Day one
Tokyo
Land in Tokyo
the great arrivalInto the world's largest city. After the flight we keep it loose, a first konbini haul, a neighbourhood izakaya, an early night against the jet lag. Tokyo is best met rested.
Japan · Asia
Japan: The Golden Route
Neon Tokyo, a hot spring ryokan under Fuji, the temples of Kyoto and Osaka's street food roar, Japan's greatest hits, done properly.
Nights8
Best monthsMar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov
RouteTokyo → Hakone → Kyoto → Osaka · 8 nights
Food & wineCulture & cities
Why this one
- Tokyo, from Senso ji to Shibuya
- A hot spring ryokan night under Fuji
- Fushimi Inari and the temples of Kyoto
- Nara's great Buddha and bowing deer
The days, as we would run them
Day two
Tokyo
Tokyo, the highlights
shrine to skylineSenso ji temple at Asakusa before the crowds, the calm of the Meiji shrine, then the full pop blast of Shibuya crossing and Harajuku, and dinner where a sushi chef decides for you. Old and new on one ticket.
Day three
Tokyo
Markets, gardens & neon
the city's edgesThe tuna and tamago of Toyosu market, the green calm of the East Gardens or teamLab's light rooms, and the towers and tiny bars of Shinjuku after dark. A day to find your own Tokyo.
Day four
Hakone
To Hakone & Mount Fuji
onsen under the mountainThe romance car train to Hakone, hot spring country in Fuji's shadow. A cruise on Lake Ashi, the sulphur valley of Owakudani, the lakeside Open Air Museum, then a ryokan night: kaiseki dinner, an onsen soak, and Fuji over the water if she shows.
Day five
Kyoto
Bullet train to Kyoto
a thousand yearsThe Shinkansen west to the old capital. Straight into its loveliest corners, the Arashiyama bamboo grove and monkey park, the golden pavilion of Kinkaku ji, and an evening in the lantern lit lanes of Gion.
Day six
Kyoto
Kyoto's temples
ten thousand gatesThe vermilion torii tunnel of Fushimi Inari at dawn, the wooden terrace of Kiyomizu dera, the food stalls of Nishiki market, and a proper tea ceremony. Kyoto rewards an early start and a slow afternoon.
Day seven
Kyoto
A day in Nara
the bowing deerA short train to Nara, the great bronze Buddha in the largest wooden building on earth at Todai ji, and the famously polite deer of the park who bow for a cracker. Back to Kyoto for a kaiseki farewell dinner.
Day eight
Osaka
On to Osaka
the kitchen of JapanWest to Osaka, the country's friendliest, hungriest city. The castle in its moat, the Kuromon market by day, and Dotonbori's canyon of neon by night, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu, the lot.
Day nine
Osaka → home
Homeward
arigatoA last bowl of something brilliant before your transfer to Kansai airport. Japan ran exactly on time and surprised you anyway, the whole point of the place.
Where you sleep
Three ways to do the same route: Comfort, Premium or Luxe. Breakfasts in. Mix tiers city by city if you like, it is your trip.
Tokyo · 3 nights
Comfort Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier 4★
Premium Palace Hotel Tokyo 5★
Luxe The Peninsula Tokyo 5★
Hakone · 1 night
Our pick Gora Kadan (luxury ryokan) Ryokan
Kyoto · 3 nights
Comfort Hotel Kanra Kyoto 4★
Premium The Thousand Kyoto 5★
Luxe The Ritz Carlton, Kyoto 5★
Osaka · 1 night
Comfort Cross Hotel Osaka 4★
Premium Conrad Osaka 5★
Luxe The St. Regis Osaka 5★
What it costs
Priced to your dates, your hotel tier and how the two of you like to travel. Ask, the first answer usually lands within minutes.
Plan this trip on WhatsApp → Send to the group chatHow it works
1 · Say helloWhatsApp us your dates and who is coming.
2 · Talk it throughA short call with the person who designs it.
3 · Your proposalA priced, day by day plan within 48 hours.
4 · We run itA deposit holds it. We book, and stay on call throughout.
Designed and run personally by Nakul, founder of Travalong Journeys.he replies fast, usually mid ferry ✎
