Japan in Blossom, Tokyo to Kyoto

Tokyo · Hakone · Kyoto · 9 nights

Nine nights from Tokyo to Kyoto, paced around the days that matter.

The Journey

Nine nights across three stops: Tokyo for three nights, Hakone for three and Kyoto for three. Every transfer between them is private and timed around the day's plan.

The days are built around Asakusa, Ueno and the Old City; The Hakone Loop; Eastern Kyoto: Kiyomizu and Gion; and Shibuya, Meiji Jingū and Harajuku. Each one is set out below with what you will see, how you get there and which meals are included.

The defining moment of this route: private tea ceremony with a Kyoto tea master. Your travel specialist can add a night, swap a day or change the order before you book.

Signature Highlights

Private tea ceremony with a Kyoto tea master
Asakusa, Ueno and the Old City, Tokyo
Shibuya, Meiji Jingū and Harajuku, Tokyo
The Hakone Loop
Art, Onsen and Fuji Views, Hakone
Eastern Kyoto: Kiyomizu and Gion

Day by day

Your Itinerary

10 days

01
Day 1 · Tokyo
Arrival in Tokyo
Arrive at Haneda or Narita, 30 or 90 minutes by road into the city and transfer privately to your base. Time today to walk your neighbourhood and eat somewhere small and local on the first night.
- Private transfer via Haneda or Narita
- Walk your neighbourhood and eat somewhere small and local on the first night
- Time to settle in before dinner
Meals:
D
02
Day 2 · Tokyo
Asakusa, Ueno and the Old City
Sensō-ji temple and the Nakamise approach early, the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno, and the kitchenware street at Kappabashi.
- Sensō-ji temple at opening
- Tokyo National Museum
- Kappabashi kitchen street
Meals:
BL
03
Day 3 · Tokyo
Shibuya, Meiji Jingū and Harajuku
The forest shrine at Meiji Jingū, Omotesandō's architecture, Harajuku's back lanes and the Shibuya crossing from above at dusk.
- Meiji Jingū
- Omotesandō and Harajuku
- Shibuya Sky or crossing viewpoint
Meals:
B
04
Day 4 · Hakone
Tokyo to Hakone
Take the Romancecar or shinkansen and the mountain railway up into the caldera. On arrival, settle into a ryokan and take your first onsen bath before dinner.
- Take the Romancecar or shinkansen and the mountain railway up into the caldera
- Settle into a ryokan and take your first onsen bath before dinner
- Timings reconfirmed locally the day before
Meals:
B
05
Day 5 · Hakone
The Hakone Loop
The switchback railway, cable car and ropeway over Ōwakudani's sulphur vents, then a pirate-styled boat across Lake Ashi to the Hakone Shrine torii in the water. Ropeway sections close during volcanic activity.
- Hakone Tozan railway and ropeway
- Ōwakudani volcanic valley (conditions permitting)
- Lake Ashi boat and Hakone Shrine
Meals:
BL
06
Day 6 · Hakone
Art, Onsen and Fuji Views
The Hakone Open-Air Museum and the Pola Museum, with time for a private onsen and, on clear days, Mount Fuji across the lake.
- Hakone Open-Air Museum
- Private onsen bath
- Fuji viewpoints (weather dependent)
Meals:
BD
07
Day 7 · Kyoto
Hakone to Kyoto
Take the mountain railway down to Odawara and the shinkansen to Kyoto, about two and a half hours in all. On arrival, walk the Gion lanes and along the Kamo river in the evening.
- Take the mountain railway down to Odawara and the shinkansen to Kyoto, about two and a half hours in all
- Walk the Gion lanes and along the Kamo river in the evening
- Timings reconfirmed locally the day before
Meals:
B
08
Day 8 · Kyoto
Eastern Kyoto: Kiyomizu and Gion
Kiyomizu-dera at opening, the preserved lanes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, Kōdai-ji and the teahouse district of Gion, walked with a guide.
- Kiyomizu-dera early entry
- Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka lanes
- Gion in the evening
Meals:
BL
09
Day 9 · Kyoto
Arashiyama and the Northwest
The bamboo grove before the coaches arrive, Tenryū-ji's garden, the Ōkōchi Sansō villa, and Kinkaku-ji, the golden pavilion, in the afternoon.
- Arashiyama bamboo grove at dawn
- Tenryū-ji garden
- Kinkaku-ji golden pavilion
Meals:
B
10
Day 10 · Kyoto
Departure from Kyoto
An early temple visit before the crowds, then the train onwards. Private transfer to Kansai International, about 90 minutes by the Haruka express or by road, in good time for your onward flight.
- An early temple visit before the crowds, then the train onwards
- Late check-out arranged where the hotel allows it
- Private departure transfer
Meals:
B

Inclusions

Handpicked luxury accommodations across the journey
Daily breakfast; select lunches and dinners as noted
Private airport transfers and inter-city ground movement
Curated experiences and reserved access as listed
24×7 on-trip concierge from our India desk

Not included

International airfare unless explicitly mentioned
Visa fees, travel insurance and personal expenses
Meals and experiences not listed in the itinerary
Gratuities for guides, drivers and hotel staff
Anything of a personal nature (spa, minibar, laundry)

Transfers

Private arrival and departure transfers with a named driver
Moves between stops by private car, rail, ferry or domestic flight, as shown day by day
Timings reconfirmed with you the evening before each transfer

Visa & Documentation

Visa guidance provided by our documentation desk
Recommended to hold passport valid for 6+ months
Digital pre-arrival forms handled on your behalf where possible

Common Questions

When do the cherry blossoms bloom?+

Usually late March to early April in Tokyo and Kyoto, with Hakone a few days later. Exact dates move each year, so we confirm the forecast closer to travel and keep the order flexible.

Do Indian passport holders need a visa for Japan?+

Yes. Japan offers an eVisa to Indian passport holders resident in India. We prepare the itinerary and hotel details the application asks for.

How do we travel between Tokyo, Hakone and Kyoto?+

By train. The Odakyu line or Shinkansen reaches Hakone, and the Shinkansen continues to Kyoto. Large bags can be sent ahead by luggage forwarding so you travel light.

How far in advance should we book?+

Three to four months ahead gives the widest choice of rooms and guided days, and more for school holidays, festivals and peak season. Shorter notice is often possible; ask and we will check live availability.

Can the itinerary be customised?+

Yes. Every journey is a starting point: add or remove nights, swap a day's plan, change hotels or reorder the route, and your travel specialist re-plans the whole trip around it.

What is the payment schedule?+

Your quote sets out the deposit that confirms the booking and the date the balance is due. Both depend on the hotels, airlines and guides involved, so they are agreed with you before you pay anything.