Hakone, Takayama & the Japan Alps

Hakone · Takayama · Kanazawa · 8 nights

Eight nights from Hakone to Kanazawa, paced around the days that matter.

The Journey

Eight nights across three stops: Hakone for three nights, Takayama for three and Kanazawa for two. Every transfer between them is private and timed around the day's plan.

The days are built around The Hakone Loop; Old Town and Morning Markets; Kenroku-en and the Castle; and Art, Onsen and Fuji Views. 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 onsen ryokan with kaiseki dinner. Your travel specialist can add a night, swap a day or change the order before you book.

Signature Highlights

Private onsen ryokan with kaiseki dinner
The Hakone Loop
Art, Onsen and Fuji Views, Hakone
Old Town and Morning Markets, Takayama
Shirakawa-gō, Takayama
Kenroku-en and the Castle, Kanazawa

Day by day

Your Itinerary

9 days

01
Day 1 · Hakone
Arrival in Hakone
Arrive at Tokyo by Romancecar train to Hakone-Yumoto, around 90 minutes and transfer privately to your base. Time today to settle into a ryokan and take your first onsen bath before dinner.
- Private transfer via Tokyo by Romancecar train to Hakone-Yumoto
- Settle into a ryokan and take your first onsen bath before dinner
- Time to settle in before dinner
Meals:
D
02
Day 2 · 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
03
Day 3 · 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
04
Day 4 · Takayama
Hakone to Takayama
Take the scenic Hida line up into the Japan Alps. On arrival, walk the Sanmachi merchant streets before the shops close.
- Take the scenic Hida line up into the Japan Alps
- Walk the Sanmachi merchant streets before the shops close
- Timings reconfirmed locally the day before
Meals:
B
05
Day 5 · Takayama
Old Town and Morning Markets
The Edo-period merchant quarter, the riverside and Jinya-mae morning markets, the sake breweries with their cedar balls, and the Takayama Jinya government house.
- Sanmachi Suji old town
- Morning markets
- Sake brewery tasting
Meals:
BL
06
Day 6 · Takayama
Shirakawa-gō
Under an hour to the UNESCO-listed gasshō-zukuri thatched farmhouses, with the Shiroyama viewpoint over the valley and a house interior visit.
- Shirakawa-gō gasshō farmhouses
- Shiroyama viewpoint
- Interior of a working farmhouse
Meals:
BL
07
Day 7 · Kanazawa
Takayama to Kanazawa
Take the express bus via Shirakawa-gō to Kanazawa, about two and a quarter hours. On arrival, walk the Higashi Chaya teahouse district as the lanterns come on.
- Take the express bus via Shirakawa-gō to Kanazawa, about two and a quarter hours
- Walk the Higashi Chaya teahouse district as the lanterns come on
- Timings reconfirmed locally the day before
Meals:
B
08
Day 8 · Kanazawa
Kenroku-en and the Castle
One of Japan's three great gardens, laid out over centuries, with the reconstructed castle beside it and the Seison-kaku villa.
- Kenroku-en garden
- Kanazawa Castle Park
- Seison-kaku villa
Meals:
BL
09
Day 9 · Kanazawa
Departure from Kanazawa
An early garden visit before the train onwards. Private transfer to Komatsu airport, about 40 minutes by road, or the shinkansen back to Tokyo, in good time for your onward flight.
- An early garden visit before 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 is the best time for the Japanese Alps?+

April to May and October to November. Shirakawa-gō is also beautiful under snow in January and February, when roads can be affected by weather.

What is a ryokan stay like?+

You sleep on futons on tatami mats, wear a yukata, bathe in the onsen and eat a multi-course kaiseki dinner. Tell us about dietary needs so the kitchen can adapt.

Do we need to speak Japanese?+

No. Signs in stations are in English, and your private guide joins the main sightseeing days.

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.