Japan's Golden Highlights: Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo, Shinjuku District Foodie Tour 

Welcome to Japan! Your flight lands in Tokyo, where you'll meet your driver for your private transfer to your hotel. As Japan's capital and most populous city, Tokyo is all about the hustle and bustle, combining a decidedly urban vibe with a wealth of history and culture. The city is also known for its wide-ranging cuisine, and once you've checked in at your hotel and had a chance to regroup, you'll meet up with a local guide for an evening foodie tour.

Your destination is the Shinjuku district, a hotspot for shopping, entertainment, and endless opportunities to sample Japanese cuisine. Walk around with your guide and soak in the lively atmosphere as they share information about the food here and its role in Japan's culture, then visit a sushi restaurant for authentic omakase sushi prepared right in front of your eyes.

Afterward, head to another spot for Wagyu beef yakiniku (thinly sliced and grilled meat), where you'll cook your own food tableside. Your guide will show you the proper way to grill the meat so you can savor the delicate taste and textures. Finish with drinks or dessert at a nearby café, then return to your hotel to rest up for tomorrow's adventures. 

Day 2: Tokyo City Tour: Temples & Historic Sites, Visit the Akihabara District

This morning, meet your guides for a city tour that takes you to some of Tokyo's top sightseeing spots. You'll start at Meiji Jingu, a popular Shinto temple dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. Visit Meiji Jingu Museum to see the treasures from the shrine's collection, then head to Tsukiji Outer Fish Market, where an extensive array of shops trade all sorts of freshly-cooked delicacies and cooking ingredients. If you're in need of sustenance, you can also enjoy a fresh sushi breakfast from one of the restaurants here.

Next, visit the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, the only part of the palace open to the public. The garden features seasonal flowers, fountains, and teahouses, as well as views of the double-arched Nijubashi Bridge. Continue to Senso-ji, which dates back to the seventh century and is considered one of Tokyo's most significant Buddhist temples. Visit the main hall, and if you like, you can pray to the goddess Kannon enshrined there or pick up an omikuji (fortunes written on strips of paper). Finish with a walk along Nakamise-dori, a bustling street adjacent to the temple lined with shops and food stands.

Later, take a deep dive into Japan's vibrant animé and manga culture, with a trip to Akihabara, or Electric Town, an energetic district packed with themed cafés, electronics stores, arcades, and more. Along the way, see enthusiastic cosplayers in elaborate costumes and wigs, making you feel as if you've stepped right into the pages of a manga—you can even take pics with your favorites. Stop in at the multi-storied Animate store, a top destination for animé merchandise, then end with gaming at the GiGO Akihabara Building 3, where you can test your skills on the UFO catcher crane games.

Day 3: Sumo Practice in Ryogoku & Wrestler Lunch, Self-Guided Visit to TeamLab Planets

Learn more about Tokyo's national sport today, sumo wrestling. With origins that date back nearly 2,000 years, sumo is truly the heart and home of Japanese culture. Start with a morning sumo training session in Ryogoku Arena, led by your expert guide who will fill you in on the history of the sport and the customs and traditions behind it. Watch sumo wrestlers hone their skills, see behind-the-scenes activities, and learn more about the daily lives of these athletes. 

After watching the practice sessions, you'll have the opportunity to indulge in a meal of chanko-nabe, a unique delicacy in the Sumo world. This hot pot dish features assorted vegetables and protein-rich meats, including meat, fish, and chicken, all cooked in a soy sauce seasoned broth. Sumo wrestlers eat chanko-nabe on a daily basis, and it's considered an important part of building their strength. 

If you're interested in checking out Tokyo's art scene, take a trip to TeamLab Planets this afternoon. An interactive exhibition that gives new meaning to the term "modern art," you'll walk barefoot through four different spaces, following art as it moves along the walls, and interacting with body-immersive exhibits that minimize boundaries between the human body and artistic creation. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local sushi restaurant or take a sunset walk around the city.

Day 4: Wonders of Mount Fuji & Lake Kawaguchi, Whisky Tasting

Today's excursions revolve around the legendary Mount Fuji, an active volcano located approximately one hour from Tokyo. Mount Fuji, or Fuji-san as the locals call it, is the country's highest peak, stretching into the sky at more than 12,000 feet (3,776 m). It's a common pilgrimage site, with people coming from around the world to hike it, and is considered one of Japan's three sacred mountains. 

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel, and you'll make your first stop at Arakurayama Sengen Park, where Mount Fuji views frame a monumental pagoda. See Oshino Hakkai, a set of eight ponds fed by snow melt from Fuji's slopes, and stop in at Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokan, a small museum at Oshino Hakkai's largest pond with a thatched-roof farmhouse and exhibits of farming tools, household items, samurai armor, and weapons.

Board a boat for a cruise across Lake Kawaguchi or head for the sky on the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway, reaching an observation deck for panoramic lake and mountain views. The day closes with a stop at the Fuji Gotemba Distillery, where whisky and sake are produced using water sourced from Fuji's snow melt. Learn about their whisky-making process, and see the pot stills, distillation equipment, and wooden vat fermentation tanks that produce various types of whisky. Enjoy a tasting of the different spirits, then head back to Tokyo for the evening. 

Day 5: Train to Kyoto, Samurai Ninja Museum & Kimono Tea Ceremony 

You're off to the city of Kyoto today! This cultural powerhouse of a city is known for its historic traditions, such as kaiseki dining and geisha entertainers, as well as its numerous temples, gardens, and palaces. Make your way to the train station in the morning and board a Shinkansen bullet train for the 2.5-hour ride. Upon arrival, you'll be met by a driver and escorted to your hotel for check-in, then you'll start your immersion into this fascinating city with a traditional tea ceremony. 

Otherwise known as known as chanoyu or sado, this highly ritualized tradition was born and curated in Kyoto. You'll visit Maikoya Kyoto, a local tea house where you'll don a colorful Japanese kimono and after your hosts explain the ceremony and what to expect, you'll be given a formal introduction to the history of the ceremonies while sipping fragrant and flavorful tea.

After you've enjoyed your tea and conversation, make the five-minute walk to the Samurai Ninja Museum. Try on full samurai armor for souvenir pictures and try your hand at wielding some replica swords, getting a glimpse of what it was like to be one of the most prestigious ruling classes of old Japan! Spend the rest of the day exploring more of Kyoto on your own, taking a walk through the historic Gion district, or seeing a traditional geisha theatrical performance. 

Day 6: Explore Kyoto's Most Historic Sites

The day begins with a guided tour of some of Kyoto's most revered historic sites. Your guide will collect you from your hotel, and you'll start at Kinkaku-ji, a Zen Buddhist temple with a large golden pavilion. Walk the peaceful grounds here, and be sure to visit the temple's two top floors, which are completely covered in gold leaf. Then, head to the impressive Nijo Castle, built in 1603 as the residence of Edo-era shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. Take in the grand design and beautiful decor, and roam the lovely garden with its elegant water features and springtime cherry blossoms.

Visit Kiyomizu-Dera next, trekking the narrow uphill alleys of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka to reach the temple's hilltop location. Here you'll find the impressive hondo (main hall), Jishu shrine, Okunoin temple, and a few smaller temples and shrines, all of which make Kiyomizu-Dera a must-visit in Kyoto.

Your final stop is the captivating Fushimi Inari-taisha. Featured in the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha," this shrine has more than 10,000 picturesque red torii gates, all donated by individuals and businesses as a sign of appreciation to the god Inari for the blessings received. Take a light hike along the torii-lined route up the mountain for sweeping views of the surrounding countryside.

Day 7: Explore Arashiyama: Bamboo Grove, Monkey Park, & Tenryu-ji Temple

Head out of the city to explore the greenery of Kyoto's countryside in the scenic Arashiyama district, located on the outskirts of town. You'll start with a guided rickshaw tour through Sagano Bamboo Grove, a natural bamboo forest that encompasses more than 3,800 acres (1,537 ha) and has paths that traverse through towering bamboo stalks. Your driver will take you along the impressive scenery here, stopping at the beautiful Nonomiya Shrine, a Shinto site. 

Visit Togetsu-kyo, a nationally designated historic site whose name translates to "Moon Crossing Bridge," then stop at Iwatayama Monkey Park, home to a troop of more than 100 Japanese macaques. Watch these curious creatures at play, and you may even have an opportunity to feed them!

Day 8: Train to Osaka, Visit Osaka Castle & Shinsaibashi, Neon Lights of Dotonbori 

Your next destination is the city of Osaka, Japan's third-largest city and a major commercial center known for its sleek architecture, street food, and endless shopping opportunities. Check out of your hotel this morning and head to the train station, where you'll hop on board for the quick one-hour ride. Once you've arrived and gotten settled at your hotel, meet with a local guide to see some of the city's most iconic sights.

Begin at Osaka Castle Park, once the largest castle of its kind. Inside, you'll find a wealth of information on Japan's history, including dioramas that depict various battles, uniforms, and helmets, and a large observation deck that offers excellent city views. Then, it's off to the Shinsaibashi shopping district, a consumer mecca that's considered one of the most famous shopping areas in the city. With a history spanning 380 years, this has been an established commercial hub since the Edo period. You can find just about anything here, from traditional kimonos to footwear to jewelry, as well as plenty of restaurants.

For tonight's dinner, make your way to Dotonbori, a high-powered sensory overload of neon, modern buildings, and throngs of people. Nicknamed "Osaka's Times Square," you'll find endless food stalls, restaurants, and diners stacked alongside game arcades, miles-high advertisements, and shopping. Try some conveyor belt sushi, or dishes such as grilled crabs, takoyaki (balls filled with vegetables and seafood), and desserts like taiyaki (fish-shaped pastries), all available from the various eateries. 

Day 9: Day Trip to Hiroshima: Peace Memorial Park & Itsukushima Shrine 

Spend your last full day in Japan with a day trip to Hiroshima, the historic city that was largely destroyed by an atomic bomb during World War II. Take the bullet train from Osaka, a ride of about 1.5 hours, and start with a visit to the Peace Memorial Park. Featuring original photography, detailed explanations, and artifacts recovered from the atomic bombing, the Peace Memorial Museum within the park serves as a somber reminder to never take peace for granted, and the Atomic Bomb Dome, a building still left standing from the bomb explosion, is a disturbing but important testament to the horrors of war.

Afterward, make your way to the pier and ride the ferry out to the World Heritage Site of Itsukushima-jinja, a shrine built over water with boardwalks connecting its main hall, prayer hall, and other buildings. At high tide, the giant red-orange torii gate appears to float in the ocean, and during low tide, you can walk to the foot of the gate to see it up close. Return to Osaka in time for one last sushi dinner, or you can step out to see any of the sights you might have missed earlier. 

Day 10: Depart Osaka

Your adventure in Japan ends today. After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your journey home or to your next destination. Safe travels! 

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