Japan
Japan10 days
Overview
The Japanese Legend: Contrasts of Tradition & Modernity. From Meiji Shrine and Shibuya to Hakone's views of Fuji, Kyoto's Golden Pavilion, Hiroshima's Peace Memorial, Miyajima's floating torii, and Osaka's lively streets — with kosher meals and Shabbat throughout.
Your Journey Day by Day
01Monday Tokyo
Arrival to Tokyo airport (NRT), meet and greet transfer to the hotel (A short time to freshen up), and then we’ll go out together. Dinner at Chabad Japan.
02Tuesday: Tokyo, Toyosu Fish Market, Team Lab Borderless, Shibuya District
Today we’ll begin with a visit to Tokyo’s famous Toyosu fish market, where about 2000 tons of different species from the sea are sold every day. We will continue to visit Team Lab Borderless, the world’s first digital art museum. We will continue to take a cruise on Sumida River, and we will visit the Buddhist temple of Asakusa Kannon – the most important in Tokyo. The entire complex as well as the lane leading to the temple is packed with stands selling a variety of typical Japanese items, and it is a fascinating experience to be among Tokyo’s locals. We will enjoy seeing the Nakamise Shopping Arcade and continue to visit the Shibuya Area. Shibuya is one of the most popular areas of Tokyo, one of the most desirable for entertainment, and for fashion shopping. Dinner at Chabad Japan.
03Wednesday: Tokyo, Owakudani, Cruise on Lake Ashi, the Hakone Open Air Museum
After breakfast we will go to visit the Owakudani viewpoint from which we may see active volcanoes. We will take a cruise on Lake Ashi and we’ll see the large vermillion Hakone shrine. We’ll ascend by cable car to Owakudani Valley and we will visit the Hakone Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will drive back to Tokyo. Dinner at Chabad Japan.
04Thursday Ginza, Shitamachi Museum, Meiji Shrine, Shinjuku
After breakfast we will start our day with a visit to the bustling business district of Ginza. We will continue to visit The Shitamachi Museum, which traces the history and culture of the Edo (old Tokyo) era. We will continue our day by visiting the Meiji Shrine, a Shinto shrine in Shibuya, Tokyo, which is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken. We then will visit the Shinjuku district that is best known for its lavish nightlife. Dinner at Chabad Japan.
05Friday: Tokyo - Kobe, Nunobiki Gardens by Cable Car
After breakfast we transfer to Tokyo station from which we will take a bullet train to Shin Kobe Station. After arriving in Kobe, we will visit the Nunobiki gardens by cable car and then drive to our hotel. Preparations for Shabbat and Shabbat dinner.
06Shabbat: Kobe
We’ll spend a wonderful, peaceful and relaxing Shabbat with the small Jewish community of Kobe. After Shacharit and Kiddush/Lunch, we’ll take a stroll through the neighborhood near our hotel.
07Sunday: Kobe, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Peace Memorial Park & Museum
After breakfast we will take a bullet train from Kobe Station to Hiroshima. We shall arrive in Hiroshima and board a ferry and sail to the island of Miyajima (the Temple Island), or its full name, Itsukushima. This is a historical site which is considered one of the three most beautiful sites in Japan. We’ll return to Hiroshima to visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum. Later we will transfer to Hiroshima Station and take a bullet train from Hiroshima Station to Shin Kobe Station. Upon arrival at Kobe Station we shall go to the Jewish community center for dinner.
08Monday: Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera, Nishiki Market, Kinkaku-ji
After breakfast we will make our way to Kyoto to start our Kyoto city tour. We will visit Kiyomizu-dera. The temple is part of the Historic Monuments of ancient Kyoto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will continue on to visit the Nishiki Market which is renowned as the place to obtain many of Kyoto’s famous foods and goods. We continue our day by visiting the Kinkaku-ji Temple (the Golden Pavilion) Then we will attend a Tea Ceremony with a Geisha, We will continue the journey with a visit to Gion street, the famous geisha district. We will take the bus back to Kobe. Dinner at Chabad Japan
09Tuesday: Nijo Castle, Kimono Factory, Bamboo Forest
After breakfast we will visit the legendary Nijo Castle, an original Shogun castle built by Tokugawa Eiyasu, the founder of Japan’s longest ruling Shogun dynasty. Then we will visit the Nishiji Textile Center -Kimono Factory. Later, we will see Arashiyama Area, Togetsu Bridge and Tenryuji Temple. We will visit the Bamboo Forest, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Sagano Bamboo Forest. We will take the bus back to Kobe. Dinner at Chabad Japan
10Wednesday: Osaka, Sake Museum
After breakfast we will drive to the Osaka Sake Museum and then visit the Osaka castle. We will visit the Umeda sky building. If time permits, we will stroll along the Umeda area and as per the flight time we will transfer to the airport for the flight back home.
Your Guides
Irit Eliraz
Leading Nov 9, 2026
Kashrut on Tours
- Supervision
- Company mashgiach traveling with the group
- Pat Yisrael
- Not guaranteed at every destination
- Chalav Yisrael
- Not guaranteed at every destination
Kosher food is provided to our travelers on all our tours. We work with the local Rabbinate to provide Hashgacha for all local ingredients and fresh meat and poultry. In some cases, we fly in kosher food from Israel and other sources, depending on the destination of the tour. We do not guarantee Pat Israel and Chalav Israel for all destinations. In many destinations we have our own crockery and cutlery. Where we don’t, we provide disposables at the meals. When we cook in hotel kitchens, we ensure proper Kashering and we use our own kitchenware on kashered and covered surfaces. All this is done under the strict supervision of our trained staff/guides that function as our Mashgichim. Our travelers enjoy gourmet meals prepared by our team including fresh local fish, fruit, and vegetables. This is an integral part of Jewish travel. We make great efforts to assure that our travelers will experience local foods first-hand, while maintaining stringent observance of Kashrut laws on all occasions.
Important to Know
- There may be changes to the order of places visited. We will make every effort to visit every place mentioned in the itinerary.
- The tour organizers have no control over airline services such as seating, special meal requests, changes in departure times or delays. These remain the sole responsibility of the airline company.
The meals
Breakfast is prepared using our utensils. We use local fresh fruits and vegetables, and we use milk products when they are permitted. We use kosher cereals, and bread. We usually serve hard boiled eggs and sometimes scrambled eggs or omelets. At breakfast, we prepare our lunches so that people have their choice as to what they eat for lunch. We bring food from Israel to supplement what is served in the hotel such as cheeses, peanut butter, tuna, etc. For dinners, we serve either fish or meat (usually chicken) as our main course. In areas where meat is not available nor readily acquired, we will have fish. When possible, we acquire the meat locally from Chabad or other reliable kosher source, and in some cases we fly the meat in from Israel. We try to provide as many meat meals as possible. The main course at dinner is preceded by soup and salad and accompanied by freshly prepared vegetables. Dessert typically consists of fresh fruits. We do not guarantee Pat Israel and Chalav Israel for all destinations. In many destinations we have our own dishes and silverware. Where we don’t, we provide disposables at the meals. When we cook in hotel kitchens, we use our own knives, cutting boards, pots and pans, cooking implements and disposable metal trays. All food preparation is done on covered surfaces under the strict supervision of our trained staff/guides who function as our mashgichim. We make great efforts to assure that our travelers will experience local foods first-hand, while maintaining stringent observance of Kashrut laws on all occasions. On most of our tours, you will be accompanied by two of our staff members- one a guide for the tour who is knowledgeable about the places you are visiting and will accompany you throughout the day and the second, a person who will deal with the logistics of the tour and provide kashrut supervision in the kitchen.
Hotels
It is our aim to provide the finest hotel possible in each area we visit. We require our hotels to allow us to work in the kitchen and to supervise the cooking and there are many hotels that are not willing to cooperate. They simply have no desire for us to be “meddling” in their cooking process nor are they happy about our bringing our equipment into their kitchens. We work very hard to find the best hotel in the area that will meet our requirements. Because we are not ready to compromise on kashrut, we may not always be able to use a five star hotel.
What's Included
- Air-conditioned tourist coach
- Half Board throughout plus supplies to make sandwiches for lunch
- English-speaking local guides and a professional experienced guide from the staff of Shai Bar Ilan
- Entrance to all sites mentioned in the itinerary
- Tips for local service providers
- Tourist class hotels or first class hotels throughout
Not Included
- International flights
- Taxes and surcharges
- Tourist tax 1000 YEN per person (approx. $10 per person) will be paid ion departure from Japan
- Private expenses (drinks laundry and dry cleaning shopping etc.)
- Travel Insurance
- Tip for Israeli guide (Recommended: $5 per person per day)
What Travelers Say
All testimonials →“Menachem, your warmth, concern and patience for all of us, both collectively and individually, should serve as a paradigm for how to be a guide “extraordinaire”. Your enthusiasm and deep love and your knowledge of this extraordinary country are second to none. You were truly the author of a trip that will be long remembered.”
“One of our travelers, touring with Kesher Tours group in Japan, is thanking The Japanese for opening their doors and saving his parents, back then when they flee Nazi Europe to Japan and from there to the US. Since it opened in 1995, the Fukuyama Holocaust Education Center — situated just outside Fukuyama and about 60 miles from Hiroshima, the site of an atomic bomb in 1945 — has welcomed tens of thousands of Japanese schoolchildren.”
Cancellation Policy
- A $47 per-person administration fee applies to any cancellation after registration.
- 45–60 working days before departure: 30% of the tour price.
- 21–44 working days before departure: 50% of the tour price.
- 7–20 working days before departure: 75% of the tour price.
- Less than 7 working days before departure: 100% of the tour price.
- Working days exclude Fridays, Saturdays and Jewish holidays.