Upgraded – Discover Japan 9-Day Tour by Explore!

Tokyo’s bright streets, Hakone’s hot springs and Kyoto’s temple gardens all fit into nine days, but the most memorable moments here are often quieter: a private Zen session in a Kamakura temple, or a tea ceremony on Miyajima. This guided trip pairs Japan’s famous sights with hands-on cultural encounters.

I like the small group size of 7 to 16 and the mix of comfortable hotels with a traditional Hakone stay. I also like that the tour uses local trains, trams, ferries and the Shinkansen, so you get more than a coach-window view of Japan.

The trade-off is a brisk schedule. You change cities several times, some free afternoons are precious, and Mount Fuji views depend on the weather. At $6,570 and up, this is a comfort-focused tour, not a low-cost way to see Japan.

What makes this Japan tour worth considering

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• Zen meditation in Kamakura: Sit with a monk in a traditional temple, then visit the Great Buddha and nearby temples.
• Hakone brings a different pace: Ride a boat on Lake Ashi, visit volcanic Owakudani and sleep in Japanese-style accommodation with a private outdoor onsen bath.
• Two days for Hiroshima and Miyajima: The Peace Memorial Park and museum add essential context; the island adds a tea ceremony, shrine visits and the famous torii gate.
• Rail travel is part of the experience: The Shinkansen links Hakone, Hiroshima and Kyoto, while local trains, trams and ferries handle shorter trips.
• Kyoto gets two nights: The schedule includes Fushimi Inari, Kinkakuji, Ryoanji, Nishiki Market and a Geisha dance performance.
• A few meals are included, not all: The tour covers eight breakfasts, two lunches and one dinner, leaving room to choose local restaurants.

👉 See our pick of the 25 Best Guided Tours In Tokyo

Tokyo starts with room to settle in

Day 1 is deliberately light. You arrive in Tokyo on your own schedule, with a welcome meeting planned for 6:30pm at The Gate Hotel in Ginza. If your flight arrives later, the full briefing moves to the next morning, so a late arrival need not mean missing key information.

Ginza is an upscale district with shops, restaurants and convenient access to city sights. The hotel is a recently renovated four-star property, and its location makes it a practical base for the first three nights. Japanese hotel rooms are not available before 3pm, though you can leave your bags while you wait. Ask about early check-in when booking, but it is not guaranteed and may cost extra.

An optional first-night dinner at a local izakaya is a low-pressure way to meet the group and try small shared dishes. Flights are not included. An airport transfer can be arranged for Haneda or Narita, and the drive or shuttle ride to the hotel takes about an hour from Haneda or an hour and a half from Narita.

Kamakura offers a quieter start to the culture

On Day 2, a private bus takes the group about an hour south to Kamakura, once an important political centre and now a coastal town with temples, shrines and cafes. The day begins with an hour-long Zen meditation session led by a monk in a traditional temple. It is a rare chance to learn by doing, rather than simply looking around a historic site.

A bento lunch follows. It typically includes seafood, rice, pickles, vegetables and sweets, with a vegetarian option available if you tell the operator in advance. The menu may not suit every palate: one participant found the bento less appealing than the rest of the day, so if you have dietary needs, make them known early.

The afternoon brings Kotokuji Temple and the Great Buddha, a large seated bronze figure of Amitabha. You will also have time to wander the town and stop at a cafe. Temples can be cold in cooler months, and you will need to remove your shoes inside, so wear easy-off footwear and bring an extra layer.

Tokyo pairs gardens, sushi and a fire ceremony

Day 3 gives you a different side of the capital. The walk from Ginza to Hamarikyu Gardens shifts the mood from city streets to traditional ponds and paths, with modern towers rising behind the gardens. It is a useful first look at how old and new Tokyo sit close together.

Next comes Tsukiji Outer Market, where seafood stalls and food shops offer plenty to see. The famous inner market and its tuna auctions moved in 2018 and are not open to tourists, so this visit is about the public-facing market, not auction access. You can browse kitchenware and food goods, then sit down for an included sushi lunch and learn what goes into good sushi.

The day’s most dramatic event is the fire ceremony at Fudo-do Temple. Monks of the Shingon Buddhist sect chant sacred texts as flames leap and large taiko drums beat. It is a powerful introduction to a living religious practice, though the loud drums and intense ritual may be a lot if you prefer quiet sightseeing. The rest of the afternoon is free for a break or independent exploring.

Japanese calligraphy appears among the tour’s advertised cultural activities, but its place in the daily schedule is not specified. If that experience is important to you, confirm when it takes place before booking.

Hakone brings Mount Fuji, hot springs and a Japanese inn

On Day 4, a private bus carries the group from Tokyo to Hakone National Park, a drive of roughly two and a half hours. The day then uses several forms of transport, including a bus, cable car and boat. At Owakudani, you can see bubbling sulphur springs in a volcanic crater formed by an eruption of Mount Hakone. Mount Fuji may appear on a clear day, but no view is guaranteed.

The Lake Ashi boat ride gives you a change of pace, with time at Moto Hakone to choose a restaurant or relax by the water. You may also try an egg cooked in the sulphur pools, which local lore says adds seven years to your life. Treat that as a bit of local folklore, not a medical plan.

The night at Hidamari Ichinoyu is a major part of the experience. Rooms are simple but have en suite facilities and a private outdoor onsen bath. Some rooms have futon mattresses and others low beds, so tell your leader if you have a preference. There is also the option of a communal same-sex bath, with etiquette explained on site. A traditional Japanese dinner is included.

Your main luggage is forwarded to Hiroshima, so pack a small overnight bag for Hakone. That saves you hauling a large case through the day’s transport changes, but it does mean planning ahead.

Hiroshima gives the trip its essential pause

Day 5 is a long travel day. The Shinkansen carries you from the Hakone area to Hiroshima in about three and a half hours. After a local tram ride and hotel drop-off, the group visits Peace Memorial Park and the Peace Museum near the 1945 atomic bomb hypocentre.

Give these sites time and attention. The park and museum are sobering, but they are central to understanding Hiroshima today and the human cost of nuclear war. The schedule moves on afterward, so you may want to use your free evening to reflect before choosing dinner.

Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is an optional meal. It is a savoury pancake cooked on a hot plate, with ingredients layered rather than mixed. Watching it prepared in front of you makes for a satisfying, distinctly local dinner, though the meal is not included in the tour price.

Miyajima adds island shrines and a tea ceremony

Day 6 combines a tram, local train and ferry to reach Miyajima Island. Deer roam freely around the island, and the red torii gate is the first major sight. At high tide, it appears to float offshore; the water level affects the view, so the scene can look quite different at other times.

At Tokujuji, a roughly 300-year-old temple, you take part in a private tea ceremony and make an omamori good-luck amulet. The activity offers a personal introduction to Japanese customs, with time afterward to visit Daisho-in Temple and Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built over the sea.

If you have the energy and time, hike Mount Misen. The climb takes about 90 minutes to two hours and rewards you with views over the Inland Sea, with a chance of seeing the island’s monkeys. A cable car is another option, whether you take it up, down or both ways. The day ends with a ferry back to Hiroshima, so choose the hike only if you are comfortable with a full day on your feet.

Kyoto gives temples room to breathe

On Day 7, a two-hour Shinkansen ride brings you to Kyoto. After checking in at the four-star Rihga Gran Kyoto, the group visits Fushimi Inari, known for its long rows of vermilion torii gates. The afternoon is free, which is valuable in a city with more temples than you can sensibly fit into one visit.

You might walk the Philosopher’s Path and visit the Silver Pavilion, Eikando or Nanzenji. Your tour leader can help with public transport directions, but you choose how to use the time. That flexibility is welcome after several tightly planned days.

Day 8 is a full sightseeing day by public transport. Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, has upper floors covered in gold leaf and looks across a pond. Ryoanji follows, with its spare stone garden and viewing platform. These are major sights, so expect to share them with other people, and give yourself a moment to look closely rather than treating each stop as a quick photo.

Nishiki Food Market is the lunch stop, but lunch is not included. You can sample items such as octopus stuffed with quail eggs, cooked eel, green tea popcorn or matcha ice cream. The range is a good reason to arrive hungry and try a few small things rather than commit to one large meal.

The afternoon Geisha dance performance gives you a structured look at traditional dance and music, including performances by Geishas and Maikos, or apprentices. It is one of the experiences that can be hard to arrange independently, and a useful counterpoint to Kyoto’s temple visits.

What the $6,570 starting price covers

At $6,570 and up, this tour costs more than a basic Japan itinerary, but the price includes a lot of the work and transport that can be challenging to coordinate on your own. You get an English-speaking tour leader, drivers, group transport, listed sightseeing and activities, and hotel stays in Tokyo, Hiroshima and Kyoto, plus the traditional Hakone guesthouse.

The experience also includes two lunches and one dinner, alongside eight breakfasts. Other meals are left open, which gives you a say in where and what you eat. That approach is useful in Japan, where local restaurants are part of the trip, but you should budget for lunches, most dinners, flights, insurance and optional activities.

The tour is rated low intensity, but that does not mean no walking. Expect city walks, temple visits, public transport connections and the option of a substantial Mount Misen hike. The group size of 7 to 16 keeps the tour small enough for guidance without making it a private trip. It is for ages 16 and up.

The operator is Explore!, which has more than 40 years of experience and runs small-group tours in many countries. The tour’s overall rating is 4.8 out of 5 from six reviews, with top marks for itinerary, transport and guide. Accommodation is rated 4.7, food 4.3 and the operator 4.5. That is encouraging, though the small review sample means the numbers are best read as a useful signal, not a guarantee.

Should you book the Discover Japan tour?

Book this tour if you want a guided first visit that combines the big names with hands-on experiences: Zen meditation, a tea ceremony, an amulet-making session and a traditional inn stay. It is especially suitable if you value premium hotels in the cities and want help connecting the dots by rail, tram, ferry and bus.

Think twice if you want long, unstructured stays in each city, need every meal included or are aiming to keep costs low. The pace is brisk, and some sights depend on weather or timing. If you have nine days and want a supported introduction from Tokyo to Kyoto, with meaningful stops in Kamakura, Hakone, Hiroshima and Miyajima, this is a strong way to make the most of them.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts in Tokyo and ends in Kyoto. The first hotel is The Gate Hotel in Ginza, and the final hotel is Rihga Gran Kyoto.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts nine days. The scheduled program begins on Day 1 in Tokyo and ends after breakfast on Day 9 in Kyoto.

What is the group size?

Groups range from 7 to 16 people. The tour is guided in English and is open to people aged 16 and older.

Are flights included?

No. Flights and travel insurance are not included in the tour price.

Which meals are included?

The tour includes eight breakfasts, two lunches and one dinner. Other meals are not included.

Is Mount Fuji guaranteed to be visible?

No. Mount Fuji can be seen from Hakone on clear days, so visibility depends on the weather.

How strenuous is the tour?

The tour is rated low intensity, but it includes walking and several transport connections. The optional Mount Misen hike takes about 90 minutes to two hours; a cable car is also available.

Which airports can I use at the end of the tour?

Kyoto departures can use Kansai International Airport, about an hour and a half away by train, or Osaka International Airport, about an hour away by shuttle bus. The tour leader provides instructions for the unescorted transfer.