Imperial Capitals of Japan & Hiroshima Small Group Tour (9 Days) by Firebird Tours: Itinerary & Reviews

Tokyo’s Imperial Palace, Kyoto’s torii gates and Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park make this a trip about more than famous sights. I like the mix of guided days and free time, and the Shinkansen ride gives you a practical, memorable link between the cities.

I also like the planned hotel transfers and private guide service on selected outings, which can take the strain out of moving between major stops. One consideration: this is described as a private, partially guided tour, despite the small-group name. You’ll need to confirm the exact arrangement and what the starting price covers before booking.

Key points to know

• Tokyo sightseeing uses public trains: Your guide takes you between the Imperial Palace, Nihonbashi, Tokyo Skytree and Asakusa.
• Mount Fuji and Ashi Lake share a full day: A private guide and driver take you to Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.
• Kyoto’s temple day is a full one: The Imperial Palace, Arashiyama’s Bamboo Forest, Kinkakuji and a kimono tea ceremony are on the schedule.
• You get independent time, too: Several evenings and the afternoon after Kyoto’s half-day outing are free.
• Hiroshima combines remembrance and island scenery: The Peace Memorial Park and Museum precede a ferry trip to Miyajima.
• The tour ends in Hiroshima: Your departure transfer is to Hiroshima Airport, so plan your onward travel accordingly.

A private trip with selected guided days

This nine-day route links Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima, three cities that offer very different views of Japan. The arrangement is described as a private tour with English-speaking guides on selected excursions, not a continuously escorted group trip. You’ll have help with key sights and transfers, while some evenings and travel periods are yours to manage.

That distinction matters. If you want a guide beside you every hour, this plan leaves gaps. If you prefer a little structure without giving up time to explore independently, the balance may suit you. The tour is rated low intensity and welcomes ages 12 and up, though days with several sights and public transit still call for comfortable walking shoes.

The operator is Firebird Tours, rated 4.8 out of 5 across 19 reviews. One review of this particular trip gave it five stars and praised the operator’s support when help was needed. That is an encouraging sign, but one trip review is a small sample, not a guarantee. Firebird lists a 91 percent response rate and a response time within two days.

Tokyo starts with palaces, trains and city views

On arrival, a driver meets you in the airport arrivals hall and takes you to Park Hotel Tokyo, where you stay for three nights. The first day is left open, a sensible way to absorb the flight and get used to the city before sightseeing begins. You can rest or head out on your own, but no first-day activity is scheduled.

Your guided Tokyo day begins after breakfast and moves around by public train. That gives you a taste of the city’s transport system rather than keeping you in a vehicle, though you should be ready to follow your guide through stations and busy public spaces.

At the Imperial Palace, you’ll get an introduction to the institution and its place in modern Japan. The palace has been the residence of successive emperors since 1868, but the tour description focuses on seeing the grounds and cultural landmarks, not an interior visit to the Imperial Residence. Keep expectations clear: this is a guided look at the palace area, not access to every building.

Next comes Nihonbashi, a business district shaped by the historic bridge that has linked the two sides of the river here since the 17th century. It offers a useful change of pace from grand monuments, with a chance to see a district where commerce and older city routes meet. Lunch is included on this day.

Tokyo Skytree brings the big visual payoff. You’ll ride to the observation deck at 350 meters, high enough to take in the scale of the capital. Then the route shifts to Asakusa Temple, identified as Tokyo’s oldest, and Nakamise shopping street, where you can browse souvenirs and local sweets. It’s a full day that spans imperial history, a modern tower and a temple district; don’t expect a slow, single-neighborhood stroll.

Mount Fuji and Ashi Lake take a full day

A private guide and driver pick you up for a day in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. The route introduces Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain, and the shrines and temples associated with its sacred status. You’ll also visit Ashi Lake, a volcanic crater lake formed more than 3,000 years ago.

The appeal here is the contrast with Tokyo: after a day of city trains and dense streets, you spend time among mountain and lake scenery. The private vehicle also avoids having to piece together this outing using public transport. The tour information does not spell out every stop or how long you’ll spend at each, so ask for the detailed day plan if particular viewpoints or activities matter to you.

The day is described as a guided tour to Fuji and Ashi Lake. While the itinerary heading mentions a cruise, the listed activities do not clearly specify a boat ride, so confirm whether a lake cruise is included rather than assuming it is. As with any mountain outing, the main draw is the scenery, but the tour description does not promise a particular view of Fuji.

You return to Tokyo for a third night at Park Hotel Tokyo. This keeps the hotel change manageable before the train journey south.

The Shinkansen carries you to Kyoto

On Day 4, you travel from Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen. The famous bullet train is part of the trip, not just a connection between hotels, and it makes a long-distance move an experience in its own right. A driver meets you at Kyoto station and takes you to Hotel Kanra Kyoto, your base for three nights.

The evening is open. That flexibility is welcome after the train ride, especially if you want to settle in before a busy sightseeing day. No evening guide or activity is listed, so you can choose a quiet night or explore independently.

Kyoto’s palace, bamboo grove and tea ceremony

Your full guided day in Kyoto opens at the Kyoto Imperial Palace, once the Imperial Family’s residence when Kyoto was Japan’s capital. You’ll see the historic buildings from outside and walk through gardens that have recently opened to the public. This is a good place to begin understanding the city’s former role as a seat of imperial life, though it is not described as an interior palace tour.

Then you head to Arashiyama, one of Kyoto’s best-known sightseeing areas, for the Bamboo Forest. The tall bamboo gives this walk its distinctive feel, and the forest is one of the city’s most photographed sights. It can be a popular stop, so treat it as a short visit within a broader day rather than expecting a private woodland retreat.

Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, adds a different kind of spectacle. This Buddhist temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is famous for its golden exterior. The planned visit pairs well with the morning’s palace and bamboo stops: you’ll see three sharply different sides of Kyoto in one day. The trade-off is a packed schedule, with limited time to linger if you find one place especially compelling.

The day ends with a traditional tea ceremony. You’ll wear a kimono, taste matcha and have Japanese sweets made to pair with the tea. This hands-on element gives you more than a quick photo stop: it introduces a custom with a long history through its gestures, clothing and flavors. If the ceremony is a priority, remember that it comes after a full sightseeing day.

Red gates and a thousand Kannon statues

Day 6 is a half-day guided outing to Fushimi Inari Shrine and Sanjusangendo Temple, with public trains between the sites. Fushimi Inari is known for its thousands of red torii gates, which line trails through the forest on Mount Inari. The route includes hiking trails, so although the tour carries a low-intensity rating, you’ll still want shoes suited to walking.

You do not have to treat the shrine as an all-or-nothing climb. The tour description says you can hike the trails, but it does not state how far the guided visit goes. Ask your guide about the planned route if you want to know how much walking to expect.

At Sanjusangendo, the focus shifts indoors to 1,001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The scale and repetition of the statues make this a very different visit from the open paths at Fushimi Inari. After the half-day tour, your afternoon and evening are free, a useful chance to slow down or choose another activity on your own.

Hiroshima remembers, then Miyajima offers a change of scene

A driver takes you from your Kyoto hotel to the station for the train to Hiroshima. On arrival, another transfer brings you to THE KNOT Hiroshima, where you stay for two nights. The rest of Day 7 is free, giving you time to settle in before the next day’s guided visit.

The six-hour Hiroshima and Miyajima outing begins at Peace Memorial Park. The park occupies an area that was once the city’s political and commercial heart, before the atomic bombing. The Peace Memorial Museum documents the events of August 6 and their human cost. This is a serious visit, and it deserves time and attention; the museum is not simply another item to tick off between attractions.

You’ll also see the A-Bomb Dome, the remains of the former Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its presence makes the scale of the destruction tangible in a way that photographs alone cannot. The day then shifts to Miyajima Island by ferry, where you visit Itsukushima Shrine and its torii gate, set over the water and appearing to float at high tide.

That pairing makes for a powerful, varied day: remembrance in central Hiroshima, followed by a shrine setting on an island. The guided outing lasts six hours, so the schedule is substantial. The information provided does not specify how much free time you’ll have on Miyajima or the ferry timetable, so ask if you want to plan extra time there.

What the starting price includes, and what to check

The advertised price starts at $4,571, based on the cheapest room option. It includes hotel accommodation, breakfasts, English-speaking guided sightseeing on selected days, airport meeting services, transfers and intercity transport tickets as set out in the route. Tokyo Sky Tree admission and other entrances are also included. Lunch is specifically listed on the Tokyo sightseeing day; other lunches and dinners are not listed as included.

That price buys more than hotel nights. You’re paying for a private arrangement with drivers at key points, scheduled guides, rail connections and a planned sequence of major sights. For a first trip, that can reduce the work of arranging transfers across three cities. But the tour is only partially guided, and the price basis is the cheapest room, so compare the final quote and room choice against the level of independent planning you would otherwise do.

Before booking, confirm the private-tour arrangement, room basis, exact inclusions and the status of any Ashi Lake cruise. The tour lists October and November departures, and the minimum age is 12. It begins in Tokyo and ends in Hiroshima, so your flights need to fit that open-jaw route rather than a return from Tokyo.

Should you book this Japan route?

I’d consider this tour if you want Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima in one trip, value private transfers and guides on selected days, and are comfortable spending some time on your own. Its strongest features are the varied sightseeing, the included rail travel and the thoughtful mix of major landmarks with cultural activities such as the tea ceremony.

I’d look elsewhere if you want a guide with you throughout, a slower pace, or a trip that returns to Tokyo. The plan covers a lot in nine days, and the Hiroshima museum visit calls for emotional as well as physical energy. If the route and pacing suit you, this is a practical way to connect Japan’s imperial sites, mountain scenery and modern history without arranging every leg yourself.

FAQ

Is this tour private or a small-group trip?

The tour is described as a private tour for you and your friends or family, with selected guided excursions. Its name includes small group, so confirm the exact format with Firebird before booking.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts in Tokyo and ends in Hiroshima. A driver meets you at Tokyo airport on arrival and takes you to Hiroshima Airport on departure day.

Which hotels are included?

You stay at Park Hotel Tokyo for three nights, Hotel Kanra Kyoto for three nights, and THE KNOT Hiroshima for two nights. The first two are listed as four-star hotels, and THE KNOT Hiroshima as a three-star hotel.

Are train tickets and transfers included?

Yes. Intercity transportation and tickets specified in the route are included, including the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto and the train from Kyoto to Hiroshima. The tour also includes the listed airport, station and hotel transfers.

What meals are included?

Hotel breakfasts are included. Lunch is listed on the Tokyo sightseeing day. The tour details do not list other lunches or dinners as included.

How physically demanding is the tour?

It is rated low intensity and is open to ages 12 and up. The schedule includes city sightseeing and walking, plus trails at Mount Inari, so the low rating does not mean you will be sitting all day.