The first day is a standard affair. Your guide will pick you up at the airport and assist you with preparations for the tour. You will take the train to your hotel in the heart of the city. After the check-in procedures are completed, you will have the rest of the day to yourselves.

Connected by the Kintetsu Nara Line are two of the oldest capitals of Japan, Osaka and Nara. Your destinations today are the two lanConnected by the Kintetsu Nara Line are two of the oldest capitals of Japan, Osaka and Nara. Your destinations today are the two landmarks that represented the cities’ influence during their days as the seat of power. In the old city of Nara you will see the supreme temple of Todai-ji, which houses what is to this date still the largest bronze statue of Buddha in the world. In the urban greatness of Osaka you will visit Osaka Castle, which holds the legacy of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the three great unifiers of Japan.

This day is designed to capture the spirit of a railway adventure in Japan, where independent travelers move great distances to see the must-see. The active schedule is punctuated with a relaxing walk among the playful deer of Nara, and a nice grilled lunch redolent of a campfire meal. The fast-paced itinerary brings you to the city of Kyoto at the end of the day.

Time to get the full Kyoto experience! The third day is when you get to do real Japanese stuff in the quintessential Japanese city. Walk a trail of a thousand torii gates up a mountain shrine. Learn how to cook Kyoto-style sushi, and try your own creation. Behold the symbolic glitter of the Golden Pavilion Temple. Explore an old town district with many traditional shops and old buildings. And finally, watch apprentice geisha perform traditional Japanese art in Gion!

Moving between the destinations on a public bus, you will appreciate Kyoto’s unique grid-style streets. The day’s itinerary covers a large part of the city, from south to north and then back. Enjoy sightseeing around this orderly old city, and experience the amazing atmosphere from morning till dusk!

It is time to get you from the old capital of Kyoto to Hakone, “the gateway to Edo” on the old Tokaido route. Taking the bullet train on the eponymous shinkansen track, you will arrive in Hakone at around noon. Go on a brief sightseeing walk around Hakone Yumoto, and check into your ryokan to enjoy a well-deserved rest. As a renowned hot spring resort, Hakone makes an excellent break right in the middle of this trip!

The romantic Hakone offers interesting historic landmark and scenic natural landscape. Start the morning with a bus trip to Hakone-machi, where you will see a reconstruction of the old road’s checkpoint. Next, you will take a short cruise on Lake Ashi, from which Mt. Fuji is visible on clear days. Continue your way up to the valley of geysers, Owakudani, and enjoy lunch at an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level.

In the afternoon, you will return to your ryokan to pick up your bags, and bid goodbye to the beautiful nature of Hakone. The Romancecar express train will take you to the grand capital of Tokyo. Arriving in the evening, you will take the train to your hotel in Shinagawa, and get a good night’s rest. Prepare for a great urban adventure on the next day!

Remark : Since 19 May 2019, Japan Meteorological Agency has announced an increasing volcanic activity near Owakudani and raise the valcanic warning level of Owakudani to Level 2. The raising of warning level forces the surrounding area to close down thus the Hakone ropway is now out of service until further notice. As for the safety of our clients, new destinations will be arranged and replaces the current program if the warning level remains at level 2

The penultimate day is where you will finally see bustling Tokyo in action. Starting the day with Asakusa, you will immediately notice the contrast between an age-old temple and a futuristic tower within an eyeshot. Enjoy a rickshaw ride that takes you to various spots in this area, and go shopping for gifts to take home in the Nakamise area. Then, you will enjoy a nice sushi lunch in the classy Ginza area.

Repeat the striking contrast in Harajuku, where you have the serene and majestic Meiji Shrine on one side, and a fashionable shopping street on another. Afterward, you will stop by Shibuya, which is renowned for the fabled dog Hachiko, and for its Scramble Crossing that really comes alive in the afternoon. The busy pedestrian streets of Shibuya will be a perfect place to wrap up your epic adventure in Japan!

You have completed the Tokaido Express tour! We hope that you enjoyed your trip with ILJT! On the last day, you will check out of your hotel and conduct an independent transfer to the airport. Have a safe flight back home, and see you again soon!