Exploration Japan: Osaka to Tokyo City Hopper With Trainer Troy

Your explorations begin here! Your first stop on your Japanese tour will be Osaka, known as Japan’s street food capital. A bustling metropolis with quirky boutique shops, electric nightlife, and an unbeatable atmosphere, you’ll find yourself at home in this exciting city. Once you’ve touched down at Kansai Airport, we’ll get you to your first hotel for check-in and chill time. Once you’re settled, feel free to wander out into the city for some light exploration — don’t worry, we’ll tour the city’s iconic attractions in more detail tomorrow. Come back to the hotel for your first yoga practice and meditation session, refocusing you after a busy day of travel, introducing you to the trip, and getting you set up for an exciting night. You’ll then be free to head out into the city. Search for some street food in the Shinsekai district, devour some local delicacies like Okonomiyaki, hit up an Izakaya, or sing your heart out at a famous Japanese karaoke bar! Enjoy your first night of discovery in Japan!

After a morning yoga session and a refueling breakfast, it’s time to depart on our first full-day excursion — today, we’ll tour some of Osaka’s famous sights. Our first stop will be the famous Osaka Castle, an impressive 16th Century walled fortress — quite the contrast to the bustling modern city surrounding it. You’ll get to see the full scope of the city from up high — scaling the Umeda Sky Building and reaching the observation deck will provide the best views of Osaka’s skyline. After a bite to eat at a local restaurant, head to the Kuromon Market. A vibrant covered marketplace famous for its fresh produce, shellfish, and unique souvenirs, enjoy trying out some fantastic street food or grabbing some gifts to take back home with you. You’ll have more time to shop and snack in the Dotonbori district, home to some of Osaka’s trendiest shops, food outlets, and aesthetic neon signs. Head back to the hotel for evening yoga and then a trip to a local restaurant will introduce you to even more delicious Japanese fare. Itadakimasu!

Rise and shine! Start the day right with some relaxing and realigning yoga and meditation, preparing you for today’s day of travel. It’s time to get packed up, checked-out, and onto our next destination. Today’s excursion brings us to the dreamy Nara, iconic for its friendly free-roaming deer and scenic temples. Grab some feed and get some selfies with these wonderful creatures before a tour of the Todai-ji Temple will get you closer to Japan’s spirituality — and your own. Refuel with lunch at a local restaurant before a peaceful meander through the tranquil Isui-en Garden and pagodas. Before long, you’ll be heading towards another scenic locale — Japan’s cultural capital Kyoto. Check out this historical city’s cobbled streets and inspect its ancient architecture as you travel to your next hotel. After evening yoga, enjoy another great meal and then go for a nighttime stroll through Kyoto, taking in its unique and unbeatable atmosphere.

Today, you’ll have the chance to travel back in time and learn about Japan’s fascinating history as your tour Kyoto. Your first stop on your day of discovery is the magical Arashiyama Forest, home to impressive temples, bamboo groves, and colorful sculptures. After a stroll through these cinematic surroundings, tuck into lunch in Kyoto, and then we’re going on a pilgrimage to the Kiyomizu Temple. A Buddhist water temple, this three-level pagoda is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Kyoto’s most famous monuments. After reflecting on your trip so far at the temple, enjoy some free time parading the old Gion district — iconic for its Geisha, tea ceremonies, and unique shops. Want to make your trip to historical Japan even more fun? Don a traditional yukata robe and dress to fully immerse in your amazing surroundings. You’ll get the chance to try on a Yukata later in the trip, too, but Kyoto’s the place to dress up and add to the ambiance.

Hold onto your hats and glasses. it's time to strap yourself in for a super-fast ride on the Shinkansen bullet train. Propelled by magnets at headlong speeds, you'll be rocketed from Kyoto to Kanazawa in no time. When you find your feet after your Shinkansen experience, it's time to see some of Kanazawa's sights. Renowned for its ancient Geisha and Samurai districts and world-famous Kenroku-en landscaped garden, you've got a lot to look forward to in Kanazawa. Wander the old streets of the Higashi Chaya-gai Geisha district and the Nagamachi Samurai district, with an opportunity to scour the Nomura Samurai House and get up close and personal with traditional weaponry and armor. Then it’s onto your next hotel for yoga and meditation, and your first dinner in Kanazawa. You can explore the city after dinner, too, taking in its historical sights and finding some interesting Izakayas and bars. After all that discovery, it’s time to say Oyasumi — goodnight!

After yoga and meditation, we’ll check out of the hotel and set off on another excursion around Kanazawa. We'll start at the world-famous Kenroku-en, taking in its zen tranquility and understanding why it’s referred to as one of ‘The Three Great Gardens of Japan’. Next up, we’ll wander the parkland surrounding Kanazawa Castle, a partially-restored Edo-period fortification. To mix things up, we'll tour the Museum of Contemporary Art, too, and peruse some of Japan’s well-known artists. After lunch, we’ll be transferred to the tiny village of Shirakawago, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its quaint farmhouses that have stood for over three hundred years. You’ll get to see inside one of these ‘Wada’ houses, too, before we head off to Takayama. Nestled in the mountains, this city balances its well-preserved Edo-period streets and its cultural festivals. You can check out Takayama this afternoon in your own time, but your activity tonight at your next hotel will have you changing into a Yukata and dining Kaiseki-fashion — a traditional, ornate, multi-course Japanese dining style. Meshiagare!

You’ll start your day in Takayama with a full-day sightseeing tour, taking you to the colorful Morning Markets, Sanmachi-suji preserved Edo district, and educating you on the city’s history. Before long, it’ll be time to blast back across Japan on the bullet train — this time to Odawara, in the backyard of the mighty Mt. Fuji. During your bullet train trip, you'll enjoy a packed lunch Bento bo — a balanced meal popularized by Japanese schoolkids and office workers. You’ll come to a stop in Odawara, situated along the Japanese coast. You’ll be met at the station and taken to Hakone, famous for its hot springs and Fuji views. You’ll spend your night in the shadow of the mountain in a Ryokan, or a traditional Japanese inn. There you can bathe in an authentic Onsen communal bath — an ancient tradition in Japan — before changing back into your Yukata for more Kaiseki dining. Share a meal with your group in the Ryokan before calling it a night and enjoying this authentic slice of Japanese living.

Today’s excursion will take you out of your Ryokan and across Lake Ashinoko, a flooded 3,000-year-old volcanic crater. Get plenty of aesthetic shots of Mt. Fuji as you boat across the mystical lake, or wait until you scale the Hakone ropeway to get some aerial shots of Japan’s iconic active volcano. Once you’re back on soild ground, it’s time to get zoomed to your next location by bullet train. And we’ve been saving the best to last — Tokyo! Arguably Japan’s most famous destination, the country’s electric mega-city and capital will serve as the final stop on your expedition. You’ll be staying in the exciting Ginza district — famed for its upmarket shopping and vibrant nightlife. You’ll have some free time to discover this yourself before it’s time for the evening yoga and your penultimate dinner. With more exploration of Tokyo tomorrow, make sure to get a great night’s sleep!

Your final full day in Japan will have you uncovering some of Tokyo’s spiritual shrines and shopping havens. Admire the Hamarikyu Gardens, an oasis in the thriving metropolis, visit the Meiji-jingu Shinto shrine, dedicated to the Emperor and Empress of the Meiji Era, and tour the Senso-ji Temple — Tokyo’s oldest and most significant. From there, you’ll have some free time on Nakamise shopping street — grabbing some last-minute souvenirs, gifts, and unique mementos of your Japanese expedition. Reflect on your trip at one last evening yoga and meditation session and get dressed up for a farewell dinner. Enjoy one last delicious banquet with your group and toast the week — Kanpai!

Your Japanese expedition has come to an end. You've hopped from city to city, seen the sights, immersed yourself in exciting traditions and culture, and dined on delicious food. Now it's time to bid farewell to Tokyo, and Japan, as we have breakfast, check out, and head back to the airport. Arigato — thanks for coming!