Japan Golden Route Set Itinerary

Arrive in Tokyo, a city where tradition and modern life sit comfortably side by side. After landing, you are met at the airport and guided to your shared transfer into the city. The drive offers a first glimpse of Tokyo’s scale, shifting from wide expressways into dense neighbourhoods layered with shops, offices and residential streets. Once at your hotel, the rest of the day is free to recover from the journey or take a gentle first walk nearby. Tokyo rewards curiosity at any hour, whether that means a quiet stroll, a casual ramen spot or simply watching the rhythm of city life unfold around you.

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Today offers a structured introduction to Tokyo, ideal for understanding how the city works and how its past shapes everyday life. With a knowledgeable local guide, visit several of Tokyo’s key districts and landmarks, gaining insight into Japanese customs, history and modern society along the way. The tour focuses on orientation as much as sightseeing, helping you navigate the city with confidence for the days ahead. Expect contrasts between historic sites, busy commercial areas and quieter corners that reveal Tokyo’s layered character. The afternoon is free to revisit areas that caught your interest or explore further on your own. (B)

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Enjoy a free day to explore Tokyo at your own pace. If you're looking for something more, we offer a variety of optional tours such as a street food adventure, an arts and crafts tour, sumo wrestling experiences, or even a cooking class to dive deeper into Japanese culture. Reach out to our travel specialists if you'd like to add an extra activity. Otherwise, take this opportunity to wander through Tokyo’s diverse districts, from the trendy streets of Shibuya to the peaceful temples in Asakusa - there’s something for everyone. (B)

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Travel into Hakone National Park, a landscape shaped by volcanic activity and long valued as a mountain retreat within easy reach of Tokyo. The day begins with a journey aboard the Romance Car, a classic limited express train designed for sightseeing, offering wide windows and a relaxed introduction to the countryside beyond the city.

On arrival in Hakone, begin exploring the region’s highlights, starting with Lake Ashi, a crater lake formed thousands of years ago. A cruise across the lake reveals forested slopes, torii gates along the shoreline and, on clear days, Mt. Fuji rising in the distance. Continue by cable car and ropeway into the volcanic zone at Owakudani, where steam vents and sulphur springs break through the landscape. Discover Hakone’s volcanic history and try the famous black eggs, cooked in the hot springs, a local tradition rooted in folklore. The day ends in Gora, a quiet mountain town closely associated with Hakone’s hot spring culture. (B,D)

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Leave the mountains of Hakone behind and travel by bullet train to Kyoto, Japan’s former imperial capital and centre of traditional culture. After arrival, settle into your hotel and enjoy time at leisure, an ideal pause before the evening’s guided walk.

At dusk, meet your guide and explore Kyoto’s historic geisha districts on foot. Begin in Miyagawa-cho, one of the city’s five active hanamachi, where narrow lanes and preserved wooden machiya houses reveal a side of Kyoto largely unchanged since the Edo period. Continue along Hanamikoji Street, lined with exclusive ochaya and teahouses, before moving into the atmospheric Higashiyama area. Yasaka Shrine, softly lit after dark, provides a striking setting and an important spiritual anchor for the district. The walk continues into North Gion, crossing Tatsumibashi Bridge over the Shirakawa River, an area once home to apprentice geisha. Along the way, your guide shares insight into geisha life, customs and training, bringing depth and context to this quietly elegant part of the city. (B)

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Today focuses on Kyoto’s most significant sites, each reflecting a different aspect of Japanese spirituality, art and design. Visit Kiyomizu-dera, famous for its wooden hall and hillside views, and Sanjusangen-do, home to an extraordinary hall of 1,001 Buddhist statues. Walk through the torii gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine, a powerful symbol of devotion and perseverance, before continuing to the bamboo groves of Arashiyama, where tall stalks sway quietly overhead. The day concludes at Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, whose reflection across the pond remains one of Kyoto’s most recognisable images. (B,L)

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Enjoy a free day to explore Kyoto at your own pace. Wander through its historic streets, visit hidden temples, or simply relax in the tranquil gardens. For those looking to dive deeper into Japanese culture, consider joining an optional tea ceremony experience at the Flower House, where you'll learn the art of tea-making. Alternatively, why not join a shared Izakaya cooking class and discover how to prepare traditional Japanese dishes? (B)

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Travel by bullet train to Hiroshima, a journey that highlights the efficiency of Japan’s rail network while linking two cities with very different histories. On arrival, meet your guide and stop at the hotel to drop off your luggage before beginning the day’s sightseeing. Continue to Miyajima Island, long regarded as one of Japan’s most sacred places. The island is best known for Itsukushima Shrine, founded in the 6th century, where the iconic torii gate appears to float on the sea at high tide. Beyond the shrine, the island offers forested paths, temples and a slower rhythm that contrasts with the city.

After time to explore and enjoy local specialities such as oysters and maple-leaf cakes, return to the mainland. The afternoon is dedicated to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum, where the city’s wartime history is presented with clarity and restraint, offering a powerful insight into Hiroshima’s past and its enduring message of peace. (B,L)

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Continue the journey west to east by bullet train, travelling from Hiroshima to Osaka, a city known for its energy, humour and strong food culture. After arrival, make your way to the hotel to leave your luggage before heading out for an afternoon guided walk in the Tenma district. This area is centred on Tenjinbashi-suji, Japan’s longest covered shopping street, where everyday life plays out among small shops, local eateries and neighbourhood businesses.

Begin at Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, an important cultural and spiritual site, before exploring the surrounding streets through a series of food tastings. The experience focuses on Osaka’s informal approach to dining, with a selection of local favourites chosen by your guide. More than just a tasting tour, this walk offers insight into why food is so central to Osaka’s identity and how the city’s character is shaped by its working-class roots and love of good, unfussy cooking. (B,D)

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A free day to experience Osaka on your own terms. Visit Osaka Castle to learn about the city’s feudal past, or wander through Dotonbori where neon lights and canal-side walkways define the modern cityscape. Shinsaibashi offers lively shopping streets, while quieter areas such as Sumiyoshi Taisha provide contrast and space. Families may opt for the aquarium or theme parks, while others enjoy simply eating their way through local neighbourhoods. Osaka’s appeal lies in its energy and accessibility, making it an easy city to explore independently. (B)

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