Others

Tokyo - Yoyogi Park Tokyo - Meiji Jingu Shrine Tokyo - Shibuya walking tour Tokyo - Metro day pass Tokyo - Harajuku street Hiroshima - Peace Museum Hiroshima - Peace Park & A - Bomb Dome Hiroshima - Leader-led orientation walk Hiroshima - Miyajima Island Hiroshima - Momiji manju making Kyoto - Fushimi Inari-Taisha Kyoto - Public bus day pass Kyoto - Gion District walk Osaka - Dotombori District walking tour

Transport

Public Bus , Metro , Train , Bullet Train

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 ’onsens’ 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 (3 nights), Basic hotel (5 nights)

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 Japan’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.

Not included:

Optional

Other activities and services not included

Others

Other activities and services not included

Insurance

Insurance is not included. Travel insurance is required for this tour. Please make sure you are adequately covered. If you require travel insurance, TourRadar has partnered up with World Nomads to provide a hassle-free experience. More information can be found here (https://www.tourradar.com/travel-insurance).

Flights

International flights not included.

Meals

Meals are not included in this tour

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

Day 1: Tokyo

Konnichiwa! Welcome to Japan. Bursting with contemporary urban culture, there are many sides of Tokyo to explore, from fascinating museums and world-class shopping to neighbourhood backstreets lined with restaurants and karaoke bars. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. Afterwards, why not head out for an optional dinner to try some local food and experience the nightlife in this amazing city? You might like to finish the night with a drink at a traditional Japanese izakaya – ask your leader for their favourites.
Day 2 Day 2: Tokyo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Tokyo

This morning, venture out with your small group on the metro to explore the buzzing Shibuya area. Check out one of the busiest intersections in the world before heading into a depachika (underground food hall) for a mouth-watering array of tempting Japanese treats. Next, visit Meiji Shrine – enter via a massive torii (gate) and notice the sights and sounds of the city fade away as you enter the tranquil forest. Afterwards, explore the Harajuku district, the home of quirky youth pop culture. In your free time this afternoon, perhaps take in the historic Asakusa area – one of the older and more traditional parts of Tokyo. Here you can stop by Senso-ji, the city’s oldest temple, which was founded almost 1400 years ago when Tokyo was nothing more than a fishing village. This evening, you’ve got endless options for dinner – how about a hearty bowl of ramen, crispy tonkatsu, or snacks and beer at (another) izakaya.
Day 3 Day 3: Hiroshima
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Hiroshima

Time to leave Tokyo and travel by shinkansen to Hiroshima. In the afternoon visit The Genbaku (A-Bomb) Dome and Peace Memorial Museum, which stand testament to the fateful day in August 1945 when Hiroshima was the target for the first ever wartime use of the atomic bomb. The dome was just metres from where the bomb detonated, so the fact that it looks almost exactly as it did after the bombing has made it an enduring symbol of peace. The memorial park serves the same purpose, and has museums, memorials and monuments dedicated to the memory of victims. This evening, maybe try one of the city’s signature dishes for dinner – okonomiyaki, a savoury pancake of egg, cabbage, soba noodles, and meat or seafood.
Day 4 Day 4: Hiroshima
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Hiroshima

Today you’ll make your way to the nearby island of Miyajima with its famous ’floating’ torii gate. While here, you might like to climb (or hop on the cable car) to the top of Mt Miyajima for 360-degree views of the Inland Sea. Then, visit a local workshop and learn how to make a momiji manju (Japanese maple-leaf shaped pastry). This pastry originated from Miyajima so it’s only befitting that you learn how to make it from the origin. After your sweet treat, return to Hiroshima for a free afternoon. You could stop by the five-storied Hiroshima Castle, which originally dates from the 1590s. It was destroyed by the bomb but reconstructed in all its glory in the 1950s, and now holds an informative museum. The wonderful Shukkeien Garden, with its graceful teahouses and waterfalls, is also a perfect place to decompress on a break from sightseeing. For something a bit louder, there are local baseball and soccer teams (if the day is right), or endless shopping choices. Ask your leader for other tips and suggestions as there is plenty to see and do.
Day 5 Day 5: Kyoto
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Kyoto

This morning, jump back on the Shinkansen to Kyoto. Originally founded as Heian-kyo (’tranquillity and peace capital’) by Emperor Kammu in AD794, Kyoto was the capital of Japan for over 1000 years, and with over 2000 temples, shrines and gardens, there is a lot to explore. On arrival, head to one of the most photogenic spots in Kyoto – Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine – famous for the thousands of vermillion-coloured torii (gates) that straddle the paths and trails in the area. Afterwards, enjoy some free time to get acquainted with Kyoto by walking through its historic neighbourhoods.
Day 6 Day 6: Kyoto
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Kyoto

Today is free for you to explore. With its many landmarks and historical sites and an abundance of traditional arts and literature, Kyoto is regarded as the cultural heart of Japan. Kyoto is also a city that lends itself to walking, and there are plenty of paths available – ask your leader for their recommendations. Perhaps visit the extravagantly decorated Kinkakuji temple, also known as ‘The Golden Pavilion’, or if you’re visiting in spring, head to the theatre for a presentation of Miyako Odori (the Cherry Blossom Dance) performed by elaborately dressed maiko (apprentice geisha). In the evening, enjoy a guided walk through the Pontocho and Gion areas – the famous geisha districts. Even today you can observe the age-old tradition of geisha visiting members of the wealthy elite – this unfolds in small teahouses tucked away in tiny back streets. For those who are keen, you can also choose to attend the Gion Corner cultural centre where you can enjoy some Japanese performing arts, from flower arranging to the Lion Dance.
Day 7 Day 7: Kyoto
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Kyoto

Make the most of your last day in Kyoto. If you haven’t done so already, you may like to see Japan’s largest pagoda at Toji, or you could visit the imposing and opulent Nijo Castle, home to the Tokugawa Shoguns who had power over the country during the Edo period. You can also check out the ‘nightingale floors’ of Ninomaru Palace, which squeak to warn off intruders. From the castle, it’s a short bus ride to Ryoan-ji, perhaps Japan’s most acclaimed Zen garden, where carefully placed rocks sit in an immaculately raked sea of gravel. For some local shopping there’s Kyoto’s handicraft centre, a perfect place to pick up some souvenirs with a fine selection of woodblock prints, yukata (light cotton robes), jewellery and pottery. Tonight, why not enjoy karaoke with your new friends, or maybe splash out on a kaiseki meal in a ryotei – small restaurants serving traditional multi-course cuisine.
Day 8 Day 8: Osaka
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Osaka

Hop on board the train this morning and head onto Osaka – arguably Japan’s food capital. To get situated, follow your leader on an orientation walk, and then explore this eclectic city in your free time. Meet in the evening again and take a walking tour with your leader through the Dotombori district and celebrate the end of this fast and furious journey in Japan with your fellow travellers.
Day 9 Day 9: Osaka
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Osaka

With no activities planned for today, your trip will come to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay and explore the many neighbourhoods of Osaka, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

9 days tour

Japan Express

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Itinerary of your trip Japan Express

Day 1: Tokyo

Day 2: Tokyo

Day 3: Hiroshima

Day 4: Hiroshima

Day 5: Kyoto

Day 6: Kyoto

Day 7: Kyoto

Day 8: Osaka

Day 9: Osaka

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