Say kon'nichiwa to the land of sushi, samurai & sake! In a country where the ancient and the modern collide in truly mesmerising style, you’ll make your way from Osaka to Tokyo, taking in temples, teppanyaki, geishas and gardens, plus miniature deer along the way.
Uncover Japan’s highlights over eight days, starting in buzzing Tokyo and ending in culture-rich Kyoto. Wander through ancient temples in Asakusa, marvel at the bronze Buddha in Kamakura, and soak up modern Tokyo’s energy in Harajuku and Shibuya. Enjoy panoramic views of Mt Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi and unwind in a traditional ryokan with hot springs and local cuisine. Ride the bullet train to Kyoto, where golden temples, serene gardens and geisha traditions await. With guided sightseeing and free time to explore, this tour blends history, scenery and culture into one unforgettable Japanese adventure.
Loved it all. The usual mix of guided tours and free time, with excellent hotels and a good crowd on the bus. Of course in any country there is so much to see and one tour cannot see it all but this was certainly a great effort at experiencing as much as possible within my time and budget constraints.
Great experience! We saw wonderful parts of Japan, including Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, and Hiroshima. The hotels were wonderful! Our travel director was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. My advice to Trafalgar is to reduce the number of visits to temples and shrines. Maybe allow more free time. Also, there were too many set Japanese meals with no options.
I liked the itinerary very much. Our tour guide Jose was very knowledgeable about the sites we visited. I was not informed beforehand that this was a English and Spanish mixed language tour, Joses English was good but sometimes hard to understand. I also did not know that we would be having people added to our tour almost every day and some leaving almost every day. I enjoy tours more when you have a change to get to know who you are traveling with and with a mix of English and Spanish it felt like I was on my own and traveling with strangers.
Experience the goodness of Japan with this tour, which takes you through some of the country's most iconic destinations. Begin in the vibrant city of Tokyo and visit famous landmarks in Japan like the Tokyo Zojoji Temple, Shibuya Crossing, and Sumo Stadium. Also, get a chance to experience the bustling nightlife in Tokyo. Next, we will visit Kawaguchiko, located at the base of Mt. Fuji, where you'll take a boat ride on Lake Kawaguchiko to enjoy the best views of Mt. Fuji. Continue your travel to Kyoto, a historic city known for its temples and shrines. Next, visit beautiful Osaka, the food capital of Japan. From Osaka, we will go to Okayama and visit the famous Korakuen Garden, one of the three great gardens of Japan. Continue to Hiroshima, where you can go to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum to learn about the atomic bombing in 1945, visit the iconic Itsukushima Shrine, located on Miyajima Island, and explore the beautiful Hiroshima Castle and its surrounding park. Next, take a ferry to Matsuyama, located on the island of Shikoku, where you visit Matsuyama Castle, one of Japan's few remaining original castles, and relax in Dogo Onsen, one of Japan's oldest hot springs and the inspiration for the famous Studio Ghibli film, Spirited Away. Finally, head to Kobe, where you'll explore the bustling port city, visit the iconic Kobe Port Tower, try some of the famous Kobe beef at a local restaurant, and visit the Nunobiki Herb Garden, which offers stunning views of the city and has a large variety of herbs and flowers. Return to Osaka where this comprehensive Japan tour comes to an end. Fly back home as you bid goodbye to this wonderful country.
If you are ready to see some of the most famous sites and fascinating cities in East Asia, this 7-day tour of Japan will take you on the trip of a lifetime! Your journey will begin in Tokyo, the Japanese capital and an extraordinary city that is known for its diverse districts, legendary entertainment scene, and delicious cuisine. Learn about the manga and anime culture in the Akihabara district, bask in the beauty of the Imperial Palace in Chiyoda, and see how the legendary sites of Asakusa were rebuilt after WWII. From there you will drive to Mount Fuji, the tallest mountain in Japan, with an en-route stop in Arakurayama Sengen Park, where you will see some of the most incredible views of Mount Fuji in the country. Take some time to stroll around Lake Kawaguchi, one of the Five Fuji Lakes, before you see the Shiraito Falls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Japan. Visit the Toyota Museum in Nagoya, the fourth largest city in the country, before you travel to Kyoto, one of the only major cities in Japan that escaped the bombings of WWII. Visit Fushimi Inari, a magnificent Shinto shrine, and make your way through the Bamboo Forest before your tour of Japan comes to an end!
The program was fun very well organized in terms of timings,places been visited and hotels slected and even food.
Our tour guide Mr. David Solanes was excellent, he gave lots of interesting informatin about each site, very supportive, broke the ice between the group members and made the program as fun as the trip itself.
This was the trip of a lifetime! The itinerary had the perfect mix of traditional and modern activities as well as gave sufficient free time to explore as a family. The CEO?s Kyoko & Tina were wonderful and felt like family by the end of the tour. The accommodations were superb and were in very convenient locations directly next to Local Train Stations. It was difficult to find a family vacation that met all our expectations, and this one has exceeded them! We can?t wait to book another National Geographic Vacation through G Adventures.
Trafalgar was a good choice for our dream vacation to Japan. Our guide, Her name was , forgive me if I spelt her name incorrectly was wonderful. She was professional, friendly and very patient with her customers. the hotels and bus companies all were quite up to the task. very satisfied with the trip.
Tokyo’s neon lights and Kyoto’s timeless beauty come together in the “Central Japan” trip—a 9-day guided adventure designed for senior travelers who appreciate easy-paced city sightseeing. Start and finish your journey in Tokyo, exploring both the modern marvels and historic treasures of Japan’s most celebrated cities. From the bustling streets of the capital to the peaceful temples and gardens of Kyoto, each day offers new discoveries without demanding physical exertion.
This group trip ensures you travel in comfort, with hotel accommodations, transportation, and meals all taken care of. The highlight? The itinerary is carefully curated to provide a relaxed introduction to Japan’s rich culture, making it easy for seniors to soak up the local atmosphere and iconic attractions. The unique selling point of this tour is its gentle rhythm—offering ample time for sightseeing while allowing for plenty of rest, ensuring a rewarding and enjoyable experience throughout.
