Tokyo – Fuji - Hakone – Kyoto – Nara – Kyoto – Osaka
Modern, cool and comprehensive!
Recommended Period:
October – November: While many people consider the cherry blossom season to be the best time to visit Japan, we recommend an alternative when the weather is much better, the crowds are not as large, and the forests, parks and mountains are adorned with red hues thanks to the Japanese maples. This way, you can experience everything Japan has to offer without worrying.
Although cherry blossoms are iconic, Japan’s beauty extends beyond spring flowers. The autumn landscapes are a testament to the country’s natural diversity and will leave you in awe at every turn.
Recommended for:
- Travellers full of energy who love freedom, adventure and uniqueness.
- 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.
- Fans of anime and manga, whose childhood is marked by these symbols of Japan.
- Enthusiasts of authentic traditions and history, as well as technology and modernism.
Why Youthful Japan?
- For cosmopolitan, lively, vibrant Tokyo which can be admired from the top of the SkyTree Tower.
- For Jpop, manga, anime and everything that falls under Japan's subculture, inspiring teenagers worldwide.
- For walks on the crowded streets of Shibuya and for admiring the famous Rainbow Bridge and Odaiba Island at night.
- For traditional Kyoto with serene temples in tune with Zen.
- For walks in the Bamboo Forest and the tranquillity you can find in a Zen garden.
- For Osaka, Japan's beautiful crazy city, the second largest Japanese city.
- For Mount Fuji and the coolness of Hakone Park, for relaxation in a hot spring pool, gazing at the magnificent landscape, in a traditional Japanese inn.
*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 Home → Tokyo
Nihon e yokoso!
- You’re embarking on a flight to Tokyo. You’ll land on the main island of Japan, in the world’s largest metropolis.
Day 2 Tokyo
Animated, cosmopolitan and vibrant
- Your day begins in Shibuya, the famous district home to the well-known Hachiko statue and the busiest pedestrian intersection in the world (fans of Alice in Borderland know). Just a few minutes away is Miyashita Park, an amazing blend of greenery and modern infrastructure. You continue the tour to Omotesando Street, to see one of Tokyo’s most expensive streets, filled with luxury shops. Right nearby, you’ll find Takeshita Street in Harajuku, where you can truly feel the pop culture of young Japanese people. Cosplayers, out-of-this-world shops, themed cafes with cats, hedgehogs, dogs and more, you’ve got them all! The next destination is right nearby, in Yoyogi Park, at Meiji Jingu, an oasis of calm in vibrant Tokyo. You’ll catch the sunset above Tokyo in Shinjuku, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Building (bonus points: it’s free), where you can see the entire metropolis from the 45th floor. You’ll spend the night in the central hub of Tokyo’s nightlife, Shinjuku.
- Accommodation Tokyo
Day 3 Tokyo
Modern Japan
- After a day spent exploring Tokyo, today our first stop is Akihabara, the paradise of electronics, anime and maid cafes. Then, for a completely unique experience, you’ll head to the Tokyo Skytree, considered the tallest tower in the world, to admire the entire city of Tokyo and with a bit of luck, even Mount Fuji. But the day won’t end there and finally, you’ll make one last stop in the Odaiba area, known as an artificial island where many companies have their headquarters. Here, you’ll visit the famous teamLab Planets, which you’ve surely seen on Instagram or TikTok and wished to be there in an instant. Additionally, here lies the famous Rainbow Bridge, connecting Odaiba with the rest of the city, where you can admire the sunset over the entire metropolis.
- Accommodation Tokyo
Day 4 Tokyo → Fuji Hakone
Nature among Mountains and Relaxation at an Onsen in the Fuji-Hakone National Park
- After two days 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.
- Accommodation Hakone
Day 5 Fuji Hakone → Kyoto
The Old Capital of Japan – Bamboo and Zen
- After a day spent in nature, you’ll once again board the shinkansen early in the morning, heading towards the old capital of Japan, Kyoto. Continuing with the harmony amidst nature, this day is dedicated to Zen, shifting the focus towards the district of Arashiyama, a place appreciated for its mountain views since the Heian Period.
- Your first stop will be at the Iwatayama Park, where besides seeing the entire Kyoto from high up, you’ll also find Japanese macaques, the famous snow monkeys you see on Pinterest bathing in hot springs. Admittedly, they don’t bathe here, but they’re just as adorable.
- From here, you’ll move on to the next point of interest, namely the Tenryuji Temple, renowned for its Zen garden. During this visit, it’s recommended to try the room dedicated to viewing the garden, where people used to sit just to admire the natural beauty and find inner peace
- The next stop is the Bamboo Forest, where the sound created as the wind passes through the bamboo leaves has been included in the list of Japan’s top 100 heritage sounds that must be preserved.
- After a short stroll through the centre of Arashiyama, where there are plenty of traditional shops and boutiques, the rest of the day is dedicated to the two temples, Kinkakuji and Ryoanji, in the northern part of Kyoto. Kinkaku-ji, translated as the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, gets its name from the fact that the exterior walls of the building’s upper floors are covered with gold leaf. Additionally, you’ll be amazed by the Ryoanji Temple, located near the Kinkaku-ji, famous for its Zen garden with the 15 stones arranged in an interesting way, as no matter where you look, you won’t be able to see all the stones before your eyes.
- Accommodation Kyoto
Day 6 Kyoto
The pearls of the former capital
- This day begins with a visit to the sibling of the Golden Pavilion, Ginkaku-ji, the Temple of the Silver Pavilion, where you’ll also find one of Kyoto’s most beautiful gardens. From here, you’ll embark on the stunning Philosopher’s Path towards 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. Before returning to the hotel, you’ll pass through the beautiful Geisha district, Gion. Who knows, if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of one.
- Accommodation Kyoto
Day 7 Kyoto → Osaka
Mystique and Deer Haven
- Early in the morning, you’ll start with some fresh snacks from Nishiki Market, a covered market in Kyoto, full of goodies. With a full stomach, you’ll head to the International Manga Museum, where you’ll feel right at home!
- The next destination will be an adventure that will give you the energy you need: a hike up the mountain hosting the Fushimi Inari Shrine. This shrine is dedicated to the god Inari, the god of rice. It is said that his messengers were foxes, so around the shrine there are many fox statues. The shrine is renowned for the hundreds of vermillion gates leading up the mountain, which you’ve surely seen online.
- The next and final stop for the day will be Nara, the home of deer roaming freely through the city streets. Nara Park not only hosts the deer, historically considered messengers of the gods, but also the Todaiji Temple, the largest wooden building in the world and the Kasuga Taisha Shrine. The day will end in Japan’s second-largest city, Osaka, Tokyo’s crazier and more fun cousin and you’ll spend the evening in Dotonbori, Namba. Here, you’ll find not only plenty of restaurants with various gigantic decorations and neon signs but also commercial arcades with shops and small izakaya bars.
- Accommodation Osaka
Day 8 Osaka
The Beautiful Crazy City
Today, you’ll explore Osaka, from traditional to super modernism
- This day will be dedicated to discovering the city of Osaka, the second largest city in Japan. You can visit the Dotonbori district during the day to get an idea of the strong contrast between day and night, but you can also explore a hidden gem, the moss-covered Hozenji Temple. After splashing water on the temple statue and making a wish, head towards Kuromon Market to try some fresh local delicacies. You can have an unforgettable experience viewing 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.
- This day, if you wish, can be replaced with a visit to Universal Studios Japan. Or even better, you could add another day to the excursion and not miss out on anything.
- Accommodation Osaka
Day 9 Osaka
Cosmopolitan and traditional
- You’ll start this day by visiting the Kaiyukan Aquarium, which houses hundreds of species of fish from the Pacific Ring of Fire, as well as animals from around the world. The main attraction is the two whale sharks housed within the aquarium.
- Next, you’ll make your way to Osaka Castle, which was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who wanted this castle to become the centre of a new Japan united under his rule.
- At the end of the day, the last destination will be the Umeda Sky Building, located in one of the most important districts of Osaka, Umeda. From the observatory of the building, you can see the city at sunset. Additionally, around the building, there are plenty of restaurants and shops where you can have dinner at a reasonable price! The cherry on top is that to reach the building, you need to use escalators suspended in the air!
- Accommodation Osaka
Day 10 Osaka → Home
Sayōnara, Japonia
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.
