The first day is a standard affair. Your guide will pick you up at the airport and assist you with preparations for the tour. A private coach will take you to your hotel in the heart of the city. After the check-in procedures are completed, you will have the rest of the day to yourselves.

The current capital of Japan is your starting point for this tour. Despite its modern appearance and infrastructure, Tokyo is a city of rich tradition and culture. Your day tour in this metropolis will feature mainly the traditional side of Tokyo. The attractions chosen are therefore: its oldest and most famous Buddhist temple, its largest and most significant Shinto shrine, and the current residence of the Japanese Emperor.

During your time at each attraction you will observe and mingle with the local visitors, witness their customs and actions in places of worship, and experience different aspects of Japanese beliefs. Try rubbing the smoke of Senso-ji’s incense burner on your head, getting your fortune told, or writing your wish down on an “ema” in Meiji Jingu. You will also enjoy the freshest sushi, the signature Japanese dish, in Ginza.

Going on an excursion to Mt. Fuji today, you will witness the majestic mountain both as a natural wonder and as a form of art. In the morning, you will head to some of the best spots of the season to experience the beauty of Fuji, either directly on its slope where unique plants grow due to the elevation, or atop another mountain you can reach on a ropeway when Fuji itself is not accessible. Both places have a Japanese folk tale associated with them.

In the afternoon, you will visit a kimono museum near Lake Kawaguchi. This place displays many meticulously made kimono, including a series depicting Mt. Fuji, and arguably Itchiku Kubota’s most famous work, the “Symphony of Light.” The hard work and attention to detail that gave birth to this exhibit will fully engross you. After a mesmerizing time in the museum, you will once more return to Tokyo.

Leaving Tokyo, you will take the famous shinkansen, which can cover more than 500 kilometers in just two hours. Arriving in Kyoto at noon, you will immediately enjoy a traditional taste of the city for lunch. Afterward, you will visit Higashiyama, Kyoto’s most famous old town district, and experience a Japanese tea ceremony.

In the evening, you will be sightseeing around the city’s most famous geisha district. The area is full of old wooden houses, shops, and teahouses. If you are lucky, you may be able to catch a glimpse of passing geiko and maiko. To give you a better picture of the geisha culture of Japan, you will watch a cultural show at Gion Corner, where you will learn about various forms of Japanese art performed by apprentice geisha.

After the old town and geisha aspects of Kyoto that you explored yesterday, you will be visiting the temples and castle that the city is renowned for today. Your first destination, Kinkaku-ji, is the Golden Pavilion Temple, known for its glittering reflection on the water. The second, Ryoan-ji, is known for its dry landscape, which arrange rocks and gravels into a profound scenery. After the two temples, you will enjoy a delicious temari-zushi lunch in a restaurant nearby.

In the afternoon, you will visit the well-preserved Nijo Castle, a symbol of the shogun’s power during the Edo period. The palace building is known for its squeaking nightingale floors and beautifully decorated interior. Afterward, you will leave Kyoto and take the bullet train to Nagoya to stay the night. Nagoya is famous for its chicken wings and miso katsu, which you may want to try for dinner!

It is time to start the loop back to Tokyo! You will be going north from Nagoya today, starting from the antiquated post towns of the old Nakasendo Road. Checking out of Nagoya, you will be transferred to Magome-juku, one of the many stations of the mountainous trade route. After a brief sightseeing session and a simple soba lunch, you will go on the 7-km long Nakasendo Hiking Trail to reach Tsumago-juku.

At the end of the exciting hike, you will check into your minshuku (family guesthouse) in Tsumago, where you will experience life in a traditional Japanese home. After checking in, you can continue sightseeing around this post town until dinnertime. Tsumago has many local shops and small shrines and temples to visit, so try to take in as much of the atmosphere as you can. Enjoy your stay in this quiet, rural area of Japan.

Leaving Tsumago, you will once again cross the Japanese Alps to continue your journey to the north. Your destination today is Takayama, one of the largest cities in Gifu Prefecture. This city is known for many things: its beautiful and expansive old town district, its well-preserved local government office, and its delicious regional beef. But above all, if you are visiting in April or October, you may just be able to catch the popular bi-annual festival!

Your activities today are designed to deliver as much of authentic Japan as possible. Try out various kinds of sake (rice wine) in a brewery in the Sannomachi old town. Browse for traditional Japanese tools and craft in the many shops that line the streets. Study the timberwork and samurai artifacts in Takayama Jinya, and the local crafts in Kusakabe Heritage Museum. At the end of this active day, you will check into your ryokan and get some rest.

On your third day crossing the Japanese Alps, you will arrive at the renowned Shirakawa-go. This historic village, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famous for the lasting legacy of its gassho-zukuri architecture. Enjoy a walk around the farm houses, and the picturesque view from atop the observatory at one end of the village.

The traditional houses are especially beautiful in winter when the thick snow covers their thatched roofs. In other seasons, however, you can leave Shirakawa-go through the scenic Hakusan White Road, which passes by many waterfalls along the way. You will arrive in Kanazawa in the afternoon, where you will celebrate reaching the other coast of Japan by getting a well deserved rest.

The last major destination before returning to Tokyo is Kanazawa. This city has many remnants of the samurai culture, making it a fascinating study of Japanese tradition. In the morning, you will be strolling around the premises of Kanazawa Castle and the beautiful Kenroku-en garden, both built by the wealthy daimyo of the province. Afterward is a delicious lunch in the fish market.

In the afternoon, you will see another legacy of the samurai clan in the form of a temple. The Ninja-dera is so-named despite having no relation to the ninja due to the many tricks and traps hidden in this camouflaged samurai hideout. Finally, you will be exploring the Naga-machi district and the old homes of samurai families to learn about their way of life.

Leaving Kanazawa and taking the bullet train back to Tokyo, you will finally close the loop that your trails have formed during your journey around Honshu. To celebrate your completion of the Golden Ring, you will have an authentic washoku lunch in the iconic Kill Bill restaurant. Afterward, you will be brought to your hotel in Haneda/Narita, depending on your airport of departure.

You have completed the Golden Ring tour! We hope that you enjoyed your trip with ILJT! On the last day, you will check out of your hotel and conduct an independent transfer to the airport. Have a safe flight back home, and see you again soon!