Self-Guided Land of the Rising Sun

Enjoy a day exploring Tokyo at your leisure, getting to know the shopping districts of Akihabara, known for its anime culture and camera bargains, or Shibuya, where you can see its iconic crosswalk and eclectic restaurants. 

Using your Japan Rail Pass*, travel to Kanazawa, a historical jewel of a city and home to some of Japan's most beautiful landscaped gardens. We recommend visiting the historic Higashi Chaya district, filled with traditional tea houses where you will be able to see the celebrated geishas perform. Overnight stay in Kanazawa.

* This is the first day you will use your JR Pass in your itinerary. You will need to activate it at a JR office of Tokyo station before using it for the first time. The Pass allows you to book any JR train or bullet train free of charge (except for Mizuho and Nozomi trains and except for Superior class seats). You will be able to choose the train departure time or combination on that day that best suits you but be aware that there might exist different train combinations (direct, changing trains once, changing trains twice, etc) depending on your departure time, which can affect the entire trip duration.

You will need to self-transfer from your hotel to Tokyo station and from Kanazawa station to your hotel. 

Spend the day at your own pace using the 24h Kanazawa bus pass to visit the city highlights. If you prefer a great adventure to immerse yourself in authentic Japanese traditions, we recommend our full-day excursion to Shirakawago and Kanazawa City*. Overnight stay in Kanazawa.

*Optional Full-Day adventure tour to popular Shirakawago and Kanazawa city: Embark on a captivating full-day adventure starting from Kanazawa’s historic Higashi Chaya District, renowned for its traditional geisha culture. Delight in a hands-on gold leaf workshop and savor the unique experience of gold leaf ice cream. Your journey will then take you to the enchanting village of Shirakawago, famous for its picturesque Gassho-style houses that resemble hands joined in prayer. Explore this fairytale setting, one of Japan’s most stunning destinations. Continue to Kenrokuen Garden, one of Japan’s top three gardens, where you can marvel at the beauty of all four seasons. Throughout the day, immerse yourself in Japanese culture by creating traditional sweets (Wagashi) or painting Daruma dolls, depending on the schedule.

Today, travel to Hiroshima using your Japan Rail Pass. Arrive in the modern city of Hiroshima, sadly destroyed in the most part in 1945 by the first atomic bomb ever, making it a moving destination to explore. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure. Overnight stay in Hiroshima.

You will need to self-transfer from your hotel to Kanazawa station and from Hiroshima station to your hotel. 

Today you will have the opportunity to be your own guide with a 24h tram pass that you can use to move around the city at your own pace. We strongly recommend taking advantadge of the 24h tram pass and the JR Pass to catch a tram and board a ferry free of cost to get yourself to Miyajima island. 

Immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of this island, where deer roam free and where the Great Torii and Itsukushima shrine seem to float during high tide. From here you can also enjoy an included night cruise around Miyajima island to relax yourself on the deck feeling the salty sea breeze. Overnight stay in Hiroshima.

Using your Japan Rail Pass, travel to Kyoto, the capital of the Japanese Empire for 11 centuries. We recommend exploring the emblematic neighborhood of Gion, known for its traditional architecture and admired geishas. Overnight stay in Kyoto.

You will need to self-transfer from your hotel to Hiroshima station and from Kyoto station to your hotel. 

Set off this morning on a Kyoto Highlights Full-Day Bus Tour to discover the beautiful and historical ‘cultural capital’ of Japan. On this exciting excursion you’ll visit the Fushimi Inari, the most important of the many shrines dedicated to Inari, the deity of good harvest and success, known for its emblematic red ‘gates’. Next visit the Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage site. Pay a visit to the Kinkakuji Temple next, known as the temple of the Golden Pavilion as the top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. Finally, experience the immense natural beauty of the Arashiyama bamboo forest. Lunch included. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure. Overnight stay in Kyoto.

Spend today at your leisure, exploring the delights of Kyoto at your own pace. Why not discover the historic Nijo Castle or the Philosopher's Walk, a beautiful footpath along a cherry-tree-lined canal? We recommend an optional afternoon excursion to the peaceful city of Nara.* Overnight stay in Kyoto.

* Optional Nara Excursion: Head to Nara for a tour of two World Heritage Sites: Todai-Ji Temple and Kofukuji Temple. Encounter wild deer up close while walking through Nara Park, a rarity in Japan and worldwide and discover Todai-Ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's largest wooden structures.

Today, take a local train* to travel to Osaka. Upon arrival, the rest of the day is free to discover this charming city. We recommend visiting the Kuromon local market and its Floating Garden Observatory in the Umeda Sky Building, from which there is an unforgettable panoramic view of the city. Overnight stay in Osaka.

* The local train transfer Kyoto - Osaka does not have a fixed schedule. Passengers can exchange their ticket at any time during the transfer day and choose the departure time that best suits their plans. The local train departs from Kyoto station. 

Spend the day at your own pace for a self-guided visit of Osaka. You will have at your disposal an Osaka Metro + City Bus card to discover the city's main areas. You will also have an admission ticket for the Osaka Castle, where you have the chance to learn about the history of one of Japan's most famous landmarks. Overnight stay in Osaka.

Spend the day at your leisure exploring the cultural delights of Osaka. Get to know the local area and sample the iconic local cuisine. In fact, the street food markets of Osaka are said to be the best in the country! Overnight stay in Osaka.