Japan: 7-Day Small-Group Tour from Tokyo to Kyoto with Gourmet Dining, Sake Tasting, High-Speed Bullet Train, Ryokan Stay & Hiroshima to Osaka Extension
Experience Japan’s perfect fusion of fascinating history, awe-inspiring landscapes, modern marvels, and epicurean delights on this exceptional seven-day, small-group tour (max. 16 travellers), taking you to the heart of this unmissable destination.
Travel in style from the capital and world’s most populous metropolis, Tokyo, to the mountainous town of Hakone before ending in the cultural heart of the country, Kyoto. Savour a sizzling bite at a local izakaya in Tokyo, visit the famous Tsukiji Outer Market and learn the art of sushi-making, cruise along Sumida River cruise to Asakusa, and marvel at the Senso-ji temple. Unwind with a stay at a traditional ryokan, soak in a traditional onsen, visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine and learn everything you need to know about sake with a tasting at a renowned brewery. Enjoy some of the best-handpicked stays that Japan has to offer including one night at a traditional ryokan in Hakone before you travel by high-speed bullet train to Kyoto. Plus, you’ll be treated to daily breakfast, roundtrip airport shuttle transfers and the services of expert local guides.
- Six nights of handpicked accommodation including three nights in Tokyo, one night at a ryokan in Hakone and two nights in Kyoto
- Daily breakfast, one lunch and three dinners, including a sushi-making experience and welcome dinner in Tokyo
- Travel by high-speed bullet train from Hakone to Kyoto
- Guided walking tour through Tokyo to see the Imperial Palace, Shibuya Crossing, Yoyogi Park and the Meiji Shrine
- Learn the art of sushi making following a visit to Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji Outer Market
- Wander through the vast Hama Rikyu Gardens in Tokyo
- Sumida River cruise to Tokyo’s Asakusa district to see the Senso-Ji Temple
- Experience the tranquil beauty of Hakone with a Lake Ashinoko boat trip and Hakone cable car ride
- Wander through the Nishiki Market in Kyoto with an included tasting experience
- Marvel at the beauty of Kyoto’s Gion District
- Visit the famed Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto
- Discover everything you need to know about sake with a brewery visit and included tasting
- Included luggage transfer from Tokyo to Kyoto
- Roundtrip shared airport shuttle transfers
- The services of expert local English-speaking guides
- Sightseeing and entrance fees per itinerary
Your journey takes you to: Tokyo – Hakone – Kyoto.
Hiroshima to Osaka Extension: Extend your tour and discover the breathtaking cities of Hiroshima and Osaka across four days. Pay your respects at the Genbaku (A-Bomb Dome), visit Peace Memorial Park and Museum, explore Miyajima Island – home to roaming deer and the famous Itsukushima Shrine – and tantalise the senses with a foodie tour of Dotonbori in Osaka, complete with a takoyaki-making lesson.
Covid-19 health and safety practices: Our expert Tours team is working hard to ensure the highest health standards at every point of your journey. Find out more.
The Experiences – Guided tours through some of Japan’s most fascinating corners to authentic local encounters
Japan is a country that is equal parts diverse and exciting – and each day of this small group journey reveals a myriad of memorable moments. Travelling with a local guide who knows Japan like the back of their hand, this is your chance to see this wonderful country like a local while witnessing the real beauty and magic first-hand.
Start in the capital and world’s most populous metropolis, Tokyo, where soaring skyscrapers and unlimited opportunities to explore await as you savour sizzling yakitori at an izakaya, wander the streets to stop at the Imperial Palace, Shibuya Crossing, Yoyogi Park and Meiji Shrine, and learn how to make your own sushi with a local expert at the famous Tsukiji Outer Market.
Then, the mountainous onsen (hot spring) town of Hakone offers unsurpassed natural scenery and tranquility away from the hustle and bustle of the capital. The best way to experience it is with a boat trip across Lake Ashinoko and a Hakone cable car ride. To unwind and transcend further into ultimate relaxation mode, soak in a thermal onsen located at your accommodation for the night – a traditional ryokan,
Lastly, the ancient once-capital of Kyoto is where you’ll spend time in the Gion district, wandering through Nishiki Market, marvelling at the Fushimi Inari shrine, and visiting a sake brewery, perfectly rounded out with a tasting, of course.
For departures in the last week of March or the first week of April, you will have the opportunity to witness the iconic sakura (cherry blossoms) while travelling across Japan. For departures in November, you can marvel at the natural phenomenon of Momiji (meaning red leaves) and see the changing colours of trees across the country.
Hiroshima and Osaka Extension — Extend your tour and enjoy four additional days of discovery
Extend your time in Japan with a three-night extension in Hiroshima and Osaka. In Hiroshima, take a sobering journey to visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum with time at the museums, memorials and monuments dedicated to the memory of victims, including the Genbaku (A-Bomb) Dome. Enjoy a day visit to the island of Miyajima to Itsukushima Shrine, famous for its huge bright orange gate (torii) that rises majestically out of the sea. As you reach Osaka, you’ll soon discover why it is the unofficial culinary capital of Japan on a guided street food tour featuring a hands-on takoyaki cooking experience.
Your tour begins at Tokyo International Airport (NRT) or Haneda International Airport (HND) and ends at Kansai International Airport (KIX) or Osaka International Airport (ITM) with shared roundtrip shuttle transfers.
Roundtrip flights are not included in your package and must be purchased separately. Please do NOT book your flights until your tour is confirmed.
Please book your flights to arrive Tokyo International Airport (NRT) by 3pm on Day 1 and depart from Kansai International Airport (KIX) any time after on Day 7.
Hiroshima to Osaka Extension: Your tour begins at Tokyo International Airport (NRT) and ends at Osaka International Airport (ITM) with shared roundtrip shuttle transfers. Please book your flights to arrive Tokyo International Airport (NRT) by 3pm on Day 1 and depart from Osaka International Airport (ITM) any time after on Day 10.
Important: Please allow for travelling time from international countries. International flights are not included in your package and must be purchased separately. It is your responsibility to make your own travel arrangements and ensure that you arrive in Tokyo on your chosen tour start date.
You MUST complete your booking form within 7 days of booking. Following its completion, our Tours Concierge will be in touch to assist with any additional arrangements – including flights.
A visa may be required for the destination you are visiting. It is each traveller’s responsibility to ensure they are holding a current visa. Please take the time to visit our preferred vendor website Visas Direct to assist you with any visa application requirements and processes. If you require any supporting documentation when applying for your visa please let us know and we would be more than happy to assist. Click here to visit the website.
Need flights? Our dedicated flights concierge can assist with all your flight requirements. Contact sales@luxuryescapes.com.
Important Destination Information:
Time zone: GMT +09:00
Telephone: +81
Currency: Japanese Yen (JPY)
Accessing money: Cash is widely accepted and the preferred method of payment. ATMs are readily accessible in 7-Eleven. Ask your tour leader/guide about the best place to change money once you begin your tour. Please note: some ATMs may only accept four-digit pins.
Language: Japanese
Climate: Japan has four distinct seasons: cherry blossoms in spring (March-May), cool and leafy in Autum (September-November) and humid and muggy at times in Summer (June-August) with snowfall at higher altitudes during winter (December-February).
Day 1: Tokyo
Konnichiwa and welcome to Japan where your journey begins in the country’s lively capital, Tokyo, with an included shared shuttle transfer from Narita Airport (NRT) or Haneda Airport (HND) to your hotel. Tonight, you will meet your small group and local leader for a welcome meeting at 5pm. If you arrive earlier, take the time to get acquainted with the many sides of Tokyo – from the energetic streets lined with high-end shopping boutiques in Ginza, Harajuku and Shibuya, lush parks and immaculately manicured gardens, ancient temples in Asakusa, as well as to hidden eateries and karaoke bars tucked away in quiet neighbourhood backstreets.
After your meeting ends, together with your new travel companions you will enjoy a twilight cocktail at the hotel before hitting the streets to get a taste for Tokyo’s famed food scene – home to more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city in the world – with an included dinner at a local izakaya.
Accommodation: Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo
Meals: Welcome Cocktail and Dinner
Day 2: Tokyo
Packed with bustling streets, futuristic architecture, historic shrines, temples and more, Tokyo has so much to uncover – and your local guide will introduce you to it all on a guided morning adventure to get a taste of new and old Tokyo. Your day begins in the capital’s commercial and governmental heart around Tokyo Station and Marunouchi, with time at the Imperial Palace district in Chiyoda Ward.
Next, experience an explosion of colour and overload for the senses at Shibuya Crossing, before taking a gentle stroll through Yoyogi Park (past the old Olympic Games site) to the important Meiji Jingu Shrine, dedicated to the 19th-century Emperor. The rest of the afternoon is yours – try to catch a sumo grand tournament hosted in January, May or September for an iconic experience, or visit Tokyo National Museum in Ueno.
Accommodation: Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Tokyo
Prepare to visit a foodie’s paradise at the famous Tsukiji Outer Market, where a variety of stalls sell everything from fresh fish and dried seafood to fruits and vegetables or kitchen wares. Follow your leader as they guide you through the market while providing local insights along the way before learning to make sushi like a pro. Uncover the secrets of over 200-years of sushi-making history then roll up your sleeves to test your rolling skills, before enjoying your creations for lunch.
With a full belly and armed with a set of new-found skills to take home, continue onwards to Hama Rikyu Gardens, nestled on the edge of Tokyo Bay, before travelling via water bus on the Sumida River cruise to the Asakusa area, one of the older and more traditional parts of Tokyo. Often called the ‘Temple District’, Asakusa is where you can stop by the city’s oldest temple Senso-Ji or satisfy your sweet tooth with local treats – sweet fried potatoes coated in sugar, soy sauce and mirin, or sweet red bean paste sandwiched between baked pancake batter are very popular.
Afterwards, the night is yours to move around the busy streets at your own pace or shared in the company of your travel companions in search of the best ramen, if you wish.
Please note: To make your transit between cities more comfortable, your luggage (one piece per guest) will be transferred to Kyoto early on Day 4 so that it arrives on Day 5. Please prepare an overnight bag to take with you on Day 4 to Hakone. Any extra luggage for transfer will be at your own expense.
Accommodation: Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 4: Hakone
Leave Tokyo behind you as you board a train to Hakone – a mountainous town famed for its hot springs, stunning natural beauty and, on clear days, views of Mount Fuji. During your time in Hakone, enjoy a boat trip across the tranquil Lake Ashinoko and a cable car ride to Togendai Station, perfectly poised on the shore of Lake Ashinoko where you’ll be treated to spectacular views across Lake Ashinoko and, if the sun is out, Mount Fuji.
Tonight’s stay will be one to remember as you spend the evening at a traditional Japanese ryokan (type of traditional Japanese inn) surrounded by incredible greenery. Slide into relaxation mode and soak away the day at the ryokan’s thermal ‘onsen’ (a natural mountain hot spring) and for your evening meal, enjoy a traditional kaiseki banquet meal prepared by the ryokan with fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Accommodation: Hakone Kowakien Tenyu
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 5: Kyoto
There’s no need to rush this morning as you immerse yourself in Hakone’s relaxing surroundings thanks to a leisurely checkout time. Next, it’s time for a change of pace as you hop on Japan’s impressive bullet train to Kyoto (an approximate 3.5-hour journey), where countless wonders and incredible sights can be found. Once the capital of Japan for over 1,000 years, to this day, is it still considered the cultural heart of Japan thanks to the abundance of ancient landmarks and historical sights.
Once you have checked into your hotel, together as a group you will roam through the glass-covered walkway of Nishiki Market – a haven for food lovers and shoppers. Next, you will be introduced to Kyoto’s regional specialities including pickled vegetables, delicious and ornate Kyo wagashi (Kyoto sweets) and silken tofu. Your exploration of Kyoto continues as you join your leader to roam around Gion and its old wooden teahouses to learn about the city’s geisha culture.
Accommodation: Noku Kyoto
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Kyoto
Together as a group, you will travel to Kyoto’s famed Fushimi Inari Shrine – known throughout the world as the ‘Path of the Red Gates’ – with plenty of time to appreciate the quieter corners of this incredible sight. If you’re feeling curious, a walk to the halfway mark rewards you with gorgeous city views.
Continue with a short train ride and walk to the famous Gekkeikan Sake Brewery. With centuries of local history built into its beautiful wooden halls, Gekkeikan is considered Japan’s industry leader in both the tradition and innovation of sake creation. A visit to the brewery and museum covers all aspects of sake creation, and of course, a chance to taste different types of sake.
To round out your journey, gather with your travel companions for a memorable night out with dinner together at a local restaurant to make the end of your time together.
Accommodation: Noku Kyoto
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7: Kyoto – Osaka
Your tour ends after breakfast as you’re transferred to Kansai International Airport (KIX) or Osaka International Airport (ITM) in a shared shuttle bus in time for your onward flight.
Meals: Breakfast
Hiroshima and Osaka Extension
Day 7: Kyoto – Hiroshima
After breakfast, leave Kyoto and travel southbound by train to Hiroshima, with a stop on the way to Japan’s most impressive samurai castle at Himeji with time to explore the castle and grounds that were once home to more than 10,000 samurai families.
Together you will continue to Hiroshima, a beautiful thriving city that holds a harrowing past. Visit the Genbaku (A-Bomb) Dome and the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, which stand testament to the fateful day in 1945 when Hiroshima became the target of an atomic bomb. Today, this site serves as a symbol of peace, and the memorial park is home to several museums and monuments dedicated to the memory of victims, to communicate and advocate for world peace.
After working up an appetite, head to a local restaurant for one of the city’s signatures dishes – okonomiyaki, a delicious savoury pancake made with egg, cabbage, soba noodles and meat or seafood.
Please note: To make your transit between cities more comfortable, your luggage (one piece per guest) will be transferred to Osaka early on Day 8 so that it arrives on Day 9. Please prepare an overnight bag to take with you on Day 9 to Osaka. Any extra luggage for transfer will be at your own expense.
Accommodation: Hotel Granvia Hiroshima
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 8: Hiroshima – Miyajima Island – Osaka
After breakfast, check out of our hotel and make the short journey from central Hiroshima to the port to catch a ferry across to the island of Miyajima to Itsukushima Shrine, famous for its huge bright orange gate (torii) that rises majestically out of the sea. Miyajima is small enough to walk around, and there will be time to explore at your own pace. Perhaps visit Momiji Park, where it is possible to walk or take a cable car up to the top of Mount Misen for spectacular views.
After a full day of exploring, together make your way back to Hiroshima and head for Osaka (approximately 1.5 hours) where the night will be yours to enjoy as you choose.
Accommodation: Hilton Osaka
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9: Osaka
Welcome to the country’s unofficial culinary capital, and the place where some of Japan’s best street food is on offer along with sprawling shopping hubs and tiny backstreets overflowing with restaurants and bars. Take in some of the city’s landmarks as you embark on a guided street food tour to sample some of the best morsels that Osaka has to offer, and try your hand at making a local speciality takoyaki – shredded octopus, pickled ginger and spring onion covered in batter. Before the day is out, there will be time to see Osaka Castle, and later, enjoy your final farewell dinner together as a group to celebrate the end of an incredible trip.
Accommodation: Hilton Osaka
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Osaka
Today, it’s time to say farewell to your travel companions as your tour ends after breakfast with a shared shuttle transfer to Kansai International Airport (KIX).
Meals: Breakfast