Japan Express – Osaka to Tokyo
Experience Overview
From the Buddhist monks of Kōyasan to the high rollers of Tokyo, see the many faces of Japan on this condensed tour beginning in Osaka. Savour the region’s culinary delicacies and the beautiful views at Mt Fuji. You'll stay in a mountain temple and really soak up local culture in onsen hot springs. A great combination of the traditional and the contemporary, this adventure provides a taste of the rich culture of Japan.
Highlights
- Take in views of Mt Fuji
- Stay in temple lodging and learn about Buddhism
- Gaze at the famous floating torii gate in Miyajima
- Explore Kyoto's Nijo Castle
Trip Details
Product Code: 1534
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Budget
Transport: Bullet train, tram, ferry, public bus, walking.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Budget
Tour Operator:
G Adventures
Supplier Code: AJJR
Starts: Osaka, Japan
Finishes: Tokyo, Japan
Duration: 9 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Average
Includes
Activities
- Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your Local Living Moment: Overnight in Mount Kōya Temple, Kōyasan
- Hiroshima Peace Park and Museum visit
- Miyajima Island excursion
- Nijo Castle and gardens visit
- Gion walk
- Fushimi Inari shrine visit
- Lake Ashino-ko boat ride
- Traditional kaiseki meal
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels (7 nts), mountain monastery (1 nt, shared facilities).
- 3 breakfasts, 2 dinners
Transport
- Bullet train, tram, ferry, public bus, walking.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $3,559 ($395 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Osaka
Arrive at any time.
We highly recommend booking pre-accommodation to fully experience this lively city.
Day 2: Osaka/Kōyasan
Travel to the centre of Buddhism in Japan and sleep in a temple atop the 800m Mt Koya. Savour a traditional dinner of shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine).
Journey to Mt Koya, a religious centre founded in 816 by the Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi. The train ride up the mountain is possibly one of the finest rail journeys in Japan. For the final steep ascent, switch to funicular and then hop on a bus to reach the monastery.
In the evening, dine on shojin-ryori, typical vegetarian cuisine, and relax in a yukata, or kimono.
Day 3: Kōyasan/Hiroshima
Watch the monks pray in the morning and enjoy a traditional breakfast. Have some time to enjoy Koyasan this morning, before travelling to Hiroshima this afternoon.
Early morning offers the chance to observe the monks praying. Breathe in some fresh mountain air before a vegetarian breakfast, then start the journey back down the mountain via bus, train and funicular.
Later, board a train to Hiroshima, a historically significant city, marked by the explosion of the first atomic bomb in 1945.
Day 4: Hiroshima
This morning, visit the Peace Park and Memorial Museum commemorating the events of 1945. In the afternoon, take a ferry ride over to the sacred island of Miyajima to see the famous floating Torii Gate. Opt to hike around Mt Misen.
Day 5: Hiroshima/Kyoto
Travel to Kyoto and start exploring. Visit the impressive Nijo Castle and gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the evening, explore the geisha district of Gion on a CEO-led walking tour.
Day 6: Kyoto
Enjoy a visit to the beautiful Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine and walk under the bright torii gates. Opt to shop, stroll along the riverbank, or explore another of Kyoto's many temples with free time.
Day 7: Kyoto/Hakone
Take a boat ride on Lake Ashino-ko, and hopefully catch a glimpse of majestic Mt Fuji. Enjoy a feast on a traditional Japanese kaiseki meal then soak in the natural hot springs.
Travel to Hakone, a town in the hills famous for its onsens, or natural hot springs.
In the evening, enjoy savouring a complex meal of traditional Japanese foods, followed by a recommended soak in the onsen.
Day 8: Hakone/Tokyo
Head to Tokyo with time to do some last-minute shopping.
Arrive before noon to Tokyo, with time to explore this energetic metropolis.
Opt to visit Ueno park and the museums, Akihabara for cutting edge electronics, Harajuku for funky fashions, Ginza for the highest of the high end, walk the grounds of the Imperial Palace East Garden, or just stroll the streets, looking for the traditional life that still lies just under the modern surface.
Day 9: Tokyo
Depart at any time.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Tony W. - Traveled, November 2023
CEO has provided excellent attention and the trip was well planned. I don't have to worry about logistic and language barrier.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Seraphina W. - Traveled, November 2023
When going to another country for the first time, this type of travel helps new visitors see the best glimpses into the new country, all while knowing that they're travel and accommodations are well taken care of.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Carolyn K. - Traveled, November 2023
Every trip has been well run
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Lisa B. - Traveled, November 2023
Great tour guide and great places
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Elizabeth R. - Traveled, November 2023
Guide Kyoto
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Brett L. - Traveled, November 2023
People are generally nice and friendly. Better than travel alone, harder to meet strangers. Can focus on travelling rather than spending too much blood on logistics. Guide is superb
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/16/2023
Anita M. - Traveled, November 2023
Hours wasted on public transport. Lack of transparency in luggage arrangements.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/16/2023
Paul E. - Traveled, November 2023
Too much walking. Too much travel time from one thing to another. Temple stay was very poor. Bedding substandard thin foam not Japanese futon. Food brought in. Cold. No monks on site. Mmmm
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/16/2023
Ursula U. - Traveled, November 2023
I loved my experience and the places I visited. However I found that some of the organization was not time efficient. Some days we travelled for half the day and I think it may just be better to take a flight rather than trains, subway, bus etc.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/16/2023
Gauri P. - Traveled, November 2023
easy of travel, CEOs are great, small group size
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/16/2023
Adam V. - Traveled, November 2023
so organized and takes the stress out of exploring
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/02/2023
Helen B. - Traveled, November 2023
The trip was well organized using local transport and covering lots of ground
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/02/2023
Jason W. - Traveled, November 2023
Really enjoyed this trip, being solo traveler i felt very safe as part of this and able to help navigate each city
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/02/2023
Robert V. - Traveled, November 2023
Ease of travel and great guide.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/02/2023
Hugh B. - Traveled, November 2023
The tour was very well organized with good hotels. Just amazing! We were so lucky to have a great group of people with us. Yas ,our leader/ guide, was excellent. So well organized, fun to be with and friendly. I couldn't ask for more. The only thing I didn't like were the early starts to the day. Sad to say goodbye at the end.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/02/2023
Cathrine V. - Traveled, November 2023
Have already done this. Very well organized
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/02/2023
Peter W. - Traveled, November 2023
We loved our tour and our guide, Yaz was outstanding, so knowledgeable and helpful and fun. We loved travelling by all kinds of public transport, it really added to the experience and felt more authentically Japanese than it would travelling by minibus. We would say though that you need to be fit to do this active tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/02/2023
Elisabeth K. - Traveled, October 2023
it's a very fast paced trip. It depends on the person.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/25/2023
Rosmarie W. - Traveled, October 2023
Travelled multiple times with G and it was always great
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/25/2023
John B. - Traveled, October 2023
G Adventures is a wonderful way to experience a lot of a country with a group of travelers and a tour guide. You get opportunities to experience local life and bucket list activities. If you enjoy meeting new people you'll love this, but even if you want to keep to yourself you still will have a wonderful time!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/25/2023
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