Premium Japan

Intrepid Travel · 12 days
Premium Japan
Premium Japan
Premium Japan
Premium Japan
Premium Japan
Premium Japan
Premium Japan
Premium Japan
Premium Japan
Premium Japan
Premium Japan
Premium Japan
Premium Japan
Premium Japan
Premium Japan
Premium Japan
12 Days
From AUD $10395
Trip Type
Small Group
Activity Level
Light

Rating


 (20 reviews)

Premium Japan

Premium Japan

Intrepid Travel · 12 days
4.4
20 Reviews
Duration

12 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Unknown

Physical Rating

Light

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

Experience Japan’s perfect harmony of ancient tradition and a modern way of life on this 12-day Premium adventure through the cultural heart of the country.

Includes

Meals: Breakfasts (11), Lunch (2), Dinner (4)
Accommodation: Hotel (10 nt), Hakone Feature Stay (1 nt)

Highlights

  • Unwind surrounded by the beauty of nature at your Feature Stay accommodation in the hot spring town of Hakone – with mountain views, a traditional ryokan design, modern comforts and a private onsen (thermal pool) for each room, you’ll find relaxation here!
  • Soak up some quintessentially Japanese Signature Experiences, including a sushi-making class and a guided meditation with a Zen Buddhist monk.
  • Visit the sobering Hiroshima Peace Park and be reminded of this city’s history with a guided tour. Learn about how the city is recovering and is now dedicated to promoting world peace.
  • Soak up Japan’s natural beauty – with stays in mountainous Hakone, glimpses of Mt Fuji and a stroll around the island of Miyajima with its famous floating torii (gate), plus views of the Japanese Alps in the ancient village of Shirakawa-go.
  • Explore Tokyo – wander Asakusa (the temple district), explore the buzzing Shibuya district, find a treat in a depachika (underground food hall), discover the eccentric Harajuku district and get a bird’s-eye view of the city from the Tokyo Skytree.
Premium Japan

Trip Details

Duration

12 days

Transportation

Boat, Public Bus, Cable Car, Ferry, Metro, Bullet Train, Train

Guide Language

English

Starts

Tokyo, Japan

Finishes

Kyoto, Japan

Accommodations

Unknown

Travel Style

Explorer, Budget

Physical Rating

Light

Itinerary

1
Day 1: Tokyo
Konnichiwa! Welcome to Japan! Your adventure begins in the country’s lively capital, Tokyo. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm at your hotel. If you arrive early, there are many sides of Tokyo to explore – maybe visit a museum, check out the world-class shopping districts or stroll neighbourhood backstreets lined with hole-in-the-wall bars and eateries. After your meeting, join your new travel companions for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Tokyo’s food scene is undoubtedly one of the world’s best, and the city truly celebrates the art of eating well. Sample a range of regional and seasonal delights, including handmade soba noodles, crispy tempura and yakitori (chicken skewers). After dinner, you may like to experience Tokyo’s vibrant nightlife and head to a local izakaya (casual bar).

Included Activities:

  • Tokyo - Welcome dinner

Accommodation:

  • Keio Plaza Hotel or similar – see Essential Trip Information for departure specific hotel information (Number of Nights: 1)
2
Day 2: Tokyo
Today, head out on a walking tour of Tokyo with your leader. Bursting with contemporary urban culture and historic temples and shrines, Tokyo has so much to uncover. Begin in the Asakusa district, one of the older and more traditional parts of Tokyo, also known as the temple district. Here, you’ll stop by the city’s oldest temple – Senso-ji. This temple was built 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, jump on the metro to explore the buzzing Shibuya district. Check out one of the busiest intersections in the world before heading into a depachika (underground food hall) for a tempting array of Japanese treats. Visit the Harajuku district – Japan’s home of quirky youth pop culture – then get a bird’s-eye view of Tokyo from the 634 m (2080 ft) Tokyo Skytree.

Included Activities:

  • Tokyo - Sensoji Temple
  • Tokyo - Shibuya walking tour
  • Tokyo - Meiji Jingu Shrine
  • Tokyo - Tokyo Skytree

Optional Activities:

  • Tokyo - Tokyo National Museum (1000 JPY)

Accommodation:

  • Keio Plaza Hotel or similar – see Essential Trip Information for departure specific hotel information (Number of Nights: 1)
3
Day 3: Tokyo
This morning, get ready for a delicious experience at the famous Tsukiji Outer Market, where fresh seafood from Tokyo’s largest wholesale fish market (recently relocated to a new site at Toyosu) is delivered and ready to sample daily. Your leader will provide insight into the underwater treasures that go into the local cuisine, then you’ll take a sushi-making class to learn about the art and history of this dish that’s loved across the world. Learn how to make nigiri sushi, hand-rolled sushi or temari sushi, then enjoy your fresh creations for lunch. After learning some valuable skills to take home with you, you can join your leader for a short walking tour in the Ginza area and then enjoy a free afternoon in the city. Maybe check out the Yayoi Kusama Museum for its exhibits by the avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama (advance reservations required), browse high-end shops in Ginza, watch a kabuki play or try karaoke.

Included Activities:

  • Tokyo - Tsukiji Outer Market
  • Tokyo - Sushi Making Class

Accommodation:

  • Keio Plaza Hotel or similar – see Essential Trip Information for departure specific hotel information (Number of Nights: 1)
4
Day 4: Hakone
Say sayonara to Tokyo this morning and board a train bound for the mountainous onsen (hot spring) town of Hakone. Away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, Hakone offers relaxation set among stunning natural scenery. In the afternoon, take a cable car up the mountains to the sulphur vents of Owakudani, where on a clear day, you can catch a glimpse of Mt Fuji in the distance. Take a walk through the volcanic landscape and perhaps try the famous black eggs that are said to promise seven extra years of life. Later, check into the Susukinohara Ichinoyu – your Feature Stay accommodation for the evening. Here, you’ll experience the design and ambience of a traditional Japanese ryokan without sacrificing modern comforts. Each room comes with a private onsen, and there are also larger public indoor and outdoor onsens that overlook the surrounding greenery. Tonight, you’ll have dinner at the on-site restaurant, which serves up a feast of classic Japanese dishes. Then, spend a blissful evening relaxing in your onsen.

Included Activities:

  • Hakone - Cable car/Ropeway

Accommodation:

  • Susukinohara Ichinoyu (feature stay) or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
5
Day 5: Takayama
Today, travel to Takayama via shinkansen (bullet train), with a few changes along the way. Takayama is a charming Edo-period town located in the Japanese Alps. This riverside jewel of central Honshu is renowned for its traditional inns, sake breweries and tranquil atmosphere. When you arrive, head out on a walking tour with your leader, who will point out examples of traditional architecture as you explore the old part of town. Learn how the town’s isolated location caused it to develop a unique culinary scene. The area is particularly famous for Hida beef, a premium wagyu beef that comes from a black-haired Japanese cattle breed raised in Gifu Prefecture for at least 14 months. Make a stop during your walking tour to sample delicious Hida beef sushi or skewers. Then, visit Jinya, a Nationally Designated Historic Site, for a step back in time to the Edo period. You’ll see the rice granary, which stored the rice tax paid by villagers, the garden and the living quarters of provincial governors.

Included Activities:

  • Takayama - Leader-led walking tour (with street food sampling)
  • Takayama - Jinya Museum and Garden

Accommodation:

  • Hotel Around Takayama or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
6
Day 6: Takayama
Start the day with a visit to the Takayama morning market. The Gifu region is known for its production of high-altitude vegetables. Your leader will guide you through the market stalls selling colourful pickles, bags of miso wrapped in leaves, genkotsu ame (soybean candy), preserved fish, spices and owara tamaten (a marshmallow-like sweet). After some time to peruse the local treats, hop on a public bus and head to the village of Shirakawa-go – home to charming thatched-roof cottages built in the gassho-zukuri style. Learn about ancient countryside life with your leader and explore this village set against a magnificent backdrop of the Japanese Alps. Return to Takayama in the afternoon and enjoy some free time. If you like, you could check out Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall, which has a collection of handcarved floats on display.

Included Activities:

  • Takayama - Shirakawago Village

Accommodation:

  • Hotel Around Takayama or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
7
Day 7: Hiroshima
This morning, you’ll travel by train to Hiroshima – a cosmopolitan city with a tragic past. This city is full of distinctive cuisine, tightknit communities and a focus on promoting world peace. When you arrive, head out with your leader for an orientation walk to familiarise yourself with the city. After working up an appetite, head to a local restaurant for dinner and try some of Hiroshima’s signature dishes. The city is renowned for its fantastic oysters and okonomiyaki – a delicious savoury pancake made with egg, cabbage, soba noodles and meat or seafood.

Included Activities:

  • Hiroshima - Okonomiyaki dinner
  • Hiroshima - Leader-led orientation walk

Accommodation:

  • Hotel Granvia Hiroshima South Gate or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
8
Day 8: Hiroshima
This morning, you’ll visit the Genbaku (A-Bomb) Dome and the Peace Memorial Park and Museum. Your leader will share the devastating story of the fateful day in August 1945 when Hiroshima was attacked by atomic warfare. The bomb detonated almost directly above the dome, but the building was able to retain its shape – the dome now serves as a reminder of the attack and a symbol of peace. The Memorial Park serves a similar purpose and has museums, memorials and monuments dedicated to the memory of victims and information on the events leading up to the bombing. After your visit, take a short ferry ride to the island of Miyajima. The island is home to the Shinto shrine of Itsukushima, known for its huge bright orange gate (torii) that rises majestically out of the sea. Miyajima is an ideal place for walking – keep an eye out for free-roaming deer as you stroll! From Momiji Park, you can take a cable car up to the top of Mt Misen.

Included Activities:

  • Hiroshima - Miyajima Island day trip
  • Miyajima - Itsukushima-jinja Shrine
  • Hiroshima - Peace Park & A - Bomb Dome
  • Hiroshima - Peace Museum

Optional Activities:

  • Miyajima - Mt Misen Cable Car (2000 JPY)

Accommodation:

  • Hotel Granvia Hiroshima South Gate or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
9
Day 9: Kyoto
As you speed north to Kyoto via shinkansen, you’ll stop along the way to visit Japan’s most impressive samurai castle at Himeji. The building, which has survived earthquakes and war since the mid-16th century, was restored to its full glory in 2015. Explore the castle that was once home to over 10,000 samurai families, learn about their lives and look out over the castle grounds and the city below. Arrive in Kyoto in the mid-afternoon. Originally founded as Heian-kyo (literally 'tranquillity and peace capital') by Emperor Kammu in 794, Kyoto had its golden age during the imperial court’s heyday from 794 to 1185. Join your leader on a walk around Gion, Kyoto’s most famous geiko (geisha) district, and learn about the history of geiko culture as you explore old wooden teahouses and exclusive restaurants. You might want to return here in the evening when it really springs to life. You may also spot geikos (geishas) or maikos (apprentice geishas) with their elaborate dress and make-up on their way out to events.

Included Activities:

  • Himeji - Himeji Castle
  • Kyoto - Gion District walk

Accommodation:

  • The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
10
Day 10: Kyoto
Begin your day with a guided tour around Kyoto. Visit the extravagantly decorated Kinkakuji Temple, which was immortalised in Yukio Mishima’s novel The Temple of the Golden Pavilion. After, visit Daitokuji Temple – built about 800 years ago, this is the head temple of the Daitokuji school of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. Take a private tour of the temple, then learn about the philosophy of Zen before joining a guided meditation led by the temple’s most senior monk. Take part in a traditional tea ceremony, where the monk will deliver a special prayer. Receive a unique Omamori talisman, as well as fudepen (Japanese calligraphy) pen, which you’ll use it to write a prayer to put inside your talisman. This spiritual experience will reveal a side of Japan that most visitors don’t get to see and is sure to be one of the lasting memories of your journey.

Included Activities:

  • Kyoto - Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
  • Kyoto - Zen Buddhism meditation session
  • Kyoto - Daitokuji Temple visit with tea ceremony and prayer

Accommodation:

  • The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
11
Day 11: Kyoto
This morning, head to Kyoto’s famed Fushimi Inari Shrine – known throughout the world for its path of thousands of torii (gates) leading up Mt Inari. Take time to appreciate the quieter corners of the shrine, and if you’re up for it, a walk to the halfway point provides stunning city views. Continue with a short train ride and walk to a renowned sake brewery. Your visit to the brewery covers every aspect of sake creation – with full-scale historical artefacts to see and a chance to taste different types of sake at the end of your visit. In the evening, celebrate the end of your adventure over dinner with your travel companions at a local restaurant, sharing the authentic flavours of Kyoto.

Included Activities:

  • Kyoto - Fushimi Inari-Taisha
  • Kyoto - Sake Brewery & tasting
  • Kyoto - Final dinner

Optional Activities:

  • Kyoto - Kiyomizu-dera (500 JPY)
  • Kyoto - Arashiyama Bamboo Forest - Free
  • Kyoto - Tenryuji Temple Gardens (additional JPY300 to visit the temple) (500 JPY)
  • Kyoto - Nijo Castle and Ninomaru Palace (1300 JPY)

Accommodation:

  • The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
12
Day 12: Kyoto
There are no activities planned for today and your adventure comes to an end. If you’re departing later, you can arrange luggage storage at the hotel. If you’d like to extend your stay in Kyoto, and it’s recommended that you do, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.
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.
AUD $10,395
(Tour only)
Per Person Twin Share

Duration: 12 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Light

Experience Japan’s perfect harmony of ancient tradition and a modern way of life on this 12-day Premium adventure through the cultural heart of the country.

Check Availability Brochure

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 04 Feb 2027

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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
Wendy
Traveled, March 2024

03/20/2024

This comfort tour of japan was wonderful. Not only because of the amazing places we visited but because of our guide Hiro. She made the trip come alive and we felt like true locals. She taught us so well that we were able to navigate public transport on our own

4.0
Dom
Traveled, March 2024

03/17/2024

Our first group organised tour, which was highly successful and enjoyable, fundamentally due to our great hosts, and fellow travellers. Plenty of walking, average 15-20k steps per day. Visited many interesting cities, and towns. A great way to grab a first taste of Japan.

Tour Operator

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

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