Japan in depth with the Japanese Alps

Exploring Japan’s three main islands: Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu in the fall leaf season.

Destinations

Tokyo / Hakone / Mt Fuji / Matsumoto / Takayama / Shirakawa-go / Kanazawa / Kyoto / Uji / Nara / Osaka / Himeji / Kurashiki / Takamatsu / Hiroshima / Shimanami Kaido /Kitsuki / Beppu / Takachiho / Nagasaki

Itinerary in brief

• Day 1 Arrival in Tokyo
• Day 2 Tokyo
• Day 3 Hakone – Mt. Fuji
• Day 4 Matsumoto – Takayama
• Day 5 Shirakawa-go – Kanazawa – Bullet Train Ride
• Day 6 Kyoto
• Day 7 Kyoto – Uji – Nara – Osaka
• Day 8 Himeji – Kurashiki
• Day 9 Takamatsu
• Day 10 Shimanami Kaido – Hiroshima
• Day 11 Bullet Train Ride – Kitsuki – Beppu – Takachiho
• Day 12 Takachiho
• Day 13 Nagasaki
• Day 14 End of the Trip

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Trip description

Exploring Japan’s three main islands: Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu in the fall leaf season.

The colorful autumn leaves, known as koyo in Japanese, attract as many visitors in the fall as the cherry blossoms in the spring. Observing the autumn leaves has been a popular activity in Japan for centuries. Today, people continue to scour the entire country to find the best places to see the dazzling combination of yellow, orange, and red leaves. On this tour, we will take you to visit places that are well known as the “best places to see the autumn leaves”.

Like our other “Japan in Depth” itineraries, this comprehensive tour is designed for people who want to see the unknown regions of Japan, as well as the most popular places in Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima, as well as the opportunity to visit the regions of the Japanese Alps. – Takayama and Matsumoto. Besides, you will also visit Shirakawa-go and Kanazawa on this tour. We will explore the three main islands of Japan visiting places on the island of Honshu such as Tokyo, Mt Fuji, Matsumoto, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Himeji and Kurashiki, we will cross the inland sea towards Shikoku Island (Takamatsu), we will cross the Shimaami Kaido to return to Honshu Island to visit Hiroshima, then take the Shinkansen high-speed train to Kyushu Island to visit Beppu, Takachiho, Kumamoto, Nagasaki and finish in Fukuoka.

The tour includes the modern attractions of Tokyo, the popular gardens in Takamatsu, as well as the famous temples and shrines of Kyoto. You will have the opportunity to experience a green tea ceremony, see a kimono parade, learn how to make sushi from a professional sushi chef, enjoy a traditional Yokagura dance show at Takachiho, relax in the hot springs (onsen), savor gourmet Cook kaiseki, ride a shinkansen bullet train, and sample world-famous Wagyu beef in Fukuoka.

‘We will also visit the Fuji-Hakone National Park, a majestic castle in Himeji, and the Peace Memorial Park and Museum in Hiroshima. In Miyajima, you can see the famous vermilion Torii Gate of Itsukushima Shrine. At high tide, the gates seem to float in the sea. In Nara, take inspiration from the intricate architect and towering monuments, including the Big Buddha statue, and you will understand why this city is considered the cradle of Buddhism in Japan. We will also take you back in time with visits to the charming town of Shirakawa-go and the beautifully preserved ancient town of Takayama, and stroll through the beautiful Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa and see what six attributes make a perfect landscape.

In Nagasaki we will visit the Nagasaki Peace Park, Dejima, Glover Gardens with its romantic turn-of-the-century houses, and the Oura Catholic Church, the oldest Christian church in Japan. Visit Takachiho, a place of myths and legends. At Beppu, we will see the “infernal” Jigoku ponds of bubbling waters and geysers scattered throughout the city. Next, we will enjoy a panoramic walk up to Mt. Takasaki Monkey Park where you can interact with some of the 1,500 Japanese monkeys in the park. Kitsuki Samurai districts will also be included in this tour.

This itinerary is perfect for those who want to see the major cities, but also explore rural Japan a little deeper.

 

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Detailed itinerary

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Day 1
Narita airport

Welcome to Tokyo! An OOT representative will meet you at the arrival gate with a “Only One Travel” sign.
Narita Excel Hotel Tokyu or similar class
Tobu Hotel Levant Tokyo or similar class (NOTE 1 and 2)

NOTE 1: If you want to stay in central Tokyo for the first night instead of Narita Excel Hotel Tokyu, we can arrange for you to stay at Tobu Hotel Levant Tokyo (or similar class). In this case, the airport transfer is not included, but we will provide you with directions to get to your hotel in advance.

NOTE 2: If you are flying to Haneda Airport (HND) instead of Narita International Airport (NRT), we can arrange for you to stay in central Tokyo (Tobu Hotel Levant Tokyo or similar class) instead of Narita Excel Hotel Tokyu. In this case, airport transfer and meetings are not included, but we will provide you with full directions to the hotel in advance.

NOTE 3: The meet and greet is ONLY available for flights arriving at Terminal 1 and 2 after 11:00 AM. For guests arriving at Terminal 3, airport pick-up service is not included, but we will provide directions to your hotel in advance.

NOTE 4: If you want to stay more nights before the tour starts, please contact us to book hotel accommodation.

 

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Day 2
Tokyo (Asakusa Sensoji Temple / Sushi Making Experience / Tsukiji Outer Market / Imperial Palace / Tokyo Tower)

Today, you will be taken to the Asakusa Kannon Temple, an active place of worship where you can see the largest paper lantern in Japan. You can also explore the Nakamise Market, which is located just past the outer gates of the temple. It is a traditional style shopping street with centuries of history. You will then have the opportunity to enjoy a sushi experience with a professional sushi chef. Whatever you prepare, you can eat! Then, we will head to the Tsukiji Outer Market, where various restaurants and shops line the streets. Then, pay a visit to the Imperial Palace, the former site of Edo Castle and the current residence of the Imperial Family of Japan. In the afternoon, we will visit the tallest self-supporting steel tower in the world. At 333 meters high, the Tokyo Tower is 13 meters taller than its model, the Eiffel Tower. You can admire 150 meters high on the main deck of the observatory and enjoy a panoramic view of the city.

Note: For Sushi Making Experience, if you are vegetarian, have gluten-free diets, have a shellfish allergy, or don’t eat raw fish, contact us for other ingredient options.

Breakfast lunch
Tobu Hotel Levant Tokyo or similar class

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Day 3

Hakone (Hakone Ropeway / Owakudani), Mt Fuji

We will depart from Tokyo to Hakone in our luxurious private coach. We will tour Hakone by taking a 20 minute cable car from Togendai to Owakundani. Most of the area around Owakundani is considered an active volcanic zone since its inception from the eruption of Mount Hakone some 3,000 years ago. Now, you can experience hot springs and hot rivers there, where sulfurous vapors still linger. Owakundani also has splendid views of Mount Fuji in good weather. From Hakone, we will proceed to Mt. Fuji. Along the way, take in the changing scenery, from thick vegetation to lowlands to billowing clouds. Stop at Mt. Fuji 5th station (depending on the weather) to admire the world famous peak. We will stay at the Onsen Ryokan in Yatsugatake, where you can soak in the therapeutic waters of a hot tub and enjoy a traditional Japanese Kaiseki banquet dinner.

Breakfast lunch dinner
Yatsugateke Royal Hotel or similar class

 

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Day 4

Matsumoto (Matsumoto Castle), Takayama (Old Town / Takayama Jinya)

Today we will head to Matsumoto, where we will visit the photogenic Matsumoto Castle, or Black Crow Castle, which dates back more than 400 years. Then, we will continue to Takayama. This city is nestled among the Japanese Alps and is known as “Little Kyoto” for its preserved historical structures and surroundings. Due to its remote position in the mountains, it was isolated from the rest of Japan for most of its history and thus has maintained a unique and traditional atmosphere. We will explore the old town of Takayama. Along the way you will notice the huge cedar balls hanging from the eaves of various stores, indicating that the stores are sake. Then visit Takayama Jinya, the only traditional local government office in existence and a fine example of a miniature palace containing offices, an interrogation room with torture devices, and a 440-year-old rice barn.

Breakfast lunch dinner
Hotel Associa Takayama Resort or similar class

 

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Day 5

Takayama (Morning Market), Shirakawa-go (Shiroyama Lookout – Gassho-zukuri Minkaen), Kanazawa (Kenrokuen), Shinkansen Bullet Train Ride from Maibara to Kyoto

This morning we will enjoy the lively market of the city before heading to the rural area of ​​Shirakawa-go, declared a World Heritage Site. Shirakawa-go is home to the UNESCO designated gassho-zukuri farms. Gassho-zukuri translates as “praying hands”, in which the roofs resemble praying hands. Visitors can see great views of Ogimachi Village from the Shiroyama Lookout. We will also tour the Gassho-zukuri Minkaen, an open-air museum of farms and other structures. From Shirakawa-go, we will depart for Kanazawa to visit Kenrokuen Garden, one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan. The name Kenrokuen literally means a garden that combines the 6 attributes of a perfect landscape: space, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, water features and panoramic views. Here you’ll find Japan’s oldest fountain and Kotoji-toro, the two-legged stone lantern that is iconic of Kenrokuen and Kanazawa. Next, experience a Shinkansen bullet train ride from Maibara to Kyoto, which can reach speeds of up to 300km / h. We will stay two nights in Kyoto, a historical city. During the Second World War, it was saved from air raids and saved from the atomic bomb for its cultural and historical value.

Breakfast lunch
Grand Prince Hotel Kyoto or similar class

 

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Day 6

Kyoto (Kiyomizu Temple / Nishijin Kimono Show / Golden Pavilion / Arashiyama – Tenryuji Temple Zen Garden – Bamboo Grove – Togetsukyo Bridge / Gion Geisha District)

Today we will begin our tour of Kyoto, which was once the capital of Japan and is still considered its cultural center. First is a visit to the famous Kiyomizu Temple, best known for its wooden stage that juts out from its main hall, 13 meters above the slope below. The setting offers visitors a beautiful view of the many cherry and maple trees below that bloom in a sea of ​​color in spring and fall, as well as the city of Kyoto in the distance. At the Nishijin Textile Center, you can see kimono displays and even see a kimono parade. Visit the Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) covered in 18 karat gold leaf. This three-story structure was originally built by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in 1397. Then we will visit Arashiyama to see Tenryuji Temple where you can get a glimpse of the traditional Zen landscape garden design. Then proceed through a dense bamboo grove, passing by several small shrines, tea shops and private houses before reaching the Togetsukyo Bridge over the Hozu River. Finally, we will visit Gion, the old neighborhood of Geisha and Pontocho, whose cobbled alleys vibrate with nightlife.

Breakfast dinner
Grand Prince Hotel Kyoto or similar class

 

 

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Day 7

Kyoto (Fushimi Inari Shrine), Uji (Green Tea Ceremony), Nara (Todaiji Temple / Deer Park), Osaka (Dotonbori – Shinsaibashi)

The day begins with a visit to the picturesque and historic Fushimi district. We will visit the impressive vermilion-colored Fushimi Inari Shrine, whose 4 km tunnel of scarlet torii gates was featured in the movie Memoirs of a Geisha. This resort surrounds a bamboo wilderness that includes mountains, streams, and ponds, the perfect backdrop for a scenic hike. From there we continue to Uji where we will experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. From Uji, our coach leaves for Nara, the oldest capital of Japan. We will visit the Todaiji Temple, the largest wooden building in Japan. This temple is also home to the largest bronze statue of the Buddha at 16.3 meters high, and the surrounding park is filled with more than 1,000 Sika deer. Our last visit of the day is Dodonbori, which runs parallel to the Dotonbori canal. A popular shopping, entertainment, and food district, Dodonbori is known for the hundreds of neon and mechanized signs that line the street, including the famous Glico Running Man and Kani Doraku Crab signs.

Breakfast lunch
Hotel Elsereine Osaka or similar class

 

 

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Day 9

Seto Ohashi Bridge, Takamatsu (Shikoku Mura Village / Ritsurin Park)

After Japanese breakfast at the hotel, we will cross the Inland Sea via Seto-ohashi Bridge to Shikoku Island. Seto-ohashi Bridge is a collective term for the six bridges that connect the main island of Honshu, Japan, with the island of Shikoku, passing through five small islands in the Seto Inland Sea. These beautiful bridges took 40 years and a great deal of money to build. They are the essence of all available bridge construction technologies. Continue to Takamatsu with a visit to the town of Shikoku Mura. Shikoku Mura (Shikoku Village) is an open-air museum located at the base of Yashima. This pleasant hillside park preserves and displays traditional buildings and structures that have been moved here from all over the island of Shikoku. Then visit Ritsurin Park, a Japanese landscape masterpiece 100 years in the making. This extensive park has beautiful ponds and pavilions with Mt. Shiun as the perfect backdrop.

Breakfast lunch dinner
Imabari Kokusai Hotel or similar class

 

 

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Day 10

Shimanami Kaido (Scenic Observatory / Kirosan), Hiroshima (Peace Memorial Park – A-Bomb Museum / Miyajima – Itsukushima Shrine)

In the morning, we will drive through the Shimanami Kaido to the island of Honshu. The Shimanami Kaido is a 60-kilometer toll road that connects the main island of Shikoku, in Japan, with the island of Honshu, passing through six small islands in the Seto Inland Sea. It is also known as the Nishiseto Highway. We will stop at the Kirosan Observatory from where you can see the Kurushima Kaikyo bridges that are located among hundreds of beautifully scattered islands in the Seto Inland Sea. The modern observation deck was cleverly designed and built midway into the slope of the hillside so as not to spoil the natural environment. In Hiroshima, we will visit the Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum. Then take a short ferry ride to Miyajima Island, considered sacred by many. At high tide, the famous vermilion torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine seems to float in the middle of the sea. The shrine complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Miyajima has been selected as one of the three most scenic places in Japan (nihon sankei).

Breakfast
Sheraton Hotel Hiroshima or similar class

 

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Day 11

Shinkansen to Kokura, then board the “Sonic” express train to Kitsuki, Kitsuki (Samurai Kitsuki Districts – Ohara Residence), Beppu (Beppu Hells Park / Takasaki Monkey Park), Takachiho (Takachiho Shrine – Yokagura Performance)

This morning, we will take the high speed Shinkansen bullet train to Kokura, then board the “Sonic” express train to Kitsuki, where we will visit the Samurai districts of Kitsuki. From Kitsuki, we pass to the swimmers’ paradise: the famous Beppu spa. Marvel at one of Beppu’s most famous attractions, the Jigoku Meguri, or the “Boiling Hells” hot springs. See two of Beppu’s nine hot springs or “hells”. These hot springs are ideal for viewing rather than bathing. The springs earned their name because these mysterious and vaporous attractions were said to resemble a scene from hell (“jigoku” means “hell”). Then we will enjoy a scenic walk towards Mt. Takasaki Monkey Park where we will take a monorail to the observation area. Mount Takasaki is a forested mountain outside Beppu and home to more than 1,500 wild Japanese monkeys. Within this natural habitat, the monkeys have been fed regularly in order to keep them alive in the mountains and avoid conflicts with local fruit farmers. Monkeys are quite used to human visitors, and it is possible to get up close to take their photos! From here, we drive west to Takachiho, a city in the north of Miyazaki Prefecture that is steeped in Japanese mythology. It is the supposed site of legend where Amaterasu, the Shinto sun goddess, disturbed by her brother’s cruel jokes, hid in a cave, prompting the other gods and goddesses to try to attract her. Another legend suggests that this is where Amaterasu’s grandson, Ninigi-no-Mikoto, descended to earth to establish the imperial family of Japan. Takachiho is also known as a “place of power”, a place of deep religious importance and natural beauty, radiating spiritual energy. After dinner, we have a special treat: a Yokagura dance performance. A scandalously obscene dance that supposedly caused Amaterasu to leave the cave to see what all the fun was about, and in doing so, returned her light to the world.

Breakfast lunch dinner
Hotel Takachiho or similar class

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Day 12

Takachiho (Takachiho Gorge / Amano Iwato Shrine), Kumamoto to Shimabara Ferry

After breakfast, we will visit Takachiho Gorge, a narrow chasm cut through the rock by the Gokase River. The nearly transparent cliffs that line the gorge are made up of slowly forming basalt volcanic columns, resembling the scales of a dragon where the stone twisted and flowed as it formed. Halfway along the gorge is the 17-meter high Minainotaki waterfall cascading down the river below, and it is truly impressive to see the waterfall against a background of dense green foliage and the surrounding gray cliffs. Then visit Amano Iwato Shrine and Amano Yasukawara. The Amano Iwato Shrine was built near the cave where Amaterasu is said to have hidden. A short walk down the road from Amano Iwato Shrine is a path that leads down to the river. Finally, the path leads to a simple shrine within a cave known as Amano Yasukawara. This is said to be the cave where the gods and goddesses met to discuss their strategy of bringing Amaterasu out of hiding. The natural beauty of the cave and the river lined by countless piles of stones make Amano Yasukawara a place not to be missed. After lunch, head to Kumamoto and take a 30-minute ferry across the Ariake Sea to Shimabara. Tonight we will stay in a western style hotel in Nagasaki.

Breakfast lunch
ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Nagasaki Gloverhill or similar class

 

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Day 13

Nagasaki (Nagasaki Peace Park / Dejima / Glover Garden / Oura Church), Fukuoka (Wagyu Dinner)

After breakfast, we will visit the Nagasaki Peace Park which houses the monument to the victims of the second bomb that hit the ground. A statue of a man pointing and holding his other arm is a symbol of Nagasaki Peace Park. Our next place is Dejima, an area with more than 400 years of history in Dutch trade. It features historic warehouses and residences, providing insight into the former Trade Trade Dutch and how they lived during Japan’s two centuries of isolation. Next, visit Glover Gardens, an open-air museum where we can see an excellent collection of historic mansions of former western Nagasaki residents. Continue to Oura Catholic Church, the oldest Christian church in Japan. It was also the first western building in Japan designated as a national treasure. In the afternoon, we will depart from Nagasaki to Fukuoka, where we will savor the world famous Wagyu beef.

Breakfast lunch dinner
Hotel Nikko Fukuoka or similar class

 

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Day 14

Tour ends

After breakfast, our tour officially ends. Check out time is at 11am. M., Free for leisure until Fukuoka airport transfer for departure.

Breakfast

NOTE 5: If you want to stay longer in Japan, please contact us to reserve hotel accommodation.