Japan Grand Tour: Cities, Culture & History
Trips to Japan

Japan Grand Tour: Cities, Culture & History

9 days 8 nights Japan itinerary with Shibuya, Hakone, Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion, Miyajima’s floating torii and Osaka’s street food.

From $5999 per person

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What makes this trip

Japan Grand Tour: Cities, Culture & History

Discover the best of Japan in one seamless journey with this 9 Days 8 Nights Japan Itinerary through Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. It’s one of our most popular Japan tour packages: a private tour that runs every day. It brings together neon-lit cities, sacred temples, mountain scenery and famous food at a comfortable pace, so it suits first-time and returning visitors alike.

Your trip begins with a warm welcome at the airport and a private transfer to your hotel in Tokyo. Over the next two days, you’ll see a capital where tradition meets trend, from the famous Shibuya Crossing to quiet shrines and lively neighborhoods. You’ll also have a free day to explore at your own pace. Next, head to Mount Fuji and Hakone for fresh mountain air, lake views and a night in the Kawaguchiko area. If you’d like more time in this region, see our Mount Fuji tour.

Take the bullet train to Kyoto, Japan’s cultural heart, where the Golden Pavilion and centuries-old streets show the country’s long traditions. Enjoy a free day in Kyoto, then take a day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima, home of the famous floating torii gate. Your journey ends in Osaka, known as the nation’s kitchen, where street food and busy nightlife make a perfect last stop before you say farewell on day nine.

This 9 Days 8 Nights Japan Itinerary through Tokyo includes:

  • eight nights in 4- and 5-star hotels
  • daily breakfast
  • entrance fees to the listed attractions
  • guide services
  • private Alphard or HiAce transport on private days

Short on time? Try our Japan one week itinerary

Day by day

Itinerary

9 Days / 8 Nights

  1. Your journey through Japan starts as soon as you arrive. A member of our team will welcome you at the airport and escort you by private transfer to your hotel, where check-in begins at 15:00 or 16:00. Take time to unwind, or head out for a gentle walk to get your first feel for Tokyo.
    An English-speaking assistant may handle your airport transfer.

    Overnight: Tokyo

  2. Asakusa & Senso-ji Temple: Visit the city’s oldest and best-loved Buddhist temple, then wander Nakamise Shopping Street for traditional crafts, Japanese treats and souvenirs.
    Meiji Shrine: A tranquil, tree-filled sanctuary tucked into the center of Tokyo.
    Harajuku & Omotesando: Where bold street style sits alongside elegant architecture and designer boutiques.
    Shibuya Crossing: The world-famous scramble crossing and an icon of modern Tokyo.
    Ginza: End the day in Tokyo’s upscale district, home to luxury stores, grand department stores and art galleries.

    Meals: Breakfast

    Overnight: Tokyo

  3. Spend the day exactly as you like, whether that’s exploring new neighborhoods, shopping or taking it easy.

    Meals: Breakfast

    Overnight: Tokyo

  4. After checking out, meet your private English-speaking guide and vehicle for the roughly three-hour drive to the Fuji Five Lakes area.

    Lake Kawaguchi: One of the finest spots for views of Mount Fuji.
    Hakone Ropeway (one-way ticket included): Sweeping mountain scenery and, on clear days, Mount Fuji itself.
    Owakudani Valley: A live volcanic zone of rising steam vents and rugged mountain landscapes.

    Check in to your hotel near Lake Kawaguchiko or in Hakone.

    Meals: Breakfast

    Overnight: Lake Kawaguchiko or Hakone

  5. Travel into Kyoto’s timeless world. In the morning, board the Shinkansen with reserved seats included.

    Gion District: Kyoto’s legendary geisha quarter, rich in tradition.
    Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion): One of Japan’s most famous sights, its gilded walls mirrored in the pond around it.

    Check in to your hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast

    Overnight: Kyoto

  6. Enjoy a day to explore Kyoto at your own pace.

    Meals: Breakfast

    Overnight: Kyoto

  7. Take the Shinkansen (reserved seats included) on a two-hour journey to Hiroshima.

    Miyajima Island: Hop on a short, scenic ferry to this sacred island. Visit Itsukushima Shrine (entry included), famous for its vermilion torii gate that seems to float on the water at high tide, and meet the gentle deer that roam freely.
    Atomic Bomb Dome: Back in Hiroshima, walk around this UNESCO World Heritage Site, left standing exactly as it was after the bombing.

    Ride the bullet train back to your Kyoto hotel, about two hours.

    Meals: Breakfast

    Overnight: Kyoto

  8. Head to Osaka and soak up its lively spirit.

    Osaka Castle (exterior visit): Towering stone walls and wide moats set against the city skyline.

    Kuromon Ichiba Market: Known as “Osaka’s Kitchen,” it’s the place to taste fresh local street food.

    Dotonbori: Bright neon signs and buzzing nightlife.

    Check in to your hotel in Osaka.

    Meals: Breakfast

    Overnight: Osaka

  9. Spend your final hours in Japan however you wish. We’ll provide airport shuttle bus tickets from Osaka Station to Kansai International Airport (KIX) for an easy departure.
    An English-speaking assistant may handle your airport transfer.

    Meals: Breakfast

What’s included

Your tour details

Included

Everything you need, covered.

  • Meet and greet service upon arrival at Tokyo International Airport.
  • English-speaking airport assistance, where specified in the itinerary.
  • 3 nights’ accommodation in Tokyo based on bed and breakfast
  • 1 night’s accommodation in the Hakone/Kawaguchiko area based on bed and breakfast
  • 3 nights’ accommodation in Kyoto based on bed and breakfast
  • 1 night’s accommodation in Osaka based on bed and breakfast
  • Private transportation by Alphard or HiAce vehicle on the designated private-tour days.
  • Guide services for the sightseeing tours specified in the itinerary.
  • English-speaking guide and private vehicle for the Mount Fuji and Hakone excursion.
  • Shinkansen bullet train tickets with reserved seats for the journeys specified in the itinerary, including travel to Kyoto and the Hiroshima excursion.
  • Ferry tickets for the excursion to Miyajima Island.
  • One-way Hakone Ropeway ticket.
  • Entrance fees to the attractions mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Airport shuttle bus tickets from Osaka Station to Kansai International Airport (KIX) on the departure day.
  • All applicable taxes and service charges.

Not included

Available as custom add-ons.

  • International airfare
  • Japan entry visa
  • Travel insurance
  • Optional tours and activities
  • Personal expenses and gratuities

Make it yoursOptional add-ons and upgrades are available. Our travel specialists can tailor this package around you.

Prices

Prices

Seasonal rates per person.

Japan Grand Tour: Cities, Culture & History per person
Room The Tour Price: The Tour Price:(Valid from September 2026 - till May 2027)
Price per Person (Min. 2 People) $5999
Price per Person (Min. 4 People) $3999
Price per Person (Min. 6 People) $3199
Price per Person (Min. 8 People) $2799
Price per Person (Min. 10 People) $2699

Important Booking Information

Seasonal supplements

Additional charges apply when any part of the itinerary falls within the following high-demand periods:

  • High season: September–October and December 25–January 3 — supplement of USD 100 per person, per night.

  • Peak season: March–April and Golden Week (April 25–May 8) — supplement of USD 120 per person, per night.

Blackout dates: December 26–January 3 and April 29–May 9.

Voices of experience

Stories from our community

4.90 from 10 Japan-tour-packages reviews

“Kyoto & Kanazawa”

I'm coeliac and had basically resigned myself to convenience-store food for two weeks. Instead they booked restaurants that could accommodate me and gave me a card explaining my dietary needs in Japanese. Genuinely thoughtful.
Emma Clarke Verified traveler

“Tokyo, Kyoto & Hakone”

The balance of the itinerary was perfect. Tokyo for the energy, Kyoto for the temples, then two quiet nights in a ryokan in Hakone that ended up being our favourite part of the whole trip.
Michael Doyle Verified traveler

“the Japanese Alps”

Second trip with them. They remembered what we loved the first time around and built on it rather than handing us a generic itinerary. Sapporo, Furano and the Kamikōchi valley this time.
Robert & Lisa Chen Verified traveler

“Tokyo, Kanazawa & Takayama”

Solo female traveller here. They picked accommodation in safe, well-connected neighbourhoods and were upfront about what to expect. I felt looked after without feeling managed.
Hannah Berg Verified traveler

“Tokyo & Nikko ”

First time in Asia and I was worried about the language barrier. They gave us a printed guide with key phrases, station names in Japanese, and a WhatsApp number for emergencies. Never felt lost once.
Tom & Rachel Whitfield Verified traveler

“Osaka & Kansai region ”

What sold me was the responsiveness. Every email answered within a few hours, even while we were mid-trip and completely confused about a connection at Shin-Osaka.
Priya Raghavan Verified traveler

“Tokyo, Nara & Kyoto ”

Travelling with a 6-year-old and a 9-year-old made me nervous, but the pacing was clearly designed with kids in mind. Shorter travel days, hotels near stations, and they even flagged which restaurants were family-friendly. Feeding the deer in Nara was the highlight for both of them.
Sarah Mitchell Verified traveler

“Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka”

We'd been talking about Japan for years and kept putting it off because planning it felt impossible. They handled everything flights, rail passes, hotels and all we had to do was show up. Fourteen days and not a single thing went wrong.
James & Helen Thornton Verified traveler

“Kyoto & Yoshino”

We asked for sakura season and they were honest that the timing is always a gamble. They built in flexibility so we could shift days depending on the forecast — and we caught full bloom in Kyoto.
David & Anne Fraser Verified traveler

“Tokyo, Hiroshima & Miyajima ”

The value surprised me. I priced out doing it independently and the difference was small but the time saved and the hotels they got us into made it an easy decision. Miyajima at sunset was worth the whole trip.
Andrew Pike Verified traveler

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