Day 1: Tokyo
We arrive in Tokyo and make your way to your hotel in Shiodome, about 30 minutes from Haneda Airport. In the evening we meet our guide for a welcome dinner nearby.
Meals: D
Accommodation: Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Shiodome
Tokyo
ends Kyoto
2–12
participants
Casual+ Inns (4★)
Apr – May, Oct – Nov
One week, three of Japan's essential places, seen on foot and by bike. This journey takes first-time visitors from Tokyo to Hakone and on to Kyoto, at an easy pace and with a guide throughout.
In Tokyo, walk the old merchant quarter of Nihonbashi, tasting the dashi broth at the heart of Japanese cooking, graze the stalls of the Tsukiji Outer Market, and visit Senso-ji, the city's oldest temple, in Asakusa. In Hakone, walk a stone-paved stretch of the Old Tokaido highway to a teahouse that has served travelers for nearly 400 years, cruise Lake Ashi beneath Mount Fuji, ride the ropeway over the steaming valley of Owakudani, and spend the night in a ryokan with hot-spring baths.
The journey ends with three nights in Kyoto. Taste your way through Nishiki Market and climb to Kiyomizu-dera, walk the torii paths of Fushimi Inari and see Nara's Great Buddha, then ride an e-bike from the Golden Pavilion to the bamboo groves of Arashiyama. On the last evening, sit down to a farewell kaiseki dinner in Gion, with a private performance by a maiko.
Highlights
Walk Nihonbashi's old merchant quarter and taste dashi where Tokyo's chefs buy it, graze the Tsukiji Outer Market, and visit Senso-ji, the city's oldest temple, in Asakusa.
Walk the stone-paved Old Tokaido to Lake Ashi, cruise beneath Mount Fuji and ride the ropeway over volcanic Owakudani, then soak in your ryokan's hot-spring baths.
Climb to Kiyomizu-dera, walk the torii paths of Fushimi Inari, grind matcha in Uji, ride an e-bike to the bamboo groves of Arashiyama, and dine with a maiko in Gion.
7 Days from $4,495
| Day | Place | Casual+ Inns | Meals | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Tokyo | Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Shiodome | D | Arrival & Leisure |
| 02 | Tokyo | Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Shiodome | B, L | Nihonbashi dashi walk, Tsukiji Outer Market & Asakusa |
| 03 | Hakone | Shinanoki Ichinoyu Ryokan | B, L, D | Old Tokaido walk, Lake Ashi cruise, Owakudani ropeway & ryokan |
| 04 | Kyoto | Hotel Vischio Kyoto | B, L | Shinkansen to Kyoto, Nishiki Market, Kiyomizu-dera & Gion |
| 05 | Kyoto | Hotel Vischio Kyoto | B,L | Fushimi Inari walk, Uji matcha grinding & Byodo-in |
| 06 | Kyoto | Hotel Vischio Kyoto | B, D | E-bike to Arashiyama, boat lunch & farewell kaiseki with a maiko |
| 07 | Departure | - | B | - |
Meals: B = Breakfast · L = Lunch · D = Dinner
Listed hotels are subject to availability and may be replaced with similar alternatives.
We arrive in Tokyo and make your way to your hotel in Shiodome, about 30 minutes from Haneda Airport. In the evening we meet our guide for a welcome dinner nearby.
Meals: D
Accommodation: Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Shiodome
We start in Nihonbashi, Tokyo's old merchant quarter, on a guided walk past shops that have traded since the Edo period. We taste dashi, the savory broth at the heart of Japanese cooking, at a long-established supplier, and watch artisans sharpen knives for the city's chefs. From here we continue to the Tsukiji Outer Market to graze its lanes for lunch.
In the afternoon we head to Asakusa, home to Senso-ji, Tokyo's oldest temple, and walk the stalls of Nakamise-dori to its great red lantern gate. The evening is free to explore Ginza or Shibuya.
Meals: B, L
Accommodation: Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Shiodome
We leave Tokyo for Hakone, about two hours by private vehicle, while our main luggage is sent ahead to Kyoto. Here we walk a preserved section of the Old Tokaido, the stone-paved highway that once linked Edo and Kyoto, through cedar forest to Amazake-chaya, a thatched teahouse that has served travelers for nearly 400 years, for warm amazake and rice cakes.
The path brings us down to Lake Ashi, where we cruise across the water with Mount Fuji rising above on clear days, then ride the ropeway over the steaming volcanic valley of Owakudani. We end the day at our ryokan with a soak in its hot-spring baths and a seasonal kaiseki dinner.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Shinanoki Ichinoyu Ryokan
After a morning soak, we take the Shinkansen from Odawara to Kyoto, arriving around midday. Lunch is a walk through Nishiki Market, "Kyoto's Kitchen," tasting pickles, tofu, sweets and seasonal specialties from its narrow lanes of stalls.
In the afternoon we climb to Kiyomizu-dera, set on a hillside with sweeping views over the city, then stroll down the stone lanes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka to reach Gion as the lanterns come on. The evening is free.
Meals: B, L
Accommodation: Hotel Vischio Kyoto
We start early at Fushimi Inari Shrine, walking up through thousands of vermilion torii gates and leaving the crowds at the lower shrines behind as we climb toward the quieter upper paths. From here we take the train to Uji, Japan’s oldest tea town, for a lunch of green-tea soba.
In the afternoon we visit a historic tea house to grind matcha by hand on a stone mill, then whisk and taste our own bowl with a seasonal sweet. We finish at Byodo-in, whose Phoenix Hall appears on Japan’s 10-yen coin, and walk back along the Uji River before returning to Kyoto for a free evening.
Meals: B,L
Accommodation: Hotel Vischio Kyoto
Today we set out on an e-bike tour from Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, toward Arashiyama, riding along quiet backstreets, traditional neighborhoods and riverside paths with our local guide. We enjoy lunch aboard a traditional yakatabune boat on the Hozu River, then walk into the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, with free time to explore before returning to the hotel.
In the evening a private vehicle takes us to the lantern-lit lanes of Pontocho and Gion for our farewell dinner: a multi-course kaiseki meal, accompanied by a private performance from a maiko, who dances and talks with us about life in the teahouses.
Meals: B, D
Accommodation: Hotel Vischio Kyoto
After breakfast, we make your way to Kansai International Airport, about 80 minutes by the JR Haruka Express from Kyoto Station, a few minutes' walk from the hotel. Please book departing flights after 12:00 pm.
Meals: B
Each accommodation has been thoughtfully selected to ensure an exceptional and memorable experience for guests. Should the listed hotel be unavailable, we will ensure an alternative of similar quality.
Central Tokyo hotel with direct metro access, spacious rooms, and a dramatic atrium lobby. Offers excellent value, combining comfort, convenience, and easy access to Ginza, business districts, and major attractions.
Traditional Hakone ryokan blending modern comfort with authentic Japanese hospitality. Features private open-air onsen baths, spacious tatami rooms, and serene forest surroundings—ideal for a relaxing, immersive cultural stay near Lake Ashi.
Lodging
All hotels as mentioned in the tour details or similar (subject to availability).
Luggage Transfer
Transportation of luggage from one hotel to another.
Meals
Meals as per itinerary. Guests are given the opportunity to dine on their own so that they discover a location independently.
Entrance
Entrance fees to most of the monuments and temples.
Airport Pickup
We recommend to book directly from airport.
Airport Drop
We recommend to book directly from your last hotel.
Beverages
Beverages such as alcohol, tea, coffee, juice at a hotel or restaurant.
Gratuity
Gratuities for your guide team are not included in the trip price.
We want you to have a fantastic experience on your tour, so we aim to be upfront about what to expect along the way. Here are key details to keep in mind:
**About Hotel Rooms in Japan: **
Hotel room terminology in Japan can be different from what many international travelers are used to.
A Twin Room typically features two separate beds and generally offers more usable floor space, making it the most comfortable choice for most travelers.
A Double Room usually contains a single bed that may be narrower than the queen or king beds commonly found in Western hotels. In some cases, the room may be quite compact, with limited space for luggage and movement.
Japan also has a unique room category known as a Semi-Double Room, which features a bed approximately 120 cm wide. While designed primarily for single occupancy, some hotels may offer it for two guests. These rooms can feel considerably smaller than standard double rooms in Europe, North America, or Australia.
Because room categories and bed sizes vary between hotels, we strongly recommend selecting a Twin Room whenever available, even for couples. Twin rooms generally provide: * More personal space and greater overall comfort
Please note that room changes after arrival are often difficult to arrange, particularly during busy travel periods when hotels operate at high occupancy levels.
Tokyo
Kyoto
Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT)
Osaka Kansai International Airport (KIX)
Arrival. Airport transfers are not included, but the hotel is easy to reach. From Haneda, the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho takes about 20 minutes, then a 10-minute walk or short taxi to the hotel; a taxi direct takes 25–30 minutes. From Narita, allow 75–90 minutes by train or airport bus. Please arrive by 5:00 pm for the welcome dinner.
Departure. The hotel is a few minutes' walk from Kyoto Station, where the JR Haruka Express runs direct to Kansai Airport in about 80 minutes. A taxi takes 90–120 minutes. Book departing flights after 12:00 pm.
This tour is at its best in spring (April–May) and autumn (October–November), when days are mild, around 15–23°C (59–73°F), and comfortable for walking and cycling. Cherry blossoms open in Tokyo and Kyoto in late March and early April, and Kyoto's maples peak in mid-to-late November.
Hakone is cooler than Tokyo and Kyoto, and Mount Fuji is often hidden by cloud in spring and summer, clearest from late autumn through winter. December to February are cold but bright, with quieter temples. June brings the rainy season, July and August are hot and humid, often above 30°C (86°F), and September falls within typhoon season. We avoid Golden Week, Japan's busiest holiday period from late April to early May.
January
Mixed
February
Mixed
March
Good
April
Best
May
Best
June
Mixed
July
Mixed
August
Mixed
September
Good
October
Best
November
Best
December
Good
Before venturing on your adventure, make sure you're equipped with essential travel advice, including security updates, local laws, and crucial passport and visa information. Start by visiting the official government website of your home country for accurate and reliable guidance:
Note: Passport and visa regulations can change at any time. Check for updates close to departure to avoid last-minute issues.
Medical insurance that covers medical costs in case of an accident during the trip is mandatory to participate in our tours.
We recommend purchasing adequate travel insurance to protect yourself from unforeseen events. Our experience shows that guests who purchase travel insurance, including coverage for all activities on the itinerary, trip cancellation, interruption, delay, baggage damage, loss or theft, personal accident, death and repatriation costs, medical and emergency expenses, and personal liability, travel with greater peace of mind.
Is proof of medical insurance required?
Yes. You must provide your insurer's name, policy number, and emergency contact through our reservation form. If you cannot provide proof, you'll need to purchase insurance before traveling with us.
Can I use my credit card insurance?
Yes, as long as it meets our requirements and provides adequate coverage. Keep your emergency contact number and policy number accessible while traveling.
When should I buy travel insurance?
Purchase travel insurance as soon as you've paid in full or booked your flights.
Does Art of Bicycle Trips sell travel insurance?
We do not sell travel insurance directly. We recommend comparing policies and choosing the one that best fits your needs. A useful place to start is Insured Nomads.