Day 1 Shanghai-Osaka
Full Day: Meet at Shanghai International Airport at the designated time and board your flight to Osaka, Japan.
Evening: Arrive at Kansai International Airport in Osaka and complete immigration procedures.
After meeting with your guide, you will be transferred to your Osaka hotel by private vehicle for check-in and rest.
Day 2 Osaka - Nara - Chubu
Morning: After breakfast at the hotel, proceed to Osaka Castle Park.
- Highlight: A famous Japanese castle, where crimson autumn maples intertwine with golden ginkgo trees. Stroll through the park grounds to experience the relaxed atmosphere of Osaka residents. Visit important cultural properties such as the Otemon Gate and Senkan Guryan Tower.
Morning: Depart for Shinsaibashi Shopping Street and Dotonbori Food Court.
- Shinsaibashi: Osaka's largest shopping district, home to boutiques, century-old shops, and international brands. Arcades provide shade and shelter from the rain.
- Dotonbori, the birthplace of 'eat-your-own-food' food culture, is lined with giant neon signs and a variety of restaurants, allowing you to experience the vibrant nightlife of Osaka.
Noon: Enjoy lunch (eel or ramen).
Afternoon: Drive to Nara and visit Nara Park. Autumn maples frame ancient temples such as Kasuga Taisha Shrine, creating a soothing spectacle of 'ancient temples, crimson leaves, and sacred deer'.
Evening: Drive to Chubu.
Dinner upon arrival and check into a Four-Diamond hotel in Chubu.
Day 3 Central Japan - Tokyo
Morning: Breakfast at the hotel, then drive to Nihondaira.
- Highlight: Shizuoka Prefectural Nature Park, located 308 meters above sea level, offers panoramic views of Mount Fuji, Suruga Bay, and the Izu Peninsula. Visit the 'Nihondaira Yume Observation Deck', designed by Kengo Kuma.
Morning: Drive to Tokyo.
Noon: Arrive in Tokyo and enjoy lunch (a traditional taiko drum performance with sukiyaki and hot pot).
Afternoon: Visit Akihabara Electric Town.
- Highlight: Japan's largest electronics and anime district, with over 800 shops selling the latest digital products and anime merchandise, allowing you to experience Tokyo's trendy culture.
Evening: Dinner (seafood hot pot) and check into a Four Diamond hotel in Tokyo.
Day 4 Tokyo
Morning: After breakfast at the hotel, proceed to the Imperial Palace Nijubashi Bridge.
- Highlight: Nijubashi Bridge, located just outside the Imperial Palace, is a classic photo spot. Overlooking the Imperial Palace's inner gardens, you'll experience the tranquility of central Tokyo.
Morning: Depart for Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise-dori.
- Senso-ji Temple: Tokyo's oldest temple, with its iconic red lanterns and Furaishinmon Gate, where you'll worship the main deity, Kannon.
- Nakamise-dori: A 200-meter-long shopping street selling fans, kimono accessories, and other Japanese souvenirs.
- Lunch (Japanese set meal) at noon.
- Afternoon: Depart for Tokyo Tower (including climbing).
- Highlight: Modeled after the Eiffel Tower, the tower stands 332.6 meters tall. Enjoy panoramic views of Tokyo and, on clear days, Mount Fuji.
- Depart for the Pearl Coral Treasure Museum.
- Experience an authentic Japanese hot spring: Change into a yukata, relax in the hot spring area, and immerse yourself in Japanese hot spring culture.
Evening: Enjoy dinner and return to the hotel to rest.
Day 5 Tokyo
Morning: After breakfast at the hotel, proceed to Shinjuku Metropolitan Government Building.
- Highlight: Designed by Kenzo Tange, the South and North Observation Deck offer 360-degree views of Tokyo. On clear days, you can see Mount Fuji and Tokyo Bay.
Morning: Proceed to Odaiba Seaside Park.
- Highlight: The artificial seaside park features a popular mini-Statue of Liberty, overlooking the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Bay.
Noon: Enjoy lunch.
Afternoon: Proceed to Meiji Jingu Shrine.
- Highlight: A major Shinto shrine in Tokyo, surrounded by towering ancient trees, this 'forest in the city' is popular for prayers and Japanese-style weddings.
Take a Tokyo Bay Cruise.
- Highlight: Enjoy the ocean breeze and panoramic views of Tokyo Tower, the Rainbow Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, and Tokyo Bay.
Proceed to Ginza.
- Highlights: Tokyo's premier shopping district, as famous as the Champs-Élysées, boasts a vibrant mix of flagship stores and century-old shops. Part of the road is closed to cars on Saturdays and Sundays, making it a pedestrian paradise.
Evening: After dinner, drive to Osaka or a nearby area and check into your hotel.
Day 6 Mount Fuji Area
Morning: After breakfast at the hotel, drive to the Mount Fuji area.
Morning: Depart for Mount Fuji Fifth Station.
- Highlight: Halfway up Mount Fuji's Tenth Station, get a close-up view of Mount Fuji's main peak and experience the volcanic landscape. If the mountain is closed, visit the Mount Fuji Museum or Earthquake Experience Center instead.
Noon: Enjoy lunch.
Afternoon: Depart for Lake Kawaguchiko.
- Highlight: In the center of the Fuji Five Lakes, 501 maple trees surround the lake in autumn, and the crimson leaves and Mount Fuji's reflection complement each other, creating a classic Mount Fuji fall foliage scene.
Depart for Oshino Hakkai.
- Highlight: Eight clear springs formed by Mount Fuji's snowmelt, with drinkable water. Surrounded by Japanese-style Gassho-style houses, experience the tranquility of 'spring water + ancient village'
Experience Japanese Matcha Tea Making: Learn how to brew and brew matcha tea with a professional instructor, and savor homemade matcha and wagashi.
Evening: Dinner and overnight at the Four Diamond Hotel Mount Fuji.
Day 7 Mount Fuji Area - Gifu
Morning: Breakfast at the hotel, then drive to Magome-juku/Tsumago-juku
- Highlights: An important post station on the Nakasendo Road during the Edo period, this station is designated a National Preservation Area for Traditional Buildings, preserving the streetscape from 150 years ago. With wooden houses and long-established teahouses, you'll experience a 'step back in time' in the Japanese streets.
Noon: Lunch.
Afternoon: Drive to Gifu. Upon arrival, enjoy free time to soak in the atmosphere of Gifu's small town.
Evening: Dinner and check into a Four Diamond Hotel in Gifu.
Day 8 Gifu - Kyoto - Osaka - Guangzhou
Morning: Breakfast at the hotel, drive to Kyoto.
Morning: Visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple (including Gion Hanami-koji).
- Kiyomizu-dera Temple: Kyoto's oldest temple (a World Heritage Site). The Kiyomizu-dera Stage, supported by 139 wooden pillars, is surrounded by autumn maple leaves, making it a popular spot for viewing.
- Gion Hanami-koji: The filming location for 'Memoirs of a Geisha', retains traditional Kyoto townhouses, where you can occasionally spot geisha and experience the charm of the ancient capital.
Noon: Enjoy lunch.
Afternoon: Depart for Kuromon Ichiba Market in Osaka.
- Highlight: Osaka's 'kitchen', a 600-meter-long traditional market with 170 shops selling fresh seafood, pickles, takoyaki, and more. Evening produce sales offer a glimpse into Osaka's urban life.
Driving to Kansai International Airport in Osaka and checking in.
Evening: Returning to Japan on your flight, concluding your autumn trip to Japan.
