Itinerary - Japan 360°: Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka

Round trip flights are not included in the package, so you can choose from where and when you want to fly. This is to give you maximum freedom of choice!

Hotel check-in in Tokyo and welcome meeting.

We kick off our day early in order to make the most of our adventure. Our first destination is Kamakura, an ancient imperial city and one of the first capital cities of Japan. We'll explore a variety of temples and palaces, each one offering a glimpse into Kamakura's rich history. One of the highlights of our visit will be the Great Buddha, a magnificent statue that has stood the test of time, surviving numerous typhoons and even a tsunami that ravaged the temple surrounding it. It's also one of the very few Buddha statues that can be visited from the inside. Shall we go in?

We head back to Tokyo by train and arrive refreshed and ready to explore more of the city's culture and history. We visit Ueno Park, one of the most significant parks in the city, home to many temples and shrines. The most notable is the Gojo Tenjinsha Shinto shrine, which can be reached by walking through a pathway lined with traditional red torii gates. Food is a fundamental part of any country's culture, so tonight's dinner will be no exception. We immerse ourselves in the vibrant streets of Ameyoko Market, near Ueno Park. Let's get our taste buds ready!

Another early morning to embark on a journey aboard one of Japan's iconic bullet trains. Our destination is Kyoto, known for its rich history and beautiful temples. We'll experience the efficiency and punctuality of the Japanese railway system as we travel at high speeds and arrive at our destination in no time. Will we be able to catch a glimpse of snow-capped Mount Fuji?

As we arrive in Kyoto in the afternoon, we'll check into our hotel and get ready to explore this beautiful city. Known for its rich history and cultural heritage, Kyoto is one of the most picturesque cities in Japan. Our first stop will be the neighbourhood of Kawaramachi, where we can stroll through the streets filled with shops and izakayas, typical small restaurants. After a walk through the neighbourhood, we'll head to Nishiki Market, a must-see destination for any food lover. Here, we'll find an array of street food stands offering a wide variety of Japanese delicacies such as sushi, sashimi, fresh fish, yakitori, gyoza and even sweet treats like melon pan and matcha-flavoured ice-cream.

After satisfying our taste buds, we'll make our way to Gion, a famous district known for its traditional teahouses and geishas. As we walk through the streets, we'll have the chance to spot geishas dressed in their traditional attire. The best time to visit Gion is at sunset – it's selfie time!

Today we delve deeper into the rich cultural heritage of Kyoto by visiting some of its most iconic and historic sites. There are 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and over 700 Shinto temples here... but unfortunately we won't have time to visit them all! A must-see is definitely Fushimi Inari Shrine, a Shinto place of worship known for its thousands of red torii gates that lead up to the mountain's summit. We'll also visit the iconic Kyomizu-dera Temple, which is renowned for its sacred water.

After lunch, we have the opportunity to head east to visit one of Japan's emblems: the Kinkaku-ji Temple, also known as the Golden Temple. The temple is covered in gold leaves that, when illuminated by sunlight, create a stunning reflection on the pond in front of it. In Japanese culture, gold symbolizes purification from negative thoughts, so we can expect to leave with clear and peaceful minds after visiting this beautiful site. We end the day at Ryoanji Temple, where we can stroll through the largest Zen garden in Japan. Have we found inner peace yet?

We spend the morning in Arashiyama, the neighbourhood where we can get lost in the magical Bamboo Forest – a place that you may have seen on Instagram, as it's probably one of the most photogenic places in Japan. To truly experience the magic of the forest, we'll be getting an early start and be there when the crowds are minimal. We'll have the opportunity to wander through the forest and park and then visit the Tenryuji Temple, one of the five Zen temples in Kyoto. It's the perfect way to start our day, surrounded by natural beauty and serenity.

In the afternoon, we have the option to have a leisurely stroll around the city and do some shopping or indulge in a traditional Japanese spa experience at an onsen. Throughout our stay in Kyoto, we may have noticed locals dressed in traditional attire such as kimonos for women and hakamas for men. If we choose to do so, we can also experience dressing up in traditional attire and immerse ourselves in the local culture for a truly unique evening.

We bid farewell to the picturesque city of Kyoto, where we have spent the past three days, and head to the train station for our next journey via bullet train. After a three-hour ride, we arrive in Hiroshima and make our way to the port to board a ferry to Miyajima Island. A must-see attraction here is the iconic Great Torii, a free-standing gate situated in the sea that creates mesmerising reflections on the water. We will take a leisurely stroll down the main street of the town, where we will have the opportunity to indulge in a variety of street food options. Be mindful of the friendly, yet quite hungry, deer wandering around the area.

Today, we pay our respects to the tragic history of Hiroshima as we visit Memorial Park, a solemn reminder of the devastating effects of the first nuclear attack in human history. On 6 August 1945, the city was destroyed and many lives were lost. As we walk through the park, we will come across various memorials and monuments that honour the victims of the bombing. We may also have the opportunity to hear from local guides who volunteer their time to keep the memory of this tragic event alive.

We board the Shinkansen once more and make our way to the city of Himeji, renowned for its iconic castle, which has stood for over 400 years and miraculously survived the bombings of World War II. We'll explore the city centre and search for the perfect viewpoint to capture a photo of the castle and its pagoda-style roofs that will make us feel like on a film set.

Osaka is the third most populated city in Japan and is renowned for being the most liberal one as well. Surely tonight will be the right time to find out if what they say is true! Before going out and living the Osaka nightlife, we need to taste okonomiyaki, a savoury pancake that one simply cannot skip during a trip to Japan. After all, Osaka is also the food capital of Japan! We will embark on an exciting 3-hour guided food tour to try a bunch of different local delicacies! After all the delicious food, we'll walk up to Osaka Castle to burn off the calories.

Nara was one of Japan’s capital cities, which is the reason why there are so many historical and cultural sites. We arrive in the morning and we have the whole day to explore temples, gardens and pagodas – but most importantly, we can meet the 1,200 deer that live in Nara-koen Park. They are semi-wild deer that roam freely around the park: in order to conquer their hearts, we can buy a pack of deer crackers and feed them.

Besides the deer, there are many sites that we can visit – choosing which ones will be a very hard task! We can start with Daibatsu-den, the biggest wooden building in the world that enshrines a 17-metre tall Great Buddha and then continue with Kasuga-taisha Shrine, the most important Shinto shrine in Nara, and Naramachi, the traditional district of shops, restaurants, workshops and ryokan (traditional Japanese inns). Just remember: we only have one day, let’s make the most out of it!

Another bullet train journey and we're back in Tokyo in less than 3 hours, ready to fully enjoy this megalopolis and its neighbourhoods.

Asakusa will be our starting point, as it is the heart of old Tokyo. Once again, we can dive into Japanese culture and history, visiting Senso-ji Temple and its pagoda. Near the temple, there are so many food stands, meaning that even today we’ll get the chance to try out Japanese street food. Before leaving, let’s not forget to make a wish with an omikuji, a typical Japanese fortune ticket.

After lunch, we move to Ueno, a popular neighbourhood with a huge park, many museums, temples, shrines and even a zoo. During the blooming season, Ueno Park is the place to be: if we are here around March and April, we can come and enjoy the cherry blossoms as Japanese do. It’s called hanami - literally, “flower viewing”. We could even go on a rowing boat ride if we feel like it!

Next is a stroll through the Yanaka District, one of the few areas that weren't bombed during World War II, before we return to Shinjuku for dinner and maybe to join the locals for a great night out in one of the many bars in the area.

Let's continue our tour of Tokyo: this morning we start with Harajuku, the street fashion neighbourhood where crazy fashion trends originate, such as the Gothic Lolita or Ganguro. Then we move from modern times into older ones as we reach Yoyogi Park and visit Meiji-Jingu – a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Emperor – and then walk along Takeshita-dori, a modern street full of shops. It's the perfect time to buy some souvenirs!

After lunch we go to Shibuya, a chaotic neighbourhood that is always crowded. Does the name sound familiar? Well, that’s because the busiest crossroad in the world is here! Will we be able to 'go with the flow' of the many Japanese crossing Shibuya everyday? Let’s try!

Believe it or not, but we’re already getting close to the end of this trip. What a better way to celebrate than with a nice farewell dinner? However, our tour couldn't be complete with the utmost Japanese activity – karaoke! Let's clear our throats, everyone sing!

Check-out and goodbye – until your next WeRoad adventure!