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Japan Highlights and Events
Travel in Japan with Intrepid

A fascinating blend of tradition and modernity, Japan has a unique way of respecting the old and welcoming the new. The quirky Harajuku culture and high-tech gadgets of Tokyo sit peacefully alongside the spiritual serenity of monasteries, temples and shrines, the lasting traditions of the delicate Geishas, ritualistic tea ceremonies and onsen bathing. Japan lives in the moment with a respectful nod to the past.
Experience Japan's highlights on these trips
Winter Japan
15 days
Original
- USD $4,390CAD $4,180AUD $4,035EUR €3,075GBP £2,560NZD $5,165ZAR R33,455CHF FR3,785Trip Price tool tip
- JPY 45,100 Japan Rail Pass - Pre PurchasedExtras tool tip
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USD $4,976*CAD $4,721*AUD $4,576*EUR €3,526*GBP £2,920*NZD $5,841*ZAR R38,370*CHF FR4,326** Total price tool tip
Japan Express
9 days
Basix
-
USD $2,550CAD $2,430AUD $2,345EUR €1,790GBP £1,485NZD $2,995ZAR R19,440CHF FR2,195* Total price tool tip
Japan Experience
14 days
Comfort
- USD $5,425CAD $5,165AUD $4,985EUR €3,795GBP £3,160NZD $6,385ZAR R41,330CHF FR4,675Trip Price tool tip
- JPY 45,100 Japan Rail Pass - Pre PurchasedExtras tool tip
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USD $6,011*CAD $5,706*AUD $5,526*EUR €4,246*GBP £3,520*NZD $7,061*ZAR R46,245*CHF FR5,216** Total price tool tip
Land of the Rising Sun
14 days
Original
- USD $4,095CAD $3,895AUD $3,760EUR €2,965GBP £2,385NZD $4,820ZAR R31,175CHF FR3,640Trip Price tool tip
- JPY 45,100 Japan Rail Pass - Pre PurchasedExtras tool tip
-
USD $4,681*CAD $4,436*AUD $4,301*EUR €3,416*GBP £2,745*NZD $5,496*ZAR R36,090*CHF FR4,181** Total price tool tip
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Refer to booking conditions
Highlights
- Reflect on the past in the city of Hiroshima
- See the shrines and temples of Nikko
- Delve into geisha culture in Kyoto
- Experience the charms of the Sapporo Winter Festival
- Soak in a traditional onsen in Hakone
- Walk the busy city streets of Tokyo
- Sip top-quality sake in Takayama
- Feast on Japanese cuisine in Osaka
- Taste fresh sashimi at Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market
- Explore the mystical sights of Koya-san
- Visit a sumo stable in Tokyo
Festivals and Events
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Sapporo Winter Festival
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- February 5 - February 14, 2014 View available trips in Japan
- Held every February since 1950, this festival features hundreds of statues and ice sculptures, snow slides and mazes, regional food and artistic performances. Winter in Japan is truly amazing - and the Sapporo Winter Festival celebrates this magically.
Intrepid has no control over changes made to festival and event dates and activities. Note that some Intrepid trips which include an event as part of their itinerary, may be surcharged. Where festivals or events are not included as part of an Intrepid trip, all costs associated with the event will need to be paid for by the client. Please check before booking your Intrepid trip that it does match up with key festival or event dates.
Japan's Top Picks
Japan has the highest life expectancy in the world, with the average woman expecting to live for 86.1 years and the average man 78 years
Top 10 Culinary Experiences of Japan
- Get In The Spirit: Learn about Japan's favourite fermented spirit on a visit to a sake brewery in Takayama. See the production process then sip on the end results. Kanpai!
- Tasty Treasures of the Sea: Be amazed by the variety of seafood on offer at Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market. This is the world's largest fish market - it would be hard to find fresher sushi and sashimi anywhere else.
- Ceremonial Tea: Be exposed to the careful ritual of a traditional tea ceremony in Kyoto. Green tea is delicately prepared by a kimono-clad host and served amid flower arrangements, tatami mats and calligraphy scrolls.
- Snack Attack: Japan has more vending machines per capita than anywhere else in the world. With ice cream, instant ramen, cold beer, sake and hot meals all available, just try leaving Tokyo without buying something from one.
- Liquid Gold: Pay a visit to the Sapporo Brewery for a tour of the brewery and museum exhibitions. That's enough to make anyone thirsty, so be sure to sip on a cool beer at the gigantic Beer Hall afterwards.
- Osaka Overindulgence: Head to Osaka's premier 'eat street', the famously flamboyant Dotonbori district. Restaurants specialising in crab, ramen, beef and takoyaki (fried octopus balls) line the streets - this is the perfect place to feast on food, and landmarks.
- Meat-Free Morsels: Enjoy simple vegetarian fare prepared by young monks while staying at a monastery in Koya-san. This is a truly unique dining experience you won't forget anytime soon.
- Pancake Pig Out: Don't leave Hiroshima without trying the local speciality of Okonomiyaki. This savoury pancake is layered with cabbage, meat, noodles, egg and sauce, and depending what restaurant you visit - sometimes you can cook it yourself.
- Use Your Noodle: Head to a local restaurant and slurp a delicious bowl of steaming ramen. Choose from crab, pork, chicken or miso and top with ginger, garlic, sesame seeds, seaweed or corn.
- Soba… So Good: Find out how a staple of Japanese cuisine is created by learning to make soba noodles from scratch in Tokyo. A rewarding experience for your mind, and your stomach.
Shortlist
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Japan at a glance
- 6
- Tokyo (population 12.5 million)
- 127.2 million
- Japanese
- JPY
- (GMT+09:00) Osaka, Sapporo, Tokyo
- Type A (North American/Japanese 2-pin), Type B (American 3-pin)
- +81
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