Osaka – Kyoto – Uji – Nara – Fuji Hakone – Kamakura – Yokohama – Tokyo
Vibrant, traditional, adventure, gastronomy, escape!
Recommended Period:
November 24th – December 3rd
What could be more exciting than escaping to Japan during the 1st of December holiday or during other Bank Holidays? We’ve done a bit of research on flight options and found the best way for you to make the most of your mini-holiday. You already know that we don’t compromise on the quality of the journey or its intensity, so we’ve outlined an itinerary where you won’t miss anything relevant to Japan. Of course, any extra day is an advantage and gives us the freedom to show you some off-the-beaten-path gems, but even if you can’t allocate more time, we plan to take you out of the ordinary and surprise you.
Recommended for:
- Travellers who love freedom, adventure, novelty and crisp, cool air.
- Travellers who want to discover Japan on their own, venture into the unknown, but always have the feeling of safety and plenty of information provided by specialists.
- Families, teenagers and those who want an experience where all members of the group return enriched.
- Lovers of authentic traditions and history, nature, as well as technology and modernism.
Why December 1st in Japan?
- Because you can take advantage of your days off and extend a city break to transform it into a full-fledged journey.
- For Osaka, the beautiful, bustling city of Japan, the second largest Japanese city.
- For traditional Kyoto with serene temples in tune with Zen.
- For authentic green tea from Uji and for the thousands of deer in Nara.
- For Mt. Fuji and snow in Hakone Park, for relaxation in a thermal water pool, gazing at the magnificent landscape, in a traditional Japanese inn.
- For cosmopolitan, lively, vibrant Tokyo, which you can also admire from the top of the SkyTree tower.
- For the Great Buddha of Kamakura and the streets with traditional houses and Japanese gardens.
- For Yokohama and the breathtaking panorama from Minato Mirai.
- For walks on the crowded streets of Shibuya and for admiring the famous Rainbow Bridge and Odaiba Island at night.
*We continue below by presenting the recommended itinerary with the mention that it can be modified and personalised according to your own desires.
Day 1 – November 24 – Home → Osaka
Nihon e yokoso!
- You’re embarking on a flight to Osaka and on a journey that will change your life because you’ve chosen to travel with Japan by Myself and our slogan is Discover Japan, rediscover yourself!
Day 2 – November 25 – Osaka
The beautiful crazy city
- Today you will explore Osaka, a different kind of introduction to Japanese culture. Your first stop will be Dotonbori, known to be the liveliest district of the city. Here, you’ll find not only a multitude of restaurants with various extravagant decorations and neon signs but also commercial arcades with shops and small izakaya bars. You can have an unforgettable experience overlooking the entire city of Osaka from the top of Abeno Harukas, a symbol of the city and the tallest building in Japan. It’s best to go at sunset when the city is covered in the colours of the setting sun. In the evening, you can walk from Abeno Harukas to the Shinsekai district, an important historical area of the city. The name translates to “New World,” as it was built in 1903, featuring the Tsutenkaku Tower, its construction inspired by the Eiffel Tower. Here, you can enjoy dinner at some of the small restaurants that still carry the nostalgia of bygone times.
- Accommodation Osaka
Day 3 – November 26 – Osaka
From history to contemporary
- The first stop on today’s sightseeing list will be Osaka Castle, built by one of the great unifiers of Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who wanted this castle to become the centre of a new Japan united under his rule. Next, head to Universal Studios, the first theme park of the company built in Asia. In the evening, the sunset awaits you at the Umeda Sky Building.
- Accommodation Osaka
Day 4 – November 27 – Osaka → Kyoto → Osaka
The Pearls of the Former Capital
- Start your day with the Golden Pavilion, which needs no introduction, then head to Ginkaku-ji, the Temple of the Silver Pavilion, where you’ll find one of Kyoto’s most beautiful gardens. From there, take a stroll along the stunning Philosopher’s Path to the next temples: Eikan-do and Nanzen-ji, and then wander through the old streets of the historic Higashiyama district towards one of Japan’s most important temples, the Pure Water Temple – Kiyomizu-dera. At the end of the day, stroll through the beautiful Geisha district, Gion.
- Accommodation Osaka
Day 5 – November 28 – Osaka → Nara → Uji → Osaka
Buddhism, tea and deer
- Your first stop is Uji, where you can taste and purchase the finest green tea in Japan in all its forms and visit the Byodo-in Temple, which is also depicted on the back of the 10 yen coin.
- In Nara, you’ll encounter hundreds of playful deer greeting you with bows as you stroll through Nara Park on your way to one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, the Todaiji Temple.
- Your last evening in Osaka will be spent in the vibrant city, the second largest in Japan. The Namba district and Dotonbori shopping street will provide the perfect atmosphere for an exciting nightlife, with lights reminiscent of Las Vegas. We recommend trying takoyaki, “dumplings” filled with octopus, as Osaka is where they were invented.
- Accommodation Osaka
Day 6 – November 29 – Osaka → Hakone Fuji
At the foot of Mount Fuji
- After a day full of positive but overwhelming excitement, you board the shinkansen and after just an hour, you arrive near Japan’s symbol, Mount Fuji. If you still have energy, we suggest a sightseeing route with various fun modes of transportation: from tourist trains to funiculars, cable cars and even a boat ride in the Hakone Fuji National Park. This route will give you the opportunity to see magnificent landscapes and, if the weather is clear, Mount Fuji in all of its splendour. If you’re low on energy and just want to relax, there’s no better place than a traditional Japanese inn with an onsen. The onsen is a Japanese spa where you can relax in thermal water outdoors, enjoying the view of a snow-covered Japanese garden or a perfect panorama.
- Accommodation in a traditional Japanese inn with a spa in Hakone
Day 7 – November 30 – Hakone → Tokyo
From Fuji, to Edo via Manga
- Today, you’ll board the shinkansen again to make your way to the vibrant metropolis of Tokyo.
- We’ll only tell you this much: today you’ll traverse 400 years, from areas reminiscent of Tokyo from the 1600s during the Edo period to the shockingly fascinating Tokyo of passionate anime, manga or Jpop enthusiasts. All these sights await you in Tokyo on the route from Asakusa to Akihabara. Don’t miss the chance to visit the Ghibli Museum, but be sure to make reservations well in advance.
- Accommodation Tokyo
Day 8 – December 01 – Tokyo
Tokyo animated, cosmopolitan and vibrant
- A day spent exploring Tokyo guided by one of our colleagues. Your list of must-see attractions in this city buzzing with energy includes: Shibuya and its famous intersection known for the sea of people crossing from five directions simultaneously, the artificial island of Odaiba and a sunset from the Rainbow Bridge, an evening filled with lights, noise, and colour in Shinjuku, the district that never sleeps.
- Accommodation Tokyo
Day 9 – December 02 – Tokyo → Kamakura → Yokohama → Tokyo
History, tradition and the future
- You have a full day ahead. You’ll spend half of it in Kamakura, wandering picturesque streets and standing before the Great Buddha, and the other half in the frenzy of Minato Mirai, the futuristic district of Yokohama.
- Accommodation Tokyo
Day 10 – December 03 – Tokyo → Home
Last day on Planet Tokyo
- Today you will bid farewell to Japan and head to the airport for the flight home, but not before doing some last-minute shopping and taking photos that could make your friends jealous!
For this itinerary, you can choose one of our consultancy and services packages!
Ideal for a journey you’ll remember as the most spectacular, well-organized and balanced, we recommend the JBM PREMIUM package, which includes:
Dedicated consultation meetings for crafting the program down to the smallest detail.
All tourist services: flight tickets, accommodation, travel passes, transfers, local guides, restaurant reservations, portable WiFi device.
A personalised travel guidebook with information to guide you throughout the entire experience.
A WhatsApp group where we communicate daily and send you audio information about the next day to ensure you have a smooth journey without any unpleasant events and make the most of your time and the Japanese experience.
A customised itinerary based on your interests and passions.
24/7 consultancy at the destination.
