Autumn Leaf Tours

7 Day Tokyo & Kyoto Tour

Take a tour to both the modern and ancient capitals of Japan. Experience the colour and excitement of Tokyo along with the beauty and intrigue of historic of Kyoto.

*inclusions shown in the bullet points - package does not include airfares

Day 01 - Arrive Tokyo

Welcome to Japan! Upon arrival at Narita International Airport clear customs with your luggage and make your way to the Arrivals Lobby.

Take the escalator downstairs to the train station and at the JR East Travel Service Centre (06:30 – 21:45) issue your Japan Rail Pass.

Board the Narita Express train from Narita Airport to Shinagawa Station. (65 min) Your accommodation at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel is a two minute walk across the road from the Takanawa Exit of JR Shinagawa Station. Shinagawa is the ideal place to stay for its convenient access to wide range of restaurants and shops. Shinagawa Station is a major stop on the JR Yamanote Line loop system which circumnavigates Tokyo.

Stay: Shinagawa Prince Hotel - 1/3

Day 02 - Tokyo Tour

This morning board a JR Yamanote Line train from Shinagawa Station to Shinjuku Station. (21 mins) At Shinjuku Station, take the East Exit and follow the signs to a 2nd Exit named Kabuki Cho. The Hato Bus parking bay is located on the opposite side of the Studio Alta Building. Easy to navigate maps with photos and directions will be provided.

This is the meeting location for your 1-Day Tokyo Tour including lunch. Please be sure to arrive at least 10 minutes before the tour's departure time and allow yourself plenty of time to find the pick-up spot.

At 09:10 you will be collected for your 1 Day Tour of Tokyo operated by Hato Bus with an English-speaking guide and transported by coach to the following sites:
Imperial Palace (Nijubashi Bridge) - Once home to Edo Castle, the centre of development of Edo-Tokyo, this is now where you can find the Imperial Palace
Asakusa Kannon Temple & Nakamise Shopping Street - Senso-ji, Tokyo's oldest temple, offers plenty to see including the bright red Kaminarimon Gate, a statue of the god of thunder, and a five-story pagoda. The bustling street known as "Nakamise" stretches for about 250m from Kaminarimon Gate to Senso-ji Temple and is filled with a variety of souvenir shops.

Your Tour will next drive past the Kabuki Theatre, Tokyo Station and the Ginza which is famous for upmarket boutiques and magnificent department stores.

(Lunch) at the Toshi Center Hotel

Visit Tokyo Tower and enjoy a panoramic view of the famous Tokyo skyline from the main observation platform.

Drive over the Rainbow bridge and past Odaiba and the Toyosu Market.
Visit the Hamarikyu Garden. Take a step into the magnificent Edo period garden (1603 - 1867) with a teahouse built to look as if it were floating on the water.
Your Tour will disband at Tokyo Station at around 5pm.

Stay: Shinagawa Prince Hotel - 2/3

Day 03 - Tokyo

Continue to explore the highlights of Tokyo. From Shinagawa Station board a JR Yamanote Line train to Shibuya Station. (12 mins)

At Shibuya Station, exit via Hachiko-Guchi Exit for the famous Shibuya crossing. Enjoy a light refreshment at the Starbucks across the road as you sit by the window overlooking the bustling pedestrian crossing. Shibuya is an area popular among young people and rich in cinemas, cafes, restaurants, department stores, fashion-store buildings and boutiques.

From Shibuya Station it is only one stop north to Harajuku Station on the JR Yamanote Line.

For lunch, explore the selection in the side alleys off Takeshita Dori - the lively street that leads out from Harajuku Station (Takeshita Exit) and which prides itself as the font of new teenage Tokyo street fashion. Bargain hunters will enjoy a visit to ‘Daiso’ to delight in what you can buy for only 100 yen!

Running almost parallel to Takeshita Dori is Omotesando, a long street lined with international boutique brands.

From Harajuku Station, board a JR Yamanote Line train two stops north to Shinjuku Station – the busiest train station in Japan! Take time to explore some of the great shopping that surrounds the station. A walk to Takashimaya Times Square and an exploration of a shop called Tokyu Hands which sells a range of unique gadgets is recommended.

From the West Exit of Shinjuku Station walk 10 minutes through the high-rise business district to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office Building to view the city skyline which is best seen at night. (9:30am-10:30pm / free entry)

Return to Shinagawa from Shinjuku on the JR Yamanote Line. (20 mins)

Stay: Shinagawa Prince Hotel - 3/3

Day 04 - Tokyo - Kyoto

Check-out of the Shinagawa Prince Hotel and from Shinagawa Station board a Hikari bullet train to Kyoto Station. (150 mins)

Your accommodation at the Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo is a 2 minute walk from the Hachijoguchi Exit of the station.

After check in, commence exploring the sights of Japan's old capital. Board a subway train 2 stops to Shijo Station for the busiest shopping district in Kyoto. There are a number of cafes, restaurants and shops to explore. Next, walk down to the Nishiki Food Market. (10 mins from Shijo Station) Here you can try various Japanese foods from traditional sweets to fresh seafood.

In the late afternoon walk towards Gion, Kyoto's famous entertainment district which is open until late at night. Gion is the one place in Japan where you may see Maiko or Geisha scampering between appointments. As darkness falls, watch the traditional lanterns gradually come to life as you wander down tiny alleys housing a variety of restaurants offering tempting cuisine.

Stay: Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo - 1/3

Day 05 - Kyoto

Today you will be collected by your tour guide, to commence your exploration of the ancient city of Kyoto.

Please make your way to the Sunrise Tours Desk (B1F) within the Avanti shopping complex and arrive 10 minutes prior to the official pick up time. The Avanti shopping complex is directly opposite the Hachijo East Exit of Kyoto Station. At 08:30am, you will be collected to join your Kyoto Morning Tour operated by Sunrise Tours. Your English-speaking local guide will take you by bus to Nijo Castle, the Golden Pavilion and the Kyoto Imperial Palace (on Mon., or Tue. if Monday is a public holiday, May 14-17, late Dec.-early Jan., visit Higashi Honganji Temple instead). The tour will disband at approximately 1:30pm.

In the afternoon, board a local bus to the base of Kiyomizu Dera Temple. Walk up this attractive winding road lined with colourful souvenir and craft shops. Kiyomizu Dera is famous for its giant wooden stage overlooking panoramic views of Kyoto and its main hall purely constructed of wood and sustained by huge columns and beams without the use of a single nail, screw or bolt.

Be sure to visit the Sky Plaza Observation Deck on top of Kyoto Station for a free panoramic view of the surrounding area of Kyoto. This modern station also contains a large shopping mall, specialty shops and restaurants.

Stay: Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo - 2/3

Day 06 - Kyoto - Nara - Kyoto

A full day of sightseeing awaits you in Nara. But first, take a trip to visit Kyoto's famous Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine. Anyone who has seen Memoirs of a Geisha will be familiar with the thousands of red Torii gates which stretch towards Mt Inari.

From Kyoto Station, board the JR Nara Line to JR Inari Station. (5 min) Follow the signs and the walking path leading up to the shrine. It is one of the oldest Shinto Shrines in Kyoto and is famous for its thousand red torii gates which lead up the mountain. The shrine is dedicated to Inari - the Shinto god of rice, commerce and business. Each of the torii gates have been donated by different Japanese businesses.

From JR Inari Station continue on to Nara. (40 min) Here, you can find peace of mind and natural beauty as you uncover the many treasures of Japans former capital (710-784AD).

From JR Nara Station all of the sightseeing is within comfortable walking distance. Walk through the town towards Nara Park. Should the weather be kind you may like to have your lunch in the picturesque Nara Park amongst the many tame deer that roam the area. At the end of the Park is the World Heritage listed cultural asset Todaiji Temple - the worlds largest wooden building, which houses the Giant Buddha that soars 16 metres in height. Return to Nara Station via Nara-machi, an old precinct full of traditional houses, shops and tearooms in calm and pleasant surroundings, giving a good contrast to the great temples and old burial mounds.

Board a JR Nara Line train back to Kyoto Station in the evening.

Stay: Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo - 3/3

Day 07 - Kyoto - Airport

Check out of the Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo and leave your luggage in storage at the porter's desk for your later return.

Spend your last morning in Kyoto completing any final sightseeing or shopping.

For those departing from Tokyo, board a Hikari bullet train from Kyoto to Shinagawa Station. (2.5 hrs) Within Shinagawa Station board the Narita Express Train to Narita Airport. (65 min)

For those departing from Osaka, board the direct Haruka train service from Kyoto Station to Kansai International Airport (80min).

*Please note all airport trains must be reserved in advance.

Be sure to check in for your scheduled flight at least 2 hours prior to its departure.