Japan Panorama in Depth

Arrival Note: Welcome to take our Japan private tour, which can be tailored for you! When you arrive at the Narita Airport or the Haneda Airport of Tokyo, we will arrange a pick-up service from the airport to your hotel. Our English-speaking assistant will greet you and guide you to a shared shuttle, where you will ride with other passengers but right to your hotel. Check into the hotel handpicked for you, and then you're free to enjoy the rest of the day and recover from the fatigue of the long flight.

Accommodation: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ginza Premier (4 stars) in Tokyo

After breakfast at the hotel, our guide will pick you up from the lobby and accompany you to visit the top attractions of downtown Tokyo, using the convenient public transport system. First, we’ll visit the Meiji Jingu Shrine, an important Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji. Surrounded by a dense forest, the shrine is the largest green space in the city. Here, you might encounter a traditional Japanese wedding. Next, head to the Imperial Palace, the residence of the Emperor of Japan, to visit the Kokyo Gaien National Garden, the large East Gardens, and the most photogenic Nijubashi Bridge.

Explore Asakusa & Senso-ji Temple
Around noon, follow the guide to explore the buzzy Asakusa area. Let’s enter from the Kaminarimon Gate and walk down the Nakamise Shopping Street, which is lined with snack stalls and souvenir shops selling kimonos and folding fans. Here you can spend some time delving into the local life and try the delicious Japanese snacks for lunch at your own expense. There are a lot of choices like Dango (dumplings), Croquettes, Monjayaki, and Taiyaki (fish-shaped waffles).

The guide will then take you to visit the Senso-ji Temple at the end of the Nakamise Street. This is Tokyo’s oldest temple and a must-see. Here, you can draw an Omikuji slip and pray for good luck. After appreciating the quaint architecture, you can try a short ride of the distinctive local rickshaw or rent a kimono at your own expense to take photos if you like. Put on an elaborate kimono and a classic headdress, walk down the Nakamise Street, and you’ll feel like you’re stepping into their history and culture.

★ Bonus: Sumida River Cruise
Finally, the guide will escort you to the Asakusa Pier for a Sumida River Cruise which allows you to know Tokyo as a city of water. The guide will give you the tickets and leave here. Please board the ship by yourself and enjoy the gorgeous scenery along the way. During the 50-minute journey from Asakusa to Odaiba, you’ll see the essence along the waterway of central Tokyo, including the Skytree, Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Bay, and various bridges like Kiyosu Bridge, Chuo-Ohashi Bridge, and Rainbow Bridge.

Once ashore, you can enjoy the scenery around Odaiba before returning to your hotel. A taxi to your hotel takes 12 minutes and costs USD 22, while the rail transit takes 33 minutes and costs USD 4. From Odaiba-kaihinkoen Station, take the Yurikamome Line for 14 minutes (5 stops) to Shimbashi Station, walk 5 minutes south to transfer to the Asakusa Line, ride for another 2 minutes (non-stop) to Higashi-ginza Station, and walk 5 minutes north to the hotel. 

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ginza Premier (4 stars) in Tokyo

Meet our guide at the hotel lobby, and then we’ll get to the Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal to take an express bus for 2 hours to the Lake Kawaguchi, right at the foot of Mt. Fuji.

★ Unique Service: Adjustable Date to Visit Mt. Fuji
Due to its rainy or overcast weather, the Mt. Fuji can be seen only 80 days a year. Book with us to solve this concern. We are the only Japan tour operator that offers a date change service that allows you to visit the Mt. Fuji on any of the days you stay in Tokyo, depending on the weather conditions, setting aside the best weather possible for the big day. See ‘Comparison with Other Sellers’ at the bottom, or contact us for details.

★ Lake Kawaguchi Cruise & Fuji Panoramic Ropeway
Mount Fuji is the symbol of Japan and worth a visit. Distant view or close-up tour, which one? We won’t leave you with a hard choice. Both will be arranged! Unlike some other tour operators who only offer views near the mountain foot, our guide will take you on a lakeside walk to discover the best places to take photos. We will provide you with not only a relaxing lake cruise to get a close-up view from various angles, but also the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway which takes you up to the observatory of the Kawaguchiko Tenjozan Park, and allows you a high viewpoint to enjoy the vistas of the lake and the mountain silhouetted against each other. Be prepared for the fact that Mt. Fuji is often shrouded in clouds due to the abundant moisture nearby, earning it the reputation of the ‘shy maiden’, and you may only be able to see a corner of it. If you see all of the Mt. Fuji on a clear day, you would be in luck for a whole year!

► Tip: Next to the viewing platform is a Tanuki Jaya Ship and a small Rabbit Shrine, while the path leading up the hill is decorated with lovely rabbits and tanukis. You can hike part of it if you like.

Completing the visit, our guide will escort you to return by express bus to Tokyo for the night.

► Recommended Food at Mt. Fuji:
Hoto Fudo, a popular restaurant on Instagram, is highly recommended. Try its signature dishes like Hoto Noodles, a traditional cuisine only found in the Fuji Lakes area. Take a mouthful of noodles with a special spice and a sip of miso soup made with fresh ingredients, and you'll be immensely satisfied.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ginza Premier (4 stars) in Tokyo

Today, you will leave the metropolis of Tokyo and travel to Takayama. We will book the train tickets for you in advance and our guide will explain everything you need to know about the train travel.

In the morning, please check out, leave 30 minutes before the train departure time, and make your way to Tokyo Station. Take a taxi to get there in 5 minutes or walk 10 minutes northwest to the station. Follow the signs to find the platform of the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen and wait to board the train.

You will first enjoy an impressive super-speed experience for the next 1.5 hours to Nagoya. Upon arrival, follow the signs to walk 2 minutes to find the platform for Hida Line, and take the express train for 2.5 hours to Takayama. Our guide will meet you at the train station as you walk out of the arrival hall.

Visit Takayama Landmarks & Monuments
The guide will take you to the hotel to drop off your luggage and then we’ll visit the Sanmachi Suji District in the Takayama Old Town. The quaint neighborhood of Furui Machinami Old Street preserves a primitive scene of the Edo Period (1603 – 1868 AD) and the roads are lined with traditional wooden houses, restaurants, cafes, and sake breweries. We will visit the Nakabashi Bridge, Takayama Jinya (Old Governor's House), and Takayama Showa Kan Museum. The final stop will be the Hida Kokubunji Temple, which features lucky Sarubobo dolls blessing a perfect couple or marriage, as well as good children. In the evening, the guide will accompany you back to the hotel.

► Dinner Recommendation: Try Best Hida Beef in Takayama
The restaurant Shikinogochiso Mitsuiwa featuring best Hida beef is worth trying. Hida Beef is a highly regarded brand of wagyu beef in Gifu region of central Japan. Here, you could taste the local food like the finest quality beef, with perfect marbling, bright color, tender texture and fresh aroma. Enjoy the distinctive smooth and slightly sweet taste.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Takayama Green Hotel (4 stars)

Isolated Mountain Village Shirakawa-go:
After breakfast, our guide will pick you up from the hotel lobby for a bus ride to Shirakawa-go. In about 1 hour, we will arrive at this fairy-tale village surrounded by mountains and rice paddies. Best known for its traditional farmhouses in a building style known as gassho-zukuri, Shirakawa-go was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Visit the Wada House to learn about the utensils and lifestyle of the villagers in the past. Climb up to the Ogimachi Castle Observation Deck and look down on the entire village, and you will be amazed by its quietness and peace, especially in winter. Every January and February, there is a lighting ceremony, when the 100 or so lit thatched huts are covered in deep snow, creating a scene you might have seen in landscape shots.

Trip to Kanazawa:
Around noon, we’ll take a 1.5-hour bus ride to Kanazawa. Upon arrival, our guide will take you to the hotel to check in, and then accompany you to the Kenroku-en Garden, which is also known as the Six Attributes Garden, because it meets the 6 essentials of a perfect garden proposed by China’s Song Dynasty poet Li Gefei (1045 – 1105 AD) - spaciousness, tranquility, human ingenuity, antiquity, waterscape, and vista. Take a leisurely walk with our guide in this typical wraparound garden centered on a pond, and admire the exquisite pavilions. From here, we can walk all the way to the Kanazawa Castle Park for a visit, and later have time spent at the Higashichaya Old Town (geisha district) and Nagamachi Samurai District, both of which are steeped in history and culture. Finally, return to the hotel with our guide.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: ANA Crowne Plaza Kanazawa (4 stars)

We will reserve the train tickets to Kyoto for you in advance. Please check out and walk 4 minutes north to Kanazawa Station, where you will take the express train Thunderbird for 2.5 hours to Kyoto. Upon arrival, our local guide will meet you at the Kyoto Station and show you to your hotel.

★ Walking Tour of Gion Geisha District:
In the afternoon, we’ll explore Gion, a famous geisha district. First, visit the Pure Water Temple (Kiyomizu-dera Temple), one of the most popular temples in all of Japan. Perched on a wooded hill, it allows you to overlook the roofs and skyline of the old city from its wooden veranda. Stepping out of the temple, we’ll wander through the Higashiyama historic district, where the narrow alleys, wooden buildings and traditional shops would evoke the familiar feel of a typical ancient Japanese capital. Stroll from Sannenzaka to Ninenzaka, two flagstone paths, you would be amazed by the delicate specialty shops. The ramp of Sannenzaka is very steep. Pay special attention to your steps, as it is said that a fall here will result in three years of bad luck; however, don't worry, and just find a shop that sells calabash to break the spell. Pass by the Hanamikoji Street lined with tea houses, and you might happen to see a geisha walking by in a kimono and elaborate makeup. Next, we’ll visit the time-honored Yasaka Shrine, which is charming when the lights are turned on in the evening.

★ Highlight of Kyoto: Tea Ceremony with Maiko
Our guide will finally lead you to a popular teahouse in Gion area. The guide will leave here, allowing you one hour to see a wonderful tea ceremony with stunning maiko performance. You can watch the show and talk with the maikos to know their coming-of-age stories. Try the delicious dried sweets and matcha green tea. You can also make your own matcha with the help of a maiko. When saying goodbye, the maiko will give you a Senjafuda as a gift, which is her business card. Afterwards, take in the lively night view of Gion before taking a taxi on your own expense for 10 minutes to the hotel.

Fun Facts: Love and Marriage of Geishas
Trained from a young age, the maikos and geishas show the artistic charm of traditional Japanese women with every twinkle and smile and they are highly sought after. Some people may think geishas look beautiful on the surface, but in fact, most of them are lonely. Because of their special status, they are often misunderstood and even looked down upon by some customers. While in the profession, they cannot marry because they need to maintain a ‘pure’ image. If a geisha is found to have a boyfriend or a secret marriage, there is a very high fine. Geishas are required to work until the age of 30 before ‘retirement’. They can continue to work if they want to, but have to lower their rank and only serve as a foil to the younger geishas. For those retired geishas, a few are lucky to marry a rich man and live a secure and prosperous life, but the odds are very low, while many will become servants or courtesans and never marry.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Rigah Royal Kyoto (4 stars)

After breakfast, our private guide will meet you at the hotel lobby. We’ll see the famous sights of Kyoto, a former capital city offering unique cultural experiences and scenic trails. The Temple of the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji Temple), a fascinating Buddhist monument covered in dazzling gold leaf against a backdrop of lush green forest, is the perfect place to start a Kyoto trip. Our next stop will be the Nijo Castle, a World Heritage site. Built by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603 and surrounded by stone walls and moats, it retains the painting, sculpture and architecture art of the Momoyama Period (1573 – 1603 AD), and is the premier sakura viewing spot in Kyoto. Later, follow the guide to visit the Nishiki Market, a 400-year-old market full of stalls offering a wide variety of Japanese snacks, including Dango (dumplings), Matcha icecream, Tempura, and Croquette.

In the afternoon, we will head to the Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto’s most iconic Shinto shrine. The guide will take you on an interesting climb up the mountain, through hundreds of vermilion tori gates. Next, visit the Sanjusangendo Temple, a Buddhist site boasting the longest wooden building in the world and an amazing group of Kannon statues. The statue of the thousand-armed Goddess of Mercy in the main hall is regarded as a national treasure of Japan, but please note that no photography is allowed inside the main hall. Later, the guide will show you around the Pontocho Alley, one of Kyoto’s busiest old streets, which runs parallel to the Kamo River and is lined with izakaya houses, bars and restaurants. Finally, follow the guide back to the hotel, or you can enjoy dinner and nightlife here, and easily take a taxi back to the hotel by yourself. It would be a nice experience to watch the sunset while eating at a riverside restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Rigah Royal Kyoto (4 stars)

Our guide will help you check out after breakfast. Store your luggage in the Kyoto Station and then take a train to Nara with the guide. Arrive in 40 minutes, and we’ll see the best of Nara. On our way to the Nara Park, we will first visit the Kofuku-ji Temple.

★ Special Experience of Feeding Deer in Nara Park
Once the capital of Japan, Nara is synonymous with the adorable free-roaming deer that fill Nara Park. When visiting the park, you can buy some crackers and feed them there, and the tame deer will bow to you! Most of the time, these deer are docile, but they can be cranky. Avoid areas where the deer congregate or you’ll risk being attacked. They may bite your clothes, belongings, or even your hands, and this is no joke.

Follow our guide along the lantern-lined path to the Kasuga Taisha, the most sacred shrine in Nara, to explore its secluded layout and stately architecture. Go through the Nara Park and pass the Nandai-mon, the Great South Gate of Todai-ji. We’ll stop for a while to photograph the imposing exterior of the Great Eastern Temple (Todai-ji Temple).

Around noon, you can taste the delicious local food for lunch at your own expense. Our guide would be willing to give you some advice. The Kakinoha-zushi (persimmon leaf sushi), Narazuke pickles, Miwa Somen, Chagayu (tea porridge) and Yoshino kudzu dishes are all worth trying.

After lunch, embark on a walking tour of Naramachi. Follow our guide who knows well the local alleyways to enter the less-visited residential area of the Nara aboriginals. Pay a visit to the Naramachi Koshinoie (Grid House), an exact replica of a traditional Nara machiya townhouse where you can see how people lived during the Edo Period (1603 – 1867 AD). The house is narrow and deep because the local land tax used to be based on the width of the house. Take pictures in the room and check out the lovely private garden to complete today’s tour.

Finally, the guide will accompany you to the Kintetsu-Nara Station to take a 40-minute train back to Kyoto Station, where you need to retrieve your luggage, and then take a bullet train by yourself for 1 hour and 40 minutes to Hiroshima, with the tickets booked by us. Upon arrival, walk 5 minutes northwest to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Hiroshima-ekimae (4 stars)

In the morning, our Hiroshima guide will greet you in the hotel lobby. We’ll start by a boat trip to the idyllic Miyajima Island, home to the splendid World Heritage site Itsukushima Shrine. It is probably the most special Shinto shrine in Japan, known for its eye-catching ‘floating’ red torii gate.

★ Special Visit to Hiroshima Bombing Site:
In the afternoon, our guide will lead you to visit the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum, where you can view many real photographs and ruins recording the fearsome scenes and impact on people’s lives after the city was devastated by the atomic bombing during World War II. These shocking records would remind people of the importance of cherishing peace.

► Recommended Hiroshima Food for Your Reference:
When in Hiroshima, you are suggested to try its signature Hiroshimayaki, a version of traditional Japanese okonomiyaki, at the famous restaurant Nagataya. Here, you can watch how the Hiroshimayaki is made in front of you, and that’s the exciting part. The chef sears the batter, vegetables and meat on an iron plate, adds a generous amount of stir-fried noodles, and then puts an egg on top of the mountain of ingredients, turns them over until the egg gets golden brown. Finally, the chef sprinkles it with chopped green onion and fish, and a delicious Hiroshimayaki is ready for you!

Late in the afternoon, the guide will take you to Hiroshima Station for a train to Osaka (train tickets reserved and included). Take the 1.5-hour bullet train ride by yourself, and then make your way to the hotel. From the Shin-Osaka Station, take Midosuji Line for 16 minutes (7 stops) to Namba Station, and then walk 5 minutes east to your hotel; or you can take a taxi there in 25 minutes at a cost of USD 30.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Namba Oriental Hotel (4 stars) in Osaka

In the morning, pack up and store your luggage at the hotel, and our guide will be ready waiting for you at the hotel lobby. We’ll first visit the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living to get a glimpse of how the local people lived in the past, through its extensive collection of models and replicas of traditional architecture from the Edo Period of the 17th to 19th centuries. Next, our guide, well versed in Japanese history and culture, will show you the 450-year-old Osaka Castle (outside) and the park that surrounds it. The towering classical architecture, with its green tiles and white walls visible from a distance, is the Main Tower of the castle, an irreplaceable symbol of Osaka.

★ Special Visit to Kuromon Market
Around noon, we will arrange a special stop for you to visit the 190-year-old Kuromon Market (close on Sunday), known as ‘Osaka’s Kitchen’ and a must-see for foodies. Here, you can see the real local life scenes, with a variety of seafood shops, and a steady stream of tourists and locals. Here you can find the most distinctive local food like Takoyaki or Osakayaki, a kind of pancake made from shredded cabbage and loaded with a variety of toppings.

In the afternoon, the guide will lead you to visit Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori, Osaka’s most popular commercial areas. Later, we’ll spend some time in the Shitennoji Temple. This ancient temple, built in 593, will give you a heavy sense of history. The less frequented grounds offer you a secluded atmosphere in the midst of a bustling metropolis. If time permits, we’ll walk to the nearby Tsutenkaku to take photos of this landmark tower.

Meals: Breakfast

► End of Service: You are suggested to book an evening flight leaving Osaka. Our guide will accompany you back to the hotel to collect your luggage and this is the end of our service. Please make your own way to the airport for your flight home. Please contact our travel consultants if you need to customize or extend this trip.

Transportation to Osaka Airport for Your Reference:
From Namba Oriental Hotel, a taxi to the airport takes 45 minutes and costs USD 130. The rail transit takes 50 minutes and costs USD 7 per person. Walk 6 minutes south to Namba Station to take the Nankai Line for 44 minutes to the airport.