8 Days | Travel from Tokyo to Kyoto, sampling all the sake in between
![Group of Intrepid travellers point to the leader amidst a crowd at Shibuya crossing](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/bltd89a9e7ae35ae3bc/65a6fd99711df1c489e89b00/Intrepid_Travel-Japan-Tokyo-Shibuya-Scramble-Crossing-group-4.jpg?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
![Intrepid travellers pose with the Hosts of the homestay Hananeko in Kawane, with baskets of fresh-picked vegetables](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/bltc04d3057f9838f45/664361ff3d5e73fd37aeb334/Intrepid_Travel-Japan-Hana-neko-group-harvesting-vegetables-in-the-garden-11.jpg?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
![Fuji mountain view of Nihondaira Yume Terrace in Shizuoka, Japan](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/blt0dfa8453832e29d2/63c896af85a81d7741a74bc6/japan-mt-fuji-niohondaira-yume-terrace-1100x735.jpg?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
![A local train traveling on near Kawane Sasamado Station of Oigawa Railway, Japan](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/blt57fa4310a51d2982/63c896ab0523e71fc782ee44/japan-cherry-blossoms-oigawa-railway-1100x735.jpg?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
![Traveller reaches for a scrap of tuna and fish eggs in Osaka](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/blta3f818cf3d7d4106/6598a2f1ebbdc5c754967855/Intrepid_Travel-Japan-Osaka-Dotombori-and-Kuromon-food-walking-tour-8.jpg?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Home of the sumo, the geisha, sake, karaoke, onsen and izakaya – Japan is a true feast for all of your senses. This 8-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 farmstay with local tea harvesters and a quiet hike featuring spectacular views of Mt Fuji. Travel on a futuristic bullet train to Kyoto and step into history before wrapping up your adventure in the foodie paradise of Osaka.
Trip overview
![Map of Japan Highlights including Japan](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/bltbd270b9443368cf5/64f747a75581213fc5484c2a/CJSH_2023_map.gif?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
- Start
- Tokyo, Japan
- Finish
- Osaka, Japan
- Theme
- Explorer, Rail
- Destinations
- Japan
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Original
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 12
- Trip code
- CJSH
- This is THE trip to take in Japan – a cultural and culinary whirlwind from the streets of Tokyo to the eats of Osaka.
- Explore the many sides of Shibuya in Tokyo, from busy intersections to rooftop city views and from the tranquillity of the ancient Meiji Shrine to quirky Harajuku.
- Settle into rural Japanese life at a local farmstay, where you might help harvest tea and prepare a home-cooked, farm-to-table feast and hike a quiet country trail passing through tea plantations and featuring the unmissable view of Mt. Fuji along the way.
- Ride the rails like the locals, from lightening-fast bullet trains to scenic mountain rails offering seasonal views of cherry blossoms and autumn leaves.
- Immerse yourself in the history and tradition of Kyoto among shrines, geishas and a 300-year-old sake brewery, and follow it up with the mouth-watering street food in Osaka.
- Japan is best to explore on foot – in fact most travellers are surprised at how much distance they end up covering just exploring places when walking! Make sure your shoes are comfy and you are fit enough to spend most of each day on your feet.
- Be prepared to pack light and smart for this trip as you'll be required to carry your own luggage between train stations and to hotels, which can include going up and down multiple flights of stairs in crowded areas.
Itinerary
Inclusions
1 breakfast, 2 dinners
Public Bus, Metro, Local Train, Bullet Train
Hotel (6 nights), Farm Stay (1 night)
- Tokyo - welcome meeting and orientation walk
- Tokyo - Sensoji Temple
- Tokyo - Meiji Jingu Shrine
- Tokyo - Shibuya walking tour
- Tokyo - Shibuya Sky Observation Platform
- Kawane - Farm Stay & Home-cooked Dinner
- Kawane - Tea Farm Visit & Tea Brewing & Tasting
- Kawane - Scenic Train Ride
- Kawane - Home-cooked Japanese Breakfast
- Shizuoka - Tokai Nature Trail Soft Hike
- Shizuoka - Nihondaira Yume Terrace (Mt. Fuji viewing platform)
- Kyoto - Gion District walk
- Kyoto - Nishiki-Koji Market
- Shizuoka - Shimizu Fish Market & Brunch
- Kyoto - Fushimi Inari-Taisha
- Kyoto - Sake Brewery Visit & Tasting
- Osaka - Dotombori and Kuromon Street Food Walking Tour
- Tokyo - Tsukiji Fish Market - Free
- Tokyo - Shinjuku-gyoen - JPY500
- Tokyo - Yoyogi Park - Free
- Tokyo - Imperial Palace - Free
- Kyoto - Gion Corner cultural centre - JPY5500
- Kyoto - Imperial Palace - Free
- Kyoto Tower - JPY900
- Kyoto - Bike hire (per day) from - JPY1200
- Kyoto - Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) - JPY500
- Kyoto - Ryoanji Zen Garden - JPY600
- Kyoto - Arashiyama Bamboo Forest - Free
- Kyoto - Path of Philosophy (Tetsugaku-no-Michi) - Free
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A Single Supplement is currently not available for this trip due to limited rooms at our chosen accommodation.
2. It is essential that you pack light and compact for rail travel in Japan. There are size restrictions for luggage on Shinkansen trains. Luggage from 160cm to 250cm may require an additional JPY1000 oversize luggage fee per train journey. Luggage over 251cm will NOT be permitted on the Shinkansen trains at all. Please notify your tour leader at your Welcome Meeting if your luggage is from 160cm to 250cm so they can make the necessary arrangements.
3. We are currently unable to book pre or post trip accommodation at our start and finish point hotels due to limited room availability. We recommend booking a hotel of your choice through your booking agent.
4. This trip does not include a Japan Rail Pass. You will need to buy your own train tickets for any independent rail travel you wish to do in Japan pre or post tour.
5. Please note that there are generally less double rooms in Japanese hotels, even those in Western style. While every effort will be made to accommodate double room requests, this may not always be possible.
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