Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima GO by Europamundo – 7-Day Tour

A week can only sketch Japan, but this route gives you a lively first look at its big contrasts: Tokyo’s crowded crossings, Kyoto’s temple grounds, Nara’s deer and Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park. You also get a bullet train ride and a ferry trip to Miyajima, without having to plan each transfer yourself.

I like two things in particular: the route links major sights with memorable smaller stops, including Kurashiki’s old streets and Korakuen Garden; and the transport and many admissions are bundled in, which makes a fast-moving trip easier to manage. Past departures have featured guides including David Solanes, Kiko, Rei, Ken Estevez Igarashi, Michiko Hachhijyo, Pablo and Jose, though your guide will depend on your dates.

The trade-off is pace. You change cities often and have only one scheduled night in most places, so this works best as an introduction, not a slow, deep look at Japan. Expect full sightseeing days, some walking, and a large possible group of up to 72.

At a glance: what makes this route useful

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• Tokyo Skytree’s Tembo Deck is included, with a high-up view over the metropolitan sprawl. Weather or other exceptional conditions can affect access.
• The Tokyo to Kyoto bullet train covers nearly 500 kilometres in just over two hours, saving a long road journey.
• Nara pairs Todaiji Temple with its free-roaming deer, then adds Horyu-ji, an important temple complex with one of the world’s oldest wooden pagodas.
• Himeji Castle and Korakuen Garden give you two very different kinds of beauty, one built for defense, the other for calm strolls beside ponds and teahouses.
• Hiroshima and Miyajima make a powerful final day, combining the Peace Memorial Park and Museum with a ferry ride to Itsukushima Shrine.
• The tour is busy but organized, with hotels, transfers and many site admissions included. You pay from $2,680, so compare that convenience with the freedom of arranging a trip yourself.

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

Tokyo’s temples, crossings and high-rise view

Your first day is deliberately light. After customs, a shared shuttle takes you to your hotel, and the rest of the day is free. That breathing room matters after a long flight, though the transfer is shared rather than private. Tour details arrive later that afternoon, so keep the evening flexible.

Hotel options in Tokyo include Shinagawa Prince Hotel, Tokyo Dome Hotel and Ibis Styles Tokyo Ginza East. The exact hotel can vary. Europamundo says its hotels are chosen for quality, price and location, with public transport nearby, but they may not be in the city center. Rooms have private bathrooms; standards, room size and bed size can differ.

Day two is a long guided circuit of Tokyo, about seven hours. At Zojoji Temple, look for the small Jizo figures, guardians of children, dressed in knitted hats and bibs. Tokyo Tower rises behind the temple, making this a good place to see how old and new Tokyo sit side by side.

You see Shibuya Crossing from the bus, rather than spending a long time on foot around the intersection. That gives you a quick look at the famous flow of people, but not much time to explore the neighborhood independently. Meiji Shrine offers a quieter counterpoint, with a wooded approach and a setting devoted to Emperor Meiji and his wife.

The included Tokyo Skytree admission takes you to the Tembo Deck, 350 metres up. On a clear day, the view helps make sense of Tokyo’s vast scale. If weather or other exceptional conditions limit access, the tour says it will offer a different city viewpoint.

The day continues at Sensoji Temple and Nakamise Street in Asakusa, where traditional shops and stalls line the approach to the temple. The return passes Akihabara, known for manga and anime culture, and Ginza, giving you a glimpse of two very different commercial districts without a full stop in either.

In the evening, you meet your guide and take the subway to Shinjuku for a walk and an included dinner at a local restaurant. Subway tickets are included, and your guide accompanies the group back to the hotel. This is a practical way to see the district after dark without having to work out the return route when tired. Still, it is a structured group outing, not a free evening to choose your own neighborhood.

Kyoto by bullet train, then on foot

An early start takes you from Tokyo to Kyoto by bullet train. The journey covers nearly 500 kilometres in a little over two hours, a highlight in its own right and a very efficient way to cross the country. The schedule is tight, however, so expect an early morning rather than a leisurely departure.

Kyoto’s day includes Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Imperial Palace and Kinkakuji, better known as the Golden Pavilion. Fushimi Inari is famous for its rows of red torii gates, while Kinkakuji offers a very different scene: a gold-covered pavilion set beside gardens and water. The tour gives you a sampler of major landmarks, not hours at each one.

Gion, the traditional district associated with geisha, rounds out the guided sightseeing. You have free time afterward, which is useful for choosing your own dinner or taking a closer look at an area that interests you. Kyoto is a city where an extra night would be welcome, so treat this stop as an introduction and consider adding time before or after the tour if you want a slower visit.

The listed Kyoto hotels are New Miyako Hotel or Miyako Kioto Hachijyo. Confirm your assigned property and location before making plans that depend on a particular station or neighborhood.

Nara’s Great Buddha and Osaka after dark

On day four, you travel from Kyoto to Nara. Todaiji Temple, built in 752, is known for its immense bronze Buddha and the scale of its temple complex. The surrounding park is home to deer that roam freely. They make for a memorable encounter, but they are still animals, so follow local instructions and keep food tucked away unless you are meant to feed them.

Lunch is included in Nara. The next stop, Horyu-ji, is a UNESCO World Heritage site with temples, monasteries and a central pagoda among the oldest wooden structures in the world. It adds a quieter and more architectural note to the day, though the combination of two major temple visits and onward travel makes this another full schedule.

You reach Osaka in the evening and visit Dotonbori, a district known for its bright signs, food and nightlife. The visit is a good first look at Osaka’s after-dark character, but time is limited. If you want to linger over dinner or explore beyond the main streets, you may need to return on your own or add a night.

Osaka hotel options include Moxy Osaka Honmachi, Onyado Nono Osaka Yodoyabashi and Tokyu Stay Osaka Honmachi. The tour lists four-star hotels here, though its broader hotel guidance says comfort and room dimensions vary by property.

Himeji Castle and Korakuen’s garden paths

Day five takes you to Himeji, where admission to the castle complex is included. Himeji Castle is one of Japan’s best-known examples of traditional castle architecture, and its layered defenses make it more than a pretty white facade. Wear comfortable shoes: castle grounds involve walking, and the day includes another major stop after lunch.

Lunch at a local restaurant is included before the trip continues to Okayama. Korakuen Garden is the day’s calmer counterpoint, with ponds, waterfalls and traditional teahouses. It is a place to slow your pace a little and notice how the garden’s views are arranged as you move through it.

A pedestrian bridge connects Korakuen to Okayama Castle. You can see the sixteenth-century castle from outside, but admission to its interior is not included. The castle was rebuilt in 1966 after wartime destruction, so keep that distinction in mind if interior displays are important to you.

You have free time in Okayama afterward. The accommodation may be in Okayama, or on some dates in Fukuyama or Kurashiki. The tour notes that the Kurashiki visit can shift to this afternoon, so the order and overnight town may vary.

Kurashiki, Hiroshima and Miyajima in one day

Day six packs three distinct experiences into a long stretch. Kurashiki’s well-preserved historic center is a chance to wander streets that retain an older look and feel. The stop is for a stroll rather than a lengthy museum visit, so enjoy the atmosphere while keeping an eye on the meeting time.

In Hiroshima, the Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Museum tell the story of the 1945 atomic bombing and the city’s recovery. The museum can be emotionally demanding, and the short visit may not allow time to take in every display. If this history is a priority for you, consider returning after the tour or extending your stay.

A ferry then takes you to Itsukushima Island, commonly called Miyajima. Itsukushima Shrine is dedicated to the guardian of the seas and is partly built over the water. You have time to see the shrine, walk through the town center and get lunch before returning to Hiroshima. The order of the Hiroshima visits can change, so the exact flow may vary.

Dinner is included back in Hiroshima, and the overnight hotel is listed as Hilton Hiroshima or ANA Crowne Plaza Hiroshima. One past tour participant specifically called the Hilton a highlight, and the city’s hotel options can make this a comfortable end to a demanding sightseeing day.

What the price covers, and what it does not

The tour starts at $2,680, based on the cheapest room option. For that price, the package includes hotels with breakfast, an arrival shuttle, an English-speaking tour leader, basic travel insurance and transport between the cities. It also covers many admissions, including Tokyo Skytree’s Tembo Deck, major temples, Himeji Castle complex, Korakuen Garden, Itsukushima Shrine and Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Museum.

Two lunches and two dinners are included: lunch in Nara, lunch in Himeji, dinner in Shinjuku and dinner in Hiroshima. The rest of your lunches and dinners are your responsibility. That gives you some room to choose meals, but you should budget beyond the tour price for food, personal spending and any activities not included.

The main value is logistical. You do not have to arrange intercity transport, coordinate hotel changes or buy every ticket separately. The ratings for transport and accommodation are both 4.5 out of 5, while the overall tour rating is 4.4. Those numbers fit the practical strength of the trip: it gets you to a lot of important places with relatively little planning.

The cost is less compelling if you prefer long stays, independent travel or time to follow your own interests. Groups can range from two to 72 people, and a large group can mean waiting at meeting points and moving at the group’s pace. Past feedback also describes the coach as somewhat cramped on some departures, even though other comments praised its comfort.

The listed physical rating is low intensity, but that does not mean there is little walking. Temples, gardens and historic districts all involve time on foot, and the days are long. If you need to move at a slower pace, ask the operator how much walking is planned and whether the schedule can suit your needs.

Who should book this seven-day Japan tour?

I would consider this tour if you are visiting Japan for the first time and want a ready-made route through Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Himeji, Okayama and Hiroshima. It is especially useful if you value having transport, hotel stays and many admissions organized, or if you are traveling as a family and want fewer moving parts to manage.

It is a weaker fit if you want two or more nights in each city, time for unplanned discoveries, or a small-group experience guaranteed. The group limit is 72, the pace is brisk, and the first and last days are mostly arrival and departure days. You have roughly five full sightseeing days in the middle, so the route covers a lot but rarely lingers.

At the starting price, the strongest reason to book is convenience, not luxury or a slow, personal encounter with Japan. If that trade suits you, this is a practical introduction with memorable stops. If Kyoto, Hiroshima or Tokyo deserves more time on your trip, add nights before or after the tour rather than expecting this schedule to provide them.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

The tour starts in Tokyo and ends in Hiroshima. An arrival transfer from Tokyo airport to the hotel is included.

How long is the tour?

It lasts seven days, with the first day set aside for arrival and the final day ending after breakfast.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The tour information specifies an English-speaking tour leader throughout the journey.

How large can the group be?

The group size is listed as two to 72 people.

Which meals are included?

Breakfast is included at the hotels. The tour also includes lunch in Nara, lunch in Himeji, dinner in Shinjuku and dinner in Hiroshima.

Is the Tokyo Skytree admission included?

Yes. Admission is included to the Tembo Deck at 350 metres. Weather or other exceptional conditions may limit access, in which case another city viewpoint may be offered.

Is admission to Okayama Castle included?

No. You can view the exterior, but the castle interior is not included.

What is the starting price?

The tour is listed from $2,680, based on the cheapest room option. Hotel selection and room standards can vary.