Japan Deluxe Tours

Visit the must see sites of Japan with group sizes ranging from 12 to 35 people.

These tours are great for first time visitors to Japan looking for comfortable accommodation with all entrance fees and most meals included. Our Japan Deluxe Tours are accomodated with professional tour guides, fluent in both Japanese and English, to ensure an educational and valuable visit. Air-conditoned, private coaches are also included, so you can enjoy a comfortable and hassle-free time in Japan. Our tours range from 7 to 21 days, to various regions of Japan.

Deluxe-Plus Small Group Tours

Experience the culture of Japan at a slower pace with groups of 10 to 18 people.
(Smaller group departure available)

These tours combine enrichment, enjoyment, and education with time to truly absorb and appreciate your surroundings. Our Deluxe-Plus small group tours are created to cater to those who are interested in having a deeper understanding of Japan's culture. You will have the opportunity to participate in culturally rich activities and visit destinations only locals may know. Experience luxurious hotels and travel at a leisurely pace when you book a Deluxe-Plus small group tour.

Budget Group Tours

Our Budget Tours are designed for our guests who are on a limited budget.

Explore the must-see sights and enjoy the hassle-free trip to Japan at an affordable price. Our most cost-effective way to see the highlights of Japan while staying in budget-friendly accommodations. If you would like to have a quick stop to sample the must-see sights of Japan, or plan to explore Japan on your own but would like to take a short trip to learn about Japan before your self-guided journeys. These are the tours for you.

Active Small Group Tours

Travel Japan more flexibly in groups of 6 to 13 people using public transportation.

Explore Japan off the beaten path via Japanese public transportation, walking, hiking, cycling and more. Take more time to enjoy local experiences and picturesque landscape. Our Active Small Group Tours combine the best of cultural destinations with off-the-beaten-path via Japanese public transportation, Discover the country of Japan the way the locals do and see Japan from a different angle. A focus on getting away from the crowds and into the real Japan, see the diversity of Japan’s countryside unfold before your eyes.

Luxury Japan Private Journeys Tour Code: GTQ2396167 20 reviews

9 day Golden Route of Japan Private Luxury Tour

9 days 8 nights

from USD $12998.00

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Tokyo / Nikko or Kamakura / Mt Fuji / Hakone / Kyoto / Nara / Osaka

Welcome to our Golden Route of Japan Private Luxury Tour. On this tour we will be experience the finest things Japan has to offer. The tour will begin in Tokyo, the capital and most populated metropolis in the world. Beyond the alluring neon light signs advertising the plethora of businesses is traditional centers that have withstood the test of time. There are more Michelin star restaurants in Tokyo compared to other cities in the world.

You will have the choice to make a side trip to Nikko or Kamakura. Nikko is where the famous Toshogu Shrine is located. The structures in the area are surrounded by beautiful nature and there is a saying “Nikko wo minai uchi wa kekko to iu na,” which translates to “you have not lived until you see Nikko.” Kamakura was the political center of Japan when Minamoto Yoritomo was the head of the military government in 1192. The city is famous for the Daibutsu or Great Buddha Statue, which is the second largest in Japan.

The iconic Mt. Fuji is our next stop on the tour. While there you can visit the Fuji Five Lakes, surrounding shrines, caves, and museums. Enjoy seeing the sacred mountain with your own eyes. Our next stop is to Hakone one of the most famous places for onsens (hot springs). The town served as getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. Here you will have the chance to experience staying at one of the top ryokans (Japanese traditional inns) while soaking in the therapeutic waters of an onsen.

Next is the traditional heart of Japan, Kyoto. The city maintains its traditional roots despite the modernization of many other areas. Kyoto has influenced the culture and politics in the country for over 1000 years. Bask in the presence of the historical monuments, structures, districts, and streets, which have been carefully preserved.

Last stop for the trip is the first permanent capital Nara. The city is most known for the largest Daibutsu (Great Buddha) in Japan and can be found in the Todaiji Temple. Past the walls of the temple is Nara Park where there are over 1000 free roaming deer. Nara marked the beginning of establishing a centralized government and developing the culture in the country.

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Tour Information

Luxury Japan Private Journeys

Deposit

We require US$200 deposit per person to hold the space at time of booking and the final payment is due 2 month prior to departure

What's included

6 nights Western style and 2 nights Japanese style accommodation
Meet and greet upon arrival at Narita Airport
Private airport transfers on arrival and departure
Private transfers between destinations in Japan
First class Shinkansen (bullet train) ride from Odawara to Kyoto
Comprehensive escorted with AJT professional English speaking tour guide
Luggage forwarding from Tokyo to Kyoto
Gratuities

Meals

Breakfast everyday
1 sushi lunch
2 kaiseki dinners at the ryokan
1 special dinner with geisha performance

Admission fees and activities

All entry fees to sites, activities listed in the itinerary

What's NOT included

International Airfares
Meals that are not included in the itinerary
Travel Insurance
Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
Personal expenses such as telephone and laundry bills

Additional Information

Transport

Travel by private van between destinations, baggage handling free

Arrival Departure Airports

For arrivals at Narita Airport (NRT), this tour starts in Tokyo and ends in Osaka, with departures at Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX)

Meal Requests

Vegetarian or special meals can be arranged. We can also make reservations at Michelin star rated restaurants upon request.

Meet and Greet

Meet and greet and private airport transfers on arrival and departure included

Itinerary In Brief

Day1 Arrive in Tokyo
Day2 Tokyo
Day3 Nikko or Kamakura
Day4 Mt Fuji
Day5 Hakone
Day6 Kyoto
Day7 Kyoto
Day8 Nara
Day9 Tour ends

Click here for detailed itinerary

Tour schedule and prices subject to change without notice

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1

Welcome to Tokyo

Welcome to Tokyo! We will arrange your private transportation from the airport. Please look for the guide with the All Japan Tours sign.

Park Hyatt Tokyo

DAY 2 & 3

Tokyo (Day 3 has an option to visit Nikko or Kamakura)

For two days you can enjoy a private tour of Tokyo, the largest populated metropolis in the world. As modernized as the city may be there are still aspects of its traditional history present. As you tour around Tokyo you will have an expert local guide to bring you to the best tourist spots. The sightseeing schedule is fully up to you and is flexible to the needs of the group. For temples and shrines we recommend visiting Asakusa Sensoji Temple, the oldest temple in Tokyo, and Meiji Jingu Shrine, the place where Emperor Meiji and his wife are enshrined. You can also roam around the outer grounds of the Imperial Palace, the current residency of the Imperial family.
While in Tokyo we will be arranging a tour of the Tsukiji Fish Market. Afterwards you will participate in a sushi making class with the ingredients you obtain at the market. There are many shopping options available in Tokyo, but depending on your preference can lead you to different parts of the city. High end name brand items can be found in Ginza, extreme fashion style clothing are in Harajuku, and Shibuya is the middle ground between all your shopping needs. If you wish to have more a cultural experience with taking classes on wearing kimonos, swordsmanship, calligraphy, and tea ceremony then we can arrange for it to happen. Also we offer the chance to craft your own amezaiku (Japanese candy craft artistry).
On day three you will have the freedom to choose to spend more time in Tokyo or venture out to either Nikko or Kamakura. Kamakura was the former political center of Japan and is a coastal town in Kanagawa Prefecture. The city is famous for the Daibutsu or Great Buddha Statue, which is the second largest in Japan. The bronze statue used to be housed in a wooden hall, but it was destroyed by a tsunami in 1495 and is found at the Kotokuin Temple. Near the Kotokuin is Hasedera Temple, where the tallest wooden statue is located. Inside the temple is the 9.3 meter tall 11 headed Kannon, Goddess of Mercy.
When referring to Nikko, one can say "Nikko wo minai uchi wa kekko to iu na”; essentially is a Japanese saying suggesting that Nikko is a must-see place and that your trip will not be worth it unless you go. These mountainous regions north of Tokyo will justify the saying, especially at the site of one of Japan's 3 great waterfalls, Kegon Waterfall. Nikko has been the center of both Shinto and Buddhist mountain worship. There you can find the lavishly decorated Toshogu Shrine, where the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu resides. Nearby the shrine is the Taiyuinbyo, the mausoleum of Iemitsu Tokugawa, the grandson of Ieyasu. The Tamozawa Villa was once the residence of the imperial family and it is open to the public. In Nikko you will be surrounded by the beautiful nature as you go from site to another.

Breakfast / 1 Sushi Lunch

Park Hyatt Tokyo

DAY 4

Mt Fuji

Mt. Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan at 3,776m or 12,388ft. The mountain is also referred to as Fujisan and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. While there we will stop at Subaru 5th Station to see the mountain up close. There are a total of 25 places inscribed as world heritage sites under Mt. Fuji like the Fuji Five Lakes (Fujigoko), Sengen Shrines, Oshi Lodging Houses, Oshino Hakkai Springs, Funatsu and Yoshida Lava tree molds, Shiraito no Taki waterfalls, Mihonomatsubara Pine Tree Grove and Hitoana Fuji-ko Iseki. There is also a famous museum that features kimonos as artwork called Kubota Museum. If you are looking to be more adventurous then you enter the various caves that were created by the eruptions of Mt. Fuji. The sightseeing schedule will be left to your discretion.
As the day comes to a close we will have the chance to relax in the onsen (hot spring) at a ryokan (Japanese traditional inn) in Hakone. Soak in the therapeutic waters and feel your body being rejuvenated. Afterwards enjoy a Japanese Kaiseki (seasonal) banquet dinner that will give you a chance to taste the ingredients of the season.

Breakfast / Dinner

Gora Kadan

DAY 5

Hakone

Today you will be greeted with magnificent views of the surrounding nature. Enjoy a bird’s eye view of the area from the Hakone Ropeway. Complementing the natural beauty are great museums like the Open Air Museum that we will be visiting. While there you can take a soothing Boat Cruise on Lake Ashi and have the chance to see the awe inspiring Mt. Fuji in the distance if the weather permits it.

Breakfast / Dinner

Gora Kadan

DAY 6, 7 & 8

Kyoto & Nara & Osaka

Our day starts with a First Class Shinkansen (bullet train) ride to Kyoto, the traditional and cultural center of Japan. You will have the choice to spend two days touring around Kyoto and one day in Nara or one day each in Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka.
For over 1000 years Kyoto has influenced politics and culture in the country. It was the former capital before Edo (Tokyo). When the feudal age came to an end much of the nation was set to modernized, but the city set out to preserve its proud history. The private guide will take you to the most desired and popular locations.
In Kyoto we will be arranging a special dinner with Geisha performance, tea ceremony, and Zen meditation. There are many sites to see in Kyoto and can be broken down into Southern, Eastern, Central, Northern, and Arashiyama districts. No matter where you choose to visit each site has a priceless historical value that will leave you in awe. Just for quick reference Fushimi Inari Shrine has over 1000 torii gates; Tofukuji Temple has the Hojo Garden that surrounds all four sides of the building, Kiyomizudera Temple has the stage and main hall that was built without nails, Kinkakuji Temple is known as the Golden Pavilion, Arashiyama has the photogenic bamboo grove, and Gion is where you can find the Geisha district.
Enjoy a full-day private tour of Nara, the oldest capital city of Japan. Located about 1 hour away from Kyoto is the first permanent capital, Nara. The city marks the change in history where a centralized government was established because before the capital would change locations when the Emperor passed away. Many structures in the city have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
There you can see the largest bronze Daibutsu (Great Buddha) in the iconic Todaiji Temple. Surrounding the temple is Nara Park where there are over 1000 free roaming deer, which are regarded as deities of the city. The short reign of the Nara Period gave way for cultural change in the nation and left its mark in history. The sites in the city signify a beginning that is often forgotten, but well preserved.
Osaka is the second largest metropolitan city in Japan. It is an economic powerhouse in the Kansai Region and offers countless entertainment opportunities. You can visit Osaka Castle, which was reconstructed into a museum with many displays about the history of the area.
Explore Namba a popular downtown street area where various street foods can be found as well as shopping and entertainment options. Let’s not forget the impressive Osaka Aquarium, which ranks as one of the top aquariums in Japan. Universal Studios Japan is located in Osaka Bay Area and was the first to be built in Asia.