Basix
Explorer
Rail
Japan Express
4.8
Excellent
circle89 reviews
location_on 9 days
location_on
Start
Tokyo, Japan
location_on
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 £1,766(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.
verified
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.
verified
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.
verified
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.
verified
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 Sep 06, 2025
Sunday Sep 14, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 12 spaces left
£1,909
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Saturday Sep 13, 2025
Sunday Sep 21, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 9 spaces left
£2,063
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Saturday Sep 20, 2025
Sunday Sep 28, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 10 spaces left
£2,046
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Saturday Sep 27, 2025
Sunday Oct 05, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 8 spaces left
£2,046
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Saturday Oct 04, 2025
Sunday Oct 12, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - Sold Out
Saturday Oct 11, 2025
Sunday Oct 19, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 16 spaces left
£2,090
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Saturday Oct 18, 2025
Sunday Oct 26, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 8 spaces left
£2,090
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Saturday Oct 25, 2025
Sunday Nov 02, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 1 space left
£2,195
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Saturday Nov 08, 2025
Sunday Nov 16, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 9 spaces left
£1,909
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Saturday Nov 15, 2025
Sunday Nov 23, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - Sold Out
Saturday Nov 22, 2025
Sunday Nov 30, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 9 spaces left
£1,766
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Saturday Nov 29, 2025
Sunday Dec 07, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - 11 spaces left
£1,766
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Saturday Dec 13, 2025
Sunday Dec 21, 2025
Trip size max: 16 - Sold Out
Saturday Feb 07, 2026
Sunday Feb 15, 2026
Trip size max: 16 - 16 spaces left
£1,854
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Saturday Feb 21, 2026
Sunday Mar 01, 2026
Trip size max: 16 - 16 spaces left
£1,854
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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 (86)
5 stars
75
4 stars
6
3 stars
3
2 stars
2
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Emma
Jul 26, 2025
I absolutely loved this trip! Although short, it did not feel like a whirlwind and felt I was able to see and experience what I wanted (I did have an extra week in Japan). Yutaka was a wonderful leader, very friendly, helpful and made the trip so enjoyable. I highly recommend Japan and this tour if you want to get a good taste of what is on offer.
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Alex
Jul 19, 2025
It's a fast paced multi city trip. Tons to see and will be planning to come back to Japan!
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John
Jul 17, 2025
Intrepid took us to the best sites in Japan. It was well organized and our guide got us through public transportation without out problems including bullet trains subways and buses. Very knowledgeable tour guide.
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Angeline
Jul 08, 2025
Thanks Yutaka for all your help and for your enthusiasm! My first time in Japan has been amazing! For those planning to do this trip, try and get to Nara. It is definitely worth the short train ride from Osaka.
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Kelly
Jul 08, 2025
We had a great guide who made sure we did all the included activities and more! It's fast paced, fun and a great way to sample nearly all the main spots in wonderful Japan! Good amount of time to explore areas of your choice. Mix of hotel and hostel, train travel. Bring luggage with wheels for those travel days, but you can also book luggage transfer.
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Alex
Jun 15, 2025
Yuka was an amazing tour guide for our Japan Express trip! Great food and drink reccomendations and highly knowledgeable for the duration of the tour.
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Daniel
Jun 09, 2025
I was a great trip, you won't regret going.
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Kayleigh
May 29, 2025
Highly recommend this Intrepid journey. It was great value for money and we got to see and experience everything we wanted to. We learnt spot more information we would not have learnt if we had done it on our own
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Maria
May 29, 2025
Visiting Japan for the first time was exciting but equally scary in a way as I have never been to Asia before. Our guide - Zac - was amazing and due to his great organisational and good planning skills we managed to make the most of our short trip through Japan, getting to know a new culture, tradition, history and many more aspects of a completely different life style than the European one. We enjoyed every second of it and we would repeat this experience over and over again.
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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!