Bamboo, Ropeway, Bullet Train

The journey.

Day 1 · Tokyo · Arrival in Tokyo

You are met at the airport and driven privately to your hotel. Rooms are ready from three in the afternoon, and the rest of the day is yours to sleep off the flight or wander the streets nearby.

Day 2 · Tokyo · The city in one day

A shared small-group tour takes in Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace plaza, Asakusa and Senso-ji with the old shopping street that leads to it, then Odaiba, the Rainbow Bridge and the Skytree. You make your own way to the meeting point and back afterwards.

Day 3 · Tokyo · Disneyland or DisneySea

Entry to whichever park you choose is included, and the trains that get you there are simple enough to manage on your own. Give it the whole day.

Day 4 · Tokyo · A day of your own

Nothing is scheduled. Ginza for the windows, Shibuya and Shinjuku for the noise, Akihabara if the electronics and manga appeal.

Day 5 · Hakone · Mount Fuji and Hakone

A shared small-group tour runs out to the Fuji Fifth Station when the weather allows, then a cruise across Lake Ashi, the Hakone ropeway and Hakone-en. The tour ends at Odawara station, from where a short local train or taxi brings you to your hotel.

Day 6 · Hakone · The ryokan

Nothing is planned. This is the day the ryokan is for: the baths, the quiet, and dinner served properly.

Day 7 · Kyoto · Bullet train to Kyoto

You make your own way back to Odawara and take the shinkansen to Kyoto, a journey worth staying awake for. Your hotel is a short walk from the station, and the evening is free.

Day 8 · Kyoto · Sagano and teamLab

The Sagano romantic train runs twenty five minutes through the Hozugawa gorge. Afterwards, two or three hours at teamLab Biovortex, which rewards going slowly.

Day 9 · Kyoto · Kyoto at your pace

A free day. Nishiki market in the morning, the Kamogawa in the afternoon, and Pontocho alley or Gion once the lanterns come on.

Day 10 · Kyoto · Temples and bamboo

A shared small-group tour covers the Arashiyama bamboo grove, Kinkaku-ji in its gold, Fushimi Inari and its corridors of red gates, and Kiyomizu-dera above the city. You return from Kyoto station on your own.

Day 11 · Kyoto · One more day

Yours entirely. Nara and its deer make an easy day trip, as does Amanohashidate and the fishing village at Ine, both arranged separately if you want them.

Day 12 · Kyoto · Home

After breakfast a driver collects you and takes you to Osaka Kansai airport for the flight home.

What is included

• 11 nights of hotel accommodation with breakfast

• private arrival transfer in Tokyo

• shared small-group Tokyo city tour

• entry to Disneyland or DisneySea

• shared small-group Mount Fuji and Hakone tour

• bullet train from Odawara to Kyoto

• Sagano romantic train tickets

• entry to teamLab Biovortex

• shared small-group full day Kyoto tour

• private departure transfer to Osaka airport

• all entrance fees listed in the itinerary