Essential Japan

  • Best price guaranteed
  • No booking fees
  • Booking Type Instant booking
  • duration 10 days
  • tour type Small group Request as private
  • age requirement 18-29 yrs
  • max group size 16
  • guiding method Fully guided
  • Tour Code BM-16904
  • Footprint Carbonneutral CO2 emissions resulting from all trips on Bookmundi will be offset via investments in carbon reduction projects.
  • Operated in English
map
  • Starts Tokyo, Japan
  • Ends Osaka, Japan
HIGHLIGHTS Download trip notes
  • Japan has so many great destinations and this trip has tonnes of free time to see them your way. Think all the benefits of group travel with a leader and new buddies to explore with, without having to do (or pay for) any sightseeing experiences you don’t want to.
  • Immerse yourself in the varied neighbourhoods of Tokyo. From the technological subculture of Akihabara, historical Asakusa and Ueno, to the wild side of fashion in Harajuku and the nightlife of Roppongi – each suburb is almost like a city of its own and you’ll have time to explore them all.
  • Discover Hiroshima Peace Park & Museum – a sobering, but vital, destination for all travellers to Japan to gain insight into tragic events of the nation’s past.
  • Explore Kyoto with your locally-based guide on a walking tour around the Gion district, the heart of the city’s Geisha culture. Later, take the opportunity to check out some of Kyoto’s nightlife and perhaps, hit one of the karaoke bars with your crew.
  • Live your samurai fantasies in feudal-era Kanazawa. We’ve heard there is also excellent sake to be sampled here and plenty else: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/why-kanazawa-is-japans-best-ke...
Start in Tokyo and end in Osaka, the "Essential Japan" tour is a guided adventure tour that takes 10 days. You will travel through Tokyo, Kanazawa and Osaka in Japan. "Essential Japan" is a small group tour which includes accommodation, transport, meals and others.

Say Konnichiwa to Japan, a land of captivating culture, intriguing innovation and exceptional eats. You’ll get your fix of sushi and shopping in Tokyo before soaking up Kanazawa’s crazy samurai culture. Then, brush up on your world history at Hiroshima, spy geishas in Kyoto’s Gion district and get your Tina Turner on at an Osaka karaoke bar.
ITINERARY Expand All
  • Day 1: Tokyo
  • Day 2: Tokyo
  • Day 3: Kanazawa
  • Day 4: Kanazawa
  • Day 5: Kyoto
  • Day 6: Kyoto
  • Day 7: Hiroshima
  • Day 8: Hiroshima
  • Day 9: Osaka
  • Day 10: Osaka
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Accommodation
  • Multishare Hostel (5 nights), Hotel/Ryokan (4 nights)
Meals
  • 1 Dinner
Transport
  • Public Bus , Metro , Train , Bullet Train
Guide
  • An expert tour leader
Included Activities
  • Tokyo - Meiji Jingu Shrine
  • Tokyo - Shibuya walking tour
  • Tokyo - Yoyogi Park
  • Tokyo - Harajuku street
  • Kanazawa - Higashi Chaya District walking tour
  • Kyoto - Gion District walk
  • Kyoto - Fushimi Inari-Taisha
  • Hiroshima - Peace Park & A - Bomb Dome
  • Hiroshima - Peace Museum
  • Hiroshima - Miyajima Island
  • Osaka - Dotombori District walking tour
WHAT'S EXCLUDED
  • Any international flights to Tokyo and from Osaka are not included in this price. We always recommend that you arrive 1 day prior to your tour starting date.
  • Travel insurance is not included in this Essential Japan tour. Travel insurance is mandatory to buy. We recommend purchasing it from World Nomads.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
This tour has not received any customer reviews yet. However, you can expect a Premier This travel specialist is consistently delivering tours which receive customer ratings above 4.5 on average. tour and service level as the travel specialist who runs it has received 181 reviews for other tours with an average 4.6 rating.
REQUEST A PRIVATE, CUSTOMIZABLE DEPARTURE By design, this is a group tour. You can however request a private, customized version of this tour for yourself or your private group of people. Private departures are usually more expensive, but come with these benefits:
  • Personal Itinerary can be tweaked and customized.
  • Protected Travel within your own bubble.
  • Professional Access our Travel Specialists' insider knowledge.
  • Privacy Enjoy a tour focused solely on you or your travel group.
Request a private and/or personalized departure To design a private tour, we'll ask you some more information in the following steps.
Why Book with Bookmundi
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GOOD TO KNOW Download trip notes
CANCELLATION

No additional cancellation fees apply for this Essential Japan tour. You can cancel the tour up to 58 days prior departure and avoid paying the full amount, but your deposit paid is non-refundable. No refund applies for cancellations within 57 days of departure.

Payment

For any tour departures within 27 November 2023, full payment is required. For tours that depart later than 27 November 2023, a deposit is required to confirm this tour, and the remaining balance will be charged 57 days before trip departure.

Travel Insurance

Essential Japan tour requires that you have adequate and valid travel insurance covering medical and personal accidents, including repatriation costs and emergency evacuation. We recommend using World Nomads' travel insurance.

Visa

For this Essential Japan tour getting the required visa(s) is the responsibility for each individual traveller, as visa requirements vary depending on your nationality. We recommend to check with your local embassies representing the countries that you are traveling to, as part of this itinerary.

Is this trip right for you
  • This tour includes accommodation in multi-share dormitories. In Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, you won't be staying in twin share hotels, but rather they'll be cool hangouts with shared facilities. This means travellers on the same booking may be split between rooms due to the single gender dormitories.
  • In some destinations you may be staying in a ryokan, which is a Japanese-style inn. It’s a great taste of tradition, however not everyone finds futon mattresses on a tatami mat floor, tiny bathrooms and proximity to other guests as comfortable as more western-style hotels and beds. Read more about ryokans in our Accommodation section of the Essential Trip Information.
  • Your leader will take you on orientation walks in each destination, giving you tips on things like supermarkets, places to eat and ATMs and recommendations of fun things to see and do. For more in depth exploration you can head off on your own or with other members of your group, or for the days we are in Kyoto and Tokyo, book one of our excellent Urban Adventures day tours. Public transport to get to various sites is easy and cheap, but do take the cost of transport into account when planning your budget for activities.
  • You will easily surpass your 10,000 steps a day on this trip, in fact most travellers are surprised at how much distance they end up covering just exploring places on foot! Make sure your shoes are comfy and you are fit enough to spend most of each day on your feet.
  • Renovation works on Miyajima's famous floating torii gate started in June 2019. During the renovation works, the torii gate is covered up under a partially transparent scaffolding. Furthermore, a bridge is being built on the left side of the gate (when viewed from the shrine) to aid the renovation works. A date for the completion of the renovation works has not been set yet.
COVID VACCINATION POLICY
  • Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 is no longer mandatory on departures after 1st January 2023. Nonetheless, all travellers are strongly advised to be vaccinated as a safety measure to protect themselves and others on the tour. This policy excludes all Polar trips and select adventure cruises, where testing and vaccination are required.
  • Also, proof of vaccination may still be required at specific entry points or by the airlines. Therefore, please make sure to check all the travel requirements carefully before travelling.
COVID-19 Safety Measures

This trip incorporates the following COVID-19 measures:

  • This tour has received the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Safe Travels stamp, which provides travellers with assurance that COVID-19 health and hygiene global standardised protocols have been adopted.
  • Hygiene and safety guidelines will be followed to ensure your well being is looked after during travels.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about this tour.
  • Do people in Japan speak English?

    Estimates show that less than 30 percent of the Japanese population speak English at any level, with less than 5 percent being fluent speakers. So, the likelihood of encountering a fluent speaker on a random Japanese street is quite low. Most people working in tourist areas do understand simple English phrases, and most signboards, instructions, and menus in these areas are in both Japanese and English. Outside of these places, you will need a lot of hand gestures to get by.

  • How to plan an Asia tour?

    Asia is a relatively large continent, so there are a wide variety of destinations to explore. Therefore, if you are planning a multi-country trip to Asia, the first thing you need to prepare is the list of countries you are interested in along with your starting and ending points. You would also need to decide on the best time for your trip depending on seasonal variations that affect each country. 

    After finalizing when and where to travel in Asia, you should make arrangements for all the necessary travel documents. These would include visas, insurances, Covid-19 test reports, vaccine cards, and so on.

     

  • What is the best time to visit Japan?

    The best time to visit Japan is during the fall (September to December) and spring (March to May). To get more information on what to expect from each season, read our guide on the best time to visit Japan.

  • Which countries should I visit in Asia?

    Asia has more than enough destinations to meet every traveler’s needs and desires. If you are into adventure, look no further than the mighty Himalayas. Go on an exhilarating hike to the base camp of Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, or head for the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh instead. Thailand, with its blend of dazzling nightlife, rich history, and striking monuments, is the perfect destination not just for those who wish to let their hair down but also for travelers looking forward to being part of a memorable cultural experience. 

    Go on a tour to Cambodia, home to the monumental Angkor Wat, if you are into off-the-beaten-path destinations, or choose a Japan tour if you wish to discover how traditions and modernity can be seamlessly blended. The Maldives, with its numerous islands and beaches, is sure to provide you with countless opportunities to kick back on sandy stretches, swim in turquoise waters, and go island-hopping, while the rainforests of Malaysia and Indonesia are a haven for wildlife enthusiasts. 

     

  • Are credit cards widely accepted in Japan?

    Japan is still a cash society for most intents and purposes. However, reputable establishments in most big cities accept credit and debit card payments. On the flip side, most markets, small stores, rural inns, and local restaurants are cash-only. So, you will be better off carrying cash when traveling in Japan.

NEED HELP OR HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS TOUR?
If you have any question about this tour or need help with planning a trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. We're ready to help.
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