Tour overview

This 11-day journey travels Japan by bullet train and local train, from the old capital of Kyoto to modern Tokyo. A local leader travels with the group, which numbers no more than twelve. You stay ten nights in hotels, a temple and a traditional ryokan, with breakfast daily and three dinners.

In Kyoto you visit its great temples and shrines and have a free day to explore. A train climbs to the sacred mountain of Koya-san, where you spend a night in a Buddhist temple with a vegetarian monastic dinner.

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In Hiroshima you visit the Peace Memorial Park and share an okonomiyaki dinner. You then stay in a ryokan in Tsumago, a preserved post town on the Nakasendo road, visit Matsumoto and its black castle, and finish with a full-day tour of Tokyo.

The physical rating is medium. This trip suits first-time visitors who want a well-rounded introduction to Japan.

Trip highlights

  • Kyoto's temples (Day 2)
  • A temple stay on Koya-san (Day 4)
  • Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Day 6)
  • A ryokan in Tsumago (Day 7)
  • Matsumoto Castle (Day 8)
  • A full day in Tokyo (Day 10)

Your route

9 stops from Kyoto to Tokyo

11-day route: Kyoto – Koya-san – Hiroshima – Tsumago – Matsumoto – Tokyo
  1. Kyoto Days 1–3
  2. Koya-san Day 4
  3. Himeji Castle Day 5
  4. Hiroshima Days 5–6
  5. Miyajima Day 6
  6. Magome-juku Day 7
  7. Tsumago-juku Day 7
  8. Matsumoto Day 8
  9. Tokyo Days 9–11

Why choose this tour

A temple stay and a ryokan night. Japan by bullet train with a local leader.

Best suited to

  • First-time visitors to Japan
  • Culture lovers
  • Solo travellers
  • Rail lovers
Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, reflected in its pond in Kyoto

Day-by-day itinerary

11 days from Kyoto, Japan to Tokyo, Japan

  1. Day 1 · Kyoto Kyoto

    A welcome meeting.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Kyoto temples Kyoto

    Shrines and temples.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Kyoto Kyoto

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · Koya-san Koya-san

    A temple stay.

    Hotel
    Temple stay
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Osaka, Hiroshima Hiroshima

    By bullet train.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Peace Memorial Park, Miyajima Hiroshima

    Peace and an island.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  7. Day 7 · Nagoya, Tsumago Tsumago

    An old post town.

    Hotel
    Ryokan
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  8. Day 8 · Tsumago, Matsumoto Matsumoto

    A black castle.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  9. Day 9 · Tokyo Tokyo

    To the capital.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  10. Day 10 · Tokyo Tokyo

    A full-day tour.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  11. Day 11 · Tokyo Tokyo

    The trip ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
The Atomic Bomb Dome at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Japan

Where you stay

  • Kyoto (3 nights) Hotel
  • Koya-san (1 night) Temple stay
  • Hiroshima (2 nights) Hotel
  • Tsumago (1 night) Ryokan
  • Matsumoto (1 night) Hotel
  • Tokyo (2 nights) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 10 nights in hotels, a temple and a ryokan
  • Meals 10 breakfasts and 3 dinners
  • Rail travel, including bullet trains
  • Kyoto temples and Hiroshima Peace Park
  • Temple stay with monastic dinner
  • Full-day Tokyo tour
  • Local leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights and airport transfers
  • Meals not included 9 lunches and 7 dinners
  • Optional activities
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
Old wooden houses lining the street in Tsumago

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want luxury hotels
  • You want most meals included
  • You dislike carrying luggage on trains
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–11 · Lunch: none included · Dinner: Days 4–5 and 7
The floating torii gate at Miyajima

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £3,272 per person, twin share, tour only. 93 upcoming departures.

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.

Do I need a visa for Japan?

No, UK citizens can visit Japan visa-free for up to 90 days.

What are ryokan and minshuku like?

Traditional Japanese inns with futon bedding on tatami floors, often with shared or communal hot-spring baths.

What is the temple stay like?

A night in a Buddhist temple with shared facilities, a vegetarian dinner and the chance to join morning prayers.

Do I carry my own luggage?

Yes, on trains; a small case or backpack is recommended, and some luggage can be forwarded.

Can I have my own room?

A single supplement is available, except at the temple.

How many people travel together?

No more than twelve travellers, with a local leader.

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
From £3,272
See dates & prices