Basix
Explorer
Rail
Japan Express
9 days • 4.8
5
Excellent
circle78 reviews
location_on 9 days
location_on
Start
Tokyo, Japan
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Finish
Osaka, Japan
tour
Trip Code
CJRB
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Min Age
15
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Trip Size
1 - 16
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Physical Rating
airport_shuttle
Transport
Public Bus, Metro, Train, Bullet Train
bed
Accommodation
Multishare Hostel (3 nights), Basic hotel (5 nights)
From £1,386(9 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
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Ultra-modern, ancient traditions and everything in between, this express adventure will introduce you to some of the many faces of Japan in a short amount of time.
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Visit the Peace Park for moving insight into the devastation of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima, then cruise to peaceful Miyajima Island where wild deer roam the streets.
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Eat your way around Japan with chances to try all kinds of delicious street food, sake, snacks and surprises – from a hearty bowl of ramen to world-class sashimi.
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Spend three nights in Kyoto, exploring this amazing ancient capital in depth and with plenty of free time to create your own adventure.
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Ride the renowned Shinkansen bullet train and make use of public transport day passes to get to and from the activities you choose. Even getting from place to place is fun in Japan!
Is this trip right for you?
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This trip is made for travellers who value their independence but also want the benefit of a local leader and a group of like-minded travellers. The itinerary has plenty of free time where your leader will offer suggestions. Please budget spending money for optional activities you want to partake in and public transport to those activities.
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Japan is best explored on foot and by public transport. You’ll need to be fit enough to spend most of each day on your feet and able to handle your luggage as you navigate busy train stations. We recommend comfortable shoes and packing light.
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In some destinations, you may stay in multi-share accommodation, like a hostel or a minshuku, a Japanese-style inn. You’ll be able to experience pod hostels or the tradition of sleeping on futon mattresses on the floor, but the facilities will be shared. Travellers on the same booking may be split between rooms due to the single gender floor arrangement for the stay in hostels.
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Double rooms in Japanese hotels can be smaller than you may be used to (e.g. 20 sqm). Every effort will be made to accommodate double room requests. However, during busy periods, there may be occasions when we are unable to offer a double room, so a twin room will be provided.
Itinerary
Temples, tempura and torii on a fast-tracked adventure
Home to sumo wrestling, sake, geishas, karaoke and onsens, Japan’s got a lot going for it. And on this nine-day trip to some of its most acclaimed cities, you’ll get to see the country at its best. Take in the neon nightlife of Tokyo, reflect during a visit to Hiroshima, discover thousands of years of culture and history in Kyoto and finish in the eclectic Osaka. And have you heard about the food? World-class sushi, ravishing ramen, delectable donburi – you certainly won’t be going hungry. With your local leader to point you in all the right directions and plenty of time to explore at your own pace, experience the culture and charm of the Land of the Rising Sun.
- DAY 1Day 1 • Tokyo
- DAY 2Day 2 • Tokyo
- DAY 3Day 3 • Hiroshima
- DAY 4Day 4 • Hiroshima
- DAY 5Day 5 • Kyoto
- DAY 6Day 6 • Kyoto
- DAY 7Day 7 • Kyoto
- DAY 8Day 8 • Osaka
- DAY 9Day 9 • Osaka
Inclusions
airport_shuttle Transport
Public Bus, Metro, Train, Bullet Train
bed Accommodation
Multishare Hostel (3 nights), Basic hotel (5 nights)
festival Included activities
circleTokyo - Yoyogi Park
circleTokyo - Meiji Jingu Shrine
circleTokyo - Shibuya walking tour
circleTokyo - Metro day pass
circleTokyo - Harajuku street
circleHiroshima - Peace Museum
circleHiroshima - Peace Park & A - Bomb Dome
circleHiroshima - Leader-led orientation walk
circleHiroshima - Miyajima Island
circleHiroshima - Momiji manju making
circleKyoto - Fushimi Inari-Taisha
circleKyoto - Public bus day pass
circleKyoto - Gion District walk
circleOsaka - Dotombori District walking tour
museum Optional activities
circleTokyo - Disneyland or Disney Sea (from) - JPY7900
circleTokyo - Gotokuji Cat Temple - Free
circleTokyo - A Tour Through Tokyo's Kitchen (with World's Largest Fish Market) Urban Adventure - JPY11500
circleTokyo - Made In Japan Shopping Tour: Cultural Curiosities Urban Adventure - JPY8850
circleTokyo - Tokyo After 5 Urban Adventure - JPY17000
circleTokyo - Kanpai Tokyo: Shinjuku Drinks and Neon Nights Urban Adventure - JPY17000
circleTokyo - Sensoji Temple - Free
circleTokyo - Imperial Palace - Free
circleTokyo - Metropolitan Government Building observation deck - Free
circleTokyo - Shinjuku-gyoen - JPY500
circleTokyo - Karaoke - JPY2000
circleTokyo - Sumida River Cruise - JPY1000
circleKyoto - Kiyomizu-dera - JPY500
circleKyoto - Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) - JPY500
circleKyoto - Path of Philosophy (Tetsugaku-no-Michi) - Free
circleKyoto - Gion Corner cultural centre - JPY5500
circleKyoto - Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) - JPY500
circleKyoto - Nijo Castle - JPY800
circleKyoto - Nijo Castle and Ninomaru Palace - JPY1300
circleKyoto - Ryōan-ji - JPY600
circleKyoto - Tō-ji (grounds free) - JPY800
Dates and availability
Starting
Ending
Remaining
Prices From
Saturday May 31, 2025
Sunday Jun 08, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - Sold Out
Saturday Jun 07, 2025
Sunday Jun 15, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 3 spaces left
£1,854£1,575
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Saturday Jun 14, 2025
Sunday Jun 22, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 7 spaces left
£1,793£1,524
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Saturday Jun 28, 2025
Sunday Jul 06, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - Sold Out
Saturday Jul 05, 2025
Sunday Jul 13, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 4 spaces left
£1,804£1,443
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Wednesday Jul 23, 2025
Thursday Jul 31, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 7 spaces left
£1,909£1,527
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Wednesday Jul 30, 2025
Thursday Aug 07, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 10 spaces left
£1,766£1,412
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Wednesday Aug 13, 2025
Thursday Aug 21, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 7 spaces left
£1,733£1,386
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Wednesday Aug 27, 2025
Thursday Sep 04, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 14 spaces left
£1,909£1,527
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Saturday Sep 06, 2025
Sunday Sep 14, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 10 spaces left
£1,909£1,718
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Saturday Sep 13, 2025
Sunday Sep 21, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 10 spaces left
£2,063£1,856
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Saturday Sep 20, 2025
Sunday Sep 28, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 10 spaces left
£2,046£1,841
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Saturday Sep 27, 2025
Sunday Oct 05, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 13 spaces left
£2,046£1,841
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Saturday Oct 04, 2025
Sunday Oct 12, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 3 spaces left
£2,151£2,043
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Saturday Oct 11, 2025
Sunday Oct 19, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 16 spaces left
£2,090£1,986
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Important notes
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1. We are currently unable to offer a single supplement, airport transfers or additional accommodation in Japan due to limited availability.
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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.
Reviews (77)
5 stars
68
4 stars
5
3 stars
2
2 stars
2
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Freya
Apr 24, 2025
The express Japan tour was incredible! Our tour guide Mami was amazing and gave perfect recommendations for optional activities and food places that catered to each individual tour member’s interests and needs!
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Kasia
Apr 13, 2025
Japan is awesome. Combination of tradition, culture and futuristic world.
This trip involves a lot of walking and moving around and it’s fantastic introduction to getting to know Japan. We had a great time with our leader Yoga.
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Tom
Apr 12, 2025
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marija
Apr 06, 2025
I highly recommend this trip. You see so much of Japan, its culture, and use various modes of transport which is a great experience.
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Maria
Mar 30, 2025
My trip was great,my leader Momoko was very nice and explained everything to us. All was very good
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JEFFREY
Mar 30, 2025
Great tour almost as good as your Morocco tour. I am keeping up with both of them on WhatsApp.
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Kel
Mar 23, 2025
Great value but not missing anything on the way. Very well paced and very enjoyable.
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Dorothy
Mar 21, 2025
Love intrepid I have used them a few times now, and I'll use them again.
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Leo
Feb 19, 2025
Just got back from an intrepid tour of Japan, had the best time and a wonderful experience, great sights and sounds, delicious food and new friends made
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Samantha
Feb 19, 2025
Amazing trip and tour. Our Japanese tour guide, Atsushi went above and beyond and made sure we saw the real japan and was so full of energy. Really was a great trip.