Highlights of Japan

Arrive at Tokyo Airport (Narita NRT or Haneda HND). Welcome to Japan! 日本へようこそ！

After customs, our airport assistant will meet you to handle your travel documents and Pocket WiFi. Then take a shared shuttle to your hotel (departures 1.5–3 hrs after arrival, may include stops).

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. 

At 7 p.m., meet your guide for a two-hour walk through Shinkuju and other lively neighborhoods.

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.

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. 

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.

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:
• CCycling 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.

Visit 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.

While you're in Hiroshima we suggest taking the opportunity to :

• Visit the Peace Park
• The Peace Memorial
• The castle and its park full of cherry trees
• Get a taste of one of Hiroshima's speciality : okonomiyaki! 

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.

Breakfast at the hotel. Luggage forwarding to Kanazawa. 

Before continuing to Kanazawa make a stop to explore the White Heron Castle, a UNESCO-listed masterpiece

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.

Travel to Takayama by Shinkansen and regional train to settle into the heart of this charming mountain town.

Enjoy the charms of Takayama at your own pace, its century-old homes, temples and museums. 

We recommend you to 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 final hours in Japan :

• A bit of shopping in Tokyo from the lively aisles of Don Quijote to the refined atmosphere of Isetan, a landmark of Japanese craftsmanship.
• Take your shared airport transfer to Haneda or Narita, scheduled to arrive between 1.5 and 3 hours before your flight.