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Kyoto, Koya-san and more on a cultural crusade

Steeped in centuries of tradition and full of culinary prowess, Japan is awash with sights to see and histories to uncover. From Kyoto to Tokyo, spend 12 days exploring the heart of Japan, with memories of the Edo era, sobering warfare sites, lush natural landscapes and eclectic neighbourhoods to discover. Be tempted by tempura, savour your sushi and sip some sochu as you discover the endless variety and diversity of Japan with your small group, all headed by a local leader who knows all of the best places to go. What’s stopping you embarking on a cultural escapade to the home of geisha, torii, sake and nori?

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Terms & Conditions
Start
Kyoto, Japan
Finish
Tokyo, Japan
Destination
Japan
Style
Comfort
Theme
Explorer
Code
CJKJ
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Surrounded in tranquil scenery, an overnight Buddhist temple stay in Koya-san is as peaceful and unique as it sounds. It’s the perfect place to stop and explore between Kyoto and Hiroshima.

  • With three nights spent in Tokyo, you’ll cover the top sights with your small group and have free time to see at your own pace. With so much to do, you have the power to decide in Japan’s capital.

  • A visit to the Hiroshima Peace Park is a sobering but important experience for understanding the tragedies of Japan’s not so distant past – do so with the local knowledge of your leader to show you the way.

  • Spend a memorable night with an included dinner in a traditional Japanese ryokan in tiny Tsumago – one of the best-preserved Edo-era towns along the ancient Nakesendo Highway.

  • Be impressed by the efficiency and ultra-modernity as you zip from city to town with your included 7-day Japan Rail Pass, including the Shinkansen. Travel has never been so easy!

Is this trip right for you?

  • Japan is best to explore on foot. In fact, most travellers are surprised at how much distance they end up covering just exploring places on foot! Make sure your shoes are comfy and you are fit enough to spend most of each day on your feet.

  • In some destinations you may be staying in a ryokan, which is a Japanese-style inn. It’s a great taste of tradition, however not everyone finds futon mattresses on the tatami mat floor, tiny bathrooms and proximity to other guests as comfortable as more western-style hotels and beds. This is an important thing to consider if you have problems with your back or knees, as the surface is really firm and there may be no other furniture (eg chairs) in the room. Read more about ryokans here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/traditional-japanese-ryokan/

  • Be prepared to pack light and smart for this trip as you'll be required to carry your own luggage between train stations and to hotels, which can include going up and down multiple flights of stairs in crowded areas. At some destinations, larger luggage will be forwarded on ahead of you, so it'll be easier to get around if you have a smaller overnight/day pack.

  • Renovation works on Miyajima's famous floating torii gate started in June 2019. During the renovation works, the torii gate is covered up under a partially transparent scaffolding. Furthermore, a bridge is being built on the left side of the gate (when viewed from the shrine) to aid the renovation works. A date for the completion of the renovation works has not been set yet, but the works are expected to take at least one year.

japan kyoto golden temple
japan tokyo koenji dancers
apan kyoto fushimi inaru shrine
japan man eating noodles
japan hot spring onsen foot bath steam
japan tokyo harajuku girl
Tokyo Japan

Itinerary
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Konnichiwa! Welcome to Kyoto, Japan. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm today. If you have some free time, step out onto the streets for your first taste of this beautiful city. Originally founded as Heian-kyo (literally 'tranquillity and peace capital') by Emperor Kammu in AD794, Kyoto had its golden age during the imperial court's heyday from 794 to 1185. Kyoto was the capital of Japan for over 1000 years (the name means 'Capital City') but the emperor and government are now located in Tokyo. After the meeting tonight, perhaps head out for your first taste of traditional Japanese food. As the millennium-long home of the imperial kitchen, Kyoto is known as the centre of Japanese culinary tradition, so you’re sure to begin this trip with a delicious meal.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

You’ll begin the day with a visit to some of Kyoto’s more important sights. Visit the opulent Nijo Castle – home to the Tokugawa Shoguns who had power over the country during the Edo period. Check out the ‘nightingale floors’ of Ninomaru Palace, which squeak to warn of intruders (like otherwise-silent ninjas). From the Castle, it’s a short bus ride to Ryoan-ji – perhaps Japan’s most famous Zen garden – where carefully placed rocks sit in an immaculately raked sea of gravel. Located also nearby is the extravagantly decorated Kinkakuji Temple, immortalised in Yukio Mishima’s novel 'The Golden Pavilion'. This evening, take a step back in time on a walk through the narrow streets of Kyoto's charming Gion district, an entertainment district that’s the centre of geisha culture, coming alive at night. If you’re lucky you might spot geikos (geishas) or maikos (apprentice geishas) with their elaborate dress and make up. If you’ve got the budget, perhaps attend a tea ceremony at one of the district's teahouses, or splash out on a kaiseki meal in a ryotei (small restaurants serving traditional multi-course cuisine).
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kyoto - Ryoanji Zen Garden
  • Kyoto - Nijo Castle
  • Kyoto - Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
  • Kyoto - Gion District walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Today is a full free day and there’s so much for you to explore. With its many cultural landmarks and historical sites, and the abundance of traditional arts and literature, Kyoto is regarded as the cultural heart of Japan. Kyoto is also a city that lends itself to walking, and there are a number of paths available. Recommended is a gentle stroll through the nearby eastern hills along the ‘Path of Philosophy’ that links Ginkaku-ji – the Temple of the Silver Pavilion – with Nanzen-ji Temple. This walk can be extended south through well-preserved ‘old town’ areas to Kiyamizu-dera (Temple of Clear Water) from where there is an acclaimed view across a wooded gorge toward Kyoto. Also recommended, for those visiting in spring, is a visit to the theatre for a presentation of Miyako Odori (the Cherry Blossom Dance) performed by elaborately dressed maiko (apprentice geisha). Close to Kyoto station, you'll also find the architecturally impressive Higashi Honganji temple and the almost surreal Sanjusangendo, home to 1001 statues of Kannon. In the late afternoon you might like to return to the Kawaramachi or Shijo Dori area of central Kyoto to browse the shops or enjoy dinner in one of the many restaurants that occupy this exciting area.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Kyoto - Cooking Class - JPY6000
  • Kyoto - Bike hire (per day) - JPY800
  • Kyoto - Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) - JPY500
  • Kyoto - Nanzenji Temple - Free
  • Kyoto - Kiyomizu-dera - JPY400
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Spot the 120 temples dotted around Koya-san as you take the train (approximately 4.5 hours) into an important region for Shingon Buddhism. Founded in the eighth century by the Buddhist saint Kobo Daishi, Koya-san has been a centre for religious activities for over 1200 years. The last leg of the journey takes you through some of Japan’s finest scenery, on a mountain road rising through the clouds, 915 metres above sea-level. The most impressive sight on Mount Koya is the massive and mysterious Okunoin cemetery, the resting place of many of Japan's most famous people. Some 200,000 stone statues, wooden totems and sometimes bizarre memorials (a rocket marks the site of a mausoleum interring the workers of an aerospace company) lie throughout this moss-laden forest. After visiting the more interesting of the mountain’s sights, make your way to the comfortable Shukubo Temple Lodging for the night. Here you might interact with some of the monks that run the lodgings, learn about the customs of traditional Japanese accommodation and enjoy some monastic vegetarian cuisine.
Accommodation
  • Temple Stay (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Koya-san - Okunoin Cemetery
Optional Activities
  • Koya-san - Kongobu-ji Temple - JPY500
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
As you travel on public transport for the next few days, we'll forward your big luggage to Hiroshima while you take a smaller bag with you to Koya-san. One piece of luggage is included in our luggage forwarding service. If you have extra luggage you'd like to be forwarded from Kyoto to Hiroshima, the cost will be about JPY 1800-2300, depending on the size. Your Leader will be able to advise the exact amount whilst on your trip.

Return by cable railway to Gokurakubashi and make your way to Osaka (approximately 2.5 hours) to board your first bullet train, heading to Hiroshima (approximately 2.5 hours). Travelling by shinkansen is an absolute buzz, as you’ll reach speeds of up to 270 kilometres per hour. As you speed south, stop en route (after approximately 1.5 hours) and pay a visit to Japan’s most impressive samurai castle at Himeji. The building, which has survived earthquakes and war since the mid-16th century, was restored to its full glory in 2015. The moats, baileys, towers and walled alleyways were ingeniously designed to trick attackers – perhaps so intimidatingly that they were never in fact tested. Explore the castle that was once home to over 10,000 samurai families and look out over the grounds and the city below from the seventh floor. Continue on to Hiroshima – the city indelibly connected with World War II and atomic warfare.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Himeji - Himeji Castle
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

This morning you’ll visit the Genbaku (A-Bomb) Dome and the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, both of which stand testament to the fateful day in August 1945 when Hiroshima was chosen as target for the first ever wartime use of the atomic bomb. The dome was just metres from where the bomb detonated so it was able to retain its shape; the fact that it looks almost exactly as it did after the bombing means it serves as a reminder and symbol of peace. The memorial park serves the same purpose, and has museums, memorials and monuments dedicated to the memory of victims, education on what lead to the bomb’s use, as well as advocating world peace. In the afternoon you will head for the serene, enchanting island of Miyajima, reached after a short ferry ride (30 kilometres) across the Inland Sea. The island is home to the venerable Shinto shrine of Itsukushima, famous for its huge bright orange gate (torii) that rises majestically out of the sea. At high tide it is considered to be one of the most beautiful sights in Japan. The size and physical landscape of Miyajima makes it an ideal place for walking. There is the lovely Momiji Park (known as Maple Valley), from where it is possible to walk or take a cable car up to the top of Mt Misen. Return to Hiroshima for the night and maybe try one of the city’s signature dishes for dinner, okonomiyaki – a kind savoury pancake of egg, cabbage, soba noodles, and meat or seafood.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Hiroshima - Peace Park & A - Bomb Dome
  • Hiroshima - Peace Museum
  • Hiroshima - Miyajima Island
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Board a bullet train to Nagoya (approximately 3 hours) where you will then change to an express train and continue north to the mountainous centre of Japan (approximately 75 minutes). You’ll spend a memorable night in a ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn) near the medieval village of Tsumago. Once a post town (where travellers could rest on their journey around the country) during the days of the Shogun, Tsumago is the best preserved of the many staging posts along the Edo period Nakasendo Highway. The highway once connected Tokyo with Kyoto and was immortalised in the famous woodblock prints of Hiroshige. Cars are prohibited in the main street and cables run underground in order to maintain the medieval atmosphere of the town. You’ll have the opportunity to walk along a short section of the old Nakasendo Highway, walking from the post town of Magome along the highway to our accommodation at Tsumago enjoying some great views across the valley along the way. In tonight’s ryokan, rooms are equipped with thin futon mattresses that are spread on tatami mats for a comfortable night's sleep. Tonight you’ll enjoy a traditional dinner cooked in the ryokan.
Accommodation
  • Ryokan (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Tsumago - Nakasendo Walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

This morning you’ll have time to explore Tsumago, where you can wander the ruins of the castle and browse the local shops. You’ll then board a train and continue north to the picturesque castle town of Matsumoto (approximately 2 hours). Matsumoto’s atmosphere is surprisingly cosmopolitan, while maintaining its historic charm and traditional streetscapes. This afternoon you will stroll through the former merchant district of Nakamachi, lined with well preserved old buildings, where you can find local crafts, treasures and great restaurants. You’ll also have the option of visiting the city’s most famous site, the Matsumoto Castle, formerly known as Fukashi Castle. The regal-looking building has an elegant black roof and walls, and is sometimes nicknamed Crow Castle due to its resemblance to the bird spreading its wings. As the oldest original castle in the country (begun in 1592), it’s also one of Japan’s four castles listed as national treasures. You’ll spend the evening here in Matsumoto. Perhaps try the local soba noodles (some of the best in the country) and be sure to get some wasabi-based treats – the pristine waters from the alps make it grow particularly well here.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Matsumoto - walking tour
Optional Activities
  • Matsumoto - Matsumoto Castle - JPY610
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

In the morning, make your way by express train (approximately 3 hours) to Japan’s amazing capital – Tokyo – and to the hotel where you’ll be based for the next few days. Bursting with contemporary urban culture, there are many sides of Tokyo to explore: fascinating museums, world-class shopping, bustling energy and futuristic architecture, as well as a gentler side of neighbourhood backstreets where citizens often reveal themselves – particularly outside of working hours – to be some of the friendliest of any capital city in the world. There are many vestiges of the past, with historic temples and shrines still to be found in some of the most unexpected places, as well as an abundance of parks and gardens – particularly exquisite in spring when the cherry trees and azaleas are in bloom. After you arrive, you have free time to explore – perhaps visit the expansive grounds and moat surrounding the Imperial Palace, then enjoy the myriad food options for dinner.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Today you’ll undertake a varied, full-day tour of the city, beginning in the historic Asakusa area. This is one of the older and more traditional parts of Tokyo, and is often called the temple district. Here you’ll stop by Senso-ji, the city’s oldest temple – founded almost 1400 years ago when Tokyo was nothing more than a fishing village. Browse the many interesting stalls – filled with tasty treats, crafts and souvenirs – that line the shopping street of Nakamise dori. After lunch you’ll enjoy an alternative view of Tokyo as you relax on a short cruise down the Sumida River. You’ll pass significant buildings like the Sky Tree Tower, Asahi Beer Hall with its distinctive roof-top sculpture, the Sumo Stadium and the former Tsukiji Fish Market complex, gliding under bridges that bisect the river before alighting at the delightful urban oasis of the Hama Rikyu gardens. Here you’ll have time to stroll along paths that were once the sole preserve of the Shogun, who would hunt ducks here in the feudal era. Later you can make your way to the luxurious shopping district of Ginza where, depending on the theatre schedule, you may have the chance to see a short performance of Kabuki, one of Japan’s more spectacular performing arts, or visit the food depachika basement floor of a department store to see the huge range of produce exquisitely displayed.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Tokyo - Sensoji Temple
  • Tokyo - Sumida River Cruise
  • Tokyo - Hama Rikyu Garden
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Today’s a free day to explore this pulsating city, where there’s almost an endless amount of things to see and do. In Shinjuku, the city’s highest skyscrapers offer panoramic views, and on clear days you can see Mount Fuji. Districts in the east are magnets for the city’s breathtakingly trendy youth – see the crowds at Shibuya Crossing, the cos-play tribes in Harajuku, as well as the important Meiji Jingu Shrine, dedicated to its 19th-century emperor. Take in history and marvel at ancient treasures at the National Museum in Ueno. Another great museum, which gives insight into old time Tokyo, is the Edo-Tokyo Museum in Ryogoku. Spend some time in the city’s green spaces like Yoyogi and Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, browse high-end shops in Ginza, experience the theatre of a sumo bout, or create your own entertainment with some karaoke. This evening, you’ll join your group for an optional dinner as you say sayonara to Tokyo.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Tokyo - Samurai Sword Museum - JPY600
  • Tokyo - Studio Ghibli Museum (advance bookings required) - JPY1000
  • Tokyo - Imperial Palace - Free
  • Tokyo - Shinjuku-gyoen - JPY200
  • Tokyo - Meiji Jingu Shrine - Free
  • Tokyo - Edo-Tokyo Museum - JPY600
  • Tokyo - Tokyo National Museum - JPY1000
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Your Classic Japan adventure comes to an end today. With no activities planned for today, you are free to leave the accommodation at any time. Hotel check out time is 10 am; however, you can arrange for luggage storage at the hotel if you are to leave later in the day.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

11 breakfasts, 2 dinners

Transport

Public bus, Subway, Bullet Train, Train, Boat

Accommodation

Hotel/Ryokan (10 nights), Temple Stay (1 night)

Included activities

  • Kyoto - Ryoanji Zen Garden
  • Kyoto - Nijo Castle
  • Kyoto - Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
  • Kyoto - Gion District walk
  • Koya-san - Okunoin Cemetery
  • Himeji - Himeji Castle
  • Hiroshima - Peace Park & A - Bomb Dome
  • Hiroshima - Peace Museum
  • Hiroshima - Miyajima Island
  • Tsumago - Nakasendo Walk
  • Matsumoto - walking tour
  • Tokyo - Sensoji Temple
  • Tokyo - Sumida River Cruise
  • Tokyo - Hama Rikyu Garden

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Classic Japan trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. A Single Supplement is currently not available for this trip due to limited rooms at many of our properties.
2. A 7-day Japan Rail Pass is included in the price of your trip (validated on Day 3). For those wishing to stay and travel longer in Japan, a Japan Rail Pass extension (total 14 days) is available.
3. At some destinations, larger luggage will be forwarded on ahead of you, so ensure you also have a smaller overnight/day pack with you for essentials. Please check itinerary for details.
4. It is essential that you pack light and compact for rail travel in Japan. There are size restrictions for luggage on Shinkansen trains. Luggage from 160cm to 250cm may require an additional JPY1000 oversize luggage fee per train journey. Luggage over 251cm will NOT be permitted on the Shinkansen trains at all. Please notify your tour leader at your Welcome Meeting if your luggage is from 160cm to 250cm so they can make the necessary arrangements.
5. Renovation works on Miyajima's famous floating torii gate started in June 2019. During the renovation works, the torii gate is covered up under a partially transparent scaffolding. Furthermore, a bridge is being built on the left side of the gate (when viewed from the shrine) to aid the renovation works. A date for the completion of the renovation works has not been set yet.
6. We are currently unable to book pre or post trip accommodation at our start and finish point hotels due to limited room availability. We recommend booking a hotel of your choice through your booking agent.
7. We are currently unable to book arrival transfers from either Itami Airport (ITM) or Kansai Airport (KIX). Please refer to the ‘Joining Point Instructions’ in the Essential Trip Information for directions to your Kyoto hotel.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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