Original
Explorer
Rail
Japan Highlights
4.8
Excellent
168 reviews
8 days
Start
Tokyo, Japan
Finish
Osaka, Japan
Trip Code
CJSH
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 12
Physical Rating
Meals
1 breakfast, 2 dinners
Transport
Public Bus, Metro, Local Train, Bullet Train
Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights), Homestay (1 night)
From £2,361(8 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Explore all the highlights of Japan in just over a week! This is a cultural and culinary whirlwind from the streets of Tokyo to the eats of Osaka.
Experience the many sides of Shibuya in Tokyo, from busy intersections to the tranquility of the ancient Meiji Shrine and the quirky fashion of Harajuku.
Visit a local tea farm and learn about harvesting tea leaves and making Japanese green tea, then settle into your farm stay, pick some fresh ingredients from the farm and prepare a home-cooked, farm-to-table feast with your hosts for the perfect blend of Japanese hospitality and country life.
Ride the rails like the locals, from lightning-fast bullet trains to scenic mountain rails offering seasonal views of cherry blossoms and autumn leaves.
Veer off the busy tourist track with a visit to Mishima – a small town built on the old lava flow of Mt Fuji – then head to the cultural heart of Kyoto, where you can dive into local history and traditions among shrines, geishas and a 300-year-old sake brewery.
Is this trip right for you?
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.
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
Travel from Tokyo to Kyoto, sampling all the sake in between
Home of the sumo, geishas, sake, karaoke, onsen and izakaya – Japan is a feast for all your senses. This eight-day journey hits all the right spots, giving you a true appreciation for the land of the rising sun. Absorb the bustle of Tokyo before heading into the countryside for a farm stay with local tea harvesters and a walk along a 400-m suspension bridge with spectacular views of iconic Mt Fuji. Travel on a futuristic bullet train to Kyoto and step into this nation’s history before wrapping up your adventure in the foodie paradise of Osaka. This is THE trip to take in Japan!
Inclusions
Meals
1 breakfast, 2 dinners
Transport
Public Bus, Metro, Local Train, Bullet Train
Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights), Homestay (1 night)
Included activities
Tokyo - welcome meeting and orientation walk
Tokyo - Sensoji Temple
Tokyo - Meiji Jingu Shrine
Tokyo - Shibuya walking tour
Mishima - Mishima Skywalk
Kawane - Homestay & Home-cooked Dinner
Kawane - Tea Farm Visit & Tea Brewing & Tasting
Kawane - Scenic Train Ride
Kyoto - Gion District walk
Kyoto - Nishiki-Koji Market
Kawane - Home-cooked Japanese Breakfast
Kyoto - Fushimi Inari-Taisha
Kyoto - Sake Brewery Visit & Tasting
Osaka - Dotombori and Kuromon Street Food Walking Tour
Optional activities
Tokyo - Shinjuku-gyoen - JPY500
Tokyo - Yoyogi Park - Free
Tokyo - Imperial Palace - Free
Mishima - Mishima Taisha Shrine - Free
Mishima - Rakujuen Park - JPY300
Mishima - Kakitagawa Park - Free
Kyoto - Gion Corner cultural centre - JPY5500
Kyoto - Imperial Palace - Free
Kyoto - Kyoto Tower - JPY900
Kyoto - Bike hire (per day) from - JPY1200
Kyoto - Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) - JPY500
Kyoto - Ryoanji Zen Garden - JPY600
Kyoto - Arashiyama Bamboo Forest - Free
Kyoto - Path of Philosophy (Tetsugaku-no-Michi) - Free
Dates and availability
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Important notes
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.
Reviews (165)
5 stars
143
4 stars
15
3 stars
4
2 stars
3
Vanessa
Oct 07, 2025
A quick trip through Japan. Friendly people, good accommodation, enough inclusions. Can recommend!
Sarah
Oct 04, 2025
Perfect introductory trip to Japan. Loved the farm stay. All hotels were clean and comfy! Lots of walking and trains making the trip very environmentally sustainable. Our guide Mayumi was amazing!
Alexandra
Oct 03, 2025
Fabulous trip! Perfect mix of group time and solo time. An excellent jumping off point to learning about Japanese culture and major places. We were so impressed and will absolutely be back again! Many thanks to Intrepid for once again broadening my horizons and allowing me to dive head first into appreciating another culture. I’m all the more better for it!
David
Oct 02, 2025
I can't fault anything about the tour, it was well organised, well led and very well appreciated by me and my partner
Sarah
Sep 26, 2025
The Japan Highlights trip was a fantastic way to see some great parts of Japan including a homestay in a rather remote village. Jane, our tour leader, was fantastic and we had great fun with the people in our group including Oliver our trainee leader.
Helen
Sep 25, 2025
An amazing, full experience of first visit to Japan which covered a lot of sights, experiences and activities with fill days and great evening meals.
Steven
Sep 24, 2025
Very short trip, great guide and experience. Learn to say Thank You, Sorry, Excuse me and Delicious in Japanese. With those words and a translation service on your phone you should be able to get help and show respect. The country is very clean and has high fines for litter and few public rubbish bins so be prepared to carry rubbish to your hotel or sit and eat or drink!
Nicola
Sep 18, 2025
What a great experience! Our guide was brilliant, knowledgable and very helpful. We had a good balance of organised activities and free time.
Thayer
Sep 17, 2025
Jane
Sep 17, 2025
We had an excellent time on this trip. Kyo, our guide, was exceptional and made everything easy for us on this trip, and we did things we couldn’t easily have organised ourselves. Fabulous group of people to travel with. Highly recommend this tour
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