10-Day Private Tour of Japan

Welcome to Japan! On arrival at one of Tokyo’s international airports, our escort will meet you and take you to your hotel in Tokyo.

This morning you will meet your guide at your hotel lobby after breakfast and have a private guided tour of Tokyo. The day's program will be completely customised for your interests and preferences. You can visit old parts of Tokyo such as Asakusa, fashionable Shibuya and Omotesando, the political and commercial centre of Japan, Marunouchi, or anything in between. The day is yours to explore the modern and quirky sides of this mega capital. Lunch and dinner are not included but we will make recommendations if you require.

Today, you will travel by train with your guide, to the famous resort town of Hakone in the Izu Hakone National Park. Hakone once was an important checkpoint for the traffic in and out of Edo (now Tokyo). The present day Hakone is a popular destination for domestic and international travelers and people come here for relaxing hot spring spa and beautiful landscapes. You have a choice of Japanese style and western style accommodation in Hakone.

This morning you can spend more time in Hakone to explore some world class art museums, which are another feature of Hakone. In the afternoon, you can hop on Shinkansen and head to Kyoto, the well-known old capital of Japan. After arrival, you can transfer to your hotel by taxi and have a relaxing evening, or explore endless choice of restaurants near your hotel.

Your private guide will meet at your hotel in the morning and take you on a guided tour. Kyoto has myriad of attractions and we will designed the guided tours to match your interests. Apart from iconic sites such as Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), Fushimi Inari, Nijo-jo Castle and Heian Jingu Shrine, you can visit more discrete temple gardens, high quality craft and antique galleries such as pottery and silk, or simply stroll atmospheric streets of Kyoto such as Gion. There are variety of choices in terms of accommodation and restaurants in Kyoto. Please let us know of your preferences. If you are a group, why not try a private banquet with a maiko (apprentice geisha) to join you for dinner. It will be an unique opportunity to engage with her in person and learn more about this centuries-old art form and the life of a modern-day geisha.

Nara is less than one hour away from Kyoto, another ancient capital of Japan. It is quieter and smaller than Kyoto, which makes it ideal to explore to feel the history and culture of ancient Japan.

Today you will hop onboard Japan’s famous shinkansen once more and journey down to the iconic sites of Hiroshima. On arriving in Hiroshima, you will meet our Hiroshima guide at the station and have a guided tour of the Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Museum. Despite its tragic past, present-day Hiroshima remains very welcoming and vibrant, characterized by wide boulevards and attractive leafy parks. Enjoy some of its characteristic cuisine such as Hiroshima style okonomiyaki.

This morning a short train and ferry ride take you to one of Japan’s top scenic sites – Miyajima. This sacred island is best known for the vermillion-red floating torii gate that sits in the sea in front of Itsukushima Shrine (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). You can have a guided tour of the shrine, which was originally constructed in 593 when the island was designated a sacred island to be inhabited only by the gods. In the afternoon stroll around Miyajima’s Buddhist temples or take the ropeway to the top of the island for breathtaking views of the Inland Sea. Tonight we recommend you stay overnight at the island, experience ryokan (Japanese style accommodation) , and enjoy the kaiseki dinner and futon bedding. However, there is an option of going back to Hiroshima and stay another night at a western style hotel there.

This morning you experience some quiet time in Miyajima before day visitors arrive and before you make your way back to your final destination Osaka. You will have time to discover the vibrant culture of Osaka in the afternoon and evening guided tour.

Today you will transfer from your hotel to your exiting airport after breakfast. You can exit Japan from Kansai International Airport or go back to Tokyo and leave from one of the international airports there. We will arrange the transfer for you whichever way you choose. And of course you can extend your stay in Japan. Please browse our Tour Extension Model Itineraries for ideas.