Places You'll See
Highlights
- Adventure & Exploration: The itinerary seamlessly blends outdoor activities such as seeing the famous Snow Monkeys of Nagano, and walking the historic streets of the traditional post town of Narai Juku. There are many opportunities to immerse yourself in nature and history.
- Cultural Immersion: By witnessing the ancient sport of Sumo to climbing the stunning Matsumoto Castle, you’ll have a deep connection with Japan’s rich history, culture, and traditions along the way.
- Breathtaking Natural Landscapes: From the beautiful temples of Tokyo and Nagano, the serene lake of Kawaguchiko, to catching a glimpse of the iconic Mount Fuji, this itinerary offers diverse and awe-inspiring landscapes that highlight the beauty of Japan’s natural world
Description
For most people travelling to Japan, they will visit and stay in Tokyo during their trip! For this reason, Tokyo is seen as the gateway to exploring Japanese heritage and culture, but is also the perfect location to visit the other amazing regions of Japan! For any first timer’s or return visitors to Japan, we have created a number of itineraries to help inspire your travels and help you tailor your trip to suit your preferences and interests. For this itinerary we suggest a 4 day plan that covers both Tokyo and Nagano, perfect for shorter stays, and with a good variety of attractions. We hope this will help you when planning where to go and what to do on your dream trip!
For travellers who are fans of seeing some iconic attractions in Japan, this 4 day itinerary will satisfy the most curious of travellers. You will be able to enjoy views of Mount Fuji, see the impressive sport of Sumo, witness Snow Monkeys naturally bathing in hot springs, see and climb a breathtaking Castle and walk along the historic road of Narai Juku.
Day 1 MOUNT FUJI AND LAKE KAWAGUCHIKO
How to Start Off Your Day
Tokyo is the perfect starting point for your journey, offering a vibrant blend of tradition and innovation that will captivate and inspire you from the moment you arrive. Whether you're drawn to its historic temples, bustling streets, or cutting-edge technology, Tokyo provides an unforgettable introduction to the wonders of Japan. Plus, the city offers a wide range of accommodations to suit every preference and budget. From luxurious 5-star hotels with stunning skyline views to cozy boutique guesthouses and traditional ryokan inns, you're sure to find the perfect place to rest after a day of exploration.
For many travellers, the areas of Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo, and Asakusa are very popular as they are very central, offer great hotels and links to transport. Check out our Tokyo destination page for more information on where to stay. We highly recommend staying in the Shinjuku area. A lively hub and one of the most popular areas in the city. Shinjuku has a plethora of shops, restaurants, cafes and hotels to suit all tastes. Shinjuku is also home to the busiest station in all of Tokyo, but it offers incredible links to every part of the city. For the ‘Kawaguchiko’ tour day, you will be meeting your tour guide directly outside of Shinjuku Bus Terminal.
Mount Fuji Day Trip : Adventure around Lake Kawaguchiko / All year round
This tour has been designed to ensure customers will have opportunities to see Mount Fuji from many impressive locations around the Lake Kawaguchiko area. If you love nature and spending time outdoors, this tour is for you! The tour will provide guests with a well balanced itinerary including nature, shrines and temples, a museum and great photography opportunities. Lake Kawaguchiko is the biggest of the five lakes that surround Mount Fuji, and it is therefore the best to visit for a day trip to experience as much as possible. Your tour will begin travelling from Shinjuku Express Bus Station in Tokyo to Kawaguchiko station. From there, you will use the sightseeing bus with your tour guide to explore Lake Kawaguchiko!
Your first stop will be at Lake Kawaguchiko’s nature park where you can enjoy a relaxing walk through a flower garden as you take in fantastic views of Mount Fuji and some shopping at a local centre to pick up the perfect souvenir of your day. Next, we will visit a famous and beautiful shrine complex that provides a sense of peace and more fantastic views of Mount Fuji. You will then enjoy some culture at a local art museum famous for its artistic kimonos all displaying beautiful scenes from nature and the four seasons. Finally, you will then travel on to enjoy a ropeway experience so you can sit back and relax as you take in the breathtaking views of Mount Fuji and its largest lake. It will then be time to head back to Kawaguchiko station and take the bus back to Tokyo.
* Tour does not include transportation after the tour, and does not include accommodation. Customers will need to book their own transportation to reach their next destination.
How to End Your Day
The tour will conclude in Tokyo at approximately 7.45pm. You may choose to travel onto Nagano that evening, or travel to Nagano first thing the next day for your tour. Your tour guide will happily assist you with any questions or tickets regarding your onward destination. In Tokyo you are well connected to transport options to reach your next destination. For customers heading onto Nagano from Tokyo, you will need to go to Tokyo station to get your Bullet Train. Please read our guide below for further details on how to reach Nagano from Tokyo.
Recommended Accommodation
Day 2 NAGANO, SNOW MONKEY PARK, ZENKOJI TEMPLE AND SAKE
How to Start Off Your Day
Hop aboard the Hokuriku Shinkansen at Tokyo Station for a scenic and comfortable ride to Nagano Station, where your unforgettable half-day tour of the city begins. As you travel, you’ll enjoy stunning views of the Japanese countryside, including the majestic Alps, setting the stage for the cultural adventure that awaits you in Nagano. See the 'How to Get to Nagano' page for more information about your transportation to Nagano.
SNOW MONKEY & ZENKOJI TEMPLE TOUR FROM NAGANO / all year round
Day Tour
Best Selling
1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake in Nagano
- Spots:
- NaganoSnow MonkeyHakuba
- Pick-up:
- Nagano CityHakuba
- Drop-off:
- Nagano CityHakuba
¥17,800
Continuing further east from Matsumoto is the city of Nagano, another city with a long history as a temple town and more recently as the site of the winter Olympics in 1998. This tour is our company's most popular tour as it visits Zenkoji Temple in Nagano City and then the famous snow monkeys in the mountains nearby the city. The tour starts at Nagano Station before getting on a short bus ride to Zenkoji Temple. The city was historically a temple town and Zenkoji Temple is still visited by millions to this day. Learn about the history of the temple, the city and religion in Japan at this important religious site. Following the temple is a sake tasting where you can try many variety of sake, fruit sakes and juices. Next is lunch which is at a restaurant across the street from the temple. Enjoy a delicious modern take on traditional Japanese food.
The final part of the tour will see you headed to the Snow Monkey Park. There is a short hike before arriving at the valley where the monkeys live. Especially during the winter, the monkeys come down out of the mountains to eat, take baths in the onsen and play around. It really is a surreal experience to be around so many monkeys just living their lives in such beautiful scenery.
* Tour does not include transportation after the tour, and does not include accommodation. Customers will need to book their own transportation to reach their next destination.
How to End Your Day
The tour will conclude back in Nagano City. The city centre is extremely convenient for travellers, and offers a wide range of restaurants outside of and inside of Nagano station. You can easily find something to eat for dinner after your busy day! The city centre also has some great shops, as well as entertainment like Karaoke and Games Arcades. Most importantly, the city centre offers many comfortable hotels which are only a short distance from the tour drop off location. Check out our Nagano City Area page for more information.
Recommended Accommodation
Day 3 NAGANO, MATSUMOTO AND NARAI JUKU
How to Start Off Your Day
On this day, your adventure continues as you head towards two of Japan's most iconic destinations: Matsumoto Castle and Narai-juku. For those of you who stayed at Hotel Kokusai 21 the previous night, your journey begins with a convenient pickup directly from the hotel by your guide, ensuring a smooth start to the day.
1-Day Tour Of Matsumoto Castle and Narai-juku / all year round
Operating year round, this tour starts with a morning visit to the historic Matsumoto Castle and a walk through the charming downtown of Matsumoto. Ranked as one of Japan's most livable cities, you will get a sense for the peaceful but fun atmosphere which pervades Matsumoto. Getting back on the tour bus, the group will head to Narai-juku, south of Matsumoto in the Kiso Valley. One of the best preserved post towns in all of Japan, there are over 1 kilometer of traditional buildings, making it feel as though you have traveled back in time. Enjoy tasty snacks, local crafts, and entry to an old home while your guide answers all of your questions.
Pick Up Location: Nagano Station, Matsumoto Station, Hotel Kokusai 21
* Tour does not include transportation after the tour, and does not include accommodation. Customers will need to book their own transportation to reach their next destination.
How to End Your Day
The tour will conclude back in Nagano at approximately 6.15pm which will provide you with time to travel to your next destination at a reasonable hour. Your tour guide will happily assist you with any questions or tickets regarding your onward destination. In Nagano station you are well connected with transport options to reach your next destination, and you easily buy tickets before or after the tour from either the ticket counter or ticket machines. Please read our guide below for further details on how to reach Tokyo from Nagano.
Once you arrive into the Tokyo station / Marunouchi area, you are perfectly located to many many restaurants, bars, shops and hotels. This is one of the most popular areas for visitors to stay in Tokyo, and is very convenient for travellers after a busy day. We also recommend staying in the Shinjuku area. A lively hub and one of the most popular areas in the city, Shinjuku has a plethora of shops, restaurants, cafes and hotels to suit all tastes. Shinjuku is also home to the busiest station in all of Tokyo, but it offers incredible links to every part of the city. For the ‘Tokyo Highlights’ tour the next day, we recommend you take the Toei Shinjuku Line from Shinjuku station to Hamacho station where you will meet your tour guide. The journey is has no changes, and takes 17 minutes.
Recommended Accommodation
Day 4 TOKYO HIGHLIGHTS AND SUMO
How to Start Off Your Day
Wake up fresh in Tokyo on your final day of the trip! Today you will have the entire day to explore some of Tokyo’s top attractions. Upon arrival at Hamacho Station, your guide will greet you and take you on a memorable tour where you will start by watching Sumo training!
Tokyo Highlights Tour / All Year Round
This tour gives guests the opportunity to experience much of the traditional and iconic culture associated with Japan and Tokyo. You will have the opportunity to see Sumo Wrestlers train, try the freshest and best Sushi and street food in Tokyo, walk through a traditional Japanese garden and visit a tea house, walk around an historic Buddhist temple complex and park, and finally pay a visit to one of Tokyo’s most famous observation decks – Tokyo Tower.
* Tour does not include transportation after the tour, and does not include accommodation. Customers will need to book their own transportation to reach their next destination.
How to End Your Day
End your day staying in Tokyo for your final night and relax! Take your time to explore more of what the city has to offer! There a good selection of restaurants, bars and cafes to choose from in the nearby areas of Roppongi and Azubadai Hills.
