Tokyo, Japan, arrival and Shibuya exploration
Arrival at Narita or Haneda
Land at Tokyo's major airports and clear immigration. From Haneda, the Narita Express or Keisei Skyliner will take you into central Tokyo in 60-90 minutes. Book flights →
Check in to ryokan in Shibuya area
Settle into a small family-run ryokan near Shibuya Station, where you'll experience tatami rooms and kaiseki dinners. These intimate properties offer authentic Japanese hospitality without the crowds of larger chains. Search hotels →
Dinner at ryokan and evening stroll
Enjoy your first kaiseki dinner at the ryokan, then walk through Shibuya's neon-lit streets to soak in the energy of Tokyo at night. Stop at a standing ramen bar on Meiji Dori for an optional nightcap of hot broth and noodles.
Tokyo, Japan, temples, markets, and onsen
Tsukiji Outer Market breakfast
Visit the famous outer market near Tsukiji and eat fresh sushi or grilled scallops for breakfast at one of the small vendor stalls. The energy here is authentic and the seafood is impeccable.
Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise shopping street
Explore Tokyo's oldest temple in Asakusa, walk through the lantern gate, and browse traditional crafts and snacks along Nakamise street. The temple grounds are serene in the morning before crowds build.
Onsen experience at Ota Guesthhouse or similar
Bathe in a traditional onsen bath at a small public bathhouse or onsen facility in east Tokyo, such as Ota Guesthhouse, where locals come to relax. Understand the etiquette: wash thoroughly first, then soak in the hot mineral water.
Search onsen experiences in Tokyo on GetYourGuide →
Dinner at small izakaya in Yurakucho
Eat yakitori, grilled chicken skewers, at an intimate standing izakaya beneath the Yurakucho railway tracks. Order a mix of dark and light meat, ask the chef for recommendations, and sit shoulder-to-shoulder with salarymen and locals.
Hakone, Japan, mountain scenery and traditional ryokan
Train to Hakone via Odawara
Take the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Odawara, then switch to the mountain railway that winds through the Hakone area. The journey takes around two hours total and offers views of autumn foliage and Mt. Fuji on clear days. Book your car →
Lunch at mountain soba restaurant
Eat handmade buckwheat noodles at a traditional soba shop in the Hakone-Yumoto area, served with dipping sauce and mountain vegetables.
Check in to lakeside ryokan with private onsen
Arrive at a traditional ryokan on the shores of Lake Ashi, where your room includes a private rotenburo, or outdoor bath, overlooking the water. November temperatures make the contrast between cold air and hot water especially refreshing.
Ryokan onsen experience and kaiseki dinner
Soak in the private outdoor bath as the sun sets over the lake, then dress in your yukata for a multi-course kaiseki dinner in your room or the dining hall. Local vegetables, mountain fish, and seasonal specialities showcase Hakone's terroir.
Hakone, Japan, volcanic trails and Piazza views
Onsen soak and ryokan breakfast
Begin your day with an early morning soak in the outdoor bath before sunrise, then return for a full Japanese breakfast of grilled fish, tofu, pickles, and rice.
Hakone Ropeway and volcanic valley walk
Ride the ropeway across the volcanic Owakudani valley, where sulphurous steam vents rise from the ground. Walk the marked trail around the valley floor, stopping to view the volcanic rocks and pick up local eggs boiled in the geothermal water.
Search ropeway and valley tours in Hakone on GetYourGuide → · from £128
Hakone Open-Air Museum or Piazza
Visit the Open-Air Museum to see contemporary art installations set against mountain views, or walk through the Piazza shopping area for local crafts and views back toward Lake Ashi.
Evening cable car descent and dinner
Take the cable car back down to the main town as the light fades, then dine at a small tempura restaurant near your ryokan, where the chef fries vegetables and seafood to order.
Kawaguchiko, Japan, Mt. Fuji and rural onsen village
Train to Kawaguchiko
Travel from Hakone to Kawaguchiko via Odawara and the Fuji Express train line, a scenic two-hour journey through mountain and lakeside terrain.
Lunch at houtou noodle restaurant
Try houtou, a local flat noodle dish served in a vegetable and miso broth, at a small family restaurant in Kawaguchiko town. The thick noodles and pumpkin broth are warming and authentic to the region.
Check in to traditional onsen village ryokan
Settle into a rustic ryokan in the Kawaguchiko hot spring village, where small family-run properties outnumber large resorts. Rooms feature lake views and private or shared onsen fed by natural springs.
Mt. Fuji viewpoint and lakeside walk
Walk to one of the lakeside viewing spots to see Mt. Fuji reflected in Lake Kawaguchi, best viewed in the late afternoon light when the peak is often clearest. The lake path is quiet in November with fewer tourists.
Onsen and kaiseki dinner at ryokan
Bathe in the ryokan's onsen bath overlooking the lake, then enjoy a dinner of local ingredients, including river fish and mountain vegetables sourced from nearby farms.
Kawaguchiko, Japan, hiking and rural exploration
Ryokan breakfast and onsen soak
Start with a full Japanese breakfast, then bathe again in the communal onsen. November's crisp mornings and warm mineral water create a peaceful experience.
Aokigahara forest walk or Lake Kawaguchi loop hike
Walk the marked trails around the base of Mt. Fuji through the Aokigahara forest, where ancient trees frame views of the mountain. Alternatively, hike the Lake Kawaguchi loop for easier terrain and reflections of Fuji in the water.
Search guided hikes in Kawaguchiko on GetYourGuide →
Lunch at local udon or soba shop
Eat fresh udon noodles at a simple shop in a small village outside the main town, where the proprietor has served the same recipe for decades. Broth is made from kombu seaweed and bonito stock.
Visit Chureito Pagoda or Kawaguchiko Museum
Climb to the five-storey Chureito Pagoda, a red shrine set against the lake and Mt. Fuji backdrop, or visit the Kawaguchiko Museum for local art and natural history. Both offer quiet reflection away from crowds.
Final onsen and departure dinner
Soak in the ryokan onsen one last time, then enjoy dinner at a small tempura or grilled fish restaurant in town.
Nagano, Japan, mountain town and temple heritage
Train to Nagano via Koumi Line
Travel from Kawaguchiko to Nagano on the scenic mountain railway, which winds through valleys and forest terrain. The journey takes approximately three hours and passes through rural villages.
Check in to ryokan near Zenko-ji Temple
Settle into a traditional ryokan within walking distance of Nagano's iconic Zenko-ji Temple, a major Buddhist pilgrimage site. The area is less touristy than Kyoto and offers authentic temple town atmosphere.
Zenko-ji Temple and temple gate walk
Explore Nagano's most important temple, dating to the 7th century, and walk beneath the massive wooden gate. The temple grounds are serene and the approach street, Nakamise, sells local crafts and food rather than tourist trinkets.
Onsen bath and dinner at ryokan
Bathe in the ryokan's onsen and dress in a yukata for a kaiseki dinner featuring Nagano specialities such as soba, wild mushrooms, and locally raised trout.
Nagano, Japan, sake brewery and mountain temples
Ryokan breakfast and morning temple visit
Eat breakfast at the ryokan, then visit Zenko-ji again in the early morning light when pilgrims arrive for prayers. The atmosphere is deeply spiritual.
Sake brewery tour in Nagano
Visit a local sake brewery to learn about the brewing process and taste several varieties made from Nagano's pure water and local rice. Breweries welcome small groups and offer insight into this regional craft.
Search sake brewery tours in Nagano on GetYourGuide → · from £111
Lunch at soba restaurant
Eat handmade soba noodles at a restaurant near the temple. Nagano prefecture is famous for its buckwheat soba, served cold with dipping sauce or hot in broth.
Togakushi Shrine or mountain village walk
Travel to nearby Togakushi, a remote shrine set in mountain forest, or walk through rural villages in the valley to see traditional farmhouses, terraced fields, and local shrines.
Final onsen and kaiseki dinner
Return to the ryokan for an evening soak and a multi-course dinner celebrating the region's agricultural heritage.
Tokyo, Japan, departure and market reflection
Departure from Nagano to Tokyo
Take the Nagano Shinkansen back to Tokyo, a direct train journey of approximately 90 minutes. Arrive in Tokyo by midday.
Last lunch at ramen or tempura restaurant
Eat one final meal at a neighbourhood restaurant of your choice. Consider revisiting a spot from earlier in the trip or trying a new local favourite.
Tokyo evening exploration or shopping
Spend a final few hours wandering a neighbourhood that resonated with you, such as Shimokitazawa for vintage shops or the back streets of Asakusa for local crafts.
Departure from Narita or Haneda
Head to the airport with sufficient time to clear check-in. The Narita Express or Keisei Skyliner will return you to the airport in 60-90 minutes from central Tokyo.