Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka 5-Day Tour by Europamundo: Itinerary & Reviews

Tokyo’s best surprise is how quickly the tour moves from a quiet temple courtyard to the city’s biggest crossing, then onward by bullet train to Kyoto. I like the Tokyo Skytree view from its 350-meter Tembo Deck and the chance to see Fushimi Inari, the Golden Pavilion and Nara’s Great Buddha in one compact trip.

I also like that the route ends in Osaka, rather than looping back to Tokyo, and that the guide takes you by subway to Shinjuku for an included dinner. The trade-off is time: five days cover four cities at a brisk clip, and Shibuya Crossing is viewed from the bus, not explored on foot.

At a glance: what this Japan tour includes

• Tokyo Tower framed by Zojoji Temple: Make a short stop among the temple’s rows of Jizo statues, then look up at the familiar tower.
• A ride on Japan’s bullet train: Travel nearly 500 kilometers from Tokyo to Kyoto in just over two hours.
• Kyoto’s headline sights in one day: Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Imperial Palace, Kinkakuji Temple and Gion.
• Nara’s Great Buddha and free-roaming deer: See Todaiji Temple, then walk through Nara Park.
• A Tokyo dinner and Nara lunch: One dinner in Shinjuku and one lunch in Nara are included, along with daily breakfast.
• A quick, guided introduction: The tour spans five days, with group sizes listed from 2 to 72 and light physical activity.

Five days, four cities, little wasted motion

This Europamundo tour starts in Tokyo and finishes in Osaka, with Kyoto and Nara between. It is built for you if you want a guided first look at Japan’s major city sights without arranging each hotel, intercity transfer and admission yourself.

The advertised starting price is $1,620, based on the cheapest room. That is a meaningful outlay for five days, so the value depends on how much you prize having transport, hotels, guides and key sightseeing arranged. You get a shared airport transfer, a Tokyo-to-Kyoto bullet-train journey, hotel breakfasts, a Tokyo dinner and a Nara lunch, plus listed admissions. Flights to Japan and home from Osaka are not included.

The itinerary does not offer long stretches for unplanned wandering. Instead, it gives you a sampler: Tokyo’s contrasting districts, Kyoto’s landmark temples, Nara’s historic temple and park, and a final taste of Osaka. If you want to linger in a single city, add nights before or after the tour.

Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo and get settled

After customs, a shared shuttle takes you to your Tokyo hotel. The first day is intentionally light, with time to rest, adjust to the time difference or explore on your own. Tour details are provided in the afternoon.

The named Tokyo accommodation is Shinagawa Prince Hotel, a four-star property. Europamundo also notes that hotels may be outside city centers, but close to public transport. That can mean a convenient base without putting you right beside the sights, so expect to use transit or a taxi if you go out on your own.

There is no arrival sightseeing scheduled, and the tour’s listed services include an arrival transfer, not a departure transfer at the end in Osaka. Keep that in mind when arranging flights and extra nights.

Day 2: Tokyo from Zojoji to Shinjuku

The main Tokyo tour lasts about seven hours. It starts at Zojoji Temple, where you can photograph Tokyo Tower rising behind the temple grounds. Look out for the small Jizo statues, traditionally regarded as guardians of children, with knitted hats, bibs and pinwheels.

Next comes a view of Shibuya Crossing from the bus. That is a useful introduction to the famous intersection, but it is not a walk across the scramble. If walking through Shibuya is on your must-do list, plan to return independently during free time.

Meiji Shrine offers a quieter change of pace, followed by Tokyo Skytree. Admission to the Tembo Deck, 350 meters up, is included. The view can help you grasp the scale of Tokyo, though visibility and access can depend on weather and other conditions. If Skytree access is limited, the tour says it will offer another city viewpoint.

In Asakusa, you walk along Nakamise Street, a traditional shopping lane leading toward Sensoji Temple. The included admission list names Sensoji, though the day’s description emphasizes Nakamise Street. Akihabara and Ginza are passed by bus on the return to the hotel, not presented as extended visits. If anime shops, electronics or Ginza’s department stores matter to you, save time to return on your own.

At 6:30 p.m., meet the guide in the hotel lobby for a subway ride to Shinjuku. You’ll walk through the district and have dinner at a local restaurant, then return by subway with the guide. The meal is included, a welcome chance to sit down after a full day. One useful expectation to set: this is a guided district walk and dinner, not a full evening of independent time.

Day 3: Tokyo to Kyoto by bullet train

An early departure takes you from Tokyo to Kyoto by bullet train. The ride covers nearly 500 kilometers in just over two hours, making it one of the tour’s most practical inclusions: you avoid organizing the intercity journey yourself and arrive with a full sightseeing day ahead.

Kyoto was Japan’s capital from 794 to 1868, and this tour gives you a brisk introduction to its ceremonial and religious landmarks. Fushimi Inari Shrine is known for its rows of red torii gates. The itinerary includes a visit, but does not specify how far you walk along the mountain paths, so don’t assume you’ll hike the full route.

You also visit the Imperial Palace and Kinkakuji Temple, the Golden Pavilion, set beside gardens. These are major sights, but expect a guided overview rather than unlimited time at each. A busy schedule helps you see more, though it leaves less room to pause, sketch, shop or revisit a favorite spot.

Later, you have time in Gion, Kyoto’s traditional district, associated with geisha culture. This is a chance to walk at your own pace after the guided visits. The named hotel is New Miyako Hotel, another four-star property. Breakfast is included; other meals on this day are not listed.

Day 4: Nara’s temple, then Osaka’s streets

The morning takes you to Nara, Japan’s ancient capital, for Todaiji Temple and its Great Buddha. The scale of the temple and statue makes this a different experience from Tokyo’s tall towers and Kyoto’s garden temples. Then you walk through Nara Park, where deer roam freely. They are accustomed to people, but remember they are animals, not props; give them space and follow your guide’s instructions.

Lunch is included in Nara. The schedule also describes free time for lunch, so confirm the precise arrangement for your departure rather than assuming a particular restaurant or set menu. Afterward, continue to Osaka.

In Osaka, you get a panoramic tour of Dotonbori, a well-known district of signs, shops and places to eat. There is time for lunch on your own in the day’s description, though the included-meals section lists a Nara lunch. Check the day’s arrangements with Europamundo so you know which meal is covered and when.

The group then visits Osaka Castle, built in the late 16th century and one of the city’s best-known historic landmarks. The itinerary says you admire the castle, but does not specify admission to its interior. The final stop is the Umeda neighborhood, where you see the Umeda Sky Building; no observation-deck admission is listed.

The overnight stay is at Candeo Osaka Namba. You finish the day in Osaka, but the tour does not include a final-night dinner in the stated meal plan.

Day 5: Breakfast, then the tour ends

After breakfast, the tour concludes in Osaka. There is no sightseeing or onward transfer listed for the final day, so arrange your own transport to the airport or your next hotel. An extra night in Osaka can turn this quick visit into a more relaxed stay, especially if you want time to explore beyond the stops on the guided route.

Hotels, guides and getting around

The hotels are described as four-star, with private bathrooms and TVs. The named plan is Shinagawa Prince Hotel for the first two nights, New Miyako Hotel in Kyoto and Candeo Osaka Namba in Osaka. Europamundo notes that hotel standards and room sizes vary, and that properties may not be in the city center, though public transport is nearby. These are practical city hotels, not luxury stays.

English-speaking guides lead tours in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Guide assignments can change, and some departures may use bilingual guiding, usually English and Spanish. Past guides David and Francisco were praised for being entertaining, considerate and helpful, but you should not book on the assumption either will lead your trip.

The group size can range from 2 to 72, a wide spread that can shape the feel of the tour. A small group may feel personal, while a large one can take longer to move between stops. Bus travel is part of Europamundo’s general service, but the schedule also expressly uses the subway in Tokyo. One past departure reported using public transport for sightseeing rather than a bus, so if transport mode is a deciding factor, ask the operator what is planned for your dates.

What the price buys, and what it doesn’t

The package bundles accommodation, breakfast, basic travel insurance, an arrival transfer, guided sightseeing and several admissions. The Tokyo Skytree Tembo Deck, the bullet train and a dinner in Shinjuku are especially useful inclusions. A Nara lunch is listed, too. You pay separately for flights and any meals not specified as included.

At $1,620 and up, this is not a bargain-basement way to see Japan. Its value is in reducing the planning load and linking distant cities in a short span. If you are comfortable arranging hotels and trains yourself, you may prefer to build a slower trip. If you have limited time and want a guide to connect the main sights, the package may justify its cost.

The overall ratings are mixed but useful as a guide: the guide category is strongest at 4.5 out of 5, followed by operator at 4.1 and accommodation at 4.0. Itinerary scores 3.0, transport 3.5 and food 3.3. That fits the practical picture: good coverage and often strong guiding, but a rushed route and limited meal variety. One guest specifically wished for a sushi or traditional Japanese meal and more Osaka time, so consider adding independent food stops rather than expecting the included meals to define your culinary experience.

Who should book this tour?

I’d consider this tour if you want a guided overview of Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka and value having the main transfers and hotels arranged. It is also a sensible option for a first Japan visit when you have only five days and are comfortable with early starts, group timing and limited free time.

Look elsewhere, or add extra nights, if you want to explore Shibuya on foot, spend longer in Kyoto, visit Osaka at an unhurried pace or choose every meal yourself. The tour is low intensity, but a day of city sightseeing still means walking and getting on and off transport. For the best balance, arrive in Tokyo a day early and stay in Osaka after the tour. That gives you room to recover from the flight and enjoy the places this fast route can only introduce.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts in Tokyo and ends in Osaka. The arrival transfer to the Tokyo hotel is included, but no departure transfer from Osaka is listed.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts five days, from arrival in Tokyo through breakfast on the final day in Osaka.

Which cities and destinations are included?

The route visits Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka.

Are flights included in the price?

No. Flights before and after the tour are not included and must be arranged separately.

What meals are included?

Daily breakfast is included, along with one dinner in Tokyo and one lunch in Nara. Other meals are not listed as included.

What language is the tour guided in?

English-speaking guides are listed for Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Depending on the departure and group size, guiding may be bilingual, usually in English and Spanish.

What hotels are used?

The named hotels are Shinagawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo, New Miyako Hotel in Kyoto and Candeo Osaka Namba in Osaka. Europamundo notes that hotel arrangements may vary.