Tokyo, Hakone, Nara, Kyoto & Osaka – 9-Day Japan Group Trip

A full day out to Japan's most famous mountain with an English-speaking guide. You leave Tokyo at 8:00 AM and drive to the Mt. Fuji 5th Station, roughly halfway up at about 2,300 m, where on a clear day the summit rises straight above you. It is several degrees colder up here than in the city.

From Fuji you continue to Hakone. A pirate-ship cruise takes you across Lake Ashi, with the red torii gate of Hakone Shrine at the water's edge, and the Hakone Ropeway carries you over Owakudani Valley, where volcanic steam still pours out of the yellow hillside. All entry tickets for the tour are covered and you are back in Tokyo by 6:00 PM.

At a glance: Time needed: ~10 hrs tour (8:00 AM–6:00 PM) · Travel: ~2–2.5 hrs each way by private vehicle · Pace: Full

Schedule

• Morning (8:00 AM): Breakfast and depart with your guide for Mt. Fuji, about 2–2.5 hrs.

• Late morning: Mt. Fuji 5th Station, about 1 hr for views and photos (weather permitting).

• Noon: Lunch on the way to Hakone (own cost).

• Afternoon: Lake Ashi Pirate Cruise, about 30–40 min, then the one-way Hakone Ropeway over Owakudani, about 30 min.

• Evening (6:00 PM): Return to Tokyo.

• Night: Free for dinner with the group or on your own (own cost).

Travel for the day

• Tokyo → Mt. Fuji 5th Station → Hakone → Tokyo by private vehicle with an English-speaking guide.

Tips & what to carry

• Carry a warm layer; the 5th Station is often 10 °C colder than Tokyo.

• Fuji is often hidden by cloud in September. The view is a bonus, not a promise.

• The ropeway can close in high winds or when volcanic gas levels rise; the guide will arrange an alternative.

• Try the black eggs at Owakudani, boiled in the volcanic springs.

Included today

• Meals: Breakfast

• Private Vehicle to the Tours

• Tour Timings: 8:00 AM - 18:00 PM

• Below Mentioned Entrance Tickets to the Tour is Covered

• One-Way Hakone Ropeway Tickets

• Lake Ashi Pirate Cruise

• English Speaking Guide

Overnight: Tokyo

A day that moves from old Tokyo to new. You begin in Asakusa at Senso-ji, the city's oldest temple, approached through the huge red lantern of the Kaminarimon gate and along Nakamise Street, a lane of stalls selling rice crackers, sweet bean cakes and souvenirs. It is busy all day, and the incense smoke in front of the main hall is said to bring good health.

Next is Tokyo Skytree, at 634 m the tallest tower in Japan, with an observation deck that looks over the whole city and, on a clear day, as far as Mt. Fuji. In the late afternoon you step into teamLab Planets in Toyosu, a digital art museum where you walk barefoot through water and rooms of moving light. Back to the hotel by 7:00 PM.

At a glance: Time needed: ~10 hrs tour (9:00 AM–7:00 PM) · Travel: ~30–45 min between stops by private vehicle · Pace: Moderate

Schedule

• Morning (9:00 AM): Breakfast and depart for Asakusa. Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise Street, about 1.5 hrs.

• Noon: Lunch in Asakusa (own cost).

• Afternoon: Tokyo Skytree observation deck, about 1–1.5 hrs.

• Late afternoon: teamLab Planets, about 2 hrs.

• Evening (7:00 PM): Return to the hotel.

• Night: Dinner around Akasaka or Roppongi (own cost).

Travel for the day

• Hotel → Asakusa → Skytree → Toyosu → hotel by private vehicle.

Tips & what to carry

• At teamLab you walk barefoot in knee-deep water. Wear shorts or trousers that roll up, and avoid skirts because of mirrored floors.

• Lockers at teamLab hold your shoes and bags; carry only your phone inside, ideally in a waterproof pouch.

• Eat snacks on Nakamise Street at the stall itself; walking while eating is frowned upon here.

• Senso-ji is a working temple. Speak softly near the main hall and remove hats inside.

Included today

• Private Vehicle to the Tours

• Tour Timings: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM

• Meals: Breakfast

• Below Mentioned Park and Attraction tickets are Included

• Tokyo Skytree Entrance Tickets

• teamLabs Planet Entrance Ticktes

Overnight: Tokyo

A day with no fixed plan, which most travellers are glad of by now. After breakfast, explore Tokyo at your own pace: the fashion streets of Shibuya and Harajuku, the department stores of Ginza, the electronics and anime shops of Akihabara, or a slow lunch in a quiet neighbourhood. It is also a good chance to go back to anywhere you liked.

If you want a big day out, Tokyo DisneySea or Tokyo Disneyland can be added, with entrance tickets and a Tokyo day pass for travel, at an additional INR 8,200 per person. Let us know in advance so tickets can be booked for the date.

At a glance: Time needed: Free day · Travel: Metro on your own · Pace: Easy

Schedule

• Morning: Breakfast at the hotel. Free to explore.

• Noon: Lunch in Shibuya, Ginza or Akihabara (own cost).

• Afternoon: Shopping or a museum at your own pace.

• Evening: Free. Shibuya Crossing after dark or the view from Roppongi Hills.

• Optional: Tokyo DisneySea or Tokyo Disneyland with entrance tickets and a Tokyo day pass for transfers, at an additional INR 8,200 per person.

Travel for the day

• Self explore by metro; no transfers today.

Tips & what to carry

• Most department stores offer tax-free shopping on purchases over ¥5,000 with your passport.

• Group trips work best with a little time apart. Today is a good day to split up by interest and meet again for dinner.

• If you add Disney, the park opens around 9:00 AM and is about 45 min–1 hr from Akasaka by train.

• Pack your suitcase tonight; tomorrow is the bullet train to Osaka.

Included today

• Self Explore

Overnight: Tokyo

After breakfast, check out and head to Tokyo Station for the Shinkansen, Japan's bullet train, which leaves by 11:30 AM and covers the 500 km to Osaka in about two and a half hours. On a clear day, look out on the right side of the train soon after leaving Tokyo for a view of Mt. Fuji. Your bullet train tickets include luggage.

A private station transfer takes you to your hotel in Higobashi, a central and quieter area close to the Umeda and Namba districts. After check-in the rest of the day is free. Osaka calls itself the kitchen of Japan, and an evening walk with takoyaki or okonomiyaki is the best introduction.

At a glance: Time needed: No sightseeing · Travel: ~2.5 hrs by bullet train · Pace: Easy

Schedule

• Morning: Breakfast and check out. Private transfer to Tokyo Station, about 30 min.

• Late morning (by 11:30 AM): Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka, about 2.5 hrs. Pick up an ekiben (station bento) to eat on board (own cost).

• Afternoon: Private station transfer to the hotel in Osaka, about 30 min. Check in.

• Evening: Free to explore the neighbourhood.

• Night: Dinner in Umeda or Namba (own cost).

Travel for the day

• Tokyo hotel → Tokyo Station ~30 min by private transfer.

• Tokyo → Shin-Osaka ~2.5 hrs by Shinkansen.

• Shin-Osaka → Osaka hotel ~30 min by private transfer.

Tips & what to carry

• Large suitcases on the Shinkansen need a reserved oversized-baggage seat; this is covered on your ticket.

• Sit on the right side (seat E) heading to Osaka for the best chance of seeing Mt. Fuji.

• Escalator rule flips in Osaka: people stand on the right, not the left as in Tokyo.

• Station transfers are private today, so stay together with the group at Shin-Osaka until you meet the driver.

Included today

• Bullet Train by 11.30 AM

• Station Transfer are in Private

• Bullet Train Tickets with Luggage is Covered

Overnight: Osaka

A guided day across two cities. You drive to Nara, about an hour away and Japan's capital in the 8th century, where hundreds of sika deer wander freely through Nara Park. They are considered sacred messengers of the gods, and many have learnt to bow for the special crackers sold in the park. Nearby is Todai-ji, a UNESCO-listed temple whose great wooden hall houses one of the largest bronze Buddhas in the world.

In the afternoon you return to Osaka for Osaka Castle, rebuilt with a museum inside and set among moats, stone walls and wide gardens. As the lights come on, end the day in Dotonbori, the neon-lit canal street of giant crab signs, the Glico running man and food stalls selling takoyaki and kushikatsu.

At a glance: Time needed: ~10 hrs tour (9:00 AM–7:00 PM) · Travel: ~1 hr each way Osaka–Nara by private vehicle · Pace: Full

Schedule

• Morning (9:00 AM): Breakfast and drive to Nara, about 1 hr.

• Late morning: Nara Park and the deer, about 1 hr, then Todai-ji Temple, about 1 hr.

• Noon: Lunch (as per the day's meal plan).

• Afternoon: Drive back to Osaka, about 1 hr. Osaka Castle and its grounds, about 1.5 hrs.

• Evening: Dotonbori, about 1–1.5 hrs for the canal, photos and street food.

• Night (7:00 PM): Return to the hotel. Dinner (as per the day's meal plan).

Travel for the day

• Osaka → Nara ~1 hr, Nara → Osaka Castle ~1 hr, then Dotonbori, all by private vehicle.

Tips & what to carry

• Nara's deer are wild and can nip or butt when they smell food. Hold crackers up, feed quickly and show empty hands when done.

• Keep paper maps and tickets out of reach; the deer will eat them.

• Todai-ji's main hall has a pillar with a hole said to be the size of the Buddha's nostril; children squeeze through it for luck.

• Osaka Castle grounds are large. Wear good walking shoes and carry water in September heat.

Included today

• Private Vehicle to the Tour

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

• Tour Timings: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM

• All the Attraction Entrance Tickets are Included

Overnight: Osaka

A guided day in Kyoto, about 1 to 1.5 hours from Osaka and for more than a thousand years the imperial capital. You begin in Arashiyama, walking the path through the tall, swaying stalks of the Bamboo Grove, then drive to Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, its upper floors covered in gold leaf and reflected in a still pond.

In the afternoon you walk the wooden-fronted streets of Gion, Kyoto's geisha district, where you may glimpse a geiko or maiko hurrying to an evening appointment. The last stop is Fushimi Inari Taisha, where thousands of orange torii gates form tunnels winding up the hillside. You can walk as far as you like before returning to Osaka in the evening.

At a glance: Time needed: ~10 hrs tour (9:00 AM–7:00 PM) · Travel: ~1–1.5 hrs each way by private vehicle · Pace: Full

Schedule

• Morning (9:00 AM): Breakfast and drive to Kyoto, about 1–1.5 hrs. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, about 1 hr.

• Late morning: Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), about 45 min.

• Noon: Lunch (as per the day's meal plan).

• Afternoon: Gion District walk, about 1 hr, including Hanamikoji Street.

• Late afternoon: Fushimi Inari Taisha, about 1–1.5 hrs. The first section of gates takes about 30 min.

• Evening (7:00 PM): Return to Osaka. Dinner (as per the day's meal plan).

Travel for the day

• Osaka → Arashiyama → Kinkaku-ji → Gion → Fushimi Inari → Osaka by private vehicle.

Tips & what to carry

• Do not photograph geiko or maiko up close or block their way; Gion has fines for entering private lanes.

• Fushimi Inari's full hike to the summit takes 2–3 hrs. Most travellers turn back at the Yotsutsuji viewpoint, about halfway.

• The Bamboo Grove is crowded by mid-morning. The guide will aim for the earliest slot.

• There are many steps at Fushimi Inari. Wear comfortable shoes and carry water.

Included today

• Private Vehicle to the Tour

• Meals: Breakfast , Lunch & Dinner

• Tour Timings: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM

• All the Attraction Entrance Tickets are Included

Overnight: Osaka

A free day to enjoy Osaka your way. Shinsaibashi is the long covered shopping street for everything from Japanese brands to international labels, and Kuromon Market is the place to graze on grilled scallops, wagyu skewers and fresh fruit. Osaka is often called the heart of Japan's food culture, so plan the day around lunch.

You could go back to Dotonbori for the riverside in daylight, or simply sit in a café and slow down. For a full day of rides, Universal Studios Japan, with Super Nintendo World and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, can be added with entrance tickets and an Osaka day pass for travel at an additional INR 6,000 per person. A guided day trip to Hiroshima and the floating torii of Miyajima is also possible at an extra cost.

At a glance: Time needed: Free day · Travel: Metro on your own · Pace: Easy

Schedule

• Morning: Breakfast at the hotel. Free to explore.

• Noon: Kuromon Market or Shinsaibashi for lunch and shopping (own cost).

• Afternoon: Free — shopping, a café or rest.

• Evening: Dotonbori or Umeda Sky Building for city views (own cost).

• Optional: Universal Studios Japan with entrance tickets and an Osaka day pass for transfers, at an additional INR 6,000 per person.

• Optional: Guided day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima at additional cost; ask your consultant for the price.

Travel for the day

• Self explore by metro; no transfers today.

Tips & what to carry

• At Universal Studios Japan, Super Nintendo World often needs a timed entry ticket or Express Pass on busy days.

• Kuromon Market is best in the late morning; many stalls close by 5:00 PM.

• Keep cash for market stalls and small restaurants.

• Pack tonight and keep your passport handy for tomorrow's flight.

Included today

• Self Explore

Overnight: Osaka

Enjoy your final breakfast in Osaka and say goodbye to the group. If your flight is later in the day, a last walk around the neighbourhood or a stop for souvenirs is easy from the hotel.

As per your flight schedule, join the airport transfer at its fixed timing for the drive to Kansai International Airport and your flight back to India.

At a glance: Time needed: ~1–2 hrs free time, flight permitting · Travel: ~1–1.5 hrs airport transfer · Pace: Easy

Schedule

• Morning: Breakfast at the hotel.

• Noon: Check out.

• Departure: Airport transfer at the fixed timing, reaching at least 3 hrs before an international flight.

Travel for the day

• Osaka hotel → Kansai International Airport ~1–1.5 hrs by fixed-timing transfer.

Tips & what to carry

• Kansai Airport has good shops for last-minute Japanese snacks and Kit Kats in local flavours.

• Keep tax-free shopping bags sealed until you leave Japan.

• Spend your remaining coins; they cannot be changed back in India.

Included today

• Airport Transfers at Fixed Timings