The Best of Japan: Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo Geisha Walk, Tea Ceremony, Local Food and More

We will meet in the afternoon in our accommodation in Ōsaka and get to know each other by a nice dinner together. We will be staying here for two nights. Take a rest after your long flight, because tomorrow we start exploring!

We will start the day with breakfast together! Afterwards, we head to Osaka Castle, an iconic symbol of the city. Explore the castle grounds and visit the museum inside to learn about its history. In the afternoon, we stroll along Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street, a bustling area filled with shops, boutiques, and department stores. It's a great place for shopping and people-watching. Later, we visit the Kuromon Ichiba Market, also known as "Osaka's Kitchen." It's a lively market where we can sample street food and buy local ingredients and snacks.

We will take the train to Kyoto! It is only half an hour away from Osaka, which means, we will have a lot of time to explore today! We will drop our luggage at the reception and head out to explore the area. For example, we will visit the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. It is one of Kyoto’s top sights and for good reason: standing amid these soaring stalks of bamboo is like being in another world. Tea Ceremony Experience the true art of tea drinking by taking part in this tea ceremony. We will learn about the ancient ritual of tea drinking and its social significance in Japanese culture. First, we will have a traditional purification ritual. The Tea Master will guide us throughout, showing and explaining every step of making the tea. Throughout the ceremony, we will be taught the fine art of drinking matcha tea.

We will get dressed in a beautiful kimono and explore Kyoto! We will head to a rental shop, the basic package is already included in the price. If you want your hair to be done or additional accessories, you have to pay an extra fee. Let's take some beautiful photos in a traditional Japanese kimono! Our first stop will be the famous Kiyomizu-dera temple, that is close by! Kiyomizudera is best known for its wooden stage that juts out from its main hall, 13 meters above the hillside. The stage affords nice views of the numerous cherry and maple trees below that erupt in a sea of color in spring and fall, as well as of the city of Kyoto in the distance. We will head back to the Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka area, famous for its traditional buildings. We will have lunch there, walk around the area to take some pictures and check out some shops. Next we head to a cute café to have a short break, get some matcha or other drinks along with a cute cloud-shaped snack. Afterwards, we will bring back our Kimonos and take public transport or walk to the district of Gion. Gion Geisha walking tour At 18:00 we will have a 1,5h long tour around the hidden street of the geisha district. We will be walking over the classic cobblestone next to the Shirakawa river, the scenery of which was featured in the novel / movie, "Memoirs of a Geisha," and while walking alongside the beautiful stream, the guide will tell us the story about what the geisha really is with a detailed explanation about their kimono, hairstyle, traditional rules, and how their daily life is, and more. If we are lucky, we will see a Geisha there.

Today we are taking the bullet train "Shinkansen" from Kyoto to Tokyo for a bit over two hours. We will drop our luggage at the hotel and head out to explore! We will experience the famous Shibuya Crossing, one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in the world. Enjoy the view from a café or take part in the crossing itself. Wrap up your day with dinner in Shibuya, where you'll find a wide range of dining options, from izakayas to international cuisine.

Modern Tokyo! We will start your day at Tsukiji Outer Market, where you can sample fresh sushi and explore the bustling stalls selling seafood and Japanese snacks. We will continue to Ginza, Tokyo's high-end shopping district, and explore luxury boutiques, department stores, and the famous Wako Building. Of course, we also have to head to Tokyo Station and visit "Ramen Street" in the basement, where you can choose from several renowned ramen shops for lunch.

Since Tokio is huge and there is a lot to see, we will have one more day to explore based on our interests! There is no fixed program yet, we can discuss what to do together or split the group. Nevertheless, the evening will end with a last group dinner or drinks together. Make sure to also try Sake! It is an integral part of Japanese culture and cuisine, and it's a must-try beverage for visitors.

The next morning, we will have breakfast together and check out of our accommodation. You can continue your own journey or take your flight back home. Hopefully we will see each other on another trip!