10 days tour

Essential Japan

$ 1,786 .00 USD

Total price per person

Reserve with $1,786.00

Essential Japan

This tour includes:

Others

Tokyo - Meiji Jingu Shrine Tokyo - Shibuya walking tour Tokyo - Yoyogi Park Tokyo - Harajuku street Kanazawa - Higashi Chaya District walking tour Kyoto - Gion District walk Kyoto - Fushimi Inari-Taisha Hiroshima - Peace Park & A - Bomb Dome Hiroshima - Peace Museum Hiroshima - Miyajima Island Osaka - Dotombori District walking tour

Meals

1 dinner

Transport

Public Bus , Metro , Train , Bullet Train

Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip. Due to Japanโ€™s popularity it has been necessary to go outside our traditional sources for employing tour leaders. As a result, our passionate, professional and trained tour leaders may either be Japanese or long term foreign residents in Japan.

Accommodation

RYOKANS : & MINSHUKUS: Japanese-style accommodation - ryokans or minshukus (traditional inn/guesthouse) involve sleeping on futons or matresses on tatami mat floors, with bedding often packed away during the day. Attached bathrooms/toilets will usually be very small and many will only have shared bathing facilities with certain hours, or times available for booking at reception. Your leader will explain etiquette involved in using the shared facilities. As this style of accommodation will often not have furniture (ie. chairs or beds) in the rooms, please consider choosing a different trip style in Japan if you have difficulty getting up from the floor or have knee, hip or back issues. Some establishments may have a curfew when travellers need to be back in the accommodation - this is usually around midnight. Please also be aware that you would normally be required to change to slippers when entering into your room in such properties. Extra fees will be charged if dirty marks are left on their beddings or towels that require professional cleaning. AVAILABILITY: The recent huge increase in tourism to Japan has put a lot of pressure on accommodation. On occasion, we may need to change accommodation from what is listed in the itinerary in order to operate your departure with minimal changes. ONSENS: We like to encourage travellers to visit traditional Japanese โ€™onsensโ€™ while in the country as it is a quintessential local experience. In public onsens this means bathing naked with others of the same gender. While the experience can feel strange at first for some, most of our groups end up enjoying this activity. There is very specific etiquette for visiting onsens - your leader can give you some tips and instructions. Please be aware that travellers with tattoos may not be permitted to enter public onsens. Private onsens may also be available - talk to your leader for more information. See our guide to onsens here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/japan-onsen-guide/ Multishare Hostel (5 nights), Pod Hostel (2 nights), Family Owned Guesthouse (2 nights)

Not included:

Optional

Tokyo - Shinjuku-gyoen - JPY500 Tokyo - Studio Ghibli Museum (advance bookings required - from) - JPY2500 Tokyo - Sensoji Temple - Free Tokyo - Imperial Palace - Free Tokyo - Disneyland or Disney Sea (from) - JPY7900 Tokyo - A Tour Through Tokyoโ€™s Kitchen (with Worldโ€™s Largest Fish Market) Urban Adventure - JPY11500 Tokyo - Kanpai Tokyo: Shinjuku Drinks and Neon Nights Urban Adventure - JPY15000 Tokyo - Made In Japan Shopping Tour: Cultural Curiosities Urban Adventure - JPY8850 Tokyo - Tokyo After 5 Urban Adventure - JPY17000 Tokyo - Tsukiji Outer Market - Free Tokyo - Wholesale Fish Market (relocated to Toyosu) - Free Tokyo - Metropolitan Government Building observation deck - Free Tokyo - Dawn Avatar Robot Cafรฉ (from) - JPY1500 Tokyo - Gotokuji Cat Temple - Free Kanazawa - Kenroku-en Gardens & Castle - JPY320 Kanazawa - Oyama Shrine - Free Kanazawa - Omicho market tour - Free Kanazawa - 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art (excl. special exhibitions) - Free Kanazawa - Nagamachi Samurai District (excl. museum entry) - Free Kyoto - Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) - JPY500 Kyoto - Nijo Castle - JPY800 Kyoto - Imperial Palace - Free Kyoto - Kiyomizu-dera - JPY400 Kyoto - Kimono/Maiko/Samurai Dress Up (from) - JPY10000 Kyoto - Arashiyama Monkey Park - JPY600 Miyajima - Itsukushima-jinja Shrine - JPY300 Osaka - Osaka Castle - JPY600 Osaka - Universal Studios (Day Pass - from) - JPY8900 Osaka - Dogusuji Arcade - Free Osaka - Spa World - JPY2000 Osaka - Kaiten Sushi Train at Kura Sushi - JPY2000

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Others

Other activities and services are not included.

Flights

Flights are not included.

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Essential Japan

  • Day 1 Day 1: Tokyo
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 1: Tokyo

      Konnichiwa! Welcome to Japan. Your adventure begins in Tokyo โ€“ the thriving capital of an ancient land โ€“ with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, why not explore at your own pace. You could check out the free Sensoji Temple or the Imperial Palace, then hit up the Avatar Robot Cafรฉ for lunch. This purpose-driven enterprise is not driven by AI at all โ€“ the waiters are actually operated by people living with disabilities. This is to give employees who have difficulty leaving their homes a better chance at employment. After your meeting, go for a leader-led walk around one of Tokyoโ€™s most popular hubs. Then, you might like to join your new travel buddies for an optional dinner.

  • Day 2 Day 2: Tokyo
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Tokyo

      Head out to explore the Shibuya area with your group this morning. Look down on one of the busiest intersections in the world at Shibuya station and visit the statue of Hachiko โ€“ the famous loyal dog. Next, indulge your eyes and your belly at a depachika food hall, where vendors sell everything from bento boxes to formal gifts. Maybe grab lunch to eat in Yoyogi Park (home to many events from the first Japan Olympics) before your visit to Meiji Jingu Shrine. This afternoon, youโ€™ll visit Harajuku โ€“ the home of quirky youth pop culture. The rest of the day is free for you to explore. If youโ€™re a cat lover, the Gotokuji Cat Temple might be right up your alley. Tonight is also the perfect opportunity to hit Tokyoโ€™s nightlife, whether itโ€™s at a bar with laser shows or youโ€™re belting out some tunes at karaoke.

  • Day 3 Day 3: Kanazawa
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Kanazawa

      This morning, speed through central Japan on a bullet train bound for Kanazawa. This city is best known for Kenroku-en โ€“ the 17th-century gardens โ€“ and as the home of the Samurai. Here, you can find beautifully preserved Samurai and Geisha districts, historic temples and some awesome markets. After checking into your hotel, maybe explore Kenroku-en Garden and Kanazawa Castle Park. Tonight is a free evening so you can explore the streets at your own pace and maybe indulge in Kanazawaโ€™s izakaya and famed fresh seafood.

  • Day 4 Day 4: Kanazawa
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Kanazawa

      Explore Kanazawa on foot today, on a walking tour of the Higashi Chaya district. Get lost among Geisha as you walk through alleyways and traditional Chaya houses, known locally as places of tradition, feasts and entertainment. If teaโ€™s your thing, perhaps enjoy a traditional tea ceremony at one of the local tea houses. The afternoon will then be free for you to explore on your own.

  • Day 5 Day 5: Kyoto
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: Kyoto

      Today, catch a train through the Japanese Alps to Kyoto โ€“ once the imperial capital of Japan and one of the most beautiful cities in the country. With over 2000 temples, shrines and gardens, Kyoto is a great place to get lost in. With a good bus network linking all its key sites, you can hop on the bus to get around today โ€“ maybe visit the magnificent, gold-plated Kinkaku-ji Temple with its expansive grounds in Kyotoโ€™s northwest, or Nijo Castle โ€“ the feudal-era castle famous for its squeaking โ€˜nightingale floors,โ€™ designed to alert inhabitants to approaching ninja. In the early evening, meet up with your leader for a walk through Kyotoโ€™s famous Gion district โ€“ the heart of the cityโ€™s Geisha culture.

  • Day 6 Day 6: Kyoto
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 6: Kyoto

      Join your leader this morning for a walk in the wooded hills of Inari Mountain, famous for its Shinto โ€™fox templeโ€™ and atmospheric red torii gates โ€“ a must-see for keen photographers. The afternoon is free for you to explore, and your leader can give you recommendations on what to see and how to get there. Cycling is also a great way to see the city, and renting a bike is inexpensive. Itโ€™s your last night in Kyoto, so make sure you try some of Kyotoโ€™s famed Kyo-ryori (Kyoto cuisine) or wander the food market of Nishiki in the cityโ€™s heart.

  • Day 7 Day 7: Hiroshima
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 7: Hiroshima

      Hiroshima is a bustling metropolis with a tragic history and this morning, youโ€™ll travel there via bullet train. When you arrive, your leader will take you to the Peace Park and the ruins of the A-Bomb Dome building โ€“ one of 11 structures left partially standing as a reminder of the destruction of nuclear war following the atomic bomb blast on 6 August 1945. The Peace Park contains monuments and a sobering museum dedicated to Hiroshima and international peace. The afternoon is free to rest, relax or continue exploring the city. Tonight, try Hiroshimaโ€™s most famous dish โ€“ okonomiyaki (savoury pancake of cabbage, meat or seafood) โ€“ grilled in front of you on a sizzling hotplate.

  • Day 8 Day 8: Hiroshima
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 8: Hiroshima

      Today youโ€™ll jump on a local train and a ferry to spend the day at the nearby island of Miyajima with its famous โ€™floatingโ€™ Torii Gate and the grand Itsukushima-jinja Shrine. Hike through the woods to the peak of Mt Misen for some stunning views of the Inland Sea stretching far out below you. Be sure to watch out for inquisitive and eternally hungry deer that roam the island. Back in Hiroshima, you can enjoy a free evening tonight.

  • Day 9 Day 9: Osaka
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 9: Osaka

      Travel by bullet train to Osaka today โ€“ what better way to finish your trip than in a city with the motto โ€™kuidaoreโ€™ (eat until you drop)! Osaka is Japanโ€™s unofficial culinary capital, with its tiny backstreets overflowing with restaurants and bars serving up local delicacies. You can also discover Japanโ€™s answer to fast food โ€“ Osaka is credited with the first kaiten-zushi (conveyor belt sushi) restaurants after its inventor (the owner of a sushi restaurant with staffing issues) watched beer bottles on a conveyor belt at the nearby Asahi brewery. When you arrive, head out on a leader-led walking tour of the Dotombori district, famous for its shopping and entertainment. At night, this place is lit with the colour of hundreds of neon lights! Today, you could also take on a taiko drum lesson or try a traditional Japanese Onsen. For dinner, maybe try takoyaki (grilled octopus), an Osaka speciality.

  • Day 10 Day 10: Osaka
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 10: Osaka

      There are no activities planned for today, and you can depart at any time after check out. If youโ€™d like to extend your stay and explore the many neighbourhoods of Osaka, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

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Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Small Group

Youโ€™ll be accompanied by a small group of travelers just like you.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Basic

Almost everyone is fit for these activities. Every hike or physical exercise last less than 30 minutes, such as paragliding and horseback riding. Please ask about specific conditions.

Age range

Age range

Min: 18 / Max: 35

This experience is exclusive for travelers from 18 years old, ID must be showed.

Select a country to define if the visa is required