Wander Across Japan

Nov 6

Highlights: Arrival day, welcome dinner

Included: Dinner

Upon arrival in Tokyo you'll be met by our local representative and taken to our hotel in the city center via train. Once everyone has arrived we'll have an evening orientation followed by an excellent dinner to kick off this Japan experience!

Nov 7

Highlights: Full tour of Tokyo

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We’ll start our first full day in Tokyo with a morning visit to the Hamarikyu Gardens, where you’ll be walking along calm paths lined with pines and ponds while glass towers rise in the background. We’ll pause at the tea house for an introduction to Japanese tea culture, paired with mochi, a soft, chewy rice cake made from pounded glutinous rice. From there we’ll head to the Tsukiji Outer Market for a proper introduction to Tokyo’s food scene. Whether you’re in the mood for fresh sushi, grilled seafood, or something sweet, the market has plenty of stalls and family-run shops to explore. After lunch we’ll continue on to the Imperial Palace grounds, walking the outer areas and gardens to get a clearer sense of Tokyo’s history and how the city grew around the old center, then we’ll head to Akihabara, where anime and gaming culture sits right alongside huge electronics stores, arcades, and bright streets that feel uniquely Tokyo. You’ll have some free time in the late afternoon to rest, freshen up, or keep exploring, then in the evening we’ll come back together for a night in an izakaya, settling into the relaxed, lively atmosphere of a classic Japanese pub with shared dishes and drinks to close out the day.

Nov 8

Highlights: Yanaka, Shimokitazawa and Koenji neighborhoods

Included: Breakfast, Lunch

After exploring Tokyo’s major landmarks yesterday, today we’ll focus on the city’s more local and everyday side. We’ll start in Yanaka, one of the few areas that still carries an older Tokyo feel, with quiet lanes, small temples tucked between homes, and long running shops that have been here for decades. We’ll stop at a kissaten for coffee, then shift to Shimokitazawa, a relaxed neighborhood known for secondhand shops, record stores, and cafés that make it easy to take your time. We’ll sit down for lunch at a family run soba restaurant with handmade noodles, then we’ll spend the afternoon in Koenji, wandering its alleys for street art, vintage finds, and snack stands, with plenty of chances to stop whenever something catches your attention.

Nov 9

Highlights: Train to Kyoto, Nishiki Market, tea-tasting, Gion

Included: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning we’ll ride the bullet train to Kyoto, Japan’s former imperial capital, and you’ll feel the shift as soon as we arrive, with a calmer pace and more traditional streetscapes. After checking into our centrally located hotel, we’ll head to Nishiki Market, a narrow covered lane packed with specialty stalls where Kyoto’s food culture comes to life through pickles, sweets, tofu, seafood, and small bites you can try as we wander. We’ll then visit a traditional tea house for a guided matcha tasting, learning the basics of tea culture in a setting that feels very Kyoto. In the evening we’ll head out for an optional casual dinner at a ramen shop before ending the day with a walk through the atmospheric streets of Gion, Kyoto’s geisha district, where we’ll take in the lantern-lit alleys and maybe even spot a geisha quietly moving between evening appointments.

Nov 10

Highlights: Fushimi Inari Taisha, Golden Pavilion

Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Today we’ll start with a visit to Fushimi Inari Taisha, one of the most well-known and important Shinto shrines in Japan, famous for its long trails of red torii gates that stretch up the wooded mountainside. As we make our way through the gates, we’ll learn about the shrine’s history and the significance of the fox statues and offerings found along the path. From there we’ll head across town to Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, a striking Zen temple covered in gold leaf that glows in the sunlight and reflects off the surrounding pond. We’ll take a walk through the landscaped grounds, pausing to take in views of the temple from different angles and enjoy the serene setting. In the evening we’ll gather for a Kyoto-style kaiseki dinner, a traditional multi-course meal that focuses on seasonal flavors and presentation. And for those with a sweet tooth, we’ll wrap up with a stop for local matcha desserts to end the day on a sweet note.

Nov 11

Highlights: Arashiyama, Philosopher's Walk

Included: Breakfast

This morning we’ll take a short train ride to Arashiyama on Kyoto’s western edge, known for its riverside setting, temples, and bamboo groves. We’ll walk through the famous bamboo area early, then continue into a calmer pocket nearby to visit a lesser known temple and a more secluded bamboo grove, where the mood is quieter and the forest feels closer. After free time for lunch we’ll return to the hotel for a short break, then head back out for a late afternoon walk along the Philosopher’s Path, a canal side route lined with stone bridges, small shrines, and neighborhood streets that show a softer side of Kyoto.

Nov 12

Highlights: Day trip to Nara, sacred deer and temples, sake tasting

Included: Breakfast

We’ll start the day by taking a scenic train ride from Kyoto to Nara, a small city that was once Japan’s first permanent capital and is known today for its temples, gardens, and calm, open feel. We’ll start in Nara Park, where deer roam freely and often wander right up to visitors, then we’ll continue to Todai ji, a huge wooden temple that holds one of Japan’s largest bronze Buddha statues and makes a strong impression the moment you step inside. After time to explore the grounds, we’ll slow down at the historic Nara Hotel for afternoon tea, which is a nice change of pace and a classic local experience. To end the afternoon, we’ll visit a sake brewery to learn how it’s made and taste a few varieties, then we’ll head back to Kyoto for the evening.

Nov 13

Highlights: Train to Osaka, Osaka Castle, Dotonbori

Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Today we’ll take a 1-hour train ride to Osaka, Japan’s third-largest city and a place known for its bold food, welcoming people, and lively atmosphere. After arriving and getting settled at our hotel, we’ll head out to visit Osaka Castle, one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. Surrounded by moats, stone walls, and parkland, this sight will help us set the scene for the city’s feudal history. As evening sets in we’ll head to Dotonbori, where bright signs, canal side walkways, and nonstop street food create a fun night out, and you’ll have plenty of chances to try Osaka favorites such as takoyaki and okonomiyaki. If the group is up for it, we can finish with a small bar stop and maybe karaoke before heading back to our hotel for the night.

Nov 14

Highlights: Umeda Sky Building, Kuromon Ichiba Market, Shinsaibashi-Suji Street

Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Today will be all about enjoying Osaka at a slower pace. In the morning we’ll visit the Umeda Sky Building, a striking piece of modern architecture with an open-air observation deck that gives us sweeping views of the city. After taking in the sights we’ll head over to Kuromon Ichiba Market, a food lover’s dream with rows of vendors serving everything from melt-in-your-mouth wagyu beef and freshly made sushi to piping hot takoyaki cooked right in front of you. After lunch the afternoon will be yours to enjoy however you’d like, whether that means exploring a new neighborhood, shopping for souvenirs, or just relaxing at the hotel. In the evening we’ll take a walk through Shinsaibashi-Suji, a lively shopping street filled with small boutiques, snack stalls, and street performers. We’ll end the night back in Dotonbori, where we’ll sit down for an optional great meal in this city known for its love of food.

Nov 15

Highlights: Toyama, Kurobe Gorge train, Toyama Glass Art Museum

Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving Osaka behind, we’ll head north to Toyama, a smaller city tucked between mountains and the sea with a noticeably calmer feel. After checking in, we’ll visit the Toyama Glass Art Museum, a striking modern space that pairs architecture with delicate glasswork from Japanese and international artists. We’ll then take a walk along the Matsukawa River, before boarding the scenic train through Kurobe Gorge, crossing bridges and looking down into steep valleys as forests and rivers fill the view. We’ll end the day with a short stop at the Japan Sea to catch the last light over the water, then settle in for a relaxed izakaya dinner with local dishes.

Nov 16

Highlights: Sirakawa-go village, Kanazawa, geisha district

Included: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning we’ll head into the Japanese Alps toward Shirakawa go, a mountain village known for its steep roofed farmhouses built to handle heavy snow and keep families warm through long winters. We’ll walk the lanes to get a sense of how rural life once worked here, then head up to the Shiroyama viewpoint for wide views over rooftops and surrounding peaks. After lunch we’ll step into a few of the old homes and visit family run workshops where traditional crafts still continue, then we’ll travel on to Kanazawa and arrive in time for an early evening walk through Higashi Chaya, the old geisha district, where wooden teahouses and softly lit lanes give the city a very different feel after dark.

Nov 17

Highlights: Kenroku-en gardens, Kanazawa Castle, farewell dinner

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

For our last full day, we’ll begin at Kenroku en, one of Japan’s most famous gardens, where paths wind past ponds, stone bridges, and teahouses that make it easy to slow down and look closer. Next we’ll explore Kanazawa Castle’s grounds, then walk into Nagamachi, the preserved samurai district, where earthen walls and narrow streets lead to Nomura ke, a former samurai home with elegant rooms and a calm garden. We’ll stop for lunch at Omicho Market, a local hub for seafood and produce, then you’ll have free time in the afternoon, options include an onsen visit, gallery browsing, or a simple wander through the city. In the evening we’ll come back together for a farewell dinner and end the trip with good food, conversation, and a proper closing moment with the group.

Nov 18

Highlights: Train to Tokyo, departure day

Included: Breakfast

This morning we’ll take a 2.5-hour train ride back to Tokyo, returning to where our journey began just days ago. Once we arrive in the capital, the tour will officially come to an end, and we’ll be there to help coordinate your transfer to the airport so you can head off smoothly. **IMPORTANT: Please make sure your departure flight out of Tokyo is later than 3:00 PM in order to have enough time to transfer to the airport from the train station.