19 Apr 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £6,020
Escorted tour
Luxury Japan: Temples, Koyasan & the Nakasendō – 9 Days
Kyoto, Hiroshima, a night in a Koyasan temple, the Nakasendō and Tokyo, in luxury with a small group of up to 16.
9 days
From £5,424
Tour overview
This 9-day small-group tour is a refined journey through traditional Japan, combining Kyoto's temples and gardens with a night in a Buddhist monastery, a ryokan on the old Nakasendō post road and a final stay in Tokyo. Groups have between 6 and 16 travellers aged 18 and over, with an expert guide throughout. You stay eight nights in hand-picked places: four at the sleek Hotel Higashiyama in Kyoto with its onsen-style baths, one at Jōki-in Temple on Koyasan, two at the Kiso-Tsutaya ryokan and one at the Kitano Hotel in Tokyo. All breakfasts and lunches and seven dinners are included, along with a departure transfer.
Your welcome dinner is served in the garden of a historic Kyoto villa. You rise early for a contemplative visit to Arashiyama and uncover geisha culture on a walk through Gion. A bullet train takes you to Hiroshima for a moving private talk on the atomic bomb, and by ferry to Miyajima with its floating torii gate.
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On your Signature Day you choose an authentic experience, culminating in a kaiseki dinner in the company of an apprentice geisha. You then travel into the forested mountains to Kōyasan, where cedar-lined paths lead to ancient temples, and spend a night at Jōki-in Temple, eating shōjin ryōri, Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, and joining the morning worship.
Journeying to Japan's feudal past at Gifu Castle, you continue to the Kiso Valley for two nights at a ryokan with hot spring baths. With a guide you walk a section of the Nakasendō, the old post road linking Kyoto and Edo, through forests and preserved post towns. A private transfer takes you to Tokyo, pausing at Lake Kawaguchiko for views of Mount Fuji on clear days.
The physical rating is low. This trip suits travellers who want to experience Japan's spiritual and cultural traditions in comfort and depth, with a small group. Every detail is handled by your guide, leaving you free to enjoy each experience, and the small group means you can visit temples and gardens at a gentle, unhurried pace.
Trip highlights
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A welcome dinner in a historic villa garden (Day 1)
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Arashiyama and Gion (Day 2)
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Hiroshima and Miyajima with a private talk (Day 3)
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A kaiseki dinner with an apprentice geisha (Day 4)
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A night in Jōki-in Temple on Koyasan (Day 5)
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Walking the Nakasendō trail (Day 7)
Your route
9 stops from Kyoto to Tokyo
- Kyoto Days 1–4
- Hiroshima Day 3
- Miyajima Day 3
- Kōyasan Day 5
- Gifu Castle Day 6
- Tsumago Days 6–7
- Kiso-Fukushima Day 7
- Lake Kawaguchiko Day 8
- Tokyo Days 8–9
Why choose this tour
A temple stay, a ryokan and private experiences in one refined journey. All breakfasts and lunches and seven dinners included.
Best suited to
- Couples celebrating a special trip
- Return visitors to Japan
- Travellers interested in spirituality
- Food lovers
Day-by-day itinerary
9 days from Kyoto, Japan to Tokyo, Japan
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Day 1 · Kyoto Arrive in Kyoto
A welcome dinner in a historic villa's garden.
- Hotel
- The Hotel Higashiyama or similar
- Meals
- Dinner
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Day 2 · Arashiyama, Gion Arashiyama and Gion
An early visit to Arashiyama and a walk through Gion.
- Hotel
- The Hotel Higashiyama or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 3 · Hiroshima, Miyajima Hiroshima and Miyajima
A private talk in Hiroshima and a visit to Miyajima.
- Hotel
- The Hotel Higashiyama or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 4 · Kyoto Signature Day
Choose an experience, then kaiseki with an apprentice geisha.
- Hotel
- The Hotel Higashiyama or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 5 · Koyasan, Jōki-in Temple Koyasan
Stay in a temple on the sacred mountain.
- Hotel
- Jōki-in Temple
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 6 · Gifu Castle, Kiso Valley Gifu Castle
Morning worship, then Gifu Castle and the Kiso Valley.
- Hotel
- Kiso-Tsutaya Ryokan or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 7 · Nakasendō Nakasendō trail
Walk a section of the old post road.
- Hotel
- Kiso-Tsutaya Ryokan or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 8 · Lake Kawaguchiko, Tokyo Lake Kawaguchiko to Tokyo
Views of Mount Fuji on the way to Tokyo.
- Hotel
- The Kitano Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 9 · Tokyo Farewell Japan
A departure transfer to the airport.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Kyoto (4 nights) The Hotel Higashiyama or similar
- Koyasan (1 night) Jōki-in Temple
- Kiso Valley (2 nights) Kiso-Tsutaya Ryokan or similar
- Tokyo (1 night) The Kitano Hotel or similar
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 7 nights in luxury hotels and a ryokan, and 1 in a Buddhist temple
- Meals 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 dinners
- Bullet train, ferry and private transfers
- Arashiyama, Gion, Hiroshima and Miyajima with a private talk
- Kaiseki dinner with an apprentice geisha
- Koyasan temple stay and morning worship
- Gifu Castle, a guided Nakasendō walk and Lake Kawaguchiko
- Expert guide and departure transfer
Not included
- Flights to Kyoto and from Tokyo
- Meals not included 1 dinner
- Drinks
- Travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want a budget trip — this is a luxury tour
- You want Western comforts every night — the temple room is simple
- You are under 18 — the minimum age is 18
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–9 · Lunch: Days 2–8 · Dinner: Days 1–2 and 4–8
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for Japan
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £5,424 per person, twin share, tour only. 12 upcoming departures. Single travellers from £6,019 (single supplement from £596).
Offer Reduced prices on selected dates, shown with the regular price crossed out. Book by 16 Oct.
17 May 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £6,020
24 May 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £6,020
18 Oct 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £6,020
08 Nov 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £6,020
03 Apr 2028
Twin share
£7,150pp
17 Apr 2028
Twin share
£7,150pp
08 May 2028
Twin share
£7,150pp
22 May 2028
Twin share
£7,150pp
09 Oct 2028
Twin share
£7,150pp
23 Oct 2028
Twin share
£7,150pp
06 Nov 2028
Twin share
£7,150pp
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
What is the temple stay like?
A simple tatami room at Jōki-in Temple on Koyasan, with Buddhist vegetarian meals and morning worship.
How long is the Nakasendō walk?
A gentle guided walk of a few hours between preserved post towns.
Is a departure transfer included?
Yes, to the airport in Tokyo.
Do I need a visa?
UK visitors do not need a visa for Japan for a short holiday stay.
What is the minimum age?
The minimum age is 18.
How many people travel together?
Between 6 and 16 travellers, with an expert guide.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary