There are countries where contrasts do not clash, but instead coexist with surprising ease. Japan is one of them. On the same journey, you can go from a neon-lit metropolis to a temple surrounded by silence, stroll through meticulously maintained gardens, discover historic castles, or venture into mountain landscapes where the pace of life seems to change completely..
Traveling to Japan with Europamundo lets you experience all this diversity in a comfortable and organized way. Depending on the tour you choose, the itinerary combines major cities, spiritual sites, traditional towns, natural landscapes, and experiences that help you better understand a culture where the past and present move forward together.
The essence of Japan: tradition and modernity in one journey
Japan has countless ways to surprise you. Tokyo reveals its most dynamic and contemporary side, while Kyoto preserves some of the greatest symbols of the country’s historical and spiritual heritage. But depending on the route, the journey can go much further, taking you to places such as Hiroshima, Miyajima, Shikoku, Mount Koya, the Japanese Alps, and traditional hot spring towns.
This variety is precisely one of the great attractions of Europamundo tours. On certain itineraries, bullet train journeys are combined with travel by coach, ferries, cable cars, and even subway rides, allowing you to discover the country from very different perspectives.
Kyoto: temples, shrines, and Japan’s traditional essence
Depending on the tour you choose, your journey through Japan can unfold in different ways, connecting its major cities and regions through a variety of routes.
Kyoto invites you to immerse yourself in Japan’s history and spirituality. Some itineraries include iconic sites such as the Fushimi Inari Shinto shrine, famous for its distinctive torii gates, the Imperial Palace, and Kinkakuji Temple, better known as the Golden Pavilion.
There is also a walk through Gion, one of the city’s most traditional neighborhoods, where the architecture and atmosphere evoke the Kyoto of another era.
Depending on the itinerary, travel between Kyoto and other major cities may be by bullet train, an experience that has become an iconic part of how many travelers imagine Japan.
Tokyo: the energy of contemporary Japan
In contrast to Kyoto’s serenity and historic legacy, Tokyo reveals one of the country’s most dynamic and contemporary faces. Here, ultramodern neighborhoods coexist with temples and places where the atmosphere can change completely within minutes.
Several Europamundo itineraries include an extensive city tour that takes you to Zojoji Temple, offers a view of the famous Shibuya Crossing along the way, visits the Meiji Shrine, and passes along the elegant Omotesando Avenue.
One of the most memorable moments may be the included visit to Tokyo Skytree, with access to the Tembo Deck, located 350 meters above the ground. From there, the sheer scale of Tokyo takes on a completely different dimension.
The experience continues in Asakusa, where Sensoji Temple and the traditional Nakamise shopping street reveal another side of the capital. The tour also takes you through well-known areas such as Akihabara and Ginza.
On some programs, the day continues with a subway ride to Shinjuku, where you can enjoy one of Tokyo’s liveliest districts, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.
Nara and Osaka: from spiritual Japan to a city full of energy
Depending on the route you choose, the journey may continue to Nara, another essential city for understanding the country’s historical and religious heritage.
Here, you visit the Buddhist Todaiji Temple, known for its Great Buddha, as well as the park where deer roam freely. Some tours also include the Buddhist complex of Horyuji, adding even greater cultural depth to the journey.
Then, Osaka brings a complete change of scenery.
In Dotonbori, the lights, signs, and constant movement of the streets reveal the city’s most energetic side. After temples, gardens, and historic sites, Osaka is another reminder that Japan’s contrasts are one of the country’s greatest attractions.
Hiroshima and Miyajima: remembrance and spirituality
On several Europamundo itineraries, Hiroshima is part of the journey through Japan, offering the opportunity to explore one of the most significant chapters in the country’s modern history.
The visit includes places connected to the city’s past, such as the Peace Memorial, the Atomic Bomb Dome, and the Peace Memorial Museum. It is a different kind of stop on the journey, one that invites travelers to learn about and reflect on an essential part of Japan’s history.
Depending on the tour, Hiroshima is combined with a ferry ride to Miyajima, home to Itsukushima Shrine, built partially over the sea.
The contrast between the two places makes this part of the journey particularly memorable: from Hiroshima’s powerful history to the serenity and beauty of one of traditional Japan’s most recognizable landscapes.
Shikoku: temples, gardens, and hot spring traditions
Some of the most extensive tours also take you to Shikoku, revealing a side of Japan that feels very different from its major cities.
In Matsuyama, for example, certain itineraries include a cable car ride up to the castle, a visit to the Buddhist Ishiteji Temple, and admission to Dogo Onsen, one of the places associated with Japan’s traditional hot spring bathing culture.
Depending on the route, the journey may continue to Kotohira, home to an important Shinto shrine reached after climbing hundreds of steps.
In Takamatsu, Ritsurin Garden offers another of those moments when Japan’s landscape and traditions take center stage.
And in Naruto, some itineraries stop at the large bridge over the sea, where you can view the famous whirlpools from facilities built into the structure.
These stages allow travelers to discover places that may be less familiar to many visitors and add considerable depth to a tour of Japan.
Mount Koya: a different spiritual experience
Among the most distinctive experiences included on certain Europamundo itineraries is Mount Koya, one of the main centers of Shingon Buddhism in Japan.
Here, the journey includes places such as the Okuno Mausoleum and Kongobuji Temple. But the experience can go much further.
On some tours, an overnight stay in a Buddhist monastery is planned, with traditional Japanese-style rooms featuring tatami mats, along with a vegetarian dinner.
Depending on the conditions of each departure, the monks may also offer an Ajikan Zen meditation practice, and those who wish may attend a religious ceremony before breakfast.
Because this experience depends on the operation and availability of the temples themselves, it may vary on certain dates, especially during peak periods. For this reason, it is always best to check the details of your chosen itinerary.
Traditional towns and the Japanese Alps: another side of the country
Japan can also be discovered far from its major cities.
On certain routes, Tsumago offers the opportunity to walk among traditional wooden houses and experience a much quieter side of the country.
In Matsumoto, a visit to its historic castle once again puts Japan’s heritage in the spotlight before the journey continues toward the mountains.
Depending on the tour, the route may reach Nagano, where you visit Zenko-ji, an important pilgrimage site, and the Gomakuyo ceremony is included.
The journey may then continue into the Japanese Alps to Jigokudani Monkey Park, set among forests, rivers, and hot springs. Since the macaques live freely in their natural environment, their presence depends on the conditions at the time of the visit.
Ryokan and onsen: experiencing Japanese traditions
On some tours, the route continues to towns closely connected with Japan’s hot spring culture, such as Kusatsu and Ikaho.
In Ikaho, the itinerary may include a stay at a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn where the atmosphere itself offers a different perspective on the country’s approach to hospitality.
The experience may be completed with a traditional Japanese dinner, turning the stay into much more than simply another night of accommodation.
Junto con los onsen presentes en determinadas rutas, estos momentos ayudan a descubrir costumbres que forman parte de la vida y la identidad japonesa.
Together with the onsen included on certain routes, these moments provide a closer look at customs that form part of everyday life and Japanese identity.
Nikko: nature, history, and spirituality
Depending on your chosen route, another stop may be Nikko, where nature and cultural heritage come together once again.
The itineraries that visit this area include places such as Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum, and the Kanmangafuchi area.
After major cities, high-speed trains, and lively neighborhoods, Nikko once again brings that constant sense of changing scenery that makes a journey through Japan so distinctive.
Flavors of Japan: much more than sushi
Traveling to Japan also means discovering an incredibly diverse cuisine.
Sushi may be one of the country’s best-known culinary icons around the world, but Japanese food goes far beyond it. During your journey, it is well worth trying specialties such as ramen, tempura, soba and udon noodles, yakitori, takoyaki, and okonomiyaki.
There are also more elaborate culinary traditions, such as kaiseki cuisine, along with countless regional specialties that change as you travel across the country.
Some Europamundo tours also include different dining experiences as part of the journey, such as lunches or dinners at local restaurants, the vegetarian dinner associated with the stay at Mount Koya, or a traditional Japanese dinner during an overnight stay at a ryokan.
Trying new flavors becomes yet another way to connect with Japanese culture.
A comfortable and complete way to travel through Japan
Traveling through such a diverse country means connecting cities, regions, and even islands that can feel very different from one another.
With Europamundo, many of the journeys are made by road aboard a coach, accompanied by guides according to the program of each tour.
In addition, depending on the itinerary, other forms of transportation are included and become part of the experience. The bullet train connects major cities, while ferries take travelers to places such as Miyajima or onward to other islands.
On certain stages, cable cars and the subway are also used, with the relevant transportation or admissions specified in each itinerary.
This combination makes it easier to discover some of Japan’s greatest icons as well as lesser-known destinations, balancing organization, sightseeing, and time to enjoy each place.
Get inspired by our travelers’ photos on EuropamundoPhotos
Before you travel, a single photograph can be enough to start imagining the destination.
On EuropamundoPhotos, you can discover Japan through images shared by travelers who have already experienced their journeys with Europamundo.
Temples, cities, gardens, landscapes, and small details of everyday life are captured from a real traveler’s perspective, helping you imagine what your own experience might look like.
A perfect source of inspiration before you begin planning your next journey.
Japan: a journey where the scenery is constantly changing
Japan is difficult to capture in a single image.
It might be Tokyo’s skyline viewed from above, the torii gates of Fushimi Inari, the silence of Mount Koya, a ferry crossing, a traditional town surrounded by mountains, a perfectly maintained garden, or a night in a ryokan.
And that is precisely one of the great attractions of traveling to Japan with Europamundo: depending on the tour you choose, you can combine some of the country’s best-known places with experiences and destinations that reveal many other sides of its culture.
At europamundo.com, you can explore the available itineraries and discover which journey through Japan best suits your travel style.
In addition, traveling with Europamundo offers a way to discover the world that combines organization and flexibility, with different itineraries, routes, and options so that each traveler can find an alternative that best fits their plans. If you would like to learn more about how our tours work and the advantages they offer, discover what it is like to travel with Europamundo.
You can also follow @europamundovacations for more inspiration, destinations, tours, and travel experiences from around the world.
And now we want to hear from you:
What would you like to discover first in Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto’s temples, the tradition of staying in a ryokan, or the spirituality of Mount Koya? Leave us a comment and share your next travel dream with us.