Tokyo – Kanazawa – Kyoto – Nara – Osaka
Would you like to explore Japan independently but feel uncertain about navigating the country on your own? Our 12-day Semi-independent Japan Tour combines guided sightseeing with plenty of free time, giving you the flexibility of independent travel without having to arrange everything yourself.
The itinerary covers Tokyo, Kanazawa and Kyoto, with excursions to Nara and Osaka. Travel between cities is by train with reserved seats, while local sightseeing is mostly on foot and by public transit. Optional day trips are available for those wishing to see more of Japan.
FRIENDLY REMINDER
We travel between cities by train with reserved seats. Getting around in a city is mostly by public transit and walking, with occasional usage of taxi per itinerary. Participants must travel light and be able to walk 10 kilometres at a brisk pace every day.
OPTIONAL DAY TRIPS AVAILABLE:
- Mount Fuji & Hakone from Tokyo
- Takayama & Shirakawa-go from Kanazawa
- Hiroshima & Miyajima from Kyoto
Semi-independent Japan Tour (12 days)
Meal Code: B = breakfast; L = lunch
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.
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 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. On a clear day, visitors can see the peak of Mount Fuji, located approximately 95 km to the west. The building complex, completed in 1990 at a cost of US$1 billion, consists of three main structures, each taking up a city block. The architect of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is Kenzo Tange (1913 – 2005), who in 1987 became the first Japanese to win the Pritzker Prize for Architecture.
Day 4/Thu: Tokyo (B)
Today is free for independent exploration.
We recommend visiting the Ginza and Akihabara shopping districts, both of which are fascinating even for non-shoppers. Also worth visiting are the Tokyo National Museum and the National Museum of Western Art, both located in Ueno Park, one of Tokyo’s most popular places for viewing cherry blossoms in spring.
An optional day tour to Mount Fuji and Hakone may be available on request.
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 (B)
Today is free for independent exploration.
An optional day tour to Takayama and Shirakawa-go is available on request. The historic villages of Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama were officially designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
Day 8/Mon: Kanazawa – Kyoto (B/L)
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.
Day 9/Tue: Kyoto (B)
Today is free for independent exploration. We recommend visiting Nijo Castle and Kiyomizu-dera, one of Kyoto’s most celebrated Buddhist temples.
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 (B)
Today is free for independent exploration.
We recommend visiting Kyoto Imperial Palace, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) or Kyoto National Museum.
Guests wishing to return to Osaka for more sightseeing can take the Shinkansen from Kyoto Station, a journey of approximately 15 minutes.
Day 12/Fri: Kyoto – Return Home (B)
The tour ends this morning. Transfer to Kansai or Itami Airport independently. Direct airport express trains serve Kansai Airport, while airport limousine buses provide convenient access to both airports. Check with your guide for the most economical and efficient option.
Hotel List
| City | Nights | Hotel | Category |
| Tokyo | 3 | Tokyo Dome Hotel | Premium /4 stars |
| Kanazawa | 3 | Mitsui Garden Kanazawa | Premium /4 stars |
| Kyoto | 4 | Hilton Garden Inn Shijo | Premium /4 stars |
Dates & Prices
| Depart (Mon) | Return (Fri) | Land Only CAD/USD | Single Supplement CAD/USD |
Price starts from CA$5990/US$4,280 per person based on double occupancy. Contact us for details.
Tour price includes:
| Tour price does NOT include:
See Terms & Conditions for more information. |
Semi-independent Japan Tour – Q&A
What is a semi-independent Japan tour?
A semi-independent tour combines guided sightseeing with the freedom to explore on your own. Laurus Travel arranges accommodation, intercity transportation and selected guided activities, while leaving plenty of free time for independent exploration. You enjoy the convenience of an organized tour without following a guide every day.
Is this tour suitable for first-time visitors to Japan?
Yes. The itinerary is designed for travellers who want to explore Japan independently but appreciate assistance with transportation, accommodation and sightseeing arrangements. It covers Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka, providing an excellent introduction to Japan’s history, culture and modern life.
How much independent travel is involved?
You will have several free days to explore at your own pace. Guided sightseeing is provided on selected days, while other days are left open for independent exploration or optional excursions. Travellers should be comfortable navigating train stations, using public transportation and finding their way around unfamiliar cities.
Is this tour suitable for seniors?
Yes, for seniors who are reasonably fit, independent and comfortable using public transportation. Some sightseeing involves considerable walking, stairs and uneven surfaces. Travellers with mobility limitations should discuss their needs with Laurus Travel before booking.
How do we travel between cities?
Travel between Tokyo, Kanazawa and Kyoto is by train, including Japan’s high-speed Shinkansen services. Reserved seats are arranged in advance. Travellers are responsible for handling their own luggage and should pack light.
Are airport transfers included?
Airport transfers are not included unless specifically stated in the itinerary. Travellers make their own way between the airport and hotel using public transportation. Detailed instructions are provided before departure.
Are international flights included?
No. International airfare is not included, allowing travellers to choose their preferred airlines and departure cities. Laurus Travel can assist with flight arrangements upon request.
What is the best time to take this tour?
Spring and autumn are particularly pleasant, with comfortable temperatures and seasonal scenery. Cherry blossoms typically appear in late March or early April, while autumn foliage is generally at its best from late October through November, depending on the destination and weather.
What makes this tour different from a fully escorted Japan tour?
A fully escorted tour follows a more structured schedule, with guides accompanying travellers on most sightseeing days. This semi-independent tour provides greater flexibility and more free time while retaining the convenience of prearranged accommodation, transportation and selected guided experiences.
Do I need a passport and visa to visit Japan?
Canadian, American, British, Australian and New Zealand passport holders do not require a visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days. Your passport must remain valid for the duration of your stay in Japan. Travellers of other nationalities should check the visa requirements applicable to their passports.
Do I need travel insurance?
We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance covering emergency medical expenses, hospitalization, medical evacuation, trip cancellation and interruption. Travellers with pre-existing medical conditions should ensure that their policies provide appropriate coverage.
