6-Day Cultural Heritage Tour of Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Osaka, and Kyoto

Embark on an unforgettable 6-day multi day trip around Japan and experience its iconic cultural wonders! See Japan’s spectacular treasures and learn more about its fascinating heritage as you travel to Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Osaka, and Kyoto. You will make your way through the bustling streets, tour around the renowned shrines and temples, check out the vibrant entertainment districts, try out some tasty local treats, check out the famous shopping streets, and even ride the speedy Shinkansen bullet train. Tour is flexible and can be customized to your interests and needs upon request.

Tour Highlights

• Visit Tokyo’s celebrated Meiji Shrine and Sensoji Temple

• Admire the mesmerizing beauty of Mt. Fuji

• Sample delightful authentic Japanese street food

• Wander through the bustling and vibrant Dotonbori district

• Explore the majestic golden Kinkakuji Temple

• See the famous vermilion torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Tokyo

Arrive in Tokyo’s Narita International Airport. With the help of an airport assistant, take the shuttle bus to the hotel and check in. Take a short break to refresh, then meet your local tour guide for a short orientation.

Explore the Lively Shibuya District

Enjoy some leisure time and head out to Shibuya for a short tour of Tokyo at night. Take in the lively atmosphere of Shibuya, go across the popular Shibuya Crossing, and look for the statue of the legendary Hachiko.

Day 2

See the Famous Meiji Shrine

Take in the tranquility of the Meiji Shrine as you stroll around its walking paths and forested area. Learn about Shintoism and how to respectfully visit Japanese shrines from your knowledgeable guide. Believed to possess a spiritual energy powerful enough to grant your wishes, feel free to offer your prayers for happiness, love, success, health, and anything you can hope for.

Explore the Historic Asakusa District

Get a feel of ancient Japan as you walk around the famous temple town that continues to preserve the traditional culture of the Edo Era. Check out the shops selling a wide variety of local specialties from typical Japanese souvenirs to authentic traditional snacks in the popular quintessential Nakamise Shopping Street stretching towards the Sensoji Temple. 

Visit the Renowned Sensoji Temple

Travel through time as you walk around Sensoji Temple and admire its vibrant grandeur. One of the oldest religious structures in Japan, the Sensoji Temple is considered as the most visited temple in the country. With a history of several centuries, hear about Asakusa’s untold stories from your local guide, which will allow you to see the ancient district from another perspective.

Walk around Sumida Park

Take a leisurely stroll around Sumida Park and enjoy the serene panorama of the Sumida River as well as the impressive views of the Tokyo Skytree. Walk across Kototoi Bridge, connecting the historical Asakusa district with modern Tokyo, and see the contrast of traditional and contemporary Japanese culture. 

Marvel at the Monumental Tokyo Skytree

One of the world’s tallest towers, enjoy the colorful and spectacular Tokyo cityscape as you watch the city transform from day to night at the Tokyo Skytree’s Observation Deck. End the day with a visit to the Tokyo Solamachi, a combined entertainment complex at the base of Tokyo Skytree with numerous shops and restaurants as well as a planetarium and aquarium.

Day 3

Admire the Glorious Mt. Fuji

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a day. Take in the picturesque scenery as you depart Tokyo for a drive to Mt. Fuji, the tallest mountain in Japan known for its graceful conical form. Once there, proceed to Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station, situated at about 2,305 meters halfway up the mountain. Take in the breathtaking views over Fuji Five Lakes and Hakone National Park.  Easily accessible by road, the 5th Station is deemed as the leisure platform featuring shrines, restaurants, and souvenir shops. Enjoy some leisure time before heading to your next destination. 

Cruise across the Captivating Lake Ashi

Continue to the idyllic Lake Ashi, a scenic crater lake known for its magnificent view of Mt. Fuji. Take a short cruise across the lake, marvel at the captivating scenery of Mt. Fuji and Mt. Komagatake, and bask in nature's vivid color contrast depending on which season you are in. 

Hop on the Mt. Komagatake Ropeway

Journey to one of Hakone’s highest peaks through the Mt. Komagatake Ropeway, an aerial tram that takes you from the shores of Lake Ashi up to the main peak of Mt. Komagatake for breathtaking panoramic views of Lake Ashi, Mt. Fuji, and the surrounding Hakone National Park. When you reach the summit, you may take a short stroll along one of the walking trails at the mountain top. Afterwards, end the day with a drive back to Tokyo.

Day 4

Ride the Shinkansen to Osaka

Take the express Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo to Osaka. Upon arrival, make your way to the hotel and check in. Take time to refresh before heading out to explore Osaka, the economic powerhouse of the Kansai Region known for its delicious culinary delights and exciting nightlife. 

Tour the Fascinating Osaka Castle Complex

Visit the Osaka Museum of History and learn about the history of Osaka. The museum boasts comprehensive exhibits that chronicles Osaka’s history, from ancient times up to the modern era. Continue to the quaint Nishinomaru Garden to take some photos with the magnificent Osaka Castle as the backdrop and enjoy the exquisite scenery of the garden filled with cherry blossom trees. 

See the Imposing Osaka Castle

Head to Otemon, the main gate of Osaka Castle. The five-story castle is one of the most popular landmarks and one of the most outstanding structures in Japan. Visit the monumental Osaka Castle Tower in the main castle area, learn about the extensive history of the castle, see its recent reconstructions, and admire the amazing view of the surrounding areas from the observation deck.

Explore the Nostalgic Shinsekai District

Continue to the bustling and vibrant alleys of Shinsekai, a retro entertainment district situated in southern Osaka. Best known for the iconic Tsutenkaku Tower, Shinsekai is also packed with countless affordable shops and restaurants as well as cinemas, shoji, mahjong clubs, and pachinko parlors. Although Shinsekai has several fugu (blowfish) restaurants, its main culinary speciality is kushikatsu (deep fried snack), so make sure to sample a few varieties of the tasty kushikatsu.

Sample Delicious Local Street Food at Kuromon Market

Discover Osaka’s particularly appetizing cuisine as you explore its famous and historic Kuromon Market. Get an insight into the dynamic Japanese culture as you try its high-quality, fresh seafood and authentic Japanese street food, like takoyaki, grilled scallops, grilled yakitori skewers, and so much more. 

Go around the Bustling Dotonbori District

Take in the bright scene and lively atmosphere of the Dotonbori district. The bright heart of Osaka - Dotonbori is renowned for its flashy neon lights and eye-catching signages. Stroll around the district, spot the iconic Glico running man sign above the Ebisubashi Bridge, and check out the popular food stalls selling the famous takoyaki and okonomiyaki. You will then enjoy some leisure time before heading back to your hotel.

Day 5

Travel to Kyoto

Start the day with a drive to Kyoto, the cultural capital of Japan, and spend the day exploring its most famous temples, shrines, and other historically treasured landmarks. 

Visit the Impressive Kinkakuji Temple

See the grandiose Kinkakuji Temple, one of the must-see tourist attractions. The Kinkakuji Temple Covered in gold leaf, the Kinkakuji Temple is also known as the Golden Pavilion. Walk through the charming gardens surrounding the temple as you marvel at the impressive architecture exhibiting the lavish traditional culture of nobility during Ashikaga Yoshimitsu’s rule.

See the Exceptional Kiyomizudera Temple

Best known for its large wooden stage juts out over the hillside, the Kiyomizudera Temple offers captivating panoramic views of the city. Learn about the history of the temple as you admire the impressive scenery. Before leaving the temple, check out the Otowa Waterfall at the base of the main hall and help yourself with a drink of the stream’s water for longevity, health, success at school, and even a fortunate love life.

Discover the Awesome Sanjusangendo Temple

Continue to the mystic Sanjusangendo Temple (Rengeo-in T) in Eastern Kyoto which is famous for its 1001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. A world famous ancient Buddhist architecture, the Sanjusangendo Temple is the longest wooden structure all over the world measuring about 120 meters. Check out the national treasures, admire the spectacular architecture, and learn about the history as well as interesting details of the temple. 

Tour the Renowned Nijo Castle

Stop by the Nijo Castle, one of the best surviving structures of Japan’s feudal era, featuring paintings, carvings, and architectural elements of the Japanese Momoyama Period. The Nijo Castle, served as the Kyoto residence of the shogun, clearly exhibits the prestige and power once held by the shogun. Learn about the history of Japan as you tour around the majestic castle that has witnessed some of the important events in Japan’s history. 

Walk through the Ultimate Torii Gate Experience at Fushimi Inari Shrine

The Fushimi Inari Shrine is well known for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which extend across a network of trails behind its main buildings. Walk through the tunnel of seemingly endless path of torii gates as you learn the story behind the torii gates along the entire trail and pay respect to the resident deity Inari for good harvest and success in business. It is believed that the foxes are the divine messengers of the deity Inari, you can check out the restaurants along the way and try the delectable Inari Sushi (Rice Stuffed into Pockets of Aburaage) and Kitsune Udon (Wheat Noodles in Broth Topped with Aburaage) that are considered as the fox’s favorite food. Afterwards, hop on the car and drive back to Osaka.

Day 6

Depart from Osaka

Check out from the hotel and head to the airport for your journey back home. 

Inclusions

• Hotel Pick Up and Drop Off

• 5 Nights Accommodation in High International Standard Hotel 

• Breakfasts

• English-Speaking Local Guide

• Transportation

• Entrance Fees

Exclusions

• Local and International Flights into Tokyo and out of Osaka

• Local Hotel Tax

• Meals Not Mentioned

• Drinks

• Visas

• Travel Insurance

• Personal Expenses

• Gratuities (Optional)

Additional Information

• This tour operates in all weather conditions; please dress appropriately.

• This tour involves a moderate amount of walking; please wear comfortable walking shoes.

• Arrival time at each location may vary depending on the season and the day of the week due to traffic conditions. If there is insufficient time for all attractions on the itinerary, the tour guide will adjust the length of time spent at other attractions. 

• Delays, shortening of tours, or omissions to the itinerary due to traffic, weather, or other unforeseen circumstances are not subject to refund.

• Itinerary is subject to change and the attractions may be closed due to traffic, weather, and force majeure. An alternative itinerary may also be omitted depending on road conditions. 

• If Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station cannot be reached due to road surface freezing, an accident on the Fuji Subaru Line, or weather conditions, the tour will be taken to the highest elevation point possible. No alternative destinations are planned when the tour reaches beyond the 1st Station, or when the Fuji Subaru Line is completely blocked, the tour will visit Fujisan World Heritage Center or Lake Kawaguchi Oishi Park instead. 

• Mt. Fuji may not be visible even from the base due to weather conditions. However, the tour will not be canceled and refunds will not be issued. 

• If the Lake Ashi Cruise or Mt. Komagatake Ropeway cannot be boarded due to suspension of operation, road congestion, or conditions at other sightseeing areas, the tour will be guided to one of the following alternative destinations: Hakone Venetian Glass Museum, Hakone-en Aquarium, Hakone Ropeway, Hakone Pirate Ship, Narukawa Art Museum, Hakone Checkpoint, Lake Kawaguchi Cruise, Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway, Itchiku Kubota Art Museum, Hakone Shrine, Shinobi no Sato, or any other similar destinations. 

• Photography is not permitted inside the Sanjusangendo Temple.