11 Days Japan Full Coverage

Touch down at Narita or Haneda Airport where your friendly English-speaking guide awaits with a welcome sign and a private transfer to your Shinjuku hotel. After settling in and freshening up, join your group for a welcome dinner at a lively local izakaya where you'll sample yakitori skewers, edamame, and your first glass of Japanese craft beer. Your guide will brief you on the adventure ahead, covering the Golden Route from Tokyo to Hiroshima, and share essential tips on Japanese etiquette like proper chopstick use and onsen bathing customs. Take an evening stroll through neon-lit Kabukicho or rest up for tomorrow's full day of exploration.

Begin your morning with a serene visit to Meiji Shrine, a peaceful Shinto sanctuary surrounded by a vast forested park in the heart of bustling Harajuku. Walk through the iconic Shibuya Crossing, the world's busiest pedestrian scramble, before heading to Tsukiji Outer Market for a fresh sashimi lunch at one of the century-old stalls. In the afternoon, explore ancient Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa and browse Nakamise shopping street for traditional ningyo-yaki cakes and souvenirs. Wrap up the day with a visit to the Tokyo Skytree area for panoramic views of the sprawling metropolis as the sun sets. Travel tip: carry a small hand towel, as many public restrooms lack paper towels or hand dryers.

Depart Tokyo after breakfast and journey toward Mount Fuji, pausing for photo opportunities at Lake Ashi with Japan's most iconic peak reflected on calm waters. Ride the Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani volcanic valley, where steam vents and bubbling pools create an otherworldly landscape — be sure to try a kuro-tamago, the famous black egg boiled in sulfuric hot springs said to add seven years to your life. Enjoy a lunch of soba and tempura with sweeping mountain views before boarding a pirate ship cruise across Lake Ashi. Visit the Hakone Open-Air Museum's stunning sculpture garden before returning to Tokyo for a free evening to explore independently.

After an early bento box breakfast, board the legendary Shinkansen at Tokyo Station, gliding through the Japanese countryside to Kyoto in just over two hours as rice fields and distant mountains slip past your window. Upon arrival, head straight to the iconic Fushimi Inari Shrine, where thousands of vermilion torii gates wind up through the forested slopes of Mount Inari — hike as far as your energy allows for increasingly private viewpoints. Enjoy a late lunch of Kyoto-style sushi or soba in the nearby Fujimi-cho district. As evening approaches, stroll through the historic Gion district, where lantern-lit cobblestone lanes evoke old Kyoto and you might glimpse a geiko or maiko hurrying to an appointment. When walking in Gion, admire geisha from a respectful distance and avoid direct photography.

Marvel at Kinkaku-ji, the breathtaking Golden Pavilion whose gilded walls shimmer in the morning sun above its mirror pond, creating one of Japan's most photographed scenes. Continue to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, where towering green stalks sway overhead like a living cathedral, then visit the neighboring Tenryu-ji Temple with its exquisite 14th-century Zen garden. For lunch, sample yudofu, Kyoto's signature silken tofu hot pot, at a restaurant overlooking the Katsura River. In the afternoon, experience a traditional tea ceremony led by a kimono-clad tea master, savoring thick matcha paired with a seasonal wagashi sweet while learning about the philosophy of ichi-go ichi-e — treasuring each moment as unique. Spend the evening exploring the Pontocho alley, a narrow street of riverside restaurants.

Take a short train ride to Nara, Japan's first permanent capital, and stand in awe before the 15-meter Great Buddha inside Todaiji Temple, the world's largest wooden building. Wander through Nara Park where hundreds of sacred sika deer bow politely for shika senbei crackers you can purchase from nearby vendors — a delight for all ages and a photographer's dream. Break for a lunch of kakinoha-zushi, Nara's distinctive persimmon-leaf-wrapped sushi that dates to the Edo period. In the afternoon, explore Kasuga Taisha Shrine with its thousands of stone and bronze lanterns lining forest pathways, their soft glow creating a magical atmosphere. Return to Kyoto in time for an independent dinner; ask your guide for a local obanzai restaurant recommendation.

After breakfast, take a quick train to Osaka, Japan's legendary kitchen city. Begin at Osaka Castle, whose gleaming white walls and gold-leafed turrets rise dramatically above the moat, and learn about the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the excellent museum inside. Cross to the Minami district for the ultimate food crawl through Dotonbori, sampling freshly grilled takoyaki from a street vendor and savory okonomiyaki cooked sizzling at your table. Continue past the iconic Glico Running Man sign and the mechanical crabs of Kani Doraku. Spend the afternoon exploring Shinsekai's retro arcades and climbing Tsutenkaku Tower for panoramic views. Local tip: in Osaka escalators, stand on the right — the opposite of Tokyo, where everyone stands on the left.

Board the Shinkansen after breakfast for the two-hour ride to Hiroshima, a city that has transformed tragedy into a global message of peace. Visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, where deeply moving exhibits, survivor testimonies, and the skeletal remains of the A-Bomb Dome convey a powerful message of hope and resilience. Take a moment at the Children's Peace Monument, inspired by Sadako Sasaki's thousand paper cranes. For lunch, try Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, a layered savory pancake cooked on a griddle, at the iconic Okonomimura building. In the afternoon, take a short ferry to Miyajima Island, arriving in time to watch the famous floating torii gate glow orange at sunset, then check into your ryokan for a traditional kaiseki dinner and soak.

Rise early to witness a magical sunrise at the floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine — at low tide you can walk right up to its ancient wooden pillars and touch the barnacle-encrusted base. After a traditional Japanese breakfast at your ryokan, hike or take the ropeway up Mount Misen for panoramic views of the Seto Inland Sea dotted with islands. Visit Daisho-in Temple, a hidden gem with hundreds of stone arhat statues wearing colorful knitted caps. Return to the ferry and journey back to Osaka in the late afternoon. Enjoy a free evening to revisit favorite Dotonbori spots or discover the trendy Amerikamura district. Grab a final takoyaki and a cold Asahi — you've earned it.

Savor a relaxed morning with breakfast at your own pace, then choose your own Osaka adventure. Food lovers can explore Kuromon Market, nicknamed "Osaka's Kitchen," where stalls serve the freshest sashimi, giant grilled scallops with butter, and creamy Hokkaido uni straight from the shell. Shoppers will find paradise in the covered arcades of Shinsaibashi-suji, one of Japan's longest shopping streets. Alternatively, spend the day at Universal Studios Japan, home of Super Nintendo World and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (optional, advance booking recommended). Gather with your group in the evening for a farewell dinner of kushi-katsu, Osaka's beloved deep-fried skewers where a strict rule applies: no double-dipping in the communal sauce pot.

Enjoy a final Japanese breakfast of grilled salmon, miso soup, tamagoyaki rolled omelette, and steaming rice, savoring each delicate bite as you reflect on eleven extraordinary days crossing the length of Honshu. Your guide escorts you by private vehicle to Kansai International Airport, the drive offering one last glimpse of Japan's layered beauty: orderly rice fields giving way to Osaka Bay's shimmering expanse. As you wait at the gate, leaf through your memories — the neon-drenched scramble of Shibuya, the sacred hush of Meiji Shrine, Mount Fuji's perfect cone mirrored on Lake Ashi, Fushimi Inari's endless vermilion tunnels, the profound stillness of Hiroshima's Peace Park, and the floating torii of Miyajima glowing at sunrise. Japan reveals itself as a land of exquisite contrasts: hyper-modern and deeply ancient, frenetic and serenely calm, and always impeccably gracious. Pick up final omiyage — Tokyo Banana cakes, beautifully wrapped yatsuhashi cinnamon sweets from Kyoto, or a furoshiki wrapping cloth — as edible and elegant reminders of your journey. Sayonara, and may the spirit of omotenashi — Japanese selfless hospitality — travel with you always.