Temples, Tea & Tokyo
Eight days through Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Tokyo
Four nights in Kyoto give the city room to breathe: early starts at the shrines, slow afternoons in gardens, a day out to Nara's temples and deer. Osaka follows for one night of street food, then the shinkansen to Tokyo for two days split between old neighborhoods and a sushi counter. A private guide and car are with you each day, so the logistics stay out of sight.
This is a starting-point itinerary — we adapt every detail to your travel dates, interests, pace, and group. Speak to our concierge to begin.
Indicative price
from $600 per person per day
For 2 travelers sharing a room, from published entry-level hotel rates and ground costs read on October 10, 2026. How we calculate it
Request this itineraryIncluded
- 7 nights' accommodation in one of the hotels named for each stage
- Private licensed guide with car and driver, every day
- Airport and station transfers
- Reservations for restaurants and timed-entry sites
- A named Excurze concierge before and during the trip
Each stage has two or three hotels we know well. We propose the one that fits your dates and budget, and swap it if you prefer another.
Kyoto4 nights
Luxury
Takagamine, north-west Kyoto
A forested private garden in the hills of Takagamine, north-west of the center.
Ryokan
Arashiyama, on the Oi River
Reached by the hotel's own boat up the river; a ryokan with kaiseki dining.
Osaka1 night
Luxury
Four Seasons Hotel Osaka
Central Osaka
Opened in 2024.
Luxury
Conrad Osaka
Nakanoshima
Occupies the top floors of Nakanoshima Festival Tower West.
Luxury
The St. Regis Osaka
Honmachi
On Midosuji boulevard, the city's main north-south avenue.
Tokyo2 nights
Luxury
Otemachi
On the top floors of Otemachi Tower, looking over the Imperial Palace gardens.
Luxury
Janu Tokyo
Azabudai Hills
Aman's sister brand, opened in 2024, with a spa and wellness area.
Ryokan
Otemachi
A ryokan built as a city tower, with a hot-spring bath on the top floor.
Kyoto
Arrive in Kyoto
Private transfer from Kansai or Itami airport, or from Kyoto station
Afternoon at the hotel to recover from the flight
Early-evening walk through Gion and along the Shirakawa canal
Sleep: Kyoto (4 nights)
Kyoto
Shrines before the crowds
Fushimi Inari at 6:30am, while the torii paths are still quiet (the shrine is open all night)
Late breakfast, then Kiyomizu-dera and the lanes of Sannenzaka
Afternoon in Nishiki Market with your guide
Sleep: Kyoto
Kyoto — Arashiyama
Arashiyama and Zen gardens
The bamboo grove at opening time
Tenryu-ji and its garden with your guide
Tofu kaiseki lunch near the Oi River
Optional private tea ceremony in the afternoon (see options)
Sleep: Kyoto
Nara
Day trip to Nara
Forty-five minutes by train or car to Nara
Todai-ji and its Great Buddha hall
Nara Park and the Kasuga Taisha lanterns
Back to Kyoto for dinner
Sleep: Kyoto
Osaka
Osaka by mouth
Car transfer to Osaka (about an hour)
Osaka Castle grounds with your guide
Kuromon Market, then Dotonbori after dark for takoyaki and kushikatsu
Sleep: Osaka (1 night)
Tokyo
Shinkansen to Tokyo
Bullet train from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo, about two and a half hours
Your guide meets you on the platform
Evening in Shinjuku: Omoide Yokocho's small yakitori bars
Sleep: Tokyo (2 nights)
Tokyo
Old and new Tokyo
Breakfast at the Tsukiji outer market
Yanaka, one of the few areas that kept its pre-war streets
Afternoon at teamLab Planets or the Mori Art Museum
Dinner at a small sushi counter (booked in advance)
Sleep: Tokyo
Tokyo
Departure
Morning at Meiji Jingu or Hamarikyu Gardens
Private transfer to Haneda or Narita
An hour and a half with a tea master, matcha and seasonal wagashi, with an English-speaking guide.
Two nights in Hakone
Insert a ryokan stay with a private onsen between Kyoto and Tokyo; Mount Fuji views on clear days.
Swap Osaka for Kanazawa
Kenroku-en garden, the samurai district and Omicho market instead of Osaka's street food.
An overnight climb to the summit in the official climbing season (July to early September).
Three ramen shops in one evening with a local guide.
Best time to go
Late March to mid-April, and late October to late November
Cherry blossom and autumn color are the two peaks; hotels fill months ahead and rates rise, so book early.
Less suited: June to mid-July (rainy season) and August (heat, humidity and typhoon risk)
from $600 per person per day
This is an indication, not a quote. It adds up the lowest published entry-level rates we found for the hotel we priced at each stage, plus the cost of a private guide and car, divides by 2 travelersand 8 days, and rounds up to the next $50. Peak-season rates, larger rooms and the other hotels named above will change it. Your quote will be built on your dates.
| Item | Rate | In US dollars |
|---|---|---|
Kyoto, 4 nights at Hoshinoya Kyoto (lowest published rate of the three, low-end of its range) Japan Activity, Kyoto luxury hotels 2026 | 127,500 JPY × 4 | $3,223 |
Osaka, 1 night at The St. Regis Osaka Tripadvisor, Osaka luxury hotels | 482 USD × 1 | $482 |
Tokyo, 2 nights at Hoshinoya Tokyo Expedia, Hoshinoya Tokyo | 541 USD × 2 | $1,082 |
Licensed private guide with car, 8 days AAA Tripcanvas, Kyoto private tour with licensed guide and car | 427 USD × 8 | $3,416 |
Vehicle costs (fuel, tolls, parking), 8 days AAA Tripcanvas, same listing | 25,000 JPY × 8 | $1,264 |
| Total for 2 travelers | $9,466 | |
| Per person per day ($9,466 ÷ 2 ÷ 8), rounded up to $50 | $600 | |
The figure covers
- 7 nights in the lead hotel at each stage, standard double room
- A licensed private guide with car and driver every day, including airport transfers
Not included
- International flights
- Shinkansen and local train tickets
- Meals not included in the hotel rate
- Entrance fees and the optional modules
- Accommodation taxes and tips
Converted at the European Central Bank reference rates of October 9, 2026. Hotel rates come from third-party booking and guide sites and change with dates and availability; each line links to the page we read.
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