Highlights of Japan
Highlights of Japan
Highlights of Japan
8 Days Starting in Tokyo and ending in Kyoto
Visiting: Tokyo, Kenrokuen Garden Kamisaka Gate, Nagano, Jigokudani Valley, Kanazawa, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima
Tour Overview
From the bright lights of Tokyo to the tranquil temples of Kyoto, this fast-paced tour packs in Japan's highlights. Sample street food in Osaka, take time to reflect at Hiroshima, the site of the world's first atomic attack, and visit the holy island of Miyajima, dotted with temples and free-roaming deer. Along the way, tick off Japan's must-dos travelling via bullet train and trying izakaya-style cuisine.
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.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Tour Begins In Tokyo
Location: Tokyo
Accommodation: Hotel, Sunroute Asakusa
Accommodation Name: Sunroute Asakusa Hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
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.
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 2: Explore Tokyo’S Neon Streets And Peaceful Gardens
Location: Tokyo
Accommodation: Hotel, Sunroute Asakusa
Accommodation Name: Sunroute Asakusa Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Over one-quarter of the Japanese population lives within a 50-kilometre/31-mile radius of the centre of Tokyo, making it the most populous metropolitan area in the world. The result is a bustling and exciting city - an economic powerhouse of Asia. However, scratching its neon-clad surface reveals a city bursting with history and tradition. A morning stroll to Tokyo's oldest temple, Sensoji, will introduce us to Tokyo's unique culture. We'll then board a boat for a short journey along the Sumida River. Gaining a totally different perspective of the city, we'll drift past high-rise apartments, secluded gardens and busy warehouses. Arriving in the heart of the city, we'll visit Hamarikyu Gardens.
The rest of the day is left free, and you might like to board a train to visit the Meiji shrine and Shinjuku area, where the latest electronic gadgets dazzle from glowing shopfronts.
Day 3: Bullet Train To Kanazawa Via The Snow Monkeys Of Jigokudani
Location: Kenrokuen Garden Kamisaka Gate, Nagano, Jigokudani Valley
Accommodation: Hotel, Econo Kanazawa Ekimae
Accommodation Name: Hotel Amanek Kanazawa
Meals Included: Breakfast
No trip to Japan would be complete without a journey on a high-speed train and this morning we leave Tokyo and board the Shinkansen. Our main bags will be forwarded to Osaka today and we'll make do with an overnight bag for tonight. The bullet trains are known for their extremely punctual service, comfortable carriages, and lack of noise as you travel at speeds of up to 300 kilometres/186 miles per hour. Alighting at Nagano in the Japanese Alps, we'll make our way by private coach to Jigokudani Onsen, home to Japan's famous snow monkeys. Here the indigenous macaques descend from the hills to bathe and play in the hot springs, a unique behaviour not found anywhere else in the world. Despite their wintry moniker, the monkeys can be observed in and around the pool throughout the year (although sightings are more likely in colder months). Our walk to the spring takes 30 minutes along a pretty forest trail which is mostly flat with some steep stairs and narrow sections. Once at the spring, we'll spend around an hour observing the monkeys before returning along the same path.
Leaving Nagano behind, we'll head for Kanazawa, which until 150 years ago was the 4th largest city in Japan. The city has shunned mass industrialisation and retains its traditional charm with its winding back streets, delicate tea shops and the beautiful autumn maples and spring cherry blossoms of Kenrokuen Gardens. Once ruled by the Maeda Clan, one of the most powerful Samurai families in Japan, the city has several traditional samurai districts and, along with Kyoto, is one of Japan's cultural capitals.
Day 4: Explore Kanazawa. Train To Osaka For Street Food Tour
Location: Kanazawa, Osaka
Accommodation: Rihga Place Higobashi
Accommodation Name: Shin-Osaka Washington Hotel Plaza
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
As the town was not targeted during World War II, much of Kanazawa consists of old buildings and gives a sense of what Japan was like in the 19th century. We'll spend some time wandering around the colourful stalls at the town's Omicho market, where fresh fish and crab are brought daily from the Sea of Japan along with vegetables from the surrounding countryside. A great dish to try here is chirashi-zushi, which consists of scattered seasoned sushi rice topped with a variety of seafood, vegetables, and raw fish. We'll also visit Kenrokoen Gardens which took nearly two centuries to complete and translate from their original Japanese as the 'Garden of the Six Sublimities'.
This afternoon, we'll travel by train once more (a two-hour journey) to the city of Osaka. Japan's second city is famed for its modern architecture, buzzing nightlife and tasty street food. This evening your tour leader will take you on a street food tour around the Namba area, one of Osaka's most vibrant and interesting districts where miles of covered arcades criss-crossed by canals and rivers open up to back streets filled with history and small shops. We'll get to try a few local delicacies such as Takoyaki - also known as Octopus balls, Okonomiyaki - a type of savoury cabbage-based pancake filled with pretty much whatever you like, Kushikatsu - skewered meat and vegetables that are deep-fried, and ramen - pulled noodles served in a meat or fish-based broth, often flavoured with soy sauce or miso.
Day 5: Travel By Train To Hiroshima And Visit Miyajima Island
Location: Kyoto
Accommodation: Hotel, Washington Hiroshima
Accommodation Name: Daiwa Roynet Hiroshima
Meals Included: Breakfast
Our main luggage will be forwarded to Kyoto today and we'll use our overnight bags again. A couple of morning train journeys take us to Hiroshima. This thought-provoking city was completely destroyed on the 6th of August 1945 as the target of the first atomic bomb to be used in wartime. Hiroshima has literally risen from the ashes and is now a thriving, friendly city. Travel around the city is easy, thanks to the colourful street trams, brought in all over Japan after the war.
Just off the coast of Hiroshima is the tiny island of Miyajima which we'll visit upon arrival today. The relaxed feel of this island is enhanced by the deer that roam freely through the streets. As you arrive on the ferry, you can take in the famous view of the floating torii gate. Considered to be one of the most iconic sights in Japan, these red gates appear to float on the water with the hills of the island forming a spectacular backdrop. There are various hiking trails to explore and a cable car to the top of Mount Misen for great views. You might also like to take time to visit some of the island's many shrines before we take the ferry back to the mainland.
Day 6: Experience The Poignant Peace Park And Peace Museum. Bullet Train To Kyoto And Explore Nijo Castle
Location: Hiroshima
Accommodation: Hotel, Elcient Kyoto
Accommodation Name: Via Inn Prime Kyotoeki Hachijoguchi
Meals Included: Breakfast
First thing this morning, we'll have time to visit the Peace Memorial Park and the well-presented museum on the site of the 1945 A-bomb hypocentre. Whilst serving as poignant reminders of the nuclear holocaust, their overwhelming message is of hope that such horrors will never reoccur.
Later this morning, we'll make our way back to the train station for the journey to Kyoto, which takes around two hours. The imperial capital for more than 1,000 years, Kyoto has more than 2,000 temples and shrines, many set in perfectly manicured landscaped and tranquil gardens. We'll start exploring this fabulous city this afternoon with a visit to Nijo Castle. Built in 1603 as a Shogun palace, it's a great example of the sumptuous setting in which the Shogun would have held audiences with his samurai warriors. The extensive gardens and gates are impressive, but the real ingenuity of the castle is the nightingale floors, so called because they are designed to make a chirping noise when walked upon, thus making it impossible to sneak up on the castle's inhabitants. The rest of the afternoon is left free to explore.
Day 7: Explore Kyoto's Temples And Gardens - Full-Day Tour With Local Guide
Location: Hiroshima
Accommodation: Hotel, Elcient Kyoto
Accommodation Name: Via Inn Prime Kyotoeki Hachijoguchi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We'll spend today exploring more of Kyoto and visiting some of the city's many temples.
We'll start with a traditional tea ceremony and take time to explore Kyoto's charming streets, soaking up the unique atmosphere. Accompanied by a professional local guide, we'll head on to Ryoan-ji Temple with its beautiful Zen gardens and famous rock garden. The exact history of the gardens is unknown, but it's thought the temple was converted from an aristocrat's villa in 1450. Whilst in the gardens try testing out the theory that at least one of the rocks is hidden from every vantage point. We'll then explore the famous Golden Pavilion. The temple is a three-storey building with the top two tiers covered in gold leaf. Set in a lake, the building appears to float on the water and the reflections, coupled with the background of forest make it worthy of its place on many Japanese postcards.
Day 8: Tour Ends In Kyoto
Location: Hiroshima
Meals Included: Breakfast
The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Kyoto.
There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Kyoto at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Kansai International Airport (KIX), which is approximately one hour and thirty minutes by train, or Osaka International Airport (ITM) which takes around an hour by shuttle bus. Please note that you'll be required to walk a short distance from the hotel to the train station or bus collection point and that the transfer will be unescorted.
Please note, our itinerary allows for limited time in Kyoto, if you'd like to explore more of Japan's cultural capital, we recommend adding additional nights to your trip.
What's Included
-
Meals
Breakfasts:7 Dinners:3 -
Train Tickets
-
All Domestic Transportation (including internal flights)
-
Fully Guided
-
Accommodation
What's Not Included
-
Tipping and Gratuities
-
Country Entry Visas
-
1 bottle of Mineral Water per person per day
Meals
Breakfasts: 7
Dinners: 3
Check out our Q&As
-
Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
-
Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
Yes
-
What is the maximum group size?
16
-
Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Yes
-
Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes
-
Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
No
-
Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
Yes
-
I'm going on a walking/cycling trip-do I need to train?
It will depend on the grade and how fit you already are. Check the trip page for details of the walking or cycling grade and how far you’ll be walking/cycling each day. For moderate or challenging trips in particular we’d recommend doing some walks or cycles before you leave to build up your fitness and prepare you for the distances being covered.
-
Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
We have a wide range of ages nationalities on our small group trips and they come from all walks of life.
-
Should I get travel insurance?
Yes–it is a condition of booking that you are fully insured when travelling with us
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
At Explore, we're the experts in adventure travel. Our small group adventure holidays have been running since 1981. Today, Explore is one of the most trusted travel companies in the UK with over 500 trips to more than 120 countries.
-
Can I join the tour once it has departed?
Yes, but there are no concessions for doing so, and we must have a record in your booking advising as such before the trip departs.
-
Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
Being a responsible company is a large statement, something that has to be entwined within the very fibre of a company. Discover the charities and partnerships we support as part of this at https://www.explore.co.uk/about/sustainability/charities-and-partners
-
What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
We want to be as clear as and as honest as possible about what happens if you decide to that you no longer wish to travel on your trip. Our booking conditions have details of the costs you’ll incur when you cancel-these charges depend on how long it is before your planned departure.
-
What is the accommodation like?
We choose comfortable accommodation in the best locations possible. We opt for small, local and family-run accommodation where we can, as opposed to large chain hotels. We typically use hotels that are the equivalent of European 3-star, and you’ll usually have an en suite room. Occasionally, where we want to get off the beaten trail we may stay in more basic accommodation.
-
What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Sustainability is embedded within the fibre of Explore, it emanates from the inside out. But as we enter a new decade it is clearer than ever that our world needs help, and Explore has created a sustainability strategy based on the 2015 UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
-
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Our flexible booking and safety policies mean you're protected before and during your travels with us. Receive a full refund if your trip is cancelled, transfer your trip free of charge up to 10 days before departure minus any irrocoverable costs.
-
Do I need to be very fit to book with you?
All our trips require some level of active participation. This could be on a cultural trip, trek, safari, expedition or voyage. It is in the interests of all members of the group that everyone should be capable of fully participating in the activities of their chosen trip.
-
What documents will I receive before I travel?
Final documents will include a comprehensive trip itinerary, climate and country information, budgeting and packing advice visa and passport information and details on optional activities available.
-
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Yes on most of our trips. Most trips are based on customers sharing twin-bedded rooms. If you book a group trip as an individual, you will share a room with someone of the same sex. However, on many trips we offer the opportunity to pay a supplement to pre-book a single room, known as our single room option. On some trips a single room will be provided every night, on others it will be provided o
-
Do we have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel
It’s now a condition of booking a trip with us that customers should have one of the following before they travel - — Be vaccinated against COVID, having received the full recommended course, and allowing enough time for immunity to take effect. Full vaccination includes any booster required to keep the vaccine valid. — Have taken a negative test (rapid antigen or PCR) within 72hrs of departure.
-
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Explore will only offer hotels that have specific COVID-19 protocols in place and comply with local government guidelines. We will ensure these measures include; enhanced room cleaning, ventilation, social distancing, regular cleaning and disinfection of high frequency touch points in public areas, food safety, staff re-training and minimising contact within the properties.
Reviews from travellers on this tour
1 Select your preferred date
Sunday - Sunday
Mar 16, 2025 - Mar 23, 2025Sunday - Sunday
Mar 23, 2025 - Mar 30, 2025Sunday - Sunday
Mar 30, 2025 - Apr 06, 2025Sunday - Sunday
Apr 06, 2025 - Apr 13, 2025Sunday - Sunday
Apr 13, 2025 - Apr 20, 2025Sunday - Sunday
May 18, 2025 - May 25, 2025Sunday - Sunday
Jun 08, 2025 - Jun 15, 2025Sunday - Sunday
Jul 13, 2025 - Jul 20, 2025Sunday - Sunday
Aug 03, 2025 - Aug 10, 2025Saturday - Saturday
Sep 06, 2025 - Sep 13, 2025Sunday - Sunday
Oct 26, 2025 - Nov 02, 2025Sunday - Sunday
Nov 09, 2025 - Nov 16, 2025Book with Confidence
-
Free Date Changes
Explore! allows you to make 1 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 70 days before the start of the tour.
-
Low Deposit
Explore! requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of explore! charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 69 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 13 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.