Upgraded – Discover Japan 9-Day Tour by Explore!: Itinerary & Reviews

A private Zen session with a monk, a night in a Japanese-style inn with your own outdoor hot spring bath, then a bullet train ride to Hiroshima: this tour puts some memorable contrasts within reach in just nine days. You begin amid Tokyo’s modern city life and finish among Kyoto’s temples, with Kamakura, Hakone and Miyajima along the way.

I like two things in particular: the hands-on cultural encounters, from meditation and tea to a geisha dance, and the smart route, which links major sights without making you plan every train and transfer yourself. The trade-off is pace. You cover a lot of ground, and some days leave only a short window for wandering on your own.

The details that matter

• Kamakura’s private Zen session takes place in a traditional temple, followed by a bento lunch and a visit to the Great Buddha.
• Hakone pairs mountain scenery with a traditional stay: take a boat across Lake Ashi and sleep in a Japanese-style room with a private outdoor onsen bath.
• Hiroshima and Miyajima offer contrasting days: the Peace Memorial Park and museum are solemn, while the island brings shrines, a tea ceremony and optional mountain views.
• Kyoto includes guided visits and room to choose: see Fushimi Inari, Kinkakuji and Ryoanji, then use free time to follow your own temple trail.
• The group is small, but not private: expect 7 to 16 people, an English-speaking Explore Tour Leader and light physical activity.
• The starting price is $6,570: flights, insurance and optional activities are not included, so check what your departure price covers before booking.

Tokyo begins with room to find your feet

Day one is deliberately light. You arrive in Tokyo on your own schedule, check in at The Gate Hotel in Ginza, and meet the Tour Leader at 6:30pm if you get there in time. There may be an optional dinner at a local izakaya, a handy first taste of Japanese food and a relaxed way to meet the group. If late flights split the arrivals, the main briefing moves to the next morning.

Ginza gives you a polished first look at Tokyo, with upscale shops, restaurants and city streets. The hotel is listed as four-star, and its location makes a gentle evening stroll an easy option. Plan your arrival carefully: Japanese hotels generally do not allow room access before 3pm, though you can store your luggage while you wait. Early check-in is not guaranteed and may cost extra.

Kamakura makes Buddhism personal

The first full day heads south by private bus to Kamakura, once an important political centre and now a coastal town known for temples and shrines. The most unusual stop is a private, roughly hour-long Zen meditation session led by a monk in a traditional temple. It offers more than a quick look at religious architecture: you get time to sit, listen and take part in a practice that can be hard to access on an independent visit.

Afterward, a bento lunch introduces a range of small dishes, typically including seafood, rice, vegetables and a sweet. A vegetarian meal can be arranged if you advise in advance. One point to consider: a bento is not everyone’s ideal lunch, and the meal drew mixed reactions. If you have firm food preferences, ask what can be accommodated before departure.

The afternoon includes Kotokuji Temple and Kamakura’s Great Buddha, a large seated bronze statue of Amitabha. You also have time to walk around town and stop at a cafe. Temples can be cold in cooler months, and you’ll remove your shoes inside, so wear warm layers and shoes that are easy to slip on and off. One departure also included a chance to dine with the monk, but that is not listed as a guaranteed activity.

Tokyo’s gardens, market and fire ceremony

Day three brings the group back to Tokyo’s mix of old and new. Walk through Ginza to Hamarikyu Gardens, where traditional garden design sits against a backdrop of high-rise buildings. Then head to Tsukiji Outer Market, a good place to browse seafood stalls and food-related shops. The famous tuna auction is not part of this visit: the inner market moved in 2018 and is not open to tourists.

A sushi lunch is included, with an introduction to what makes good sushi. It is a useful way to try fresh seafood without having to choose your first meal from a long menu. In the afternoon, the mood changes at Fudo-do Temple. Its fire ceremony combines leaping flames, sacred chanting and the pounding rhythm of taiko drums. This is a striking cultural experience, though the sound and ritual may feel intense if you prefer quiet temple visits.

The rest of the afternoon is free. That breathing space matters after several organized stops, and you can use it to rest or explore on your own.

Hakone brings Fuji, volcanic springs and an onsen night

A private bus takes about two and a half hours from Tokyo to Hakone National Park. The day then shifts between transport modes: bus, cable car and boat. At Owakudani, a volcanic crater, you’ll see steaming sulphur springs and, on a clear day, Mount Fuji. The view is weather-dependent, so don’t treat Fuji as a guaranteed photo. You can also try an egg boiled in the sulphur pools, a local novelty associated with a claim that it adds seven years to your life.

A boat crosses Lake Ashi to Moto Hakone, where you can choose to eat at a lakeside restaurant. The overnight stay is a major part of the experience. Hidamari Ichinoyu is a simpler Japanese-style guesthouse rather than a city hotel, with en suite rooms and a private outdoor onsen bath in each. Rooms may have futon mattresses or low beds. A traditional Japanese dinner is included, and you can also try the communal same-sex bath if you’re comfortable with the custom.

Pack a small overnight bag for this stop. Your main luggage is forwarded to Hiroshima, which makes the train journey easier but means you’ll need the essentials for one night close at hand. The traditional setting is a change from the city hotels, so expect comfort and character rather than the same polished feel as the Tokyo and Kyoto stays.

Hiroshima gives the trip its most serious pause

From Hakone, the Shinkansen takes about three and a half hours to Hiroshima. After checking in at Hotel Intergate Hiroshima, you travel by local tram and continue on foot to Peace Memorial Park and the Peace Museum. The museum stands near the 1945 atomic bomb hypocentre, and the visit asks for time and attention. It is a sobering account of the bombing and its consequences, with a clear message about preventing nuclear war.

The contrast with the lively city around the memorial is part of what makes the stop affecting. Hiroshima has rebuilt as a thriving urban centre, but this visit is not simply another item on a sightseeing list. Give yourself some quiet time afterward if you need it.

Dinner is on your own. Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is an appealing local choice: a savory pancake cooked on a hot plate, with the ingredients layered rather than mixed. It is optional, so you can decide based on your appetite and energy after the train and museum.

Miyajima adds a slower island day

On day six, local tram and train connections lead to a ferry for Miyajima. The island’s red torii gate appears to float at high tide, framed by hills, and is among Japan’s most recognizable views. The tide affects the scene, so the appearance can vary during your visit.

At Tokujuji Temple, a private tea ceremony and an omamori good-luck amulet-making session give the day a more personal feel. The program also includes Daisho-in Temple and Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built over the water. Deer roam around the island, adding a gentle distraction as you move between the main sights.

If you want a workout, the hike to the top of Mount Misen takes about 90 minutes to two hours and rewards you with views across the Inland Sea. There is also a cable car option, which can take you up, down or both ways. The hike depends on your available time and energy, so don’t count on it as a must-do. You return to Hiroshima by ferry in the evening.

Kyoto’s gates, gardens and free afternoon

A two-hour bullet train ride brings you to Kyoto on day seven. After dropping your bags at the Rihga Gran Kyoto, the group visits Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for its long runs of vermilion torii gates. You can see the iconic approach without needing to spend the whole day there, then use the afternoon to pick your own next stop.

The Tour Leader can help with public transport directions. Options include the Philosopher’s Path, the Silver Pavilion, Eikando and Nanzenji. Kyoto has more than 2,000 temples and shrines, so this free time is valuable, but it also means choosing. If you have a particular temple or neighborhood in mind, plan ahead rather than expecting to fit everything in.

Day eight is more structured. Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, has two upper floors covered in gold leaf and looks across a pond. Ryoanji offers a very different mood, with its famous stone garden and a viewing platform for quiet contemplation. Both sites are popular, so expect to share the experience with other visitors.

Lunch is not included. Nishiki Food Market is a practical place to sample local snacks, from matcha ice cream to cooked eel and octopus filled with quail eggs. Later, a geisha dance performance brings traditional music and dance to the itinerary, featuring geisha and maiko, their apprentices. This is one of the activities you might not book on your own, but it gives you a scheduled introduction to a formal art form.

The final morning is free after breakfast. You can leave Kyoto at any time, or store your bags at the hotel and fit in more sightseeing or shopping before your onward trip.

What the price buys, and what it leaves to you

At $6,570 and up, this is a premium-priced group tour, not a budget way to see Japan. The value lies in linking several distant stops, arranging transport and hotel stays, and providing a Tour Leader throughout. The included activities also reach beyond standard photo stops, especially the Zen session, tea ceremony and fire ceremony.

The itinerary lists eight breakfasts, two lunches and one dinner. That leaves many meals for you to choose, which suits people who like exploring local restaurants, but means you should budget for food beyond the included meals. Flights, travel insurance and optional activities are extra. The price is based on the cheapest room option, so confirm the room arrangement and what is included for your chosen departure.

Accommodation varies by stop. You get four-star hotels in Tokyo and Kyoto, a three-star Hiroshima hotel, and a traditional guesthouse in Hakone. This mix gives you a taste of different styles, but don’t expect the same room setup every night. The Hakone inn is particularly appealing if you want an onsen experience; its simpler rooms and traditional customs may not suit anyone who prefers a familiar Western hotel routine.

Who should book this Japan route?

This trip suits a first-time visitor who wants to see several key places without managing every train connection and hotel booking. It is also a good fit if you value cultural activities and a small group over a fully independent itinerary. The group size is 7 to 16, the tour is guided in English, and the minimum age is 16.

The activity level is described as low, but that does not mean no walking. You’ll visit temple grounds, walk through cities and markets, and may choose the Mount Misen hike. The cable car provides an alternative on Miyajima. If you want several unstructured days in Tokyo or Kyoto, this schedule may feel too full. It gives you a useful first survey, not a slow stay in each place.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a guided route that balances city sights with meaningful cultural encounters, and if the Hakone onsen night and Hiroshima visit appeal as much as Tokyo and Kyoto. The small group and planned rail travel take much of the logistical strain out of a nine-day trip.

Think twice if you want extensive free time, need every meal included, or prefer to set your own pace. Before paying, check the departure price, room details, meal arrangements and airport transfer options. Also keep expectations flexible for Mount Fuji: the mountain’s visibility depends on the weather, but Hakone still offers volcanic scenery, a lake crossing and a memorable overnight stay.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts in Tokyo and ends in Kyoto. The first day has no scheduled activities, and the final day ends after breakfast.

How many people are in the group?

The group size is 7 to 16 people. The tour is guided in English by an Explore Tour Leader.

What is the age range?

The minimum age is 16. The stated age range for the tour is 16 and older.

Are flights included in the price?

No. Flights and travel insurance are not included. Optional activities and other services are also extra.

How many meals are included?

The tour includes eight breakfasts, two lunches and one dinner. Other meals are left for you to arrange, including lunch at Nishiki Food Market.

Is Mount Fuji guaranteed to be visible?

No. Mount Fuji can be seen from Hakone on clear days, but visibility depends on the weather.

Is the Mount Misen hike required?

No. The hike is optional and takes about 90 minutes to two hours. You can take the cable car up, down or both ways instead.

What airports can I use for departure from Kyoto?

The listed departure airports are Kansai International Airport, about 90 minutes away by train, and Osaka International Airport, about an hour away by shuttle bus. The tour leader provides instructions for the unescorted transfer.