Japan 12-Day Tours & Itineraries

Explore 11 trips designed by local kimkim specialists to get ideas for your trip to Japan.

Browse through kimkim's 12-day adventures in Japan that offer an array of experiences ranging from city attractions to hidden spots in the countryside. Go from Tokyo to Kyoto along the Nakasendo Trail with a visit to Nara, experiencing the big city life, UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nara, Yoshino, and Mount Koya, see Buddhist temples, and witness geisha. Explore the Golden Route of Japan, beginning in Tokyo, home to high-energy tech and fashion trends, and then proceed to Kyoto for its temples and views before relaxing at a hot springs retreat in Hakone and dining in Osaka. Discover Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima to experience both the traditional and modern sides of Japan as you visit shrines and temples and see amazing digital art exhibitions and robot shows before getting hands-on cooking and craft classes. 

See our itineraries below or read our guide to the best 12-day trips in Japan.

Plan your trip to Japan
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Get Started
Japan's Nakasendo Trail
Map of Nakasendo Trail: Tokyo to Kyoto - 12 Days
Nakasendo Trail: Tokyo to Kyoto - 12 Days

Perfect for active walkers, this trip combines a four-day walk on Japan's Nakasendo Trail, which connected Tokyo and Kyoto during the days of shoguns and samurai, with a visit to three historic Japanese capitals, Tokyo, Nara, and Kyoto. You'll begin your trip in Tokyo, then take to the trail and stay in post towns once used as feudal-era stopover points. You'll visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nara, Yoshino, and Mount Koya, then spend two nights in Kyoto, where geisha still entertain well-heeled guests, and Buddhist temples beckon.

Traverse the Golden Route of Japan
Map of Explore the Golden Route of Japan - 12 Days
Explore the Golden Route of Japan - 12 Days

Equally known for its vibrant city life and mountainous beauty, Japan offers a well-rounded visit filled with liveliness, adventure, and variety. On your 12-day journey, you'll explore the high-energy tech and fashion trends of Tokyo, enjoy the views and temples of Kyoto, and relax at a hot springs retreat in Hakone. Immerse yourself in Japanese culture, complete with the exceptional, authentic dining of Osaka.

Discover the bright lights of Yokohama district in Tokyo, Japan
Map of Best of Japan: Osaka to Tokyo - 12 Days
Best of Japan: Osaka to Tokyo - 12 Days

Spend 12 days exploring the best of Japan, including its most important cities. Start with a visit to Osaka's brightly-lit city center before exploring Kyoto's traditional historic neighborhoods and quiet temples. Learn about World War II history in Hiroshima, then hop on a plane to enjoy Okinawa's stunning beaches. End the trip in the exciting capital of Tokyo, one of the world's busiest and most futuristic cities.

Discover Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto & Hiroshima - 12 days
Map of Discover Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto & Hiroshima - 12 days
Discover Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto & Hiroshima - 12 days

Discover both the traditional and modern sides of Japan as you visit various shrines and temples, witness technological innovation at an amazing digital art exhibition and crazy (in a very good way) robot show, and get involved in a few hands-on cooking and craft classes. For a trip which aims to give you the best overview of Japan as possible, you can't do any better.

Visit historic Hagi on the Sea of Japan coast in Yamaguchi Prefecture
Map of In the Shadow of Mountains: From Sea to Sea in Southern Japan - 12 Days
In the Shadow of Mountains: From Sea to Sea in Southern Japan - 12 Days

Explore the coast of the Sea of Japan, then head across southern Japan to visit towns and islands on the Seto Inland Sea. You'll spend twelve days discovering Japanese history and culture as you visit shrines, temples, castles, museums, and a preserved silver mine. See how miso paste, sake, and pottery are made and soak in hot spring baths. You'll come away with a true appreciation for the traditions and history of southern Japan.

On Lake Kawaguchi, one of the Fuji Five Lakes, see Japan's natural beauty
Map of Japan's Natural Beauty From Lakes to Mountains - 12 Days
Japan's Natural Beauty From Lakes to Mountains - 12 Days

Experience the many layers of Japanese culture and its landscapes on this 12-day tour. Enjoy Tokyo and Osaka's energetic city life balanced with nature and fresh air as you walk through Kyoto's calm bamboo forests and Takayama and Kanazawa's gardens and shrines. Stand next to a towering Great Buddha in Kamakura, and pass 10,000 red torii gates at Fushimi Inari. Get your camera ready for Mount Fuji views at Lake Kawaguchi and browse the busy Nishiki Market in Kyoto.

Geishas in Kyoto
Map of Explore Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto, & Hiroshima - 12 Days
Explore Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto, & Hiroshima - 12 Days

This 12-day trip combines the best of Japan's major cities, historic places, and natural areas. You'll explore Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima, as well as to the beautiful mountainside town of Nikko and the relaxing hot springs of Hakone. Enjoy everything Japan has to offer, including its culture, art, temples and shrines, and tasty, traditional cuisine.

Atomic Bomb Dome, Hiroshima Peace Memorial
Map of History, Tradition & Culture: Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima & Osaka - 12 Days
History, Tradition & Culture: Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima & Osaka - 12 Days

Shop, eat, and explore your way through Japan's four major cities in this diverse 12-day itinerary. Start in Tokyo, walking around the best shopping precincts and witnessing the city's thrilling blend of ultramodern technology and ancient landmarks. Connect with your inner Zen in Kyoto, sample the buzzing street food scene in trendy Osaka, and witness the historical monuments of Hiroshima.

Learn how to make sushi in a Tokyo cooking class
Map of From Tokyo to Kyoto: Japan's Flavors & Ceremonies - 12 Days
From Tokyo to Kyoto: Japan's Flavors & Ceremonies - 12 Days

Dash around Japan by bullet train to discover the archipelago's tastes, ceremonies, and exciting nightlife. Learn how to make sushi in Tokyo and explore its oldest temple Senso-ji. In Kyoto's Gion district, discover the world of becoming a geisha. Warm yourself up by sipping sakes at a brewery outside of Hiroshima and soaking in an onsen in Hakone. Take time to relax and feel the pulse of Japan's cities on this 12-day tour.

Wind through the neon-lit streets of Tokyo's "Electric Town"
Map of Cultural Highlights & Modern Fun in Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka - 12 Days
Cultural Highlights & Modern Fun in Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka - 12 Days

Visit three of Japan's most iconic cities on this 12-day highlights tour that kicks off in Tokyo. Zoom around neon-lit streets by go-kart, watch a sumo practice session, and take a day trip to Hakone for Mount Fuji views. Then, Kyoto's shrines, temples, and bamboo groves await. Spend a day with Nara's friendly deer before taking a train to Osaka for a food tour and an evening of art and nature at the teamLab Botanical Garden. Wrap up back in the capital with a fun sushi-making class.

Immerse yourself in the lively vibe of Myeong-dong shopping street in Seoul
Map of A Taste of Seoul & Japan's Golden Route -12 Days
A Taste of Seoul & Japan's Golden Route -12 Days

Get a taste of both South Korea and Japan during this 12-day highlights tour. Begin in Seoul, where you'll sample Korean street food, explore a palace in traditional Korean clothing, and shop in COEX Mall. Visit the border of North and South Korea before flying to Tokyo. Immerse yourself in this foodie haven, then take a day trip to soak in the views of Mount Fuji. Catch a train to Kyoto for a tea ceremony and ride a rickshaw through a bamboo forest before ending your trip exploring the lively streets of Osaka.

Other durations: 5 days · 6 days · 7 days · 8 days · 9 days · 10 days · 11 days · 12 days · 13 days · 14 days · 15 days · 16 days