Path of the Samurai
- Duration : 14 days
- Locations : Tokyo, Kawaguchiko, Matsumoto, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto
This Japan tour will have you follow in the footsteps of the famous Japanese warriors.
Dive into the heart of historical Japan at Matsumoto Castle with our guide Sylvain or into the treasures of Kyoto, the former imperial capital. After Tokyo, a mixture of modernity and tradition, discover Japan's mountains: Mount Fuji and the Japanese Alps.
An original organised trip, for young and old!
14-day itinerary
From Tokyo to Kyoto via the Japanese Alps :
- Departure city/airport : Tokyo (Narita : NRT or Haneda : HND)
- Tokyo (4 nights)
- Kawaguchiko - Mont Fuji (1 night)
- Matsumoto (2 nights)
- Takayama (1 night)
- Kanazawa (2 nights)
- Kyoto (3 nights)
- Departure city/airport : Osaka (Kansai international airport : KIX)
Please find below the itinerary details.
Tour length : 13 nights / 14 days (+ 1 day at the beginning if you leave from Europe)
Indeed, the tour departure and end dates presented on this page relate to your stay in Japan. On departure, you will have to leave Europe on the day before. The return flight is on the same day due to the time difference.
Example :
- Departure from Europe : January 1st
- Arrival Tokyo (date to be selected in the tour calendar while booking) : January 2nd
- Return flight from Kansai international airport : January 15th
Interested in this tour but would like to spend a night in a Buddhist temple in KoyaSan?
The "Zen and Well-being" tour might be right for you.
Why this trip to Japan ?
- Welcomed at the airport by our team, you will be taken to your hotel in Tokyo by shuttle bus
- Head for Kawaguchiko, in the Five Lakes region below Mount Fuji
- In Matsumoto, Sylvain is waiting to take you on a samurai experience at the foot of the castle
- An unforgettable dinner and night in a ryokan in the heart of the Japanese Alps
- Continue on towards Kanazawa, passing through a typical Japanese mountain village
- Finish in Kyoto, where a guided tour of the Gion district awaits you at nightfall
- Take advantage of your transport passes : Japan Rail Pass, Mount Fuji Pass, Shirakawago bus
- On the final day, a shuttle bus will take you from your accommodation to the airport
- Recommendations available in your travel diary
- Enjoy unlimited internet access thanks to your pocket Wi-Fi
- If necessary, contact our English-speaking assistance 24/7
- A number of guided days or other optional activities are available
- Benefit from the expertise of Japan Experience, European leading travel agency in Japan.
Your trip in detail
Itinerary
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Day 1 : Wake up in Tokyo 東京
Arrival at Tokyo airport (Narita or Haneda).
Welcome to Japan! Yokoso 日本へようこそ!Welcomed out of customs by our airport assistant, who will give you all your travel documents and Pocket WiFi.
Unaccompanied transfer from the airport to Tokyo (see details).This 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 can be made before your hotel.
If you would like a private, non-stop transfer directly after the actual arrival of your flight, feel free to take the "Private Taxi from the Airport" option.
Check-in at Hotel OMO3 Tokyo Akasaka by Hoshino Resorts or same category hotel 3* (rooms available from 3:00pm).
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Day 2 : First steps in the capital
What is there to do in Tokyo on the first day?
We advise you to slowly start visiting Tokyo from its western districts:
- Harajuku: the avant-garde district
- Meiji Jingû, the imperial shrine
- Takeshita-Dori: the most famous street in Japan
- Omotesando: Tokyo's Champs-Élysées
- Shibuya and its unmistakable "crossroads"One of our many experienced English-speaking guides can also accompany you to visit the classic sights of Tokyo (optional, from 9:00 to 17:00).
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Day 3 : The big loop
For this second day of visiting Tokyo, we recommend the following "loop".
Start from Tokyo Central Station, with its original architecture, then go to visit:
- Ginza, Tokyo's chic district
- Tsukiji, the small outdoor food market
- Hamarikyu, the Japanese garden between Tokyo's buildings
- Asakusa, a traditional district and place of pilgrimage, accessible by a cruise on the Sumida River
- Sensô-ji Buddhist temple, one of the oldest in the city
- Tokyo Sky Tree reaching a height of 643m, and its panoramic view of Tokyo at sunsetEnjoy a cruise on the Sumida River between Hamarikyu and Asakusa.
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Day 4 : Follow the guide
There are still many places to discover according to your taste ! Ueno, Yanaka, Odaiba...
Don't hesitate to follow the many suggestions in your travel diary.
Or better still, book an English-speaking guide for the day (optional) to visit Tokyo off the beaten path!
Make the most of our many optional activities:
- Are you looking more for fun? Ghibli Museum, Disneyland or Hello Kitty Park are waiting for you!
- Do you prefer a themed activity? Book a visit on an architecture tour, gardens, home cooking or Noh's theatre.
- Chasing thrills? Let yourself be tempted by a helicopter ride or a sumo tournament (in season)! -
Day 5 : A breathtaking view of Fuji
In the morning, we advise that you have your luggage sent to the hotel in Matsumoto (details in your travel diary, check with the hotel reception) and that you travel light for your night in Kawaguchiko.
Go to Tokyo station and board a train to Kawaguchiko (3 hour journey, 1 change, details in your travel guide, all inclusive). The train will gradually leave the Japanese megalopolis behind and head deeper into the valleys of the Mount Fuji region. You will arrive in Kawaguchiko in the late morning.Go to your hotel near the station and Lake Kawaguchi to drop off your small bag and explore the Five Lakes region:
- Pass through the Chureito pagoda, one of the best photo viewpoints on Mount Fuji.
- See Mount Fuji from the lakes and the many viewpoints in the area.
- Take the Kachi Kachi Ropeway to see the beautiful panoramic view of the lake on one side and Mount Fuji on the other.All transport is included in your Mount Fuji pass.
The pass also includes many discounts at local attractions, such as the famous Fuji-Q Highland theme park.
You can also rent a bicycle for half a day to visit Kawaguchiko and Mount Fuji.
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Day 6 : Nature and mountain lakes
Breakfast at the hotel.
Enjoy Kawaguchiko and its region before leaving in the middle of the afternoon for your next destination in the heart of the Japanese Alps: Matsumoto (3 hours 30 by train, 2 changes, all inclusive).
Arrive and check into a city centre hotel, between the station and the castle.
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Day 7 : The Samurai Castle
Breakfast at the hotel.
Matsumoto has preserved many traces of its prosperity from the feudal period. But the most striking feature of a visit to the town is its imposing castle, known to the Japanese as "the crow" because of its black colour. It is the oldest of its kind in Japan and its keep offers a stunning view in all seasons.
Matsumoto was also an industrial and commercial city, and has preserved its typical Meiji era workshops in the Nakamichi district.Included: Enjoy a private guided tour of Matsumoto city for half a day. Discover the feudal castle, the historical districts... and step into the shoes of a samurai for a morning with Sylvain, Japan Experience guide.
In English or French.
Please note that for some trips in peak season, this half-day guided tour in Matsumoto may be replaced by a half-day guided tour in Tokyo or Kyoto.2nd night in the hotel in Matsumoto.
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Day 8 : The charm of the Japanese mountains
Breakfast at the hotel.
We advise that you have your luggage sent to the hotel in Kanazawa (details in your travel diary, check with the hotel reception) and that you travel light for your night in Takayama.
Departure by bus (tickets included in your package) to Takayama (2 hours 30 through the mountains, no change).
Arrive and check into your 3* Asunaro ryokan or same category ryokan, in the heart of the capital of the Japanese Alps.We recommend that you visit:
- The traditional Kusakabe and Yoshijima houses
- The Yatai Kaikan, where old religious festival floats (matsuri) are on display
- The picturesque Shôwa-Kan, museum of the 1940s to 1970s
- The old Sannomachi shopping district
- The Fuji Folk Art MuseumTraditional Japanese dinner included in the ryokan.
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Day 9 : Rural & Mountain
Traditional Japanese breakfast at the ryokan.
Leave for Shirakawago by bus (50 minutes, tickets included in your package).
Walk through this typical Japanese Alpine village, to visit a minka (traditional Japanese house) or the Myôzenji, the village's Zen temple. The whole village is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In the middle of the afternoon, go to Kanazawa by bus (1 hour 15, tickets also included). Check into your hotel in the heart of this dynamic city.
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Day 10 : The pearl of Japan
Breakfast at the hotel.
Explore Kanazawa, between the North Sea and the Japanese Alps:
- Kenroku-en, the beautiful Japanese garden of Kanazawa
- The contemporary art museum and its outdoor gallery
- Omicho, the sea of Japan fish market
- The Nomura house, residence of the samurai and its picturesque old quarterOvernight stay at your hotel in Kanazawa.
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Day 11 : The former capital
Breakfast at the hotel.
In 2 hours 30, reach Kyoto and check into theRAKURO 京都 by THE SHARE HOTELS Hotel or same category hotel 3*. Direct train journey included with your JR Pass.
You have 3 days to visit Kyoto.
Start in the afternoon in the historic Gion district near your accommodation :
- Kiyomizu-Dera, the great water temple
- The historical streets of Sannen-zaka & Ninnen-zaka
- Kodai-ji, the maple and bamboo temple of KyotoFinish off seeing the sunset in Gion. Meet your guide at 19:00 to start your late stroll around Gion, Kyoto's historic district.
More details on the exact time and location in your travel diary. At the end of this 1 hour 30 walk, your guide will be able to advise you on the best places to eat out! Please note that it is strictly forbidden to take photographs in the historic district of Gion.
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Day 12 : Gold and Silver Treasures
We recommend the following itinerary for this second day's visit to Kyoto:
- Ryoan-ji Zen Garden
- The Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
- Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)
- The bewitching path of philosophy
- The Nanzen-ji templeOne of our many experienced English-speaking guides can accompany you on a tour of these symbolic sites (optional, from 9:00 to 17:00).
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Day 13 : Now for some activity...
This is your last full day to visit Kyoto, so make the most of our many optional activities:
- Want to enjoy nature? Check out our cycling activities along the Kamogawa River or hiking in the Takao Gorge!
- Prefer Japanese arts? tea ceremonies, meditation activities or private visits to secret gardens will seduce you.
- Looking for Japanese countryside? Let yourself be tempted by a trip to Ohara, or try our flagship activity: on the Tea Road!For lovers of the circuit theme, Toei Studio Park is the place to be. This mix of cinema decor and samurai-themed amusement park will delight young and old.
You can also reach Nara by train in 50 minutes (not included in your package, about €16 return, otherwise, take advantage of the optional Kansai Thru Pass).
For your last evening, don't forget to see the sunset at the Fushimi Inari, the huge shrine with 10,000 torii in Kyoto.
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Day 14 : Sayonara, and see you next time!
Direct transfer to Kansai International Airport (included but not accompanied).
Return flight to Europe, North America, Australia.
Do not hesitate to extend your trip by one or more days to Kansai or elsewhere… We will be able to advise you!














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Accomodation
- 4 nights in a 3* hotel in the heart of Tokyo, close to public transport
- 1 night in a 3* hotel in Kawaguchiko
- 2 nights in a 3* hotel in Matsumoto, between the train station and the castle
- 1 night in a ryokan in the historic centre of Takayama, traditional half-board
- 2 nights in a 3* hotel in Kanazawa
- 3 nights in a 3* hotel in the heart of Kyoto, close to public transport
The basic rate includes a twin room for two people.
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Transport
- Airport transfers to Tokyo
- Return airport transfer Kyoto -> KIX
- Prepaid public transport card
- Mount Fuji Pass for 2 days
- Matsumoto -> Takayama Bus
- Takayama -> Shirakawago -> Kanazawa Bus
- Japan Rail Pass for 7 days
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Experiences and meals
- Airport welcome
- Discounts at many Kawaguchiko tourist sites
- Traditional dinner and breakfast in the ryokan at Takayama
- Breakfast excluding Tokyo and Kyoto
- Half day tour of Matsumoto with samurai experience
- Guided night tour of Gion (1h30)
Included in your self-guided tour
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Additional services
- Unlimited Wi-Fi access with pocket Wi-Fi
- Complete e-travel diary sent before your departure
- 24/7 telephone assistance in English
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Not included in the price of your trip
- Flights Europe <> Japan
- Optional insurance policies
- Personal expenses including meals (breakfast optional)
- Public transport when your transport cards have run out (see details)
- Anything not included in the "included in your tour" section
When you buy, Japan Experience offers you 2 types of protection:
Japan Experience Flex :
Cancellation insurance before departure under conditions.
Japan Experience Protect :
Pre-departure cancellation insurance under conditions and on-site assistance under conditions.
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