Japan

From Tokyo to Osaka: Between Metropolises, Ryokans, and Temples

A journey through Japan, taking in major cities, ancient traditions, and mountain landscapes. The journey begins in Tokyo, where the energy of the modern neighborhoods contrasts with the spirituality of the grand shrines and the chance to discover the local cuisine. The journey continues toward Kanazawa and Takayama, taking you into a more intimate setting steeped in the history and traditions of rural Japan, with a visit to Shirakawa-go and an overnight stay at a ryokan. Kyoto is the cultural heart of the itinerary, with its temples, Zen gardens, historic neighborhoods, and evening strolls.

Program

Day 1 — Departure: Departure from Bologna on a scheduled flight. Meals and overnight stay on board.

Day 2 — Tokyo, arrival: arrival at the airport, met by an Italian-speaking assistant, and transfer to the hotel (rooms available starting at 2:00 p.m.). Around 5:30 p.m., we’ll head to Shibuya: starting at the famous Shibuya Crossing—Japan’s most famous pedestrian crossing—we’ll continue with a culinary tour through the neighborhood’s streets, sampling everything from traditional specialties to contemporary flavors and Japanese sweets. Return to the hotel at your convenience.

Day 3 — Tokyo: A day dedicated to exploring the capital: Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, with the Kaminarimon Gate and the lively Nakamise-dori in the Asakusa district; Kappabashi Street, lined with shops selling everything related to restaurants. In the afternoon, the Meiji Jingu Shinto Shrine, nestled amid lush greenery, and the Harajuku neighborhood with Takeshita Street, the heart of Tokyo’s youthful and creative scene. Lunch and dinner are on your own.

Day 4 — Tokyo: Full day at leisure for individual sightseeing. Free meals.

Day 5 — Tokyo – Kanazawa: Ship your main luggage from Tokyo to Kyoto (one piece per person), then transfer to the station and take the train to Kanazawa. The rest of the day is free. Free meals.

Day 6 — Kanazawa – Takayama: local bus to Shirakawa-go, a traditional mountain village famous for its gassho-zukuri-style houses with steep thatched roofs. Free time to stroll around the village. A fresh start for Takayama. Dinner and overnight stay at a ryokan.

Day 7 — Takayama – Kyoto: Free morning to explore the narrow, historic streets of this traditional mountain town. In the afternoon, take the train to Kyoto (via Nagoya) and check in at the hotel using public transportation. Dinner on your own.

Day 8 — Kyoto: a day of sightseeing: Kinkaku-ji, the famous Golden Pavilion overlooking the pond; Ryoan-ji, with its extraordinary Zen rock garden, one of Japan’s most important examples of a dry landscape garden; the Arashiyama district with its bamboo forest; and Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple, with its thousands of moss-covered stone statues. Free meals.

Day 9 — Kyoto: Free morning for individual sightseeing. Around 4:30 p.m., an evening of sightseeing: Gion, the historic district with its lantern-lit narrow streets, steeped in the tradition of geisha and maiko, and Ninenzaka, with its charming cobblestone alleys lined with old wooden houses, artisan shops, and tea houses. Dinner on your own.

Day 10 — Kyoto – Osaka: Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, famous for its thousands of red torii gates lining Mount Inari. The tour continues to Nara, the ancient capital of Japan: the Todai-ji Temple with its monumental statue of the Great Buddha, and a stroll through Nara Park, where shika deer roam freely among the temples. Transfer to Osaka and check-in. Dinner on your own.

Day 11 — Osaka, departure: Transfer to the airport in time for the return flight.

Scheduled hotels or similar

• Tokyo: Mitsui Garden Shiodome
• Kanazawa: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Eki Nishiguchi
• Takayama: Honjin Hiranoya Kofukan
• Kyoto: Park Hotel Kyoto
• Osaka: Hankyu Gran Respire Osaka

The hotels may differ from those listed as planned, but they will always be of the same category.

ITA Airways flight schedule: Outbound April 16, 2027, AZ 1314 Bologna–Fiumicino, AZ 792 Fiumicino–Tokyo Haneda; return on April 26, 2027, JL 106 Osaka Itami–Tokyo Haneda, AZ 793 Tokyo Haneda–Fiumicino, AZ 1321 Fiumicino–Bologna. Checked baggage allowance: 23 kg per person.