Tokyo, Kyoto and Alps by Europamundo – 6-Day Tour: Itinerary & Reviews

In six days, this tour connects Tokyo’s busy streets with Kyoto’s temples, an old post town, a mountain monkey park and Nikko’s ornate shrines. I like that it pairs Japan’s best-known city sights with smaller places that can be harder to link on your own.

I also like the practical mix of transport: you get a bullet train between Tokyo and Kyoto, then a coach through the mountains, with hotels, breakfasts and several meals included. The trade-off is a packed schedule. Expect early starts, long stretches on the road and limited time to explore some stops at your own pace.

At a glance

• Shibuya Crossing from the bus: See the famous intersection as part of a guided Tokyo day, then head to the Meiji Shrine, Skytree and Asakusa.
• Kyoto by bullet train: Reach the former capital in just over two hours, then visit Fushimi Inari, the Imperial Palace and Kinkakuji.
• A stop in Tsumago: Walk among traditional wooden houses and have lunch before continuing to Matsumoto Castle.
• Macaques in the mountains: Follow forest trails to Jigokudani Monkey Park, where Japanese macaques may bathe in hot springs.
• A night in a ryokan: Stay in Ikaho, a hot-spring town known for its old stone stairway, with a traditional Japanese dinner included.
• Nikko before the return to Tokyo: Visit Toshogu, Taiyuinbyo and the Jizo statues along Kanmangafuchi Abyss.

Tokyo’s big sights, with little time to linger

Day one is a soft landing: a shared shuttle takes you from the airport to your hotel, and the rest of the day is free. In the afternoon, you receive details about the tour ahead. Your first hotel is listed as Shinagawa Prince Hotel, though hotel arrangements can vary.

The main Tokyo sightseeing day lasts about seven hours. It begins at Zojoji Temple, where you can frame Tokyo Tower beyond the temple grounds and notice the rows of small Jizo figures dressed in hats and bibs. The visit to Shibuya Crossing is from the bus, so you get a look at the famous crossing without a long stop to walk around or watch from above.

Meiji Shrine offers a different pace: a wooded sanctuary dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his wife. Later, the Skytree’s Tembo Deck, at 350 metres, gives you a high view across the city when the weather is clear. Admission to the deck is included, but poor weather or other exceptional conditions can limit access; an alternative viewpoint may be offered.

The day ends in Asakusa, with time on Nakamise shopping street. The route also passes Akihabara and Ginza, rather than promising extended visits to either district. That distinction matters if you’re hoping to browse electronics, anime shops or upscale stores: you’ll need to return on your own.

In the evening, meet your guide and take the subway to Shinjuku. A guided walk and dinner at a local restaurant are included, as is the return subway ride. It’s a useful introduction to the city after dark, though the tour gives you a taste rather than an open-ended evening.

Kyoto’s signature temples in one day

The morning train from Tokyo to Kyoto takes just over two hours and covers nearly 500 kilometres. That is a quick, comfortable way to bridge two major cities, but the early departure means you’ll want to have your bags ready and breakfast plans settled.

Kyoto’s schedule includes Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Imperial Palace and Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion. Each gives you a different angle on the city: the shrine is known for its rows of red gates, the palace grounds recall Kyoto’s time as Japan’s capital, and Kinkakuji’s gold-covered pavilion sits beside landscaped gardens.

You also get time around Gion, the traditional district associated with geisha. The schedule describes free time there, while tour services include an evening transfer to Gion. Check the timing with your guide, and don’t assume you’ll have a long, unstructured visit. If you want a quieter look at Kyoto beyond its headline sights, this is the place to use any spare time thoughtfully.

The trade-off is density. Three major sites and a Gion visit in a single day can feel like a brisk introduction rather than a slow study of Kyoto. If you value seeing the essential landmarks with transport organized, the pace works. If you prefer lingering, consider adding nights before or after the tour.

Tsumago and Matsumoto break up the coach ride

Day four swaps city streets for the countryside. The coach leaves Kyoto for Tsumago, a small village known for its traditional wooden houses. You’ll have free time to walk around, and lunch is included. It is one of the itinerary’s more distinctive stops, a chance to see a historic settlement rather than another large-city temple.

From Tsumago, the route continues to Matsumoto and its 16th-century castle, often nicknamed the Crow for its dark exterior. The visit is included, followed by some time to explore the city independently. Then it’s back on the coach to Nagano for the night.

This is a long travel day, and you should plan on substantial time seated between stops. The countryside views offer a welcome change, but there is less freedom to choose how long you spend at each place. The day’s appeal is its variety: village, castle and mountain-region city, all without having to coordinate the connections yourself.

Zenko-ji, macaques and mountain roads

In Nagano, the day starts at Zenko-ji Temple, a major pilgrimage site. You’ll take part in a Gomakuyo ceremony, a ritual intended to attract good fortune. It adds a local religious practice to the sightseeing, although the visit is still part of a tightly timed group day.

Next comes Jigokudani Monkey Park. Reaching the macaque viewing area means walking along forest trails beside rivers and hot springs. The park is best known for Japanese macaques that sometimes soak in the warm water, but seeing them is not guaranteed. In autumn, their movements can be unpredictable depending on food conditions in the mountains.

After the park, the coach crosses high mountain terrain, reaching about 2,172 metres, and passes semi-active volcanoes on the way to Kusatsu. The stop includes a walk through the town park, which has open-air hot springs, and free time for lunch. Kusatsu visits may be canceled because of weather from November through April, so this is a day when seasonal conditions can change the plan.

The route continues to Ikaho, another hot-spring town. You’ll walk through its old centre and see the traditional stone stairs before spending the night at a ryokan. A Japanese dinner is included. The inn stay is a welcome change from a standard hotel, though the tour describes the baths as an optional activity, not a required part of the program.

Nikko’s shrines before the ride back

On the final day, the coach takes you from Ikaho to Nikko. Toshogu Shrine is known for its ornate details and the room associated with the sound of a dragon. The tour also visits Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum, then takes you to Kanmangafuchi Abyss, where rows of Jizo statues line the river.

There is some free time in Nikko before the return journey to Tokyo, where arrival is expected around 6:30 p.m. That estimate is useful for planning, but it is not a sensible time to schedule a tight onward connection. The tour does not include a departure airport transfer, and your guide can suggest public transport options. If you are flying out that evening, check your flight time carefully; an extra night in Tokyo may be the safer plan.

What the price covers, and what it does not

The tour starts at $2,070, based on the cheapest room option. For six days, that buys a lot of the logistics: hotels, breakfast buffet, an airport arrival transfer, guided sightseeing, transport between destinations, and admission to many of the named sites. The Tokyo Skytree deck, Matsumoto Castle, Zenko-ji, the monkey park and the main Nikko sites are among the included visits.

The Tokyo-Kyoto bullet train and subway rides for the Shinjuku evening are included too. Meals include one lunch in Tsumago and two dinners, one in Shinjuku and one at the Ikaho ryokan. Other meals are not covered, so budget for lunches and dinners outside those occasions.

Flights before and after the tour are not included. Nor is the departure transfer to the airport. Hotel standards can vary, and the listed properties are not necessarily in central locations, though they have access to public transport nearby. The accommodation is chosen for value rather than luxury, with private bathrooms and TV; room sizes and bed sizes may differ between hotels.

The value is strongest if you want someone else to connect the cities, book the main transport and handle site admissions. It is weaker if you want long stretches of free time or the freedom to choose every meal. Food is the tour’s least convincing category in the available ratings, so treat the included meals as practical conveniences, not a culinary itinerary.

The pace, group size and guide setup

This is a group tour for 2 to 72 people, with a low-intensity rating. That does not mean there is no walking: expect temple grounds, city walks and forest trails at the monkey park. The group size can also shape the feel of the day, especially when everyone is moving through popular sites on a fixed timetable.

English is offered, but the tour may sometimes operate bilingually in English and Spanish. The guide may change during the trip, and the operator reserves the right to adjust the order of visits or sites because of weather, traffic, strikes or other difficult conditions. That flexibility is common on a route with mountain roads and outdoor stops, but it means the exact sequence is not guaranteed.

Guides named by people who took the tour include Tania in Tokyo, Ken in Kyoto and David in the Alps. Other guides mentioned include Eduardo, Kiko, Pablo and Marcos. The names are examples, not a promise of who will lead your departure. The strongest praise has focused on organized, attentive guides who explain the sights and keep the group moving.

Who should book this Japan tour?

I’d choose this tour if you have six days, want to see both Japan’s major cities and its mountain region, and prefer the convenience of arranged transport. It is especially useful if you are unsure about combining Tokyo, Kyoto, Tsumago, Matsumoto, Nagano and Nikko by yourself.

It is a less natural fit if your priority is slow mornings, long museum visits, shopping time or choosing every meal. The schedule packs several temples and historic sites into a short trip, and some drives take time. If you are already concerned that temple visits may start to blur together, add independent days in Tokyo or Kyoto before or after the group tour.

The most memorable balance is the shift from Tokyo’s scale to Tsumago’s wooden streets, then the mountain roads and the ryokan night. But the macaques are wild, the weather can alter plans, and the schedule leaves little room to linger. Book it for breadth and convenience, not for a leisurely Japan stay.

FAQ

How long is the Tokyo, Kyoto and Alps tour?

The tour lasts six days and starts in Tokyo. It ends in Tokyo at approximately 6:30 p.m. on the final day.

What is the starting price?

The listed starting price is $2,070, based on the cheapest room option. Flights before and after the tour are not included.

Which meals are included?

Breakfast buffet is included, along with lunch in Tsumago and dinners in Shinjuku and at the Ikaho ryokan. Other meals are not specified as included.

Is transport between Tokyo and Kyoto included?

Yes. The tour includes a bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto, with the journey taking just over two hours.

Is the Tokyo airport transfer included?

Yes. A shared shuttle bus takes you from the airport to your hotel on arrival. A departure airport transfer is not included.

Can I expect to see monkeys at Jigokudani?

The tour visits Jigokudani Monkey Park and follows forest trails to the macaque area, but sightings are not guaranteed. In autumn, monkey movements can be unpredictable depending on food availability in the mountains.

Is the tour conducted in English?

English is offered. On some departures, the tour may be bilingual, usually in English and Spanish.

How large can the tour group be?

The stated group size ranges from 2 to 72 people.