9 Day Classic Japan
$2,890.00
Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto in nine days: Meiji Shrine, the bullet train, Kuromon Market, Osaka Castle, Fushimi Inari and the Golden Pavilion. 9 Days / 7 Nights, small-group fixed departure planned by Melissa Tours. December 6, 2026.
Description
Overview
Nine days through the three great faces of Japan: electric Tokyo, food-loving Osaka and timeless Kyoto. Travel by bullet train, wander the Kuromon Market, stand before Osaka Castle, walk beneath the vermilion gates of Fushimi Inari and see the Golden Pavilion, with a tour manager looking after you throughout. Seven nights, three cities and optional day tours to Mt. Fuji and Hakone, Hiroshima and Miyajima, and Nara.
Highlights
- Tour dazzling Tokyo, a city of ancient traditions coupled with state-of-the-art technology
- The serene Meiji Shrine, honouring the first Emperor of modern Japan and his Empress
- Board the famous shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo to Osaka
- Bustling Kuromon Market in Osaka, with fast food Japanese-style
- Dramatic Osaka Castle and its collection of art, armour and collectibles
- Kyoto, founded in the 8th century, one of the early capitals of Japan
- Fushimi Inari Shrine and its endless arcades of vermilion torii
- Kinkaku-ji, the gold-gilded Golden Pavilion
Itinerary
Day 1: Depart for Japan
Depart for Japan.
Day 2: Arrive in Tokyo
Arrive in dynamic Tokyo, the Land of the Rising Sun, and transfer to your hotel. Your tour begins with an orientation meeting with your tour manager at approximately 7 PM, followed by dinner. We recommend selecting flights that arrive no later than 4 PM.
Overnight: Tokyo | Meals: Dinner
Day 3: Tour of Tokyo
Witness the contrast of a city of traditions coupled with state-of-the-art technology. Begin at the serene Meiji Shrine, nestled in a forested area honouring Emperor Meiji and his Empress. Continue to the Imperial Palace, the residence of Japan’s Imperial family, and view the stone-arched Nijubashi Bridge. In Asakusa, once Tokyo’s leading entertainment district, enter the gates of the ancient Buddhist temple of Sensoji, built in the 7th century, and stroll bustling Nakamise Street with its rows of traditional snacks and souvenirs. There is free time for lunch on your own. In the afternoon, drive past the world-famous Shibuya Crossing. Tonight, discover on your own why Tokyo is one of the best cities in the world for nightlife.
Overnight: Tokyo | Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Full Day in Tokyo
Spend the day at leisure exploring Tokyo on your own, or join the optional full day tour to Mt. Fuji and Hakone. Start at a viewing point in the Lake Kawaguchiko area, then drive to Hakone where the Hakone Ropeway takes you to the volcanic zone of Owakudani Valley. On a clear day you are rewarded with panoramic views of Mt. Fuji. Finish with a relaxing cruise on Lake Ashi before returning to Tokyo. Weather around Mt. Fuji is hard to predict, and cloud can restrict views or prevent the cable car or boat ride from operating.
Overnight: Tokyo | Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Bullet Train to Osaka, Kuromon Market, Osaka Castle
At Tokyo Station, board the shinkansen to Osaka, Japan’s third largest city, known for its cuisine and nightlife. Begin at Kuromon Market, an Osaka landmark where vendors sell fresh food and Japanese-style fast food. Stop for lunch or try the snacks, then enjoy free time along the Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori shopping streets. Conclude with a visit to Osaka Castle, built in the 16th century as a display of power, and learn about the history of Osaka in its museum. Check into your hotel with free time before dinner.
Overnight: Osaka | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6: Full Day in Osaka
Discover Osaka on your own, or join the optional tour to Hiroshima and Miyajima Island. After arriving by train, take a short ferry ride to Miyajima to admire the Itsukushima Shrine and its floating torii gate, with free time among the island’s shrines and temples. Return by ferry to Hiroshima and visit the Peace Memorial and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, then take the train back to Osaka.
Overnight: Osaka | Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Kyoto City Tour
Drive to Kyoto and tour the historic city, home of the country’s most treasured remnants of imperial life. Visit Nishiki Market, lined with more than one hundred shops and restaurants, with free time for lunch on your own. Enjoy a traditional tea ceremony, then visit the gold-gilded Kinkaku-ji Temple, the Golden Pavilion, beside its reflective pond. This evening walk through Pontocho, an old entertainment district with traditional restaurants and Geisha tea houses, and explore Gion, Kyoto’s most famous Geisha district, on your own.
Overnight: Kyoto | Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Full Day in Kyoto
Enjoy the morning at leisure, or join the optional tour to Nara, the 8th century Imperial capital with eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. See Todai-ji Temple and its Great Buddha bronze statue, the more than 1,000 tame deer of Nara Park and the Kasuga Grand Shrine with its thousands of lanterns, then stop at Fushimi Inari Taisha, where ten thousand vermilion torii gates line the path up the mountain. Say goodbye to your tour manager at dinner in the hotel.
Overnight: Kyoto | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9: Depart Japan
Transfer to the airport in Osaka for your departure flight. Osaka Airport is approximately a one-hour drive from Kyoto.
Meals: Breakfast
Optional Extensions
- Mt. Fuji and Hakone: full day tour with lunch (Day 4) Request this extension
- Hiroshima and Miyajima: full day tour (Day 6) Request this extension
- Nara, the Imperial capital: morning tour (Day 8) Request this extension
Inclusions
- Seven nights’ accommodation: three in Tokyo, two in Osaka, two in Kyoto
- Hotel taxes, fees and service charges, and hotel porterage
- High-speed bullet train from Tokyo to Osaka
- 10 meals: 7 breakfasts and 3 dinners
- Services of a tour manager throughout
- Entrance fees per itinerary
- Tips for porters, wait staff and local guides on included services
- Airport transfers on package arrival and departure dates, subject to flight arrangements and confirmed in your quotation
Not included: Optional tours and gratuities (unless otherwise specified).
Is This Trip Right for You?
- Culture: cultural norms, social behaviour and daily practices in Japan may differ significantly from those in Western countries. Service is efficient, polite and friendly, though more reserved than in some other parts of the world, and English is spoken as a second language.
- Meals: most meals are traditional Japanese cuisine with limited selections. Broths, sauces and seasonings cannot be adjusted for dietary preferences or allergies, and vegetarian options are limited, typically rice, soup and tofu.
- Transport: bullet trains are part of the Japanese experience but require walking through busy train stations.
- Weather: Mt. Fuji is sometimes hidden by cloud, and poor weather can affect the Hakone cable car. Summer in Japan is very hot and humid.
- Pace and terrain: expect 3 to 4 hours of walking on included sightseeing days, plus considerable standing. Additional walking to and from sights may be needed, on uneven ground, steep steps, slopes and cobblestone streets.
Planning Notes
- Final inclusions, meals, guides and pricing are confirmed in your quotation.
Plan This Journey
Tell us your dates and group size and a Melissa Tours travel specialist will shape the journey around you.
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