9-Day Classic Japan Leisurely Tour

Explore the best Japan from Tokyo to Kyoto with Hakone and Nara.

This 9-day classic itinerary aims to cover most of the highlights of Japan's unique culture. We take Tokyo and Kyoto, the two most famous cities in Japan, as our core destinations. On the way from Tokyo to Kyoto, we will visit the nearby hot spring town of Hakone for two days of leisure time. Before leave kyoto to Osaka, we will go to Nara, which is not far from Kyoto, and spend a day at a leisurely pace in the serene Nara Park and Nara Town.

At the same time, we have carefully arranged many hands-on activities for you, allowing you to immerse yourself in Japanese culture and helping you and your companions create unforgettable memories along the way.

If it's your first trip to Japan, this will be a perfect travel plan. The route is rich in diverse scenic spots and the itinerary is well-paced.

Itinerary Sketch

Tour Highlights

1. Enhance your culinary expertise by participating in a genuine sushi-making experience.

2. Gazing at Mount Fuji from the picturesque Lake Ashi.

3. Wander freely in the ancient district of Kyoto.

4. The Japanese Sika deer in Nara Park welcome you.

Itinerary Overview

This is a classic travel route in Japan that we highly recommend. It is particularly suitable for your first trip to Japan with your family or loved ones. Of course, 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.

When you first arrive in Tokyo, we recommend that you visit Shinjuku in the evening. Shinjuku is a bustling area with large department stores, music stores and electronics stores, as well as hundreds of bars and restaurants to suit all tastes.

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 Tokyo Skytree.

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 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 rich and interesting souvenirs to people who come here.

Hamarikyu Onshi Teien is the most representative daimyo garden of the Edo period. The characteristic landscapes of the garden include the tide-in pond, the duck-hunting ground, the 300-year-old pine tree and the tea house on the middle island.

Day 3  Tokyo Activities: Cruise, Sushi Making & Anime Cafe.

Under the guidance of an experienced local sushi chef, enjoy an authentic sushi-making course and savor the delicious sushi you made during a delightful lunch.

Head to the vibrant Akihabara, the world of Japanese pop culture, for a fun tour of anime-themed cafes!

In the afternoon, take a traditional Japanese "yakatabune" boat cruise on the Sumida River in Tokyo. Admire the cityscape from the water and take a photo with Tokyo Skytree on the river.

Day 4  From Tokyo to Hakone.

Today, you can use your Hakone Free Pass to take the Japanese Shinkansen from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo directly to Hakone Yumoto Station, which takes about 90 minutes. After arriving, you can take a bus to your accommodation. For the rest of the day, you are free to do as you please.

We recommend that you visit Hakone Gora Park, a Western-style landscape park located on a steep slope above Hakone Gora Station. It is a great place to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Hakone.

From Hakone Yumoto to "Gora Park", you can take the Hakone Ropeway, which takes about 40 minutes.

There are many hot springs here. You can enjoy a hot spring bath and wash away the fatigue of the day.

Day 5  A free Day in Hakone.

Today, explore Hakone freely with the Hakone Free Pass. This pass allows you to get on and off the vehicles freely within the designated area and also offers discounts on entrance tickets to various attractions in the area.

You have many choices, but none of them will disappoint you. You may take the world's second longest cable car to ascend Mount Owakudani, passing through the sulfuric fumes, hot springs and hot rivers of this volcanic area along the way.

You can go to the Lake Ashi, which was formed by a volcanic eruption 3,000 years ago. A magnificent replica of a pirate ship will carry you across the lake, and you can see the peak of Mount Fuji in a sunny day.

Day 6  Hakone to Kyoto.

This morning, we will head to Odawara Station and then take the Shinkansen to Kyoto using your train ticket. After arriving at Kyoto Station, please go to the hotel by yourself. The rest of the day is at your own disposal.

Kyoto is a thousand-year-old ancient city, it is no exaggeration to say that every corner of the city is filled with historical treasures. Take a leisurely stroll in the Higashiyama District of this ancient city, feel the rich atmosphere of historical and cultural accumulation.

Day 7  Kyoto Highlights.

Today, you will explore this former imperial capital under the guidance of a knowledgeable local guide and visit some of Kyoto's World Heritage Sites in your own private vehicle.

Your day will start with a visit to Kiyomizu-dera. In the quiet morning, walk leisurely up the hill through the historic streets to Kiyomizu-dera. Standing on the 13-meter-high viewing platform of the main hall, overlook the panoramic view of Kyoto and admire the architectural masterpiece built without a single nail. This iconic site in Kyoto is an excellent place for sightseeing.

The entire precinct of Kinkaku-ji Temple has been designated as an important historical building within the "Cultural Properties of the Ancient Capital, Kyoto" by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, and it has now become one of the most famous temples in Kyoto.

Nijo Castle, built by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603 and modeled after the Tang Dynasty's Chang'an City in China, is one of the most famous historical buildings in Kyoto. It is surrounded by a high stone wall and moat that is 500 meters long from east to west and 400 meters long from north to south. Nijo Castle is the top cherry blossom viewing spot in Kyoto. The seasons when plum blossoms and chrysanthemums are in full bloom are also good times to visit.

Day 8  An all-day excursion in Nara.

Nara is very close to Kyoto, only about 40 kilometers away, and the transportation is very convenient. You will be accompanied by a local guide from your hotel to Nara.

During the 75 years from the 8th to the 9th century, Nara was the capital of Japan. Many temples, shrines and other ancient sites built at that time are scattered throughout the city. After a thousand years, they are still well-preserved.

Nara Park is very large, covering an area of over 660 hectares. Many famous historical sites are mostly located within the park. Compared with the repeatedly rebuilt ancient buildings in other places like Kyoto, the temples and shrines in Nara are older, more intact and more unique. 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.

Among many ancient temples, Todaiji Temple is the one that must not be missed. It is the largest wooden structure in the world and also the home of the largest Buddha statue in Japan.

Day 9  Departure from Kyoto.

Before your private driver takes you to Osaka Kansai International Airport for your return flight, you still have some spare time. You can choose to have a good rest, get ready for your return journey, alternatively, explore the nearby areas of the hotel at your own pace to satisfy your lingering curiosity.

We believe that during this trip to Japan, there must be some wonderful moments that you will always remember.