DAY 1 Arrive Tokyo

Arrive at Tokyo International Airport and transfer to your city hotel either by airport limousine bus (Transfer time: 1200 pm - 0600pm). The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy independently, perhaps unwinding at your hotel or getting a taste of the city, which is home to around eight million people. 

DAY 2 Tokyo

Today, take the  sightseeing tour that showcases its highlights. Visit Meiji Shrine,  a shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. In the first days of the New Year, the shrine regularly welcomes more than three million visitors for the year's first prayers (hatsumode), more than any other shrine or temple in the country. Stoll at the Tsukiji Outer Market. After lunch, continue to fashionable Ginza, Tokyo’s best-known shopping, dining and entertainment hub. Visit Nakamise Street, an avenue of stalls leading to the Senso-Ji Temple. Peruse the stalls’ souvenirs and snacks, and marvel at the elaborate Buddhist temple, Tokyo’s oldest. Admire the Imperial Palace Plaza, a clutch of gardens and palaces that are home to Japan’s royal family .  This evening, enjoy the Sukiyaki dinner at a local restaurant before heading back to the hotel. 
If you wish, prepare one piece of check-in luggage for our complimentary optional luggage transfer service, which will free you from carrying luggage on and off the train and deliver your luggage directly to your Kyoto hotel upon your arrival. There will be a cost for the 2nd piece if you want to use the transfer service.

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3 Tokyo - Mt Fuji - Hakone - Tokyo

Leave Tokyo by coach and travel to Hakone, a picturesque region of hills, forests and lakes spread below Mt Fuji, Japan’s most sacred peak. Take a drive up to Fuji’s 5th station (weather permitting), situated 7,555 feet above sea level, and behold the scintillating views before riding the Hakone ropeway cable car over the beautiful Lake Ashi area. Enjoy a scenic cruise on Lake Ashi and a break for a Japanese-style lunch, before returning to Tokyo. Enjoy this evening at leisure after dinner and look forward to experiencing the bullet train to Kyoto tomorrow.
 

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4 Tokyo - Bullet Train - Kyoto

Today, step aboard Japan’s famous bullet or ‘Shinkansen’ train for your journey to Kyoto, Japan’s ancient imperial capital famed for its historic temples and rock gardens. Settle on the high-speed train at Tokyo station and race through the countryside at up to 200mph, enjoying views of snow-capped Mt Fuji en route (weather permitting). In the afternoon visit Kyoto's UNESCO-protected gems: the 17th century Nijo Castle, once a residence of Tokugawa shoguns, and the splendid Kinkaku-ji aka the Golden Pavilion. Tonight enjoy the Japanese Shabu Shabu hot pot for dinner.

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Dinner

DAY 5 Kyoto

Kiyomizu Temple, or "Pure Water Temple" is one of the most celebrated temples in Japan. Kiyomizudera is best known for its wooden stage that juts out from its main hall, 13 meters above the hillside below. The stage affords visitors a nice view of the numerous cherry and maple trees below that erupt in a sea of color in spring and fall, as well as of the city of Kyoto in the distance. The main hall, which together with the stage was built without the use of nails. After lunch, proceed to the Sagano Bamboo Forest and Arashiyama District & Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine. People come to the shrine to pray for bountiful harvests, business prosperity and fulfillment of all kinds of other wishes. Vermillion red torii gateways are a famous feature of Inari Shrines and the color evokes a strong sense of spirituality for Japanese people.

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch

DAY 6 Kyoto - Nara - Osaka

A full-day excursion to historical Nara, a former capital of Japan, today. Cradled by wooded hills, this attractive ancient city boasts eight UNESCO World Heritage sites. Visit the famous Todaiji Temple, to see the world’s biggest bronze statue of Buddha, and drink in the scenic charms of Nara Park, best-known for the many wild Sika deer that roam its landscapes. Other highlights include the Kasuga Taisha shrine, a Shinto shrine with origins in the 8th century and famous for its bronze and stone lanterns. After lunch at a local restaurant, proceed to Osaka, Japan’s second biggest city for a 2 nights stay. Tonight visit the Kuromon Ichiba Market, a foodie haunt with over 150 enticing culinary stalls and Shinsaibashi, a shopping district nicknamed the ‘Champs-Elysees of the East’ for its unique stores. Cap your day with a succulent Kobe beef dinner at a local restaurant in Osaka.

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7 Osaka

This morning, tick through Osaka’s main sights, visiting the Floating Garden Observatory at the Umeda Sky Building. Marvel at the 360-degree views from this open-air observatory that extends between two skyscrapers. Osaka Castle Tower houses an informative museum about the castle's history and Toyotomi Hideyoshi and from the top enjoy a panoramic view of Osaka Castle park and the city. Free at leisure in the afternoon for last minute shopping.

Included: Breakfast at hotel

DAY 8 Osaka - USA

After breakfast, use the airport limousine bus for transfer to the airport (The limousine bus tickets are good for flights departing between 12 pm - 0600pm only).

Included: Breakfast at hotel