Can we add Universal Studios Japan in Osaka?

Yes — Universal Studios Japan is thirty minutes from central Osaka and can replace a free day in the city. We would typically recommend adding one full park day in Osaka, giving you DisneySea in Tokyo and Universal in Osaka as the two theme park experiences. Your specialist will advise.

What happens after I request this trip?

You'll complete a short planning form. A specialist responds within one business day with a personalised proposal and exact pricing. No obligation.

10-Day Private Package Journey

Japan with Disney

Tokyo DisneySea — the world’s best-rated theme park — plus Nikko, Hakone, Kyoto, and Osaka.

Available as Private Semi-Private Self-Guided

From €4,490 per person 10 days / 9 nights

View Itinerary

Tour Overview

10 days across Japan.

Tokyo DisneySea is not a replica. It is the most highly rated Disney theme park in the world — a park built from scratch in 2001 on a reclaimed harbour site, with seven port-themed areas, 24 attractions, and a level of environmental storytelling and operational quality that the American and European parks have never matched. Japanese Disney is also simply different: the food is better, the queuing is more orderly, the cast members are more committed, and the atmosphere of the park reflects the Japanese approach to every public space — immaculate, considerate, and maintained with a seriousness that produces something genuinely exceptional. This ten-day private journey builds a complete Japan itinerary around a full day at Tokyo DisneySea, with enough time on either side in Tokyo, the mountains of Hakone, and the ancient capital of Kyoto to understand the country you are visiting.

Detailed Itinerary

Your journey, day by day.

Every day is designed with breathing room. Sleep in, take a detour, linger at lunch — the itinerary flexes around you, not the other way around.

Day 1

Arrival in Tokyo

The world's largest city on the first evening.

Your private driver meets you at Narita or Haneda Airport and delivers you to your hotel in central Tokyo. The afternoon at leisure: the first walk in the neighbourhood, the first encounter with Japanese convenience stores and their extraordinary ready-food (a genuine revelation for every first-time visitor), and the first sense of Tokyo's characteristic quality — a city of enormous scale operating with visible precision and quiet. Welcome dinner at a restaurant your specialist has selected: Tokyo has more Michelin stars than any other city in the world and the right first dinner depends on what you told your specialist you like. The tonkatsu counter, the yakitori alley, the multi-course kaiseki — all are available within a short walk of most Tokyo hotels.

Private airport transfer
First Tokyo neighbourhood walk
Japanese convenience store revelation
Welcome dinner — Tokyo restaurant culture

4–5★ hotel, Tokyo

Day 2

Tokyo DisneySea

The world's best-rated theme park — by a margin.

Tokyo DisneySea consistently ranks first or second in global theme park surveys across TripAdvisor, Themed Entertainment Association attendance reports, and independent visitor ratings — ahead of every American, European, and other Japanese Disney park. The reason is environmental completeness: the park is built around a central harbour with seven themed port areas (Mediterranean Harbour, American Waterfront, Port Discovery, Lost River Delta, Arabian Coast, Mermaid Lagoon, and Mysterious Island) each executed with a level of architectural and landscaping detail that makes the environment itself the experience before any attraction is entered. Your specialist arranges your tickets and Premier Access reservations for the key attractions — Journey to the Center of the Earth, Indiana Jones, the Tower of Terror, Sindbad's Storybook Voyage — to minimise queuing and maximise the day. The evening show on the central harbour as the park approaches closing is the best single theatrical moment in any theme park in the world.

Tokyo DisneySea — the world's highest-rated theme park
Mysterious Island and Journey to the Center of the Earth
Premier Access reservations for key attractions pre-arranged
Harbour evening show

Meals: Breakfast 4–5★ hotel, Tokyo

Day 3

Tokyo: Ancient and Digital

The 7th-century temple and the 21st-century art installation.

Your private guide — a Tokyo specialist — begins in Asakusa: the Senso-ji temple founded in 645 AD, the Nakamise shopping street, the Kaminarimon gate with its four-metre paper lantern, and the incense cloud at the main hall through which worshippers pass for purification. The Sumida River, the view of Tokyo Skytree from below, and the Yanaka neighbourhood — the old merchant quarter that survived the 1923 earthquake and the 1945 firebombing and preserves the low wooden street-level of old Tokyo. Lunch in a Yanaka soba restaurant. The afternoon: teamLab Borderless at Azabudai Hills — the most celebrated digital art installation in Japan, whose rooms of light and imagery have no walls or ceilings in the conventional sense and must be experienced rather than described. Pre-booked tickets are essential; same-day availability is rare.

Senso-ji in Asakusa — Tokyo's oldest temple
Yanaka — the old Tokyo that survived
teamLab Borderless — digital art without walls
Private Tokyo specialist guide

Meals: Breakfast 4–5★ hotel, Tokyo

Day 4

Nikko: The Mountain Shrines

The most ornate religious complex in Japan, in a cedar forest.

Nikko is two hours north of Tokyo by private vehicle and is the location of the Tosho-gu shrine complex — the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the shogun who unified Japan in 1603 and whose descendants ruled for 265 years. The complex is the most elaborately decorated religious site in Japan: 508 carved animals on the Yomeimon gate alone, including the three famous sleeping cats and the three wise monkeys who hear, speak, and see no evil. The surrounding forest of 13,000 Japanese cedars planted in the 17th century by a feudal lord who could not afford gold leaf and gave what he could instead. The Rinno-ji temple with its three golden Buddhas, and the walk along the cedar avenue from the Shinkyo Sacred Bridge to the uppermost shrines. Your private guide explains the political significance of the Tosho-gu — why it was built so elaborately, what the decorations communicate, and why the Tokugawa shogunate chose this location. Return to Tokyo in the afternoon.

Tosho-gu shrine — the most elaborately decorated in Japan
Yomeimon gate — 508 carved animals
13,000 cedar trees planted in lieu of gold
Three wise monkeys — the original carving

Meals: Breakfast 4–5★ hotel, Tokyo

Day 5

Hakone: Mt Fuji and the Ryokan

The volcanic lake, the mountain reflection, and a traditional Japanese inn.

The drive from Tokyo to Hakone takes ninety minutes through the Kanto plain and into the volcanic region southwest of the capital. Hakone's Ashinoko Lake — on a clear morning with the wind down — reflects Mt Fuji in its surface with the completeness and clarity that makes it one of the most photographed natural views in Japan. The Hakone Open-Air Museum is one of the finest outdoor sculpture parks in Asia, with works by Rodin, Picasso, Henry Moore, and Japanese sculptors set in a landscape of volcanic hills and maintained gardens. The afternoon arrival at your ryokan: tatami mat rooms, yukata robes, the onsen bath fed by Hakone's volcanic water, and the kaiseki dinner of ten courses served in the room by your okami (inn hostess).

Ashinoko Lake — Mt Fuji in the reflection
Hakone Open-Air Museum — Rodin, Picasso, Moore
Traditional ryokan with kaiseki dinner
Volcanic onsen bath — Hakone's hot spring water

Meals: Breakfast Traditional ryokan, Hakone

Day 6

Kyoto: The Torii Gates and the Geisha District

The thousand-year capital and its most iconic experiences.

The Shinkansen from Odawara to Kyoto takes seventy-five minutes. Kyoto was Japan's imperial capital for a thousand years and was deliberately preserved from the 1945 firebombing specifically because of its cultural importance — 1,600 temples, 400 shrines, and the intact geisha districts that were the cultural infrastructure of the imperial court. Your private Kyoto guide meets you at the hotel. The afternoon: Fushimi Inari Taisha — the Shinto shrine of the fox deity Inari, whose ten thousand vermillion torii gates form tunnels ascending the mountain for two hours above the city. The lower gates are busy; the upper forest path belongs to those who climb. Gion district in the evening: the preserved machiya townhouse street where maiko (apprentice geisha) and geiko still walk to their evening engagements in full kimono at dusk.

Shinkansen to Kyoto — the bullet train experience
Fushimi Inari — ten thousand torii gates
Gion at dusk — maiko and geiko in the lantern light
Kyoto private specialist guide

Meals: Breakfast 4–5★ hotel, Kyoto

Day 7

Kyoto: Arashiyama and the Zen Gardens

The bamboo grove, the mountain river, and the garden created in 1339.

Arashiyama at the western edge of Kyoto: the bamboo grove, the Tenryu-ji temple garden (considered the finest in Japan when it was created in 1339), and the Oi River where traditional cormorant fishing still takes place on summer evenings. The Monkey Park on the mountain above the bamboo grove has a colony of 120 Japanese macaques and a view of central Kyoto and the mountains to the north. After lunch: Nijo Castle, whose 'nightingale floors' creak intentionally as a security system against assassins, and the Nishiki Market — Kyoto's 400-year-old covered food market whose stalls sell the pickles, dried tofu, and matcha products that define Kyoto's food identity. The Philosopher's Path — the canal-side stone walk between Nanzen-ji and Ginkaku-ji, lined with cherry trees and independent cafés.

Arashiyama bamboo grove — early morning
Tenryu-ji UNESCO Zen garden
Nijo Castle nightingale floors
Philosopher's Path along the canal

Meals: Breakfast 4–5★ hotel, Kyoto

Day 8

Nara: Sacred Deer and the Great Buddha

Japan's first capital and the animals that made it famous.

Nara is forty minutes from Kyoto and was Japan's first permanent capital in 710 AD. The 1,200 deer in Nara Park have been considered divine messengers of the Kasuga Taisha shrine since the 8th century and have spent 1,300 years being treated accordingly — they approach visitors for the shika senbei crackers sold throughout the park, bow when they receive one, and are an experience of comfortable proximity to a wild animal that has nowhere else in the world. Todai-ji — the Great Buddha Hall — is the largest wooden structure in the world, housing a bronze seated Buddha 15 metres tall cast in 743 AD. The Kasuga Taisha shrine in the forest beyond the park, with 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns lining the approach, and the Isui-en garden whose design frames the Great Buddha Hall in its background view. Return to Kyoto.

Nara Park deer — 1,200 sacred animals
Todai-ji Great Buddha Hall — the largest wooden structure in the world
Kasuga Taisha shrine — 3,000 lanterns in the forest
Isui-en garden

Meals: Breakfast 4–5★ hotel, Kyoto

Day 9

Osaka: Japan's Food Capital

Kuidaore — eat until you drop.

Osaka is thirty minutes from Kyoto and Japan's most enthusiastically food-focused city — a character that has its own word (kuidaore) and an entire district (Dotonbori) given over to its expression. Takoyaki octopus balls, okonomiyaki savoury pancake, kushikatsu deep-fried skewers, and the ramen shops whose broth has been simmering since before you were born. Your private guide navigates the city with the ease of someone who has lived here: Osaka Castle in its 16th-century stone moat, the Kuromon Ichiba market at its busy midday peak, and the Shinsekai district around the Tsutenkaku Tower where the old entertainment quarter of 1912 Osaka still operates as a functioning neighbourhood. Dinner at a specific restaurant your guide has identified for the meal of the trip.

Dotonbori canal and the Osaka food street
Osaka Castle and the 16th-century stone walls
Kuromon Ichiba market
Dinner — the meal your guide has been waiting to take you to

Meals: Breakfast 4–5★ hotel, Osaka

Day 10

Departure from Osaka

One last Japanese morning.

The final morning in Japan — a walk in the neighbourhood before the airport, the Japanese breakfast at a local café (toast, hard-boiled egg, small salad, coffee — the remarkable uniformity of Japanese morning set), or a final pass through the Kuromon market. Your private driver transfers you to Kansai International Airport at the agreed time.

Final Osaka morning
Japanese breakfast set at a neighbourhood café
Private transfer to Kansai Airport

Meals: Breakfast

Where You'll Stay

Hand-picked hotels, every night.

We choose properties for character, location, and the kind of service that makes you feel looked after — not just checked in. Every hotel can be swapped for an alternative if you prefer.

Tokyo

4 nights

4–5★ hotel

Shinjuku, Shibuya, or Asakusa

Four Tokyo nights allows DisneySea, a cultural day, Nikko, and a rest morning

Hakone

1 night

Traditional ryokan

Hakone or Gora

Ryokan with private or shared onsen — kaiseki dinner included

Kyoto

3 nights

4–5★ hotel

City centre or Higashiyama

Three nights for Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, and the Nara day trip

Osaka

1 night

4–5★ hotel

Shinsaibashi or Namba

Central location for Dotonbori and morning airport transfer

Hotels shown are indicative of the standard we book. Upon request, we will provide a detailed itinerary with specific hotel options tailored to your preferences and budget.

What's in the Price

Included

9 nights in 4–5★ hotels and one traditional ryokan
Daily breakfast at your hotel or ryokan
Private airport transfer in Tokyo
All private vehicle transfers
Shinkansen tickets Tokyo–Kyoto
Tokyo DisneySea tickets and Premier Access reservations
Tokyo private guide (two days)
Kyoto private specialist guide (two days)
teamLab Borderless admission (pre-booked)
Hakone Open-Air Museum entry
Tosho-gu shrine complex, Nikko
Tenryu-ji garden entry
Nijo Castle entry
Todai-ji and Nara Park
All entrance fees for guided visits
24/7 travel specialist support
Hamilton & Chase digital travel booklet

Not Included

International flights to/from Japan
Travel insurance (required — we can arrange on request)
Meals not listed
Personal expenses
Gratuities for guides and drivers
Accommodation tax (collected by hotels)

Good to Know

Tokyo DisneySea Premier Access reservations are arranged through the Tokyo Disney Resort app on the day of visit — your specialist will brief you on the process and timing in advance.
DisneySea is open year-round but special seasonal events (Halloween in October, Christmas in December) significantly increase crowds. July and August are school holiday peak periods. Your specialist will advise on the best timing.
The Japan Rail Pass, if purchased before arrival, covers Shinkansen travel on this itinerary. Your specialist will advise on whether a pass or individual tickets is more economical.
Nikko can be visited as a day trip from Tokyo (2 hours each way) or an overnight stop — this itinerary includes it as a day trip.

Make It Yours

Optional add-ons & upgrades.

Every trip is different. These extras can be woven into your itinerary — just let your travel specialist know what catches your eye.

Tokyo Disneyland (in addition to DisneySea)

Tokyo Disneyland is the original and still one of the best-maintained Disney parks in the world. Adding a half-day or full day gives you both parks — the fantasy castle park and the port-themed DisneySea — if the Disney element is the primary focus of the trip

From €85 pp

Universal Studios Japan, Osaka

Universal Studios Japan in Osaka is widely considered the best Universal park in the world, with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Super Nintendo World, and the most technically advanced attractions in the Universal system

From €95 pp

Mt Fuji fifth station

Drive to the Fuji Subaru Line Fifth Station at 2,305 metres — the highest point accessible by road on Mt Fuji, with the summit above and the Kanto plain spread below. Available July–October.

From €95 pp

Kinkaku-ji — The Golden Pavilion

Kyoto's most visited site — the 14th-century Zen temple whose top two floors are covered in gold leaf, reflected in the Kyokochi mirror pond. Can be added as a morning visit on any Kyoto day.

From €45 pp

"We had been told Tokyo DisneySea was special. Nothing prepared us for it. The level of detail in each port area — the architecture, the food, the way the cast members engage with guests — was unlike anything we had experienced at a Disney park before. And then the rest of the trip built on that: Nikko was extraordinary, the ryokan was the best night of any trip we have ever taken, and Kyoto was everything Japan is supposed to be. Hamilton & Chase timed and sequenced it perfectly."

James & Emma W.

Manchester, United Kingdom · Japan with Disney, August 2024

Common Questions

Questions about this trip.

Why DisneySea rather than Disneyland Tokyo?

DisneySea was built specifically for the Japanese market and has no equivalent anywhere else in the world. The seven themed port areas, the architectural quality, and the 24 attractions are consistently rated ahead of any other theme park on earth. Disneyland Tokyo is a very good version of the classic castle park; DisneySea is something that exists only in Japan. We recommend DisneySea for all first-time visitors; guests who want both can add Disneyland as an optional extra.

Are the Disney parks suitable for adults without children?

Completely. DisneySea in particular attracts a significant adult visitor base — Japanese couples and adult friend groups account for a large proportion of attendance. The food, the atmosphere, and the attraction design are not specifically child-oriented in the way that European and American parks tend to be.

Private Package Journey

Japan with Disney

10 days / 9 nights

From €4,490

per person

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