Home > Asia > Japan > 9-Days Japan's Golden Route
9-DAYS JAPAN'S GOLDEN ROUTE
Tokyo ~ Hakone ~ Kyoto ~ Nara
東京~箱根 ~京都
Trips Highlights:
- See Kyoto's UNESCO site
- Be captivated by vibrant Tokyo
- Explore Hakone's natural beauty
- Stay in authentic local inn
- Join an authentic tea ceremony
Itinerary in details:
| Day 01 | Tokyo Arrival 東京 |
Upon arrival to Tokyo’s airport, our representative will be waiting to assist with transport into the city (helping to board the right train or finding the appropriate shuttle). After arriving at the hotel and checking in, the remainder of the day is free at leisure.
Overnight in Tokyo.
Distance and journey time (approximate)
Narita International airport (NRT) to Central Tokyo : 1.5 - 02 hrs
Haneda International airport (HND) to Central Tokyo: 50 minutes
| Day 02 | Tokyo 東京 |
Meet up with the guide this morning at the hotel and head towards Hamarikyu, a Japanese garden that once served as a private villa of a powerful feudal lord during the Edo period. Its wide collection of seasonal flowers makes it one of the most visited gardens in Tokyo, however another of its biggest attractions is its teahouse, Nakajima-no-Ochaya.
Have a break in the teahouse and enjoy a cup of freshly made green tea while the guide shares interesting facts about chado (tea ceremony).
From the park, embark on a scenic river cruise to Asakusa, a part of Tokyo’s shitamachi or old town. Asakusa is the city’s oldest Geisha district and also home to Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple. The streets around Senso-ji feature many traditional shops and are a delight to wander through.
The tour ends with a visit to Meiji Jingu, Tokyo’s most famous shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and a popular venue for traditional Shinto weddings. The shrine sits in the midst of around 120,000 trees, making it easy to forget that just outside its grounds are two of the city’s popular shopping districts, Harajuku and Omotesando.
Note: The order of this itinerary may change depending on the location of your hotel.
Overnight in Tokyo.
Tour start (guided tour) @ 0900 hrs
Tour duration: 08 hours
| Day 03 | Tokyo 東京– Optional Day Trip |
Today is a self-guided day.
Suggested Self-Guided Itinerary:
Spend the entire day exploring this amazing city. Visit the electronics district of Akihabara or discover some of Tokyo’s world-class museums and art galleries.
Alternatively, use the included Japan Rail Pass for a day trip outside Tokyo to one of the following destinations:
Kamakura 鎌倉
One of Japan’s former capitals, Kamakura is a delightful seaside town home to many ancient shrines, temples, and other structures like the Daibutsu, a giant bronze Buddha that stands at 13-meter tall.
Distance and journey time (approximation):
JR Tokyo Station to JR Kamakura Station: 50 min
Nikko 日光
Located north of Tokyo, Nikko is a city that lies in the mountainous area of Tochigi Prefecture well-known for its national park. Some of the popular places in the park include the Toshogu Shrine complex and the Tamozawa Imperial Villa.
Note: Toshogu Shrine is currently undergoing partial renovations.
Distance and journey time (approximation):
Tokyo Station to Nikko Station: 2 hOvernight in Tokyo.
| Day 04 | Tokyo~Hakone 東京 – 箱根 |
Today is a self-guided day.
Travel by train to Hakone, a popular hot spring destination from Tokyo frequented by most tourists who wish to get a sight of Mt. Fuji.
In Hakone, experience a stay in a ryokan, a classic Japanese-style inn furnished with futon beds, tatami flooring, paper sliding doors, and hot spring baths.
Enjoy a traditional multi-course meal for dinner, which usually includes small servings of sushi, sashimi, and tempura.
Overnight in Hakone.
Distance and journey time (approximation):
Tokyo Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station: 1 h
| Day 05 | Hakone 箱根 |
Today is a self-guided day.
Suggested Self-Guided Itinerary:
Option 1:
Spend the whole day exploring Hakone with the included transport pass, which serves as a ticket to the numerous forms of transportation in the area.
Ride the Hakone Tozan switchback train that zigzags through the mountains and offers views of the surrounding valleys. Afterwards, ride the Guinness World Record-holder ropeway all the way up to Mt. Owakudani, passing over sulfurous fumes and hot springs.
From the mountain, take the ropeway bound for Togendai and ride the replica pirate ship that cruises along Ashinoko, a body of water that was formed after a volcanic eruption that occurred more than 3,000 years ago.
Hakone is also home to many museums and parks. One of these is the Hakone Open Air Museum. The museum is famous for its harmonic balance between nature and art, featuring a sizable Picasso Collection.
Note: The ropeway that goes to Mt. Owakudani has resumed operations but for safety reasons, hiking on the mountain is still prohibited.
Option 2:
Begin by heading towards Togendai to board the aforementioned pirate ship, crossing the volcanically formed Ashinoko lake.
Disembark at Hakone-machi and walk towards Hakone Shrine, the most photographed spot in Hakone for its iconic “floating” torii gate. From the shrine, continue to trek along the Preserved Old Tokaido Walking Trail, of which the most popular track stretches around 8 km long. The next 40 minutes heads towards Amazake Chaya, a traditional house serving Japanese-style snacks accompanied by sweet rice wine (amazake).Overnight in Hakone.
| Day 06 | Hakone~ Kyoto 箱根 ~ 京都 |
Today is a self-guided day.
Take one last soak in the onsen before getting on the bullet train to Kyoto, the reigning cultural capital of Japan, home to 2,000 shrines and temples with 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The rest of the day is at leisure.
Suggested Self-Guided Itinerary:
Start exploring this magnificent city or take part in one of the many cultural experiences on offer such as cooking classes, tea ceremonies, and visits to sake breweries.
To end the evening in style, we can also arrange a Geisha performance in a traditional theater. Witness the arts and music that the Geishas have been passing on through generations.
Note: The cultural experiences and the Maiko performance need to be arranged in advance at an additional cost.Overnight in Kyoto
Distance and journey time (approximation):
Hakone-Yumoto Station to Kyoto Station: 2.5 h
| Day 07 | Kyoto 京都 |
Today’s tour starts with a visit to Nijo Castle, an ornamental castle that was originally built to serve as the private villa of a powerful feudal lord. The main building was completed in early 1600s and has since then been known for its Momoyama-style architecture, decorated sliding doors, and “chirping nightingale” floors.
Next on the list is the serene Ryoanji Temple, which is famous for its well-maintained rock garden and known to be the home of the Myoshinji School of the Rinzai Buddhist sect.
Just a short distance from Ryoan-ji is the stunning golden pavilion collectively known as Kinkaku-ji Temple. The temple grounds are relatively smaller than that of most temples and shrines in Kyoto, but what is undoubtedly impressive is the pavilion that is completely covered in handmade goldleaf.
A visit to Kiyomizu-dera Temple follows later in the day. The view from the 13-meter high building is indeed breathtaking and the fact that this veranda was built without using any nails or joiners is quite unbelievable.
The tour ends with a stroll along the busy streets of Higashiyama district, a collection of narrow alleyways lined with local stores, souvenir shops, small eateries, and even pottery centers.
Note: Kiyomizu-dera Temple is currently undergoing partial renovations.
Overnight in Kyoto
Time:
Start (guided tour): 09:00
Duration: 8 h
*including pick-up/drop-off and transit times
| Day 08 | Kyoto, Cultural Experience, Optional Afternoon trip to Nara 京都~奈良 |
This half-day tour offers a unique and unforgettable chance to learn about Japanese culture in a machiya, a traditional Kyoto-style wooden townhouse which has been beautifully restored. Head on a short tour of the house and learn a bit about its architecture before trying on a traditional kimono, the iconic Japanese garment.
While in the kimono, take part in a tea ceremony led by a tea master, a quintessential part of Japanese culture. This allows some unique insight into Japanese tea culture, from making the tea to the movements involved in serving it.
This cultural experience ends with a choice of two options:
Option A:
Walk through the old neighborhood and visit a nearby sake brewery with a chance to try the local brew.
Option B:
Take a short introduction to origami, the Japanese art of paper folding.
Note: In case the sake brewery is closed, an origami class will be arranged instead.
Suggested Self-Guided Itinerary:
In the afternoon, head out of town and travel to Nara with the included Japan Rail Pass. For 74 years during the 8th century, Nara was Japan’s capital and many of the temples and shrines built at that time still remain.
Nara is just a small town, with most of its main tourist spots located around Nara Park, where a large amount of tame deer roam free. Visit Todaiji Temple, the world’s largest wooden building housing Japan’s largest Buddha, or Kasuga Taisha, Nara’s most celebrated shrine.
Distance and journey time (approximation):
Kyoto Station to Nara Station: 45 min
Overnight in Kyoto
Time:
Start (cultural activity): 09:30
Duration: 2 h
| Day 09 | Kyoto~Osaka Departure 京都~大阪 departure |
The rest of the day is at leisure until the scheduled transfer via shared shuttle to Kansai International Airport.
Distance and journey time (approximation):
Central Kyoto to Kansai International Airport (KIX): 2 h
Have a nice holidays!
Remarks :
Every effort will be made to adhere to the planned itinerary. However, due to weather conditions and reasons beyond our control, changes to the itinerary might occur, for which the company accepts no responsibility.
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