On arrival at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, you will be met by our local representative in Japan for a brief meet and greet. Proceed to check-in at your city center hotel.

Apart from being the capital city of Japan, Tokyo is the biggest economic powerhouse of the country. With 36 of the Forbes 500 company based in the city, Tokyo has the highest GDP of any city in the world. It had its humble beginnings as a fishing village called Edo, which became an important political centre in 1 7th century and by the time the emperor shifted his imperial capital from Kyoto to Tokyo in 19th century, it was already the most populous city in the world. Today Tokyo is famous for its busy streets, anime inspired markets and large video game parlours.

Overnight stay at Tokyo hotel.

After breakfast, we will proceed for a sight seeing tour of Tokyo.

We shall start our sightseeing tour with a visit to Meiji Shrine which is dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken who transformed imperial Japan into an industrialised world power. Later, Visit Ueno Park, Asakusa Sensoji Temple, Sumida Riverfrom Asakusa.

Later, Visit Shibuya Crossing and Sky Tree(450m floor), the tallest building in Japan and a prominent landmark of Tokyo. This 634-metre-tall building offers 360 degree panoramic views of the city from its two excellent observation decks.

During the tour, we will explore more interesting parts of the city such as Akihabara district, famous for its electronic shops and establishments selling manga comics and districts with Old Tokyo charm such as Yanaka and Asukusa.

Overnight stay at the hotel in Tokyo.

After breakfast at the hotel, the day is free for you to explore Osaka on your own. SEGV recommends choosing from the following two optional tours –

Hiroshima and Miyajima Island – Hiroshima was one of the largest industrial centre in Japan before it was destroyed by Americans using the atomic bomb. At Hiroshima, we will visit the Peace Memorial Museum and Park which preserves photos and artefacts of people who lost their lives and also see Atomic Bomb Dome which was the only structure near the bombing site still standing after the explosion. Later, we will move to the beautiful and picturesque Miyajima Island to marvel at the wonderful Itsukushima Shrine. The shrine is built over water and it’s main highlight is a giant orange coloured Tori Gate which gets submerged during high tide.

Universal Studios Osaka – The first Universal Studios theme park to be opened in Asia, it features exciting rides based on the most famous movie franchises produced by Universal Studios such as Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Jaws and many more. Apart from the rides, you can enjoy the fantastic live shows such as WaterWorld which use mind boggling stunts and superb special effects to create a surreal experience.

Overnight stay at hotel in Osaka.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit Todai-Ji temple and Deer park in Nara before proceeding to Kyoto.

Nara was the imperial capital of Japan during 8th century before it moved to Kyoto. The complex of temples, ruins and virgin Kasugayama forest has been awarded a title of UNESCO world heritage site. The most famous temple here is Todai-Ji temple which has great historic significance, as it served as the head temple for all Japanese provincial Buddhist temples. It houses the world’s largest Bronze statue of Buddha Vairocana. Later we will spend some time in the Deer park in Nara which is home to thousands of free roaming deer. According to Legend, God Takemikazuchi came to Nara riding a white deer to protect the city. Since then, deer in Nara have been regarded as a holy animal.

After the tour of Nara, we will proceed to Kyoto and upon arrival check in at the hotel.

Kyoto is also called the thousand year capital, having been the capital of imperial Japan from 8th Century to 19th century. It was built according to principles of Feng Shui – the chinese Vastu Shastra and was modelled after the Chinese capital of Chang’an.  The cultural significance of the city is captured by the fact that it was removed from the list of target cities for American bombers, who didn’t want to destroy its heritage buildings. Owing to this, it is one of the few Japanese cities that preserve the buildings from pre-war era such as the traditional houses called Machiya.

The evening is free for you to explore the city on your own.

Overnight stay at the hotel in Kyoto.

SEGV’S RECOMMENDATION – Geisha are female Japanese entertainers who traditionally performed singing and dancing at high-class social gatherings during the imperial period. They can be identified through their colourful Kimonos and over-the-top makeup. Gion is the most well known and exclusive Geisha district in Japan. At Gion, you can take a guided walking tour to learn about the history of Geisha and explore the old merchant homes and lovely tea houses.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will proceed for a sightseeing tour of Kyoto City.

We will start our Kyoto sightseeing tour with a visit to Higashiyama district.With its narrow streets lined with traditional wooden houses and shops, Higashiyama preserves old Kyoto. Some of the popular attractions around the district include Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Chion-in Temple, Maruyama-koen Park. Later we will transfer to downtown Kyoto for a tour of Nishiki Market which is the largest traditional food market in Kyoto.

Next we will hike up to the most popular shrine in Kyoto called Fushimi-Inari Taisha. The shrine is located at the base of Inari mountain and has trails to various smaller shrines located higher up in the mountain. The most popular feature of the shrine are the thousands of bright red coloured Tori gates that line the path.

After the tour, the evening is free you to explore Kyoto on your own.

Overnight stay at the hotel in Kyoto.

SEGV’S RECOMMENDATION – Enjoy evening drinks and dinner at an Izakaya – an informal Japanese bar that serves drinks and small meals that can be shared at the table. Its etymology suggests that it was used for sake shops that allowed people to comfortably sit and drink. They can be easily recognised by the red paper lanterns which usually hang infront of the establishments.

Afterbreakfast at the hotel, we will continue our exploration of Kyoto as we shall visit other interesting parts of the ancient capital city.

We shall start our today’s sightseeing tour with a visit to Arashiyama district. Located on the west-end of Kyoto city, Arashiyama district is endowed with spell-binding natural beauty and its backdrop is dominated by the beautiful and majestic Arashiyama mountains. Here we will visit the Tenryu-ji Temple, an impressive Zen temple with awe-inspiring gardens. We shall also explore the   Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and enjoy a cup of green tea at Okochi-Sanso Villa, the former residence of a popular Japanese actor. Afterwards, we shall visit Kinkaku-Ji temple, one of the most iconic sights of Japan which is famous for its Gold-leaf exteriors.

In the evening, we shall transfer to the city of Hakone and check-in at the hotel.

Located on the important trade route between Kyoto and Tokyo, Hakone served as an important checkpoint for travellers during the Edo period. Today it is a popular destination, famous for the stunning views of Mt. Fuji one gets from the township. Apart from this, the town is located in a volcanically active region of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and is therefore home to volcanic geysers and hot springs.

Overnight stay at the hotel in Hakone.

SEGV’S RECOMMENDATION – Japan is famous for its stories about Ninjas and Samurais. While Samurais were the noble warriors of Japan who served to protect their king and kingdom, Ninja’s were silent assassins, without any code of ethics, who would kill for money. Learn more about their lives, weapons and clothing at Samurai & Ninja Museum. Not only this, the museum offers an authentic Japanese tea ceremony experience that is renowned for exuding peace and tranquility.

Afterbreakfast at the hotel, we will venture out for a sightseeing tour of Hakone.

We shall start the sightseeing tour with an wonderful cruise across Lake Ashinoko (also called Lake Ashi). This serene lake was formed when the crater of Mount Hakone was filled by water after it last erupted 3000 years ago. It is also popular for the mesmerising views that one gets from the lake of Mt Fuji. After the cruise, we shall take the Hakone ropeway to get stunning views of the geysers and hot-springs in Owakudani valley that were also formed during the last eruption of Mt Hakone. After the tour, we shall visit the Hakone Open-Air museum, a one of a kind museum that features an astounding collection of  sculptures and art pieces built by famous Japenese and International artists. It is also home to Picasso Exhibition hall which showcases one of the largest collection of Picasso paintings in the world.

Rest of the day is free for you to explore Hakone town on your own.

Overnight stay at the hotel in Hakone.

SEGV’S RECOMMENDATION – Hakone is a renowned Onsen resort town. Onsen are hot water springs that are usually part of traditional inns called Ryokan. Traditionally Ryokans have public or community baths where all residents can enjoy the Onsens together while others have private Onsens for bathing. Another prominent feature of Ryokans are the tatami-matted rooms and futon beds that provide an authentic experience of Japanese lifestyle. We recommend staying in a Ryokan in Hakone with private Onsens for the most enjoyable experience.

Afterbreakfast at the hotel, we will go to the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Sation on Mt Fuji.

Fuji Subaru Line fifth station is one of four 5th stations located on Mt Fuji. It is the highest point accessible on Mt Fuji by bus and is located halfway between the base of the mountain at Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine and its summit. Numerous trails leading up to the mountain top start from here. This is also a popular tourist spot as it offers great views of Fuji Five lakes.

Later, we will transfer to the world’s largest city, Tokyo.

Apart from being the capital city of Japan, Tokyo is the biggest economic powerhouse of the country. With 36 of the Forbes 500 company based in the city, Tokyo has the highest GDP of any city in the world. It had its humble beginnings as a fishing village called Edo, which became an important political centre in 17th century and by the time the emperor shifted his imperial capital from Kyoto to Tokyo in 19th century, it was already the most populous city in the world. Today Tokyo is famous for its busy streets, anime inspired markets and large video game parlours.

The evening is free for you to explore Tokyo on your own.

Overnight stay at the hotel in Tokyo.

SEGV’S RECOMMENDATION – Located on the route between Hakone and Subaru Line 5th station, Fuji-Q Highland is one of the best adventure theme parks in the world. With several of its rollercoasters awarded the Guinness book of world records for being the steepest, tallest, fastest and having the longest drop, it is something which should not be missed by adrenaline lovers. SEGV recommends buying priority passes for each of its ride because the park is plagued with long queues, generally stretching over an hour for the most popular rides.

Afterbreakfast at the hotel, we will proceed for a sightseeing tour of Western and Central Tokyo.

We shall start our sightseeing tour with a visit to Meiji Shrine which is dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken who transformed imperial Japan into an industrialised world power. Next, we shall visit what was once the largest wholesale sea food market in the world, Tsukiji market. Also traverse the popular Shibuya crossing which is located in Shibuya district which holds the record for the maximum number of people crossing the road at any time. The tour ends at Odaiba Island which was formed by reclaiming land from the sea for defensive purposes. Today, it has evolved into a popular leisure and entertainment district. During our sightseeing tour, we shall visit some of the most famous and charming neighbourhoods in the world’s largest city such as high-street fashion district Ginza and Daikanyama, and districts with old Tokya vibe such asShimokitazawa.

Overnight stay at hotel in Tokyo.

SEGV’S RECOMMENDATION – Sushi is a popular Japanese dish that has become synonymous with the cuisine today. This tasty and healthy snack has been a part of Japanese culture since many centuries. Therefore, we recommend that you attend a fun and informative Sushi-Making class. During the class, learn to make authentic vinegared-rice and the art of rolling the vegetables and meats inside from a master Japanese Sushi-Chef. The chef might even tell you few useful Japanese phrases and share his experience about everyday life of Japanese citizens.

After breakfast, we will continue our exploration of Tokyo with visit to more interesting places situated in Northern part of the city on day two of our sightseeing tour.

We shall start today’s sightseeing tour with a visit to Tokyo Skytree, the tallest building in Japan and a prominent landmark of Tokyo. This 634 metres tall building offers 360 degree panoramic views of the city from its two excellent observation decks. Next we shall visit Senso-Ji Temple, a colourful Buddhist temple which was built in the year 645 AD, making it one of the oldest temples in Tokyo. After the temple tour, we will proceed to UENO park, a large public park which houses small temples, ponds and some of Tokyo’s best museums like Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Ueno Zoo and much more. During the tour, we will explore more interesting parts of the city such as Akihabara district, famous for its electronic shops and establishments selling manga comics and districts with Old Tokyo charm such as Yanaka and Asukusa.

The evening has been kept free. Spend the last evening in Tokyo at your own leisure

Overnight stay at the hotel in Tokyo.

Afterbreakfast at the hotel, we will transfer to Haneda International airport to catch a flight back to India.

Arrive home with pleasant memories of your Japan tour organised by State Express Global Voyages, which we are sure you will treasure for a lifetime.