11-Day Traditional Japan Tour

Upon arrival, you will meet your guide and then go to your hotel.

Osaka is among the biggest cities in Japan and it is also the center of commerce and food.

If you still have some energy, you can explore the city right away on your own at night. The Namba region will be your best option as it is the business center of Osaka with many good restaurants and stores for you to find some good food and interesting bars. Osaka has an unofficial slogan: eat until you drop! You will surely have a good time.

As an international city, English signs are everywhere in Osaka so a self-guided tour will not be a challenge for you.

Your journey officially begins! Your guide will wait for you in the hotel lobby, then you will head to Osaka Castle. It played a very important role when Toyotomi Hideyoshi unified Japan, becoming the center of power and the biggest castle in the 16th century.

The castle was destroyed several times in history, most recently by American bombers in WWII, and was rebuilt after the war.

Visit the Dotonbori area after the castle and try some takoyaki, which is a kind of round dumpling stuffed with octopus and a famous snack in Osaka.

Walk to Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum. Ukiyo-e is a famous type of Japanese art on wood blocks. You can try to create an ukiyo-e painting yourself (please note the museum closes every Monday).

The Umeda Sky Building is a landmark in the northern district of Osaka. Two buildings are connected by the "Floating Garden Observatory" on the 39th and 40th floors. It is the best location to overlook the city.

Collect Your JR Pass

Rail transit is well-developed and convenient in Japan and will be your best option during the trip.

Hand over your purchasing order and your passport to the JR Pass office in Shin-Osaka Station to get your JR Pass. Your guide will help you to book seats during the trip.

Have a little adventure from Osaka to Hiroshima without a guide.

Go to Shin-Osaka Station by yourself. Use your JR Pass and train ticket to board the train. It will take 1½ hours to reach Osaka.

Meet your guide at Hiroshima Station, then head to Peace Memorial Park. This park is in memory of those who were killed in the nuclear explosion on August 6th, 1945.

Miyajima is not far from Hiroshima and a boat will take you to this holy island. Miyajima is famous for Itsukushima Shrine. The shrine has a big vermilion gate named Otorii floating on the water and the path will surface during the low tide to welcome the gods in the sea. You will have some free time to walk around the island, visit shrines, and try some local snacks, such as maple leaf cake.

After the sightseeing, your guide will lead you back to Hiroshima Station. Board a train to Osaka and go back to the hotel by yourself.

You will have your own adventure from Osaka to Kyoto. In the morning, go to Shin-Osaka Station by yourself and catch a high-speed train (Shinkansen) to the ancient capital, Kyoto.

Head to the hotel by yourself after you arrive. If you wish, you can choose to explore the city or relax in your hotel.

Hotels in Kyoto

You can choose your favorite hotel that suits your style and budget. Please kindly advise us of your requirements and we can help you choose a reasonable one.

It is recommended to stay in a hotel near to Kyoto Station. This would be convenient for you to get to all of the attractions. If you want to experience the local lifestyle, you can choose a boutique hotel in the center of the Gion area. It is convenient for you to immerse yourself in Kyoto's cultural atmosphere and you can easily visit the famous geisha quarter.

You can also consider the hotels near a subway station or the Kawaramachi area.

If you just want to visit one city in Japan, it should be Kyoto. With its 2,000 Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines as well as palaces, gardens, and intact architecture, Kyoto is one of the best-preserved cities in Japan. You will have the chance to experience Kyoto's comprehensive bus system to fully explore Kyoto with your guide.

Kinkakuji Temple will be your first stop. It is the most famous temple in Kyoto. The shogun (military dictator) took over the site during the Muromachi period and built his villa there. After Yoshimitsu's death, the building was turned into a temple.

Then, visit Nijo Castle, which will take you back to 1603. It is an ornamental castle surrounded by stunning gardens and it records Japan's war history from another side.

It is not an exaggeration to call Nishiki Market the 'kitchen of Kyoto'. The bustling market is 400 meters long and each block sells all kinds of traditional snacks in Kyoto, such as fresh seafood, desserts, and sushi, as well as knives and cookware. It is worth lingering there for 2 hours.

After visiting the market, the rest of the day will be free for you to spend as you wish. You can spend more time on your own in the Nishiki area or have a 10-minute walk to the crossroad between Shijo and Kawaramachi. It is the business center of the city and the most popular shopping area for visitors.

The Philosopher's Path is a river-lined path in Higashiyama District, connecting Ginkakuji Temple and Nanzenji Temple. It is named after the famous Japanese philosopher, Nishida Kitaro, who used to go there for walks and ponder the philosophy of life.

The trail is full of cherry blossoms so it is recommended as one of the most romantic walking paths and one of the best places to see cherry blossoms in Kyoto. When the wind blows, the snow-white petals flying in the sky are extremely gorgeous. When the flowers fade, the petals are scattered on the surface of the water and have a unique look.

In addition to looking at cherry blossoms, you will pass several temples and shrines, such as Eikando, Prince Kumano Shrine, Otoyo Shrine, and Honen-in.

The last place to visit is Nanzenji Temple, a typical Zen temple that has been the cultural center of Zen since 1386. For the rest of the day, you can experience the Zen Buddhist culture by visiting the sub-temples of Nanzenji Temple.

Special restaurants are located around Nanzenji Temple. As you pass by, you can taste the food there. For example, yudofu, a kind of healthy boiled tofu dish, is served there.

This half-day tour will start at 3:30pm. You will be picked up by a taxi, then go to the famous geisha district in Kyoto and start a walking tour.

Peter MacIntosh will be your guide and he'll show you around the district. He is an expert in the geisha culture and his wife was once a geisha too. While walking through the geisha district, Peter will tell you about the historical development of the geisha culture and the reality behind this old red-light district. Then, you will have a rest in a membership-based teahouse and enjoy some matcha tea, Japanese desserts, and food accompanied by a geisha.

After the walking tour, you will have some free time at night.

Have your own adventure from Kyoto to Tokyo. Head to Kyoto Station by yourself in the morning and catch a high-speed train (Shinkansen) to Tokyo.

After you have arrived, head to the hotel by yourself. The rest of the day is at your disposal — you can choose to explore the city or relax in your hotel.

Hotels in Tokyo

We can arrange different kinds of hotels to meet your needs based on your requirements and budget. Please let us know what you prefer and your travel advisor can give you more suggestions so that you can choose the one you like.

You can consider staying in Shinjuku as there are many business hotels so it is convenient for you to go everywhere you want to, especially if the hotel is near Shinjuku Station, which is the most important train and subway hub in Tokyo.

Your local guide will help you explore the highlights of Tokyo. The first one will be the Imperial Palace, which is the main residence of the Emperor of Japan. It is built on the site of the old Edo Castle. People are allowed to enter the palace twice a year: one of these times is at New Year and the other is on the Emperor's Birthday, which is a national holiday in Japan.

Another highlight of the day is to experience a Japanese tea ceremony. You will have the chance to taste freshly made green tea in a special Japanese-style tearoom. You can learn about the tea culture, history, and how to make perfect tea with the tea masters.

Visit Meiji Shrine with your local guide — this is the most worshiped shrine in Tokyo. You can take part in typical Shinto activities there, such as making offerings in the main hall, buying charms and amulets, or writing a wish on an ema. It is also a popular place for traditional Japanese weddings. You might see a traditional wedding procession (or two) through the courtyard. Wander along Omotesando shopping street (one of the streets that lead to Meiji Shrine). There are many luxury flagship stores, restaurants, and art galleries there. Nowadays, it's recognized as a powerhouse in the world of fashion. If you are a shopaholic, you can spend the whole day shopping there.

You will stop at the new Tokyo City Hall, which is the headquarters of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, before returning to your hotel.

The Tea Ceremony

There are a series of activities for a tea ceremony in Tokyo and most of the events are part of a ritual.

First, you need to greet your fellow guests and then purify yourself by washing your hands completely. When the tea has been prepared by your host, you need to bow first and then drink the tea. You can appreciate the tearoom and tea utensils and compliment your host.

The last part of the ceremony is informal — you can chat about any topics you like and drink tea as you please. Your host will show you the tea utensils when the ceremony is over.

If you are hooked on authentic food, the local cuisine, or wet markets, you can visit Tsukiji Outer Market and then learn how to make sushi with some local people in their home. This experience takes about 4 to 5 hours.

You will head towards Tsukiji Outer Market with your guide in the morning and see various local vegetables and fresh fish. You can choose your sushi ingredients there.

Then, you'll visit a local's home and learn how to make sushi with them. You will learn how to make rolled sushi, gunkan sushi, and nigiri sushi, then you can taste your finished products when you have lunch there. If you like the taste of it, you can take some sushi away with you.

Your guide will see you off at the station near the host's home. You will find your own way back to your accommodation.

Free Time Activities

You will have a free afternoon at your disposal.

If you want to do some shopping and buy some souvenirs before you leave Japan, Ginza will be your best choice and it is not far away.

Ginza is a major business district in Chuo, Tokyo, symbolizing the prosperity of Japan. It is tied with Paris's Champs-Élysées and New York's Fifth Avenue as the world's three bustling centers. There, you'll find famous brands from all over the world. There are huge shopping malls on both sides of the street. Fashion and personality can be seen everywhere. It can be regarded as a shopper's paradise.

There are Italian, French, Arabic, and other restaurants near the street. People can taste delicious food from around the world in this street.

If you prefer, spend your time relaxing in Hamarikyu Gardens, which features a classic Japanese garden from the Edo period. The gardens are surrounded by Shiodome's futuristic skyscrapers. You can relax on a small island in the park's lake and enjoy a cup of matcha tea with Japanese sweets. Slow your pace and enjoy the tranquility.

You will have a shared transfer from your accommodation to Kansai International Airport to catch your flight home at the appointed time.