Day 1 Osaka ★ Meeting Day
All day
Today is a full-day gathering day in Osaka. Tourists will purchase their own flights to Kansai International Airport (KIX).
Osaka, Japan's second-largest city, is located in the heart of the Kansai region and is renowned for its bustling cityscape, rich culinary scene, and rich history.
Early arrivals can enjoy some shopping at Rinku Premium Outlets, western Japan's largest shopping center for designer goods.
Airport Pickup:
If your flight arrives between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM, our China-TravelNote staff will meet you at the airport and direct you to public transportation (transportation expenses are at your own expense).
If your flight arrives later, we will provide detailed directions to your hotel. The latest public transportation times from Kansai Airport are between 10:30 PM and 11:00 PM, subject to availability. A taxi to the meeting hotel costs approximately 6,000 yen per taxi.
Please feel free to contact the local tour guide for assistance should you encounter any inconveniences.
Visa Information:
This product requires you to apply for a Japanese visa yourself. It's recommended to apply 10-15 working days in advance, and the visa date must cover your travel dates. China-TravelNote can assist you with this process; search for "Japan visa" for details.
We promise a full refund if you present your visa rejection documents three days in advance, provided they haven't been rejected. (Note: This does not include situations where the visa application cannot be processed due to incomplete documents, insufficient visa time, or other reasons.)
丨Pre-trip instructions:
After payment for the activity, you can check the Japan pre-trip guide in the order to help you prepare for the trip; 5-7 days before the departure of the activity, we will send a travel text message (including the meeting hotel, how to join the group, and the tour guide), so please pay attention to the text message and the website notification; 1-3 days before the activity, the itinerary will be sent in the order, and the travel group will be notified again about the instructions for filling out the Japan entry card, etc.
Registration Instructions:
Limited resources are available during peak red foliage season, and bookings will close once they are filled. The website indicates a maximum of 25 people per group, but the number of places per group may vary slightly depending on availability. We recommend registering 20-30 days in advance to secure a spot. If the group is still full, the closing date will be 5 days in advance. The actual number of guests is subject to change.
Day 2 Osaka → Nara → Uji → Kyoto
·morning
After breakfast, we'll head to Nara Park, an urban park located at the foot of Mount Wakakusa in Nara City. It's famous for the thousands of wild deer that roam freely here. You can buy special deer crackers and interact with these little creatures. Nara's famous historical sites, such as Todai-ji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, are also located here. As the birthplace of Sino-Japanese exchanges, Nara's shrines and temples are older and more unique than the war-torn architecture of Kyoto [Note 1].
Note: If you want to experience feeding the deer, please keep your distance and avoid teasing the deer.
·afternoon
We then traveled to Uji, Japan's Matcha capital, for an authentic tea ceremony experience. Tea ceremony is a ritualized ceremony in Japan where tea is served to guests. It can be divided into two types: Matcha and Sencha, with Matcha generally referring to the earlier development. Rather than simply a way to drink tea, tea ceremony emphasizes spiritual practice and a philosophy of life, such as "harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility," and "Once in a Lifetime." Concentrate on this moment and experience the Japanese aesthetic of "a moment is eternity."
After experiencing the tea ceremony, head to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, one of Kyoto's most famous temples. Along with Kinkaku-ji Temple and Nijo Castle, it's one of Kyoto's three most famous scenic spots and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, just outside Kiyomizu-dera Temple, are uniquely Kyoto-style slopes designated as Important Traditional Buildings Preservation Areas. Along the slopes, you'll find charming, ancient Japanese buildings and a wealth of souvenir shops offering a uniquely Japanese experience.
Recommended experience (not included):
Kimono Experience (book 1 day in advance): Transform into a beautiful kimono woman in Kyoto and capture your beautiful image in your travel journal
Seeking amulets at Kiyomizu-dera Temple: You can buy unique cherry blossom bell amulets! These small golden bells are decorated with pink cherry blossoms, and their crisp sound symbolizes "bond" and "good luck."
Then proceed to Kyoto to check in at the hotel.
Day 3 Kyoto Full Day
·morning
Kyoto: the true seat of Japanese culture and the Yamato spirit. No other city boasts as many tranquil temples and shrines as Kyoto. This astonishing density of ancient architecture makes it one of the world's most culturally rich cities.
Today, explore Kyoto, steeped in the legacy of the Tang Dynasty, and experience the Japanese beauty of autumn foliage and ancient temples.
After breakfast, we traveled to Arashiyama, where the autumn colors are at their peak. Located in western Kyoto, the Sagano and Arashiyama areas are among Kyoto's most popular autumn viewing spots. In the 8th century, nobles frequented the area to admire the vibrant foliage amidst rice paddies and bamboo forests, or to enjoy boating.
China-TravelNote's special autumn itinerary: Togetsukyo Bridge - Sagano Bamboo Forest - Jojakko-ji Temple.
Stroll along the thousand-year-old Togetsukyo Bridge, and admire the Hozu River beneath it, bathed in crimson maple leaves. The wild bamboo forest leading to Arashiyama Sagano has long been a focal point of travel posters. This breathtaking forest, filled with towering bamboos reaching the sky, is breathtaking. Climb the steps to Jojakko-ji Temple and walk through a tunnel of crimson leaves, like stepping into a breathtaking autumn painting.
·afternoon
Drive to Jingo-ji Temple for a rest stop, home to the main temple of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism. Entering, you'll be greeted by a breathtaking ethereal atmosphere, complete with fine sand and gravel, rather than paved stone. Along the way, you'll also find seasonal maple leaf tempura. This leaf is harvested a year in advance, washed, and placed in wooden barrels, then cured with salt. The following autumn, it's coated in flour, sprinkled with fragrant sesame seeds, and deep-fried. Enjoy it with tea, its gentle, sweet aroma lingering and mellow, evoking a year of autumnal memories.
For the special autumn-only Kifune Night Tour
, take the Eizan Electric Railway through a maple leaf tunnel to Kifune Shrine, where you'll marvel at the magical beauty of the shrine and the illuminated crimson leaves. Kifune Shrine, dedicated to the water deity, offers unique water divination. It's said to be one of Japan's three most acclaimed shrines for finding love. There are also lantern night maples, which are rare in Japan. In the evening, the Eizan Electric Railway will turn off the lights and slow down when traveling through the red leaf tunnel. The light and shadow of the lanterns dance with the maple leaves, and the autumn colors accompany you all the way, which is a unique autumn style.
Day 4 Kyoto → Mino
·morning
In the morning, we'll visit Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine and admire the Thousand Torii Gates, a landmark of Japanese culture. Despite its name, there are over 10,000 of them, forming a deep vermilion tunnel from the base of the mountain to the summit. This area was also a filming location for the film Memoirs of a Geisha. From the halfway point, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Kyoto.
China-TravelNote is offering a free-to-create fox ema: ema is a prop used for prayers in shrines. It is usually made of wooden boards on which you can write your wishes. Each shrine has its own unique ema, where people can write their wishes on wooden signs.
·afternoon
In the afternoon, travel to Mino City, where washi paper crafting boasts a rich history spanning over 1,300 years. Experience Mino washi paper making and craft your own unique gift, embodying the spirit of Japanese craftsmanship and keeping it as a keepsake. (If washi paper shops are closed, other crafting experiences will be offered instead.)
In the evening, stay at a hot spring hotel in the central region and savor a traditional Japanese onsen kaiseki cuisine. After dinner, unwind in the lingering hot springs, savor the scenery, and experience the leisurely pace of autumn in Japan.
Day 5 Central Japan → Kiso Valley Nakasendo → Nagano
All day
After breakfast, we'll drive to Tsumago, a well-preserved post town in Nagano Prefecture dotted with traditional wooden inns where traveling samurai lords stayed. During the Edo Period, the main route for merchants traveling between Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo) was called the Nakasendo. We'll embody the spirit of an Edo-era traveler and retrace this journey through time along the Kiso Valley Nakasendo.
Starting in Tsumago, we followed the old Nakasendo post road through tranquil alpine villages, ancient cedar forests, and waterfalls, stopping at teahouses for a rest before reaching Magome, nestled at the mountain pass. There, a dreamy mountain landscape served as a backdrop for old post stations and trading posts. The 7.8-kilometer hike, winding past farmhouses, waterwheels, and rice paddies, made time slip by unnoticed.
After the hike, you'll stay overnight in Nagano and experience a unique cabin in the woods!
Day 6 Nagano → Kawaguchiko → Hakone → Kanagawa
·morning
After breakfast, we'll head to Lake Kawaguchi, one of the Fuji Five Lakes, in the Mount Fuji region. Weather permitting, we'll enjoy breathtaking views of the mountainous landscape and a glimpse of Mount Fuji, Japan's landmark, highest peak, and spiritual symbol. We'll first visit Oishi Park, where we'll see the famous "Reverse Fuji," a reflection of Mount Fuji reflected in the lake.
·afternoon
After lunch, we'll depart from Mount Fuji and head to Hakone to board the Hakone Pirate Ship and enjoy the beautiful autumn scenery while rocking on the tranquil Lake Ashi. If the weather is good, you can also enjoy the magnificent view of Mount Fuji from afar.
After arriving at Moto-Hakone Port, we'll travel by car to Kamakura, the former seat of the Kamakura Shogunate. In the evening, we'll watch young men surfing on the Shonan Coast and take some photos of Japanese blockbusters. Alternatively, we can take the Enoden Railway (estimated 200 yen) to Kamakura High School Mae Station to experience the youthful atmosphere of "Slam Dunk." On a clear day, we'll even be able to see Mount Fuji from afar, admiring its magnificent beauty from the sea.
In the evening, check in to the hotel in Kanagawa area.
Day 7 Kanagawa → Tokyo
·morning
After breakfast, we will depart together and drive to Showa Memorial Park. The "Ginkgo Avenue" and the "Ginkgo River" formed by 106 ginkgo trees are a major highlight here. In late autumn, the golden color of the ginkgo trees contrasts with the surrounding red leaves, making you feel like you are in an autumn fairy tale world.
Note: If the autumn colors have passed, the Akihabara
·afternoon
We'll then head to Ginza, Tokyo's bustling downtown district, home to numerous specialty stores and department stores. Ginza's main streets are lined with department stores, including Mitsukoshi, Matsuya, Matsuzakaya, and Takashimaya. It's renowned for its upscale shopping and luxury goods, as well as a diverse selection of international eateries and fine dining restaurants. In the evening, we'll drive to the Roppongi Hills 52nd floor observation deck (excluding the museum) to soak in the dazzling nightscape and sunset views, including Tokyo Tower!
In the evening, we recommend enjoying an authentic izakaya dinner (meals at your own expense) to celebrate this journey with a lively atmosphere and a few drinks.
Day 8 Tokyo★Disbandment Day
All day
Today is the day to leave. This morning, everyone will check out of their hotels according to their flight times (the latest check-out time is generally 10:00 AM). Tourists will proceed to the airport according to their flight times. This concludes our panoramic tour of Japan. I look forward to your travelogues.
Tourists who haven't yet enjoyed their trip can stay a few more days in Japan to further experience the charm of Japan.
Transportation:
1. Tokyo has two international airports: Haneda and Narita. Haneda Airport is closer to the city center, approximately 30 minutes away, while Narita Airport is further away, approximately 1.5 hours. Please arrange your return flight based on your needs.
2. The hotel is located in downtown Tokyo, with good access to trains and buses. Your tour guide will inform you of transportation options to the airport in the group chat one day in advance.
