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Japan Express: Osaka to Tokyo
Overview (/trips/japan-express-osaka-to-tokyo/9270/)

Full itinerary (/trips/japan-express-osaka-to-tokyo/9270/itinerary/)

Tour details (/trips/japan-express-osaka-to-tokyo/9270/details/)

Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Itinerary Notes  Chat with us

 Luggage size restriction – Effective from May 2020 onwards
All G Adventures tours in Japan use the world-famous Shinkansen bullet trains, which have a restriction on
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maximum luggage size. Your luggage must be less than 160cm in total. This is roughly the size that most
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airline companies consider as "carry-on baggage" and allow in overhead storage compartments.

We strongly recommend bringing a day pack or backpack to use during the day, in addition to your carry-on
sized luggage. Please see “What to take” under Tour details for more information.

Itinerary

Day 1
Osaka
Arrive at any time.

We highly recommend booking pre-accommodation to fully experience this lively city.

Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Meeting - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour.
Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby
(or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Accommodation

Below is an example of the hotel we may use in this city. For the actual hotel your specific
departure will be using, please check your voucher.

Hearton Hotel Nishi Umeda (or similar)

Hotel

Day 2
Osaka/Kōyasan
Travel to the centre of Buddhism in Japan and sleep in a temple atop the 800m Mt Koya.
Savour a traditional dinner of shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine). Watch the monks
pray in the morning.

Journey to Mt Koya, a religious centre founded in 816 by the Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi.
The train ride up the mountain is possibly one of the finest rail journeys in Japan. For the
final steep ascent, switch to funicular and then hop on a bus to reach the monastery.

In the evening, dine on shojin-ryori, typical vegetarian cuisine, and relax in a yukata, or
kimono.
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 Please note that the new JR Pass validation policy asks travellers to come to the office
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Train
Osaka – Kōyasan 3h Morning

Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.

Your Local Living Moment: Overnight in Mount Kōya Temple

During the overnight stay in the mountain temple, witness the routines of the monks and
dine on typical fare. Explore the temples and moss covered Oku-no-in cemetery in the
afternoon. In the evening, savour the shojin-ryori vegetarian cuisine, and relax in a yukata
or kimono. Early morning at the temple offers the chance to observe the monks praying,
before a vegetarian breakfast. Breathe the fresh mountain air and soak in the beautiful
surroundings.

Accommodation
Sekishoin (or similar)
Monastery

Meals included: Breakfast | Dinner

Day 3
Kōyasan/Hiroshima
Watch the monks pray in the morning and enjoy a traditional breakfast. Have some time to
enjoy Koyasan this morning, before travelling to Hiroshima this afternoon.

Early morning offers the chance to observe the monks praying. Breathe in some fresh
mountain air before a vegetarian breakfast, then start the journey back down the mountain
via bus, train and funicular.

Later, board a train to Hiroshima, a historically significant city, marked by the explosion of
the first atomic bomb in 1945.

Bullet Train
Kōyasan – Hiroshima 5h

Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a
high-speed train.

Oku-no-in Cemetery Visit

Kōyasan

Oku-no-in is the most sacred site in Koyasan and the location of the mausoleum for Kobo
Daishi (also known as Kukai), the founder of Shingon Buddhism. The area is surrounded by
a massive cemetery, the largest in Japan. With over 200,000 tombstones lining the almost
2km path to Kobo Daishi's mausoleum, there is plenty of area to explore. Be sure to see
Torodo Hall (Hall of Lamps), the main place of worship, where more than 10,000 lanterns
are kept burning day and night.

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Accommodation
 Via Inn Hiroshima Shinkansenguchi (or similar)
Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast Cart Login Menu

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Day 4
Hiroshima
This morning, visit the Peace Park and Memorial Museum commemorating the events of
1945. In the afternoon, take a ferry ride over to the sacred island of Miyajima to see the
famous floating Torii Gate. Opt to hike around Mt Misen.

Hiroshima Park and Peace Memorial

Hiroshima

Walk through the Peace Park in the centre of Hiroshima, a living memorial dedicated to the
tens of thousands who died from the atomic bomb blast in 1945. Visit the statue of Sadako
Sasaki, a young girl who died of leukemia as a result of the bomb blast, despite folding
1,000 origami paper cranes to appeal to the gods to make her well. See the frame of the
Gembaku Dome, the sole building to withstand the explosion. Reflect, remember, and be
reminded of the power we all hold to create peace.

Ferry
Hiroshima – Miyajima

Hop a ferry to reach the island and journey back in the evening.

Miyajima Island Visit

Miyajima – Hiroshima

Take a trip to Miyajima Island, famed as one of Japan's most scenic spots, with a free
afternoon to explore. See the famous floating Torii Gate, set out in the bay, which glows
extraordinarily at sunset. The island is dotted with shrines and temples, populated by deer,
and traversed with hiking trails for those who want to get some exercise. There are also
lanes full of souvenirs and tasty treats. Visit Miyajima at your own pace, and have the
option to hike up to the peak of the island, Mt Misen, to see spectacular views of the
surrounding islands.

Free Time
Miyajima Afternoon

Free time on Miyajima Island to make the most of this beautiful location.

1 Optional Activities - Day 4 Hide

Mt. Misen Visit

Miyajima 2-6km
Free-1840JPY per person
Set out for the summit of Mt. Misen, Miyajima’s highest peak at 500m (1,640 ft) above sea
level. Opt to hike one of three trails through the forest and keep an eye out for wild deer or
catch a ride on the ropeway and walk the remaining distance to the top. Take in great views
of the Seto Inland Sea and on a clear day see as far as the city of Hiroshima.

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Accommodation
 Via Inn Hiroshima Shinkansenguchi (or similar)
Hotel

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Day 5
Hiroshima/Kyoto
Travel to Kyoto and start exploring. Visit the impressive Nijo Castle and gardens, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the evening, explore the geisha district of Gion on a
CEO-led walking tour.

Please note the Ninomaru Palace at Nijo Castle will be closed from Dec 26-Jan 3. Groups
travelling during this time will visit the Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

Bullet Train
Hiroshima – Kyoto 1h30m-2h

Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a
high-speed train.

Gion Walk
Kyoto

Walk through Gion, Kyoto's most famous geisha district. Visit shops, restaurants and
ochaya (teahouses), where geiko (Kyoto dialect for geisha) and maiko (geiko apprentices)
entertain.

Nijo Castle and Gardens Visit

Kyoto

Visit the Nijo Castle, the residence of the first shogun of the Edo Period built in 1603. Now a
UNESCO World Heritage Site, the property is divided into three areas: the Honmaru (main
circular fortification), Ninomaru (secondary circle of defense), and the gorgeous gardens
that surround both.

Accommodation
Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo (or similar)
Hotel

Day 6
Kyoto
Enjoy a visit to the beautiful Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine and walk under the bright torii
gates. Opt to shop, stroll along the riverbank, or explore another of Kyoto's many temples
with free time.

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine Visit

Kyoto

Visit the Fushimi Inari shrine, located just outside of Kyoto. Walk under the thousands of
iconic torii gates (as seen in the film Memoirs of a Geisha) and enjoy the peaceful
atmosphere. The shrine itself is at the base of the Inari mountain but includes many trails
up to smaller shrines in the area.
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 Free Time
Kyoto Afternoon

Continue exploring Japan's historic capital with some free time. Cart Login Menu

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1 Optional Activities - Day 6 Hide

Zen Gardens of Ryōan-ji

Kyoto
500JPY per person
The Ryōan-ji garden is one of the best examples of kare-sansui, or dry landscape, a type of
Zen garden. Fifteen large rocks are placed within a sea of white pebbles raked into linear
patterns to facilitate meditation. Stand on the platform to get the best view from above.
Stroll the grounds around the Ryoan-ji Temple and along the Kyoyo-chi pond.

Accommodation
Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo (or similar)
Hotel

Day 7
Kyoto/Hakone
Take a boat ride on Lake Ashino-ko, and hopefully catch a glimpse of majestic Mt Fuji.
Enjoy a feast on a Japanese multi-course kaiseki meal then soak in the natural hot
springs.

Travel to Hakone, a town in the hills famous for its onsens, or natural hot springs.

In the evening, enjoy savouring a complex meal of traditional Japanese foods, followed by
a recommended soak in the onsen.

Bullet Train
Kyoto – Odawara 3h

Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a
high-speed train.

Local Bus
Odawara – Hakone 30m

Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.

Lake Ashino-ko Boat Ride

Hakone 30m

Hop aboard a passenger boat to cruise the waters of Lake Ashinoko. If you are lucky, on a
clear day you can capture a view of
Mt Fuji. The lake was formed from the caldera of Mt Hakone following its eruption 3000
years ago. Sit back, relax and enjoy.

Traditional Kaiseki Meal

Hakone
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 Savour a complex meal of traditional Japanese foods, then finish the day with a soak in the
onsen.
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(/) Accommodation
TKP Hotel & Resort Rekutore Hakone Gora (or similar)
Hotel

Meals included: Dinner

Day 8
Hakone/Tokyo
Head to Tokyo with time to do some last-minute shopping.

Arrive before noon to Tokyo, with time to explore this energetic metropolis.

Opt to visit Ueno park and the museums, Akihabara for cutting edge electronics, Harajuku
for funky fashions, Ginza for the highest of the high end, walk the grounds of the Imperial
Palace East Garden, or just stroll the streets, looking for the traditional life that still lies just
under the modern surface.

Bullet Train
Hakone – Tokyo 2h

Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a
high-speed train.

Free Time
Tokyo Afternoon

With so much to do, start exploring now.

5 Optional Activities - Day 8 Show

Accommodation
Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku (or similar)
Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 9
Tokyo
Depart at any time.

We highly recommend booking post-accommodation to fully experience this vibrant city.

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