• Start your Japan journey with a visit to Odaiba, at Tokyo’s waterfront.

  • Take photos in front of neighborhood landmarks such as the Fuji TV building, Rainbow Bridge, the Statue of Liberty replica, and the larger-than-life Gundam statue at the Diver City shopping mall.

  • If you like, take some time to shop at the malls here, or have fun at Tokyo Joypolis (available as add-on), an indoor amusement park.

• Take the Tokyo Water Bus to one of Japan’s oldest neighborhoods, Asakusa. Here are some things you can do in the area:

  • How about renting a kimono (available as add-on) to match the vibe?

  • Visit the area’s famous Sensoji Temple, with its distinctive entrance called Kaminarimon Gate.

  • Before or after strolling around the temple grounds, browse the lively, shop-lined Nakamise Street for snacks, sweets, and souvenirs.

  • Shop some more for traditional souvenirs around Asakusa.

  • Visit the old-school Hanayashiki (at your own expense), Japan’s oldest theme park.

  • Take a scenic walk along the Sumida River.

• End your time in Asakusa with a Sumida River dinner cruise aboard a traditional leisure boat called yakatabune.

  • Enjoy tempura and other gourmet delights as you admire Tokyo's nightscape and pass by landmarks such as Azumabashi Bridge, Asahi Beer Hall's uniquely shaped golden sculpture, and Tokyo Skytree (the tallest tower in Japan and the world).

  • The cruise will also pass by Odaiba.

• Return to your hotel in Tokyo.

Take a day trip to Nikko, a favorite getaway among Tokyoites for its scenery, natural wonders, and UNESCO World Heritage temples and shrines.

• Stop for photos by the vermilion-colored Shinkyo Bridge, one of Nikko’s famous symbols.

• Stroll around the ornate Nikko Toshogu Shrine, which is well-known for carvings of three monkeys representing the saying “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” and a sleeping cat.

• In the afternoon, step back in time at Edo Wonderland, a theme park designed to look like an ancient Japanese village, where you can:

  • Learn ninja and samurai moves

  • Be enthralled by graceful courtesans called oiran

  • Try your hand at craft experiences

  • Enjoy attractions and shows based on traditional Japanese culture

• Before returning to your Tokyo hotel, have dinner at Shinjuku.

  • See a projection-mapping show and panoramic views of Tokyo’s vibrant nightscape at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.

Experience Japan’s extensive railway network for yourself as you take Tokyo’s trains to visit areas popular with youths and pop-culture enthusiasts in general:

• Ikebukuro: Ikebukuro's east side is home to the flagship store of anime merchandise retailer Animate and the Sunshine City shopping mall, where you can find, among others:

  • Japan’s largest Pokemon Center

  • An indoor amusement park called Namjatown

  • Shops dedicated to Studio Ghibli and Sanrio

  • Cute cafes serving photogenic sweets

• Harajuku: A hub for youth culture and trendy sweets. Takeshita Street is the heart of this area.

  • For a change of pace, take in the serene ambiance of nearby Meiji Shrine, an oasis in the city.

• Omotesando: This posh district is also close to Harajuku. Though dotted with designer-brand shops, it is also home to the Kiddy Land toy shop and the chic Cat Street, which features an eclectic mix of vintage fashion, designer boutiques, and streetwear.

• Shibuya: See some of Tokyo’s best-known landmarks here, namely the statue of Hachiko the loyal dog and the always-busy Shibuya Scramble Crossing

  • Have dinner and/or shop around at the many department stores here before returning to your Tokyo hotel.

Depart Tokyo early in the morning to see the snow-capped, perfectly cone-shaped Mt. Fuji from the best vantage points. We recommend booking the full-day private transfer add-on for this day for maximum convenience and time savings.

We recommend choosing 1-2 of the following Mt. Fuji viewing points:

• Arakurayama Sengen Park: Climb nearly 400 steps to the top to be rewarded with picture-perfect views of Mt. Fuji, along with the iconic five-story Chureito Pagoda

• Oshino Hakkai: A quaint village with eight pristine natural ponds, all sourcing their spring water from Mt. Fuji

• Lake Kawaguchi: One of the scenic Fuji Five Lakes

Then, before or after visiting these spots, head to Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station, if time and the weather permit. Here, you can find souvenir shops, a shrine, and a viewing deck overlooking Fujiyoshida City and the Fuji Five Lakes.

The following optional add-ons are also available for booking on this day:

• Hoto cooking class*: Learn to make hoto, a hearty noodle dish that’s a local delicacy around the Mt. Fuji area.

• Fuji-Q Highland admission*: With record-breaking roller coasters and a labyrinth-style horror house, this theme park that also doubles as a viewing spot for Mt. Fuji is a thrill seeker’s dream come true.

• Ryokan stay upgrade (dinner and breakfast included): Spend the night at a traditional inn in the Mt. Fuji area.

Note: If you book the hoto cooking class and/or Fuji-Q Highland add-ons, you will only have time to visit one Mt. Fuji viewing point.

If you do not book the ryokan add-on, you will spend the night in Tokyo.

• Take the lightning-fast Shinkansen bullet train to Osaka, one of west Japan’s most energetic cities.

• See the futuristic Kuchu Teien (Floating Garden) Observatory, a part of the Umeda Sky Building.

• Pick up some local history as you visit another of Japan’s best-known castles: Osaka Castle.

• Shop to your heart’s content at the long shopping arcades of Namba and Shinsaibashi.

• Experience Osaka’s vibrant nightlife at Dotonbori, which is awash with dazzling lights and quirky signage such as a moving crab.

  • Try local specialties such as the savory pancake-like okonomiyaki and takoyaki (octopus dumplings) at your own expense.

• Your accommodation for the night will be in Osaka.

Spend the entire day reliving the magic of popular movies and media franchises at Universal Studios Japan (USJ)! A variety of attractions for guests of all ages await, from roller coasters like Hollywood Dream for thrill seekers, to Sesame Street Fun Zone for the little ones.

• If you’re a fan of Nintendo games, don't miss Super Nintendo World, where you can step into the world of Super Mario and Donkey Kong

• For anime, manga, and video game fans, USJ often holds limited-time attractions inspired by popular series, complete with exclusive merchandise.

Head to Osaka’s neighboring prefecture: Kyoto, Japan's cultural capital. Our recommended itinerary for this day covers some of Kyoto's most popular spots. We recommend booking full-day private transfer to avoid having to take public transport around Kyoto.

• Visit rustic Arashiyama in western Kyoto in the morning.

  • Admire the beautiful view of Togetsukyo Bridge over the Katsura River

  • Walk down the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.

  • Browse the area’s shops and cafes.

  • To see Arashiyama in a more leisurely way, take a two-hour Hozu River boat ride (available as an add-on).

• Be dazzled by the opulent Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), a Zen temple covered in gold.

• Walk down the winding, shop-lined streets of the Higashiyama district.

• Explore the vast Kiyomizudera Temple, whose wooden hall perched atop a cliff provides excellent views, especially in spring and autumn.

• In the evening, explore Kyoto’s famous geisha district, Gion, walking past teahouses and machiya townhouses on stone-paved alleys.

You will spend the night at a hotel in Kyoto.

Today marks another day of mostly seeing and experiencing the traditional side of Japan.

• Start with a kimono rental (available as an add-on) for the entire day.

• Visit the well-preserved Nijo Castle to learn what a ruling warlord’s residence was like in ancient times.

  • Pay close attention to how the “nightingale floors,” the ancient equivalent of a home alarm system, squeak!

• Pass through the many vermilion torii shrine gates of Fushimi Inari Taisha, totaling about 10,000.

• Go beyond the city center to another Kyoto town: Uji, where some of Japan’s finest matcha is produced.

  • Visit Byodoin Temple (at your own expense), which is featured on the back of the 10-yen coin.

  • Find all things matcha here: not just the tea itself, but also sweets and even savory dishes!

    • Some cafes and restaurants here are run by established tea producers.

  • There’s no better place than Uji to experience a Japanese-style tea ceremony and/or to try grinding tea leaves with a stone mill to produce matcha powder (both experiences available as add-ons).

  • Take an Uji river boat ride (at your own expense).

• Return your kimono (if you rented one) before heading back to your Kyoto hotel.

From Kyoto, spend a few days in central Japan before returning to Tokyo. Your journey continues on to Nagoya, a relatively underrated city with some fantastic sightseeing options for families.

• Take the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Nagoya.

• Visit Nagoya Castle.

  • See if you can spot its distinctive symbol: a pair of golden statues of mythical fish-like creatures called shachihoko.

  • If your timing is right, you might be able to catch a thrilling performance by the Nagoya Omotenashi Bushotai, a troupe of historical reenactors dressed as legendary samurai and warlords.

• Spend the afternoon at Ghibli Park, where you can:

  • Enjoy special exhibitions and short films

  • Take photos with character displays

  • Step into recreated settings from beloved Studio Ghibli movies

  • Take part in cultural experiences such as making rice cakes

• For dinner, indulge in Nagoya delicacies such as miso katsu (fried pork cutlet with miso sauce), tebasaki (chicken wings), and hitsumabushi (grilled eel over rice).

• From Nagoya, take a day trip to Takayama in neighboring Gifu Prefecture via the Hida limited express.

  • This approximately two-and-a-half-hour train ride will pass through stunning natural sights and rural townscapes.

• Stroll around Takayama's old town, with its beautifully preserved old houses, quaint shops, and bridges overlooking the Miyagawa River.

• Then, take a bus to spend a couple of hours in Shirakawago Village, famous for its houses built in the thatched-roof gassho-zukuri style.

• Take a bus back to Takayama; from there, return to your hotel in Nagoya.

• From Nagoya, take the Shinkansen back to Tokyo.

• Sample fresh seafood and street food at Tsukiji Market, formerly the home of the world-famous early-morning tuna auctions.

  • Though the wholesale market has now moved to Toyosu, Tsukiji's bustling Outer Market still remains.

  • If you like, you can also book the sushi making experience add-on to make sushi with ingredients from Tsukiji Market.

• Spend an afternoon in Akihabara, a haven for fans of otaku (geek) culture.

  • If you like, we can also arrange a visit to a maid cafe—contrary to misconception, legitimate maid cafes are family-friendly!

• Head to the sophisticated Azabudai Hills to visit the whimsical digital art museum teamLab Borderless.

  • Have dinner at a Japanese restaurant in the same area before returning to your hotel.

• Check in to your hotel in Tokyo, and enjoy the rest of the night.

Spend the day at the “happiest place on Earth”: Tokyo Disney Resort. You will have the choice of visiting one of the following:

• Tokyo Disneyland: home to classic Disneyland attractions such as It’s a Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Haunted Mansion

• Tokyo DisneySea: The only one of its kind in the world, this Disney theme park has the ambiance of a port town.

  • Its newest themed area, Fantasy Springs, opened in 2024 and is home to brand-new rides such as Anna and Elsa's Frozen Journey and Rapunzel's Lantern Festival.

You will spend this night in Tokyo.

• Approximately 3 hours before your flight, head to Narita or Haneda Airport for your return flight, either via public transit or private transfer (available for booking as add-on).