintillating views before riding the Hakone ropeway cable car over the beautiful Lake Ashi area. Enjoy a scenic cruise on Lake Ashi and a break for a Japanese-style lunch, before returning to Tokyo. Enjoy this evening at leisure and look forward to experiencing the bullet train to Kyoto tomorrow.
 

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch

DAY 5 Tokyo - Bullet Train - Kyoto: Bullet Train to Kyoto + Afternoon Tour

Today, step aboard Japan’s famous bullet or ‘Shinkansen’ train for your journey to Kyoto, Japan’s ancient imperial capital famed for its historic temples and rock gardens. Settle on the high-speed train at Tokyo station and race through the countryside at up to 200mph, enjoying views of snow-capped Mt Fuji en route (weather permitting). In the afternoon visit Kyoto's UNESCO-protected gems: the 17th century Nijo Castle, once a residence of Tokugawa shoguns, and the splendid Kinkaku-ji aka the Golden Pavilion. This evening, delight in a flavorful Japanese Shabu Shabu hot pot dinner.

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Dinner

DAY 6 Kyoto: Kyoto Full Day Tour

Kiyomizu Temple, or "Pure Water Temple" is one of the most celebrated temples in Japan. Kiyomizudera is best known for its wooden stage that juts out from its main hall, 13 meters above the hillside below. The stage affords visitors a nice view of the numerous cherry and maple trees below that erupt in a sea of color in spring and fall, as well as of the city of Kyoto in the distance. The main hall, which together with the stage was built without the use of nails. After lunch, proceed to the Sagano Bamboo Forest and Arashiyama District & Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine. People come to the shrine to pray for bountiful harvests, business prosperity and fulfillment of all kinds of other wishes. Vermillion red torii gateways are a famous feature of Inari Shrines and the color evokes a strong sense of spirituality for Japanese people.

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch

DAY 7 Kyoto - Nara - Osaka: Day Trip to Nara + Transfer to Osaka

A full-day excursion to historical Nara, a former capital of Japan, today. Cradled by wooded hills, this attractive ancient city boasts eight UNESCO World Heritage sites. Visit the famous Todaiji Temple, to see the world’s biggest bronze statue of Buddha, and drink in the scenic charms of Nara Park, best-known for the many wild Sika deer that roam its landscapes. Other highlights include the Kasuga Taisha shrine, a Shinto shrine with origins in the 8th century and famous for its bronze and stone lanterns. After lunch on own, proceed to Osaka, Japan’s second biggest city for a 2 nights stay. Tonight visit the Kuromon Ichiba Market, a foodie haunt with over 150 enticing culinary stalls and Shinsaibashi, a shopping district nicknamed the ‘Champs-Elysees of the East’ for its unique stores. Cap your day with a succulent Kobe beef dinner at a local restaurant in Osaka.

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Dinner

DAY 8 Osaka: Half Day Osaka Tour + Leisure Time

This morning, tick through Osaka’s main sights, visiting the Floating Garden Observatory at the Umeda Sky Building. Marvel at the 360-degree views from this open-air observatory that extends between two skyscrapers. Osaka Castle Tower houses an informative museum about the castle's history and Toyotomi Hideyoshi and from the top enjoy a panoramic view of Osaka Castle park and the city. Free at leisure in the afternoon for last minute shopping.

Included: Breakfast at hotel

DAY 9 Osaka - USA: Depart from Osaka

After breakfast,enjoy the morning free at leisure.

Included: Breakfast at hotel