Discover, through hands-on Experiences for All Ages, Tokyo, Kamakura, Mount Fuji, Kyoto and Osaka in 9 Days
Join us for a fun-filled 9 days of family friendly activities, great outdoor experiences, tasting local specialties and learning new skills in Japan. In this vibrant country, you can see cartoons and comics, historic temples and museums, market stalls and local tastes in the city of Tokyo, then travel on to the seaside town of Kamakura and the foot of Japan’s most famous mountain, Mt. Fuji. In the cultural and historic city of Kyoto, you can see many impressive temples, join a traditional tea ceremony and even see a few remaining samurai. In the city of Osaka, visit an impressive castle, take in the views of the city and experience the famous Dotonbori street where you can sample the local street food. As with all of our Tailored by Locals trips, this tour can be tailored to your requirements with the expert local knowledge, unique local experiences and first class in-destination services that you expect from us.
What's included
Itinerary
Get ready for a warm welcome to Japan from your guide and driver at Tokyo International Airport. On your way to your hotel you will begin to discover this vibrant city of towering glass buildings and ancient rituals where the latest technology and cutting edge pop culture are a part of everyday life for the Tokyo people. Once you have checked in at your hotel you will depart for the man-made island of Odaiba in the heart of the Tokyo bay. This is a very modern area of the city known as the “futuristic city” of Tokyo, with a variety of very interesting malls, museums and other entertainment venues to visit. Your first foray into this exciting area will be a short walk across the impressive Rainbow Bridge which affords some of the best views of the city and the bay. Your first stop of the day will be the TeamLab Planets interactive art museum where you can experience a variety of very unique light, water, sound and movement exhibitions. After TeamLab you will proceed to the Miraikan, the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. This very interesting museum is designed to be fun, interactive and it contains a variety of exhibitions that cover topics such as space, advanced robots and other examples of the latest technology and how they affect our daily lives as well as the future of humanity.
Start with the spiritual and historical side of Tokyo, beginning at the serene Shinto shrine of Meiji Jingu hidden deep in massive trees. Then proceed to the other side of the famous fish market of Tsukiji. This side of the market has narrow lanes with all sorts of seafood, snack vendors and small shops that serve the freshest sushi and even grilled scallops right before your eyes. Next you will walk by the grounds of the Imperial Palace with all its beautiful bridges and proceed to the historic old district of Asakusa. In the heart of Asakusa is Senso-ji, Tokyo’s seventh-century Buddhist temple. To get to the main hall of Senso-ji Temple and its towering five-story pagoda, first browse down Nakamise-dori shopping street, lined with many small shops and stalls, some of which date back to the 17th century. Last but not least for this tour you will experience the cutting-edge pop culture of Tokyo’s Akihabara, known as Electric Town. The endless streets of neon lights are filled with giant shops selling the latest in manga and anime as well as classic Pac-Man arcade games and even quirky themed cafes. You can even run into costumed characters that roam the streets to take pictures with you. A most surreal yet utterly Tokyo experience.
Leave Tokyo for a day by the sea as you travel with your guide to Kamakura, a coastal town known for its temples, relaxed streets and spiritual atmosphere. The day begins at Kotoku-in, home to the Great Buddha, an impressive bronze statue that has watched over the town for centuries. Move on to the Kamakura Daibutsu Hiking Trail, an easy 60- to 90-minute route with forested paths, ocean views, and quiet stops such as Genjiyama Park and Kuzuharaoka Shrine, where locals come to pray for good fortune in love. The walk ends at Hokoku-ji, a peaceful temple with an enchanting bamboo grove and a traditional teahouse where you can pause over matcha. Before returning to Tokyo, enjoy time in central Kamakura. Explore Komachi Street for local snacks and souvenirs or add a traditional rickshaw ride through the town's photogenic lanes.
Travel toward the Fuji Five Lakes region, where Japan's most iconic mountain begins to dominate the horizon. Your day starts at Lake Kawaguchi, where a gentle cruise offers classic views of Mount Fuji reflected in the water, weather permitting. Next is the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway to the viewpoint beneath Mount Tenjo for sweeping scenes of the lake, forest and mountain. In the afternoon, visit Arakurayama Sengen Park and climb toward Chureito Pagoda, one of the country's most photographed viewpoints, especially beautiful during cherry blossom or autumn foliage season. Later, step into rural Japan at Iyashi no Sato, an open-air village of thatched-roof houses where local crafts, pottery, weaving and small museums bring the past to life. Settle into Fujikawaguchiko for the evening, perhaps in a ryokan where tatami rooms, yukata robes, warm hospitality and hot springs offer a softer, more traditional side of Japan.
This morning you will take Japan’s famous bullet train at Tokyo Station for your long journey to Kyoto, the old capital of Japan, often referred to as the cultural heart of Japan. Upon arrival at Kyoto Station, make your way to Kinkaku-ji, more commonly known as the Golden Pavilion, one of Japan’s most iconic temples. The Golden Pavilion is a stunning example of Japanese architecture and garden design, the pavilion itself being completely covered in a thick layer of real gold leaf and surrounded by a beautiful pond and perfectly manicured garden. After admiring the Golden Pavilion from the ground you walk to Nijo Castle, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was the residence of the first Shogun of the Edo period, Tokugawa Ieyasu. As you explore the beautiful gardens of Nijo Castle you are given the opportunity to visit the impressive Ninomaru Palace, and to see the interior of the palace as well as the famous ‘shinakina’ or nightingale floors which were fitted to alert guards of any intruders, as well as several of the famous painted panels that show all the different seasons and times of day. Nijo Castle is an incredible insight into the lives of the powerful Shoguns of Japan’s Edo period and their absolute love of power, ceremony, art and architecture. The remainder of the day will be spent at your leisure, checking into your chosen Kyoto hotel or ryokan and taking some time to relax after your long journey.
Start the day at Fushimi Inari-taisha, one of Japan's most recognizable shrines. Walk through the seemingly endless red torii gates and follow the path into the wooded slopes of Mount Inari, passing smaller shrines and stone markers along the way. Continue to nearby Tofuku-ji, known for its refined temple architecture, wooden halls, sub-temples, gardens and the beautiful Tsutenkyo Bridge. After a pause at your hotel, take part in a traditional tea ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya. Dress in kimono, sit on tatami and learn the elegant rhythm of preparing and receiving matcha, guided by a knowledgeable tea master. The day closes with a visit to the Samurai Ninja Museum, where authentic artifacts, storytelling and the chance to try on samurai armor make Japan's warrior traditions feel vivid and approachable.
Travel by train to Nara, Japan's first permanent capital and one of the country's most rewarding day trips. Begin at Kofuku-ji, a historic Buddhist temple with a striking five-story pagoda, before continuing to Nara Park, where gentle deer roam freely and often bow for treats. Visit Todai-ji, home to the Great Buddha housed within one of Japan's most important temple halls, then continue to Kasuga-taisha, a lantern-lined Shinto shrine set beside the primeval forest. For travelers who enjoy a little activity, the climb up Mount Wakakusa offers panoramic views over Nara and its surrounding hills. After this full day of temples, nature and local charm, continue by train to Osaka and settle into your hotel in Japan's energetic culinary capital.
Explore Osaka, Japan’s Heart! Located in the Kansai region of Japan’s main island of Honshu, Osaka is a magnificent city filled with humor, warm-hearted people, fantastic food, shopping and a very up-tempo and vibrant urban atmosphere. Visit the impressive Osaka Castle which houses a very interesting museum as well as a lovely garden. Learn about the castle’s long and often turbulent history and the many people who played a significant part in it. The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living offers visitors a unique chance to see how local people lived in the past and how life has changed over the centuries. To get a bird’s eye view of the city visit the Kuchu Teien Observatory on the 40th floor of the Umeda Sky Building. For some excellent shopping, head for the bustling streets of Shinsaibashi where you can find all sorts of interesting shops. Finally in the evening, experience the fantastic Dotonbori area known for its incredible lights and street food with a huge variety of dishes to try including; Takoyaki, Kushikatsu, Okonomiyaki, Grilled Crab, Taiyaki, Sushi and Hotpot to name but a few.
It’s the final day of your Japan trip. Depending on your flight time you will have time to return to Dotonbori to perhaps do some last minute shopping or take a different perspective of the Osaka Castle. In the meantime your car and driver will be waiting for you outside your hotel and will then drive you to Kansai International Airport to end your stay in Japan with memories of the futuristic Tokyo, the temples on the beach in Kamakura, the iconic Mount Fuji, the temples and rituals of Kyoto, the friendly deer of Nara and the delicious food of Osaka.
