Japan Golden Route with Hiroshima 2022-2023

10-Day Tour with Mt. Fuji Bullet Train, UNESCO Sites & Cherry Blossom Dates Available

Delight in the ancient customs and traditions of Nara and Kyoto, the history of Hiroshima, and the neon-lit, futuristic cityscapes of Osaka and Tokyo on this 10-day tour of Japan's most iconic sights. Take a once-in-a-lifetime journey through stunning landscapes — from Shinto shrines to wartime ruins to glistening islands with free-roaming deer — and enjoy a Shinkansen bullet train experience en route to the snowcapped majesty of Mt. Fuji.

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Himeji Castle and learn about the nuclear devastation of Hiroshima, home to the haunting A-Dome. See the surreal ‘floating’ Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island and visit the world-famous Nara Park, both filled with tame Sika deer. Take a stroll through time as you’re immersed in the beauty of Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion and the surreal Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, before an overnight stay in Mt. Fuji, with the opportunity to experience a traditional onsen.

Take in the delightful natural scenery with a tranquil Lake Ashi cruise and visit Mt. Fuji's fifth station — where you can see the mountain at its finest (weather dependent), before free time to explore Tokyo’s eclectic nightlife, vibrant cafés and bustling streets.

Day 1: Arrive in Osaka

Konnichiwa!

Welcome to Japan. On arrival at Osaka Airport, you will be met by a local representative and transferred to the city known as Japan’s food bowl, where glittering lights and soaring signs reflect on the shimmering Osaka River and the sizzle of cooking takoyaki fills the air.

After check-in at Stargate Hotel Kansai (or similar), you will have the remainder of the day (depending on arrival time) to explore at your leisure.

Accommodation: Stargate Hotel Kansai (or similar)

Day 2: Osaka — Himeji — Hiroshima

This morning after breakfast, you will be transferred from Osaka by private vehicle to the ancient city of Hiroshima. Largely destroyed when the first atomic bomb — ‘Little Boy’ — devastated the city on August 6, 1945, Hiroshima preserves the memory of the world’s first nuclear attack through memorials, eyewitness testimony and annual anniversary ceremonies.

Familiar landmarks can be found lining the glistening Motoyasu River, where the haunting skeleton of the A-Dome can be seen reflected in its shimmering depths. Immediately across the river are the Bell of Peace and Atomic Bomb Memorial Burial Mound, with the Flame of Peace and Peace Memorial Park located just a little further downstream. If opportunity allows, be sure to talk to local volunteers at these iconic landmarks, as they have a wealth of history and information to divulge about these now-iconic sites.

En route to Hiroshima, enjoy a visit to the breathtakingly beautiful Himeji Castle, a vision of soaring white cascading down the hilltop in a series of magnificent pagodas. Considered one of Japan’s most beautiful surviving feudal castles, this magical site will leave you feeling like true royalty as you stroll through the sprawling gardens that surround this UNESCO World Heritage-listed site.

Following a full day’s exploration, it’s time to relax and enjoy dinner before settling into your accommodation at Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima (or similar).

Accommodation: Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima (or similar)

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 3: Hiroshima — Miyajima Island — Hiroshima Island

This morning, start the day with a tranquil cruise across Hiroshima Bay to Miyajima Island, known for lush mountains of maple tree forest, cobblestone laneways filled with iconic maple cake stores and home to friendly local deer. You may even be lucky enough to get a selfie with them.

Then, enjoy a short stroll to the edge of the sea to admire the soaring beauty of the iconic Itsukushima Shrine. A UNESCO World Heritage site dedicated to the three daughters of the Shinto deity of seas and storms, this famous landmark appears to float above the water at high tide. As the water recedes, you may get the unique opportunity to walk around this sacred site.

Returning to Hiroshima in the afternoon, enjoy a visit to the Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Museum.

Accommodation: Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima (or similar)

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4: Hiroshima — Osaka

Bid farewell to Hiroshima this morning as you begin your journey back to Osaka. Following the coastal road along the Seto Inland Sea, you will visit the historic city of Kurashiki, a water city renowned for its breathtakingly well-preserved canal area dating back to the Edo Period, and Kobe, considered one of Japan's most attractive cities. Perched on a hillside sloping toward the sea, this maritime gateway was one of the earliest trade ports with China and is known today for its signature marbled beef. If time allows, try to enjoy a bite of this world-renowned beef before your journey to Osaka resumes.

On arrival, the remainder of the day is yours to explore as you please.

Accommodation: Hotel It Osaka Shinmachi (or similar)

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5: Osaka — Nara — Kyoto — Osaka

Head to Nara this morning, where you will begin by exploring the Todaiji Temple, a massive wooden temple containing one of Japan's largest bronzed Buddha. Stroll its grounds alongside the tame 1,000 Sika deer that wander through the temples, sleep in corners and sneakily nudge your hands for a treat — be careful, they can bite if you don’t oblige.

Afterwards, travel to Kyoto, a time capsule of laneways filled with tea houses, izakayas and geisha — if you can spot them vanishing down the back alleys. On arrival, visit Nijo Castle, where you can revel in the atmosphere of this historic residence of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Later, admire the Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), a Zen temple and World Heritage site with two floors covered entirely in thin layers of pure gold and detailed architecture incorporating the three distinct architectural styles of Shinden, Samurai and Zen.

Accommodation: Hotel it Osaka Shinmachi (or similar)

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6: Osaka — Kyoto — Mt. Fuji

Following breakfast this morning, return to Kyoto and wander across the Togetsu Bridge, the landmark of Western Kyoto’s Arashiyama District for over four hundred years. Then, get lost in the surreal and otherworldly beauty of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Gliding across wooden paths that weave through dense tickets of tall bamboo stalks, find a quiet corner to listen to the rustling, creaking, and swaying of trunks that knock together, creating a peaceful sound like almost nothing else.

After lunch, travel onwards to Mt. Fuji on a world-famous Shinkansen bullet train. Watch as flashes of futuristic skyscrapers, shrines and lush fields pass by in its 320-kilometres-per-hour dash from Kyoto to Tokyo. This time-defying lghtning bolt is diminished only by the majesty of the cloud-cloaked Mt. Fuji, a sight which makes time stand still for a serene, spectacular moment.

On arrival, you will be transferred to your HOTEL MYSTAYS Fuji Onsen Resort, where you can experience an iconic onsen or Japanese bathhouse (additional costs may apply). Located on the top floor of the hotel, this bathhouse invites you to soak in the beauty of Mt. Fuji as it's hit by the rising sun or simply melt away in its restorative depths.

Accommodation: HOTEL MYSTAYS Fuji Onsen Resort (or similar)

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 7: Mt. Fuji

Begin today by experiencing the hypnotising beauty of the Oshino Hakkai, also known as the Springs of Mt. Fuji — eight ponds fed by melting snow gliding down the slopes of Mt. Fuji to create crystal-clear spring water revered by the locals.

Afterwards, ascend Mt. Fuji to the fifth station, hidden above the clouds. Depending on the weather, you might be able to capture the iconic mountain in all its breathtaking glory. Alternatively, you could choose to visit Gotemba Peace Park and Hakone Checkpoint, also renowned for its awe-inspiring vistas of the soaring, snow-capped feat of nature.

Later, join a cruise of Lake Ashi, formed in the caldera of Mt. Hakone after the volcano’s last eruption over 3,000 years ago. The perfect backdrop to Mt. Fuji, this cruise affords vistas of Moto-Hakone, the Hakone Detached Palace Garden and the lush forests of Fuji Hakone Izu National Park.

Accommodation: HOTEL MYSTAYS Fuji Onsen Resort or similar

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 8: Mt. Fuji — Tokyo

Today, sip the crisp, hoppy notes of one of the most popular Japanese beers with a beer factory visit and tasting en route to Tokyo. Following check-in at Sunshine City Prince Hotel the remainder of the day is yours to explore Tokyo at your leisure.

Home to one of the most accessible train lines in the world, discovering Tokyo is effortless — simply remember your line colour and station number. From Ikebukuro, you could catch a train to Shinjuku, filled with neon lights and vibrant pachinko game parlours, stroll Harajuku’s bubblegum-hued shopping district or get lost in the anime haven of Akihabara, home to maid and cat cafés.

Insider tip: For a unique experience, be sure to visit the unique Swallowtail butler café in Ikebukuro, where a waiter will be at your beck and call with high tea and freshly steeped pots of earl grey.

Accommodation: Sunshine City Prince Hotel (or similar)

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 9: Tokyo

Continue your Tokyo exploration at your leisure today. From gourmet exploration to cultural odysseys, there’s something for everyone in this neon-lit, futuristic landscape. You could venture to the world-famous Ghibli Museum, a magical place that lets you play in and explore the world of Studio Ghibli, join an optional Tokyo Day Tour or see the Gotokuji Temple, the legendary birthplace of the Japanese maneki-neko, filled with hundreds of lucky beckoning cats.

If you book well in advance, enjoy a meal at the feudal-inspired Ninja Akasaka, where the waitstaff are trained as ninjas. The possibilities are endless — just choose a direction.

Accommodation: Sunshine City Prince Hotel (or similar)

Meals: Breakfast

Optional Tokyo Day Tour: A$185 per person.

Day 10: Depart Tokyo

Your incredible Japan adventure comes to an end this morning. After checkout, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward journey.