Tokyo – Kanazawa – Kyoto
If you prefer to travel independently but are hesitant to do so in Japan due to language and logistic barriers, this 12-day Semi-independent Japan Tour might be just for you. The itinerary includes guided service on some days but leaves most days to you for exploration on your own. The itinerary takes in Japan’s top three destinations, from which optional day tours to nearby attractions can be easily arranged.
Important Features
- Small group size – average 16, maximum 20
- Experienced professional guides
- No shopping stops
- Quality Japanese & Western cuisines
- Sushi making lesson
- Optional day tours to Mt. Fuji, Takayama & Shirakawa-go and Nara & Osaka available on request.
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 pre-trip update two weeks before departure.
Day 3/Wed: Tokyo (B/L)
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 Senso-ji, the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo dating back to 628.
We then drive through ritzy Ginza shopping district to arrive at the plaza in front of the Imperial Palace (the palace itself is closed to tourists) for a stroll.
After lunch, we tour the grounds of the tranquil 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 inside the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku. On a clear day, the visitor should be able to see the peak of Mount Fuji which is located about 84 km to the west.
Day 4/Thu: Tokyo (B)
Free day to explore on your own.
We highly recommend Ginza and Akihabara shopping districts, which even non-shoppers would find exciting. Also recommended are the top-rated Tokyo National Museum and The National Museum of Western Art – both located at Ueno Park, one of Tokyo’s most popular locations for cherry blossom every spring.
Optional day tour to Mt. Fuji and Hakone is available on request.
Day 5/Fri: Tokyo – Kanazawa (B)
Enjoy some downtime before boarding the express train (Hakutaka #561, 11:24/14:17) to Kanazawa.
On the shores of Sea of Japan, Kanazawa is the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture. The city has a population of 463,000 and is considered a jewel of Japanese tourism that is often overlooked by foreign tourists due to its relatively remote location. Travellers coming here are richly rewarded with the well-preserved Edo-period city, where the samurai, merchants, geisha, and daimyo (lords) all left their mark. Kanazawa is also part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a City of Crafts and Folk Art.
After hotel check-in, walk around on your own and bask in the charm of this pedestrian-friendly city.
Day 6/Sat: Kanazawa (B/L)
Morning sightseeing 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. The restored castle was first originally built in 1580 for Maeda Toshiie, the fourth son of a minor samurai family who entered the service of a powerful daimyo at the age of 15 and quickly rose through the ranks. The castle was reconstructed multiple times due to fire damages throughout its history. The last time a fire destroyed the castle was in 1881. 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 castle’s distinctive whitish roof tiles are made of lead.
From the castle we walk across the road to Kenroku-en Garden 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, the daimyo that ruled the former Kaga Domain.
The restaurant for lunch is a 5-minute walk from the garden.
After lunch we visit 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.
We wrap up the day with a quick stop at Higashi Chaya Street. Higashi and chaya respectively translate to “eastern” and “tea house”. During the Edo Period, a chaya was found in designated entertainment district where geisha entertained male patrons with dance and music.
Day 7/Sun: Kanazawa – (B)
Free day to explore on your own.
Optional day tour to Takayama and Shirakawa-go is available on request.
Day 8/Mon: Kanazawa – Kyoto (B/L)
This morning we ride the express train (Thunderbird #16, 09:50/12:09) to Kyoto.
After lunch, we tour the historical Nijo Castle. This is the site that witnessed the commencement and ending of the Tokugawa shogunate (1600 -1868).
We then spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the famous Kinkaku-ji (Temple of Golden Pavilion). This is a Zen Buddhist temple and one of 17 locations comprising the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto World Heritage Site.
Day 9/Tue: Kyoto (B)
Nicknamed “City of Ten Thousand Shrines”, Kyoto (literal translation: capital city) served as Japan’s capital for more than one thousand years before the imperial court moved to Tokyo in 1868 with the onset of the Meiji Restoration (1868 to 1912, a historical period associated with the emergence of Japan as a modernized nation). Kyoto is a scaled replica of the Chinese Tang Dynasty’s capital Chang’an, present-day Xi’an. The Tang Dynasty (618 – 907) was a golden era in Chinese history and a time when Japanese adoption of Chinese culture reached its peak. Kyoto today, with a population of 1.5 million, forms a major part of the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe metropolitan area.
Morning sightseeing at Arashiyama (Storm Mountain) area 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.
We spend the rest of the day touring the sprawling complex of Kiyomizu-dera and the famous geisha district, Gion, nearby.
Kiyomizu-dera is a Buddhist temple and part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage site. Its veranda provides stunning views of the city.
Optional kaiseki dinner with geisha dancer (maiko) performance is available.
Day 10/Wed: Kyoto (B)
Free day to explore on your own.
Our recommendations include Fushimi Inari Shrine (good for hiking), Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion Temple), Kyoto National Museum, and Kyoto Imperial Palace (subject to frequent closure).
Day 11/Thu: Kyoto (B)
Free day to explore on your own.
Optional day trip to Nara and Osaka is available.
Day 12/Fri: Kyoto – Return Home (B)
The tour ends this morning. Transfer to the airport (Kansai or Itami) either by airport limousine bus or airport express train. Check with your guide for the most economical and efficient way to get to the airport.
Hotel List
| City | Nights | Hotel | Category |
| Tokyo | 3 | Mitsui Garden Gotanda or similar | first class |
| Kanazawa | 3 | Mitsui Garden Kanazawa or similar | first class |
| Kyoto | 4 | Mitsui Garden Shijo or similar | first class |
Hotels are subject to change without notice.
Dates & Prices
Early bird discount does not apply to this tour.
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Prices are per person based on double occupancy. Scroll down for price inclusions and exclusions. |
| Depart (Mon) |
Return (Fri) |
Land Only* CA$/US$ |
Single Supplement CA$/US$ |
| 2024 | |||
| 06-May | 17-May | $3,990/$2,990 | $1,450/$1,065 |
| 17-Jun | 28-Jun | $3,990/$2,990 | $1,450/$1,065 |
| 23-Sep | 04-Oct | $3,990/$2,990 | $1,450/$1,065 |
| 07-Oct | 18-Oct | $3,990/$2,990 | $1,450/$1,065 |
| 14-Oct | 25-Oct | $3,990/$2,990 | $1,450/$1,065 |
| 28-Oct | 08-Nov | $3,990/$2,990 | $1,450/$1,065 |
| 11-Nov | 22-Nov | $3,990/$2,990 | $1,450/$1,065 |
| 2025 | |||
| 17-Mar | 28-Mar | $3,990/$2,990 | $1,450/$1,065 |
| 24-Mar | 04-Apr | $3,990/$2,990 | $1,450/$1,065 |
| 31-Mar | 11-Apr | $3,990/$2,990 | $1,450/$1,065 |
| 07-Apr | 18-Apr | $3,990/$2,990 | $1,450/$1,065 |
| 14-Apr | 25-Apr | $3,990/$2,990 | $1,450/$1,065 |
| 05-May | 16-May | $3,990/$2,990 | $1,450/$1,065 |
| 19-May | 30-May | $3,990/$2,990 | $1,450/$1,065 |
| 06-Oct | 17-Oct | $3,990/$2,990 | $1,450/$1,065 |
| 13-Oct | 24-Oct | $3,990/$2,990 | $1,450/$1,065 |
| 20-Oct | 31-Oct | $3,990/$2,990 | $1,450/$1,065 |
| 27-Oct | 07-Nov | $3,990/$2,990 | $1,450/$1,065 |
| 03-Nov | 14-Nov | $3,990/$2,990 | $1,450/$1,065 |
| 10-Nov | 21-Nov | $3,990/$2,990 | $1,450/$1,065 |
* Land Only price does not include international air. Contact us for a fare quote.
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Tour price includes:
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Tour price does NOT include:
See Terms & Conditions for more information. |
Passport & Visa
Your passport needs to have at least one blank visa page and six months validity at the end of the tour.
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.
Immunization
Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 may be required. We will update you on this around your balance due date.
No certificate of any other inoculation is required. However, we do recommend vaccination against hepatitis A and suggest that you check out advice provided by Health Canada and the US CDC.
Travel Health
Japan is a very clean country, where tap water is potable. Some may prefer to boil tap water to get rid of the possible smell of chlorine. Always carry a roll of toilet paper and a bottle of hand sanitizer. In general, public toilets in Japan do not provide paper towels for hand drying; many of them have no electric hand dryers either. You should carry a small towel as many Japanese do when going out. Footwear is often forbidden when you go indoors at temples, historical sites and traditional restaurants; please bring proper socks to keep your feet comfortable.
Local Currency & Credit Card
Japan: yen (JPY)
Withdrawing cash from local ATMs after arrival remains our recommended method of currency exchange. Keep your inventory of local currency low. Your tour fare already covers all the expensive items. You only need some cash for incidentals and meals not included in the tour price. Credit cards are widely accepted across Japan. For transactions over $50, you are advised to use a credit card.
Travel Insurance – When to Buy
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.
