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:
Resources are limited during peak season, and bookings will close once full. 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 tour is not 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. Famous for its thousands of wild deer roaming freely, Nara Park offers a chance to purchase special deer crackers and interact with these small creatures. Nara's 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: 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."
We then drove to Kyoto, a city steeped in the Tang Dynasty tradition. First, we headed to Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, home to the Thousand Torii Gates, a landmark and the filming location for the movie Memoirs of a Geisha. From the halfway point, we could overlook the scenic area.
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.
Day 3 Kyoto → Gifu
·morning
Kyoto: One of Japan's oldest cities, it's the country's ancient capital and a symbol of Japanese style. Built to exacting specifications similar to Chang'an, the ancient city exudes a rich Tang Dynasty influence. Its Japanese-style gardens, framed by springs, goldfish, and maple leaves, and its ancient temples blend seamlessly into the mountainous landscape, offer a sense of timeless, classical beauty.
After breakfast, we'll 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 an Important Traditional Buildings Preservation Area. Along the slopes, you'll find charming, ancient Japanese buildings and a wealth of souvenir shops offering a unique selection of local specialties.
Recommended experience (not included): Kimono experience: When you come to Kyoto, you must wear a kimono once. Choose from a variety of kimonos and transform yourself into a beautiful kimono beauty, leaving a beautiful image in your travel notes!
·afternoon
After lunch, we'll head to Kinkaku-ji Temple, also known as Rokuon-ji Temple, completed in 1397. Every winter, its snow-covered landscape attracts crowds of visitors. If you're lucky enough to see the temple shrouded in snow, the stark contrast between gold and white is striking, creating a scene with a sacred feel.
After the tour, go to Gifu and check into the hotel
Day 4 Gifu → Shirakawa-go → Takayama
·morning
Today, we'll travel to Mino City, where washi papermaking boasts a rich history spanning over 1,300 years. Experience Mino Japanese washi papermaking firsthand, creating your own unique gift and experiencing the charm of Japanese craftsmanship. (If a washi paper shop is closed, we'll offer other crafting experiences.)
·afternoon
We'll then drive to Shirakawa-go, a picturesque region year-round, especially in winter, where it feels like a fairytale. We'll explore the local countryside and admire the charm of the Gassho-style houses from every angle. Along the way, we'll discuss the transformation of rural Japan. Over the past century, 92% of Japan's Gassho-style houses have disappeared. Why? How did they disappear? How has Shirakawa-go managed to preserve them? We'll then find a restaurant on our own for lunch.
Shirakawa-go boasts 114 pointed-roof wooden houses, where generations of residents have lived. Every 30 years, they undergo a major roof renovation, and annually, they repair the thatch that has been swept away by heavy snowfall. Regardless of the changing times outside, these residents continue to thrive at their own pace, generation after generation.
We will visit a wealthy family in Shirakawa-go: [Wada Family Residence] is the oldest house in Shirakawa-go, with a history of more than 300 years.
Then drive to Gaoshan, a small town popular among European tourists, and stay at a local hot spring hotel at night.
Day 5 Takayama → Matsumoto → Mt. Fuji
·morning
Takayama: It is a transportation hub between Kyoto and Edo. It still retains the ancient streets passed down from the Edo period. The sweet and tender Hida beef is well-known.
Become a local and visit the morning market: In the morning, we went to Miyagawa Morning Market, which is known as one of the three major morning markets in Japan. It got its name because it is located on the bank of Miyagawa River. From 9 am to 12 pm every day, it is where locals go to buy food and drinks.
Stroll through the historic streets of Kami-San-no-Machi in Takayama. Black wooden lattice windows, old-fashioned shops, and rickshaws weaving through the alleys... Besides walking, you can also take a rickshaw. The three-wheeled rickshaws here are said to be the ancestors of Japan's sightseeing three-wheeled rickshaws, and they can accommodate two or three people at a time. You can also try authentic Hida beef dishes (beef skewers, beef buns, beef sushi, beef sukiyaki, etc.).
As early as the Edo period, Takayama's sake enjoyed a high reputation in Japan's rice-brewed industry. We'll visit a sake brewery, see the local brewery, and taste Takayama's unique "jisake" (locally brewed sake).
·afternoon
After a free lunch, we'll depart Takayama for Matsumoto City in Nagano Prefecture, where we'll visit Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan's 12 oldest castle towers. Matsumoto Castle is one of the few remaining castles in Japan to have survived destruction, remaining as it did 400 years ago. Along with Himeji Castle, Hikone Castle, and Taizan Castle, Matsumoto Castle is considered one of Japan's four National Treasures, making it a symbol of Matsumoto City.
Go to Mount Fuji in the evening and stay at a hot spring hotel
Day 6: Mt. Fuji Area → Mt. Fuji → Hakone → Yokohama
·morning
The morning at the foot of Mount Fuji is particularly fresh. If you are interested, you can take a stroll along the riverside trail to feel refreshed. After breakfast, we will first head towards Mount Fuji.
First, we headed to Mount Fuji's Fifth Station. Standing halfway up Mount Fuji at 2,305 meters, with the snow beneath your feet, there's no better place to experience the mountain's beauty than here. You can even mail a postcard with the Mount Fuji postmark from the post office there!
·afternoon
After leaving Mount Fuji, we will head to Hakone and board the Hakone Pirate Ship. Enjoy the beautiful winter scenery by rocking on the tranquil Lake Ashi. If the weather is good, you can also see the magnificent scenery of Mount Fuji from afar. After the ship arrives at Moto-Hakone Port, we will drive to the Yokohama area hotel for your stay.
In the evening, we recommend a lively dinner at an authentic izakaya with a few drinks (meal not included, please pay at your own expense)
Day 7 Yokohama → Tokyo
All day
Tokyo: Traditional shrines and buildings are organically combined with skyscrapers, greenery and rivers appear from time to time in the busy city center, and museums, art galleries and shopping malls are integrated, allowing the concepts of culture, art and technology to truly penetrate into life.
This morning, we'll experience Japanese anime culture and enter the world of the second dimension. Akihabara, Tokyo's epitome of advanced technology, is a hub of the city's high-tech scene. Akihabara also boasts specialty shops and gaming cafes catering to anime fans, and you might even spot girls dressed in maid costumes crisscrossing the streets.
We then drove to Ginza for some free shopping. Ginza, a prime commercial district in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, boasts some of the highest land prices in the world. Known for its upscale shopping, it's considered one of Tokyo's most iconic areas. Nearby are several major department stores, including Mitsukoshi, Matsuya, Matsuzaka, and Spring Department Store. High-end specialty stores include Hermès, Gucci, and Chanel, as well as a variety of eateries and fine dining restaurants.
In the evening we will drive to Roppongi Hills, where we will climb up to the 52nd floor observation deck to take in the dazzling night view of Tokyo Tower and more!
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.
