20 Day Spectacular Japan And Kyushu
A portion of this tour runs as a group tour where you will be escorted by an expert tour leader. Another portion is self-guided, whether conducted by rail, cruise or land, and you will travel between destinations on your own, with free time to explore at your own pace.
This tour is categorised as 3 out of 5
Balanced exploration with walking tours: Our most popular style, this tour offers a good mix of planned activities and free time. Expect moderate daily walking tours, so pack comfortable shoes.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
✓ Incredible sightseeing, including Japan’s beautiful shrines, gardens and temples, charming Shirakawa-go and Takayama Old Town, Kyoto’s ancient World Heritage Sites and Kyushu’s highlights including the Hells of Beppu
✓ 17 nights in comfortable 3-star accommodation
✓ 2 nights in traditional Japanese onsen ryokans
✓ Breakfast daily and 2 dinners
✓ Travel on the Shinkansen bullet train with your 7 day Japan Rail Pass
✓ Scenic cruise on Lake Ashi with spectacular views of Mount Fuji
✓ Escorted by a professional English-speaking tour guide (Day 1 to 14)
✓ Independent touring with local guides in Kyushu (Day 14 to 20)
✓ Comfortable, dedicated transportation throughout
✓ In-depth sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary
✈ Needing international airfares to accompany your Inspiring Vacation? You will be able to access our flight portal after securing your package to add international airfares to your booking.
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Welcome to Japan!
Your journey through this magical land of contrasts begins in Tokyo, a bustling metropolis known for its unique blend of tradition and modernity. As Japan’s capital, Tokyo offers an endless array of culinary delights. Indulge in its renowned street food such as yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), tempura (battered and deep-fried seafood and vegetables), or Tokyo-style ramen (rich and flavorful noodle soup). Explore the vibrant neighbourhoods and savour the diverse food culture that makes Tokyo a paradise for food enthusiasts.
Upon arrival into Tokyo, please make your own way to the starting point hotel. Take the evening to relax after your flight and prepare for your first full day of touring tomorrow.
Some flights may depart your home city the night before, to arrive on Day 1
Arrival & Check-in information
The easiest and most convenient way to travel from Haneda International Airport (HND) or Narita International Airport (NRT) is to book airport transfers using your Traveller Hub (booked 7+ days in advance). Alternatively, both airports have reliable public transport services into central Tokyo as well as the Limousine Bus which services many hotels in the central Tokyo area. For more information or assistance with these services, please check with the Passenger Information Desk after leaving the Baggage Claim area.
Special information
There are no scheduled activities today. If arriving prior to check-in time, which is usually from 2-3 pm, you are welcome to leave your luggage with hotel reception and explore your surroundings until check-in becomes available. Use this time to familiarise yourself with the hotel and rest before touring commences tomorrow.
Ensure you allow enough time to enjoy your breakfast and to meet your Dedicated Tour Guide in the lobby at 9am. Your Dedicated Tour Guide will introduce themselves to you, confirm insurance information and highlight any essential information about the trip ahead.
Our exploration of Tokyo begins with a visit to Asakusa Sensoji Temple – the oldest temple in Tokyo – famous for its huge hanging lantern at the Kaminarimon Gate (Thunder Gate). Then, we’ll explore the outer grounds of the Imperial Palace, the primary residence of the Emperor of Japan. Previously home to samurai warriors, it’s a sprawling complex with beautiful 17th century parks in the heart of the city. Built on the site of the old Edo Castle, it is surrounded by a large park, moats and massive stone walls. Come cherry blossom season, it is blanketed in a sea of pink blooms.
There is arguably no better place in Tokyo to have a fresh sushi breakfast or lunch than at the Tsukiji Outer Market. At the market, you can find processed and fresh seafood, along with culinary-related items such as specialty knives.
No trip to Tokyo is complete with a visit to the famous Shibuya Crossing – the famed icon of the district alongside the Hachiko statue.
Inspiring Highlights
We’ll leave Tokyo this morning after breakfast and head north to Nikko, one of Japan’s most famous mountain towns.
We’ll visit the Nikko Toshogu Shrine. Enclosed in dense forest and hailed as Japan’s most lavish shrine, it’s the final resting place of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. Most of the shrine complex was rebuilt in the 17th century and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.
Whilst in Nikko, we visit Kinu-Tateiwa Otsuribashi and Oya History Museum, which is a museum built inside a former stone quarry. The caverns are from the Edo Period to mine Oya Stone, a soft but durable volcanic stone.
Inspiring Highlights
Special information
Travel between Tokyo and Nikko is approximately 3 hours in each direction
After breakfast, we head to the national park region of Hakone. On the way we explore the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, a building complex that was erected a century ago as a customs house for Yokohama Port. Requisitioned by the US military after World War II, the buildings were repurposed as a cultural centre and shopping complex in 2002.
Enjoy a boat trip across the serene Ashinoko Lake, followed by taking a cable car up the mountains to the sulphur vents of Owakudani. You’ll have spectacular views, and on a clear day, you can catch a glimpse of nearby Mount Fuji.
Inspiring Highlights
Special information
Total travel time today is approximately 3 hours
After breakfast, we’ll head to Kawaguchiko today, about a two-hour drive. Lake Kawaguchiko is the most accessible of the Fuji Five Lakes; popular sightseeing spots each offering an astonishing view of dramatic, iconic Mount Fuji. This is a great place to get back to nature.
Here we’ll visit Mount Fuji 5th station to hopefully view the divine mountain before visiting Oishi Park on the north side of the lake. If you’re here in spring, seeing the cherry blossoms with Japan’s most famous mountain in the background really is an experience. This lake is also home to a cherry blossom festival held during the season, one of the most popular in the country. There are about 300 cherry trees on the northern shore, stretching for about a kilometre.
You’ll see the lakeside trail along the eastern shore of the lake that boasts many weeping cherry trees. There will be time for lunch.
Continue onto Nagano for the night, home of the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Inspiring Highlights
Special information
Total travel time today is approximately 5 hours
After breakfast, we will head to Hokusai Museum to discover the great artworks of Katsuhika Hokusai (1760-1849), one of Japan's leading Edo period ukiyo-e painters.
We’ll drive to the traditional city of Takayama today, still home to many Edo-period buildings.
For a taste of authentic, old Japan, we’ll enjoy a tour of Takayama old town, nestled in the Hida mountains. This city still retains a traditional feel, especially in its beautifully preserved old town (Sanmachi Suji). Here you’ll find quaint, old latticed wooden buildings and Sannomachi Street, with pretty homes, restaurants and sake breweries. We’ll see the Takayama Jin’ya, the former government headquarters under the Tokugawa Shogunate from 1692-1871.
Inspiring Highlights
Special information
Total travel time today is approximately 3 hours
After breakfast we’ll travel to Shirakawa-gō Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has more than 100 'Gassho-style' houses, which feature steeply-pitched roofs. Built many hundreds of years ago, these historic houses stand together in a beautiful natural setting. From the site’s observation deck you can enjoy a panoramic view of this unique village, its thatched-roof houses sitting among gorgeous mountain scenery.
Inspiring Highlights
Special information
Total travel time today is approximately 4 hours
After breakfast, we will explore the castle town of Kanazawa. First up is a visit to Omicho Market, where you can try some local favourites, such as fresh seafood and gold leaf ice cream.
Next, we visit Kenrokuen Garden. This is one of Japan's three best landscape gardens, and is considered the most beautiful of them all.
Finish up your day by taking a stroll down the streets of Higashi Chaya, a geisha district in Kanazawa known for its quaint old buildings and teahouses.
Inspiring Highlights
We depart for Kyoto and Echizen Washi Village after breakfast. Echizen Washi Village is located in the Imadate area, it is steeped in paper-washi making history dating back 1500 years. ‘Washi’ is a traditional Japanese paper.
There are over 60 paper mills in Echizen which you will be able to walk around and visit whilst here.
After your visit, we will continue to Kyoto.
Inspiring Highlights
Special information
Total travel time today is approximately 4 hours
After breakfast, we’ll visit some of Kyoto’s most iconic sites, like the Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion). This is a Zen temple and UNESCO World Heritage Site, with two floors covered entirely in thin layers of pure gold, set within a beautiful classical Zen garden.
Afterwards, we continue to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove for an enchanting walk through the towering bamboo forest.
This afternoon is spent at your leisure – perhaps selecting one of the optional activities on offer in Kyoto.
Inspiring Highlights
Learn the secrets of Sado, the Japanese tea ceremony, from a qualified tea instructor.
Tea Ceremony
The Japanese tea ceremony (known as sado or chado in Japanese) is a Japanese tradition that has become an art form.
More than just about preparing and drinking tea, it is a formal way for a guest to enjoy a host's hospitality, far removed from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Itinerary
Today enjoy your tea ceremony experience in the heart of Kyoto. Make your own way to the venue and enjoy this unique traditional Japanese experience.
The Japanese tea ceremony is a traditional ritual influenced by the principles of Zen Buddhism in which powdered green tea, or matcha, is prepared and served by a host in a quiet setting.
Enjoy tasting traditional Japanese confectionary with your green tea.
Start time: approx 3:00pm. Passengers can participate in both the Taiko class and the Tea ceremony on the same day. Each activity will be scheduled to fit each other.
Inclusions
Exclusions
Kimonos are a traditional Japanese garment that were first introduced in Japan in the Heian period. You will be able to rent a Kimono and walk around the traditional streets of Kyoto to take iconic photos. Your guide will be able to provide you with directions to the venue.
Start time: approx 2:00pm.
Duration: 45mins to 1 hour
After breakfast we’ll leave for a day tour of some of Japan’s icons before continuing onto historic Nara, ancient capital of Japan.
Our first stop in Kyoto is Fushimi Inari Taisha, one of the most iconic sights in Japan with its thousands of red Shinto shrine gates. We spend time here strolling through the gates and visiting the various shrines and temples.
No trip to Japan is complete without sampling the local tipple – sake. An expert will take you through the distilling process, flavours, styles and history of the beverage, before you will be able to sample some for yourself.
Next, we’ll visit Todaiji Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan and home to the country’s largest Buddha statue. We’ll then see Kasuga Shrine, featuring over 3000 stone and bronze lanterns.
Our last stop is at Nara Park, one of the oldest parks in Japan, to see over one thousand tame deer roaming freely in this vast, tranquil space.
The day will conclude, overnighting in Osaka.
Inspiring Highlights
Special information
Total travel time today is approximately 3 hours
After breakfast, we will be visiting one of Japan’s most famous landmarks, Osaka Castle.
Built in 1583 as a centre of a new, unified Japan, Osaka Castle is a wonderfully preserved example of Japanese architecture. We then continue to our centrally-located hotel in Osaka for a night at leisure.
You may wish to head out to experience the famous Osaka nightlife in the Dōtonbori area – one of the city's most popular tourist destinations, Dōtonbori Street runs parallel to the eponymous canal. It’s a popular shopping and entertainment district and an area famed for its street food and plentiful restaurants. At night the streets here are illuminated by hundreds of colourful neon lights and mechanised signs, including the famous running Glico Man sign and the Kani Doraku crab sign.
Inspiring Highlights
Today is spent at your leisure.
There are two optional activities which you can participate in, otherwise, feel free to pick your Tour Leader’s brain for some alternative ideas around/in the city.
Explore old backstreets, markets, and retail areas seldom seen by most tourists; discover the New York-inspired neighbourhood of Shinsekai and see what ghosts still linger in the streets. Wander through the flashy, glittering, famed district of Dotonbori and sample famous Osaka treats like kushi-katsu and takoyaki octopus balls; plus find out why Osaka is considered the heart and soul of the Kansai region.
Start time: 5pm
Finishing time: approx 8.30pm
(This tour cannot operate on the same day as Hiroshima Day Tour. If you are wanting to do both tours, the Osaka Food Tour will operate the evening prior.)
Ride the shinkansen bullet train to Hiroshima today. On arrival, join your guide on a visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome, before taking a cruise to Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island, best known for its floating torii gate. Afterwards, return to Osaka via bullet train.
Start time: 9am
Finishing time: approx 8pm
(This tour cannot operate on the same day as Osaka Food Tour. If you are wanting to do both tours, the Osaka Food Tour will operate the evening prior.)
This morning, make your own way to Osaka train station to board your bullet train to Beppu. On arrival in Beppu, make your own way to your centrally located hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore the local area or relax in your hotel.
Inspiring Highlights
Special information
Total travel time today is approximately 4hrs
Start the day with a half-day guided tour of Beppu, including a visit to the famous "Hells of Beppu," a group of geothermal hot springs and bubbling mud pools. You might like to try some Jigoku Mushi, a traditional way of cooking using the heat from the hot springs. Return to Beppu in the afternoon for time at leisure.
Inspiring Highlights
This morning you will have free time to explore Beppu. In the afternoon, take a 1.5-hour train ride to Yufuin. Check into your traditional ryokan, the Yufuin Iyotomi, and enjoy dinner at the hotel. This evening, you might wish to experience the onsen at your ryokan.
Inspiring Highlights
Special information
Total travel time today is approximately 2 hours
Spend the day at your leisure in Yufuin, a charming town known for its hot springs and beautiful scenery. In the evening, enjoy another traditional Japanese meal at your ryokan.
After breakfast, take a 2.5-hour train ride to Fukuoka. Check into your hotel and spend the rest of the day at your leisure exploring the city or relaxing in your hotel. Fukuoka, Kyushu’s largest city, is a haven for food-lovers and the Hakata ramen is a dish not to be missed. Fukuoka is a laid-back and friendly city and is easy to explore with your Japan Rail pass.
Special information
Total travel time today is approximately 3 hours
Enjoy a guided day tour of Dazaifu, a historic town just outside Fukuoka. Visit Dazaifu Tenmangu, a famous Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of learning and scholarship, and the nearby Kyushu National Museum, which showcases the history and culture of the region. After Dazaifu, embark on a river cruise on the Yanagawa River, where you can enjoy a boat trip accompanied by the Funauta boatman's song, while taking in the beautiful scenery of each season.
Your return train ticket to Dazaifu is included.
Back in Fukuoka, spend your last evening in Japan at leisure. We recommend dining at a yatai, temporary restaurants that spring up and serve all kinds of delicious and inexpensive food options.
Inspiring Highlights
Special information
Total travel time today is approximately 1hr
Today marks the end of your incredible tour through Japan. At the appropriate time, make your own way to Fukuoka Airport or your next destination using your Japan Rail Pass.
Thank you for travelling with Inspiring Vacations. We hope you had a memorable experience.
Airport transfers are not included. Our transfer portal offers the option to book your airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed.