Original
Explorer
Rail
Japan: Land of the Rising Sun
4.8
Excellent
208 reviews
13 days
Start
Tokyo, Japan
Finish
Kyoto, Japan
Trip Code
CJST
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 12
Physical Rating
Meals
1 breakfast, 1 dinner
Transport
Boat, Public Bus, Cable Car, Ferry, Metro, High Speed Train, Train
Accommodation
Hotel (8 nights), Japanese Inn ( 4 nights)
From £3,230(13 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Soar high above Lake Ashi and (on a clear day) get a glimpse of glorious Mt Fuji on a ride on the Hakone ropeway.
Be impressed by the efficiency and ultra modernity of Japan’s bullet trains as you zip from place to place.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
Inclusions
Meals
1 breakfast, 1 dinner
Transport
Boat, Public Bus, Cable Car, Ferry, Metro, High Speed Train, Train
Accommodation
Hotel (8 nights), Japanese Inn ( 4 nights)
Included activities
Nikko - Toshogu Shrine
Hakone - Cable car/Ropeway
Hakone - Lake Ashinoko boat cruise
Takayama - Hida Folk Village
Takayama - Market visit with snack sampling
Takayama - Sake brewery tasting
Takayama - Incense making in Zenkoji Temple
Hiroshima - Peace Park & A - Bomb Dome
Hiroshima - Peace Museum
Hiroshima - Okonomiyaki dinner
Hiroshima - Miyajima Island
Himeji - Himeji Castle
Kyoto - Gion District walk
Kyoto - Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
Kyoto - Fushimi Inari-Taisha
Kyoto - Japanese sweet making & Matcha tea experience
Kyoto - Nishiki Market walk with snack sampling
Optional activities
Tokyo - Hama Rikyu Garden - JPY300
Tokyo - Sumida Hokusai Museum - JPY400
Tokyo - Tokyo National Museum - JPY1000
Tokyo - Ueno Park - Free
Nikko - Bus to Chuzenji Lake (return) - JPY2500
Nikko - Imperial Villa - JPY600
Hakone - Open-Air Museum - JPY2000
Hakone - Checkpoint Museum - JPY500
Hakone - Onsen (public hot spring bath) - JPY1500
Takayama - Festival Float Museum - JPY1000
Takayama - Kusakabe Traditional House - JPY1000
Takayama - Bike hire (per day) - JPY1000
Takayama - Showa Museum - JPY1000
Takayama - Takayama Jinya Building - JPY440
Miyajima - Itsukushima-jinja Shrine - JPY300
Kyoto - Bike hire (per day) from - JPY1200
Kyoto - Sanjusangendo Temple - JPY600
Kyoto - Kiyomizu-dera - JPY500
Kyoto - Tea Ceremony with Maiko/Geisha - JPY14300
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 (202)
5 stars
171
4 stars
20
3 stars
8
2 stars
3
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..
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Martha
Sep 07, 2025
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
Tanner
Sep 02, 2025
Great way to get to travel without having to plan every aspect and still having a good time
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
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