Join me as we visit an incredible country by way of Private Small Group Touring. I'm Elana Christiansen, and I own a Travel Agency specializing in group trips. This one will be fairly active with a blend of fast-past activities and personal downtime. We'll have a private guide for the entire trip, so we will be well taken care of. The itinerary is below, and please reach out if you have questions. I'm always available.
The map on the left shows our proposed route.
Arrive in Osaka this day, and check into your hotel. This is an included pre-tour hotel stay to help you settle in. You have the day free to adjust to the time zone and possibly take a food tour if you're interested.
You'll have most of the day to yourself, and the tour starts in the evening with a welcome meeting at the hotel.
During the evening meeting, we will meet our Chief Experience Officer (our local guide) and fellow travelers, and we'll learn more about the tour. It will last about one hour. After the meeting, the group will go out to dinner together. This is optional.
We'll travel to the centre of Buddhism in Japan and sleep in a temple atop the 800 meter Mt Koya.
Mt Koya is a religious centre founded in 816 by the Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi. The train ride up the mountain is possibly one of the finest rail journeys in Japan. For the final steep ascent, we'll switch to funicular and then hop on a bus to reach the monastery.
During the overnight stay in the mountain temple, witness the daily life routines of the monks. In the afternoon, we will explore the temples and moss covered Oku-no-in cemetery.
In the evening, we'll enjoy shojin ryori, a centuries-old culinary tradition rarely seen outside of temples, consisting of Buddhist vegetarian cuisine. Early risers on the 13th will have the chance to observe the monks praying, before our vegetarian breakfast. This will truly be a wonderful way to enjoy fresh mountain air and breathtaking surroundings.
Meals included: Breakfast | Dinner
After breakfast, we will have the opportunity to visit Oku-no-in Cemetery, the most sacred site in Koyasan and the location of the mausoleum for the founder of Shingon Buddhism, Kobo Daishi (also known as Kukai). The cemetery is the largest in Japan, with over 200,000 tombstones lining the almost 2 km path to Kobo Daishi's mausoleum. We will visit Torodo Hall (Hall of Lamps), the main place of worship, where more than 10,000 lanterns are kept burning day and night.
After our visit to the cemetery, we will start the journey back down the mountain via bus, funicular, and train. We'll board a high-speed train to Hiroshima.
Meals included: Breakfast
In Hiroshima, we will walk through Peace Park in the centre of the city. Peace Park is a living memorial dedicated to the tens of thousands of people who died from the atomic bomb blast in 1945.
After Peace Park, we'll take a ferry to Miyajima Island, one of Japan's most scenic spots. Here, you'll have the afternoon to explore on your own or together with the group. One particular highlight is the floating Torii Gate, set out in the bay. The island is dotted with shrines and temples, populated by deer and dotted with hiking trails. The hike up to the peak of the island, Mt Misen ($12 fee), has spectacular views of the surrounding islands.
We'll head back to Hiroshima in the evening by ferry.
We will travel to Kyoto by bullet train! We will visit Nijo Castle and gardens, which is an impressively scenic UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the residence of the first shogun of the Edo Period, and it was built in 1603. "Shogun" was the title of the military rulers of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country. Nijo Castle is divided into three areas: the Honmaru (main circular fortification), Ninomaru (secondary circle of defense), and the gorgeous gardens that surround both. The gardens are home to cherry tree groves, which will hopefully be in bloom.
In the evening, we will explore Kyoto's most famous geisha district, Gion. It origined as an entertainment district in the Sengoku period, during the 15th century. It eventually evolved to become one of the most exclusive and well-known geisha districts in all of Japan. Part of this district has been declared a national historic preservation district. The City of Kyoto has undertaken a number of restorative projects to enhance the beauty and historical authenticity of Kyoto's hanamachi (areas where geisha live and work). Therefore, much of the area feels as if you have gone back in time!
The village is also home to countless shops, restaurants, and teahouses (ochaya), so we'll have a wealth of places to visit.
We'll visit the beautiful Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine located just outside of Kyoto. Walk under the thousands of iconic torii gates (as seen in the film Memoirs of a Geisha) and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. The shrine itself is at the base of the Inari mountain but includes many trails up to smaller shrines in the area. Much of the day will be free time to explore.
I will be exploring the Zen Gardens of Ryōan-ji (The Temple of the Dragon at Peace), and you can join me, or choose your own adventure: shop, stroll along the riverbank, or explore another of Kyoto's many temples. The Ryoan-ji Temple garden is considered one of the finest surviving examples of kare-sansui (dry landscape), a refined type of Japanese Zen temple garden design generally featuring distinctive larger rock formations arranged amidst a sweep of smooth pebbles raked into linear patterns that facilitate meditation. The temple and its gardens are listed as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Ryōan-ji garden is one of the best examples of kare-sansui, or dry landscape, a type of Zen garden. Fifteen large rocks are placed within a sea of white pebbles raked into linear patterns to facilitate meditation. Stand on the platform to get the best view from above. Stroll the grounds around the Ryoan-ji Temple and along the Kyoyo-chi pond.
We'll travel to Hakone by bullet train, a town in the hills famous for its onsens, or natural hot springs. We'll take a boat ride on Lake Ashino-ko, and catch a glimpse of majestic Mt Fuji. We'll then enjoy kaiseki, a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner, then soak in an onsen (a natural hot spring).
In the evening, enjoy a robust meal of traditional Japanese foods, followed by a recommended soak in the onsen.
*Please note that we will be using an overnight luggage service between Kyoto and Tokyo. I suggest preparing an overnight backpack to carry what you need during this time. More details will be given when we start our tour.
Meals included: Dinner
We'll head back to Tokyo, arriving before noon, with time for independent exploration. Possibilities really are endless, but here are some of my recommendations (additional fees may apply):
- Ueno Park Visit: As Japan's most popular city park, Ueno is known for its museums and cherry blossoms. Stroll the pathways, admire the thousands of trees, including approximately 800 cherry trees, look for lotus on the pond, or visit the temples and museums (entrance fees).
- Ginza Shopping: The Ginza district is Tokyo’s equivalent to Fifth Avenue in New York. Window shop at Chanel, Dior, Gucci and Louis Vuitton, Sony, or the Apple store. Visit the Wako department store with its historic clock tower, housed in a building that dates back to 1894.
- Imperial Palace East Gardens Walk: The Imperial Palace in Tokyo’s city centre is home to Japan’s Emperor and Empress. It is surrounded by a moat and three gardens, all open to the public. Stroll throughout the grounds, admire the azaleas and hydrangeas, discover the original stone wall that surrounded the palace back in the 17th-19th centuries. Or, visit Sannomaru-Shozo-kan museum and see exquisite kimonos and Japanese paintings.
- Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingū) Visit: This shrine is dedicated to the 123rd emperor of Japan, Emperor Meiji and his wife. The shrine is a great place to escape the bustle of the city and wander the grounds along the wide walking paths in peace and quiet.
- Sensō-ji Temple Visit: Explore Sensō-ji Temple, a colourful Buddhist temple and the oldest temple in the entire city. Leading up to the temple the street is lined with shops selling yummy food and great souvenirs.
Meals included: Breakfast
Our tour ends this morning and you are welcome to catch a flight home anytime you'd like or stay for another night or two and continue to experience this vibrant city.
- Your Local Living Moment: Overnight in Mount Kōya Temple, Kōyasan
- Hiroshima Peace Park and Museum visit
- Miyajima Island excursion
- Nijo Castle and gardens visit
- Gion walk
- Fushimi Inari shrine visit
- Lake Ashino-ko boat ride
- Traditional kaiseki meal
- Free time in some of the cities
- Incredible experiences with great people
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
- All accommodations
Accommodations
Hotels (7 nts), mountain monastery (1 nt, shared facilities)
Japan is one of the most populous countries in the world and space is at a premium. Therefore, hotel rooms are small! Additionally, most Japanese hotels do not have designated non-smoking rooms. Therefore, we ask hotels to deoderise rooms before check in.
Meals
3 breakfasts, 2 dinners
Transportation
Bullet train, tram, ferry, public bus, walking.
Staff & experts
Professional guide for the entire trip.
Please Note: I'm inviting people on this trip that will be good travel companions. We'll be spending the week together so flexibility in attitude and a "go-with-the-flow" mindset is crucial. We'll be on the move everyday and some of our days will be long. My ideal scene is that we're a supportive group that can have fun together.
Click here to schedule a consult with me about the trip after you've read through the information below:
$3,700 per person, not including flights to Japan.
This is based on double occupancy. If you're traveling solo and want to book a room alone, the single traveler supplement is $399/per person. There is a max of 5 single spaces available.
Deposit is $350 to hold your space is due now. It is non-refundable, but it is transferrable or you can apply it towards another tour.
Final payment is due on or before Feb. 1, 2026.
I have 13 spots left of 15.
We need at least 8 people for the trip to go, so please do not purchase flights until you hear from me. This trip is for people 18 years old and over only.
Optional Pre-trip and Post-trip hotel nights to add in Osaka and/or Tokyo will be posted here as soon as I have that information.
Travel Insurance is required for this trip. I have 2 companies that I can recommend or you can purchase on your own.
A U.S. Passport with at least 6 months validity is required for this trip. If you don't have a passport, please start the process now. The passport office is receiving record numbers of applications, and your application can take longer than anticipated.
Please talk to your doctor about any possible medical considerations or vaccines needed for traveling to Japan.
Fitness Level: 3 out of 5. Some tours may include light hiking in addition to walking. If this is a concern at all, call me and we'll talk.
Cancellation Policy
- Cancellation 60 days or more prior to departure = Loss of deposit
- Cancellation between 30 and 59 days prior to departure = 50% loss
- Cancellation within 30 days of departure = 100% loss
While it is our intention to adhere to the route outlined here, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document, which I will email you upon registration, is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered.
Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
I'm partnering with G Adventures for this trip and they support Planeterra International Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to turning travel into impact by helping local communities earn an income from tourism. Planeterra connects underserved local communities to the benefits of tourism by developing and supporting small community-owned businesses. These businesses support Indigenous people, empower women, grant youth access to employment opportunities, and protect the environment. Planeterra also works to ensure these businesses have a thriving customer base by integrating their projects into G Adventures’ itineraries globally.
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