Day 1: Arrival Tokyo

You arrive in the sprawling capital of Japan: Tokyo! On your first day in the country you can explore the older areas of Tokyo:

• Asakusa: charming district with the oldest temple in Tokyo; Senso-ji.
• Ueno: home to Ueno Park, Ueno Zoo, and various museums.

Day 2: Tokyo

Visit the modern areas of Tokyo today, such as:

• Shibuya: with the famous Shibuya Crossing and the statue of the loyal dog Hachiko.
• Shinjuku: a bustling district with plenty of shopping and eating opportunities.
• Harajuku: thé area to experience Japan’s youth culture. You can find many colorful shops in Takeshitadori street, or take a break in the huge Yoyogi Park close by. Don’t miss out on visiting the beautiful Meiji Jingu Shrine, an peaceful oasis in the middle of busy Harajuku.
• Akihabara: also known as ‘electric town’, and thé place to find anything and everything related to electronics, manga and anime.

Day 3: Tokyo

Today you can take your time and visit the places you have not been able to visit yet, or take a daytrip to one of the nearby places of interest:

• Nikko: in the nearby Nikko National Park you can not only find beautiful nature landscapes including the Kegon Waterfall, it is also the location of UNESCO listed Toshogu Shrine and the mausoleum of the famous Tokugawa Shogun (warlord) Tokugawa Ieyasu.
• Kamakura: a coastal town south of Tokyo, famous for the large Buddha statue, and several temples worth visiting (such as the Hokokuji Temple and its bamboo garden).
• Mount Fuji: the iconic Mt. Fuji and its surrounding areas can be visited on a daytrip. Of special interest are the lake at the foot of the mountain (Fujigoko Lake), Kawaguchiko and Hakone. In July and August, it is also possible to climb the mountain.

Day 4: Kiso Valley

Today you will travel into the majestic Japanese Alps area. From Tokyo, it takes about 3 hours to reach Nakatsugawa by train. Frome here, a local bus will take you to the picturesque little village Magome. Make sure to explore the narrow alleys, mysterious side-roads and traditional buildings of this well-preserved village. Magome is connected to the similarly quaint village Tsumago by the so-called Nakasendo Route. Traditionally, this was the route one traveled to get from Kyoto to Tokyo (by foot of course!). Follow in the footsteps of Edo-period Japanese travelers and walk this part of the route, admiring the beauty of its nature, the monuments, shrines, temples, and legends surrounding the area on the way.
Of course this experience isn’t complete without staying at a traditional local Minshuku (pension), including Japanese style home-cooked meals!

Day 5: Takayama

From Magome, you will travel by train to Takayama in about 3 hours. In Takayama you can admire the well-preserved areas of the city, as well as the surrounding mountainous landscapes. Here you will get a good idea of what the more remote areas of Japan look and feel like. When travelling in spring or autumn, there is also the chance of witnessing the Takayama Matsuri, known as one of the best festivals in the country. During the festival, intricate old-fashioned floats will be pulled through the streets, and you will be able to see Karakuri doll performances.

Day 6: Kyoto

After travelling for about 3,5 hours by train, you will arrive in the historical city of Kyoto, the former capital of Japan. Areas such as the famous Gion will take you back to this time, and if you’re lucky you will see a Maiko, or Geisha, hurrying off to an appointment in the early evening. Visit the awe-inspiring Kiyomizudera Temple and wander around the surrounding little streets leading up to it to experience more of Kyoto’s traditional atmosphere. In the evening, the Kawaramachi and Sanjo areas are the best place to find a multitude of local bars and restaurants, as well as plenty of Karaoke opportunities and Gamecenters.

Day 7: Kyoto

There are many places worth a visit in Kyoto, such as:

• Kinkakuji (the Gold Pavillion): the famously beautiful temple entirely inlaid with gold, and surrounded by a peaceful garden.
• Ryoanji Temple: famous for its Zen style garden. The temple itself was built in the Heian period, originally as the residence of a wealthy aristocrat.
• Philosopher’s Path: the path is named for the philosopher Nishida Kitaro, who was said to meditate on the path while on his way to school. The path is particularly beautiful in spring, when the cherry blossom trees lining it are in full bloom. At the start of the path the Silver Pavilion (Ginkakuji) can also be found. Though it was never finished in silver as planned, the temple features a charming garden.
• Fushimi Inari Shrine: this shrine has become more popular recently, and with good reason! It features over 100 so-called Torii gates winding their way up the mountain, interspersed with several small shrines.
• Nijo Castle: a small castle and grounds in the southern part of Kyoto

Day 8: Kyoto

Make a daytrip to one of the following places of interest in the area:

• Nara: another former capital city of Japan, and home to many beautiful temples (including one of the oldest temples in Japan, naturally on the UNESCO World Heritage list). Be sure to buy some deer crackers to feed to one of the many deer freely wandering around Nara.
• Arashiyama: located just outside Kyoto, this area is famous for its bamboo forest. There are also several temples and historic villa’s worth visiting. A trip to Arashiyama can also be done in half a day.

Day 9: Osaka

On your last day in Japan, you travel to Osaka in just half an hour by train. Here you can walk through the bustling Shinsaibashi district, and admire the neon light billboards, shops with flashy signs and plenty of restaurants with local delicacies such as Okonomiyaki (savoury pancake). The most famous place in this area is Dotonbori, where the giant neon Glico Man advertisement provides a great photo spot.
Another must-see place is Osaka’s castle. Though it has been rebuilt, the exterior has been faithfully reconstructed, and is that of a classic Japanese castle. The interior has been made into a museum, and you can go all the way to the top of the castle for an incredible view of the surroundings.

Day 10: Osaka departure

On this final day of your journey, you will fly back home from Osaka’s nearby Kansai International Airport.