This 8-day Japanese vacation takes you to some of the country’s classic highlights, including Kyoto, Hiroshima, Tokyo, and Mt. Fuji. It includes first-class accommodations and a mix of private and shared tours, and a 7-day Japan Rail Pass.
Your trip to Japan begins in Kyoto, the former imperial capital and often considered the most beautiful city in the nation. You’ll explore this city of temples and palaces on a guided walking tour, which starts at the Golden Pavilion of Kinkaku-ji, continues to Nijo Castle, and explores the grounds of Kiyomizu-dera Temple before ending in the Gion district, which is renowned for its old samurai houses and geisha salons. You’ll have another day at leisure in Kyoto to walk through the haunting bamboo grove of Arashiyama or hike up the hillside of Fushimi Inari Taisha, passing through the hundreds of vermillion gates lining the mountain.
Activate your Japan Rail Pass and ride the rails to continue your Japan vacation in Hiroshima. Tour the peace park and learn about the city’s tragic history, when it was destroyed by an atomic bomb at the end of World War II. You’ll see the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Peace Memorial Museum before you connect to nearby Miyajima Island to see the famous Itsukushima Shrine submerged in the tide.
Jump back on the bullet train and ride to Tokyo, stopping off at Himeji Castle, arguably the most famous castle in the nation, en route. In Tokyo, you’ll take advantage of the great subway system to explore this massive metropolis littered with futuristic wonders and ancient temples. A walking tour takes you to Senso-ji, the largest and oldest Buddhist temple in the city, as well as the nearby Nakamise shopping street before you connect to the Imperial Palace Gardens and go on a shopping spree in upscale Ginza. On your final full day, you’ll ride the train to Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station to explore the famous natural wonder at 2,300m. During your tour, you’ll cruise on the crater lake of Lake Ashi and head up Mt. Komagatake for some of the best views of Fuji. Return to Tokyo for a final night in the capital.
At the end of your trip to Japan, connect to Haneda Airport for your onward travel.
