Highlights of Japan
- 15 days
- Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Kanazawa, Takayama
Our most complete tour of Japan, for a 15-day tour of Japan. Discover Japan in a 2-week itinerary: from the energy of Tokyo to the charm of Kyoto, from the beauty of Mount Fuji to the serenity of the Japanese Alps.
All the wonders of Japan in one trip!
Why choose Japan Experience?
What's included in this tour?
What's not included in this tour?
Your trip in detail
Experience Tokyo’s contrast of modern energy and timeless tradition, from Shibuya’s crossing to Asakusa’s quiet temples. Every day reveals a new side of the city’s rhythm.
or similar category 3* hotel
Arrival at Tokyo airport (Narita NRT or Haneda HND). Welcome to Japan! Yokoso 日本へようこそ!
Welcome after passing through customs by our airport assistant, who will give you all your travel documents and your Pocket WiFi. Included, but unaccompanied transfer from the airport to Tokyo (see details).
The transfer is done in a shared shuttle or bus, with other guests departing for the same hotel or a hotel close to yours. These transfers depart between 1.5 and 3 hours after your scheduled flight arrival, and stops may be made before your hotel.
If you would like a private, non-stop transfer directly after the arrival of your flight, feel free to add the "Private Taxi from the Airport" option.
Start your journey in Tokyo by exploring the city’s two faces: modern energy and timeless tradition.
Ideas of itinerary :
Discover Harajuku, the heart of youth fashion and cosplay, and experience the buzz of Shibuya’s famous crossing. Visit the peaceful Meiji Jingu Shrine, then finish your day with an evening stroll through Shinjuku, one of Tokyo’s most vibrant districts.
End your day in style with an evening stroll through Shinjuku, one of Tokyo's most important areas. Meet your guide at the beginning of your evening for a unique walk lasting around 1 hour and a half, during which you will pass through Kabukicho and Golden Gai, among other places.
Your second day in Tokyo offers a perfect glimpse of the city’s must-see spots.
Our recommendations :
Start at Tokyo Station and make your way through the elegant avenues of Ginza, the lively stalls of Tsukiji Market, and the peaceful Hama-rikyu Gardens. Continue to Asakusa to explore its old-world charm and visit Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple. Finish your day at the Tokyo Skytree, where sunset views reveal the city in all its splendor (following seasons).
Leave Tokyo behind and travel through scenic valleys to the peaceful hot-spring town of Hakone.
Our suggestions:
- Enjoy views of Lake Ashi and Mount Fuji,
- Explore the volcanic landscapes of Owakudani, and experience true Japanese hospitality with a stay in a ryokan, complete with a traditional kaiseki dinner and relaxing onsen baths.
(or similar category 3* hotel)
In the morning, send your luggage to your hotel in Kyoto (details in your travel diary, check with the hotel reception) so you can travel light. From Shinjuku Station, activate your Hakone Free Pass and take the train to Hakone-Yumoto, winding through the valleys of the Mount Fuji region.
Check in at your ryokan, then explore Lake Ashi, Owakudani, and the surrounding landscapes. Return in the evening for a kaiseki dinner and a relaxing night in traditional Japanese style.
About ryokans
A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn offering a cultural stay with tatami-matted rooms, futon beds, communal baths (often onsen), and emphasizing hospitality with a harmonious, peaceful Japanese lifestyle, found across Japan, especially in hot spring areas.
Learn more in the product conditions below
Discover Kyoto’s timeless beauty, from the streets of Gion to its iconic Zen gardens and the Philosopher’s Path. Enjoy matcha tea in the peaceful Murin-an Garden, then travel to Nara, Japan’s first capital, for a guided visit of its historic treasures.
(or similar category 3* hotel)
Head to Hakone Yumoto Station, then Odawara Station, to board one of the fastest trains in the world, the Shinkansen, bound for Kyoto. You’ll have three days to explore Japan’s cultural heart.
Here are some of our recommendations:
Begin your afternoon in the historic Gion district, near your accommodation:
- Visit Kiyomizu-dera, the stunning “Pure Water Temple.”
- Wander the charming streets of Sannen-zaka and Ninnen-zaka.
- Discover Kodai-ji, Kyoto’s maple and bamboo temple.
- End your day with a peaceful stroll through Gion at sunset.
Guided tour
Meet your guide at the beginning of your evening to start your evening walk around Gion, Kyoto's historic district (more details on the exact day and meeting point can be found in your travel guide)
Discover Kyoto’s timeless elegance.
Ideas of itinerary:
- Visit Ryoan-ji and its Zen rock garden, then admire the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji) reflected on its pond.
- Continue to the Silver Pavilion (Ginkaku-ji), surrounded by peaceful moss gardens
- Stroll along the Philosopher’s Path, a serene walkway shaded by cherry trees.
Continue exploring Kyoto in the west of the city.
Here are our suggestions :
- Wander through Nishiki Market, the lively heart of Kyoto’s food scene
- Visit Nijo Castle, former residence of the shogun
- Discover Arashiyama, with its famous bamboo grove and monkey mountain.
As for your last full day in Kyoto, it’s the perfect time to enjoy one of our optional experiences: - Cycling along the Kamo-gawa River,
- Hiking in the Takao gorges
- A tea ceremony,
- Zen meditation
- Visit to hidden gardens.
- Explore the countryside escaping to Ohara
- Or follow our popular “On the Tea Road” activity.
Why not spend the day in Nara visiting Nara Park, Tōdai-ji Temple, and Naramachi’s historic streets before coming back to your hotel in Kyoto ?
(or similar category 3* hotel)
We recommend visiting Nara, Japan's first fixed capital in the 8th century : enjoy its Park, discover the Tōdai-ji Temple and all its landscapes before return to Kyoto and stop to see the sunset at the Fushimi Inari-taisha, Kyoto's immense shrine of 10,000 torii gates.
About Kofukuji pagoda
Please note that the Kofukuji pagoda is under renovation until 2031
Discover Hiroshima and Miyajima, where memory, spirituality, and nature come together. Hiroshima invites reflection through its Peace Memorial Park and poignant history, while nearby Miyajima offers a timeless escape with its sacred shrine rising from the sea, forested landscapes, and sweeping views from Mount Misen. A deeply moving and beautifully balanced experience.
or similar category 3* hotel
Discover Hiroshima and Miyajima, where history meets natural beauty. In Hiroshima, the Peace Memorial Park inspires reflection and hope, while the city itself embodies Japan’s resilience. Just a short ferry ride away, Miyajima Island captivates with the Itsukushima Shrine, its floating torii gate, and sweeping views from Mount Misen.
To follow up, after breakfast :
- Head to Miyajima Island, home to the Itsukushima Shrine and its iconic floating torii gate.
- Ride the cable car up Mount Misen
- Walk back down, enjoying panoramic views over Hiroshima Bay.
- Return to Hiroshima in the late afternoon.
Travel information
Enjoy exploring the island by foot after a ride of train and ferry
Leave Hiroshima and head to Kanazawa. On the way, stop to visit the magnificent Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Japan’s most beautiful feudal fortresses.
(or similar category 3* hotel)
Breakfast at the hotel and head towards Kanazawa.
Before continuing to Kanazawa make a stop to explore the White Heron Castle, a UNESCO-listed masterpiece
Discover Kanazawa, a small city nestled between the sea in the north and the Japanese Alps. One of our team’s favorite city in Japan!
(or similar category 3* hotel)
Spend the day going through :
- Kenroku-en, Kanazawa's beautiful Japanese garden, considered one of the top 3 gardens in Japan!
- Omicho, a huge fish market selling seafood fresh from the Sea of Japan
- The Nomura house, once a Samurai residence, located in a picturesque old quarter of the city.
Immerse yourself in ancient Japan in Takayama, where Edo-period architecture, morning markets and the picturesque Sanmachi Suji district capture the essence of a timeless Japan.
Breakfast at the hotel.
For this day out, you can go directly to Takayama by Shinkansen and regional train to settle into the heart of this famous mountain town.
Or, fancy a second night in a ryokan before finishing your trip? Enjoy an unforgettable night at one of Takayama's ryokan instead with dinner and breakfast included, such as the Honjin Hiranoya Bekkan (optional, supplementary fee required).
After exploring Takayama, take the Shinkansen back to Tokyo in the late afternoon on day 14. The next day, enjoy your last moments in Japan shopping for souvenirs before heading to the airport for your flight.
or similar category 3* hotel
Breakfast at the hotel.
Enjoy the charms of Takayama at your own pace, its century-old homes, temples and museums.
We recommend you visit:
- The traditional Kusakabe and Yoshijima houses
- The Yatai Kaikan Exhibition Hall, where old religious festival "matsuri" floats are on display
- The picturesque Showa-kan, a museum on the 1940s to 1970s
- The old Sannomachi shopping district
- The Fuji Folk Art Museum
In the late afternoon, make your way back to Tokyo by Shinkansen.
Make the most of your last few hours in Japan:
- Do some shopping in Tokyo, from the bustling aisles of Don Quijote to the refined atmosphere of Isetan, an iconic destination for Japanese craftsmanship.
- Take your shared transfer to Haneda or Narita Airport, scheduled to arrive between 1.5 and 3 hours before your flight.