Japan: Osaka, Kyoto & Tokyo

Kon’nichiwa. Welcome to Osaka. And thank you for joining our gay Japan tour. Things kick off with a Welcome Meeting at 6PM where you can meet your guide and fellow travelers. After our Welcome Dinner you can make it an early night or grab a drink with the group at a local gay-friendly bar. Please note: an arrival transfer is not included in this itinerary, however detailed instructions for transportation to the hotel will be included in your trip documents. 

For our first full day we’ll explore Osaka’s essential sights, starting with Sumiyoshi Shrine before some free time to browse Shinsaibashi, a bustling shopping street. After an included lunch of okonomiyaki (savoury Japanese pancakes), we’ll visit Osaka Castle, a grand 16th-century fortress surrounded by moats and gardens. We’ll finish at the Umeda Sky Building, where two 40-story towers connect at their uppermost floors via bridges and an escalator crossing the open atrium between them. The evening is free to enjoy on your own, or join an optional dinner with the group.

Oh my Bambi, this might be the cutest start to any day. We’re off to Nara, where you can ‘fawn’ over a thousand docile deer that live in its namesake park. The animals politely nod to request a treat and are at ease with all their admirers. Here we’ll also visit Todaiji, one of the Seven Great Temples of Buddhism and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before slurping savoury ramen noodles for lunch. We’ll then continue to Kyoto for a visit to a sake brewery with an included tasting. After checking into our hotel, the evening is free to enjoy on your own or with an optional group dinner.

Today we’ll head to Nishiki Market, where you’re free to grab a bite to eat, explore the shops, or perhaps pay a visit to Aritsugu Knives, the shop that has been crafting blades since 1550. In the afternoon, we’ll step back in time at our samurai experience, where we’ll learn about the legendary warriors, dress up in traditional costume, and even wield the traditional sword, before calming our nerves with a short zen meditation class. To round out the day, we’ll head to a cooking class where we’ll prepare our own dinner with some delicious sake.

Today begins early with a taxi ride to Fushimi Inari, a shrine beloved for the hundreds of distinct red torii arches that line its trails, before the daytime crowds arrive. Following breakfast back at the hotel, more photo ops await. We’ll visit Arashiyama, the city’s towering bamboo grove, and Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), as well as taking in a rickshaw ride and a traditional tea ceremony. After an included lunch, we’ll wander through Gion, keeping an eye out for colourful geishas among the narrow streets lined with traditional wooden merchant houses. Tonight you can make your own plans for dinner or join the larger group.

Today we continue to Hakone aboard the Shinkansen, aka Japan’s bullet train. On arrival, we’ll visit the Hakone Open-Air Museum, where sculptures by Picasso and Henry Moore can be encountered in a park-like setting, and enjoy an included lunch. We’ll spend tonight in a traditional ryokan inn, where you can partake in a steamy onsen (a traditional Japanese hot spring bathing experience) before an included dinner at the hotel. Please note: if you have tattoos that can’t be covered with a bandage or swimsuit/t-shirt, there is a chance you will be denied entry to the onsen.

Today we’ll travel by private vehicle to Lake Ashi for a public boat ride, followed by a journey on the Hakone Ropeway to a viewing platform with excellent photo opportunities of Mt. Fuji, Japan’s highest volcano, weather permitting. After a simple included lunch, we’ll board the train to Tokyo, the world’s biggest supercity. On arrival at Shinjuku Station, we’ll take a short orientation walk through the neighbourhood on our way to the hotel, followed by some downtime before an included dinner. Afterwards, we’ll visit a local gay sake bar in Shinjuku.

Today we are going to see some of the most impressive sights in Tokyo, so ensure your batteries are charged and you’re prepared for the madness. The Imperial Palace is where the Emperor resides, and is built on the site of the former Edo Castle. Asakusa is a more traditional neighbourhood, and walking through here gives one a sense of what Tokyo felt like 400 years ago. While exploring the city, we’ll also make time for an included local lunch. The evening is free to explore and enjoy dinner in the vibrant Shinjuku entertainment district.

For our final full day in Japan, we’ll explore some of the quirkier sides of this bustling metropolis, starting with teamLab Planets Tokyo, an audio-visual feast that will engage all your senses. This interactive museum comprises four large-scale artwork spaces and two gardens created by a world-renowned art collective. We’ll also say Kon’nichiwa to some mini-pigs at one of Japan’s cutest animal cafés. You’re free to enjoy the afternoon on your own before we regroup for a Farewell Dinner aboard a private yakatabune, a traditional Japanese boat. All we can say is Doumo Arigatou!

As the last day of our tour, no activities are planned and you may depart at your leisure. Please note: a departure transfer is not included, but your group leader will provide clear instructions to get to the airport of choice.