12-Day Relaxing Itinerary to Japan Featuring Scenic Walks, Spas, Landscapes, Champagne, Tour, and Shopping

  • Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo
    from Narita International Airport: 1 hour (38 km)

    Welcome to Tokyo, one of the world's most exciting metropolises. Have a relaxing start to your journey by visiting the Oedo Onsen Monogatari hot springs in Odaiba. This onsen features a traditional atmosphere with multiple indoor and outdoor hot spring baths that have different therapeutic effects in a special Edo period setting. Your palate will never get bored with the hotels’ unique selection of snacks and drinks that vary by the season. We recommend you kick back in the stunning outdoor area featuring free-flowing foot baths, a special iron-rich iwa-buro outdoor bath, and lavish seating areas. After a satisfying experience, enjoy a leisurely walk by the waterfront before returning to Tokyo.

  • Day 2: Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
    from Oedo Onsen Monogatari: 40 minutes (18 km)

    Experience a serene atmosphere with a visit to the lush Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. This picturesque garden offers an escape from busy city life with over 20,000 trees and a vast garden of seasonal flowers illuminated by the sun with tea houses lining the pond. It is one of the ideal spots for relaxing walks and has many sections excellent for flower viewing of the various species.

  • Day 3: Mount Fuji
    from Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden: 2 hours (137 km)

    Embark on a tour and admire the breath-taking view of Mount Fuji, an iconic symbol of Japan's natural beauty. Here we offer several vantage points to experience its magnificence, including Hakone Skyline, Lake Kawaguchiko, and the Chureito Pagoda. We recommend a visit to any one of the hot springs located in the area for a unique and relaxing experience. Unwind while soaking in the inviting hot waters and relieve your body of any exhaustion caused by long travel times.

  • Day 4: Hakone Open-Air Museum
    from Mount Fuji: 1 hour (44 km)

    Hakone Open-Air Museum is a beautiful, open-air museum exhibiting sculptures of artists from Japan and all over the world. It is situated amid the green mountains of Hakone, featuring an outdoor garden, an indoor Picasso exhibition, and Jacuzzi-style Onsen. It has become a major attraction for those who love original art and sculpture combined with nature, offering an exceptional experience for visitors.

  • Day 5: Kyoto Guided Tour
    from Hakone Open-Air Museum: 4 hours (253 km)

    Take a guided tour of the beautiful city of Kyoto, a place of serene cultural significance. Visit the famous Nishiki Market, where you can browse the food and handicrafts that the city is famous for. Later, you will visit the beautiful Arashiyama bamboo grove that features natural bamboo trees that rustle in the wind creating a still environment with the earthy scents that soothe all the senses. Wrap up the day by enjoying a traditional Kaiseki dinner, served in the sukiya-zukuri style of domestic Japanese architecture with sliding doors and tatami-matted floors.

  • Day 6: Fushimi Inari Taisha
    from Kyoto: 20 minutes (7 km)

    Experience the serenity of Fushimi Inari Taisha, one of the most important Shinto shrines in Japan with its iconic thousand orange torii gates. This majestic path is ideal for a nature walk, unwind during the relaxing hike with the cool breeze blowing through the mountains, admiring the scenery, and hearing the chirping of the birds. Once at the peak of Mt. Inari, visitors can discover the large death honours that admire Fushimi Inari-Taisha, relax while taking another moment at the small pagoda, and unlock the serenity by watching the sunset over Kyoto city.

  • Day 7: Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market
    from Fushimi Inari Taisha: 3 hours (431 km)

    Visit Tokyo's famous Tsukiji Fish Market and indulge yourself in some of the freshest sushi and seafood in the world. This market is known as the “Kitchen of Tokyo” and has been running since civil war times. With over 12 city blocks of fresh fish, plus vegetables and other food products, you can take a nice stroll and enjoy some of the freshly cooked street foods. With various restaurants to choose from, you can enjoy your favourite meal in a relaxing atmosphere.

  • Day 8: Asakusa district
    from Tsukiji Fish Market: 30 minutes (12 km)

    Step back in time with a visit to the historic district of Asakusa. Here you will find Tokyo's iconic landmark, the Sensō-ji Temple, the city's oldest and well-known temple with a remarkable traditional feel. Explore the many traditional shopping streets located in front of the temple and don't forget to get a chance to purchase traditional Japanese candy or "dagashi" and enjoy some traditional Japanese coffee at the Asakusa coffee shops.

  • Day 9: Twilight dining at Tokyo Tower
    from Asakusa district: 40 minutes (7.7 km)

    Enjoy sunset dining overlooking the city views from 150 meters high at the Tokyo Tower. Take your time and appreciate the serene atmosphere from this viewpoint while enjoying dinner in the open-air deck underneath the tower that provides heavenly views under cozy weather. The tower is a wonderful place to visit during the evenings and provides the perfect setting for relaxing and appreciating the breathtaking scenery of Tokyo.

  • Day 10: Shizuoka Green Tea Farm Visit
    from Tokyo Tower: 3 hours (163 km)

    Laying your inhibitions to rest and experiencing a traditional form of tea making could not be more challenging than visiting one of the scenic tea farms in Shizuoka. Here, soak up the atmosphere, get a chance to understand the tea's history, and learn how to make the perfect cup. It is an exclusively excellent way to spend your day that involves experiencing various forms of local Japanese tea and taking scenic nature walks.

  • Day 11: Shopping in Yokohama
    from Shizuoka Green Tea Farm: 2 hours (110 km)

    Enjoy some shopping and leisurely walks by the bay waterside in Yokohama, Japan's second-largest city. You will find various shopping centers, cafes, museums, and gardens that provide a relaxing atmosphere. We recommend visiting the landmark in Yokohama named Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse that has transformed into fancy stores and restaurants housing many delightful food by Japan’s well-known chefs with globalized trends, providing a memorable experience.

  • Day 12: Departure from Japan
    from Yokohama: Tokyo Haneda Airport 30 minutes (24 km), Narita International Airport 2 hours (126 km)

    Enjoy the last moments of relaxation before departing from Japan. In Yokohama, it is a great idea to catch up with some of the relaxing spa experiences, unwind while enjoying traditional Japanese- western fused restaurants or walking the city streets, taking in the sites one last time.

Time and Costs Estimates

  • Oedo Onsen Monogatari (2-3 hours, ¥3000–¥4000)
  • Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (1-2 hours, ¥500–¥1000)
  • Hakone Open-Air Museum (2-3 hours, ¥2000–¥3000)
  • Kyoto Guided Tour (8-9 hours, ¥26000–¥30000)
  • Asakusa district (1-2 hours, Free)
  • Tokyo Tower (2-3 hours, ¥2500–¥5000)
  • Shizuoka Green Tea Farm visit (3-4 hours, ¥3000–¥5000)
  • Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse (2-3 hours, Free)
  • Total Estimated Costs (excluding airfare and accommodations): ¥47000–¥67000

Transportation

Consider getting a suica card to make travelling more comfortable. It can be used to pay for trains and buses, essentially making it an all-around ticket for tourists in Japan. The cost of a round trip via bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto is around ¥28,000. For the other places, you can use the suica card, take a taxi, or local buses to navigate the journey.

Useful tips

If you have more time, explore more areas that Japan has to offer, such as the temple-filled city of Nara, the scenic coastal town of Kamakura, or the rural beauty of Kanazawa. If you have less time, remove Fushimi Inari and Asakusa district from the itinerary to focus on the country's famous hot springs, gardens, and shopping districts.

Airports

The main international airports in Japan are Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) and Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND), located around 60km from one another, and Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Osaka which is Japan's third-largest airport.

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