10 day Japan Golden Route

Arrive Osaka
Welcome to Osaka, Japan! Upon arrival at Kansai Airport, make your way to your accommodation.

Overnight: Odysis Suites Osaka Airport Hotel (or similar)

Osaka – Himeji – Hiroshima
After breakfast, you will make the trip to Hiroshima. Largely destroyed when the first atomic bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945, the city became known worldwide for this unenviable distinction. En route, stop in Himeji to visit the Himeji Castle. It was registered in 1993 as one of the country’s first UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

Overnight: Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Hiroshima
Today, you’ll begin at the Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima. The shrine and its torii gate are unique for being built over water, seemingly floating in the sea during high tide. Then visit the Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Museum, commemorating the victims of the atomic bomb used in WWII.

Overnight: Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Hiroshima – Osaka
Bid farewell to Hiroshima this morning as you begin your journey back to Osaka. Following the coastal road along the Seto Inland Sea, you will visit the historic city of Kurashiki, a water city renowned for its breathtakingly well-preserved canal area dating back to the Edo Period, and Kobe, considered one of Japan’s most attractive cities. 

Overnight: Hotel it Osaka Shinmachi (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Osaka – Nara – Kyoto
Today you’ll take a day trip to Nara, where you’ll visit Todaiji Temple and its Great Hall, housing one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in the world. Wander back through Nara Deer Park, where you can see hundreds of deer roaming around. While you’re here you can feed the deer with crackers and enjoy some of the local foods they have to offer. Afterwards, travel to Kyoto, a time capsule of laneways filled with tea houses, izakayas and geisha — if you can spot them vanishing down the back alleys. On arrival, wander across the Togetsu Bridge, the landmark of Western Kyoto’s Arashiyama District for over four hundred years. Then, get lost in the surreal and otherworldly beauty of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Gliding across wooden paths that weave through dense thickets of tall bamboo stalks, find a quiet corner to listen to the rustling, creaking, and sway of trunks that knock together, creating a peaceful sound like almost nothing else.

Overnight: Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Kyoto – Mt. Fuji
Following breakfast this morning, visit Nijo Castle, where you can revel in the atmosphere of this historical residence of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Later, admire the Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), a Zen temple and World Heritage Site with two floors covered entirely in thin layers of pure gold. After lunch, travel onwards to Mt. Fuji on a world-famous Shinkansen bullet train. Watch as flashes of futuristic skyscrapers, shrines, and lush fields pass by in its max 199mph dash from Kyoto to Tokyo. This time-defying lightning bolt is diminished only by the majesty of the cloud-cloaked Mt. Fuji, a sight that makes time stand still for a serene, spectacular moment.

Overnight: Hotel Grand Hills Shizuoka (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Mt. Fuji
Today you will ascend Mt. Fuji to the fifth station, hidden above the clouds. Depending on the weather, you might be able to capture the iconic mountain in all its breathtaking glory. (Alternatively, if the weather does not permit, you could visit Gotemba Peace Park or Hakone Checkpoint, renowned for their awe-inspiring vistas of nature’s soaring, snow-capped feat.) Later, experience the hypnotizing beauty of the Oshino Hakkai, also known as the Springs of Mt. Fuji – eight ponds fed by melting snow gliding down the slopes of Mt. Fuji to create crystal-clear spring water revered by the locals.

Overnight: Dormy Inn Express Gotemba Hot Springs (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Mt. Fuji – Tokyo
Begin today by joining a cruise of Lake Ashi, formed in the caldera of Mt. Hakone after the volcano’s last eruption over 3,000 years ago. After arriving in Tokyo from your cruise, visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatories, also known as the Tokyo City View, which are two observation decks located on the 45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. The building is one of the tallest in Tokyo, standing at 797 ft high, and offers stunning panoramic city views. The rest of the day is at your own leisure.

Overnight: Asakusa View Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Tokyo
Spend today exploring Tokyo at your own leisure.

Tokyo is the bustling capital city of Japan, known for its cutting-edge technology, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant city life. As one of the world’s most populous cities, Tokyo is home to over 13 million people and is a hub of business, fashion, and entertainment. There is a vast array of things to see and do in Tokyo, from visiting historic temples and shrines to experiencing the latest in fashion and technology. Popular tourist attractions include the Tokyo Tower, Shibuya Crossing, Tsukiji Fish Market, the Imperial Palace, and the Meiji Shrine.

Tokyo is also known for its delicious cuisine, with a wide range of traditional and modern Japanese dishes to try. From sushi and ramen to tempura and yakitori, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The city is divided into distinct neighborhoods each with its own unique character and charm. From the high-energy atmosphere of Shinjuku and Shibuya to the serene gardens of Ueno and Rikugien, there is always something new and exciting to explore in Tokyo.

Overnight: Asakusa View Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Tokyo
After breakfast, make your way to the airport at an appropriate time.

Meals: Breakfast