6-Day 5-Night Group Tour of Honshu, Japan

In March 2024, my first overseas trip of the year. Mr. Zhao (my husband) didn't want to be my tour guide, wanting a hassle-free experience, so he insisted on not traveling independently. This directionally challenged person had no choice, so I signed up for a group tour.

2999 + 100 visa fee + 1000 tip = 4099 yuan per person. Tips are paid to the tour guide at the airport, either in cash or via mobile payment.

1. Scanned copy of passport information page;

2. Electronic photo: 3.5×4.5 cm white background color photo taken within the last three months;

3. Scanned copy of the original household registration book;

4. Application form;

5. Proof of deposit: at least 50,000 yuan. Note: this must be obtained at a bank counter, costing 20 yuan per certificate. It is not an income proof like for Schengen visas. Different banks have different procedures: Postal Savings requires a three-day advance application, while China Construction Bank can process it on the same day.

6. If a couple shares one deposit certificate, a scanned copy of the marriage certificate is required.

Single-entry or group visas are not stickers; instead, a certificate with a QR code is issued. On the day of departure, scan the code at the airport, fill in the required information, and show it when checking luggage. A screenshot also works.

The original passport is not needed when applying for the visa, but you must bring your passport when departing.

In early March, the temperature in Japan was similar to that in Beijing. I wore a thin down jacket, a sweater, and a woolen vest. It was still a bit chilly at the coldest times, but not unbearably cold.

Breakfast was a hotel buffet. Main meals included buffets and set meals, enough to keep you full. There are many 7-Eleven convenience stores in Japan, so no matter how remote the accommodation, you can find one nearby, making it easy to handle meals when not included in the group.

The hotel in Tokyo was in what could be considered a suburban area, but it was quite bustling with convenient shopping. Other accommodations were in very remote places.

1. Exchange yen at the bank. The travel agency also offers currency exchange when seeing off the group, but the exchange rate is unfavorable.

2. The travel agency requires carrying a certain amount of cash, claiming it's for customs inspection. I never follow their required amount; I basically use a VISA card for overseas trips. On this tour, there were several meals not included, and some Japanese izakayas indeed don't accept cards, so I brought 20,000 yen. We only ate out for two meals; the rest was food bought at supermarkets, so we didn't use much cash. We also used cash for shopping.

3. When exchanging yen at the bank, you can reserve small foreign currency denominations in the "zero wallet" of mobile banking, as counters sometimes only have large denominations. Reservations generally need to be made 3-5 days in advance, varying by branch.

The tour guide was a middle-aged woman from Tianjin. She contacted me a day in advance to inform me of the meeting time and place. Meeting at 06:50. The travel agency we booked with provided airport transfer service, taking us there on time.

Daxing Airport, Juneyao Airlines 09:30-13:00. One in-flight meal: chicken rice or beef noodles (the beef was tastier). The guide filled out the "Embarkation Card for Foreigner" and the "Declaration of Personal Effects and Unaccompanied Articles" for everyone on the plane, distributing them after landing. Both forms have Chinese versions.

After arriving at Osaka Airport, we first queued for passport and fingerprint scanning, then queued again for customs, presenting the Embarkation Card. Before leaving the arrivals hall, we submitted the Declaration form.

The local guide was a middle-aged man from Taiwan. After leaving the airport, we took the hotel shuttle and arrived at the hotel around 16:00. The hotel was near the airport, with a large supermarket and izakayas nearby. Dinner was on our own today.

After putting down our luggage and resting a bit, we went to the supermarket around 16:30 to buy dinner: a box of sushi for 698 yen, a box of small fish for 318 yen, a bag of beans for 98 yen, a box of fried meat pieces for 120 yen, a bottle of sake for 1,200 yen, and tax of 118 yen, totaling 2,652 yen, approximately 130 yuan.

At the supermarket, we could pay with cash or card. I used cash, placing it in the machine, which gave change automatically. The cashier only scanned items and did not handle cash or cards. In China, we usually pack items at the checkout counter, but in Japan, customers take their purchases to a designated table to pack, allowing quick service for the next customer.

The supermarket provides a microwave, so if you buy food that needs heating, you can heat it directly in the store, which is very convenient.

After eating, I noticed a sign in the room saying no eating allowed. Ignorance is forgivable. We cleaned up and took the trash to the sorting bins outside the supermarket. Back at the hotel, I realized the lobby had tables and chairs for guests to eat.

Breakfast at the hotel was simple, with essentials like eggs, bread, and milk.

We took a bus to Nara Park. Our group had 32 people, but the bus was large with empty seats. The driver was an elderly man over 70. He loaded all luggage himself, refusing help.

Arrived at Nara Deer Park at 10:00, a World Heritage site. There are about 1,200 wild deer in the park, which have lived there since ancient times. The deer are not afraid of people and are considered messengers of the gods, cherished by all. The Great Buddha, greenery, and sika deer are the symbols of ancient Nara.

We visited Kasuga Taisha Shrine, following the guide while taking photos with deer.

10:50 gathered and headed to Kyoto for lunch. Set meal: each person had a plate with pickled fish, a vegetable salad, fried chicken, miso soup, and rice served cold or hot.

After lunch, we visited Kiyomizu-dera, also a World Cultural Heritage site. Kiyomizu-dera is the oldest temple in Kyoto, one of the three famous landmarks along with Kinkaku-ji and Nijo Castle. In spring, it is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot; in autumn, a maple viewing spot. The Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka slopes connecting to Kiyomizu-dera are typical streets showcasing Kyoto's charm.

The guide recommended matcha ice cream at 400 yen each, about 20 yuan.

There was also a cucumber on a stick, seemingly soaked in lemon water. According to those who tried it, it wasn't very tasty.

14:00 gathered, heading to Heian Jingu, a once-glorious imperial temple of Shinto. Arrived at 14:25.

15:00 experienced a tea ceremony. We received a cookie and a wooden bowl with a bit of matcha powder. We poured water and whisked quickly left and right (not in circles), the more foam the better, to avoid bitterness. It lasted about 10 minutes.

Took a bus to Tokoname City, an overnight stop with no attractions, likely due to cheaper hotels. This route from Kyoto to Shizuoka was a detour. Arrived around 18:40.

Dinner on our own. Mr. Zhao wanted to go to an izakaya. The guide offered to take us; those interested gathered at the hotel lobby at 19:00. We ordered tempura, the guide's recommended yakisoba, and yakitori (chicken skewers) as seafood was unavailable, plus two bottles of sake. When paying, we noticed an extra charge. The guide asked the staff, who said it was tax. After paying, we got a receipt. Back at the hotel, we realized the total seemed off and found another extra charge, totaling 689 yen overcharged. Although it was only about 30 yuan, it was unpleasant. We decided not to eat with the guide again.

Hotel breakfast. Headed to Shizuoka. It was sunny when we left, hoping for clear weather at Lake Yamanaka to see Mount Fuji. Unfortunately, it clouded over.

13:00 arrived at Yamanakako Village in Minamitsuru District. Lunch: sukiyaki hotpot, one pot for four, with beef on top, chicken meatballs, vegetables, and imitation crab sticks. Rice self-served. It was a simplified version.

Lake Yamanaka, also known as Swan Lake. Located at an altitude of 1,000 meters, it is the largest and highest of the Fuji Five Lakes, formed naturally from a depression.

After lunch, we went to the lakeshore to watch birds. It started snowing lightly, quite cold. On a clear day, you can see Mount Fuji reflected in the water, but today we saw nothing. Perhaps later, when cherry blossoms bloom, with good weather, it would be beautiful.

14:25 gathered, heading to Oshino Village. Arrived at 14:40.

Oshino Hakkai, a World Cultural Heritage site and one of Japan's top 100 famous waters. "Oshino" is a village between Lake Yamanaka and Lake Kawaguchi in the Hakone region at the foot of Mount Fuji. The "Hakkai" are eight small ponds: Okama, Choshi, Nigori, Waku, Kagami, Shobu, and Deguchi, with an average water temperature of about 13°C, clear and sweet, known as "Japan's Jiuzhaigou." This is an exaggeration; it can't compare to Jiuzhaigou.

15:40 gathered, heading to the 5th Station of Mount Fuji. Mount Fuji is Japan's highest peak, a dormant volcano straddling Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures, near the Pacific coast, about 80 km southwest of Tokyo. It is Japan's highest mountain and one of the world's largest active volcanoes. As a national symbol, it is renowned globally. Its name often appears in traditional Japanese poetry "waka." From base to summit, Mount Fuji is divided into ten stations. The fifth station is at the mid-point; the lower is the second station. Due to recent snow, the 5th Station was closed, so we only visited the Mount Fuji Information Center, arriving at 16:37 to watch a short film.

Arrived at the hot spring hotel around 17:00. Dinner was a hotel buffet, starting at 18:00. It was quite abundant: I had takoyaki, oden, small cakes, dumplings, and various meats. It was the best meal of the entire trip.

After dinner, we rested. At 20:30, we went to soak in the onsen. The hotel provided yukata; we changed in the room and brought towels. Swimsuits and caps were not allowed; we had to wash thoroughly before entering. This was different from other hot springs.

After the bath, we dried our hair. Everyone was taking photos in the lobby. When it cleared, we took a few too.

Breakfast was a simple buffet.

08:00 departed for Izu. Arrived at Shuzenji Town at 09:20, heading to the Bamboo Path. Shuzenji Town is in the central Izu Peninsula, surrounded by the Amagi, Kumomo, and Daruma mountains. Walking on the elegant bamboo path, you can hear the sound of wind through bamboo leaves, a celestial sound rated as one of Japan's 100 most worth preserving sounds. I have tinnitus, so I didn't hear it.

Izu Kawazu's early-blooming cherry blossoms are considered the best early cherry blossoms in Honshu. Due to the Izu Peninsula's geography and climate, Kawazu cherry blossoms bloom in early February. The flowers are large and beautiful pink. I thought we were too late to see them, but we were pleasantly surprised.

10:20 departed for Joren Waterfall. Arrived at 10:40. Joren Waterfall is the most famous waterfall in the Izu region. It is known for the legend of a spider demon, making it a well-known tourist spot. The waterfall is surrounded by greenery, said to be the spider's lair, untouched by humans. The waterfall cascades from basalt rocks, with a soothing sound that evokes nostalgia. With a drop of 25 meters and width of 7 meters, it is called the most beautiful waterfall in Amagi.

Izu specialty: wasabi. Wasabi ice cream.

My impression of Izu comes from Yamaguchi Momoe's film "The Izu Dancer." At the entrance, there is a statue of a character from the novel.

11:50 gathered, heading nearby for lunch. Lunch on our own. The guide took us to a restaurant with self-service ordering machines offering noodles and rice. I ordered udon noodles for 650 yen. Japanese portions are small. Mr. Zhao ate bread we brought from China.

After lunch, we headed to Tokyo, passing the Kawazu Nanadaru Loop Bridge. This is a key road connecting Amagi and the east coast of Izu, a distinctive scenic highway. The bridge cost 4.32 billion yen and took three years to complete. It is Japan's largest of its kind, with a 40-meter radius curve, 45-meter height, 1,100-meter length, two levels, and gate-shaped and inverted Y-shaped pillars designed to disperse seismic forces. If going to Kawazu, it spirals 360 degrees twice down the valley. We went the opposite direction, spiraling up.

We stopped in Odawara City at a seafood shop with frozen products, prices reasonable.

18:00 arrived in Edogawa Ward, Tokyo. The hotel was right next to the subway, with a shopping area nearby. There were restaurants and drugstores on the ground floor.

18:30 went downstairs for beef rice bowl. The restaurant looked like Yoshinoya but wasn't; we saw many branches everywhere, while Yoshinoya has few. There was a small screen on the table for ordering. After ordering, we waited. The staff brought a paper bill, which we took to the counter to pay after eating.

Free pickles on the table were tasty. Regular beef rice bowl: 400 yen; with onsen egg: 650 yen. Cheaper than Yoshinoya in China.

This is a common beef rice bowl place—this photo was taken in Dotonbori, Osaka.

After dinner, we walked around and found a large supermarket. We bought Kao kitchen cleaner. I couldn't find it and used a translation app to ask a staff member, who led me to it and mentioned there was a refill pack. Bought a pack of daifuku. It started raining. Japanese weather forecasts are very accurate; it was predicted to rain for another half hour. We saw the supermarket had several floors of shops, so we continued shopping.

When it was about time, we went out—the rain had stopped.

On the way back to the hotel, we bought a bottle of sake at a convenience store, paying 451 yen with Suica.

Hotel buffet breakfast. First destination: a duty-free shop in Taitō Ward. Bought two bottles of Dassai 45 sake, 3,670 yen each. The salesperson's Chinese wasn't good; they couldn't explain the difference between 45 and 39. Later I learned that the smaller the number, the higher the rice polishing ratio, the more expensive. At Osaka Airport, I saw Dassai 23 at a high price.

10:35 arrived at Sensō-ji Temple. Sensō-ji is the main temple of Kannon (Goddess of Mercy) in Japan. Legend says in 628 AD, three fishermen found a statue of Kannon in the Sumida River, so they built Sensō-ji to enshrine it.

We didn't enter through the main gate but went directly to the main hall. The guide asked us to gather there at 11:25.

I wanted to take a panoramic photo. Mr. Zhao led me through the shopping street to Kaminarimon Gate. The best spot was across the street from the gate. With little time, I crossed the road, rushed into a building, queued for the elevator—luckily I was near the front—and went up to the roof. I quickly took three photos without even looking, then returned to the elevator. Mr. Zhao came up too, but out of time—we hurried down and arrived back at 11:24.

11:45 arrived at the Lucky Cat Shrine, also known as Imado Shrine. It enshrines the maneki-neko (beckoning cat).

The shrine is very small; 15 minutes was enough. Then we headed to Odaiba. During the trip, while waiting at a red light, a car scraped our bus but didn't stop. The driver pulled over and called the police. Japanese efficiency is impressive: within 30 minutes, police and insurance personnel arrived and handled the matter.

13:20 arrived at Odaiba. Odaiba, or Daiba, is on an artificial island in Tokyo Bay, southeast of central Tokyo, a modern entertainment hub. The name originated in 1853 when Commodore Perry arrived; Edo (now Tokyo) hurriedly built coastal batteries to defend, hence the name "daiba" (battery).

Lunch on our own. The first floor of Odaiba is full of food shops. To save time, we had burgers. I ordered a burger with drink and a burger, but the server misunderstood and charged for two burgers, and we ordered drinks separately. The drinks were self-serve with unlimited refills, like in the US.

After lunch, we wandered around—there's plenty to see. We bought a top at Uniqlo for 1,290 yen (63.41 yuan).

14:30 gathered, heading to Ginza. Arrived around 15:30, with one hour free time. Near the meeting point, there was an eyeglass shop. Some group members who didn't eat at Odaiba went for glasses; one-hour service. I planned to get glasses for Mr. Zhao, but the shop took seven days, so he only bought a frame. 48,000 yen (2,358.56 yuan). After buying, we had some time but nothing else to buy.

We gathered and returned to Osaka—a long journey, staying overnight in Toyota City. The guide said the weather was good, so we'd stop at a rest area with a view of Mount Fuji, but due to the police delay, we couldn't stop. However, we saw it from the bus.

Arrived at the hotel around 19:00. The location was remote, pitch black outside, no dinner included. Checked phone map: a 7-Eleven nearby. Walked 10 minutes through an underpass; many group members didn't dare go. We bought onigiri, crab sticks, a salad, and fried chicken: 1,558 yen (76.66 yuan). The crab sticks probably weren't crab but fish—Mr. Zhao had an allergic reaction.

Hotel buffet breakfast. Departed at 08:00. Arrived at Osaka Castle Park at 11:00.

Osaka Castle is one of Japan's three famous castles (along with Nagoya and Kumamoto castles), also known as "Kinjo" or "Golden Castle." The park includes the main tower, and 13 important cultural properties like Otemon Gate, Senganyagura, and Kayōshō, as well as a plum grove and Nishi-no-Maru Garden.

A side note: when the bus arrived, everyone got off. Since we'd been together for days, the guide didn't count heads. After a while, the guide received a message: a group member had fallen asleep and was accidentally left on the bus—missed the entire sight.

12:00 headed to Shinsaibashi, arrived at 13:10. Shinsaibashi is Osaka's largest shopping district, with many boutiques and specialty stores.

Dotonbori is packed with food restaurants, serving not only Japanese cuisine but also dishes from around the world.

14:10 gathered, heading to the airport. The travel agency allocated too much time; we waited over an hour before checking luggage.

After security, we entered the departure lounge. There was a shop selling Shiroi Koibito cookies and nama chocolate. Order via self-service machine, pay with the printed bill, then go to the pickup counter—if your order number appears on the screen, collect your items. Note: only this shop has nama chocolate; for cookies only, there's a small supermarket. I bought cookies; the chocolate needed ice packs, too much hassle.

Juneyao Airlines 18:30-20:55, delayed. We landed at 22:30, collected luggage, shopped, went through customs, took the airport bus, and arrived home safely.

Summary: Advantages: low price. Disadvantages: didn't get to see any city properly. Kyoto: half a day. Tokyo: a little over half a day. Osaka: half a day. In short, neither sightseeing nor shopping was satisfactory. Not recommending this itinerary.

Travelogue Directory

1. One, Tour Fee

2. Two, Required Documents

3. Three, Visa

4. Four, Weather

5. Five, Group Meals

6. Six, Accommodation

7. Seven, Cash

8. Eight, Itinerary

9. Day 1 (March 5) Beijing → Osaka

10. Day 2 (March 6) Osaka → Nara → Kyoto → Tokoname

11. Day 3 (March 7) Tokoname → Shizuoka

12. Day 4 (March 8) Funatsu → Izu → Tokyo

13. Day 5 (March 9) Tokyo → Toyota

14. Day 6 (March 10) Osaka → Beijing

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