7 Days Japan Highlights Mini Group Tour

7 days (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English

Our policy is the most flexible you’ll find online - free cancellation more than 40 days before departure. This 7-day mini group tour invites travelers to explore Japan's cultural and natural wonders, including iconic cities and breathtaking landscapes. Begin in Tokyo with visits to Tsukiji Outer Market, Meiji Jingu Shrine, and Senso-ji Temple. Experience the grandeur of Mt. Fuji with a cruise on Lake Ashi and a ride on the Hakone Ropeway. In Kyoto, admire the Golden Pavilion and the historic streets of Gion. Encounter friendly deer in Nara and explore Osaka's vibrant Dotonbori district. With comfortable accommodations and expert English-speaking guides, immerse yourself in the beauty of Japan's heritage and hospitality.

What's Included

Accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels.
Entrance fees for the sights visited.
Service of English-speaking guide.
Public transportation fare by bus, metro and train.
Breakfast (Optional[6])
Breakfast
Shared airport pick-up on arrival.
International flights into Tokyo and out of Osaka.
Festival or holiday peak season surcharges.
Personal expenses (insurance, laundry, drinks, etc.).
Japan visa fee.
Meals not mentioned in the itinerary.
Not suitable for: People over 80 years old, Wheelchair users.

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

Upon your arrival at Narita Airport, we will meet you in the arrival hall and escort you to the hotel in downtown Tokyo by shared car. Please note that shared cars operate until 20:30. If you arrive later, kindly organize your transfer to the hotel independently. Alternatively, you can book a private pickup with us.

Itinerary

Duration: 7 days (approximately)
    Day 1

    Tokyo Airport Pick-up by Shared Car

    1 stop
  • 1

    Welcome to join our 7-day Japan group tour! Upon your arrival at Narita or Haneda Airport, we will meet you in the arrival hall and escort you to the hotel in downtown Tokyo by shared car. Please note that shared cars operate until 20:30. If you arrive later, kindly organize your transfer to the hotel independently. Alternatively, you can book a private pickup with us.

    1 hour Admission ticket free
  • Day 2

    Tokyo: Tsukiji Outer Market, Meiji Jingu Shrine, Imperial Palace, Senso-ji Temple

    4 stops
  • 2

    The exciting sightseeing begins after a hearty breakfast. Meet your guide at the hotel, and then let’s head to the Tsukiji Outer Market, where you’ll be amazed by the variety of food stalls. You can try authentic local snacks, such as sushi and teppanyaki.

    30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 3

    Then, we’ll visit the Meiji Jingu Shrine, an important Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji. Surrounded by a dense forest, the shrine is the largest green space in the city. Here, you might encounter a traditional Japanese wedding.

    1 hour 30 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 4

    Next, head to the Imperial Palace, the residence of the Emperor of Japan and a legacy of the Edo period (1603-1867 AD). Let’s stroll around its outer gardens and plazas to feel its magnificent air. A special photo op is also arranged before the star of this excursion - Nijubashi Bridge, which leads to the gate of the palace.

    1 hour 30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 5

    In the afternoon, head to the Nakamise-dori Street and the Senso-ji Temple. On the street, you can see scenes that match your impression of Japan: rows of red lanterns, girls in kimonos, and various food or souvenir stands in antique buildings. The street leads to the gate of Senso-ji Temple, a Buddhist temple complex that includes a main hall where the goddess of mercy is worshipped. It’s the oldest temple in Tokyo, dating back to the 7th century. Here, Japan’s tallest tower, Tokyo Skytree, can also be viewed from afar. Finally, the guide will take you back to the hotel. Have a good rest for tomorrow’s Hakone tour.

    2 hours 30 minutes Admission ticket included
  • Day 3

    Tokyo - Hakone (Mt. Fuji, Owakudani Valley & Lake Ashi Cruise) - Tokyo

    2 stops
  • 6

    Today marks the exciting trip to Hakone, where you can view Mt. Fuji from different angles. Your guide will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you on a bullet train ride to Odawara, where we will then ascend the mountains by Hakone Tozan Train and cable car. While admiring the volcanic landscape of Owakudani Valley up close from its viewing platform, you can capture the beautiful Mt. Fuji afar on clear days. Let’s continue the ropeway ride to Togendai Port, during which you can enjoy panoramic views of both Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi.

    2 hours 30 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 7

    A special Lake Ashi cruise will be arranged for you to appreciate Mt. Fuji from another perspective across the valleys. Leisurely float on the volcanic Lake Ashi, which was formed more than 3,000 years ago, and enjoy views of the shore, including the Hakone Shrine and its iconic bright red torri by the water. At the end of today, we will return to Tokyo and stay the night here.

    1 hour Admission ticket free
  • Day 4

    Tokyo - Kyoto: Visit Golden Pavilion, Pure Water Temple & the Surrounding Gion Area

    4 stops
  • 8

    This morning, you need to take a 2.5-hour train ride to Kyoto by yourself (tickets reserved and included), and the local guide will pick you up at Kyoto Station.

    2 hours 30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 9

    We’ll see the famous sights of Kyoto, a former capital city offering unique cultural experiences and scenic trails. The Temple of Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji Temple), a fascinating Buddhist monument adorned with dazzling gold leaf against a lush green forest backdrop, is the perfect place to start a Kyoto trip.

    1 hour 30 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 10

    Our next stop is the Pure Water Temple, a 1,200-year-old temple dedicated to Kannon, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. You can pray before the deity and stand on the terrace of the main hall to look over Japan’s unique seasonal colors.

    1 hour 30 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 11

    Step out of the Pure Water Temple and follow the guide to explore the Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, which are distinctive walking ramps lined with traditional wooden houses and shops selling a variety of Japanese snacks, groceries, and souvenirs. We will then see the Yashaka Shrine from outside and the famous Gion on its doorstep, the largest geisha district in Kyoto, where you might bump into a geisha with elaborate makeup on the street. Before returning to the hotel, take a moment to enjoy a leisurely walk through these areas full of ancient charm.

    2 hours Admission ticket free
  • Day 5

    Kyoto Fushimi Inari Shrine, Nara Tour with World Heritage & Deer Encounters, Back to Kyoto

    6 stops
  • 12

    Before heading to Nara, visit the most essential site in Kyoto, the Fushimi Inari Shrine. It is famous for its iconic, densely packed thousands of vermilion torii gates, known as the Senbon Torii. While your imagination runs wild through these majestic gates, you may also encounter many statues of foxes, which are considered the messengers of Inari, the god of commerce and agriculture, enshrined here.

    1 hour 30 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 13

    Afterward, we’ll take the train to Nara, and first meet roaming deer herds in Nara Park. When deer bow their heads, you know they are begging for you to feed them!

    1 hour Admission ticket free
  • 14

    Next, visit the Great Eastern Temple to admire the magnificent bronze Buddha statue.

    1 hour Admission ticket included
  • 15

    Strolling along a quiet cobblestone path, you will be attracted by thousands of stone lanterns that line the road, some of which are covered in moss, telling the story of history and each donor. The path eventually leads you to the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, a serene and mysterious worship site deep in the forest.

    1 hour Admission ticket free
  • 16

    Then, visit the small Goryo Shrine to learn about the exquisite architecture and the local Shinto religious beliefs.

    20 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 17

    Then, step into the Naramachi Lattice House to see what a traditional Japanese machiya house looks like and discover how the ancient people of Nara lived. After all the visits, we’ll return to Kyoto.

    20 minutes Admission ticket free
  • Day 6

    Kyoto Nijo Castle, Train to Osaka, Visit Kuromon Market, Osaka Castle, Dotonbori & Shinsaibashi

    4 stops
  • 18

    Today’s first destination is Nijo Castle, a World Heritage site. Built by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603 and surrounded by stone walls and moats, it retains the art of painting, sculpture, and architecture from the Momoyama Period (1573–1603 AD). It is the premier sakura viewing spot in Kyoto.

    1 hour Admission ticket included
  • 19

    Next, let’s take the train to Osaka. We will arrange a special stop for you to visit the 190-year-old Kuromon Market, known as ‘Osaka’s kitchen’ and a must-see for food lovers. Here, you can experience real local life, with a variety of seafood shops and a constant flow of tourists and locals. Have your self-funded lunch at the famous restaurant Takoyaki Wanaka Sennichimae if you like, and here you can enjoy the most distinctive Takoyaki and Osakayaki, a type of pancake made from shredded cabbage and topped with various ingredients.

    40 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 20

    Then, your guide will take you to the 450-year-old Osaka Castle and its surrounding park. The towering classical architecture, with its green tiles and white walls visible from a distance, is the Main Tower of the castle, an irreplaceable symbol of Osaka.

    1 hour 30 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 21

    Later, head to Osaka and explore its lively Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi streets. Specifically, Shinsaibashi is a covered shopping arcade, while Dotonbori is mainly a food street near Shinsaibashi, making Osaka Japan’s food capital. The guide will leave you a free night after a brief introduction. If you’re looking for souvenirs or a taste of Japanese cuisine, don’t miss your last chance.

    1 hour 30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • Day 7

    Departure from Osaka

    1 stop
  • 22

    As your tour comes to an end today, please check out and make your own way to Osaka Kansai Airport. Please inform your guide in advance of your flight details so that he or she can advise on the best means of transportation for you.

    1 hour Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Supplied by Travel China Guide

Tags

Multi-day Tours
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Rail Tours
Walking Tours
Culinary Tours
Small Group
Food & Drink
New Product

Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Show more

from per person
Was {{currencySymbol}}{{ summaryFromPriceBeforeDiscount }}