Best of Japan (14 days)

Tokyo – Mt. Fuji – Hakone – Kanazawa – Takayama – Shirakawa-go – Kyoto – Nara – Osaka – Hiroshima – Miyajima – Tokyo

With a focus on history and culture, this 2-week Japan itinerary showcases the best of the Land of the Rising Sun. From the present capital of Tokyo to the former imperial seat of Kyoto, Japan’s illustrious blend of ancient traditions with state-of-the-art modernity is on full display. Whether you’re gazing at the majestic Mt. Fuji, savouring fine Japanese cuisine, or discovering centuries-old architectural gems, every moment is designed to awe and inspire.

Important Features

• Small group size – average 16, maximum 20.
• Experienced guides carefully selected by company owners.
• Premium hotel accommodations.
• Quality Japanese & Western cuisines (no cheap tourist food).
• Sushi making lesson.
• Kaiseki dinner with geisha dancer (maiko) performance.
• Yakiniku (BBQ) dinner featuring premium Japanese beef.
• No shopping stops.

Best of Japan Tour Itinerary

Meal Code: B = breakfast / L = lunch / D = dinner

Day 1/Mon: Departing Home City
The journey begins with your transpacific flight departing from a city of your choice. You’ll lose a day upon crossing the International Date Line.

Day 2/Tue: Arrival in Tokyo
Welcome to Tokyo!

Please make your way to the hotel on your own. Detailed up-to-date information on how to get to the hotel will be provided in the final update two weeks before departure. Private transfer can be arranged on request.

Day 3/Wed: Tokyo (B/L/D)
Tokyo, literally meaning “eastern capital” and officially named Tokyo Metropolis, is one of the most populous mega-cities in the world with a population of 14 million. Formerly known as Edo, the city has been the de facto seat of the Japanese government since 1603 when shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu chose the city for his headquarters. The shogun (general) was a hereditary commander ceremoniously appointed by the emperor but held real power over the country during the shogunate period between 1192 and 1867. Edo was renamed Tokyo after Emperor Meiji moved his seat from Kyoto in 1868 when the last shogun was forced to return power to the imperial court. The city covers an area of 2,187 square kilometres following the merger in 1943 of the city of Tokyo and Tokyo Prefecture.

Our full-day sightseeing begins at the plaza in front of the Imperial Palace. A stroll across the plaza accompanied by commentary on the imperial family and the history of Tokyo gets the tour off to a good start.

We then proceed to Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, whose origins date back to 628.

After lunch, we drive through the ritzy Ginza shopping district on the way to Meiji Jingu, a Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji (1852 -1912) and his wife.

We end the day with a visit to the observation deck atop the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku. Designed by renowned architect Kenzo Tange, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building opened in 1991 and is one of Shinjuku’s best-known landmarks. On a clear day, visitors can see the peak of Mount Fuji, located approximately 95 km to the west.

Welcome dinner features premium Japanese beef.

Day 4/Thu: Tokyo – Mt. Fuji – Hakone – Tokyo (B/L)
We depart at 7:45 AM for a full-day excursion to Mt Fuji and Hakone.

Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain (3,776 metres) in Japan, is a two-hour drive from Tokyo. We stop by the Fujisan World Heritage Center to view the summit and learn about the history, formation and ecology of Mt. Fuji through exhibits and a short film. However, it is purely a matter of luck whether the summit is visible as Mt. Fuji is often shrouded in clouds. Climbing Mount Fuji is not included in our itinerary. The official climbing season generally runs from early July to early September, and reaching the summit from the fifth station typically takes several hours.

We then proceed to Lake Ashi in Hakone for a half-hour cruise across the pristine alpine lake. This is followed by a 10-minute cable car ride that transports us to the station overlooking the sulphur-spewing Owakudani Geothermal Valley. On a clear day, the cable car ride provides stunning views of Mt. Fuji and its surrounding mountain slopes.

We expect to arrive back at the hotel around 6:00 PM.

Day 5/Fri: Tokyo – Kanazawa (B)
Enjoy some downtime before boarding the high-speed train (Hakutaka #561, 11:24/14:17) to Kanazawa. Be sure to grab some snacks for lunch before getting on the train.

On the shores of the Sea of Japan, Kanazawa is the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture and a medium-sized city with a population of around 460,000. Considered a jewel of Japanese tourism, the city rewards visitors with its well-preserved legacy from the Edo period.

Due to the proximity of the attractions, our sightseeing in Kanazawa is done exclusively on foot with occasional use of taxis to cover the short distances between some of the locations. Please expect to walk 5 to 8 km per day.

After hotel check-in, we walk, or go by taxi (2 km, 6 minutes) if the weather is rainy, to the Higashi Chaya district. This is one of the three preserved historical geisha districts in Kanazawa (along with Nishichayagai and Kazuemachi) where geisha still entertain today.

Day 6/Sat: Kanazawa (B/L)
Today’s sightseeing on foot begins at Omicho Market, Kanazawa’s largest fresh food market particularly well known for seafood.

From the market, Kanazawa Castle is just a few minutes away on foot. Kanazawa Castle became the seat of the powerful Maeda clan in 1583, when Maeda Toshiie took possession of the site. The castle was reconstructed multiple times following fires throughout its history.

The Hishi Yagura turret, Gojikken Nagaya warehouse and the Hashizume-mon Tsuzuki Yagura turret were faithfully restored in 2001 to their 1809 form using traditional construction methods. Today’s pillars are constructed from the Japanese Hinoki cypress along with the use of the massive American cypress as ceiling beams. The reconstructed buildings feature distinctive roof tiles made from wooden forms covered with lead sheets, which gradually turn silvery white as they weather.

From the castle, we walk across a bridge to enter Kenroku-en, which used to be part of the castle. One of the “Three Great Gardens of Japan” (Koraku-en in Okayama and Kairaku-en in Mito being the other two), Kenroku-en was developed from the 1620s to the 1840s by the Maeda clan, whose successive daimyo ruled the former Kaga Domain.

The restaurant for lunch is a 12-minute walk (700 metres) from the garden.

After lunch, we walk across the street to enter Nagamachi, a historical preservation zone where the residents still go about their daily lives among the remnants of a bygone age. A highlight of the neighbourhood is the restored Nomura Samurai House, whose small but supremely exquisite traditional garden delights visitors from around the world.

Guests who are tired of walking can go back to the hotel from the samurai house by taxi (1.4 km) for about 1,000 yen.

Day 7/Sun: Kanazawa – Takayama – Shirakawa-go – Kanazawa (B/L)
We set out at 7:40 for a full-day excursion to Takayama and Shirakawa.

Famous for its inns, sake breweries, food festivals and local folk art, Takayama (118 km southeast of Kanazawa) is a delightful town nestled amongst the Japanese Alps. Our sightseeing here takes in an open-air market, Sanmachi Historic District, and Takayama Jin’ya – government house of the region during the Tokugawa shogunate period.

After lunch, we travel northbound in the direction of Kanazawa to visit Shirakawa. Situated in a picturesque river valley, Shirakawa-go is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama. The village is famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, distinguished by their steeply pitched thatched roofs designed to withstand heavy snowfall.

Day 8/Mon: Kanazawa – Kyoto (B/L/D)
This morning we ride Hokuriku Shinkansen Kagayaki 503 (09:47/10:28) to Tsuruga Station, where we transfer to express train Thunderbird 16 (10:44/11:39) bound for Kyoto.

Nicknamed the “City of Ten Thousand Shrines”, Kyoto (literally meaning “capital city”) served as Japan’s capital for more than a thousand years before the imperial court moved to Tokyo in 1868 at the beginning of the Meiji Restoration (1868–1912), a period that saw Japan emerge as a modern industrial nation. Founded in 794, Kyoto was laid out on a grid pattern modelled after Chang’an, the capital of China’s Tang Dynasty (618–907), a golden age in Chinese history when Japan was strongly influenced by Chinese culture. Today, Kyoto has a population of approximately 1.4 million and forms a major part of the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe metropolitan area.

Our first stop after lunch is Kinkaku-ji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion). This is a Zen Buddhist temple and one of 17 locations comprising the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto World Heritage Site.

We then proceed to the Arashiyama (Storm Mountain) area where our sightseeing takes in Tenryu-ji Temple and the Bamboo Forest. Located on the western outskirts of Kyoto, Arashiyama is famous for its immense natural beauty as well as its historical and cultural prominence due to the large number of well-preserved ancient Buddhist temples.

Afterwards, we return to the hotel to freshen up before heading out for a traditional kaiseki dinner accompanied by the private performance of a maiko (geisha trainee).

Day 9/Tue: Kyoto (B)
This morning’s walking tour begins at the magnificent Nijo Castle (3 subway stops from our hotel).

Construction of the castle began in 1601 under the orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, and was completed in 1626 under the third Tokugawa shogun, Iemitsu. The Tokugawa shogunate was headquartered in Edo, present-day Tokyo, and Nijo Castle was the shogun’s residence in Kyoto where the imperial court was located. Nijo Castle is also the site that witnessed the ending of the Tokugawa shogunate. In late 1867, the last shogun, Yoshinobu, announced in the castle his decision to return power to the emperor. This was a watershed moment that helped usher in the Meiji Restoration, which, in turn, led to Japan’s industrialization and fundamentally transformed Japanese society.

Afterwards, we travel to Yasaka Shrine, one of Kyoto’s most iconic Shinto shrines, with a history of over 1,300 years. Its vibrant vermilion buildings, lantern-lit grounds, and lively atmosphere make it a beloved landmark in every season.

We then continue to the Gion district, strolling through its historic streets and learning about Kyoto’s centuries-old geisha culture.

Free afternoon to explore on your own.

Optional Matcha experience

Visit Entoku-in, a serene temple celebrated for its graceful gardens and timeless beauty throughout the seasons. Engage in traditional practices such as sutra copying (shakyo), Buddhist image tracing (shabutsu), and quiet contemplation of the dry landscape garden (karesansui). Conclude your visit with a bowl of matcha, prepared by a tea master or whisked by your own hand, and savor the tranquil atmosphere of the garden.

This optional experience is available at US$35/CAD$50 per person subject to a minimum of 4 participants.

Day 10/Wed: Kyoto – Nara – Osaka – Kyoto (B/L)
We depart for Nara at 07:45. The 45 km drive to the magnificent Todai-ji temple takes about an hour. This ancient Buddhist temple is well known for its splendid architecture and the huge bronze statue of the Buddha in its main hall. The surrounding Nara Park is also home to more than a thousand wild deer that roam freely among visitors.

Nara is the capital city of Nara Prefecture and a former capital of Japan (710 – 794). With a population of roughly 370,000 and an area of 280 square kilometres, the city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture. Eight temples, shrines and ruins together with Kasugayama Primeval Forest collectively form “The Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Afterwards, we continue on to Osaka, where we visit the historic Osaka Castle and Osaka’s legendary shopping and entertainment district known as Dotonbori. Situated at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, Osaka is one of Japan’s largest cities and plays a significant role in the Japanese economy. Osaka was once known as the “nation’s kitchen” because of its function as Japan’s rice trading centre during the Edo period.

Day 11/Thu: Kyoto – Hiroshima (B)
Free morning to explore on your own.

Our recommendations include Kiyomizu-dera (Buddhist temple), Kyoto Imperial Palace, Fushimi Inari Shrine (good for hiking), Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion Temple), and Kyoto National Museum.

We transfer to the train station for our late-afternoon rail journey (Nozomi 39, 16:25/18:02) to Hiroshima.

Day 12/Fri: Hiroshima – Miyajima – Hiroshima (B/D)
Hiroshima, literally meaning ‘broad island’, is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture and the largest city in the Chugoku region with a population of 1.2 million. Hiroshima is best known as the first city in history to be targeted by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on the city at 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945, near the end of World War II. The highlight in Hiroshima, understandably but sadly, is the Peace Memorial Park which includes the Peace Memorial Museum, and the Atomic Bomb Dome (the former Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall).

After a tour of the Peace Memorial Park complex including two hours in the museum onsite, we proceed to Miyajima Island by a combination of taxi, commuter train and ferry.

Officially known as Itsukushima, Miyajima is a small island (30 square kilometres, population 1,760) in Hiroshima Bay known for its forests and ancient temples. The seaside Itsukushima Shinto Shrine on the island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the “floating” torii gate in front of the shrine is the main reason for most visitors to come here.

Day 13/Sat: Hiroshima – Tokyo (B)
The rail journey back to Tokyo this morning takes 3 hours 50 minutes (Nozomi 10, 09:07/12:57).

Transfer to the hotel on arrival and spend the balance of the day exploring on your own. Our recommendations include shopping at Ginza and Akihabara, which even non-shoppers would find exciting. Also recommended are the top-rated Tokyo National Museum and the adjacent National Museum of Western Art located at Ueno Park.

Be sure to carry your passport when shopping. Eligible foreign visitors can claim a refund of Japan’s consumption tax on qualifying purchases of at least 5,000 yen before tax at participating stores. Under the system effective November 1, 2026, refunds are processed after customs confirms that the purchased goods are being taken out of Japan. Visitors aged 70 or older should also carry their passports to qualify for free admission to the Tokyo National Museum.

Day 14/Sun: Tokyo – Return Home (B)
The tour ends this morning.

We recommend taking the Airport Limousine Bus for your transfer to the airport. The fare is 3,600 yen (US$26) to Narita Airport and 1,500 yen (US$11) to Haneda Airport.

If Airport Limousine Bus is unavailable at your hotel, an alternative is to take a taxi to the Yaesu side of Tokyo Station and catch an airport shuttle bus from there. The taxi drop-off point is next to the bus terminal and the JR Expressway Bus ticket office. The total cost is approximately the same as taking the Airport Limousine Bus directly from the hotel.

Taking a taxi all the way to the airport should be your last resort due to the high cost. Consult the hotel concierge for an estimate (approximately US$250 to Narita or US$80 to Haneda).

The above information may be out of date by the time you travel. Please check with your guide for up-to-date advice.

Hotel List

Dates & Prices

* Land Only price does not include international air. Contact us for a fare quote.
** Discount available subject to certain conditions. Contact us for details.

Best of Japan Tour – Q&A

Do I need a passport to go to Japan?

Yes. Your passport must remain valid for the duration of your stay in Japan. Although Japan does not generally require six months of remaining validity, we recommend having at least six months of validity beyond your tour’s end date and at least one blank page in your passport.

Do I need visa to visit Japan?

If you are a tourist from Canada, the US, the UK, Australia and New Zealand, you do not need a visa to enter Japan as long as your stay is within 90 days.

What vaccinations are required?

None. However, vaccination against hepatitis A is strongly recommended.

When should I buy travel insurance?

Your deposit will be kept as credit if you cancel for any reason. The transferrable credit has no expiration date. Therefore, it may be unnecessary to spend $30 to $50 on cancellation insurance just to protect the deposit.

However, purchase of trip cancellation & emergency medical insurance is strongly advised when your balance is due. If you don’t have proper coverage, the loss can be devastating in case of cancellation before or after commencement of the booked trip or in case of a serious medical emergency during the trip. Please ask us for premium quotes when your balance due date is near.

Best Japan Tour according to Customers