Japan Winter Wonderland

Arrival at Tokyo airport

Land at Narita or Haneda International Airport to begin the tour, on Christmas Eve.

Meet and greet, Suica card and Wi-Fi handover

VacMode representative meets the group and hands over welcome Suica IC cards and pocket Wi-Fi devices.

Private transfer to hotel, check in

Private transfer to the Tokyo hotel, with time to check in and freshen up after the flight.

Marunouchi Illumination & Hibiya Christmas Market

A champagne-gold light display along the avenue from Tokyo Station to Hibiya, with a German-style Christmas market of glühwein and wooden stalls alongside.

Shibuya Ao no Dokutsu (Blue Cave)

A tunnel of blue light strung along Koen-dori leading into Yoyogi Park, one of Tokyo's most photographed winter illuminations.

Alternative: Shinjuku illuminations for late arrivals

For groups arriving late, a walkable alternative around Shinjuku covering Kabukicho, Omoide Yokocho and the Southern Terrace illumination.

Breakfast at hotel

Breakfast at the hotel on Christmas Day before the Tokyo city tour.

Visit Sensoji Temple & Nakamise Shopping Street

Tokyo's oldest temple, approached via the bustling Nakamise Shopping Street lined with traditional snacks and souvenirs.

Visit TeamLab Planets Tokyo

An immersive digital art museum where visitors walk through interactive, water and light-based installations.

Meiji Shrine

Harajuku and Omotesando

A walk down Takeshita-dori's youth-culture shops and the illuminated zelkova-lined Omotesando avenue.

Shibuya Crossing & Shibuya Sky

The world's busiest pedestrian crossing, set in the heart of Tokyo. Hundreds of people cross from all directions at once amid glowing billboards. An iconic, electrifying symbol of Tokyo's fast-paced urban energy.

Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka illumination & Christmas Market

An illuminated slope framing Tokyo Tower, alongside the Roppongi Christmas Market, both closing tonight for the season.

Breakfast and check out

Breakfast at the Tokyo hotel followed by check-out ahead of the transfer to Hakone.

Ameyoko year-end market, Ueno

Tokyo's boisterous year-end market on its opening weekend, with crab, tuna and dried goods sold street-side amid shouted prices.

Shinkansen to Odawara, road to Hakone

Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Odawara (about 35 minutes), followed by a road transfer into Hakone.

Hakone Ropeway Ride to Owakudani Valley

A scenic cable car ride offering stunning aerial views of Hakone's volcanic landscape. Passes over Owakudani Valley, known for its sulfur vents and steaming volcanic terrain. On clear days, offers breathtaking views of Mount Fuji in the distance.

Lake Ashi Pirate Theme Cruise

A fun, pirate-ship-styled cruise sailing across the scenic Lake Ashi. Offers stunning views of surrounding mountains, forests, and — on clear days — Mount Fuji. A playful yet picturesque way to experience Hakone's natural beauty.

Hakone Shrine

A shrine known for its vermilion torii gate standing in the water at the edge of Lake Ashi.

Ryokan check-in, yukata change, kaiseki dinner

Check in to the traditional ryokan, change into a yukata robe, and enjoy a multi-course kaiseki dinner.

Onsen Experience

A traditional Japanese hot spring bath, known for its relaxing and therapeutic mineral waters. Soak in serene indoor or outdoor baths surrounded by natural scenery. A calming cultural ritual offering rest and rejuvenation after a day of travel.

Early morning rotenburo bath

An early open-air hot-spring bath before breakfast, considered the best hour of the ryokan stay.

Japanese breakfast, check out

A traditional Japanese breakfast at the ryokan followed by check-out.

Optional: Hakone Open-Air Museum or Detached Palace Garden

An optional stop before departure at the sculpture-filled Open-Air Museum with its hot-spring foot bath, or the Hakone Detached Palace Garden for a last view of Fuji over the lake.

Road to Odawara, Shinkansen to Nagoya

Road transfer to Odawara followed by a Tokaido Shinkansen journey to Nagoya (about 1h20m).

Coach to Nabana no Sato

A direct coach transfer from Nagoya to Nabana no Sato, home to Japan's largest winter illumination.

Begonia glasshouse and gardens

An afternoon exploring the park's begonia glasshouse and gardens while daylight fades ahead of the illumination.

Nabana no Sato winter illumination

Japan's largest winter light display switching on at dusk: a 200-metre tunnel of light, a mirrored water garden, and a full-hillside projection show that changes each season.

Coach to Nagoya, Shinkansen to Kyoto

Return coach to Nagoya followed by a Shinkansen journey to Kyoto (about 35 minutes).

Arrive Kyoto, check in for 5 nights

Arrival and check-in at the Kyoto hotel in the Higashiyama or Gion area, within walking distance of the New Year's Eve ceremonies; five nights here with no repacking over the New Year.

Breakfast at hotel

Breakfast at the Kyoto hotel before a day exploring the eastern hills.

Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine

Famous shrine known for its thousands of vermillion torii gates winding up the mountainside.

Kiyomizu-dera

A historic wooden temple with a stage jutting over the hillside, offering views over the city under winter light.

Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka & Yasaka Pagoda

A walk along preserved stone-paved lanes leading down from Kiyomizu-dera, with a photo stop at the Yasaka Pagoda.

Evening at Nishiki Market

A lively covered market street known as "Kyoto's Kitchen," packed with food stalls, snacks and local produce.

Orientation walk: Chion-in & Yasaka Shrine

A daylight orientation walk past Chion-in and Yasaka Shrine so the group knows the New Year's Eve ceremony route before the crowds and darkness of Day 8.

Gion at dusk

An evening stroll through Gion's Hanamikoji-dori and along the Shirakawa canal, with a briefing on photography restrictions in the private lanes.

Breakfast at hotel

Breakfast at the Kyoto hotel before the Nara excursion.

Transfer to Nara

Road transfer from Kyoto to Nara, taking around an hour.

Todai-ji Great Buddha Hall

One of the largest wooden buildings in the world, housing a 15-metre bronze statue of the Buddha (Daibutsu).

Nara Deer Park Visit

Explore the expansive Nara Deer Park, home to over a thousand free-roaming sacred sika deer. Visitors can purchase deer crackers to hand-feed the friendly animals against a backdrop of ancient temples and greenery.

Kasuga Taisha

A shrine approached through a forest lined with roughly three thousand bronze and stone lanterns.

Naramachi & Kofuku-ji pagoda

A stroll through the Naramachi merchant quarter, passing Kofuku-ji's five-storey pagoda.

Optional: Uji - Byodo-in & matcha houses

An optional stop on the return leg at Uji, home to Byodo-in's Phoenix Hall and riverside matcha tea houses.

Return to Kyoto, evening free

Return transfer to Kyoto with the evening left free.

Breakfast at hotel

Breakfast at the Kyoto hotel before the day trip to Osaka.

Transfer to Osaka

Road transfer from Kyoto to Osaka, taking around an hour.

Osaka Castle

A majestic 16th-century castle rising above lush parklands and moats. Iconic for its golden accents, stone walls, and rich samurai-era history. A perfect spot for scenic views and a glimpse into Japan's feudal past

Umeda Skydeck Visit

Ascend to the dramatic open-air Skydeck of the Umeda Sky Building, offering breathtaking 360-degree panoramic views over Osaka's city skyline and beyond. The futuristic twin-tower structure connected by a mid-air bridge is itself an architectural marvel.

Kuromon Ichiba Market

Osaka's famous food market at its year-end peak, with crab, tuna, fugu and wagyu skewers stocked for New Year tables; the market closes from 31 December, making this the only opportunity to visit.

Midosuji Illumination

A four-kilometre avenue of illuminated ginkgo trees through central Osaka, running through to 31 December.

Dotonbori

Return to Kyoto

Return transfer from Osaka back to the Kyoto hotel.

Breakfast at hotel

Breakfast at the hotel on New Year's Eve morning.

Tenryu-ji & Togetsukyo Bridge

A Zen temple with the Sogenchi garden, followed by a walk across the Togetsukyo Bridge.

Visit Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

A walk through the towering Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, paired with the chance to dress in a traditional kimono for photos.

Kimono Forest

Optional stops at the illuminated Kimono Forest at Randen Arashiyama Station, or the Iwatayama Monkey Park.

Kinkaku-ji

Return to hotel to rest

Return to the hotel by mid-afternoon to rest ahead of the late New Year's Eve programme.

Toshikoshi soba dinner

A traditional New Year's Eve dinner of year-crossing buckwheat noodles, eaten before midnight to cut off the old year's misfortune.

Joya no Kane at Chion-in

Witnessing the ritual striking of Chion-in's 70-tonne temple bell 108 times by seventeen monks.

Late breakfast with osechi ryori and ozoni, check out

A late New Year's Day breakfast, ideally including traditional osechi ryori boxes and ozoni mochi soup, followed by check-out.

Hatsumode - first shrine visit of the year

The year's first shrine visit: Yasaka Shrine is right at hand, Fushimi Inari is the grand option, and Shimogamo Shrine's ancient forest offers a quieter, more beautiful alternative.

Omikuji, hamaya arrows, amazake and food stalls Osaka

Osaka's famous food market at its year-end peak, with crab, tuna, fugu and wagyu skewers stocked for New Year tables; the market closes from 31 December, making this the only opportunity to visit.

Transfer to Osaka, check in

Road transfer from Kyoto to Osaka (about an hour), followed by hotel check-in.

Sumiyoshi Taisha

One of Japan's oldest shrines and the major Kansai Hatsumode destination, known for its steep arched Sorihashi bridge and drawing over two million New Year visitors.

Optional: Shitennoji

An optional visit to Japan's oldest state-built Buddhist temple, also busy with New Year visitors.

Dotonbori

Breakfast at hotel, check out

Final breakfast at the Osaka hotel followed by check-out.

Fukubukuro lucky-bag shopping

Shopping for sealed fukubukuro "lucky bags" at steep discounts as Umeda's Hankyu and Daimaru department stores reopen for the new year; queues form before opening.

Shinsaibashi arcade

An alternative option to visit the Osaka Castle keep, reopening today after its New Year closure, or browse the Shinsaibashi shopping arcade during its New Year sale.

Transfer to Kansai International Airport

Transfer from the Osaka hotel to Kansai International Airport, taking around an hour.

Departure

International departure from Kansai International Airport, concluding the tour.