Original
Explorer
Rail
Japan: Land of the Rising Sun
4.8
Excellent
circle208 reviews
location_on 13 days
location_on
Start
Tokyo, Japan
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Finish
Kyoto, Japan
tour
Trip Code
CJST
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Min Age
15
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Trip Size
1 - 12
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Physical Rating
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Meals
1 breakfast, 1 dinner
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Transport
Boat, Public Bus, Cable Car, Ferry, Metro, High Speed Train, Train
bed
Accommodation
Hotel (8 nights), Japanese Inn ( 4 nights)
From £3,230(13 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
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Soar high above Lake Ashi and (on a clear day) get a glimpse of glorious Mt Fuji on a ride on the Hakone ropeway.
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Be impressed by the efficiency and ultra modernity of Japan’s bullet trains as you zip from place to place.
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Explore traditional Japanese culture in Edo-period Takayama and visit a folk village, tour a 600-year-old market and a enjoy a sake brewery tasting.
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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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Finish your trip with three nights in Kyoto, Japan’s cultural capital and home to literally thousands of temples, the Gion District where Geisha entertain the wealthy elite and renowned Kyoto sushi.
Is this trip right for you?
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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 be staying in a minshuku, a Japanese-style inn. It’s a great taste of tradition; however, not everyone finds futon mattresses on the tatami floor, tiny bathrooms and proximity to other guests as comfortable as more Western-style hotels and beds. Read more about it in the Accommodation section of the Essential Trip Information. For some departures, we may swap them with hotels or vice versa depending on seasonal availability. Please consult your booking agent if you need more details.
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This trip is a great way to see a lot in a short period of time and it can be part of a longer itinerary if you have more time to explore. You might like to check out Ultimate Japan.
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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
An onsen-soaking, sake-sipping, bullet train-zipping trip through Japan
This 13-day tour of Japan will introduce you to the cultures – old and new – that define this small but influential archipelago. Beginning in tech-mecca Tokyo and finishing with three nights in Kyoto, this immersive tour will also introduce you to lesser-known cities through Japan’s centre and southern reaches. Discover scenic beauty on the Hakone ropeway, sip the best sake in Takayama, find out about the Hiroshima of today and wonder at the floating torii gate of Miyajima. You’ll have a local to guide you through these lesser-known destinations and reveal layers of culture and history.
- DAY 1Day 1 • Tokyo
- DAY 2Day 2 • Tokyo - Nikko
- DAY 3Day 3 • Nikko
- DAY 4Day 4 • Hakone
- DAY 5Day 5 • Hakone
- DAY 6Day 6 • Takayama
- DAY 7Day 7 • Takayama
- DAY 8Day 8 • Hiroshima
- DAY 9Day 9 • Miyajima - Hiroshima
- DAY 10Day 10 • Kyoto
- DAY 11Day 11 • Kyoto
- DAY 12Day 12 • Kyoto
- DAY 13Day 13 • Kyoto
Inclusions
restaurant_menu Meals
1 breakfast, 1 dinner
airport_shuttle Transport
Boat, Public Bus, Cable Car, Ferry, Metro, High Speed Train, Train
bed Accommodation
Hotel (8 nights), Japanese Inn ( 4 nights)
festival Included activities
circleNikko - Toshogu Shrine
circleHakone - Cable car/Ropeway
circleHakone - Lake Ashinoko boat cruise
circleTakayama - Hida Folk Village
circleTakayama - Market visit with snack sampling
circleTakayama - Sake brewery tasting
circleTakayama - Incense making in Zenkoji Temple
circleHiroshima - Peace Park & A - Bomb Dome
circleHiroshima - Peace Museum
circleHiroshima - Okonomiyaki dinner
circleHiroshima - Miyajima Island
circleHimeji - Himeji Castle
circleKyoto - Gion District walk
circleKyoto - Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
circleKyoto - Fushimi Inari-Taisha
circleKyoto - Japanese sweet making & Matcha tea experience
circleKyoto - Nishiki Market walk with snack sampling
museum Optional activities
circleTokyo - Hama Rikyu Garden - JPY300
circleTokyo - Sumida Hokusai Museum - JPY400
circleTokyo - Tokyo National Museum - JPY1000
circleTokyo - Ueno Park - Free
circleNikko - Bus to Chuzenji Lake (return) - JPY2500
circleNikko - Imperial Villa - JPY600
circleHakone - Open-Air Museum - JPY2000
circleHakone - Checkpoint Museum - JPY500
circleHakone - Onsen (public hot spring bath) - JPY1500
circleTakayama - Festival Float Museum - JPY1000
circleTakayama - Kusakabe Traditional House - JPY1000
circleTakayama - Bike hire (per day) - JPY1000
circleTakayama - Showa Museum - JPY1000
circleTakayama - Takayama Jinya Building - JPY440
circleMiyajima - Itsukushima-jinja Shrine - JPY300
circleKyoto - Bike hire (per day) from - JPY1200
circleKyoto - Sanjusangendo Temple - JPY600
circleKyoto - Kiyomizu-dera - JPY500
circleKyoto - Tea Ceremony with Maiko/Geisha - JPY14300
Dates and availability
Starting
Ending
Remaining
Prices From
Thursday Oct 16, 2025
Tuesday Oct 28, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - Sold Out
Sunday Oct 19, 2025
Friday Oct 31, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - Sold Out
Tuesday Oct 21, 2025
Sunday Nov 02, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - Sold Out
Thursday Oct 23, 2025
Tuesday Nov 04, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 5 spaces left
£4,906£4,415
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Sunday Oct 26, 2025
Friday Nov 07, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 3 spaces left
£5,456
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Tuesday Oct 28, 2025
Sunday Nov 09, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£5,011
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Thursday Oct 30, 2025
Tuesday Nov 11, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 3 spaces left
£5,104
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Sunday Nov 02, 2025
Friday Nov 14, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - Sold Out
Thursday Nov 06, 2025
Tuesday Nov 18, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 3 spaces left
£5,346
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Sunday Nov 09, 2025
Friday Nov 21, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 6 spaces left
£4,769£4,292
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Tuesday Nov 11, 2025
Sunday Nov 23, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 6 spaces left
£4,796£4,316
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Thursday Nov 13, 2025
Tuesday Nov 25, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 5 spaces left
£4,774£4,297
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Sunday Nov 16, 2025
Friday Nov 28, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 4 spaces left
£5,165£4,648
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Sunday Nov 23, 2025
Friday Dec 05, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£4,719
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Sunday Nov 30, 2025
Friday Dec 12, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 9 spaces left
£4,307£3,230
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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 (202)
5 stars
171
4 stars
20
3 stars
8
2 stars
3
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Ann
Oct 05, 2025
A trip of a life time. Our guide was excellent. Great insight and flavour of history, culture, customs, and culinary flavour. Seeing the cities and country side. Experiencing the transport system. Im so glad I was able to make this trip..
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Michael
Sep 25, 2025
Enthusiastic and cheerful guide who cared and interacted very well with all participants. She seamlessly guided our group through many transportation and accommodation facets. Her depth of knowledge and communication was excellent.
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Alan
Sep 24, 2025
Our guide Asako was incredibly adept at herding the group onto a multitude of connecting public transport modes without any stress.
Asako was also adept at flexing the itinerary to take advantage of weather conditions.
Her personal advice on where to go and what to do was boundless.
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Donna
Sep 24, 2025
This trip is a great introduction to Japan and all destinations were thoroughly enjoyable. Our guide Asako was excellent and did everything efficiently and with care. Great use was made of Japan’s excellent public transport and the included activities were well chosen.
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Stephanie
Sep 22, 2025
A fabulous way to see the big cities and places off the beaten track. Experience every form of transport and collect umbrellas for rain, hail and shine.
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Jenna
Sep 13, 2025
Trip was a great sample of what Japan has to offer. Our guide did a great job navigating us around on public transport while also supporting our own adventures
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Martha
Sep 07, 2025
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Linzi
Sep 05, 2025
Highly recommend the land of the rising sun tour. We covered SO much ground and I really feel like I got such a great Japan taster. Our guides Zac and Shoko were amazing. We learned so much from them
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Tanner
Sep 02, 2025
Great way to get to travel without having to plan every aspect and still having a good time
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Pamela
Aug 21, 2025
I would highly recommend intrepid tours, as my experience of Japan and our excellent tour leader made our experience one we will never forget