Golden Route Tour Overview

Our well-loved Golden Route Tour is back! This tour will take you on a classic route, visiting some of the most popular and famous landmarks in Tokyo, Hakone, Kanazawa, Shirakawago, Kyoto and Nara.

This tour focuses on programs for your own personal experience, such as origami lessons, kimono wearing, Zen meditation, traditional tea ceremony, and more. You will have the unique experience of staying at Ryokan, giving you on opportunity to sleep on o futon mat and eat a Kaiseki dinner.

  • Includes daily breakfast, 3 lunches, and 1 dinner.
  • Sightseeing tours in every spot by English-speaking tour guides.
  • This trip goes to Tokyo, Hakone, Kanazawa, Shirakawago, Takayama, Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka.
  • Experience Origami lessons, kimono wearing, zen meditation, traditional tea ceremonies and more
Ask us about our prices. Customization also available
DAYS
11 Days
CITIES
8 Cities: Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto and more
Golden Route 11-day tour route map
Package Tour Code:
LTJ-HANGR-STD / LTJ-HANGR-SUP

Ask HIS America's experienced Japan specialists about this tour and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Itinerary

DAY 1 - Arrival in Tokyo (NRT or HND)

After arrival at Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND) International Airport, own transfer to hotel in Tokyo. * The rooms will be available from 3.00 pm

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Tokyo

Tokyo Tower

DAY 2 - Tokyo

Private guided sightseeing tour of Tokyo (9.00 am-5.00 p.m) by public transport.
The tour will visit the Tsukiji Outer Market, Asakusa Kannon-ji Temple and Nakamise Shopping Arcade, Melji-jingu Shrine, and strolling around in Harajuku. You will also be able to experience origami lessons (paper folding).

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Tokyo
MEALS : Breakfast

Asakusa Meiji Jingu Shrine Origami

DAY 3 - Tokyo

Private guided sightseeing tour of Tokyo (9.00am-5:00 pm) by public transport.
The tour will visit the Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace Plaza, Akihabara Shopping District, and the Ginza District. You will be able to experience a sushi-making lesson, and enjoy eating your own hand-made sushi for lunch.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Tokyo
MEALS : Breakfast / Lunch

Tokyo Tower Imperial Palace Plaza Sushi

DAY 4 - Tokyo - Hakone - Tokyo

Private guided sightseeing tour of Hakone (8:00 am-8:00 pm) by public transport The tour will visit Owakudani Boiling Valley, Hakone Ropeway, and the pleasure Boat at Lake Ashi. You will be able to experience making Yosegi-Zaiku.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Tokyo
MEALS : Breakfast

Hakone Ropeway Lake Ashi Yosegi Zaiku

DAY 5 - Tokyo - Kanazawa

Heavy luggage is delivered by courier service to Kyoto, skipping 2 nights in Kanazawa and Takayama. Please prepare a hand-carried bag for 2 nights to take with you.
Transfer to Tokyo Station with your guide by public transport. Travel to Kanazawa by bullet train (2nd class reserved seat).
Upon arrival at Kanazawa station, start a short sightseeing trip in the city by public transport, touring Kenrokuen Garden, Nomura Family's Samurai Mansion and strolling Higashi-chaya gai.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Kanazawa
MEALS : Breakfast

Kenrokuen Nagamachi Higashi-Chayagai

DAY 6 - Kanazawa - Shirakawago - Takayama

Private guided excursion for Shirakawago and Takayama (9:00 am-600 pm) by public transport. The tour will visit the Ruin of the Ogimachi-jo Castle and its observation Deck. Gassho-Style House in Shirakawago, and Takayama Yatai Kaikan (Festival Floats Exhibition Hall) in Takayama. Lunch will be held at a local restaurant in Shirakawago, with dinner at the ryokan in Takayama.

ACCOMMODATION: Ryokan in Takayama
MEALS : Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Shirakawago Takayama Takayama Yatai Kaikan

DAY 7 - Takayama - Kyoto

Private guided half-day sightseeing tour of Takayama (9:00 am-1:00 pm) on foot. The tour will visit the Morning market, Sanmachi Traditional Building Preservation Area, and Takayama Jinya (Local Government Office).
After lunch at local restaurant, transfer to Takayama Station with your guide by public transport Travel to Kyoto by bullet train and express train (2nd class reserved seat).

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Kyoto
MEALS : Breakfast / Lunch

Takayama Takayama Bullet Train

DAY 8 -Kyoto

Private guided sightseeing tour of Kyoto (9:00 am-5:00 pm) by public transport.
The tour will visit Nijo-jo Castle. Ryoani-ji Temple. Kinkaku-ji Temple, and Heian-jinja Shrine You will be able to experience wearing Kimono (traditional Japanese wear).

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Kyoto
MEALS : Breakfast

Ryoanji Kinkakuji Kimono

DAY 9 - Kyoto

Private guided sightseeing tour of Kyoto (9:00 am-5.00 p.m) by public transport The tour will visit the Kiyomizudera Temple, walk along Ninen-Zaka & Sannen-Zaka slope, Gion District, and the Fushimi Inari-jinja Shrine, You will be able to experience a traditional tea ceremony and Zazen meditation.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Kyoto
MEALS : Breakfast

Kiyomizu Temple Fushimi Tea Ceremony

DAY 10 - Kyoto - Nara - Kyoto

Private guided sightseeing tour of Nara (8:30 am-4:30 p.m) by public transport. The tour will visit Todai-ji Temple and Kasuga-jinja Shrine. In the evening, visit the Gion District and enjoy a touch of traditional Japanese entertainment such as bunraku and kyogen.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Kyoto
MEALS: Breakfast

Nara Nara Kasuga Taisha Gion

DAY 11 - Departure from Osaka (KIX or ITM)

Own transfer to Kansai (KIX) or Itami (ITM) International Airport. The rooms will be available until 11:00 a.m..

MEALS : Breakfast

Airplane departing from Japan

*Pictures shown are for illustration purposes only


Ask HIS America's experienced Japan specialists about this tour and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Details
Prices
(Group Discounts Available)

~ Ask us about our prices. Customization also available ~



Included
  • Accommodation: 10 nights
  • Guide: English-speaking guide at each sightseeing spot (except free day)
  • Admissions: For all trips and visits (except free day)
  • Train: Bullet train on Day 5 & 7
  • Transportation: Public transport system, such as local train, metro and public bus.
  • Meals: 10 breakfasts at the hotels, 3 lunches (Day3, 6 and 7), 1 dinner (Day 6 at ryokan)
  • Luggage Delivery:
    Tokyo - Kyoto, skipping 2 nights
    (1 piece per person)
NOT Included
  • Flights: Please ask your agent for arrangement
  • Meals: Other than specified
  • Transfer: Other than specified
  • Optional Tours: None - Unless otherwise arranged.
    【Many other optional tours also available!】
    » Click here to search optional tours «
  • Personal Expenses
  • Travel Insurance
  • Porter Service at all airports and hotels
Package Tour Code:
LTJ-HANGR-STD / LTJ-HANGR-SUP

Ask HIS America's experienced Japan specialists about this tour and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Booking Policy:

Rates: The mentioned prices may fluctuate due to the changes of surcharge, fees, taxes or currency status without prior notice. The actual prices will be officially confirmed at the time of booking. Please kindly verify with your H.I.S. representative.
Reservation: The reservation must be made 65 days before the start of the tour.

Pertinent Information Before Travel

HOTEL
-The hotel rooms are considerably smaller than western ones.
-The ceilings are much lower, giving a perception of the scope of the rooms.
-The normal double beds are French-sized (140cm x 200cm), with a few hotels featuring double rooms with a double bed.
-Rooms with double beds or smoking rooms must be specially reserved and, because of the scarcity, cannot be guaranteed.
-The pajamas and yukata provided by the hotel are only for use in the hotel.


TRAINS
-The spaces for suitcases on Japanese trains are very limited (this is the reason for the separate transport of the luggage in our packages).
-For the packages that mention the JR Pass, our assistant or guide will help with reserving the train (for the tours with a guide, we cannot guarantee that the whole group can sit together). It is only possible to reserve the trains after arriving in Japan and there may be no availability for the trains mentioned in the program.
-2nd Class tickets (regular) are used in the packages. Usage of 1st class tickets must be booked and requires extra fees.
-Please refrain from talking loudly on the train.
-Talking on the phone on the train is forbidden.
-Please note that it is very difficult to reserve train tickets during specific periods such as "Golden Week" consecutive national holidays, Bon Holidays and the end of the year/New Year period.
-Commuter trains and arterial roads in big cities such as Tokyo and Osaka are crowded during the rush hour, and in the mornings and evenings.

DURING THE MEALS
-Japanese meals rarely include desserts. Sometimes there will be a small plate with fruits that accompany the main dish.
-In some typical restaurants it is obligatory to take off your shoes. We recommend wearing stockings or socks (this is not obligatory).
-For special food needs and requests (allergies, vegetarians, etc.), please state them during your reservation, so that we can inform the restaurants.

VISITS
-Often during temple/shrine visits, guests will have to take off their shoes. We advise wearing socks (not obligatory, but do not go barefoot).
-Cultural properties may be under renovation and covered.
-Itinerary may change due to inevitable causes such as closing, natural disasters, traffic jams, etc.

OTHER
-You are not allowed to stand and smoke on the street. Smoking is permitted only in designated smoking areas.

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENT OPTIONS
If you plan to extend your trip, we can also arrange

  • Hotel Accomodations other than specified in the itinerary
  • Japan Rail Pass and Rail Tickets
  • Japan Air Pass and Domestic Flights
  • Airport Transfers
  • Day Tours
  • etc.

We can also arrange your international flights between any cities in the U.S. and Japan at our special airfare. Please ask your agent for more details.


Terms and Conditions


Cancellation Policy

Until 51 days before departure date No Charge
50-36 days before departure date 10% Cancellation Penalty of Total Price
35-26 days before departure date 30% Cancellation Penalty of Total Price
25-13 days before departure date 50% Cancellation Penalty of Total Price
12-7 days before departure date 70% Cancellation Penalty
6 days before departure date 100% Cancellation Penalty