4 Cities We Visit on an 11-Day Trip to Japan
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What if you had the formula for planning a momentous trip to Japan? People are flocking to Japan right now and we want to share with you the 4 cities we always take our travelers to when we go on our 11-Day Trip to Japan.
We chose these cities because they provide a wide variety of cuisines and experiences that truly capture the spirit of Japan. We’re sharing a few of our recommendations about what to do in the cities, but we also recognize that planning an 11-day trip is no easy feat. If you want an effortless experience from start to finish and our itinerary piques your interest, check out our small group trips and see when we’re traveling to Japan in 2023 and 2024. Or inquire with us if you want to turn our itinerary into a private group trip for your family or friends.
Osaka
We recommend our travelers fly to Kansai International Airport because it’s an accessible international airport with lots of flight options. Get to know the city through a signature TTLT progressive dinner tour as you meander through neighborhoods where the locals live and visit small izakayas (casual pubs) where you can try famous dishes like takoyaki and okonomiyaki.
If you’re looking to venture outside of Osaka, we visit a private property in a town outside of Osaka with small houses surrounded by beautiful gardens where we witness a master artisan at work as he handmakes makes a chasen (bamboo tea whisk). This is a unique experience as the master is one of only 18 people left in Japan who can properly perform this craft from start to finish. For dinner, we recommend a traditional kaiseki (multi-course) dinner.
Kyoto
Your first stop should be a small tea town just outside of Kyoto. On a tea farm tour, you can learn how to pick the perfect tea leaves as well as the process of harvesting and producing tea. Don’t forget to have a tea tasting where you can learn the differences in flavors and styles of Japanese green tea.
In Kyoto, we recommend you explore the main areas of the city and pass through the Yasaka Shrine on a walking tour with a local guide. You can’t miss a multi-course tempura tasting. This is an incredible experience where you can watch master chefs lightly fry the delicious vegetables, shrimp, and other seasonal ingredients right before your eyes so you’re tasting them as fresh as possible.
Don’t miss visiting the Kameyama-kōen park for a shojin ryori lunch (zen vegetarian cuisine) in a private room at a temple-style restaurant. The cuisine reflects Buddhist ideals, creating satisfying, nourishing meals from seasonal vegetables, herbs, and plants while depriving no animals of life. After lunch, we like to take a stroll through the Arashiyama bamboo forest toward the scenic Okochi Sanso Villa and surrounding gardens.
No visit to Kyoto is complete without visiting the famous Fushimi-Inari Shrine. This Shinto shrine is known for its thousands of red torii (traditional Japanese Shinto gates). If you have the time, venture further up the hike for about an hour – the further you walk, the fewer toursits there are!
While in Kyoto, don’t miss going to the famous ramen street where can experience the local way of ordering ramen – using a vending machine and picking your own ramen style.
Ishikawa
Visit a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) in a small hot spring town in Ishikawa. While there, enjoy a private sake tasting with a sake sommelier or take a short woodworking class and learn how to make local handmade crafts. After your hands-on crafts experience, we recommend slurping up a traditional handmade soba noodle lunch.
From there, it’s easiest to take the bullet train to Tokyo. Don’t forget to choose a bento box to take with you to enjoy on the train – a quintessential Japanese experience!
Tokyo
Make sure to visit the Ebisu neighborhood where you’ll observe the contrast between the izakayas in Osaka to those in Tokyo. You definitely need one full day of sightseeing in a city as big as Tokyo. We like to navigate the Japanese subway system like a local. It’s the cleanest, fastest, most punctual, and most efficient public transportation in the world.
One of our favorite days in Tokyo is when we visit the outer market of the old Tsukiji Fish Market, stop for a sushi lunch and other seafood snacks before visiting the Hama Rikyu Garden and board a small cruise for a half hour toward the bustling neighborhood of Asakusa.
You can’t leave Tokyo without visiting the Meiji Jingu Shrine, a spectacular Shinto Shrine neighboring Yoyogi Park, the Harajuku shopping district, and the Roppongi Hills Observatory Deck that has the best view of Tokyo’s vast skyline.
By the end of the trip, you’re leaving with a belly full of delicious cuisines, new friends, and a deeper connection with Japanese culture and way of life. As one of our signature trips, travelers can’t believe the experiences they have when they travel with us. See what they’ve said about our trips!
If this itinerary is of interest to you, there are two ways to experience this trip!
Join us on our small group trip in 2023 or 2024.
Book this itinerary for your own group trip. Perfect for multi-generation families or a group of friends. You can experience our signature itinerary for just YOUR group.
No matter where you travel, we always recommend purchasing travel protection to safeguard against sudden changes or cancellations. If you don’t already have a preferred vendor, you can check out ours - Travel Insured - which offers a “Cancel for Any Reason” policy.
