Epic Japan: Speed Trains & Street Food

11 days
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4.8/5 Excellent
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Small Group Tour
Now's the time to explore Japan on your terms with this tour that's affordable for young travellers. Always wanted to explore Japan but kinda felt it was pricey? We got you. This 11-day introduction to the Land of the Rising Sun is super-affordable and super fun. Travel by train to introduce yourself to Tokyo nightlife, the famous geisha district of Kyoto, an...
37%
$2,799
From$1,759
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Explore both the ultramodern and traditional sides of japan
    • Experience tokyo's vibrant nightlife
    • Visit kyoto's iconic temples and geishas
    • See the floating torii gate of miyajima
    • Stay in a traditional inn in takayama to experience historic japan

What's this trip about?

    Now's the time to explore Japan on your terms with this tour that's affordable for young travellers. Always wanted to explore Japan but kinda felt it was pricey? We got you. This 11-day introduction to the Land of the Rising Sun is super-affordable and super fun. Travel by train to introduce yourself to Tokyo nightlife, the famous geisha district of Kyoto, and the iconic floating torii gate of Miyajima. Experience the country's traditions and cutting-edge modernity with lots of free time to do your own thing. When you see Japan with a group of like-minded adventurers, you'll never want to come home.

Details

Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age range18 to 49 years
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityTokyo
End CityOsaka

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Local Immersion & Homestays

Destinations

  • Asia
  • Japan

Attractions

  • Hakone
  • Hiroshima
  • Kyoto
  • Osaka
  • Takayama
  • Tokyo

Activities

  • Adventure & Adrenaline

Trip includes

    • Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and GroupYour First Night Out Moment: Connect With New FriendsYour Big Night Out Moment: - Kyoto: Karaoke
    • KyotoYour Discover Moment: KyotoYour Big Night Out Moment: - Osaka: Nightlife
    • Osaka
    • Orientation walks in Tokyo and Takayama
    • Overnight stay in a traditional inn
    • Miyajima Island visit
    • Free time in each destination
    • Japan Rail (JR) pass (7 days)
    • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Tokyo

Arrive at any time and welcome to Japan's neon metropolis that's always on the move. There are no plans until the evening welcome meeting, so spend some time exploring. Then, after the meeting head out for a night of fun, drinks, and dancing for your first night out. ...

Day 2 Tokyo

Get your bearings with an orientation walk before enjoying free time to explore buzzing Tokyo. Opt to check out Yoyogi Park, Asakusa shrine, quirky Harajuku, Shibuya Crossing, or explore the city's massive selection of shops and cafés.

Please note that the new JR Pass validation policy asks travellers to come to the office counter to activate their JR Pass.

Day 3 Tokyo/Takayama

Board a bullet train to picturesque Takayama, surrounded by the Japanese Alps. Take in the quaint streets of old town—lined with craft shops and sake breweries (mid-day sake bombs anyone?)—on a CEO-led orientation walk. Enjoy the rest of the day to explore the area. I...

Day 4 Takayama/Kyoto

Catch a train to Japan's imperial capital, Kyoto, and spend the rest of the day discovering this historic city. For your big night out, grab a drink on our tab and release your inner rock star during a karaoke session.

Day 5 Kyoto

Kyoto is yours to explore today and the options are endless, so grab a buddy and get out there! Visit some of Kyoto's beautiful temples, participate in a tea ceremony, or take a calligraphy class (so you can make that postcard home look extra fancy).

Day 6 Kyoto

Keep exploring this culturally-rich city with another free day to experience anything you couldn't squeeze in yesterday. Make the most of Kyoto's spiritual and traditional beauty, and take it all in.

Day 7 Kyoto/Hiroshima

Board a bullet train and travel to Hiroshima, known for its tragic history, powerful survival, and so much more. Opt to visit the Peace Park and Museum, Shukkei-en traditional Japanese garden, or Hiroshima Castle.

Day 8 Hiroshima

Take a ferry to the sacred island of Miyajima to see the famous floating torii gate and meet the friendly local deer. Opt to go for an easy hike around Mt Misen, and be sure to sample some oysters – a regional specialty.

Day 9 Hiroshima/Osaka

Catch a train to Osaka, one of Japan's culinary capitals with lots of neon lights and an outstanding nightlife. With free time, spend the afternoon exploring this diverse city with heaps to offer, including Osaka Castle Park, Shinsaibashi shopping street, and the Dotombori Bridge. Be sure to try takoyaki, the city's famous octopus snack, or share a group meal of kushikatsu.

Day 10 Osaka

Get to know this captivating city with a day to freely explore. Check out the ramen museum or browse Umeda's many shops. Get ready to experience Osaka's buzzing nightlife on a final night out with your new friends. Grab a drink on our tab and reminisce the night away!

Day 11 Osaka

Today is departure day, but do not fret! There is no such thing as goodbye, only until next time. Share some last laughs and exchange social medias with your fellow travellers before departing at any time.

We highly recommend booking post-accommodation to fully experience this vibrant city.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $1,759
Price per day$160
Last Updated: 4/8/2024
Start Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
18 May 2024
28 May 2024
$2,199
5 spots left
25 May 2024
04 Jun 2024
$1,869
9 spots left
01 Jun 2024
11 Jun 2024
$2,199
1 spots left
08 Jun 2024
18 Jun 2024
$2,199
6 spots left
13 Jun 2024
23 Jun 2024
$2,199
Sold Out
15 Jun 2024
25 Jun 2024
$1,759
13 spots left
22 Jun 2024
02 Jul 2024
$2,199
10 spots left
29 Jun 2024
09 Jul 2024
$2,199
10 spots left
06 Jul 2024
16 Jul 2024
$2,199
Sold Out
11 Jul 2024
21 Jul 2024
$2,199
16 spots left

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with G Adventures.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Tour Operator

G Adventures

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G Adventures is an adventure travel pioneer offering the planet's most awe-inspiring selection of affordable small-group tours, safaris and expeditions. Our award-winning trips embrace authentic accommodation, exotic cuisine and local transport to put travellers on a first-name basis with the planet’s people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife.

Adventure travel is more than a vacation. It’s a chance to get to know your world better by putting yourself on a first-name basis with the people, places, and things that make it worth exploring. This is your planet. Come and get it.

All G Adventures tours share a common love of adventure, but life-altering experiences come in a variety of flavors. Here are some of the Travel Styles we offer:

"Comfort": “Adventure travel” doesn’t have to mean “roughing it.” Comfort tours offer the genuine experiences you want with more extras, frills, and upgrades.

"Classic": An unbeatable mix of uncommon experiences, insider access, cultural contact, and all the must-sees and -dos, Classic is adventure perfected.

"Active": Why just see the world when you could bike, hike, kayak, and multi-sport it? Why, indeed. Active tours keep travellers who like to move on the move.

"Yolo": You’re only young once. Make the most of it with Yolo tours, fun-filled and fast-moving adventures designed just for travellers aged 18 to 39.

"Family": Just because you settled down and had kids doesn’t mean your adventuring days are through. Family makes our big planet small enough for all.

"Local Living": Want to get under the skin of some of the most gorgeous and out-there places? Local Living tours grant access that even locals don't have.

"Private Groups": Got a group of eight or more and want to keep the fun to yourselves? Try a Private Group tour. You pick the who and where, we’ll handle the what.

No matter what kind of traveller you are, we’ve got a tour (or a dozen) that’ll fit you just right.

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  • Awards include one of National Geographic Traveler's Tours of a Lifetime and one of National Geographic Adventure's "Best Adventure Tour Outfitters." Several times named Canada's Favorite Adventure Tour Operator.

To speak with G Adventure Travel Specialist call 1-855-667-9514 

Why we love this operator
They’ve partnered with well-known names like National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute to offer unique experiences unavailable elsewhere.
What they’re known for
Curated culturally immersive adventures for young adults and families that are tailored to a destination or specific theme.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Hostels (9 nts, multi-share), traditional inn (1 nt, multi share room and shared facilities),Japan is one of the most populous countries in the world and space is at a premium. Therefore, hotel and hostel rooms are small. Additionally, some Japanese hotels do not have designating non-smoking rooms. Therefore, we ask hotels to deodorize rooms before check-in. Accommodation will be varied throughout your adventure. Some nights on this tour will be multi-share. This may involve 4-6 group members sharing a room. The majority of accommodation will have shared bathroom facilities. Where we use multi-share hostels, rooming requests of any kind cannot be taken. For private accommodation please see our Japan tours in our Classic Travel Style.

Transportation & Flights

Train, bus, ferry, walking.,Japan's reliable public transportation is the best option for both the environment and for experiencing Japan like a local! We will ride several forms of transportation throughout the country, from Shinkansen bullet trains, to subways, local trains, and buses. Note that often times we will have to carry our luggage from one mode of transport to another, so please consider this whilst packing.

Transportation & flights

Train, bus, ferry, walking. Japan's reliable public transportation is the best option for both the environment and for experiencing Japan like a local! We will ride several forms of transportation throughout the country, from Shinkansen bullet trains, to subways, local trains, and buses. Note that often times we will have to carry our luggage from one mode of transport to another, so please consider this whilst packing.
Guides
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout.
Requirements
Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for our travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The exploitation of people in the sex trade is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our CEOs have the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they utilize the services of paid sex workers, in any capacity.,We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency evacuation and repatriation. A minimum coverage of USD200,000 is required. G Adventures can provide you with the appropriate coverage. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Some tours include adventure activities that require extra coverage (e.g. crampon use); please review your itinerary and make sure that you are covered for all included activities. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Visa requirements
All countries require a valid passport (with a minimum 6 months validity). Contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent. It is your own responsibility to have the correct travel documentation. Visa requirements for your trip will vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. We keep the following information up to date as far as possible, but rules do change and sometimes without warning. While we provide the following information in good faith, it is vital that you check the information yourself and understand that you are fully responsible for your own visa requirements. Visa information specific to your destination and nationality can be found in our Important Pre-Departure Information page here
Health & Safety
Please note inoculations may be required for the country visited. It is your responsibility to consult with your travel doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit, hand sanitizer/antibacterial wipes, and a full supply of any personal medications. In Asia, you will not find the same drugs as you get at home. Please be aware that sometimes we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities. Also note that for legal reasons our CEOs (tour leaders) are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. When selecting your tour, carefully read the itinerary and note the physical demand rating and assess your ability to cope with the demands of the tour and travel style. G Adventures reserves the right to exclude any traveller from all or part of a tour without refund if, in the reasonable opinion of the CEO, they are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group. We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travellers' cheques, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage.
Meals Included
No meals included
Age Requirements
18 to 49 years
Additional Information
Trip ID
gadventure-23633

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