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Visit Kyoto, Hiroshima and Tokyo and journey into Japan's heart
Japan, a country steeped in mythical traditions and modern wonders. This journey uncovers the highlights of this fascinating country. Like the history, the country is varied and diverse: from the ancient cities like Kyoto to the historically relevant city of Hiroshima and on to the beautiful Edo era city of Takayama; countryside backdropped by mountains, lakes and waterfalls to the bustling futuristic city of Tokyo. This journey gradually reveals the rich variety of the country as you visit temples, castles, shrines and holy mountains while mixing with locals and experiencing the real Japan. Come on this magical journey and experience all that Japan has to offer.
- Start
- Kyoto, Japan
- Finish
- Tokyo, Japan
- Destination
- Japan
- Style
- Peregrine
- Code
- PCJJ
- Physical rating
- Trip rating
- 90 reviews
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1, Max 12
Why you'll love this trip
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Japan is a year round destination with something in store for every season: cherry blossoms in spring, stunning leaves in autumn and snow and ice in winter.
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This trip is a great balance of included activities in each destination and free time for your own choice of options, all backed by a helpful leader to steer you in the right direction of the best experiences.
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There’s no better way to get around Japan than the country’s famous railway system. Be impressed by the efficiency and ultra-modernity as you zip from place to place with your included 7-day Japan Rail Pass. Your leader will organise all the logistics so all you need to worry about is whether to choose ramen or yakitori for dinner.
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A visit to the Hiroshima Peace Park is a sobering but important experience for understanding the tragedies of Japan’s not so distant past.
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Trace the steps of the Geisha around the alleyways of Kyoto’s atmospheric Gion district and visit a Zen Buddhism temple and hear about its practice while sipping green tea.
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Stay in a ryokan hotel with a wonderful onsen (hot spring bath, both indoor and outdoor), taste some local fare in Edo-era Takayama, explore local markets, the Hida Folk Village and perhaps stop by a sake brewery.
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Culminate in Tokyo, one of the most extraordinary capital cities on the planet.
Is this trip right for you?
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You can easily surpass your 10,000 steps a day on this trip, in fact most travellers are surprised at how much distance they end up covering just exploring places on foot! Make sure your shoes are comfy and you are fit enough to spend most of each day on your feet.
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This trip travels primarily on public transport, as it is so efficient and convenient in Japan. Fast trains are used to move between cities, as well as some private and public buses. Be aware when packing for this trip that you will need to be able to carry your luggage on and off public transport, and to and from accommodations. In order to make travel on public transport easier, on some days we will forward your large luggage to our next destination, packing an overnight bag for that night’s stay.
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Our accommodation in Takayama is a Japanese ryokan hotel. Rooms are decorated in Japanese style with en suite shower facilities. A shared onsen (Japanese traditional communal hot spring bath) is also available for guests.
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Renovation works on Miyajima's famous floating torii gate started in June 2019. During the renovation works, the torii gate is covered up under a partially transparent scaffolding. Furthermore, a bridge is being built on the left side of the gate (when viewed from the shrine) to aid the renovation works. A date for the completion of the renovation works has not been set yet, but the works are expected to take at least one year.
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Itinerary
Accommodation
- Hotel Intergate Kyoto Shijo-shinmachi or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
- Dinner
Special Information
We will organize to forward your luggage from Kyoto to Hiroshima and Hiroshima to Tokyo. Please ensure that you have an overnight pack for your valuables and essentials that you can bring with you for your 2 nights stay in Takayama.Join your leader and walk around Gion and its old wooden teahouses and exclusive restaurants. This area is the heartland of geisha culture, and it's a great idea to return here in the evening when it really springs to life. You might spot geikos (geishas) or maikos (apprentice geishas) with their elaborate dress and make up on their way out to events.
Accommodation
- Hotel Intergate Kyoto Shijo-shinmachi or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Kyoto - Gion District walk
- Kyoto - Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
- Kyoto - Daitokuji Temple
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Then a short train ride and walk takes us to the famous Gekkei-kan Sake Brewery. With centuries of local history built into its beautiful wooden halls, Gekkei-kan is considered Japan’s industry leader in both the tradition and innovation of sake creation. A visit to the brewery and museum cover every aspect of sake creation – with full-scale historical artefacts in abundance and a chance to taste different types of sake at the end of your visit. The shop is also fully stocked with some of Japan’s finest sake should you wish to bring some back home with you!
Accommodation
- Hotel Intergate Kyoto Shijo-shinmachi or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Kyoto - Fushimi Inari-Taisha
- Kyoto - Gekkei-kan Sake Brewery & tasting
Optional Activities
- Kyoto - Cooking Class - JPY6000
- Kyoto - Kiyomizu-dera - JPY400
- Kyoto - Nijo Castle - JPY600
- Kyoto - Arashiyama Bamboo Forest - Free
- Kyoto - Tenryuji Temple - JPY600
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- Hotel Intergate Kyoto Shijo-shinmachi or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Nara - Todaiji Temple
- Nara - Kasuga Grand Shrine
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
Today is a full day of activities, so be sure to bring a day pack with you with everything you require.Accommodation
- Hotel Granvia Hiroshima or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Himeji - Himeji Castle
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Afterwards head for the serene island of Miyajima, reached after a short ferry ride (30 kilometres) across the Inland Sea. The island is home to the venerable Shinto shrine of Itsukushima, famous for its huge bright orange gate (torii) that rises majestically out of the sea. At high tide it is considered to be one of the most beautiful sights in Japan. The size and physical landscape of Miyajima makes it an ideal place for walking. There is the lovely Momiji Park (known as Maple Valley), from where it is possible to walk or take a cable car up to the top of Mt. Misen. Return to Hiroshima for the night. Maybe try one of the city’s signature dishes for dinner – okonomiyaki, a kind savoury pancake of egg, cabbage, soba noodles, and meat or seafood.
Accommodation
- Hotel Granvia Hiroshima or similar (1 night)
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 - JPY2000
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- Takayama Ouan or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
Our accommodation in Takayama is a Japanese ryokan hotel. Rooms are decorated in Japanese style with en suite shower facilities. A shared onsen (Japanese traditional communal hot spring bath) is also available for guests.As you travel on public transport for the next few days, we'll forward your big luggage to Tokyo while you take a smaller bag with you to Takayama. 1 x piece of luggage is included in our luggage forwarding service. If you have extra luggage you'd like to be forwarded from Hiroshima to Tokyo, the cost will be about 1800-2300 JPY depending on the size. Your Leader will be able to advise the exact amount whilst on your trip.
Accommodation
- Takayama Ouan or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Takayama - Market visit
- Takayama - Hida Folk Village
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Tokyo - City tour
- Tokyo - Sensoji Temple
- Tokyo - Hama Rikyu Garden
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon or similar (1 night)
Optional Activities
- Tokyo - Edo-Tokyo Museum - JPY600
- Tokyo - Meiji-jingū Shrine - Free
- Tokyo - Tokyo National Museum - JPY650
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Meals
11 breakfasts, 2 dinnersTransport
Bullet Train, Local train, Public bus, Subway, Taxi, BoatAccommodation
Hotel (9 nights), Takayama Ryokan Feature Stay (2 nights)Included Activities
- Kyoto - Gion District walk
- Kyoto - Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
- Kyoto - Daitokuji Temple
- Kyoto - Fushimi Inari-Taisha
- Kyoto - Gekkei-kan Sake Brewery & tasting
- Nara - Todaiji Temple
- Nara - Kasuga Grand Shrine
- Himeji - Himeji Castle
- Hiroshima - Miyajima Island day trip
- Miyajima - Itsukushima-jinja Shrine
- Hiroshima - Peace Park & A - Bomb Dome
- Hiroshima - Peace Museum
- Takayama - Market visit
- Takayama - Hida Folk Village
- Tokyo - City tour
- Tokyo - Sensoji Temple
- Tokyo - Hama Rikyu Garden
Dates & availability
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There are currently no scheduled departures on our Explore Japan trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.
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Important notes
1. A 7 day Japan Rail Pass is included in the price of your trip (validated on Day 4). For those wishing to stay and travel longer in Japan after the trip, a Japan Rail Pass extension (total 14 days or 21 days) is available for purchase at time of booking. Please note you can't purchase the rail pass or extension once in Japan.
2. A Single Supplement is currently not available for this trip due to limited rooms at many of our properties.
3. In order to make our travel on public transport easier, there are some days where we will forward our large luggage to our next destination and pack an overnight bag for that night’s stay. See the Itinerary for details.
4. Due to the rapid increase in tourism in Japan and with demand for guides high in the lead up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics it has been necessary to go outside our traditional tour leader sources. As a result our passionate, professional and trained tour leaders may be local Japanese or long term foreign residents in Japan.
5. We are currently unable to offer pre & post tour accommodation at our trip hotels in Japan. Should you be arriving early or departing later, please make your own arrangement at a hotel of your choice.
6. A Complimentary Arrival Transfer to our starting point hotel is included on this trip on a shared airport shuttle. Please ensure you provide your flight detail at time of booking or no later than 30 days prior to arrival.
7. It is essential you pack light and compact for rail travel in Japan. From May 2020 there will be size restrictions for luggage on Shinkansen trains. Luggage over 160-250cm may require an additional 1000 JPY 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 over 160-250cm so they can make the necessary arrangements.
8. Renovation works on Miyajima's famous floating torii gate started in June 2019. During the renovation works, the torii gate is covered up under a partially transparent scaffolding. Furthermore, a bridge is being built on the left side of the gate (when viewed from the shrine) to aid the renovation works. A date for the completion of the renovation works has not been set yet, but the works are expected to take at least one year.

Essential trip information
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