Senso-ji and the illustrious pagoda in Asakusa

Never-ending rows of torii gates in Fushimi Inari Taisha

Sushi in Ginza. Classy place, classy meal!

High-quality kuroge wagyu beef with seasonal vegetables

Tokaido Express

7 days

OsakaNaraOsakaKyotoHakoneTokyo

The iconic facade of the Golden Pavilion, Kinkaku-ji

Tbe Bridge Hotel, quite a self-descriptive name

Yakizakana (grilled fish) in an old-fashioned restaurant

Todai-ji, the temple with the world's largest Daibutsu statue

Tbe Bridge Hotel, quite a self-descriptive name
Todai-ji, the temple with the world's largest Daibutsu statue
The famous wild deer of Nara Park
High-quality kuroge wagyu beef with seasonal vegetables
Osaka Castle, always a sight to behold
Never-ending rows of torii gates in Fushimi Inari Taisha
Aesthetically superb sushi in an equally aesthetic restaurant
The iconic facade of the Golden Pavilion, Kinkaku-ji
The slopes of Higashiyama, a sight that defines classic Japan
The elegant geisha walking the streets of Gion
Tokaido shinkansen, taking you along the east coast of Honshu
Yakizakana (grilled fish) in an old-fashioned restaurant
A simple ryokan with gorgeous views of Mt. Fuji from its onsen
Lake Ashi and Mt. Fuji, the prized panorama of Hakone
The old checkpoint of Hakone, an important station of the Tokaido road
Senso-ji and the illustrious pagoda in Asakusa
Sushi in Ginza. Classy place, classy meal!
Meiji Jingu -- a grand shrine dedicated to the deified Emperor
The Scramble Crossing in Shibuya, bursting into life at dusk
Tour code: CJ-08-EN
Tokaido Express
Travel style: Active

7 days

OsakaNaraOsakaKyotoHakoneTokyo

Classic Japan
Availability: All year round excluding peak seasons

Overview

So you have never been to Japan. You have read a lot about it in travel magazines, or maybe your friends have been sharing their wonderful experience there during their last vacation. You would really like to see for yourself what the all the buzz is about, and you would especially like to do so with a modest budget. Well, you have come to the right place!

A staple among ILJT’s offerings, the Tokaido Express earns a special place in travelers’ hearts by taking them on an affordable week-long trip to the heart of Japan. Utilizing the intricate and colorful public transport system of the country, you will cover a wide spectrum of attractions between two ends of the Tokaido Shinkansen Line.

Starting the trip in Osaka, you will explore Nara, Kyoto, and Hakone before finishing in Tokyo. These destinations ensure that you get to experience the bustle of modern-day Japan, a healthy dose of its awe-inspiring cultural sites, and an adventure in a picturesque paradise! Your first-time in Japan will be a memorable one with our Tokaido Express tour!

You might be also interested in

Trip name days  
Japan Express Tokyo to Osaka 8
Golden Ring Tokyo to Tokyo 11
Japan Highlights Tokyo to Osaka 11

Overview

So you have never been to Japan. You have read a lot about it in travel magazines, or maybe your friends have been sharing their wonderful experience there during their last vacation. You would really like to see for yourself what the all the buzz is about, and you would especially like to do so with a modest budget. Well, you have come to the right place!

A staple among ILJT’s offerings, the Tokaido Express earns a special place in travelers’ hearts by taking them on an affordable week-long trip to the heart of Japan. Utilizing the intricate and colorful public transport system of the country, you will cover a wide spectrum of attractions between two ends of the Tokaido Shinkansen Line.

Starting the trip in Osaka, you will explore Nara, Kyoto, and Hakone before finishing in Tokyo. These destinations ensure that you get to experience the bustle of modern-day Japan, a healthy dose of its awe-inspiring cultural sites, and an adventure in a picturesque paradise! Your first-time in Japan will be a memorable one with our Tokaido Express tour!

Highlights

Outline

Arrival: Kansai International Airport

Day 1: Arrival in OsakaOsaka

Arrive in Osaka. Adventure is about to start!

Day 2: Nara and Osaka TourNara › Osaka › Kyoto

Explore Osaka and Nara, two ancient capitals with vastly different atmospheres

Meals included : Breakfast / Lunch

Day 3: Kyoto TourKyoto

Explore Kyoto, and experience all sorts of quintessential Japanese activity

Meals included : Breakfast / Lunch

Day 4: Transfer to HakoneHakone

Take the bullet train to Hakone, a paradise for onsen-loving travelers

Meals included : Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 5: Hakone TourHakone › Tokyo

Explore Hakone, with a multitude of rides on which to enjoy its picturesque nature

Meals included : Breakfast / Lunch

Day 6: Tokyo TourTokyo

Explore Tokyo, a modern metropolis of tradition, fashion, and action

Meals included : Breakfast / Lunch

Day 7: Leaving JapanTokyo

Leave Japan, and bring home many wonderful memories!

Meals included : Breakfast

Departure: Narita International Airport

Hotels

What is included?

Tour Accommodation

Western hotel: 5 nights -- Japanese ryokan: 1 night

Meals

6 breakfasts -- 5 lunches -- 1 dinner

Transport

Airport pickup -- Public train/bus: 5 days -- Bullet train: 1 time (Kyoto - Odawara)

Tour guide

Airport pickup -- Guided tour: 5 days

Included activities

Tickets for attractions and rides as defined in the itinerary, where necessary

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the tour

International flights are not included in the tour price, and should be independently arranged by the traveler. This particular itinerary starts in Osaka and ends in Tokyo. Please book a flight to Kansai International Airport (KIX), and a flight out of either Narita International Airport (NRT) or Haneda Airport (HND). It should be noted that we can arrange the included airport pickup service only if your flight arrives during working hours (between 9 AM and 5 PM, Japan time). We recommend flights that arrive around/after noon, as you can only check into your hotel starting at 3 PM.
An English-speaking guide will accompany you on Days 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. The guide will be at your service during the designated tour hours. The guide will also pick you up at the airport if your flight arrives during working hours (between 9 AM and 5 PM, Japan time). In the event that your flight arrives early, we can arrange a half-day tour on the day of arrival at an additional cost.
The tour price includes five nights in 3-star hotels and one night in a predesignated ryokan (Japanese-style inn). Breakfast is included for each night’s stay in a hotel, whereas both dinner and breakfast are included for every night in a ryokan unless otherwise specified in the itinerary. Lunch is provided on every guided day, but not on days of arrival or departure. As you can only check into your hotel starting at 3 PM, in the event that your flight arrives early, we can arrange lunch on the day of arrival at an additional cost.
The tour price includes tickets for local trains and/or buses on every guided day, as well as a scheduled bullet train transfer between Kyoto and Odawara on Day 4, and one express train transfer between Hakone and Tokyo on Day 5. Airport pickup by train is also included if your flight arrives during working hours (between 9 AM and 5 PM, Japan time). In the event that your flight arrives early, we can also include public transportation for the purposes of lunch or a half-day tour at an additional cost. Please note that airport transfer for departure is not included.
All entrance tickets for destinations defined in the schedule are included in the tour price. Some tickets cannot be pre-booked, and it may be necessary for the guide to procure them on the spot. Please note that some attractions require strict compliance to pre-booked entrance times, and may void the booking if the schedule is not observed. As such, please complete your preparations to leave the hotel by the designated start time of the day.

You might be also interested in

Trip name days
Kansai Highlights Osaka to Osaka 7
Silver Ring Tokyo to Tokyo 7
Japan Highlights Tokyo to Osaka 11

Day 1: Arrival in Osaka

  Osaka

Arrival: Kansai International Airport

The Bridge Hotel Shinsaibashi Western hotel

Activities

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.

Day 2: Nara and Osaka Tour

  Nara › Osaka › Kyoto
Breakfast / Lunch Hotel New Hankyu Kyoto Western hotel

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 10:30 Hotel check-out (leave luggage) >> transfer to Nara
  • 10:30 - 11:30 Nara Park
  • 11:30 - 12:30 Todai-ji
  • 12:30 - 13:00 Walk to restaurant
  • 13:00 - 14:30 Irori lunch
  • 14:30 - 15:45 Transfer to Osaka
  • 15:45 - 17:00 Osaka Castle
  • 17:00 - 17:30 Luggage pick-up
  • 17:30 - 19:00 Transfer to Kyoto >> hotel check-in

Meals

Breakfast
Western-style buffet
Lunch
Irori (grilled dishes) featuring many different ingredients, including kuroge wagyu beef

Activities

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.

Day 3: Kyoto Tour

  Kyoto
Breakfast / Lunch Hotel New Hankyu Kyoto Western hotel

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 09:30 Transfer to Fushimi Inari Taisha
  • 09:30 - 11:30 Fushimi Inari Taisha
  • 11:30 - 12:15 Transfer to restaurant
  • 12:15 - 14:15 Sushi cooking class and lunch
  • 14:15 - 15:15 Kinkaku-ji
  • 15:15 - 16:00 Transfer to Higashiyama
  • 16:00 - 17:30 Higashiyama
  • 17:30 - 18:00 Transfer to Gion
  • 18:00 - 19:00 Gion Corner (subject to availability)
  • 19:00 - 19:30 Return to hotel

Meals

Breakfast
Western-style buffet
Lunch
Kyoto-style sushi prepared and served by yourselves under the tutelage of a Japanese chef

Activities

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!

Day 4: Transfer to Hakone

  Hakone
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner Green Plaza Hakone Ryokan

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 11:30 Hotel check-out >> transfer to Odawara
  • 11:30 - 12:30 Transfer to Hakone >> luggage transfer
  • 12:30 - 14:00 Yakizakana lunch
  • 14:00 - 15:00 Sightseeing around Hakone Yumoto
  • 15:00 - 15:30 Transfer to ryokan
  • 15:30 - 18:00 Ryokan check-in >> onsen, free time
  • 18:00 - 19:30 Dinner

Meals

Breakfast
Western-style buffet
Lunch
Grilled freshwater fish, served in an atmospheric restaurant in Hakone Yumoto
Dinner
Seafood buffet in the ryokan

Activities

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!

Day 5: Hakone Tour

  Hakone › Tokyo
Breakfast / Lunch Shinagawa Prince Hotel Western hotel

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 10:00 Ryokan check-out (leave luggage) >> transfer to Hakone-machi
  • 10:00 - 11:00 Hakone Sekisho
  • 11:00 - 11:45 Lake Ashi Cruise
  • 11:45 - 12:00 Take the ropeway to Owakudani
  • 12:00 - 13:30 Lunch
  • 13:30 - 14:30 Sightseeing around Owakudani
  • 14:30 - 15:15 Transfer to Hakone Yumoto by cable car
  • 15:15 - 15:45 Luggage pick-up
  • 15:45 - 18:00 Transfer to Tokyo by Romancecar Limited Express
  • 18:00 - 18:30 Transfer to hotel >> check-in

Meals

Breakfast
Japanese-style buffet
Lunch
Soba (buckwheat noodles), served with clear broth and various toppings

Activities

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

Day 6: Tokyo Tour

  Tokyo
Breakfast / Lunch Shinagawa Prince Hotel Western hotel

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 10:00 Transfer to Asakusa
  • 10:00 - 12:00 Asakusa and Senso-ji (rickshaw ride)
  • 12:00 - 12:30 Transfer to Ginza
  • 12:30 - 14:00 Sushi lunch
  • 14:00 - 14:30 Transfer to Harajuku
  • 14:30 - 15:30 Meiji Jingu
  • 15:30 - 16:30 Sightseeing around Takeshita Street
  • 16:30 - 16:45 Transfer to Shibuya
  • 16:45 - 17:30 Sightseeing around Shibuya
  • 17:30 - 18:00 Return to hotel

Meals

Breakfast
Western-style buffet
Lunch
Hokkaido-style sushi set in an upscale restaurant in Ginza

Activities

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!

Day 7: Leaving Japan

  Tokyo

Departure: Narita International Airport

Breakfast

Meals

Breakfast
Western-style buffet

Activities

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!

 Osaka

Arrival: Kansai International Airport

The Bridge Hotel Shinsaibashi Western hotel

Activities

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.

 Nara › Osaka › Kyoto

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 10:30 Hotel check-out (leave luggage) >> transfer to Nara
  • 10:30 - 11:30 Nara Park
  • 11:30 - 12:30 Todai-ji
  • 12:30 - 13:00 Walk to restaurant
  • 13:00 - 14:30 Irori lunch
  • 14:30 - 15:45 Transfer to Osaka
  • 15:45 - 17:00 Osaka Castle
  • 17:00 - 17:30 Luggage pick-up
  • 17:30 - 19:00 Transfer to Kyoto >> hotel check-in
Breakfast / Lunch Hotel New Hankyu Kyoto Western hotel

Activities

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.

Meals

Breakfast
Western-style buffet
Lunch
Irori (grilled dishes) featuring many different ingredients, including kuroge wagyu beef

Open previous day

 Kyoto

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 09:30 Transfer to Fushimi Inari Taisha
  • 09:30 - 11:30 Fushimi Inari Taisha
  • 11:30 - 12:15 Transfer to restaurant
  • 12:15 - 14:15 Sushi cooking class and lunch
  • 14:15 - 15:15 Kinkaku-ji
  • 15:15 - 16:00 Transfer to Higashiyama
  • 16:00 - 17:30 Higashiyama
  • 17:30 - 18:00 Transfer to Gion
  • 18:00 - 19:00 Gion Corner (subject to availability)
  • 19:00 - 19:30 Return to hotel
Breakfast / Lunch Hotel New Hankyu Kyoto Western hotel

Activities

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!

Meals

Breakfast
Western-style buffet
Lunch
Kyoto-style sushi prepared and served by yourselves under the tutelage of a Japanese chef

Open previous day

 Hakone

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 11:30 Hotel check-out >> transfer to Odawara
  • 11:30 - 12:30 Transfer to Hakone >> luggage transfer
  • 12:30 - 14:00 Yakizakana lunch
  • 14:00 - 15:00 Sightseeing around Hakone Yumoto
  • 15:00 - 15:30 Transfer to ryokan
  • 15:30 - 18:00 Ryokan check-in >> onsen, free time
  • 18:00 - 19:30 Dinner
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner Green Plaza Hakone Ryokan

Activities

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!

Meals

Breakfast
Western-style buffet
Lunch
Grilled freshwater fish, served in an atmospheric restaurant in Hakone Yumoto
Dinner
Seafood buffet in the ryokan

Open previous day

 Hakone › Tokyo

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 10:00 Ryokan check-out (leave luggage) >> transfer to Hakone-machi
  • 10:00 - 11:00 Hakone Sekisho
  • 11:00 - 11:45 Lake Ashi Cruise
  • 11:45 - 12:00 Take the ropeway to Owakudani
  • 12:00 - 13:30 Lunch
  • 13:30 - 14:30 Sightseeing around Owakudani
  • 14:30 - 15:15 Transfer to Hakone Yumoto by cable car
  • 15:15 - 15:45 Luggage pick-up
  • 15:45 - 18:00 Transfer to Tokyo by Romancecar Limited Express
  • 18:00 - 18:30 Transfer to hotel >> check-in
Breakfast / Lunch Shinagawa Prince Hotel Western hotel

Activities

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

Meals

Breakfast
Japanese-style buffet
Lunch
Soba (buckwheat noodles), served with clear broth and various toppings

Open previous day

 Tokyo

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 10:00 Transfer to Asakusa
  • 10:00 - 12:00 Asakusa and Senso-ji (rickshaw ride)
  • 12:00 - 12:30 Transfer to Ginza
  • 12:30 - 14:00 Sushi lunch
  • 14:00 - 14:30 Transfer to Harajuku
  • 14:30 - 15:30 Meiji Jingu
  • 15:30 - 16:30 Sightseeing around Takeshita Street
  • 16:30 - 16:45 Transfer to Shibuya
  • 16:45 - 17:30 Sightseeing around Shibuya
  • 17:30 - 18:00 Return to hotel
Breakfast / Lunch Shinagawa Prince Hotel Western hotel

Activities

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!

Meals

Breakfast
Western-style buffet
Lunch
Hokkaido-style sushi set in an upscale restaurant in Ginza

Open previous day

 Tokyo

Departure: Narita International Airport

Breakfast

Activities

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!

Meals

Breakfast
Western-style buffet

Open previous day