Highlights
Tokyo - Get to grips with Japan's ultra-modern capital and explore the traditional temples of Asakusa. Kyoto - Spend a full day discovering the temples and gardens of Japan's Imperial Capital. Jigokudani Onsen - Catch a glimpse of the famous snow monkeys bathing in hot springs.
Itinerary
Dive into the contrasts of Japan—from neon-lit Tokyo to tranquil Kyoto—on the Highlights of Japan trip, crafted for experienced travelers seeking a fast-paced, immersive adventure. Over eight days, travel by bullet train to explore the temples of Asakusa, sample Osaka’s street food, reflect at Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial, and marvel at Miyajima’s iconic shrines. Cap your journey with an encounter with Jigokudani’s famous snow monkeys. The USP of this tour package is its seamless blend of modern energy and ancient tradition, all efficiently experienced through expertly guided sightseeing and Japan’s renowned rail system.
day 1Tour begins in Tokyo
Our tour starts today in Tokyo, Japan's ultra-modern capital. A sprawling metropolis, Tokyo is one of the world's most populous cities and a dazzling blend of traditional culture and all things new. For those arriving in time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6.30pm for a welcome meeting. If some of the group are arriving on later flights, the main introductory briefing will take place on the morning of Day 2 with everybody present. After the meeting, we'll have dinner (included) at a nearby local restaurant where you'll have the chance to try 'izakaya' style Japanese cuisine. There are no other activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Tokyo at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Haneda Airport (HND) or Narita Airport (NRT). The city centre is around an hour away from Haneda and an hour and a half from Narita. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. The Tour Leader will issue each client with a Suica transport card either today or tomorrow morning, that is pre-loaded to cover your included sightseeing public transport journeys. Please note, while our itinerary gives us a full day in Japan's capital, there's a lot to pack in. If you really want to get to grips with Tokyo's sites, we recommend adding additional nights to your trip pre-tour. Japanese hotels have strict rules regarding check in and all customers are required to wait until 3 PM for room access. You will be able to store your luggage while waiting but if you require an early check in, then you should request this at the time of booking. We do not guarantee this will be possible and depending on availability an extra fee will be charged.
day 2Explore Tokyo’s neon streets and peaceful gardens
day 3Bullet train to Kanazawa via the snow monkeys of Jigokudani
day 4Explore Kanazawa. Train to Osaka
day 5Travel by train to Hiroshima and visit Miyajima Island
day 6Experience the poignant Peace Park and Peace Museum. Bullet train to Kyoto and explore Nijo Castle
day 7Explore Kyoto's temples and gardens
day 8Tour ends in Kyoto
What's Included
Customer Reviews
The trip was well lead by our excellent guide, Doni, the pace was generally good and it was great to use public transport. However this did mean that sometimes we had less time than ideal at some of the locations. The arrival day in Hiroshima meant we spent over 2 1/2 hours on the tram to get to and from Miyajima Island. If this had been by private transfer we could have had time in the peace park that afternoon and therefore more time in the peace museum, the highlight of the trip, the following day. We would highly recommend having a few days extra at the start and finish of the holiday to fully enjoy what Tokyo and Kyoto have to offer.
Doni was AMAZING! Knowledgeable, friendly, fun, always going out of his way to help those of us who wanted to maximise our free time in Japan . I ticked A Lot off my list. I would have loved to spend more time in Hiroshima peace park and less at Miyajima island. But I’m aware that some people in our group felt we didn’t too much time there and that you can’t please everyone
This was a wonderful trip, full-on, but then I expected it to be like that. In a relatively short time we saw so many different aspects of Japan - cities, mountains, a sacred island, the sobering experience of Hiroshima. Travelling by public transport and eating in Japanese restaurants gave me a great insight into Japanese culture. Our guide Mark Petherbridge, was exceptional. he was English, so he understood our culture, but he lives in Japan and speaks fluent Japanese, so he could explain their culture as well. He had excellent knowledge of Japan - history, culture, customs. He was so helpful, like finding me a sim card for my phone, and he was very willing to 'go the extra mile' and include extra experiences. He was energetic and entertaining! I thoroughly recommend this trip!
this was a great trip, thank you
The leader is knowledgeable and helpful. He tried hard to accommodate our needs which is exceptionally complicated… with vegan, vegetarian and normal diet needs.
Monthly Price Comparison
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