Japan Highlights
8 Days Starting in Tokyo, Japan and ending in Osaka, Japan
Visiting: Tokyo, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Asakusa, Tokyo, Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo, Shibuya, Tokyo, Meiji Shrine, Tokyo, Harajuku, Tokyo, Mishima, Mishima Skywalk, Mishima Taisha Shrine, Rakujuen Park, Kakitagawa Park, Kanaya, Kawane, Kyoto, Nishiki Market, Kyoto, Gion, Kyoto, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto, Sake Brewery, Kyoto, Path of Philosophy, Kyoto, Ginkaku-ji, Kyoto, Nanzen-ji Temple, Kyoto, Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto, Osaka, Dotombori District, Kuromon Market
Tour operator:
Tour code:
CJSH
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Cultural, Foodie and Wine Tours, Gardens & Nature Tours, Rail Tours
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through Japan with the "Japan Highlights" tour, a cultural and culinary adventure spanning just over a week. Begin in the bustling metropolis of Tokyo, where you'll explore iconic sites like the Sensoji Temple and the vibrant Shibuya district. Experience the serene beauty of Mishima, with its stunning views of Mt. Fuji from the Mishima Skywalk. In Kawane, immerse yourself in local life with a homestay, tea farm visit, and a scenic train ride. Discover Kyoto's rich history and traditions, from the Gion District to a 300-year-old sake brewery. Conclude your adventure in Osaka, Japan's food capital, with a street food walking tour. Travel like a local on public transport, including the famous bullet trains, and stay in traditional ryokans and minshukus for an authentic Japanese experience.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Tokyo
Location: Tokyo, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Accommodation: Hotel
Konnichiwa! Welcome to Japan. Bursting with contemporary urban culture, Tokyo has fascinating museums, world-class shopping and backstreets stuffed with restaurants and karaoke bars. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. After, you’ll have some free time to explore Tokyo’s nightlife. Perhaps take a walk down Shinjuku’s Omoide Tokocho or ‘Memory Lane’ – a crowded alley of busy restaurants and bar stalls that started in the 1940s and quickly gained infamy as a black-market quarter. Today, it’s one of the best spots to try some of Tokyo’s local fast food!
Included Activities:
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Day 2: Tokyo
Location: Asakusa, Tokyo, Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo, Shibuya, Tokyo, Meiji Shrine, Tokyo, Harajuku, Tokyo
Accommodation: Hotel
Dive right into Tokyo today by exploring historic Asakusa – one of the older and more traditional parts of the city. Visit the city’s oldest temple – Senso-ji – founded almost 1400 years ago when Tokyo was nothing more than a fishing village. Browse the many interesting stalls filled with tasty treats, crafts and souvenirs that line the shopping street of Nakamise Dori. Then, hop on the metro and head to 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, allow the city sounds to fade away as you visit Meiji Shrine, surrounded by forest. Then it’s back into the city streets to explore the Harajuku district – the home of Japan’s quirky youth pop culture. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to spend at your leisure.
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Day 3: Mishima
Location: Mishima, Mishima Skywalk, Mishima Taisha Shrine, Rakujuen Park, Kakitagawa Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Leave Tokyo behind and jump on the train to Mishima – a city built on the lava flow of Mr Fuji. Thanks to an eruption several thousand years ago, the soil here is rich in nutrients and there’s an endless supply of fresh, filtered water that flows through the city like a natural irrigation system. As a result, Mishima is a garden city with many waterways running alongside residential streets. When you arrive, head to the longest suspension bridge in Japan – 400-m-long Mishima Skywalk – for an unbeatable view of Mt Fuji. You’ll then have free time to explore at your own pace. Maybe visit Mishima Shrine or wander along the waterways and through the many parks. When you’ve worked up an appetite, maybe try the city’s special charbroiled eel that’s said to have been prepped by filtered fuji water! If you’re lucky enough to visit during cherry blossom season, there’s nothing better than a picnic as the sun goes down.
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Day 4: Kawane
Location: Kanaya, Kawane
Accommodation: Homestay
Accommodation Name: Homestay
Meals Included: Dinner
Today, you’ll hop on a local train to Kanaya station, then transfer to the scenic train that travels through the mountains and gorges of Kawane. The ride is especially beautiful during cherry blossom season in the spring and when the colours change in autumn! This afternoon, visit a local tea farm and try your hand at tea picking, learn about how tea is properly brewed. After the tea experience, your host for the night will welcome you and take you to their home. Dinner will be a home-cooked feast using seasonal vegetables may from their garden, and your host will be able to teach you a thing or two about Japanese home cooking.
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Day 5: Kyoto
Location: Kyoto, Nishiki Market, Kyoto, Gion, Kyoto
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
After a home-cooked, Japanese-style breakfast, hop on the bus and a Shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto. One of the Kyoto’s original names was Heian-kyo, which literally translates to ‘tranquility and peace capital’, and the thousands of temples, shrines and gardens make it clear why. In the afternoon, head to the Noshiki Market and stroll through ‘Kyoto’s Kitchen’ for the perfect introduction to Kyoto's regional specialties – from pickled vegetables hidden beneath layers of fermented rice to delicious and ornate Kyo-wagashi (Kyoto sweets) and other local produce. As the sun goes down, continue to Gion – the city’s cultural centre and most famous geisha district. You may catch a glimpse of an elegantly attired geisha or maiko moving between teahouses here, though much of this high-class world of entertainment is still off-limits to outsiders.
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Day 6: Kyoto
Location: Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto, Sake Brewery, Kyoto, Path of Philosophy, Kyoto, Ginkaku-ji, Kyoto, Nanzen-ji Temple, Kyoto, Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto
Accommodation: Hotel
Today, you’ll head to one of the most photogenic spots in Kyoto – Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine. Famous for the thousands of scarlet torii (square archways) along the path, this shrine is dedicated to Inari – the god of rice. Because foxes do his bidding, there are also plenty of fox statues along the way. Then, visit a 300-year-old sake brewery – the city’s oldest continuously run brewery. Learn about their special sake-brewing techniques and the importance of rice and water before sampling some for yourself. The rest of the day is free for you to explore at your own pace. If you’re in a contemplative mood, the Path of Philosophy might have what you’re after. Stroll beside a stream, beneath the dappled shade of blossoming trees, past the Zen temple Ginkaku-ji, the Temple of the Silver Pavilion and Nanzen-ji Temple. You can keep walking south to the Old Town and explore the wooden houses, or visit Kinkakuhi Temple, immortalised in Yukio Mishima’s novel ‘The Golden Pavilion’.
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Day 7: Osaka
Location: Osaka, Dotombori District, Kuromon Market
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
Jump back on the train this morning and head onto Osaka – Japan’s unofficial food capital. When you arrive, follow your leader on an orientation walk, then explore the city at your own pace. Meet in the evening for a street food walking tour with your group through Dotombori District and Kuromon Market and celebrate the end of this fast and furious journey in Japan with your fellow travellers.
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Day 8: Osaka
Location: Osaka
With no further activities planned after breakfast, your trip comes to an end today. If you would like to extend your stay in Osaka, just reach out to your booking agent ahead of time.
What's Included
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Tokyo - welcome meeting and orientation walk
Participate in a welcome meeting and orientation walk in Tokyo.
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Tokyo - Sensoji Temple
Visit the historic Sensoji Temple in Tokyo.
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Tokyo - Meiji Jingu Shrine
Explore the Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo.
What's Not Included
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Single supplement, airport transfers, and additional accommodation
Single supplement, airport transfers, and additional accommodation in Japan are not available due to limited availability.
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Luggage size restrictions
Luggage size restrictions apply for rail travel in Japan, requiring light and compact packing.
Included Activities
- Tokyo - welcome meeting and orientation walk
- Tokyo - Sensoji Temple
- Tokyo - Meiji-jingu Shrine
- Tokyo - Shibuya walking tour
- Tokyo - Tokyo Cruise
- Tokyo - Hama Rikyu Garden
- Kamakura – Daibutsu temple trail
- Kamakura – Enoden line historic train
- Kyoto - Gion District walk
- Kyoto - Nishiki-Koji Market
- Kyoto - Fushimi Inari-Taisha
Transport
- Public Bus , Metro , Local 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/
Important Information
- 1. We are currently unable to offer a single supplement, airport transfers or additional accommodation in Japan due to limited availability.
- 2. It is essential that you pack light and compact for rail travel in Japan. Luggage size restrictions apply. Please review the ‘Packing’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.
Mode of Transport
Travel like a local with a mix of public buses, metro, local trains, and the iconic bullet train. Enjoy scenic rides through mountains and cherry blossoms, experiencing the efficiency and charm of Japan's public transportation system.Accommodation
Experience authentic Japanese hospitality with stays in ryokans and minshukus, where you'll sleep on futons or mattresses on tatami mat floors. Enjoy shared bathing facilities and embrace the local culture with visits to traditional onsens. Note that some accommodations may have curfews.Check out our Q&As
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What type of accommodation can I expect during the tour?
During the tour, you will stay in Japanese-style accommodations such as ryokans or minshukus, which are traditional inns or guesthouses. These involve sleeping on futons or mattresses on tatami mat floors, with bedding often packed away during the day. Bathrooms and toilets are usually small, and many places have shared bathing facilities with specific hours for use. Some accommodations may have a curfew, typically around midnight.
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Will I have the opportunity to experience traditional Japanese culture during the tour?
Yes, the tour includes several opportunities to experience traditional Japanese culture. You will visit a local tea farm to learn about tea harvesting and brewing, and you will also have a homestay experience where you can prepare a home-cooked, farm-to-table feast with your hosts. Additionally, you will visit traditional Japanese onsens, which are public baths, and your leader will provide guidance on the etiquette involved.
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What kind of transportation will be used during the tour?
The tour utilizes various forms of public transportation, including public buses, metro, local trains, and bullet trains. This allows you to experience travel like a local and enjoy scenic views, especially during the train rides through the mountains and gorges of Kawane.
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Are there any specific activities included in the tour that focus on local cuisine?
Yes, the tour includes several activities focused on local cuisine. In Osaka, you will participate in a street food walking tour through Dotombori District and Kuromon Market. Additionally, you will have a home-cooked dinner and breakfast during your homestay in Kawane, where you can learn about Japanese home cooking.
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Is there any guidance provided for visiting Japanese onsens?
Yes, your tour leader will provide tips and instructions on the specific etiquette for visiting traditional Japanese onsens. It's important to note that in public onsens, bathing is done naked with others of the same gender, and travelers with tattoos may not be permitted to enter public onsens. Private onsens may also be available, and you can talk to your leader for more information.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Sunday - Sunday
Jun 01, 2025 - Jun 08, 2025Sunday - Sunday
Jun 15, 2025 - Jun 22, 2025Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit for future tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions
Enquire for Extra Savings
Rated 5* on Trust Pilot & ABTA Protected.
