Itinerary Details
Get the perfect journey to Japan's age-old onsen traditions in this 12-day onsen vacation! Starts from Tokyo and ends in Osaka, this tour focused on Japanese onsen culture, takes you to the mountain town of Hakone and Kinosaki, which are famed for their onsen bathhouses, ryokans and gorgeous scenery. While staying in a typical ryokan, you can also sample authentic Japanese cuisine! Not just onsen traditions, this trip also introduces you to other unique culture of Japan at Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. From the metropolis to the onsen towns, you will always have something to do!
Welcome to Japan! On arrival in Tokyo, your private guide will be ready to welcome you at the airport. You will be transferred to your hotel with a private car and driver.
After checking in your hotel, you will have free time to relax, or enjoy some local sightseeing, shopping, dinner, etc.
Accommodation option:
- Hotel East 21 Tokyo (Okura Hotels & Resorts)
breakfast and lunch
Begin your tour at the serene Meiji Shrine, a magnificent 20th-century Shinto monument set in a beautiful forest and a popular place for traditional Japanese weddings. Then take a walk along Omotesando Street, a broad tree-lined avenue.
Then visit a tranquil retreat at Hama-rikyu Gardens, a serene oasis amid the bustling city. Stroll through the meticulously manicured landscape, admiring the traditional Japanese gardens, tranquil ponds, and picturesque teahouses.
Continue to Asakusa, Tokyo's old town. Here, enter the massive gates to the ancient Buddhist temple of Sensoji, which is Tokyo's oldest temple and wander down Nakamise, a shopping street that for centuries has been providing temple visitors with many traditional local snacks and souvenirs.
Accommodation option:
- Hotel East 21 Tokyo (Okura Hotels & Resorts)
Meiji Shrine
Asakusa
breakfast and lunch
Kick off the day with a walk around the famous Tsukiji Fish Market. Your guide leads you through the sprawling, 80-year-old market to visit fishmongers and food vendors. Sample a range of sushi, Japanese-style omelets, fried fish cakes, sake, and Japanese tea on this in-depth experience of the legendary market.
After, learn the art of sushi making firsthand – it's the quintessential Edo-era specialty and possibly Japan's most famous culinary gift to the world. Hear about the history of sushi, how to choose the best fish, learn proper slicing and rice-making techniques and sample some seriously fresh sushi.
Soar to the summit of the world's tallest structure, Tokyo Skytree, and witness the city's breathtaking panorama unfold beneath you. Marvel at the iconic landmarks that dot the landscape, from the Imperial Palace to the Tokyo Tower, and capture unforgettable memories from this unparalleled vantage point. On a clear day, you should be able to see the peak of Mount Fuji, which is located about 84 km to the west.
Accommodation option:
- Hotel East 21 Tokyo (Okura Hotels & Resorts)
Tsukiji Fish Market
Sushi-making class
breakfast and lunch
Travel with your guide from Tokyo Shinjuku station to Hakone by way of Japan's famously efficient transit system. You will travel on the Romancecar Limited Express. You'll have two full days to enjoy all that Hakone offers and have many opportunities to view Mt. Fuji, if the weather is in your favor.
Tonight, you'll experience Japanese ryokan hospitality, sleeping on futon in a tatami mat room, wearing yukata (a light kimono-style robe) and enjoying Japan's amazing onsen culture.
Accommodation option:
- Hakone Ginyu
Hakone
breakfast and lunch
Renowned as an excellent resort area since the Meiji period, Hakone and its natural hot springs make a great place to relax and unwind with the family.
A visiting for cruise on Lake Ashinoko, admire the superb view of Mt. Fuji from aboard a ship. And The Gora Park, a western-style landscape park located on the steep slope above Gora Station. It is a relaxing place for unwinding and enjoying the scenery and views of Hakone.
Take a 20-minute ropeway ride from Togendai to Owakudani. Along the ropeway, weather permitting, there will be great views of Mt. Fuji in the distance. While in Owakudani, visitors will have the chance to experience hot springs and sulfurous fumes along the trails of an active volcanic zone.
Relax in onsen after today's sightseeing.
Accommodation option:
- Hakone Ginyu
Cruise on Lake Ashinoko
Hakone cable car
breakfast and lunch
Jump onboard the bullet train to Kyoto, arguably the most stunning city in Japan.
Start the day at Kiyomizu-dera Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous Kyoto temple. It offers a beautiful view of the city and has a history dating back to 778 AD.
Immerse your family in Kyoto's rich culture with a kimono wearing experience. Walk the city in traditional attire and capture timeless memories.
Drift through the nostalgic streets of the Gion district, renowned for its well-preserved machiya houses and teahouses.
Accommodation option:
- Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto ekimae PREMIER
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Kimono-wearing Experience
breakfast and lunch
Your day begins with a visit to stunning Kinkakuji Temple, which is covered in shimmering gold leafs and surrounded by green gardens and ponds. It's now one of Kyoto's most famous temples.
Enter Nijo Castle, a significant relic showcasing high artistic style and historical significance in Japanese architecture.
Take a walk down Nishiki Market for some free time. It is a traditional food market known by locals as 'Kyoto’s Pantry' which is a great place for seasonal foods and Kyoto specialties.
Journey to Arashiyama next, starting with Monkey Park Iwatayama, a natural habitat for snow monkeys which offers a fun-filled family experience.
Take a tranquil stroll through the Bamboo Grove, offering an otherworldly walking experience surrounded by towering bamboo trunks.
Accommodation option:
- Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto ekimae PREMIER
Kinkakuji Temple
Bamboo groves in Arashiyama
breakfast and lunch and dinner
Next up is Kinosaki Onsen, a postcard-perfect hot spring town on the Japan Sea Coast, just a two-hour train ride north of Kyoto. Take JR express train from Kyoto to Kinosaki Onsen Train Station, you will be transferred to a traditional ryokan by our driver.
Kinosaki Onsen is a charming hot spring town located three hours from Kyoto and Osaka in northern Hyogo Prefecture, overlooking the Sea of Japan. This atmospheric 1,300-year-old Japanese town boasts seven public hot spring bathhouses within walking distance of each other.
The favourite thing about Kinosaki Onsen is how everyone dons their yukata robes and wooden geta sandals to stroll around town; if you're visiting during the spring, rows of cherry blossom trees line the central canal, offering the perfect backdrop for some commemorative photos.
Accommodation option:
- Kinosaki Onsen Onishiya Suishoen
Kinosaki Onsen Town
breakfast and lunch and dinner
Today, you will visit Onsenji Temple, dedicated to the town's guardian of hot springs, and Kinosaki Art Museum to see its ancient religious artifacts. Ascend by cable car to the observation deck for a bird’s-eye view of the town. On your return, head to the on-site onsen (baths) for a relaxing soak in mineral-rich waters.
As an overnight guest at a ryokan, you will receive a free pass to all communal bathhouses. Each hot spring bathhouse has unique features and waters known to heal many ailments.
Accommodation option:
- Kinosaki Onsen Onishiya Suishoen
Onsenji Temple
Kinosaki Ropeway
breakfast and lunch
In the morning, clad in a luxurious kimono and wooden sandals, venture out along the scenic willow-lined Otani River to Kinosaki's seven legendary public bathhouses.
Depart from Kinosaki Onsen and take a three-hour train ride to Osaka. Meet with tour guide and driver in Osaka train station then transfer to hotel.
Accommodation option:
- Mercure Tokyu Stay Osaka Namba
breakfast and lunch
Start today's tour from the tranquil ambiance of Osaka Castle Park, a historical bastion amid the modern cityscape, strategically looming over the surrounding park and moat.
Then, absorb the artistry of Japanese woodblock prints known as Ukiyo-e at Kamigata Ukiyo-e Museum. Embark on a hands-on ukiyo-e printing experience, where you would learn the traditional techniques of creating these iconic woodblock prints. Under the guidance of a skilled artisan, create your own ukiyo-e masterpiece, taking with you a tangible piece of Japanese artistic tradition.
Dive into the energetic atmosphere of Dotonbori, known for its bright neon lights, culinary delights, and lively entertainment.
Set your sights on stunning city vistas from the Umeda Sky Building. The open-air observation platform offers panoramic views of the city that simply take your breath away.
Accommodation option:
- Mercure Tokyu Stay Osaka Namba
Osaka Castle
Kamigata Ukiyo-e Museum
breakfast
You will be picked up and taken to the airport for your return flights home.