Premium Highlights of Japan

9 days4.511 reviews
Explorer
From
AUD $7,365

Learn samurai traditions, wander ancient temples and soak in a mountainside onsen

If you want to experience a few (of the many) highlights of Japan, all while staying in comfortable accommodation with like-minded travellers, this Premium adventure from Tokyo to Kyoto is a must! You’ll spend nine days exploring world-class shopping neighbourhoods, geisha districts, hole-in-the-wall eateries, ancient temples and markets with some of the freshest seafood you’ll find. Learn about the history of samurai from a family of contemporary ninjas, feast on monjayaki and teppanyaki on a dinner cruise in Tokyo, try to find snow monkeys bathing in hot springs on the mountain in Yamanouchi, wander through a designated Place of Scenic Beauty in Arashiyama and Japan’s most celebrated landscape garden in Kanazawa and follow the trail at a sacred shrine in Kyoto.

Map of Premium Highlights Of Japan including Japan
Trip code: CJPH
Start
Tokyo, Japan
End
Kyoto, Japan
Destinations
Japan
Meals
8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 4 dinners
Transport
Train, Bus
Accommodation
Hotel (7 nights), Feature Stay (1 Night)
Days
9
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Ages
Min 15
Theme
Every trip caters to specific interests and activities, such as wildlife or family.
Explorer
Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time

Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time

Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities

Premium: 4+ star accommodation, exclusive premium inclusions, our most experienced leaders
Premium
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, find out more about our climate commitments and carbon reduction target.
Premium accommodationOur best 4-star accommodation and the highest level of service
Premium experiencesAll must-see locations plus authentic experiences exclusive to Premium
Premium knowledgeTrips led by our most experienced and highest-rated local leaders

Why you'll love this trip

Experience a traditional Japanese Onsen (an area of natural hot springs surrounded by traditional inns and bathing facilities) at your Feature Stay and soak away a day of hiking to the Jigokudani Monkey Park.

See and touch some traditional samurai weaponry, try on some authentic attire and learn about the rich history of these warriors with an authentic samurai experience at a 400-year-old dojo run by contemporary ninjas in Tokyo.

Take a day trip to Kamakura, a coastal treasure known for its history, and see the sights on a traditional, person-led rickshaw, followed by a train ride on one of the oldest electric railways in the country.

Feast your way through Japan with an all-inclusive dinner cruise on a yakatabune in Tokyo, a market visit in Kanazawa where you can pick your ingredients for a lunchtime cooking class at a local’s home and a sweet-making class in Kyoto.

Explore Arashiyama – a nationally designated Historic Site and Place of Scenic Beauty in Kyoto. Walk through the bamboo grove and participate in ritual at the many temples and shrines in the area.

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024

Itinerary

Map of Premium Highlights Of Japan including Japan

Inclusions and activities

Meals

8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 4 dinners

Transport

Train, Bus

Accommodation

Hotel (7 nights), Feature Stay (1 Night)

Premium inclusions
  • Tipping for accommodation, activities and transport
  • Luggage transfer
  • Daily breakfast and signature local meal experiences
  • 24/7 on-ground support
Included activities
  • Tokyo - Welcome dinner
  • Tokyo - Authentic Samurai Experience
  • Tokyo - Sensoji Temple
  • Tokyo - Monja Boat Dinner Cruise
  • Tokyo - Kamakura Day Trip
  • Kamakura - Enoden Ride
  • Kamakura - Rickshaw Ride
  • Kamakura - Kotoku-In temple
  • Yudanaka - Snow Monkey Park
  • Yudanaka - Onsen Experience
  • Kanazawa - Kenrokuen Garden
  • Kanazawa - Samurai District Walking Tour
  • Kanazawa - Higashi Chaya District walking tour
  • Kanazawa - Market Visit and Home Cooking Experience
  • Kyoto - Traditional Sweet Making Experience
  • Kyoto - Arashiyama Walking Tour
  • Kyoto - Gion Night walk
  • Kyoto - Fushimi Inari - Taisha
  • Kyoto - Nishiki market visit

Is this trip right for you?

  • Japan is best explored on foot and by public transport. You’ll need to be fit enough to spend most of each day on your feet and able to handle your luggage as you navigate busy train stations. We recommend comfortable shoes and packing light.
  • Double rooms in Japanese hotels can be smaller than you may be used to (e.g. 20 sqm). Every effort will be made to accommodate double room requests. However, during busy periods, there may be occasions when we are unable to offer a double room, so a twin room will be provided.

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

2. When travelling by train, we include the transfer of one piece of luggage from destination to destination. Please review the Packing section of the Essential Trip Information for more details on luggage transfers and luggage size.

3. We are currently unable to offer airport transfers in Japan. Please refer to the Joining Point Instructions of the Essential Trip Information for our recommendations on arrival. Your leader will be able to advise the best way to reach the airport at the end of your trip.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 based on 11 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Gina · Traveled November 2024
Review submitted 17 Nov 2024

Joseph · Traveled November 2024
Review submitted 24 Nov 2024

Luke · Traveled November 2024
Review submitted 17 Nov 2024

Faagutauaana · Traveled November 2024
Review submitted 14 Nov 2024

Linda · Traveled November 2024
Review submitted 12 Nov 2024
Premium Highlights of Japan
From
AUD $7,365