8-Nights Independent Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka City Stays - Independent City Stay from $4,529

Itinerary Details

Independent Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka City Stays

Day 1 ARRIVE IN TOKYO, JAPAN

Welcome to Japan! Your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.

TOKYO.jpg

Day 2 TOKYO

• Today, hop on Tokyo’s subway system for a private guided sightseeing tour of the city. Start with a visit to Meiji Shrine, a magnificent 20th-century Shinto monument set in a man-made forest.
• At Tokyo Skytree ascend to Sorakara Point on floor 450 at some 450 meters/1500 feet, the highest point visitors can explore. Here you’ll marvel at the stunning panoramic views over the city and, on a clear day, Mount Fuji.
• Tour the Samurai and Ninja Museum for a hands-on history lesson of Japan’s famous warriors, including the armor, weapons, and swords from the Medieval era.
• Lastly, visit bustling Nakamise shopping arcade and Asakusa Kannon Temple, the oldest of their kind in Tokyo.

(B,L)

TOKYO-TEMPLE.jpg

Day 3 TOKYO

• Enjoy a full day at your leisure.

Today's I-Time Tips
Enjoy a full day at leisure for your own discoveries. Utilize your included Tokyo Metro Pass to explore more of Tokyo’s unique neighborhoods, take a day trip to Mount Fuji, or visit the street-food markets for local specialties.

(B)

TOKYO-STREET-FOOD.jpg

Day 4 TOKYO–KYOTO

• Today, travel by shinkansen (bullet train) to historic Kyoto, former capital of Japan.

(B)

TOKYO-JAPANESE-WOMEN.jpg

Day 5 KYOTO

• Your private guided sightseeing tour uses efficient public transportation to take you around the city. Start at stunning Kinkakuji, Temple of the Gold Pavilion, covered with shimmering gold leaf.
• Next, take a walking tour through Gion, Kyoto’s most famous geisha district, which is also known for its high concentration of machiya-style merchant houses.
• Continue to Sanjusangendo Temple, famous for 1,001 statues of Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. Flanking the main statue are 1,000 life-sized statues, covered in gold leaf, with 40 arms said to have the power to save 25 worlds.
• Finish with a visit to Fushimi Inari Shrine, renowned for the thousands of brightly colored Torii Gate.

(B,L)

KYOTO-TEMPLE-OF-THE-GOLD-PAVILLION.jpg

Day 6 KYOTO

• Enjoy a full day at your leisure.

Today's I-Time Tips
Take an excursion to nearby Nara or explore more of Kyotos historic temples and shrines using your included subway and bus pass.

(B)

KYOTO-FUSHIMI-INARI-SHRINE.jpg

Day 7 KYOTO–OSAKA

• Drive to Osaka where your private guided sightseeing tour starts at Osaka Castle and the surrounding park.
• Visit Minami, the city’s famous entertainment district, encompassing the districts of Shinsaibashi and Namba and the famed Dontonbori Street. Start with lunch featuring okonomiyaki, a delicious pancake dish famous in Osaka. Then, explore this exciting area by foot with your guide. From museums and shopping to theater and dining, this is where the locals come for fun!

(B,L)

OSAKA-CASTLE-AND-KIMONO.jpg

Day 8 OSAKA

• Enjoy a full day at your leisure.

Today's I-Time Tips
Return to Minami for further exploration or visit the Open-Air Museum of Japanese Farm Houses. Whatever you choose to do, we’ve included a subway and bus pass to help you get around.

(B)

OSAKA-OKONOMIYAKI.jpg

Day 9 OSAKA

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

(B)

OKAKA-SAKE.jpg