Japanese Scenes and Mount Fuji 19-Day Tour by Europamundo Review

Japan changes character as you travel north: Tokyo’s temples and giant city views give way to island ferries, mountain shrines, hot-spring towns and the forests around Mount Fuji. I like this tour for two reasons: it reaches places that are awkward to link on your own, and it makes room for distinctive stays, including a Buddhist monastery and a ryokan. The trade-off is pace. Days are often long, and the tour covers a lot of ground.

Key points at a glance

• A rare north-to-south sweep: Visit Hiroshima, Shikoku, Kyoto, Hokkaido, Tohoku and Mount Fuji in one trip.
• Special overnight stays: Spend a night at a Mount Koya monastery and another in a traditional ryokan in Ikaho.
• Transport does much of the work: Travel by coach, bullet train and ferry, including an overnight Pacific crossing in a cabin with a private bathroom.
• Meals are partly covered: Breakfast is included daily, along with nine lunches and five dinners.
• Expect stairs and walking: The tour is labelled low intensity, but temple climbs, station platforms and long sightseeing days add up.
• Guides and groups can change: Groups range from 2 to 72, and some departures may combine English- and Spanish-speaking passengers.

From Tokyo’s temples to Hiroshima’s memorials

The tour begins gently. You arrive at Tokyo airport and take a shared shuttle to the hotel, with the rest of Day 1 free. That breathing space matters after a long flight. The first full day is a seven-hour city tour: Zojoji Temple, Meiji Shrine, Tokyo Skytree, Asakusa’s Nakamise Street, and views of Shibuya Crossing from the bus. Akihabara and Ginza pass by on the return to the hotel.

The Skytree visit includes the Tembo Deck at 350 metres, weather and access permitting. In the evening, you take the subway with your guide to Shinjuku for a walk and included dinner. This is a useful first taste of Tokyo, though it is an overview, not a slow exploration. You’ll want to keep your own time for a neighborhood that catches your interest.

Day 3 shifts the mood. A bullet train carries you roughly 800 kilometres to Hiroshima, where you visit Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Peace Memorial Museum. The subject is painful and important; the museum deserves time and attention. The schedule also includes a ferry to Miyajima, officially Itsukushima Island, for the shrine and a walk around the island center. Hiroshima and Miyajima in one day is efficient, but it makes for a demanding day with little room to linger.

Shikoku, Naruto and a night on Mount Koya

A two-and-a-half-hour ferry ride takes you to Shikoku and Matsuyama. The day includes the castle, reached by cable car, Ishiteji Temple and admission to Dogo Onsen, a 19th-century bathhouse. It is a strong mix of historic sites and local customs, with lunch included. Onsen bathing has its own etiquette, so ask your guide or hotel staff if you are unsure of the routine.

The next day strings together several stops: Kotohira’s shrine, reached by 785 steps up Mount Zosu; Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu; and the Naruto Bridge, where a glass-floored walkway sits 45 metres above the sea. The bridge offers a striking look at the whirlpools below when conditions allow. Be ready for another long coach day, followed by the scenic bridges on the way to Kobe.

In Kobe, the Earthquake Memorial Museum recounts the 1995 disaster and the city’s recovery. From there, the tour continues to Mount Koya, a major center of Shingon Buddhism. You visit Okuno Mausoleum, set within a vast cemetery, and Kongobuji Temple, then spend the night at a monastery. The included vegetarian dinner and monk-led Ajikan Zen meditation make this one of the trip’s most distinctive nights.

Go in with realistic expectations. Monastery rooms are simple, with tatami mats and shared bathrooms, not standard hotel facilities. Meditation may not be available on especially busy dates, and limited temple rooms can mean an alternate nearby hotel. If the temple stay does happen, it offers a quiet contrast to the tour’s busy road days.

Kyoto, old post towns and the Japanese Alps

After a traditional breakfast at the temple, you head to Kyoto. The day takes in Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Imperial Palace, Kinkaku-ji, or Golden Pavilion, and Gion, with some free time between visits. These are headline sights for good reason, but Kyoto rewards more time than this schedule can offer. If you have an extra day before or after the tour, Kyoto is a natural place to add it.

Next comes Tsumago, a preserved village of wooden houses, followed by Matsumoto Castle, nicknamed the Crow for its dark exterior. The contrast is appealing: a small historic settlement, then one of Japan’s most memorable castles. Lunch is included in Tsumago, and you have some time to explore Matsumoto before continuing to Nagano.

In Nagano, Zenko-ji Temple and the Gomakuyo good-fortune ceremony lead into the forest walk to Jigokudani Monkey Park. The Japanese macaques are the draw, but they are wild animals, so their presence can vary. In autumn, food availability affects their movements; the park may close if they do not come down. The route then crosses high mountain scenery, reaching 2,172 metres, before a stop in Kusatsu and an overnight stay in Ikaho.

Ikaho’s old center is known for its stone stairway, and the ryokan stay includes a traditional Japanese dinner. The hot-spring bath is optional, but this is an excellent chance to try one. The day’s combination of forest walking, mountain roads and town visits is rewarding, though not a rest day.

Nikko and northern Honshu

Nikko brings ornate religious architecture and quieter paths. You visit Nikko-Toshogu, Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum and Kanmangafuchi Abyss, where rows of Jizo statues line the river. There is free time in town before the drive to Sendai. The sights are varied, but another long transfer follows the sightseeing.

At Matsushima, a tea house visit includes traditional tea and regional context, then a 50-minute boat cruise across the bay. Lunch is served on board. Hiraizumi adds Chusonji Temple and Motsuji’s gardens, where you can take part in a Zen ceremony. These stops offer a calmer pace than the major cities, though the day still covers several places before the overnight in Morioka.

Hirosaki Castle is viewed from outside, in a park with more than 2,500 cherry trees that bloom in spring. In Aomori, the Nebuta Museum introduces the city’s festival floats and traditions. A ferry of just over three and a half hours then takes you to Hokkaido. The historic district in Hakodate has a visible mix of architectural influences, including a Russian Orthodox church. The ferry is transport, not wasted time, but it does make this a long day.

Hokkaido’s volcanoes, food and open water

Hakodate starts with its fish market and Goryokaku Tower, whose elevated view makes the star-shaped fortress easy to understand. At Onuma, you have time for a walk or boat ride among small islands, then continue to Noboribetsu’s volcanic Jigokudani and Lake Oyunuma. Sapporo is reached in the evening.

The following day combines Sapporo’s Clock Tower, Odori Park and Hokkaido Jingu with the Hill of Buddha, a newer complex featuring a large Buddha statue and Moai replicas. Then it’s on to Otaru, with its canal, shops and small museums, before returning to Sapporo around 3:30 p.m. The afternoon is free. This gives you a brief chance to explore the city independently, but the guided sightseeing remains a quick sampler.

The Ainu museum Upopoy introduces the culture and heritage of Japan’s Indigenous Ainu people. At Toyako, the tour includes a lakeside walk, a volcanology museum and a cable-car ride up Mount Usu. The views are a high point, though access can depend on conditions. That evening, you board an overnight ferry from Tomakomai to Sendai. A double cabin with private bathroom and dinner are included. The crossing is a practical way to cover distance, but if you are prone to seasickness, plan accordingly.

After arriving at Sendai Port around 10 a.m., the coach continues to Yamadera, a mountain temple complex founded more than a thousand years ago. Then comes Yonezawa’s sake museum and a small distillery, before the overnight in Aizuwakamatsu. Yamadera is especially demanding if you climb its many steps. One former participant described the broader tour as involving roughly seven kilometres of walking or 14 floors on an average day, so comfortable walking shoes are a sensible choice.

Aizuwakamatsu brings the Samurai Mansion, a castle garden and Iimoriyama, associated with the city’s young martyrs. At Ouchi-juku, thatched-roof houses line a historic village street. The final stop before Tokyo is the Oya Museum, housed in former stone quarries. It is an unusual way to break up the long drive back to the capital.

Kamakura, Hakone and Mount Fuji

The last full day heads from Tokyo to Kamakura. At Hokoku-ji, you walk through a bamboo grove and have green tea, then visit the Great Buddha. Enoshima offers time for lunch and a coastal walk before the tour continues to Odawara Castle. This is a pleasant change of pace after the northern loop, though the schedule still moves steadily.

The final day visits Owakudani, a volcanic area with steam vents and sulfur gases, then Oshino Hakkai’s eight ponds and Lake Kawaguchiko, where a boat ride is included. The coach goes up Mount Fuji’s road to the Fifth Station at about 2,305 metres, if weather and road conditions allow. In winter, the road may close; high volcanic activity can also affect access to Owakudani, with Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine listed as an alternative. The tour returns to Tokyo at day’s end. No departure airport transfer is included, so check your flight time and arrange an extra night if needed.

What the price covers, and what it does not

The advertised starting price is $6,884, based on the cheapest room option. Flights before and after the tour are extra. For 19 days, the price covers hotel accommodation with breakfast buffet, basic travel insurance, an arrival transfer, the listed transport, guided visits and many admissions. It also includes nine lunches and five dinners, including meals at the monastery, ryokan and overnight ferry.

That makes the price attractive for someone who wants transport and logistics handled across a wide sweep of Japan. High-speed rail, ferries, coach transfers and many site tickets would take time and money to coordinate independently. On the other hand, included meals are not full board, and free-time meals, personal spending and flights remain yours to budget for. Hotels are generally four-star category, but not luxury properties; they may be outside city centers, with public transport nearby. Room size and standards vary.

Guides, group mix and pace

Guide quality is an important variable. Some groups have had excellent experiences with guides including Ken Igarashi, also called Rei, and David Solanes, whose Tokyo and Japan history explanations helped make the visits more meaningful. The tour leader may change during the trip, and some departures combine English and Spanish passengers. Depending on group size, one leader may speak both languages, or separate leaders may serve each group.

That setup can work well, but English speakers should be prepared to speak up if explanations or practical help are unclear. One useful example from a Kyoto evening: after free time in Gion, the return trip to the hotel was not clearly arranged for one passenger. Before the group separates, confirm how you are getting back, and ask for specific bus or train directions rather than relying on a vague taxi suggestion.

Europamundo describes the tour as low intensity, but that label can understate the physical demands. Shrine stairs, walking paths, changing transport and full sightseeing days are part of the deal. The group size can range from 2 to 72, though numbers and members may change as people join or leave different tour sections. You get convenience and company, but not always the feel of a small, fixed group.

Should you book this Japan tour?

Book it if you want broad coverage, value built-in transport and are happy to keep moving. The strongest features are its northern Japan route, the monastery and ryokan nights, and the blend of major sights with places many first-time visitors would struggle to connect on their own.

Think twice if you prefer slow mornings, long museum visits or a small group with one guide throughout. This is a packed introduction, not a restful holiday. If your health or mobility makes stairs difficult, pay special attention to Kotohira, Yamadera and the walking days before booking. If you can manage the pace, this tour gives you a wide-ranging first look at Japan, from Hiroshima’s memorials to the slopes near Mount Fuji.

FAQ

What is included in the tour price?

Accommodation, breakfast buffet, basic travel insurance, arrival transfer, listed transport and many admissions are included. The tour also includes nine lunches and five dinners. Flights before and after the tour are not included.

Is the tour conducted in English?

English is listed as a tour language. Guides may change during the trip, and some departures may operate bilingually in English and Spanish, with either one bilingual guide or separate leaders depending on group size.

How large is the group?

The stated group size is 2 to 72 people. Group members may change during the trip as passengers join or leave different tour sections.

How physically demanding is the tour?

It is rated low intensity, but includes substantial walking, temple and shrine steps, and long sightseeing days. Kotohira requires a climb of 785 steps, and Yamadera is also known for its many steps.

Are flights included?

No. Flights to Japan and onward or return flights are not included in the tour price.

What is the accommodation like?

The tour uses four-star-category hotels, a ryokan in Ikaho, a Mount Koya monastery stay when available, and a double cabin with private bathroom on the overnight ferry. The monastery rooms are simple, with shared bathrooms.

Is the Mount Fuji Fifth Station visit guaranteed?

No. The road may close in winter because of snow or weather. If conditions prevent the planned visit to Owakudani, the tour may visit Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine instead.