Splendor of Japan under the sakura

Tokyo Airport - Tokyo

Day 1: Welcome to Japan

Welcome to Tokyo! A local assistant will be waiting for you upon your arrival at Tokyo Haneda Airport. Your assistant will help you collect your Japan Rail Passes and accompany you to your hotel by public transport. They will explain how transportation in Japan works and if necessary help you book your next high-speed train journey.

Enjoy a free half-day in Tokyo. Take this chance to visit the numerous attractions of this multi-faceted city.

Tokyo

Day 2: Explore Exciting Tokyo

Today, enjoy a free day in Tokyo. Why not head to the Imperial Palace where you can enjoy the beautiful gardens and take a stroll through the largest park in Tokyo?

Next, we recommend making your way to the Hie Jinja Shrine, which is located on a small hill. This sanctuary is dedicated to the deity of Mount Hie.

Continue your day with a stroll in the beautiful Shinjuku Imperial Park. This beautiful park is especially popular with runners, picnickers, plant lovers, and couples who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Afterward, you can visit the Meiji Jingu Shrine, one of the most famous places of worship in Japan where ceremonies and events take place there all year round.

For a green break, take a stroll through Yoyogi Park. After that, you can take a stroll in Shibuya district and Harajuku district, both bustling with life.

Tokyo

Day 3: Tokyo's Secrets

Use your free day in Tokyo to freely explore this multifaceted city between tradition and modernity. Take a stroll in Ueno Park, Tokyo's most popular place for walking. The park will enchant you with its museums as well as its beautiful temples and shrines. Afterward, you can stroll through Akihabara, the capital of Otaku, which is especially known to fans of anime and manga culture.

Continue your day with a visit to the Asakusa district, far from the stereotypes, and discover the historic center of the Japanese capital. Enjoy this moment and breathe in the charm of a forgotten Tokyo. As a next stop, see Sensôji Temple, which has been around for over 1,000 years. Don't forget to pass the charming Nakamise Street!

Then why not experience the heights of Tokyo by climbing the Tokyo Sky Tree Tower and checking out the radio tower that the Japanese are especially proud of.

Tokyo - Nikko

Day 4: Journey to Nikko

Today, enjoy a free day in Nikko. You start at the Shinkyo Bridge (also known as the "Holy Bridge"), which serves as the entrance to the various temples and shrines in the region. The Shinkyo Bridge is considered to be one of the three most elegant bridges in Japan.

Next, visit the Rinno Ji Temple, which, like the Futarasan Jinja Shrine, was founded by the monk Shodo Shonin. As a Shinto place of worship in the mountains, it is the most important Buddhist temple in Nikko.

Continue to the Nikko Toshogu Shrine, which is dedicated to one of Japan's most famous historical figures: the samurai Tokugawa Ieyasu. The brilliantly shaped and decorated buildings are a must-see for any visit to Tochigi.

Afterward, make your way to the Nikko Futarasan Jinja Shrine, founded in the 8th century in dedication to Nikko's mountain gods.

Later, explore the Tamozawa Imperial Villa, built for Emperor Taisho.

Nikko - Tokyo

Day 5: Adventure Around Nikko

Today, continue your exploration of Nikko and its surroundings at your own pace.

Why not visit Chuzenji Lake, which is a body of water at the foot of Mount Nantai? It was formed over 20,000 years ago as a result of a volcanic eruption and is the highest lake in Japan.

If you're in the nature mood, continue to Ryuzu Waterfalls, which literally means "dragon head". You start with a waterfall that is part of the Yu River and end in a pool of water that forms two branches separated by a rock, the shape of which evokes the head of a dragon, hence the name of the falls.

Another recommended visit is to Kegon Waterfalls, located in the heart of Nikko National Park. These waterfalls reach a height of 97m.

To end your day, why not explore the Chuzenji Buddhist Temple and discover the statue of Kannon, carved from a tree that is still rooted in the ground?

Tokyo

Day 6: Discover the Future in Tokyo

Start your day with a stroll through the beautifully landscaped Hama Rikyu Garden, which offers visitors the image of a futuristic Tokyo with fine traditional accents. Then take a walk in Odaiba, an artificial island that offers its visitors a taste of the future and a wide range of entertainment.

Continue to Miraikan, the National Museum of Foresight and Innovation, where you can immerse yourself in a world of technology to better understand our modern universe.

Afterward, get out and about and take a stroll on the east side of Shinjuku, a maze of alleys with small bars and restaurants that evokes the atmosphere of prewar Tokyo. This place is best explored in the evening when the streets come alive.

Nearby, you can also visit the Samurai Museum. Its location in the heart of Shinjuku allows you to discover an important part of Japanese culture.

Tokyo - Kamakura - Tokyo

Day 7: Discover Captivating Kamakura

Today, enjoy a free day in Kamakura. Why not visit the Hasedera Temple, a temple of Jodo-shu (meaning "School of the Pure Land"), which is famous for its eleven-headed statue of the goddess of grace Kannon.

Next, we recommend exploring the Kamakura Big Buddha at Kotoku-in Temple, one of the top landmarks in the Kamakura region and one of the most accessible temples in the city. Continue to Kotoku-in, a Buddhist temple that was built during the Kamakura period in 1252.

Afterward, visit the Meigetsu-in Temple, a temple of the Zen Rinzai school which was founded in Kamakura in 1160. It is also known as Ajisaidera, which means "Temple of the Hydrangea" as these flowers bloom in abundance around June.

Continue to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, the most important Shinto shrine in Kamakura. 

Tokyo - Hakone

Day 8: Magnificent Views of Mt. Fuji

Enjoy a free day in Hakone. There's a lot to discover!

Why not start off with the famous Hakone Shrine, a Shinto shrine on the shores of Lake Ashi. The main building, built in 757, is hidden in the heart of a beautiful cedar forest. The Hakone Jinja Shrine is characterized by its torii, the base of which is in the lake and which offers one of the most famous views of Mount Fuji.

Then, take a walk around Lake Ashi, a crater lake with a circumference of 13 miles. This is located in a volcano called Hakone.

Next, take the cable car along Lake Ashi to the Owakudani Volcanic Valley. Admire the famous steam springs, hot springs, and hot rivers. On a clear day, you have the opportunity to get a spectacular panoramic view of Mount Fuji.

Hakone - Tokyo

Day 9: Wander Through Hakone

Spend the morning at your leisure in Hakone.

Why not explore Gora Park near Hakone and take a stroll in the park's beautiful alleys.

You can also discover a Japanese tea ceremony or the secrets of hand-blown glass here.

In the afternoon, you will head back to Tokyo.

Tokyo - Tokyo Airport

Day 10: Farewell Japan

Enjoy a free half-day in Tokyo. Take this chance to visit the numerous attractions of this multi-faceted city.

Stroll through the streets, eat some delicious last meals, and do some last-minute souvenir shopping.

Soon, it will be time to pack your bags. Your friendly driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to the airport. It may be the end of your trip, but you'll have memories from your amazing vacation in Japan that will last you a lifetime.