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JPY (¥)If you happen to have more than one week in Japan, then you will have the opportunity to venture beyond Japan’s famous cities and discover its natural beauty and rural charm. Beginning in Tokyo, this 11-day itinerary in Japan will combine buzzing city life with idyllic spa experiences, shrines, temples, and more.
Day 1
With hundreds of international flights each day, Tokyo is the best place to begin your Japanese adventure. As soon as you arrive in Tokyo, it’ll be time to start exploring. The first stop on your itinerary should be Sensoji, the oldest temple in Tokyo. This historical site is an important Buddhist temple that is home to a shrine of the Goddess Kannon. Around the temple grounds is a medium-sized market that sells a range of authentic souvenirs and tasty food that is ideal for a quick bite to eat.
If you have a head for heights, then Tokyo Skytree is a good option. Located just a short stroll from Sensoji, Tokyo Skytree is a broadcasting tower that is 634 meters high. The tower boasts an impressive viewing deck and offers fabulous views of the entire city. Spend the evening relaxing on a delicious ramen soup tour before heading back to your hotel for some well-needed rest.
Day 2
This will be your only full day in Tokyo, so make sure to wake up early and head to the world-renowned Tsukiji Fish Market, where you’ll find plenty of fresh fish.
For an insight into samurai history that doesn’t involve crowds of tourists, take a trip to Sengakuji Temple. This temple is the burial site for the 47 Ronin, a significant historical legend in Japan. Visitors often light incense and place it on the gravestones of the samurai as a sign of respect.
Next, it’ll be time to explore the quirky district of Harajuku. Here you will find a range of weird and wonderful shops selling a variety of quirky outfits and accessories. The area is renowned as Tokyo’s trend-setting capital with iconic styles such as Lolita. With a vibrant café culture as well, an afternoon in Harajuku is certainly never boring.
Evening
Wherever you find yourself in Tokyo in the evening, you are guaranteed to come across fine cuisine and karaoke bars. A favorite Japanese pastime is to party the night away with friends while singing along to your favorite tunes at a karaoke joint in Shibuya.
Alternatively, the elegant Ginza district offers a variety of hip and high-end karaoke bars with rooms for all group sizes. Even if you happen to be a little shy, a karaoke bar really is the best way to spend your final evening in Tokyo.
Day 3
Join an incredible 1-day tour venturing out from Tokyo to nearby Nikko with our Best of Nikko Small Group Day Tour from Tokyo. A city filled with natural beauty, it’s the perfect day for nature and culture enthusiasts. Begin with an early morning pickup and travel comfortably to Nikko, stopping first at the breathtaking Kegon Falls. Continue to serene Lake Chuzenji for stunning waterside views, then pause at the historic Shinkyo Bridge before exploring the ornate Toshogu Shrine, home to the famous Three Wise Monkeys. Along the way, your guide will share the history and significance of each site, enriching your experience, before returning to Tokyo for a relaxing evening in the city.
Day 4
Morning
Before enjoying a Tokyo breakfast, wake up early and watch sumo wrestlers in training. Sumo wrestling is an iconic sport in Japan, and one option is to visit Arashio-beya stable, where visitors can look through the windows from the outside. The practice begins at 7:30 am and lasts for around three hours. The windows can get crowded, so arrive early.
See the action up close by watching sumo wrestling in person. As this requires prior coordination, the easiest way to attend a practice is through our Morning Sumo Experience in Tokyo. This Half-Day Japan Tour will take you into the center of the arena, allowing you to embrace this ancient sport firsthand.
Afternoon
Far in Tokyo’s distance lies the iconic Mount Fuji. Through ancient Japanese art and history, this mountain has been recorded for centuries for its beauty and geographic importance. In order to get closer to this 3776-meter summit, the best option is to depart Shinjuku Station in Tokyo and take the Odakyu Railway train to the beautiful spa town of Hakone. This is the quickest rail option and the journey takes just under 90 minutes and costs 2080 Yen (19 USD).
Upon arriving in Hakone, it’ll be time to unwind from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. Hakone has plenty of ways to catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji, including a cable car, a funicular ride, or a gentle boat trip across a scenic Lake Ashi. Hakone is also home to the Pola Museum of Art and Hakone Open-Air Museum which is home to a fascinating collection of sculptures. For hiking enthusiasts, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park offers picturesque walking trails to get even closer to the renowned dormant volcano.
Evening
As the day-trippers head back to the city, the evening in Hakone becomes far more relaxed, and on a clear evening, it is possible to relax beside the lake and see Mount Fuji glimmering beneath the stars. This is also a wonderful time to experience an onsen. An onsen is a traditional hot spring bath that offers relaxation and rejuvenation.
There is an array of onsen in Hakone, and visitors can choose from both indoor and outdoor spas. The best option is to choose an outdoor onsen for its beautiful natural backdrop. There are also opportunities for firefly viewing in the evening for a truly romantic experience.
Day 5
Spend another day in Hakone and venture further afield in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Hiking enthusiasts will love this park which provides picturesque walking trails and offers the chance to get even closer to the renowned dormant volcano.
Day 6-9
Morning
Spend the morning exploring the rest of Hakone before taking a three-hour journey to the historic city of Kyoto. Kyoto was once the capital city of Japan and is home to over 1000 temples. This ancient city is one of the only destinations where geisha are still training and working today, and visitors flock to Kyoto to get a taste of a more authentic Japanese experience. In spring, the city becomes extremely busy as the cherry trees reach full bloom and provide a magnificent display.
As there are so many things to see and do in Kyoto, it is really difficult to know where to begin. One of the most popular temples in the city is Kinkaku-ji, a golden temple set in an idyllic forested location. Nijo Castle and Ginkaku-ji temple are also noteworthy sites. Fushimi Inari Taisha is a Shinto Shrine with a winding outdoor staircase that is covered by hundreds of red gates.
For those who wish to get closer to nature, Arashiyama is a beautiful parkland with an incredible bamboo forest and a monkey park where visitors can get up close with Japan’s beloved Macaque monkeys.
The ancient district of Gion is where geisha still live and operate. Here, there are charming boutique shops, nearby temples, and charismatic winding pathways. Visitors can find beautiful antiques, delicious authentic dinners, and geisha performances at certain times of the year. For a truly unique experience, take part in a geisha dinner, which usually consists of an apprentice geisha who will serve delicious food and perform traditional Japanese songs, dances, and poetry.
As Kyoto prides itself in preserving ancient art forms, take part in a traditional tea ceremony. Here you will learn all about this beautiful ritual and will receive guidance on how to prepare a matcha tea using ancient methods l. Other activities that visitors can take part in are cooking classes and Buddhist meditation sessions.
Day 10
It only takes one hour by train to get from Kyoto to Nara. Nara was Japan’s first capital city and is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Although it is still a popular destination, Nara boasts a more relaxed ambiance than Kyoto and is a perfect day trip or stopover.
Todai-ji Temple is perhaps the city’s most famous site. The temple itself is said to be the home of the Great Buddha, and a large statue of Buddha resides here. The statue is worshipped by locals across the country, and the temple is known for its spiritual significance in Buddhism. Another important spiritual site in Nara is Kasuga-Taisha Shrine, which boasts beautiful gardens and idyllic forested pathways.
Nara also has many gardens and is famed for a large number of deer who wander around the city’s parks and shrines. The deer in Nara are very comfortable with people and will often bow their heads in the hope of receiving some food. Nara is a pleasant place to stay and can be explored within a day or two. We recommend joining our half-day tour to Nara from Kyoto and returning to spend the night in Kyoto.
Day 11
The train trip back from Kyoto to Tokyo takes approximately two hours. Upon arriving back in Tokyo, it’ll be time to conclude your trip with a return flight home.
The Japan Golden Route is a highly favored itinerary for first-time travelers to Japan. Encompassing the nation’s most renowned destinations, it offers a convenient way to discover the country’s highlights. If you have only one week to spend in Japan, our 7-day Japan Golden Route Express Tour Package is the ideal choice. This package swiftly guides you through a slightly more condensed version of the famous route, providing an overview of its main attractions. Alternatively, if you can afford more time, consider our 12-day, 13-day, 14-day, or 16 Day Japan Golden Route Tour Package to complete the entire Golden Route with ease and luxury.
