Japan Essentials — Tokyo, Hakone & Kyoto
The classic Golden Route by bullet train — Tokyo's energy, Mount Fuji from Hakone, Kyoto's temples and Osaka's food streets.
Tokyo (3N), Hakone (1N), Kyoto (3N), Osaka (1N)
Overview
- Shinkansen bullet train journeys between cities
- Mount Fuji fifth station and a Lake Ashi cruise from Hakone
- Fushimi Inari's torii gates and Kinkaku-ji golden pavilion
- Arashiyama bamboo grove and the Gion district by evening
- Nara's Todai-ji and the free-roaming deer park
- Dotonbori food street in Osaka
The classic Golden Route by bullet train — Tokyo's energy, Mount Fuji from Hakone, Kyoto's temples and Osaka's food streets.
Japan Essentials — Tokyo, Hakone & Kyoto runs for 8 nights and 9 days across Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka. Like every Elitech itinerary it carries no fixed departure date — tell us roughly when you want to travel and we confirm availability, hotels and pricing for exactly those days.
The route below is a starting point. Extend a city, change the hotel category, add a private guide or remove a sightseeing block, and we will re-cost the trip and send you a revised plan, usually within a working day.
No fixed departure dates. This itinerary is operated in the window that suits you. Tell us roughly when you can travel and we will confirm availability, hotels and pricing for exactly those days.
Cities covered
Best time to travel: Cherry blossom in early spring and maple colour in late autumn are the two great windows; both need booking well ahead.
Day-by-day itinerary
Days are shown in sequence, not as calendar dates — your trip runs on the days you choose.
- Day1
Arrive in Tokyo
Arrival transfer to your hotel. Evening free — Shinjuku or Shibuya is a suitably overwhelming introduction. Overnight in Tokyo.
- Day2
Tokyo city tour
Senso-ji temple and Nakamise shopping street at Asakusa, the Tokyo Skytree, the Imperial Palace East Gardens and Shibuya Crossing. Overnight in Tokyo.
- Day3
Tokyo at leisure
A free day for teamLab digital art, Ueno's museums, Akihabara, Harajuku or a DisneySea excursion. Overnight in Tokyo.
- Day4
Tokyo to Hakone and Mount Fuji
Travel to the Fuji-Hakone region. Ascend to Mount Fuji's fifth station, weather permitting, then take the Lake Ashi pirate-ship cruise and the Hakone ropeway over the sulphur vents at Owakudani. Dinner included. Overnight in Hakone with an onsen ryokan option.
- Day5
Hakone to Kyoto by Shinkansen
Morning at leisure, then the bullet train to Kyoto. Afternoon at Fushimi Inari Taisha, walking up through the tunnel of vermilion torii gates. Overnight in Kyoto.
- Day6
Kyoto temples
Kinkaku-ji the Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle with its nightingale floors, and the Arashiyama bamboo grove with the Togetsukyo bridge. Evening walk through Gion. Overnight in Kyoto.
- Day7
Nara day trip
Day trip to Nara for Todai-ji's great bronze Buddha, Kasuga Taisha's lantern-lined approach and the deer roaming Nara Park. Return to Kyoto in the evening. Overnight in Kyoto.
- Day8
Kyoto to Osaka
Transfer to Osaka. Visit Osaka Castle and its museum, then spend the evening in Dotonbori — the country's most enjoyable food street. Overnight in Osaka.
- Day9
Departure
Transfer to Kansai International Airport for your onward flight.
What is included
We list exclusions as prominently as inclusions — nothing appears for the first time at the payment stage.
Inclusions
- Accommodation for 8 nights in the hotel category shown, on twin-sharing basis
- Daily breakfast at the hotel
- All transfers, sightseeing and intercity travel by private air-conditioned vehicle
- All entrance fees for the sightseeing listed in the itinerary
- Driver allowance, fuel, tolls, parking and inter-state permits
- Assistance on arrival and a dedicated consultant reachable through the trip
- All applicable taxes on the services listed above
- Visa documentation support and file preparation by our in-house desk
- Basic overseas travel insurance for travellers up to 59 years
- Services of an experienced tour manager throughout the journey
- Indian meals arranged wherever the route allows, as detailed day-wise
- Japan Rail Pass or point-to-point Shinkansen tickets, whichever is better value for the route
- Mount Fuji fifth station excursion, subject to weather
- Lake Ashi cruise and Hakone ropeway
- All temple and castle entry fees listed
Exclusions
- Airfare to and from the start and end points of the tour
- Anything not specifically mentioned in the inclusions
- Visa fees, and any biometric or service charges levied by the consulate
- Lunch and dinner unless listed against a specific day
- Personal expenses — laundry, telephone calls, minibar, room service and tips
- Optional excursions and activities marked as 'on request'
- Camera and video charges levied at monuments
- Any increase in government taxes or fuel surcharge after booking confirmation
- Costs arising from circumstances beyond our control — weather, roadblocks, flight rescheduling or medical evacuation
- Porterage at airports and hotels
- Insurance premium loading for travellers aged 60 and above, and for pre-existing conditions
Hotels
Properties shown as “or similar” may be substituted with an equivalent in category and location. We confirm the final property before departure.
| City | Nights | Hotel | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | 3 | Shinagawa Prince Hotel or similar | 4 Star |
| Hakone | 1 | Hakone Onsen Ryokan or similar | Ryokan |
| Kyoto | 3 | Kyoto Tokyu Hotel or similar | 4 Star |
| Osaka | 1 | Hotel Vischio Osaka or similar | 4 Star |
Pricing
Rates are per person and vary by occupancy, not by departure date. Your final quotation reflects hotel availability for the days you choose.
Price on request
This itinerary moves too much with hotel category, group size and season for one honest published figure. Send an enquiry and we will quote your exact requirement — the number you receive is the number you pay.
Terms, payment and cancellation
Terms & conditions
This itinerary is quoted on twin-sharing basis and is subject to availability at the time of confirmation. Hotels shown as 'or similar' may be substituted with a property of comparable category and location, and you will be informed before departure. Prices may change before confirmation due to currency movement, revised government taxes or supplier rate changes.
Sightseeing may be resequenced to suit local conditions, weather or monument closure days. Where an included attraction cannot operate for reasons beyond our control, we substitute a comparable alternative or refund the applicable component.
Payment policy
A booking amount of 30% of the package cost confirms your services, with the balance due before departure on the date stated in your booking confirmation. Where an airline or hotel requires earlier full payment, we tell you at the time of quoting.
We accept UPI, credit and debit cards, net banking and NEFT/RTGS transfer to our registered current account. We never request payment into a personal account — always verify account details by calling us before transferring.
Cancellation policy
Cancellations must be made in writing. Standard charges apply from the date we receive your request: the booking amount is retained more than 45 days before departure, 35% between 31 and 45 days, 60% between 16 and 30 days, 80% between 8 and 15 days, and 100% within 7 days or for a no-show.
Air tickets, cruise bookings and non-refundable hotel rates follow their own supplier terms, which are stated in your quotation before payment. A visa refusal does not waive cancellation charges.