Grand Train Tour of Japan 14 Days

Welcome to Japan!

Upon arrival at Narita Airport, make your own way to the hotel near the airport and complete check-in independently. 
The remainder of the day is yours to settle in, rest after your international journey, or explore the surrounding area at your own pace.

Accommodation: Hotel Nikko Narita (or comparable lodging).

After breakfast, meet your English-speaking guide in the hotel lobby and begin your first full day discovering Tokyo by public transportation.
Our journey into the heart of the capital begins with the Keisei Skyliner and local train services, taking us from Narita toward central Tokyo.

The day starts with a hands-on sushi-making experience, where a professional instructor introduces us to the art of preparing one of Japan’s most celebrated culinary traditions. Once the creations are complete, sit down and enjoy the sushi you have prepared yourself for lunch.
From here, we continue to Hinode Pier and board a scenic Tokyo Bay Cruise to Asakusa. As Tokyo unfolds from the water, enjoy views of the city’s waterfront, bridges, and distinctive skyline.
Arriving in Asakusa, step into one of Tokyo’s most atmospheric historic districts. Explore Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, and wander along Nakamise Street, a lively avenue filled with traditional snacks, crafts, and souvenirs.
The guided tour concludes in Asakusa at approximately 5:00 PM. Return to your hotel for check-in and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Meals Included: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Shinjuku Prince Hotel (or comparable lodging).

After breakfast, we travel by local train to Kamakura, a historic coastal city once at the center of Japan’s samurai culture.
Begin with a stroll along Komachi-dori Street, a lively shopping avenue lined with local specialty shops, cafés, and traditional souvenirs.

We continue to Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine, Kamakura’s most important Shinto shrine and an enduring symbol of the city’s samurai heritage.

The journey continues to the Great Buddha (Daibutsu), one of Japan’s most recognizable landmarks. The immense bronze statue has stood here for centuries and remains one of Kamakura’s defining sights.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant featuring a Japanese-style set meal with Shirasu, fresh young sardines and a local coastal specialty.

In the afternoon, we board the charming Enoden Railway, renowned for its scenic coastal route, and continue to Enoshima Island.
Take time to explore the island at your own pace, with highlights including Enoshima Shrine, the Dragon’s Love Bell, and the picturesque Chigogafuchi coastal area, known for its dramatic ocean views.

The experience also includes admission to the Enoshima Iwaya Caves, ancient sea caves shaped by natural erosion and deeply connected with local legends and religious history.

After exploring Enoshima, return to Shinjuku by local train. Your guide will accompany you back to the hotel, where the tour concludes at approximately 6:00 PM.
The remainder of the evening is free.

Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch.

Accommodation: Shinjuku Prince Hotel (or comparable lodging).

Today, we board the SAPHIR ODORIKO Express Train bound for Izukyu-Shimoda, as we settle in for the scenic journey toward the Izu Peninsula.

For a taste of Japanese rail culture, you may wish to purchase an ekiben, a beautifully prepared boxed lunch, at Tokyo Station before boarding and enjoy it along the way.

Upon arrival in Shimoda, it is just a two-minute walk to the ropeway station. We ride the Shimoda Ropeway and take in panoramic views across the coastline.

Continue exploring the historic Shimoda area, including the Perry Landing Monument, Wakanoura Promenade, and Shiroyama Park.

The tour concludes at approximately 5:00 PM.

The evening is ours to unwind and enjoy the hotel’s onsen and dinner.

Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner.

Accommodation: Shimoda Tokyu Hotel (or comparable lodging).

After breakfast, we depart by complimentary shuttle to Izukyu-Shimoda Station, then travel by local train to Izu-Kogen. From there, continue by local bus toward the Mount Omuro area.

A chairlift carries us to the summit of Mount Omuro, where spectacular panoramic views unfold across the volcanic crater and surrounding coastline.

After taking in the scenery, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant featuring a Japanese-style set meal.

The afternoon brings a very different side of Izu with a visit to the Izu Shaboten Zoo, known for its open-style animal encounters. Among its best-known residents are the famously relaxed capybaras, alongside a variety of other unique species.

At approximately 6:00 PM, we return to the hotel by local bus and train.

The evening is at leisure to relax and enjoy the onsen and dinner.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Accommodation: Shimoda Tokyu Hotel (or comparable lodging).

Today, we travel by complimentary shuttle to Izukyu-Shimoda Station, then continue by local train toward the Jogasaki Coast.

Here, enjoy a scenic walk along one of Izu’s most dramatic stretches of coastline. The Jogasaki Coast is characterized by rugged lava formations, dramatic cliffs, and an approximately nine-kilometer coastal landscape shaped by the area’s volcanic origins.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing toward Hakone by local train and Shinkansen on the Green Car first-class via Odawara, a journey of approximately one to one and a half hours.

From Odawara, continue into Hakone aboard the Hakone Tozan Railway, a celebrated mountain railway known for its switchback route and beautiful forest scenery.

We arrive at our ryokan and check in at approximately 5:00 PM.

The evening is at leisure to relax and enjoy the hotel’s onsen and a traditional kaiseki dinner at the hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Accommodation: Kajikaso (or comparable lodging).

After breakfast, we begin our exploration of Hakone.

Travel aboard the Hakone Tozan Railway from Hakone-Yumoto to Chokoku-no-mori, enjoying the changing mountain and forest scenery along the way.

Our first major stop is the Hakone Open-Air Museum, one of Japan’s most renowned outdoor art museums. Sculptures are displayed throughout a beautiful natural setting, creating a distinctive meeting point between art and landscape.

Enjoy lunch at the museum restaurant before continuing our journey through Hakone’s mountains.

Travel by the Hakone Tozan Railway, cable car, and ropeway toward Owakudani, approximately one hour in total. Along the way, experience expansive views over Hakone’s volcanic terrain.

At Owakudani, also known as Jigokudani or “Hell Valley,” observe the area’s active volcanic steam vents and, if we wish, sample the famous black eggs, traditionally said to extend longevity.

Continue by ropeway from Owakudani to Togendai, followed by a scenic cruise across Lake Ashi from Togendai to Motohakone Port.

The approximately 50-minute cruise offers beautiful views across the lake and surrounding mountains.

After arriving at Motohakone, return to the ryokan by public transportation or private vehicle.

The evening is at leisure to enjoy the onsen and dinner.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Accommodation: Kajikaso (or comparable lodging).

Today, we travel by local bus to Odawara Station, where we board the Shinkansen to Kyoto.

Upon arrival in Kyoto, we begin our afternoon exploration.

Visit Kiyomizudera Temple, one of Kyoto’s most celebrated landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From here, walk through the historic streets of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, where traditional wooden townhouses, small shops, and cafés create one of Kyoto’s most atmospheric neighborhoods.

Continue with a private tea ceremony experience, approximately 40 minutes, in a traditional setting. Afterwards, explore the atmospheric Gion district on foot.

We walk to the evening’s restaurant for a special private Geisha performance dinner experience.

Over approximately two hours, enjoy traditional Japanese entertainment and Kaiseki cuisine in an intimate tatami-room setting—a memorable introduction to the refined cultural traditions of Kyoto.

After dinner,we will go back to the hotel by local bus.

Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner.

Accommodation: Ala Hotel Kyoto (or comparable lodging).

After breakfast, we travel by local train to Arashiyama, one of Kyoto’s most celebrated cultural and scenic areas.

Begin with a journey aboard the Sagano Romantic Train, traveling from Torokko Kameoka to Torokko Arashiyama. The scenic railway follows the Hozugawa River, revealing beautiful views of Kyoto’s surrounding landscapes.

Continue on foot to discover the highlights of Arashiyama, including the iconic Bamboo Forest, Tenryu-ji Temple, and Togetsukyo Bridge.

For lunch, enjoy a special private dining houseboat experience. The approximately one-hour yakatabune experience combines the peaceful scenery of the river with a traditional beef sukiyaki meal.

After lunch and sightseeing, return to central Kyoto by local train.

The tour concludes at approximately 5:00 PM at Kyoto Station, where we return to our hotel and enjoy the remainder of the evening at leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch.

Accommodation: Ala Hotel Kyoto (or comparable lodging).

Today we begin our day  boarding the Shinkansen to Hiroshima.

Upon arrival, we start our Hiroshima exploration at Shukkeien Garden, a beautifully designed traditional Japanese landscape garden featuring ponds, bridges, and carefully composed seasonal scenery.

For lunch, experience one of Hiroshima’s most famous local specialties: Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.

In the afternoon, turn to one of the most significant chapters in Japan’s modern history with visits to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and the Atomic Bomb Dome, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

These places preserve the memory of the atomic bombing and carry a powerful message of peace for future generations.

After sightseeing, we return to Hiroshima Station and board the Shinkansen back to Kyoto.

Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch.

Accommodation: Ala Hotel Kyoto (or comparable lodging).

Today we board the Express Train and Shinkansen to Kanazawa via Tsuruga, a journey of approximately two to two and a half hours.

Upon arrival in Kanazawa, we begin our exploration with lunch at Omicho Market, Kanazawa’s famous food market. Enjoy a seafood donburi, a Japanese rice bowl topped with fresh seafood, accompanied by one drink.

Continue to some of Kanazawa’s most celebrated sights.

Explore Kenrokuen Garden, considered one of Japan’s three great landscape gardens, followed by Kanazawa Castle Park.

The journey continues into the historic Higashi Chaya District, where preserved geisha teahouses and traditional streets offer a glimpse into Kanazawa’s refined cultural heritage.

After the tour, continue by Shinkansen to Toyama, approximately one hour away.

W arrive at the hotel, check in, and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch.

Accommodation: Hotel JAL City Toyama (or comparable lodging).

As usual today’s journey itself is part of the experience, taking us through Toyama’s countryside and the scenic landscapes of the region.

At Unazuki Onsen, we board the famous Kurobe Gorge Railway, a narrow-gauge sightseeing railway affectionately known as the “Toroko Train.”

The railway ventures deep into one of Japan’s most spectacular mountain valleys. As the train winds through the gorge, enjoy views of dense forests, rushing rivers, dramatic bridges, and steep cliffs—landscapes that change character beautifully with the seasons.

Enjoy a round-trip journey between Unazuki and Nekomata stations, allowing plenty of time to appreciate the dramatic scenery and experience one of Toyama Prefecture’s signature attractions.

Lunch is served at a local restaurant featuring a Japanese-style set meal.

In the afternoon, we return to Toyama by local train, following the picturesque route back through the countryside.

Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch.

Accommodation: Hotel JAL City Toyama (or comparable lodging).

Today, we enjoy our final morning in Toyama.

Visit the Toyama Glass Art Museum, a striking contemporary museum designed by renowned architect Kengo Kuma. Explore its exceptional collection of glass artworks from Japan and around the world within one of Toyama’s most distinctive architectural landmarks.

Return to Toyama Station and board the scenic sightseeing train The Story of 13000, operated by the Ainokaze Toyama Railway.

This special train offers a nostalgic rail experience accompanied by beautiful views of Toyama Bay, often regarded as one of Japan’s most scenic coastlines.

The round-trip journey between Toyama and Tomari provides time to relax and enjoy the changing landscapes along the Sea of Japan coast.

During the journey, enjoy a Toyama Bay sushi meal, featuring fresh local seafood and showcasing the region’s celebrated culinary tradition.

After returning to Toyama we board the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Tokyo.

Upon arrival in Tokyo, we make our own way to the hotel and check in.

The remainder of the day is yours to relax, explore Tokyo independently, shop, or enjoy the city’s dining scene at your own pace.

Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch.

Accomodation: Shinjuku Prince Hotel (or comparable lodges)

Your Japanese rail journey comes to an end.
After breakfast, complete hotel check-out and enjoy free time until your scheduled airport transfer.
At the appointed time, meet your English-speaking assistant in the hotel lobby for your private transfer to Narita or Haneda Airport.
Check in for your international flight and take with you the memories of an extraordinary journey through Japan—from the energy of Tokyo and the coastal landscapes of Izu to the mountains of Hakone, the cultural treasures of Kyoto, the history of Hiroshima, and the spectacular scenery of the Hokuriku region.
Have a safe journey home.

Meals included: Breakfast.