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Scott Dunn · Rail & Sail cruise extension

Japan's Golden Route by Rail: Cruise Extension

Six days on Japan's bullet train from Tokyo through Kyoto to Hakone

Illustration of Japan's Golden Route by Rail: Cruise Extension

Scott Dunn's Japan's Golden Route by Rail: Cruise Extension is a six-night journey through Japan's cultural heartland, beginning in Tokyo and ending in Hakone. The package opens with two nights in central Tokyo, where Day 2 offers a full guided immersion: shrines including Meiji Jingu and Senso-ji, the neighborhoods of Harajuku and Asakusa, and a celebrated evening cycling through three Tokyo restaurants from a standing bar for locals to a 170-year-old establishment. Day 3 boards the bullet train to Kyoto, where guests participate in a private tea ceremony dressed in kimono inside a tea master's residence. Day 4 unfolds through Kyoto's layers of heritage, from Fushimi Inari's vermillion torii gates and Sanjusangendo's 1,001 golden Buddhist statues to the samurai-era Nijo Castle with its nightingale floors and Nanzenji Zen Temple. The final two nights move to Hakone, a mountain resort known for volcanic hot springs and views of Mount Fuji. Accommodation spans Palace Hotel Tokyo, Dusit Thani Kyoto, and the five-star Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort and Spa. Private transfers connect each leg. This package suits couples and luxury travelers seeking cultural depth and bespoke experiences rather than independent exploration.

What to know before you look closer

  • This is a rail extension package; it does not include the full main cruise, only the six-night Japan portion from Tokyo to Hakone.
  • Day 1 is arrival and unguided; most of the itinerary is escorted, but the first evening in Tokyo is free to explore independently.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Palace Hotel, Tokyo

    The World's Most Extraordinary City

    A Scott Dunn representative transfers you by private vehicle into Tokyo on arrival. The evening is free to settle in and wander as the inclination takes you.

  2. Day 2overnight: Palace Hotel, Tokyo

    Ancient Shrines, Hidden Neighbourhoods and a Night Eaten Well

    A full guided day: Meiji Jingu shrine, Harajuku and Omotesando, Korakuen Garden and Asakusa's Senso-ji temple and Nakamise Street. In the evening, three restaurants tell the story of Tokyo's food culture: a tachinomi standing bar, a kappo gastropub, and a restaurant serving guests since 1850.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Dusit Thani Kyoto

    The Bullet Train and a Private Tea Ceremony

    Board the bullet train to Kyoto, home to 2,000 shrines and temples and 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In the afternoon, a private tea ceremony inside a tea master's private residence, dressed in a kimono, with wagashi confectioneries and matcha.

  4. Day 4overnight: Dusit Thani Kyoto

    Torii Gates, Golden Statues and the Shogun's Palace

    Fushimi Inari's vermillion torii gates, the Sanjusangendo temple's 1,001 golden Buddhist statues, lunch at Nishiki Market, the samurai-era Nijo Castle with its nightingale floors, and Nanzenji Zen Temple.

  5. Day 5overnight: Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort and Spa

    Hot Springs, Mountain Air and the Shadow of Fuji

    The journey from Kyoto to Hakone, a landscape of volcanic mountains, steaming hot springs and, on clear days, Mount Fuji. Settle into the Hyatt Regency Hakone with its restorative hot springs.

  6. Day 6

    Departure

    A final morning in Japan before your private transfer takes you onward for departure.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Evening food tour through three Tokyo restaurants spanning a convivial standing bar, kappo gastropub, and a historic restaurant operating since 1850.
  • Day 3Bullet train to Kyoto at 200 mph, followed by a private tea ceremony in a tea master's residence wearing a kimono and enjoying matcha and wagashi confectioneries.
  • Day 4Full day through Kyoto's cultural landmarks: vermillion torii gates at Fushimi Inari, 1,001 golden statues at Sanjusangendo temple, Nijo Castle with nightingale floors, and Nanzenji Zen Temple.
  • Day 5Journey to Hakone through volcanic mountains and hot springs, with views of Mount Fuji on clear days, settling into the Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort and Spa.

Questions travellers ask

Is the bullet train included?
Yes, the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto is included in the package.
Is this escorted or independent?
It is mostly escorted. Scott Dunn provides a private transfer on arrival and guided tours on Days 2 and 4. Day 1 evening and Day 3 afternoon tea ceremony are privately arranged.
Which hotels are included?
Palace Hotel Tokyo (two nights), Dusit Thani Kyoto (two nights), and Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort and Spa (one night).
What meals are included?
The package includes a three-restaurant dinner on Day 2 showcasing Tokyo's food culture, lunch at Nishiki Market on Day 4, and a private tea ceremony with wagashi and matcha on Day 3.
How much walking is involved?
Days 2 and 4 involve guided walks through shrines, temples, neighborhoods, and a castle, plus market exploration. Day 5 is primarily transfer and resort-based.
What is the price?
From GBP 4,300 (approximately USD 5,743) for the six nights.

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