Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping

G Adventures · 12 days

Use code BONUS10 to get an extra 10% off all tours — for a limited time only. T&Cs apply

Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping
12 Days
From AUD $6884 Was AUD $8099
Trip Type
Small Group
Activity Level
Average

Rating


(3 reviews)

Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping

Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping

G Adventures · 12 days
4.5
3 Reviews

Use code BONUS10 to get an extra 10% off all tours — for a limited time only. T&Cs apply

Duration

12 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Budget

Physical Rating

Average

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

Japan is a country where futuristic cities meet timeless traditions, and this 12-day adventure showcases both sides perfectly.

Includes

Activities

  • Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
  • Kurama to Kibune trek & shrine visits
  • Fushimi Inari Taisha hike
  • Okinawa Rail Observation & Ibe-dake Forest Trail Trek
  • Yasuda Sea Kayaking tour
  • Sabani Boat experience
  • Taketomi cycling excursion
  • Mangrove kayak on Iriomote island
  • Internal flights
  • Asakusa Sensō-ji Temple
  • Nakamise shopping street visit
  • Meiji Shrine visit
  • Free time in Tokyo
  • All transportation to/from included activities

Accommodation

  • Hotel (11nts).
  • 11 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners

Transport

  • Plane, local train, walking, private vehicle, gondola, public bus, bicycle, local metro.

Group Leader

  • CEO (Chief Experience Officer) and local guides throughout.

Highlights

  • Experience a traditional Sabani boat excursion on the crystal clear water and colorful reefs of Okiniawa
  • Hike
  • Bike and kayak through different Okinawan islands
  • Explore Tokyo on a tour with your CEO and with free time.
Active Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo Island Hopping

Trip Details

Duration

12 days

Transportation

Plane, local train, walking, private vehicle, gondola, public bus, bicycle, local metro.

Guide Language

English

Starts

Kyoto, Japan

Finishes

Tokyo, Japan

Accommodations

Budget

Travel Style

Active, Budget

Physical Rating

Average

Itinerary

1

Day 1: Kyoto

Arrive at any time. Join your CEO for a welcome briefing and an optional dinner in Kyoto.


Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.Accommodation - Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Shijo Omiya
2

Day 2: Kyoto

Start your Kyoto based explorations with one of the iconic hikes outside the Kyoto downtown area. Hike from Kurama village to Kibune-two villages that mark the start and endpoint of the hike. As you wind your way through the canopied forest, visit the Yuki shrine and Kurama-dera temple.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Transfer by train and subway to Kurama Station and begin your CEO-led hike. Walk between these two picturesque, quaint villages in the Kitayama Mountains and follow the stone steps up into the verdant, mist-shrouded forests. Pass through the highland and visit smaller temples and search for spring water outlets flowing down the trail. Stop along the way at the Kurama-dera Temple—located atop the mountain with stunning views of the countryside, Yuki Shrine, Maoden, ending at Kibune Shrine. The total hike time will be 2.5 hours for a total of 3.9km and a total elevation gain of 584m.Accommodation - Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Shijo Omiya
3

Day 3: Kyoto

The final day in Kyoto begins with the iconic visit to Fushimi Inari shrine. Walk for around 2 hours under the vibrant torii gates as you make your way along the various trails. Although this is a popular activity, it's worth it for the expansive views across Southern Kyoto.
Spend the afternoon at leisure in Kyoto.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Hike up Fushimi Inari through 10,000 stunning torii gates (as seen in the film Memoirs of a Geisha). The shrine itself is at the base of the Inari mountain but includes many trails up to smaller shrines in the area. The hike up is about 2 hrs.Free_time - Enjoy a free afternoon in the beautiful town of Kyoto.Accommodation - Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Shijo Omiya
4

Day 4: Kyoto to Yanbaru National Park

Let the island hopping begin. Board a domestic flight bound for Naha airport, in Okinawa. Naha is the main gateway for travelers in and out of Okinawa. Upon arrival, hop onto a private transport and make your way north towards Yanbaru National Park. This area is not popular on the tourist route due to its more remote location, and indeed feels a bit like a hidden gem.

Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.Free_time - Spend a free evening after arriving to Okinawa.Accommodation - Ada Garden Hotel
5

Day 5: Yanbaru National Park

Embark on a guided walk through part of Yambaru Forest, spotting native flora and fauna on the Ibe-dake Forest Trail Trek. After a picnic lunch, head towards to the seaside and join your local guide on a guided sea kayaking excursion to Yasuda island. After a busy day, enjoy a dinner out together.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Trek along the Ibe-dake forest path through the Special Wildlife Protection Area and learn about the history and ancient wisdom of protecting this precious forest.Activity - Kayak to the uninhabited island of Yasuda off the coast of Yanbaru. Taking about 30 minutes one way, we'll glide over pristine reef and through crystal clear water, clear enough to see the colorful coral and bright fish. Explore Yasuda island's white sand and relax on the beach, where sea turtles sometimes visit, before paddling back to the coast.Accommodation - Ada Garden Hotel
6

Day 6: Kunigami/Ishigaki

Another day, another island. Today, head even further south to Ishigaki island. Still part of Okinawa, Ishigaki technically sits closer to Taiwan than to mainland Japan. Join your CEO and fellow travelers for a delicious dinner sampling famous Okinawan ryōri (food).

Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.Free_time - Spend a free evening in Ishigaki before a group dinner.Accommodation - Hotel Abianpana Ishigaki
7

Day 7: Ishigaki

In the Hirakubo Peninsula in northern Ishigaki, hop aboard a Sabani, the traditional Okinawan sailboat, and cruise along the shores of the peninsula. Hop into the water to snorkel if you choose, or just admire the stunning untouched environment. These boats are hand carved in the traditional way from hollowed logs, and only hold 6 persons per boat. Enjoy this rare opportunity to enjoy a piece of Okinawan cultural heritage. During the paddle, we'll jump out of the boat for a chance to snorkel out above the coral reef.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Climb aboard a traditional wooden Sabani Boat. Local to Okinawa, we'll sail in this dugout-cedar boat and have a chance to snorkel in the blue water through colorful reefs.Activity - Jump out of the traditional Sabani boat with a snorkel mask and fins.. Glide above the tropical coral reefs and admire the colorful life below the sea. Your sabani boat guide will point out some of the amazing things you may see like puffer fish, sea stars or maybe even a sea turtle!Free_time - Spend your afternoon at leisure in the Ishigaki Port area.Accommodation - Hotel Abianpana Ishigaki
8

Day 8: Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park

The island hopping continues as you head west again towards Iriomote island. Spend the day kayaking in a mangrove area, spotting birds and local flora you can only find in this area. After an epic day exploring the island, choose to join your CEO and fellow travelers for a farewell dinner back in Ishigaki.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Glide through the Mangrove forest waterways in a kayak and learn about the importance of these amazing trees. You'll have the chance to observe the unique wildlife that the Mare and Hinai Rivers' ecosystem supports.Transport - Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.Transport - Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.Accommodation - Hotel Abianpana Ishigaki
9

Day 9: Taketomi Island

Just off the coast of the Ishigaki Port area is Taketomi Island, part of Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park. Surrounded by coral reef, the island is actually constructed of coral walls and structures, creating a unique architectural look within Japan. The central Ryukyu village is the most well known feature of the island, full of red tiled roof buildings and tropical flowers. There are plenty of ways to explore Taketomi, but in true G Adventures style we opt for a bicycle to be able to zip around and see as much as possible.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.Transport - Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.Activity - Hop on a bicycle and explore Taketomi's noteworthy stops. Starting at the Yugafu-kan cultural center, we'll then bike to Nishi Pier for a perfect view of the sea, to the white sands of Kondoi Beach for a swim and a snorkel, and to the traditional village of Taketomi. This tour will bring you to experience the picturesque beaches of the island and its well preserved history.Accommodation - Hotel Abianpana Ishigaki
10

Day 10: Ishigaki/Tokyo

We bid farewell to the beautiful archipelago of Okinawa and return to Japan's mainland. After breakfast, we'll catch a flight to Tokyo. Arrive to the the hotel and enjoy a free evening in Tokyo.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.Accommodation - Toyoko Inn Kawasaki Ekimae Shiyakusho-dori
11

Day 11: Tokyo

Today you have the chance to see the biggest city in Japan on a tour with your CEO. See highlights of this amazing city like Asakusa Sensoji Temple and Asakusa neighbourhood, Nakamise shopping street and the historic Meiji Shrine. In the afternoon, spend your time in Tokyo how you'd like. Opt to visit cool neighborhoods like Akihabara or Harajuku. Or find some green space in the famous Ueno Park.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Explore Sensō-ji Temple, a colourful Buddhist temple and the oldest temple in the entire city. Leading up to the temple the street is lined with shops selling yummy food and great souvenirs. Activity - Visit this shrine dedicated to the 123rd emperor of Japan, Emperor Meiji and his wife. The shrine is a great place to escape the bustle of the city and wander the grounds along the wide walking paths.Free_time - Enjoy a free afternoon in Tokyo.Accommodation - Toyoko Inn Kawasaki Ekimae Shiyakusho-dori
12

Day 12: Tokyo

Depart at any time.

Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusions
  • Flights to and from origin and destinations
  • Airport transfers (unless otherwise stated)
  • Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
  • Recommended gratuities/tipping
  • Optional activities/tours
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.
Important Information
Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We will do our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling.

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

  • It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
  • Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
  • Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.
Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.

From
AUD $8099

AUD $6,884
(Tour only)
Offer ends 01 Apr, 2026 Per Person Standard
15% Off

Duration: 12 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Average

Japan is a country where futuristic cities meet timeless traditions, and this 12-day adventure showcases both sides perfectly.

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 05 Jun 2026

Customer Reviews

Overall Rating
Excellent
4.5
Guide
Excellent
4.5
Itinerary
Excellent
4.5
Accommodations
Excellent
4.5
Transportation
Excellent
4.5
Tour Operator
Excellent
4.5
Food
Excellent
4.5
4.5
Tyler
Traveled, October 2024

10/12/2024

Tour group was fantastic. Emi the tour guide was so helpful, went above and beyond. Felt like you were with friends rather than a stranger. The hostels and other living arrangements were very nice, not at all like the reputation that hostels have in the rest of the world. Emi, the tour guide offered so many extra things to do for the group. Tea ceremonies, ninja experiences, etc. She also gave some great recommendations for places to go and things to do on your own. Two of my favorite things I did on this trip, the Kabuki theatre and the sanjusangendo temple, were her recommendations. The only thing I regret is not going on the longer tour so I could have more fun with the group. The description on the site does not do the tour justice. This tour is great for making new friends and having fun experiences in Japan.

4.5
Andreas
Traveled, September 2024

10/06/2024

It was all we expected and really enjoyed it

Tour Operator

G Adventures, founded in 1990 by Bruce Poon Tip, is a global adventure travel company specializing in small-group tours that emphasize authentic, sustainable, and culturally immersive experiences. Originally launched as GAP Adventures (“Great Adventure People”), the company pioneered the concept of community-driven travel by offering affordable trips that connect travelers with local communities while minimizing environmental impact. Today, G Adventures operates in more than 100 countries, offering a wide range of itineraries across themes such as active adventures, wildlife, wellness, family, and National Geographic–partnered tours, while maintaining a strong commitment to responsible tourism and social enterprise through its Planeterra Foundation.

In Business Since 1990