OVERVIEW
Japan’s Golden Route brings together the country’s most iconic destinations – from the energy of Tokyo and the serenity of Hakone’s onsen, to the temples and geisha districts of Kyoto, the sacred deer of Nara and the food capital of Osaka.
Designed for first-time visitors who want to experience Japan without feeling rushed, this trip makes you discover the essentials of this fascinating country. Carefully paced and personally designed by our Kyoto-based team.
PRICE FROM
USD 4,250 per person
Double occupancy. Excludes international flights & insurance
WHEN TO VISIT
Year-round
Best in spring and autumn
DURATION
9 days
Ideally 10–12 days
GROUP SIZE
Private – just your group
STYLE
Fully tailor-made
Every detail adapted to you
WHAT’S INCLUDED
✓ Private local guide
✓ Day-by-day itinerary
✓ Accommodation recommendations
✓ Airport transfers
✓ Transport planning & tickets
✓ 7/7 on-the-ground support
SAMPLE ROUTE
This is a sample route - every stop, duration and experience is adapted to you.
Yōkoso - welcome to Japan. After clearing customs and immigration, a private car transfers you into the city, and your first day is yours to settle in at your own pace.
Mark the occasion with one of Tokyo's great meals - a multi-course kaiseki or an omakase sushi counter - or follow our food-obsessed guide on an early-evening izakaya crawl, hopping between small-plate counters and sake.
A huge, fascinating metropolis that sets high-tech visions of the future beside glimpses of old Japan. The headline sights - Asakusa, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku, the Meiji Shrine - are worth it, but Tokyo's real charm is more discreet: the maze of streets behind the main ones, with a village feel, clean-design shops and small bars far from urban life.
Explore at your own pace with a private guide who shapes the day around your interests, uncovering both the landmarks and the hidden gems.
Begin with the ancient ritual of morning training at a Tokyo sumo stable, where the rikishi live and train in traditional quarters. Follow it with a hearty bowl of chanko-nabe, the protein-rich stew that fuels the wrestlers - broth brimming with vegetables, tofu and your choice of seafood or meat.
Or shape the day your way: a sushi chef's tour of Toyosu Fish Market, the meditative tea ceremony of chanoyu, the digital artworks of teamLab Planets, or the views from Shibuya Sky.
Travel by shinkansen or the Romance Car to Hakone - a picturesque resort town in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, known for its natural beauty, hot springs and, weather permitting, views of Mount Fuji. The journey itself is part of the fun, linking mountain trains, a funicular and a ropeway with a cruise across peaceful Lake Ashino-ko.
Hakone is one of Japan's great onsen resorts, fed by more than a dozen hot springs. In the evening, settle into the rhythm of the mountains - a traditional kaiseki dinner followed by a soak in the hot-spring waters.
Before transferring to Odawara for the shinkansen to Kyoto, you might visit the Hakone Open-Air Museum with its Picasso pavilion.
In the evening, explore Gion with your guide - the famous geisha district of Higashiyama, running from Yasaka Shrine to the Kamo River. Its streets of traditional wooden merchant houses glow under the evening light, and as twilight falls you may glimpse a geiko or a maiko gliding to an appointment, kimono adding to the mystique of this timeless quarter.
Kyoto - literally "Capital City" - was the seat of Japan for over a millennium and has the reputation of being its most beautiful. Spared the wartime bombing and major earthquakes, it kept the customs and traditions of old Japan.
Its beauty rewards effort, though - found in the temples and parks ringing the centre rather than always on the surface. The persistent visitor soon discovers a city with far more to offer than first meets the eye.
Begin at Nishiki Market, Kyoto's historic "kitchen," or the ethereal moss gardens of Saiho-ji. Then to Arashiyama - a green corner crossed by the Katsura River, whose famous Togetsu-kyo bridge frames the gorge.
Add the Sagano Romantic Train, a 25-minute ride along the Hozu River ravine, or the Hozugawa River cruise down to Arashiyama - or choose from our curated Kyoto experiences.
Nara, Japan's first permanent capital in the 8th century, is often overshadowed by Kyoto and skipped - yet it's a treasure trove. Home to Todai-ji, the world's largest wooden structure, and to some of Japan's oldest temples and shrines; it's also the starting point of one of the World Heritage Kumano pilgrimage trails.
In the evening, the neon and energy of Osaka's Dōtonbori - the bustling main street that truly comes alive after dark, billboards and crowds turning it into one of Japan's iconic spectacles.
Depending on your departure time, a final morning of shopping in Osaka - from cutting-edge fashion and electronics to gourmet food and souvenirs. Shinsaibashi for trendy boutiques and international brands, Namba for everything from electronics to traditional crafts.
Private car transfer to Kansai International Airport for your departure flight.
PERFECT FOR
First-time visitors to Japan
Travellers who have timed their trip specifically for sakura season and want to experience it across multiple cities.
Couples & honeymooners
Ryokan stays and private guided experiences offering a perfect, intimate balance for couples.
Culture seekers
Travellers who want both must-see landmarks and hidden gems with local insights.
Families
A fully private, flexible itinerary adapted to your group’s specific interests, pace, and schedule.
