A curving path lined with vermilion torii gates and a hanging lantern at Fushimi Inari shrine, Kyoto

Japan12 days

Japan: The Essential Journey

Tokyo → Hakone → Kyoto → Osakaculture, foodFrom $6,400 per person (illustrative)

01Overview

Twelve days from Tokyo's neighborhoods to Kyoto's temples, with a night in the mountains and a finish in Osaka.

This is our most requested route for a first visit, built so that no two days feel alike. You spend time in Tokyo's food districts, wake to Mount Fuji's outline from Hakone, walk Kyoto before and after the crowds, and end in Osaka, where the best eating in Japan happens. A local specialist meets you in each city, and the transfers are handled so you never wrestle a ticket machine.

Duration: 12 days
Locations: 4
Style: culture, food
From: $6,400

02Highlights

What makes this journey.

01
Private early morning walk through Fushimi Inari before the crowds
02
A night in a mountain ryokan with a private onsen
03
Tea lesson with a Kyoto tea master
04
Counter dinner in Tokyo and a street food evening in Osaka

03Itinerary

Day by day.

A working plan. We adjust the pace, the stays, and the activities once we know how you like to travel.

01
Day 1 · Tokyo
Arrival and neighborhood exploration
You are met at the airport and taken to your hotel. Later, a short walk through the streets nearby to find your bearings.
- Airport meet and transfer
- Evening neighborhood walk
- Welcome dinner
02
Day 2 · Tokyo
Tsukiji, Asakusa and Ginza
Start at the outer market for breakfast, cross the river to Asakusa's old temple streets, and finish with Ginza's after dark glow.
- Tsukiji outer market breakfast
- Senso-ji temple visit
- Ginza evening stroll
03
Day 3 · Tokyo
Food and a cultural experience
A hands on day: a morning cooking class, an afternoon in Yanaka's older streets, and a counter dinner booked in advance.
- Cooking class
- Yanaka walking tour
- Counter dinner
04
Day 4 · Hakone
Mountains and onsen
Ride the Romancecar into the mountains. Cross Lake Ashi by boat, then settle into a ryokan with a private hot spring.
- Romancecar transfer
- Lake Ashi crossing
- Kaiseki dinner and onsen
05
Day 5 · Kyoto
Arrival and Gion
Take the morning train to Kyoto. In the evening, a local guide leads a quiet walk through Gion and along the Shirakawa canal.
- Shinkansen to Kyoto
- Gion evening walk
- Dinner in Pontocho
06
Day 6 · Kyoto
Temples and a tea experience
Visit Ginkaku-ji and walk the Philosopher's Path, then spend the afternoon with a tea master learning how a bowl is prepared.
- Ginkaku-ji temple
- Philosopher's Path
- Private tea lesson
07
Day 7 · Kyoto
Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama
A dawn walk up through the torii gates before the crowds, then the bamboo grove and the river at Arashiyama.
- Sunrise at Fushimi Inari
- Arashiyama bamboo grove
- Togetsukyo bridge at dusk
08
Day 8 · Kyoto
A free day and a craft workshop
Sleep in if you like. Optional afternoon workshop with a textile or lacquer maker in a working studio.
- Free morning
- Craft workshop
- Free evening
09
Day 9 · Osaka
Arrival and Dotonbori
Transfer to Osaka in the morning. Evening street food crawl through Dotonbori with a local guide.
- Train to Osaka
- Kuromon market
- Dotonbori food evening
10
Day 10 · Osaka
Nara day trip
Take a short train to Nara to visit Todai-ji, meet the deer in the park, and walk through the old Naramachi streets.
- Todai-ji temple
- Nara Park
- Naramachi lunch
11
Day 11 · Osaka
Castle, markets and a farewell dinner
See Osaka Castle in the morning, browse the department store food halls, and share a final dinner.
- Osaka Castle
- Food hall tasting
- Farewell dinner
12
Day 12 · Osaka
Departure
Breakfast at leisure and a private transfer to Kansai airport.
- Breakfast
- Airport transfer