5 Day Japan Tours & Trips

A five-day tour is the perfect amount of time to experience the delights of Tokyo – Japan’s most exciting city. The modern skyline of Tokyo, accented by such cutting-edge marvels as Tokyo Skytree, preserve an ancient center from when the old city was the center of samurai government. Sensoji Temple, Meiji Shrine, and the Imperial Palace are the top must- sees for historical Tokyo, while Harajuku, Shibuya, and Ginza give travelers a more vibrant, contemporary ambience. Include a day trip up into the surrounding area, starting with the gorgeous town of Nikko, famed for its temples and shrines. Opulent Toshogu Shrine is the top destination in Nikko, but spectacular Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji should not be missed by nature-loving travelers. Hakone is another splendid region to experience Japan’s wonderful nature; the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park is best observed in an airborne gondola on the Hakone Ropeway. Connect to Owakudani, a primordial volcanic caldera of hot springs and roiling pools mysteriously wreathed in steam and sulfur, where visitors enjoy local steam- cooked delicacies. If the weather is good, be sure to visit breathtaking Mount Fuji, Japan’s most sacred mountain and a definite must for every traveler to Japan.

Kyoto is also ideal for a 5-day tour, offering visitors a more traditional experience than Tokyo. The old imperial capital was the center of Japanese culture for over a thousand years, and with its magnificent temples, shrines, and heritage Geisha district, is the best place to get a sense of feudal Edo-era Japan. Top must-sees include the Golden Pavilion’s glittering phoenix, a view from Kiyomizu Temple’s prominent veranda, and the meticulous rock garden of Ryoan-ji. Not far from Kyoto is Nara, an even older capital city, famed for Todaiji – the Great Eastern Temple. A massive bronze Buddha statue is housed in the magnificent main hall, with a neighboring park attended by a herd of adorable wild Sika deer. Osaka is another top connecting destination, with a more stylish, contemporary atmosphere than Kyoto, yet more informal and down-to-earth than Tokyo. The chief landmark of the city is Osaka Castle; a primary example of a feudal Japanese fortress, with its towering five-story central keep and surrounding walls, gates, and turrets constructed by famed Japanese samurai Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Head to Dotonbori to sample some of the city’s wide variety of mouthwatering street cuisine, a proverbial Osaka attraction as delightfully eccentric as the city itself.