On day 1, there is an early morning arrival and hotel check-in at Narita. We stop by to have lunch and take the Narita Express or the Tokyo Monorail to reach Tokyo, where we check into a cozy hotel. To cope with jet lag, you take a rest for a while, and by the evening, we plan to explore the streets of Shinjuku or Shibuya. We dine on your leisurely strolling to find the famous street food in Japan, be it sushi, tempura, or traditional Japanese curry. Before dawn, we can visit Shibuya for shopping at Shibuya 109, which is popular for fashion. Then we take a refreshing walk at the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, where we look for some souvenirs and fashionable items to shop for. We return to our hotel for the needed relaxation session with a brief explanation of the next day's itinerary. The hotel is nice and welcoming for you to enjoy your first peaceful sleep in Tokyo.

Morning activities at Imperial Palace and Asakusa Temple

After breakfast, at around 9 am, we head to the Imperial Palace, the primary residence of the Emperor of Japan. We take a private transfer to the place to explore Japan with first-hand experiences.

The northwestern moat (Chidorigafuchi) surrounding the Imperial Palace is the best part, with bridges and gardens. the Imperial Palace East Gardens are wonderful to walk around. the ruins of Edo Castle are also the best part. 

This Japanese-style garden also has a circle of defense, wisely decorated at the time of the New Year’s Greeting and Emperor’s Birthday. No time is enough if you get lost in the synergy of one of the most beautiful palaces here in Japan. Main residence of the Emperor of Japan. 

Senso-ji Temple excursion post-lunch 

After our short excursion here at around 11 am, we take the subway to Akasuka to visit Senso-ji Temple. Stop at a nearby restaurant in Asakusa for lunch before entering the temple premises. 

After lunch, our first stop is Senso-ji Temple; the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo, which has best of the architecture. One enjoys the iconic ambiance of Kaminarimon Gate, which features a large red lantern and a peaceful meditation area within the temple. 

Afternoon Activities at Tokyo Tower 

We take the subway to Tokyo Tower at around 2 pm.  We purchase this ticket online to save time. We observe the city's famous landmarks, Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo Skytree, and even Mount Fuji on a clear day, from the top of the tower. 

After a short snack session, at around 4 pm, we may visit the nearby Zojo-ji Temple or explore the shops in the Minato district. 

Today we will also visit Harajuku in the evening, where kawaii (cute) culture is initiated. Many trendy clothes that youth enjoy are found here, with an eclectic mix so, it's worth visiting here. We also pass through the quirky shops along Takeshita Street and grab some local delicacies in the stores. 

Our plan for the day 3 is to tour around Hakone and the Mount Fuji. We start with the Subaru Line to Mount Fuji’s 5th Station and find ourselves in the forests and five lakes. We enjoy a delicious breakfast at the scenic views. 

From Hakone, our journey to Owakudani, with ancient volcanic grounds begins. We also take the views of  Lake Ashi. We have a tour guide who knows the unbelievable photogenic places in the volcanic valleys and Hakone. 

It just takes you around 35 minutes on the Nozomi train to reach Owakudani, for early morning views.  With the necessary site visit, we return to Tokyo via the Shinkansen bullet train and carry out other exploration activities for the day. 

Mid-morning activities at  Mount Fuji

We take a bus or train that takes you to Mount Fuji 5th Station for scenic photos. We spent around 30 minutes here to enjoy the scenery and take pictures. We look for the best spots for taking pictures with the scenery of Mount Fuji and captivating the moment for life. 

Late Morning: Hakone Exploration

Our late-morning activities at Owakudani Valley include exploring the hot springs and seeing volcanic activity. We prefer to take the Hakone Ropeway as a fun 360-degree exploration from Togendai to Owakudani. Lake Ashi is our next stop, which we aim to reach before 11.30 am to take a scenic cruise. 

Afternoon: Return to Tokyo

We schedule a delicious lunch at a lakeside restaurant or a local eatery in Hakone. Trying regional specialties like black eggs (kuro tamago) cooked in the hot springs can be the best experience so far. 

After lunch at around 2, we make our way back to Odawara Station to catch the Shinkansen bullet train back to Tokyo, with a 35-minute express train.

Around 3 pm, we arrive in Tokyo. Today we can check in at another hotel in the neighborhood too for a different experience if we like. 

Today we take the bullet train to Kyoto. We leave with an early morning breakfast at our hotel. We prebook the Shinkansen (bullet train) to reach Kyoto, which takes about 2.5 hours. 

Alternatively, we also have the option to take a domestic flight via Kansai International Airport (KIX) and take the Haruka Express train to Kyoto to arrive in no time. 

We book your stay in central areas like Gion or near Kyoto Station for easy access to sidewise attractions in the valley.  Sagano Bamboo Forest is considered one of the most photographed places in Kyoto, if we have time we go there too. 

Afternoon: Visit to Historic landmarks of Kyoto  

You will be excited to check out the expansive temple complex, Nanzen-ji, in the afternoon. The beautiful gardens, impressive gates, sub-temples, and scenic walk amidst the cherry blossom tree in Philosopher's Path year-round.

Late Afternoon: Additional Exploration

By late afternoon, we head to Ginkaku-ji, which is at the end of the previous Philosopher's Path. This silver pavilion temple has beauty, relaxation spots, and serene gardens described beyond words. 

We will arrange an evening dinner at Gion, with local specialties like kaiseki (a multi-course meal) or yudofu (tofu hot pot). We then return to our hotel for a cozy stay in Japan. 

Day 5 is a full-on immersion activity in Kyoto, with visits to Nara, and the famous deer park of Kyoto. We start late in the morning, after most needed rest and breakfast at the hotel. 

Late Morning activities at Kinkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji, and Nijo Castle

Our morning tour starts with Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), which is a 13-minute express train ride from the Karasuma subway line. To have a great tour of the Zen temple covered in gold leaf, Kinkaku-ji, we stop at the Kitaōji Station. With a walk of a few minutes, we reach the entrance of the golden temple, where we take our turn in line to explore the temple, click pictures, and capture the moments. perfect spot for photography.

The two-story golden pavilion, has manicured temple gardens, appreciating Japanese historic landmarks and culture. We look through the Buddha statue and peaceful ambiance here and even throw coins in the pond for luck. 

We buy souvenirs and taste gold-carat ice cream, black sesame soft serve ice cream, sweet soy dango, and other unique flavors on the food stalls. After Kinkaku-ji, we visit the rock garden of Ryoan-ji and enjoy the tranquility of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The day's fun activity does not end here; we see the famous "nightingale floors” and ornate interiors of Nijo Castle. 

Afternoon: Nara Park and Deer

Nara was the first permanent capital in Japan in history and we explore that today in the daytime. We start with Nara Park, visit Todaji Temple, and end at Kasuga Taisha Shrine.

Nara Park is easily accessible with the Kintetsu Limited Express, which takes around 50 minutes. We will have a local lunch in Nara. Try beef sushi or grilled beef, and fuel up for an afternoon adventure. We then head to Nara Park, a white park that is home to hundreds of deer. 

We can buy tickets to feed the special crackers to deer. Beautiful pink petals make the park more enduring in the spring. Our next activity is an excursion to Todaji Temple. 

Todaji Temple is the world’s largest wooden temple, with a 15-meter-tall statue of Buddha. You can see previous construction and other Buddha statues. The popular attraction here is a wooden pillar with a hole, through which the human body can squeeze out to get enlightenment. 

Giant torches are lit across the temple around March, this is when most visitors visit Todaji Temple. We then also stroll through Kasuga Taisha Shrine, the vermilion-lacquered shrine. The bronze and stone lanterns are dedicated to the deity protectors of the city. 

In the evening, we take the Kintetsu Limited Express from Kintetsu-Nara Station and return to Kyoto for dinner at our hotel. 

Morning: Travel to Hiroshima

We take a bullet train to Hiroshima Station after breakfast. It takes us around 2 hours to reach at max. We can walk or even take a short tram ride to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and reach as early as possible to view the morning views. 

The pain of nuclear attack during World War II is preserved with artifacts post-1945 to honor those who lost their lives. We get to see the bomb done, several monuments, museums, and lecture halls, in this prominent World Heritage Site. The bombing and its aftermath exhibition are conducted annually with the impact of nuclear warfare. We have lunch, with Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki (savory pancakes).

Afternoon: Miyajima Island

After lunch, we take the ferry from Hiroshima to Miyajima Island for about 45 minutes and see the Seto Inland Sea during the journey. The iconic floating Torii gate views the Itsukushima Shrine and the Daisho-in Buddhist temple. You explore the best attractions of Hiroshima with our local guide and get the best of the services. 

Late Afternoon: Explore Miyajima

We continue to explore Neomon Gate, visit Daisho-in Temple, and enjoy the scenery at the foot of Mount Misen. If time persists, we take the Miyajima Ropeway up to Mount Misen.

From here, we take return Ferry to Hiroshima and have our dinner, perhaps trying local seafood, before heading to Kyoto, concluding our day trip at our hotel. 

The walking tour of Osaka is the best adventure here in Japan. We roam around the street and nearby attractions in Osaka. Our prime location for the day is to explore Osaka Castle, Shinsekai, and Dotonbori, and this shall continue for 5 long hours. 

We will start at Ōsakajōkōen Station and meet at Exit 2 on the JR Loop Line. We stop for 15  minutes at the Amerika-mura, or Amemura, to explore the street. Walk through Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street, one of the most loved consumer retailers. 

Get a chance to shop for cute accessories, exposed to neon lights, street food, retro vibe stores, and bars, in popular places like Osaka. We also explore the famous Glico Man sign which is a popular photo spot for tourists and head to the hotel after a street-side dinner. 

We had an overnight stay in Osaka, and today we woke up to a refreshing lunch at the hotel. For the late morning activities, we plan to shop in the neighborhood in Osaka. 

We catch on to the Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade for high-end boutiques, quirky shops, and street food vendors that can cover your fun from a different angle. We also visit Amerikamura (America Village), with trendy and vintage shops for fashion. 

After a quick lunch, we decide to visit Universal Studios Japan and walk the streets of Osaka with themed parks, and explore Super Nintendo World. 

We wrap up the 8th day in Japan to wake up fresh and return to our homeland. For the last night's dinner, we booked a fine dining experience in  Dotonbori, a famous food district in Osaka.

We have a lot of exquisite and famous meat options, like okonomiyaki (savory pancakes), takoyaki (octopus balls), and kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers). There are good vegetarian dining options for those who prefer not to have meat.

We already had our return ticket on day 9, so head for last-minute checking activities in the morning. We also have breakfast at the hotel and free some space in luggage for last-minute shopping duty-free. We transfer to Kansai International Airport, and, we take a private taxi, and board on by 11 pm. We grab something to eat and prepare for the journey home.