The Golden Triangle is the area of central Japan, linked by the three main cities, Tokyo, Osaka & Kyoto, our exclusive self-guided tour allows you to explore them all in depth. In each city, you will be met by local guides giving you a feel for the culture & way of life, as you explore together before you have free days to pursue your own passions in these fascinating cities.
A self-guided trip in a country as different as Japan might seem slightly daunting, but this is by far the best way to explore. To discover what makes Japan tick, you have to ride the city trains, talk to the ultra-friendly locals, and explore different parks, temples, pachinko bars and hedgehog cafes (yes really!) Your city tours not only showcase beautiful parts of these cities but teach you how to get around, how to order food and live a little Japanese.
Start off in the wildly vibrant city of Tokyo, here there are more people than you can imagine, but strangely, it never feels any busier than any other big city. Your guided tour will take you around the temples & unique shops of Asakusa, but on your free days, you can explore the Imperial Palace, Sky Tower, futuristic Akihabara, or enjoy crossing the street at the famous Shibuya crossing.
Then you are off on a couple of trips by bullet train, or Shinkansen as it is known in Japan. You will first zoom over to the gastronomic capital of Japan, Osaka. Here, your local guide will show you the ancient & modern sides of this thriving city, but in your free time, we recommend just eating! Famous for its Takoyaki (deep-fried balls of octopus) and Kushikatsu (deep-fried meat and veggie skewers), there is so much to eat here it can be overpowering. There is a whole subway station mall dedicated to Pork Katsu! This is how much the Osakans love their food!
Your final corner of the Golden Triangle is the sublime Kyoto, whose ancient beauty is pretty much unparalleled anywhere in the world, combining old-world perfection with modern-day sensibilities. An incredible end to a trip you will never forget.