7-Day Japan UNSECO Tour, Visiting Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, and Nara

7-Day Japan UNSECO Tour, Visiting Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, and Nara.

This 7-day classic itinerary aims to cover most of the highlights of Japan's unique culture. We take Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nara, the three most famous cities in Japan, as our core destinations, to discover the World Heritage sites listed by UNSECO. On the way from Tokyo to Kyoto, we will visit the nearby hot spring town of Hakone for one day of leisure time.

Itinerary Sketch

Tour Highlights

1. Enjoy natural hot springs at Hakone.

2. Lake Ashi Cruise capturing a vista of Mount Fuji.

3. Wander freely through the thousand-year-old capital Kyoto.

4. Explore UNSECO World Heritage sites in Kyoto, Nara.

Itinerary Overview

There are still many other places worth visiting along the route. We are more than happy to customize it according to your interests and preferences.

Day 1  Tokyo Arrival

Welcome to Japan! Upon arrival in Tokyo, meet your driver at the airport and then take a private car to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for your own leisure.

Day 2  Tokyo Highlights

Start your tour of this charming city with a dedicated guide. Today, you will visit three main places: Meiji Shrine, Sensoji temple and Nakamise Shopping Street, Imperial Palace East Garden, and at the evening take a Tokyo Bay Cruise.

The tour begins with a visit to Meiji Shrine, which is hidden in the forest in the heart of the city and has a serene environment. This shrine houses the spirit of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, and nowadays is a popular venue for traditional Japanese weddings.

Sensoji Temple is the oldest temple in Tokyo. The Nakamise Shopping Street in front of the temple is one of the oldest commercial streets in Japan and is very lively. Now it offers a variety of traditional snacks and interesting souvenirs to people who come here.

Imperial Palace remains the residence of the Emperor of Japan and his family to this day. We can only visit the East Garden, which are open to the public. Neighboring to the bustling Tokyo Station, it's a miracle that as soon as you enter the garden, the hectic atmosphere of the metropolis vanishes instantly.  

As night falls and the day's sightseeing comes to an end, we board a cruise ship in Tokyo Bay to relax and enjoy the beautiful night view of Tokyo.

Day 3  Tokyo to Hakone, Enjoy a Hot Spring Bath.

Today, we will head to the beautiful Hakone, take a cable car to enjoy the mountain views, and board a cruise on Ashi Lake to admire the distant view of Mount Fuji, its peak covered in snow. After a day of sightseeing, we will relax and unwind in the hot springs at a hotel in Hakone.

Lake Ashi is a picturesque lake with a circumference of about 40 kilometers. It was formed as a result of volcanic activity when Mount Hakone erupted, causing a landslide that dammed a river, creating the lake we see today. Lake Ashi offers an opportunity to view the majestic Mount Fuji. On clear days, visitors can catch a stunning vista of the snow-capped peak of Mount Fuji.

Provides a scenic view of Hakone and surrounds, the Hakone Komagatake Ropeway runs from the edge of Lake Ashi to the summit of Mt. Komagatake. On the rapeway and the top of the mountain, you can capture a panoramic view of Lake Ashi and surrounds.

Day 4  Hakone to Kyoto, Stroll in the ancient district of Kyoto.

Kyoto is one of the historical and cultural centers of Japan, featuring numerous well-preserved ancient buildings, temples and shrines. As an ancient capital of Japan, Kyoto served as the political and cultural center of the country for over a thousand years, thus accumulating a rich array of cultural heritage and traditional arts.

Today we will arrive in Kyoto by Shinkansen train, and visit Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji Temple. In 1994, as part of the historic monuments of ancient Kyoto, they were approved by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO to be inscribed on the World Heritage List as cultural heritage.

Then stroll in streets in Gion, an ancient district of Kyoto. Gion is Kyoto’s most famous geisha district, located around Shijo Avenue between Yasaka Shrine in the east and the Kamo River in the west. In Gion Corner, appreciate a traditional arts performance, which the reservations must be made in advance. This show provides a great opportunity to enjoy seven traditional performing arts on one stage. 

Day 5  Kyoto Highlights.

In the morning today, visit another World Heritage Site in Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Then go to the Sanjusangendo Temple. In the afternoon, go to Kyoto Imperial Palace, and Fushimi Inari Shrine.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple is a most popular tourist choice in Kyoto, this iconic site is an architectural masterpiece built without a single nail and an excellent place for overlooking the panoramic view of Kyoto.

The Sanjusangendo Temple was built in 1164 AD and houses 1,001 statues of Kwan-yin Bodhisattva. Its main hall has 33 compartments and is 120 meters long. It is the most splendid temple building in Kyoto and is regarded as a national treasure of Japan.

Kyoto Imperial Palace used to be the residence of Japan’s Imperial Family until 1868, when the emperor and capital were moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. The ancient palace complex still exudes an air of imperial grandeur.

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine was built in the 8th century and is one of the most popular shrines in the Kyoto area. The most famous feature here is the dense forest of vermilion torii gates behind the main shrine.

Day 6  Nara Highlights.

Today, you will explore Nara. As well as Kyoto, Nara is also a thousand-year-old capital city. Many temples, shrines and other ancient sites built at that time are scattered throughout the city. They are still well-preserved until today.

Nara Park is very large, covering an area of over 660 hectares. Many famous historical sites are mostly located within the park. What is more well-known is that there are over 1,300 gentle and endearing Japanese sika deer living in the park, so Nara Park is also called Deer Park by the locals.

As mentioned above, within Nara Park, there are two World Heritage Sites listed by UNSECO, Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine. While interacting with the deer in Nara Park, we also get to pay homage to these two ancient and mysterious temple and shrine.

Nara-machi is the oldest town in Nara, with a history of several hundred years. The narrow streets are still lined with traditional old-style buildings intact. Nowadays, many exquisite shops, cafes, galleries and so on are hidden among them. There are few tourists here, and it is quiet and peaceful. After coming out of Nara Park, you must come here to experience the ancient atmosphere of Nara.

Day 7  Departure from Kyoto.

After returning to Kyoto from Nara and having a night's rest, today marks the end of this trip to Japan. Your private driver will escort you to Osaka Kansai International Airport on time according to your scheduled flight.

Wish you a pleasant journey!