Japan Highlights
Experience Overview
Home of the sumo, geishas, sake, karaoke, onsen and izakaya – Japan is a feast for all your senses. This eight-day journey hits all the right spots, giving you a true appreciation for the land of the rising sun. Absorb the bustle of Tokyo before heading into the countryside for a farm stay with local tea harvesters and a walk along a 400-m suspension bridge with spectacular views of iconic Mt Fuji. Travel on a futuristic bullet train to Kyoto and step into this nation’s history before wrapping up your adventure in the foodie paradise of Osaka. This is THE trip to take in Japan!
Highlights
- Explore all the highlights of Japan in just over a week! This is a cultural and culinary whirlwind from the streets of Tokyo to the eats of Osaka.
- Experience the many sides of Shibuya in Tokyo, from busy intersections to the tranquility of the ancient Meiji Shrine and the quirky fashion of Harajuku.
- Visit a local tea farm and learn about harvesting tea leaves and making Japanese green tea, then settle into your farm stay, pick some fresh ingredients from the farm and prepare a home-cooked, farm-to-table feast with your hosts for the perfect blend of Japanese hospitality and country life.
- Ride the rails like the locals, from lightning-fast bullet trains to scenic mountain rails offering seasonal views of cherry blossoms and autumn leaves.
- Veer off the busy tourist track with a visit to Mishima – a small town built on the old lava flow of Mt Fuji – then head to the cultural heart of Kyoto, where you can dive into local history and traditions among shrines, geishas and a 300-year-old sake brewery.
Trip Details
Product Code: 1719
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: Public Bus,Metro,Local Train,Bullet Train
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator:
Intrepid Travel
Supplier Code: CJSH
Starts: Tokyo, Japan
Finishes: Osaka, Japan
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Light
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (1), Dinner (2)Accommodation: Hotel (6 nights),Farm Stay (1 night)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $3,376 ($422 /day)
Itinerary
Konnichiwa! Welcome to Japan. Bursting with contemporary urban culture, Tokyo has fascinating museums, world-class shopping and backstreets stuffed with restaurants and karaoke bars. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. After, you’ll have some free time to explore Tokyo’s nightlife. Perhaps take a walk down Shinjuku’s Omoide Tokocho or ‘Memory Lane’ – a crowded alley of busy restaurants and bar stalls that started in the 1940s and quickly gained infamy as a black-market quarter. Today, it’s one of the best spots to try some of Tokyo’s local fast food!
Included Activities:
- Tokyo - welcome meeting and orientation walk
Optional Activities:
- Tokyo - Tsukiji Fish Market - Free
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Dive right into Tokyo today by exploring historic Asakusa – one of the older and more traditional parts of the city. Visit the city’s oldest temple – Senso-ji – founded almost 1400 years ago when Tokyo was nothing more than a fishing village. Browse the many interesting stalls filled with tasty treats, crafts and souvenirs that line the shopping street of Nakamise Dori. Then, hop on the metro and head to the buzzing Shibuya area. Check out one of the busiest intersections in the world before heading into a depachika (underground food hall) for a mouth-watering array of tempting Japanese treats. Next, allow the city sounds to fade away as you visit Meiji Shrine, surrounded by forest. Then it’s back into the city streets to explore the Harajuku district – the home of Japan’s quirky youth pop culture. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to spend at your leisure.
Included Activities:
- Tokyo - Sensoji Temple
- Tokyo - Meiji Jingu Shrine
- Tokyo - Shibuya walking tour
Optional Activities:
- Tokyo - Shinjuku-gyoen (500 JPY)
- Tokyo - Yoyogi Park - Free
- Tokyo - Imperial Palace - Free
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Leave Tokyo behind and jump on the train to Mishima – a city built on the lava flow of Mr Fuji. Thanks to an eruption several thousand years ago, the soil here is rich in nutrients and there’s an endless supply of fresh, filtered water that flows through the city like a natural irrigation system. As a result, Mishima is a garden city with many waterways running alongside residential streets. When you arrive, head to the longest suspension bridge in Japan – 400-m-long Mishima Skywalk – for an unbeatable view of Mt Fuji. You’ll then have free time to explore at your own pace. Maybe visit Mishima Shrine or wander along the waterways and through the many parks. When you’ve worked up an appetite, maybe try the city’s special charbroiled eel that’s said to have been prepped by filtered fuji water! If you’re lucky enough to visit during cherry blossom season, there’s nothing better than a picnic as the sun goes down.
Included Activities:
- Mishima - Mishima Skywalk
Optional Activities:
- Mishima - Mishima Taisha Shrine - Free
- Mishima - Rakujuen Park (300 JPY)
- Mishima - Kakitagawa Park - Free
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Today, you’ll hop on a local train to Kanaya station, then transfer to the scenic train that travels through the mountains and gorges of Kawane. The ride is especially beautiful during cherry blossom season in the spring and when the colours change in autumn! This afternoon, visit a local tea farm and try your hand at tea picking, learn about how tea is properly brewed. After the tea experience, your host for the night will welcome you and take you to their home. Dinner will be a home-cooked feast using seasonal vegetables may from their garden, and your host will be able to teach you a thing or two about Japanese home cooking.
Included Activities:
- Kawane - Homestay & Home-cooked Dinner
- Kawane - Tea Farm Visit & Tea Brewing & Tasting
- Kawane - Scenic Train Ride
Accommodation:
- Homestay (Number of Nights: 1)
After a home-cooked, Japanese-style breakfast, hop on the bus and a Shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto. One of the Kyoto’s original names was Heian-kyo, which literally translates to ‘tranquility and peace capital’, and the thousands of temples, shrines and gardens make it clear why. In the afternoon, head to the Noshiki Market and stroll through ‘Kyoto’s Kitchen’ for the perfect introduction to Kyoto's regional specialties – from pickled vegetables hidden beneath layers of fermented rice to delicious and ornate Kyo-wagashi (Kyoto sweets) and other local produce. As the sun goes down, continue to Gion – the city’s cultural centre and most famous geisha district. You may catch a glimpse of an elegantly attired geisha or maiko moving between teahouses here, though much of this high-class world of entertainment is still off-limits to outsiders.
Included Activities:
- Kyoto - Gion District walk
- Kyoto - Nishiki-Koji Market
- Kawane - Home-cooked Japanese Breakfast
Optional Activities:
- Kyoto - Gion Corner cultural centre (5500 JPY)
- Kyoto - Imperial Palace - Free
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Today, you’ll head to one of the most photogenic spots in Kyoto – Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine. Famous for the thousands of scarlet torii (square archways) along the path, this shrine is dedicated to Inari – the god of rice. Because foxes do his bidding, there are also plenty of fox statues along the way. Then, visit a 300-year-old sake brewery – the city’s oldest continuously run brewery. Learn about their special sake-brewing techniques and the importance of rice and water before sampling some for yourself. The rest of the day is free for you to explore at your own pace. If you’re in a contemplative mood, the Path of Philosophy might have what you’re after. Stroll beside a stream, beneath the dappled shade of blossoming trees, past the Zen temple Ginkaku-ji, the Temple of the Silver Pavilion and Nanzen-ji Temple. You can keep walking south to the Old Town and explore the wooden houses, or visit Kinkakuhi Temple, immortalised in Yukio Mishima’s novel ‘The Golden Pavilion’.
Included Activities:
- Kyoto - Fushimi Inari-Taisha
- Kyoto - Sake Brewery Visit & Tasting
Optional Activities:
- Kyoto Tower (900 JPY)
- Kyoto - Bike hire (per day) from (1200 JPY)
- Kyoto - Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) (500 JPY)
- Kyoto - Ryoanji Zen Garden (600 JPY)
- Kyoto - Arashiyama Bamboo Forest - Free
- Kyoto - Path of Philosophy (Tetsugaku-no-Michi) - Free
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Jump back on the train this morning and head onto Osaka – Japan’s unofficial food capital. When you arrive, follow your leader on an orientation walk, then explore the city at your own pace. Meet in the evening for a street food walking tour with your group through Dotombori District and Kuromon Market and celebrate the end of this fast and furious journey in Japan with your fellow travellers.
Included Activities:
- Osaka - Dotombori and Kuromon Street Food Walking Tour
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
With no further activities planned after breakfast, your trip comes to an end today. If you would like to extend your stay in Osaka, just reach out to your booking agent ahead of time.
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Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
Reviews
Helen - Traveled, March 2024
Fantastic introductory trip to Japan , gives you great insights to the country , Daisuke our guide was wonderful and very knowledgeable about Japan , he went out of his way to accommodate people’s requests , he was super organised every day . The farm stay was a genuine Japanese family experience.I would recommend this trip to anyone
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/02/2024
Carole - Traveled, March 2024
Diasuke our leader was very organized managing our group through Japan’s busiest cities and coordinating the transportation. We were very fortunate to have Jane-san and Yusu-san along as well. Very enjoyable trip for covering the highlights of Japan in a short amount of time. There is so much to see and learn about Japan that I will be coming back to Japan for another Intrepid trip this year. \
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/26/2024
Katie - Traveled, March 2024
Japan Highlights is great trip if you only have a short period of time to explore this amazing country. A good mix of group activities, free time and an authentic home stay. Highly recommended.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/22/2024
Eilis - Traveled, November 2023
Great introductory trip to Japan. This is a 5 day packed tour that gives you great insights to Japan and it covers loads! Yuki, our wonderful tour guide, made it special-she was outgoing, energetic, super organised and minded everyone. Some trip tips- pack light-(leave space in your bag for any shopping), there are laundry(washer/dryer) facilities at all hotels (you can have fresh clothes in 2 hours), the hotels also have shampoo/ conditioner etc with extras. The walk mentioned is a 2 hour hike (B/c) up a mountain, which was well worth doing. Easily done in runners. There is lots of walking so bring comfortable footwear. If you days to spare, do it after the trip as you will know how everything works. Enjoy!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/01/2023
Pete - Traveled, November 2023
Had an amazing trip. The itinerary was well planned, the accommodations were excellent and our guide went above and beyond at every step. Would travel with Intrepid again.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/25/2023
Jayson - Traveled, November 2023
The Japan Highlight tours was fantastic, especially with the tour leader (Susumu) he made the trip so memorable, his leadership and ability to show us around his wonderful country. Definitely will be going back in the future based on this trip. I recommend going a few days early and extending a few days as well.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/27/2023
Phil - Traveled, October 2023
The week found a good balance of seeing the main Japanese city sites and some personalised quieter locations.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/09/2023
Victoria - Traveled, October 2023
The Japan Highlights trip was incredible. It provided a great introduction into so many beautiful and cool places in Japan. We got to have some brilliant experiences and eat some amazing foods. The stay at local’s house was so awesome and provided a wonderful insight into the Japanese culture. The hosts were very generous and kind. Overall it was an awesome trip. Highly recommend.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/12/2023
Maria - Traveled, October 2023
This is my second time experience with Intrepid Tours and I would like to recommend it to anyone.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/15/2023
Amy - Traveled, October 2023
What a fun and eye- opening trip! Japan is not all like Tokyo and Intrepid Travel helped introduce it to me, and whet my appetite for more????
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/20/2023
Nicki - Traveled, October 2023
What a fabulous introduction to Japan! Highly recommend this quick tour to travel with confidence and with like minded people. Farm stay was a genuine Japanese family experience and something we would not have been able to organise ourselves. This tour provides lots of variety and adventure.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/20/2023
christopher - Traveled, October 2023
The trip was a good introduction to Japan and our team leader was very knowledgeable and a charming character. The trip is advertised as an 8 day trip , but the reality it is only a six trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/19/2023
Soula - Traveled, October 2023
Highlights of japan,I would highly recommend it's a stress free adventure. I would've done or seen what I saw on this tour....buzzing tokyo,home stay in a little village,amazing fishmarkets,Kyoto's little backstreets Food and endless shopping in in osaka.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/08/2023
Hannah - Traveled, September 2023
What an amazing experience with such fantastic people! I'll never have an experience like this ever again and can't wait for the next one to meet more like-minded people that want to do everything they can in such an amazing country like Japan
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/01/2023
Brianna - Traveled, September 2023
My group leader, Daisuke, did a wonderful job in showing me a bit of Japan with this tour. The tour was a bit on the pricey side, but the hotels are very nice and that includes all transport for included activities. We were even able to go to optional activities together as a group. All in all, I am very happy with the trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/11/2023
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