The route at a glance
This route runs west from Tokyo to Kansai, so you never backtrack, and it can be reversed if you fly into Kansai International Airport (KIX). It suits couples, families and anyone who prefers a few well-chosen bases to a new hotel every night.
| Base | Nights | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | 4 | Asakusa, Imperial Palace gardens, Meiji Jingu, Shibuya; a day trip to Nikko or Kamakura |
| Hakone or Fuji Five Lakes | 1–2 | Mount Fuji views, Lake Ashi, a ryokan with kaiseki dinner |
| Kyoto | 4 | Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, Arashiyama, Gion, tea ceremony; Nara day trip |
| Osaka | 2–3 | Osaka Castle, Kuromon Market, Dotonbori; Hiroshima and Miyajima day trip |
Day by day
- Day 1, Tokyo. Arrive at Narita or Haneda; transfer to your hotel and an early night.
- Day 2, Tokyo, guided. Senso-ji at opening, the Imperial Palace East Gardens, a sushi counter lunch in Nihonbashi, Meiji Jingu and Shibuya at dusk. Mario sets up your IC cards and shows you how the trains work.
- Day 3, Tokyo. A free day: museums in Ueno, the Ghibli Museum and Inokashira Park, or shopping in Ginza.
- Day 4, Nikko or Kamakura. A guided long day to Nikko’s shrines and Lake Chuzenji, or a gentler day in Kamakura.
- Day 5, to Hakone or Fuji, guided. Luggage forwarded to Kyoto; by car with driver or limited express to the Fuji Five Lakes or Hakone. Night in a ryokan.
- Day 6, Hakone. A slow morning and a second night, or continue to Kyoto by shinkansen from Odawara (about 2 hours).
- Day 7, to Kyoto. Arrive and settle in; an evening walk in Gion.
- Day 8, Kyoto, guided. Fushimi Inari at first light, Kiyomizu-dera, Higashiyama, kaiseki lunch and a private tea ceremony.
- Day 9, Kyoto. Arashiyama early, then Kinkaku-ji; guided or independent.
- Day 10, Nara. Todai-ji, the deer of Nara Park and Kasuga Taisha; a guided half day from Kyoto works well.
- Day 11, to Osaka. A short ride; Osaka Castle in the afternoon and Dotonbori in the evening.
- Day 12, Hiroshima and Miyajima, guided. The Peace Memorial Park and Museum in the morning, Itsukushima Shrine in the afternoon. Always one day together.
- Day 13, Osaka. Kuromon Market, shopping, a final dinner; or a day at Himeji Castle.
- Day 14, departure. Kansai International Airport is about an hour from central Osaka.
If you have a spare night, add it to Kyoto. It is the city that most rewards a slower pace.
Which days to use a private guide
A private guide adds the most value on days with complex logistics, crowded sights or Japanese-only bookings. On this route, that usually means four to six days:
| Day | Why guide it | Mario’s rate |
|---|---|---|
| Day 2, Tokyo | Learn the system on day one; cover the city efficiently | Full day ¥69,600 |
| Day 4, Nikko | Long train and road connections | Long day trip from ¥84,000 |
| Day 5, Fuji or Hakone | Weather-dependent route and transport | Long day trip from ¥84,000 |
| Day 8, Kyoto | Crowd timing, kaiseki and tea ceremony bookings | Full day ¥69,600 |
| Day 10, Nara | A focused half day from Kyoto | Half day ¥45,600 |
| Day 12, Hiroshima and Miyajima | Shinkansen, train, ferry and tide timing | Long day trip from ¥84,000 |
Mario is based in Kansai, so the Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Hiroshima days need no extra travel; for the Tokyo, Nikko and Fuji days his train fare and hotel nights are added at cost. His favorite option is to travel the whole route with you, from Tokyo through Hakone to Kyoto and Hiroshima, as one multi-day journey. See multi-day private guide in Japan.
Getting around
- Shinkansen: Tokyo to Kyoto takes about 2 h 15 min on the Nozomi; Kyoto to Hiroshima about 1 h 40 min. Reserve seats in peak seasons.
- Rail passes: since the national Japan Rail Pass rose sharply in price in October 2023, individual tickets are often cheaper for this route. Price your journeys before buying a pass.
- Luggage forwarding: send suitcases from Tokyo to Kyoto the day before you leave and travel to Hakone with an overnight bag.
- IC cards: a Suica, PASMO or ICOCA card, or Suica in Apple Wallet, covers local trains, subways and buses.
Adjusting the route
With ten days, drop Nikko and spend one night in Hakone. With three weeks, add Kanazawa, the Japanese Alps or a night on Koyasan, the mountain monastery town south of Osaka. For families with young children, keep the same bases but plan shorter days; see Japan family trip with a private guide.