Golden Route: 9-Day Japan Combination Package A

DAY 1 TOKYO

An English-speaking tour conductor will meet customers at the airport, and assist them in boarding the taxi to their hotel in Tokyo.
Check into your Tokyo hotel and f ree time after arrival

DAY 2 TOKYO

Drive by Imperial Palace
Formerly known as Edo Castle, this palace is the residence of the Emperor of Japan.
The grounds are lush with green foliage and provide a relaxing spot for Tokyoites and visitors alike.
Admire the view at this National Garden that was formerly a private garden of the Royal Family. Enjoy the view of Nijubashi Bridge, which is said to be the face of the Imperial Palace, as well as the view of the Imperial Palace itself.

Drive by National Diet Building
This is the center of the Japanese Government. Don’t let the impressive Western-style architecture fool you–this building is constructed almost entirely out of pure Japanese materials.

Tokyo Tower Main Deck (View)
Tokyo Tower, the symbol of Tokyo, offers a great 360-degree panoramic view from its main observatory.

Senso-ji Temple & Nakamise Shopping Street (Free Time for Sightseeing)
Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, offers plenty to see including the bright red Kaminarimon Gate, a statue of the god of thunder, and a five-story pagoda. The bustling street known as “Nakamise” stretches for about 250 m from Kaminarimon Gate to Senso-ji Temple and is filled with a plethora of shops.

Drive by Kabukiza and Ginza 
A classic Japanese-style theater where traditional Kabuki performances are held.

Stay at a Hotel in Tokyo city.

DAY 3 TOKYO – NIKKO – TOKYO

Kanmangafuchi Abyss
Kanmangafuchi Abyss is a small gorge formed by an eruption of Mt. Nantai. There is a row of approximately 70 stone statues of Jizo (a Bodhisattva who is the protector of children) along the river, and legend says they mysteriously change in number each time they are counted. A botanical garden lies on the opposite side of the Jizo statues, where visitors can enjoy the scenery of the season. *In the winter season (around December to mid-March), as it may be difficult to ensure safety due to freezing of roads to Kanmangafuchi Abyss or other reasons, the tour will be guided to Futarasan Shrine, Taiyuuin Mausoleum at Rinno-ji Temple, Tamozawa Imperial Villa, or Nikko Botanical Gardens instead.

Enjoy a Japanese-style lunch.

Nikko Toshogu Shrine
A registered UNESCO World Heritage Site, this sacred place with over 400 years of history is where Ieyasu Tokugawa, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, is enshrined. Enjoy seeing the traditional beauty of the main hall, as well as the sleeping cat and 3 monkey carvings.

Tour will conclude at Shinjuku station or Tobu Asakusa Station early evening. Overnight in Tokyo city.

DAY 4 TOKYO – MT FUJI – HAKONE

Mt. Fuji 5th Station
The bus will head up the World Heritage Mt. Fuji 5th Station along the Subaru Line. The 5th Station is situated at 2,300 meters (7,546 feet) above sea level. At this height, you will be amazed at spectacular, breathtaking views from above the clouds. *Depending on road conditions, the tour will be guided to Mt. Fuji 4th Station or 5th Station.
*If the Fuji Subaru Line is closed, the tour will visit Lake Kawaguchi Oishi Park or Fujisan World Heritage Center.

Enjoy lunch

Lake Ashi Cruise Ship Sorakaze
Hop on board the Sorakaze, a cruise ship on Lake Ashi in Hakone. Spend a relaxing time while gazing at the beautiful lake and Mt. Fuji aboard a ship where passengers can feel as if they’re in a green park floating over Lake Ashi.

Komagatake Ropeway
Take a cableway ride up to the spiritual Hakone Shrine Mototsumiya (original shrine) that nestles at the Komagatake mountaintop. Enjoy the scenery of Lake Ashi in the Hakone National Park spreading out below.

Hakone-en
Customers that descend Mt. Komagatake early can stop by the souvenir corner at the foot of the mountain.
*Depending on time management, and if the order of tour destinations was changed, there may not be time to purchase souvenirs.

Arrive at Hotel in Hakone.

DAY 5 HAKONE – KYOTO

Depart your Hakone accommodation and travel from Odawara to Shin Yokohama on the Shinkansen bullet train (trip time: 15-20mins).

Take the Nozomi Shinkansen to Kyoto from Shin Yokohama 

Arrive at Kyoto station 

Enjoy a Western-style lunch at a hotel.

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine of some 40,000 inari-jinja shrines located all over Japan.  The bright red Senbon Torii gates are a must-see attraction.

Sanjusangen-do Temple
Visit the world’s longest wooden structure, housing 1,001 life-size statues of Buddhist Kannon deities dating back to the 13th century.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple
The view of Kyoto from the World Heritage Site of Kiyomizu-dera is superb. The historic shopping lane that leads to the temple adds to a wonderful experience.

Tour will conclude early evening. Overnight in Kyoto city.

DAY 6 KYOTO – NARA – KYOTO 

Depart your Kyoto hotel in the morning.

Nijo Castle
A World Heritage site. Tour the historical castle completed in 1626, which was built to provide lodging for Tokugawa Shogun and as a palladium for Kyoto Imperial Palace. The impressive, elaborate carvings and decors in the Ninomaru Palace are a must-see.

Visit Kinkaku-ji Temple
A World Heritage site. The wooden architecture is covered in thin layers of pure gold and is surrounded by a beautiful pond.

Kyoto Imperial Palace (Except Mondays)
See the Kyoto Imperial Palace, which was used as the Emperor’s residence until about 150 years ago. On days when the Kyoto Imperial Palace is closed to visitors, the tour will visit Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (disembark for sightseeing) as an alternative destination. This shrine is famous for the god of learning, and its main hall is a designated national treasure. The shrine is especially great to see during the plum blossom and autumn leaf seasons.

Enjoy a Western-style lunch

Travel to Nara 

Kasuga Taisha Shrine
This Nara Period shrine is designated as a World Heritage Site. The deer of Nara Park are thought to be the shrine messengers. From 2025, the Main Sanctuary special visit area will be newly added to the itinerary. Visitors can get closer to the Main Sanctuary and view the hanging lanterns in the corridor.

Todai-ji Temple (Great Buddha)/Nara Park
A World Heritage site. This is the symbol of the Nara Period and one of the world’s largest wooden structures. Its huge main hall and bronze Great Buddha are impressive to behold.

Stay at accommodation in KYOTO

DAY 7 KYOTO – HIROSHIMA – KYOTO

In the morning travel from Hiroshima to Miyajima port, then take the ferry to Miyajima island.  

Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima
A World Heritage site.  Established in the 6th century, this shrine is one of Japan’s finest, and is famous for its beautiful Shinden-zukuri style structure (architecture representative of a nobles’ residence in the Heian period). The contrast of the green of Mt. Misen behind the lacquered shrine pavilion and the blue of the Seto Sea is beautiful and evocative of the underwater palace of Ryugujo.Time for lunch is allotted on Miyajima. This region is known for oysters, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, and conger eel rice bowl, which are available at many shops on Miyajima. Customers are free to enjoy their preferred meals.  Lunch not included.

Peace Memorial Park & Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
This large-scale park was established in 1949 after the Pacific War ended, and is visited by countless visitors as a symbol of peace. The museum within the park is an Important Cultural Property of Japan, and was built to remind future generations of the terror wrought by atomic bombs.

Atomic Bomb Dome
The Atomic Bomb Dome is a symbol of the disastrous atomic bombing during WWII, the first atomic bombs used in human history, and has been preserved as it was to promote peace and elimination of atomic weapons around the world.

Travel by bullet train from Hiroshima back to Kyoto city and overnight.

DAY 8 KYOTO 

Free day.

DAY 9 KYOTO – Kansai International Airport or Itami Airport

Transfer back to Kansai/Itami Airport or continue on in Japan.