15Nov2026
15 – 25 Nov 2026
Last minute
from€5,160
20 seats available
BestsellerLast minute
Japan: Sakura and Kyoto
Cherry blossom, temples and bullet trains from Tokyo to Osaka
4.5(2) Code ITH-JP-01
- Duration11 days · 9 nights
- DestinationsJapan
- Group with a Greek-speaking tour leader10–20 people
- LevelModerate
- Tour leaderGreek · English
- FlightsIncluded
- Minimum ageFrom age 8
Overview
Eleven days to see Japan just as it changes colour: in late March and April cherry trees turn parks and temples into pink clouds, while in October and November maples set the hillsides alight in red. From the lights of Tokyo to the silence of Kyoto's gardens, with stops at Mount Fuji, Hakone and Nara, the route alternates big cities with landscapes.
We travel by private coach and shinkansen, with Ithaka's Greek coordinator and local guides who open the right doors: a tea ceremony, a night with a hot-spring bath, dinners among the street-food stalls of Osaka. The pace is moderate, with free evenings so you can explore in your own way.
Highlights
- Senso-ji and the lanterns of Asakusa
- The Shibuya crossing and the forest of Meiji Shrine
- The Chureito Pagoda with Mount Fuji behind it
- A night in Hakone with an onsen bath and kaiseki dinner
- The vermilion gates of Fushimi Inari and the Golden Pavilion
- A tea ceremony and an evening stroll through Gion
- The deer of Nara and the giant Buddha of Todai-ji
- Dotonbori at night, with neon lights and street food
Accommodation
4★ hotels in central areas and one night in a ryokan
- Tokyo: 4★ hotel in a central area (2 nights)
- Hakone: traditional ryokan or 4★ hotel with an onsen (1 night)
- Kyoto: 4★ hotel in the centre (4 nights)
- Osaka: 4★ hotel near Dotonbori (2 nights)
Meals
9 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 4 dinners, including a kaiseki dinner in Hakone
Transport
Scheduled flights, shinkansen, private coach and local trains
Itinerary
11 days, stop by stop. Open a day to see what is planned: the map shows where you will be.
Day1 Athens → Tokyo: the long flightAthens → Tokyo
We meet at Athens airport with your Greek coordinator and take a scheduled flight to Japan with one connection. It is a long journey that includes a night in the air: a good book, a travel pillow and a little patience go a long way.
- Flight
Day2 Arrival in Tokyo and AsakusaTokyo (Asakusa)
Arrival in Tokyo and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon we head to Asakusa: under the great red lantern of the Kaminarimon gate, along Nakamise street with its stalls of sweets and paper fans, to Senso-ji, the city's oldest temple, where incense smoke drifts into the dusk. Welcome dinner.
- Coach
- Dinner
Day3 Tokyo: market, Meiji Shrine and ShibuyaTokyo (Shibuya)
A morning at a food market, tasting rolled omelette, grilled seafood and green tea. Then the forest of Meiji Shrine: gravel paths, stacked sake barrels and, with luck, a traditional wedding procession. In the afternoon we reach Shibuya, with its famous pedestrian crossing and the neon coming on at dusk.
- Train
- Breakfast · Lunch
Day4 Fuji, Chureito Pagoda and HakoneMount Fuji · Hakone
We leave Tokyo for the Fuji area. At Fujiyoshida we climb to the red Chureito Pagoda, the classic view of Mount Fuji framed by cherry trees in spring and russet maples in autumn, then stroll by Lake Kawaguchi. In the evening, Hakone: an onsen bath and a kaiseki dinner. Fuji shows itself only when the sky is clear.
- Coach
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day5 Hakone and the shinkansen to KyotoHakone → Kyoto
Morning in Hakone: a cruise on Lake Ashi and, if conditions allow, the ropeway above the steaming vents of Owakudani. Then coach to Odawara and the shinkansen to Kyoto: the bullet train glides past tea fields and, on clear days, shows Fuji once more. Evening free in Kyoto.
- Train
- Breakfast
Day6 Fushimi Inari and the Golden PavilionKyoto
At Fushimi Inari we climb through thousands of vermilion torii gates, with dappled light and fox statues guarding the small shrines; we start early to find the path quiet. Then Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, shimmering above its pond. Evening free for dinner on your own.
- Coach
- Breakfast · Lunch
Day7 Arashiyama and the tea ceremonyKyoto (Arashiyama)
Arashiyama in the morning: the bamboo grove with its green light and rustling canes, the garden of Tenryu-ji and the Togetsukyo bridge over the river. After lunch, a tea ceremony in a traditional tea house: the slow ritual of whisking matcha, served with a seasonal sweet. Evening free.
- Coach
- Breakfast · Lunch
Day8 Higashiyama, the pagoda and GionKyoto (Higashiyama · Gion)
A walk through Higashiyama: the stone-paved lanes of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, wooden townhouses and the five-storey Yasaka Pagoda, framed by cherry blossom in spring and red maples in autumn. Free time in the afternoon for the old shops; at dusk we stroll through Gion, the geisha district, before dinner.
- On foot
- Breakfast · Dinner
Day9 Nara: deer and Todai-ji, then OsakaNara → Osaka
By train to Nara. In the park the deer come to bow for a biscuit; then Todai-ji, inside one of the largest wooden halls in the world, home to a giant bronze Buddha. In the afternoon we continue to Osaka, a city that lives for its food, and settle into the hotel.
- Train
- Breakfast · Lunch
Day10 Osaka: the castle and DotonboriOsaka
We visit Osaka Castle, with its stone walls and moat, in the morning, followed by free time for shopping. In the evening, a farewell dinner and a stroll through Dotonbori: neon signs reflected in the canal, steam rising from the takoyaki grills and lanterns glowing down the whole street.
- Train
- Breakfast · Dinner
Day11 Osaka → AthensOsaka → Athens
After breakfast, transfer to Kansai airport for the flight home with one connection. You return to Athens with a suitcase full of photographs, a few packets of green tea and the memory of a spring or an autumn that will not easily fade.
- Flight
- Breakfast
Dates and prices
Prices are per person in a double room. Choose your departure and book online in just a few minutes.
22Nov2026
22 Nov – 2 Dec 2026
Last minute
from€4,710
17 seats available
21Mar2027
21 – 31 Mar 2027
from€4,710
20 seats available
28Mar2027
28 Mar – 7 Apr 2027
from€5,610
20 seats available
4Apr2027
4 – 14 Apr 2027
from€5,160
20 seats available
11Apr2027
11 – 21 Apr 2027
from€4,490
20 seats available
18Oct2027
18 – 28 Oct 2027
from€4,360
20 seats available
1Nov2027
1 – 11 Nov 2027
from€4,490
20 seats available
8Nov2027
8 – 18 Nov 2027
from€4,940
20 seats available
15Nov2027
15 – 25 Nov 2027
from€5,160
20 seats available
22Nov2027
22 Nov – 2 Dec 2027
from€4,710
20 seats available
- Single room: supplement of €890
- Children aged 2 to 11: 85% of the adult price
- Infants under 2: €350
What is included
Included in the price
- Scheduled flights from Athens (ATH) with one connection, airport taxes included
- 9 nights in 4★ hotels, one of them in a ryokan or a hotel with an onsen
- Daily breakfast, 5 lunches and 4 dinners as shown in the itinerary
- Shinkansen from Odawara to Kyoto and local train journeys
- Private air-conditioned coach and airport transfers
- Ithaka's Greek coordinator throughout the journey
- Local English-speaking guides at the main sights
- Entrance fees to the temples, gardens and monuments in the programme
- Tea ceremony in a traditional tea house in Kyoto
Not included
- Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
- Travel and cancellation insurance (optional, available as an extra)
- Any visa or entry authorisation, depending on nationality
- Personal expenses, souvenirs and laundry
- Optional excursions and activities
- Single-room supplement
Optional extras
- Basic travel insuranceCover for medical expenses, assistance and baggage during the trip, calculated as a percentage of the total…
- Travel insurance with cancellation coverIncludes the basic cover plus a refund of cancellation costs, with broader cancellation reasons, within the…
- Private transfer to and from Athens airportA private car with driver from your address in Athens to the airport and back, so that your trip starts and…
- Extra night before or after the tripOne or more nights in a 4★ hotel with breakfast, in Athens before departure or at the last destination after…
- Departure from ThessalonikiFor travellers in northern Greece: a connecting flight from and to Thessaloniki, so you can join the group…
- Premium economy upgradeMore legroom, a more comfortable seat and a better meal on intercontinental flights. Price per person,…
- Optional excursions packageAn amount per person for the optional excursions your coordinator suggests during the trip, such as a scenic…
- Visa and e-visa assistanceWe complete and submit your visa or electronic travel authorisation application where one is required.…
- Extra checked bagOne additional suitcase in the hold, up to the weight the airline allows (usually 20–23 kg), outward and…
- Farewell gala dinnerA multi-course dinner with local wines and a toast, in a special venue in the final city chosen by your…
Useful information
Documents and visas
A passport valid for at least six months after your return is required. Entry requirements depend on nationality and may change: we will send you up-to-date guidance after booking and help with any e-visa. For vaccinations, please consult your doctor.
Best time to go
Cherry trees bloom in late March and April (the exact week changes every year), while the leaves turn red in October and November. Temperatures are usually between 8 and 20 °C, with cool mornings and evenings and the chance of rain: bring a light waterproof jacket.
Physical fitness
The pace is moderate, with several kilometres on foot every day and many steps, especially at Fushimi Inari and the Chureito Pagoda. The more demanding walks are optional and the coordinator adapts the pace to the group. A reasonable level of basic fitness is needed.
What to pack
Dress in layers, with a cardigan and a light waterproof. Wear comfortable shoes that slip off easily: you will take them off often in temples and ryokans. One medium suitcase and a daypack are enough, as space is tight on trains and in rooms. Carry a small bag for litter.
Traveller reviews
4.5/ 5
2 reviews
- 51
- 41
- 30
- 20
- 10
The cherry blossom in Kyoto was exactly as we had dreamed
We caught the blossom at its peak in Kyoto, and in Tokyo the petals were falling like snow. We got up early for Fushimi Inari, when the red gates were almost empty, and it was the most magical morning of the trip. Our coordinator explained local customs patiently, so we always felt at ease. The pace was full but well balanced, with free time for wandering and eating.
Autumn in Japan: a superb trip, with one small remark
We went in early November and the colours in Kyoto were only just beginning, which we had been told beforehand, so it was no surprise. The temples and gardens were beautiful anyway, and in Tokyo we loved the evening alleys lit by lanterns. Organisation was flawless and the trains ran to the minute. My only remark: the programme is very full, and I would have liked one more free day.
FAQ
Will I definitely see the cherry blossom?
No one can guarantee it: the bloom shifts from year to year with the weather and lasts about a week in each city. Our departures cover the period when it usually happens, between late March and April, and the coordinator can suggest reshuffling outdoor visits if the forecast advises it. In autumn, the maples take over.
What luggage should I bring for the trains and hotels?
We recommend one medium-sized suitcase and a small daypack: space on Japanese trains, in lifts and in hotel rooms is limited. Rooms are compact but beautifully kept. Leave some free room in your case too, as souvenirs, from sweets to green tea, tend to multiply.
Can I eat well without raw fish?
Of course: Japanese cuisine offers much more, from tempura and tonkatsu to ramen, yakitori and the okonomiyaki of Osaka. Tell us about allergies and preferences when booking: vegetarian diets need care, as dashi stock often contains fish, but the coordinator and guides will help you choose your dishes.
Is it suitable if I find walking long distances hard?
The pace is moderate, but you walk quite a lot each day and there are many steps, for example at Fushimi Inari and the Chureito Pagoda. Some climbs are optional and you can stay lower down. If you have mobility difficulties, write to us before booking so we can look at the programme together.
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