WanderlynkPlan
Kiyomizu-dera’s wooden terrace overlooking Kyoto near sunset.

Japan beyond the golden route

Hiroshima and Miyajima, Kyoto’s gardens, Kanazawa’s craft streets and Tokyo.

  • 12N / 13D
  • Hiroshima · 3N
  • Kyoto · 3N
  • Kanazawa · 2N
  • Tokyo · 4N
  • Best Mar–May · Oct–Nov

Duration

12N / 13D

Places

4 bases

Hotels

4★

Meals

Breakfast

Pace

Balanced

Best for

A longer cultural journey by rail

Trip overview

Enter through Kansai and travel west to Hiroshima before moving east through Kyoto and Kanazawa to Tokyo. A 7-day Ordinary Japan Rail Pass covers the concentrated intercity section on days 3–9, including the Miyajima rail-and-ferry excursion; the airport-to-Hiroshima arrival journey is ticketed separately.

  • Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
  • Miyajima’s shrine and shoreline
  • Three nights in Kyoto
  • Kanazawa’s gardens and craft districts
  • Seven-day Japan Rail Pass
  • Four-night Tokyo finale

Route

  1. 1

    Hiroshima

    3 nights

  2. 2

    Kyoto

    3 nights

  3. 3

    Kanazawa

    2 nights

  4. 4

    Tokyo

    4 nights

Day by day

13 days · every day can be changed

  1. Arrive at Kansai International Airport by early afternoon and travel via Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima on separately ticketed reserved trains. Allow approximately 3–4 hours after leaving the airport station; a late flight requires an additional Osaka night.

    • Airport rail connection
    • Reserved shinkansen
    • Hiroshima check-in
    Meals at leisureOvernight Hiroshima
  2. Visit Peace Memorial Park and the Peace Memorial Museum with a private half-day guide. The museum contains distressing material, so leave time afterwards for a quiet walk rather than more scheduled sightseeing.

    • Peace Memorial Park
    • Peace Memorial Museum
    • Atomic Bomb Dome exterior
    BreakfastOvernight Hiroshima
  3. Activate your 7-day rail pass and travel by JR train and JR ferry to Miyajima, allowing approximately one hour each way plus waiting time. Visit Itsukushima Shrine and explore the shoreline; the torii’s appearance changes with the tide.

    • JR train and ferry
    • Itsukushima Shrine
    • Miyajima shoreline
    BreakfastOvernight Hiroshima
  4. Use pass-covered Hikari or Sakura services with the necessary connection to reach Kyoto. Allow approximately 2–3 hours station to station and spend the evening around the Kamo River.

    • Pass-covered shinkansen
    • Kyoto check-in
    • Kamo River walk
    BreakfastOvernight Kyoto
  5. Explore Kiyomizu-dera and the preserved lanes of Higashiyama with a private half-day guide. Continue independently through Gion’s public streets, observing local photography rules.

    • Kiyomizu-dera
    • Higashiyama walk
    • Gion public streets
    BreakfastOvernight Kyoto
  6. Visit Kennin-ji in the morning, then travel across the city to Arashiyama. Walk the bamboo path and riverside without adding a distant third sightseeing district.

    • Kennin-ji
    • Arashiyama bamboo path
    • Riverside walk
    BreakfastOvernight Kyoto
  7. Travel by Thunderbird limited express to Tsuruga, connecting to the Hokuriku Shinkansen for Kanazawa. Allow approximately 2–2½ hours station to station, then explore Higashi Chaya’s streets.

    • Thunderbird limited express
    • Tsuruga connection
    • Higashi Chaya
    BreakfastOvernight Kanazawa
  8. Visit Kenroku-en before exploring the castle grounds and Nagamachi district. Leave time for craft shops, where purchases and optional workshops are paid locally.

    • Kenroku-en
    • Castle grounds
    • Nagamachi
    • Craft browsing
    BreakfastOvernight Kanazawa
  9. Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Tokyo on the final valid day of your rail pass. The journey takes approximately 2½–3 hours, leaving the late afternoon free near your hotel.

    • Hokuriku Shinkansen
    • Tokyo check-in
    • Independent evening
    BreakfastOvernight Tokyo
  10. Explore Asakusa and Sensō-ji, then continue towards the quieter streets of Yanaka. Use local trains between neighbourhoods rather than attempting the full distance on foot.

    • Sensō-ji
    • Asakusa lanes
    • Yanaka walk
    BreakfastOvernight Tokyo
  11. Walk through Meiji Jingu’s wooded approach before exploring Harajuku and Omotesando. Continue to Shibuya for an independent evening, with observation-deck visits optional.

    • Meiji Jingu
    • Omotesando
    • Shibuya
    BreakfastOvernight Tokyo
  12. Choose a museum, design district or shopping neighbourhood for a deliberately open final day. Your travel plan can suggest options, but admissions and local travel today are extra.

    • Independent museum time
    • Design or shopping district
    • Final city walk
    BreakfastOvernight Tokyo
  13. Take a shared airport transfer to Haneda or Narita. Transfer timing is arranged around your flight, with longer road journeys required for Narita.

    • Airport transfer
    • International departure
    BreakfastDeparture day

Where you'll stay

Hotel names are confirmed in your proposal against your dates and budget.

Hiroshima · 3 nights

4★ city hotel near Hiroshima Station or central tram routes

Superior twin room

Kyoto · 3 nights

4★ city hotel near Kyoto Station or central Kyoto

Superior twin room

Kanazawa · 2 nights

4★ city hotel near Kanazawa Station

Superior twin room

Tokyo · 4 nights

4★ city hotel near a central rail interchange

Superior twin room

What's included

Included

  • 12 nights’ accommodation on twin share
  • 12 breakfasts
  • Reserved standard-class Kansai Airport–Hiroshima rail tickets via Shin-Osaka
  • 7-day Ordinary Japan Rail Pass for eligible temporary visitors, activated on day 3
  • Seat reservations on eligible pass-covered intercity services
  • Private half-day guides in Hiroshima and Kyoto
  • Listed paid museum, shrine, temple and garden admissions, plus Miyajima visitor tax
  • Shared Tokyo departure airport transfer

Not included

  • International flights
  • Visa fees, insurance and Indian TCS where applicable
  • Lunches, dinners, drinks and personal spending
  • Non-JR urban transport, luggage forwarding and optional experiences
  • Nozomi or Mizuho special tickets, Green Car upgrades and peak-date supplements
  • Additional Osaka arrival night if required by flight timings

Indicative price basis: per person on twin share, land only, before applicable GST and TCS. Final price depends on dates and availability.

Add to your enquiry

Japan essentials

Flight time
Delhi–Tokyo direct flights take approximately 7–8 hours; allow roughly 10–15 hours for connecting journeys from other major Indian metros.
Visa
Indian passport holders need a visa; residents of India can apply through VFS Global for a single-entry tourism eVISA for stays up to 90 days, subject to eligibility and approval; Rules can change; we confirm before you pay.
Currency
Japanese yen (JPY)
Time difference
Japan is 3 hours 30 minutes ahead of IST.

Questions

Similar holidays

All Japan holidays
Photo credits (4)