Japan Winter Tour With Onsens and Snow Monkeys

Hop on public transport with your guide and start your Tokyo journey at Meiji Shrine. Winter brings a rare calm here. Listen closely as the sound of ritual claps carries through the forest, a moment of peace tucked right inside the city.

At lunchtime, stop by the lively Tsukiji Outer Market to warm yourself up with some popular Japanese winter food like nabe hotpot. Stroll along Ginza, Tokyo's upscale shopping district, beautifully decorated with winter illuminations that give the city a festive glow.

Continue to Tokyo's oldest temple, Senso-ji, instantly recognized by its giant red lantern of Kaminarimon Gate. Here, walk down the lively Nakamise Dori leading up to the temple, admire the golden statue of the Buddhist deity Kannon, and light sticks of incense to say prayers.

After breakfast, hop on the bus straight to the base of Jigokudani Park and meet your fluffy snow monkey friends. Strap on your crampons, grab a walking stick, and follow the forest trail, leaving fresh footprints in the soft powder. Before the steam fogs up your lens, snap a few shots of red-faced monkeys soaking lazily in the hot springs.

For the rest of the time, revisit parts of the hot spring area at your leisure.

Note: No guide or driver service for today. Please let me know if you prefer to visit the park with a guide.

Today, explore the hamlets of Gokayama and Shirakawago with your private driving-guide in a comfortable vehicle.

Make the quiet village of Gokayama your first destination, where life moves at a slower, rural pace among rice fields and thatched-roof houses. Continue to the fairytale Shirakawa-go and head up to the Shiroyama Viewpoint to capture one of Japan's most iconic winter postcard scenes with hundreds of snow-covered gassho-style (hands in prayer) houses spread out below.

Next, explore Kyoto together by public transport with your guide. Begin with a short hike through the tunnel of vermilion torii gates to Fushimi Inari Taisha, and continue to feed your stomach at Nishiki Market, Kyoto's lively culinary heart.

Spend the afternoon at Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can step onto the "nightingale floors" once walked by the Tokugawa shoguns. Conclude the day in the atmospheric Gion with a kimono and tea ceremony experience (shared tour) to take a glimpse of the refined aesthetics and rituals of Japanese tea culture.

The final day of your winter trip is open for your own urban adventure in the second-largest city of Japan.

Beyond the iconic Osaka Castle Park, take the chance to explore the castle itself. Visit the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living according to your interests, or head to the Cup Noodles Museum to create your own custom-flavored cup ramen. Or, let a local guide lead you on a food walking tour to search for Osaka's most authentic food and local specialties.