WALKING TOUR
Japan occupies a unique place in many Westerners' minds. On the one hand, it is familiar. We've seen it in dozens of movies, and Japanese consumer products have been part of our everyday lives for decades. On the other hand, Japan is exotic and foreign. On this tour, we'll try to reconcile these two perspectives and experience what this amazing island nation has to offer!
This Best of JAPAN tour is meant as an introduction to this beautiful country. It doesn't purport to be comprehensive, as a truly exhaustive tour of Japan would take many weeks. Instead, we will sample the best this country has to offer using their incredible bullet train network and just three conveniently located hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima.
So, if you've always wanted to see Japan like that, we hope you will join us!
PLEASE NOTE: Rotary Best of JAPAN will operate immediately prior to the Rotary International Convention in Taipei in June 2026. As a result, Ursula and most guests will take a direct flight from Hiroshima to Taipei at the end of this tour to attend the Convention.
THIS IS AN ACTIVE TOUR: This tour includes a lot of walking most days, and there's really no way to avoid this while still keeping up with the group. As such, unfortunately it is not suitable for those who cannot walk 15,000 steps and climb many stairs.
TOUR DETAILS
LAND PACKAGE: C$6,880
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: C$2,440
DEPARTS TORONTO: Sat May 30, 2026
BEGINS IN TOKYO: Sun May 31, 2026
ENDS IN HIROSHIMA: Fri Jun 12, 2026
TYPE: Active Sightseeing
HOTELS: 4 star & 3.5 star
GROUP: Max 12 guests (6 Remaining)
DURATION: 13 days (12 hotel nights)
Rotary Tour Team
Rotary Tours are a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Haliburton. Ursula Devolin (President 2021/22) chairs the club's Rotary Tours Committee, while her husband Barry (TravelMaven) designs and operates the tours.
DAILY AGENDA
DAY 0 (Sat May 30) Depart Toronto
Trans-Pacific flights are not included in this Land Package, however, TravelMaven suggests Air Canada #001 to Haneda Airport Tokyo which departs Pearson at 13:15.
Please note, there is a different Air Canada flight to Narita Airport Tokyo at basically the same time . This flight WILL NOT be met as we can't be in two places at once.
Japanese women in traditional kimonos
DAY 1 (Sun May 31) Arrive in Tokyo
Air Canada #001 arrives at Haneda Airport at 15:40. Barry & Ursula will meet this flight and bring guests back to the hotel, where a light dinner is available for those interested.
DAY 2 (Mon Jun 1) Japanese History & Culture Tour (B,D)
Our local guide will lead us on a walking tour that provides an introduction to Japanese history and culture with visits to the Meiji Jingu Shrine, Hamarikyu Gardens & Tea House, Tjikiji Fish Market, Ueno Toshogu Shrine and Senso-ji Temple. Afterwards, the group will enjoy a Welcome Dinner at a nearby Japanese restaurant.
Tokyo Street
DAY 3 (Tue Jun 2) Tokyo Sightseeing Tour (B)
Today, Barry will lead the group to explore many of Tokyo’s top attractions, including the Metro Tokyo Observation Point, Imperial Palace, Yurikamome train tour and Shibuya scramble. After a break at the hotel, the group will head to the bright lights of Shinjuku to see the 3D cat billboard and Godzilla. Dinner will be in a fun Japanese regional cuisine restaurant.
DAY 4 (Wed Jun 3) Nikko Daytrip (B)
This will be a long day as we leave Tokyo by train to visit the mountain valley town of Nikko, site of historic temples and shrines.
Imperial Palace, Tokyo
DAY 5 (Thu Jun 4) FREE DAY in Tokyo (B)
One could spend weeks exploring Tokyo. After two days on guided tours, guests will have an opportunity to explore more of Tokyo on their own. Barry & Ursula will help with suggestions and planning.
DAY 6 (Fri Jun 5) Mount Fuji; Train to Kyoto (B,D)
After checking out, we will be picked up by a private bus and taken to the Mount Fuji area to (hopefully) catch a glimpse of this magnificent peak. Mid afternoon we'll be dropped off at a train station near Fuji to head to Kyoto for the next chapter in our Japanese journey.
Mount Fuji
DAY 7 (Sat Jun 6) Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle, Imperial Palace, Gion District (B,L)
Our local guide will introduce us to the cultural and historic richness of Kyoto. We’ll begin our day with a guided tour of the Golden Pavilion, followed by Nijo Castle and Kyoto's Imperial Palace. After a break at the hotel, Barry & Ursula will take the group to Kyoto’s famous Gion District (aka the geisha district).
DAY 8 (Sun Jun 7) Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine; Osaka Minami District (B)
After an early breakfast, we’ll take the train to Fushimi to visit the iconic Fushimi Inari Taisha, famous for its thousands of red torii gates. After some time to explore and return to Kyoto, guests will have a free afternoon to relax or sightsee on their own. Later in the day, we’ll head to Osaka to explore the lively Minami District, known for its bright lights, street food, and energetic atmosphere.
Golden Pavilion, Kyoto
DAY 9 (Mon Jun 8) Nara Park; Todaiji Temple (B)
We’ll spend the day in Nara, Japan’s former capital. Our visit includes the impressive Todaiji Temple, which houses one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in the world, and a walk through scenic Nara Park, famous for its free-roaming, friendly deer. After soaking in the sights and atmosphere, we’ll return to our hotel in the mid-afternoon. Guests will then have a free evening to explore Kyoto.
DAY 10 (Tue Jun 9) Sagano Train; Bamboo Forest; Monkey Mountain (B,L)
Today, we'll visit several of Kyoto’s top sights. We’ll start with a ride on the scenic Sagano Romantic Train, followed by a walk through the serene Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Then, we’ll visit the iconic Kinkakuji Temple, known for its golden exterior and peaceful gardens. After a full day of exploring, guests will have a free evening to relax or continue discovering Kyoto.
Nara Park
DAY 11 (Wed Jun 10) Kyoto to Hiroshima (B)
After an early morning walking tour of Kyoto shrines, we will check-out and board a train headed to Hiroshima, arriving mid afternoon. After check-in we will visit Hiroshima Castle and the city's most famous attraction, the Peace Museum.
DAY 12 (Thu Jun 11) Itsukushima Island; Farewell Dinner (B,D)
On this relaxed day, we’ll take a scenic ferry ride across the bay to Itsukushima Island, also known as Miyajima, famous for its iconic “floating” torii gate and beautiful surroundings. We’ll visit the historic Itsukushima Shrine and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and walking paths. After touring the main sights together, guests are free to stay and explore at their own pace before returning to the hotel.
Itsukushima Shrine, Hiroshima
DAY 13 (Fri Jun 12) Depart Japan (B)
Our flight to Taipei is scheduled to depart Hiroshima Airport around 11:00 in the morning. This marks the end of our Japanese adventure, and we sincerely thank you for choosing to travel with TravelMaven. Upon arrival in Taipei, we’ll transfer to our centrally located hotel in the heart of the city, with time to settle in and relax.