19 Days | From Tokyo’s lights to Sapporo’s peaks, experience Japan’s highlights
Get to the heart of Japan on this 20-day adventure that blends vibrant cities with serene landscapes. Start in Tokyo’s neon glow before exploring the countryside with a local tea farm stay and beautiful views of Mt Fuji. Hop on a bullet train to experience Kyoto’s historical charm, then head north to Aomori’s ancient sites and Hokkaido’s hot springs, lakes and lavender fields. Meet the Ainu people in Asahikawa and sample traditional dumplings after a cooking demonstration. From sumo and sake to karaoke and onsen, this journey is a feast for the senses and a deep dive into Japan’s rich culture.
Trip overview
- Start
- Tokyo, Japan
- Finish
- Sapporo, Japan
- Destinations
- Japan
- 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
- Style
- Original
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 12
- Trip code
- CJSHC
- Stay on a local tea form in Kawane, where you can enjoy a farm-to-table feast with your hosts. Then discover Hokkaido’s rich Indigenous Ainu culture at the region’s first Ainu museum, by learning about their traditions and making dumplings.
- Walk the 400 m long Mishima Skywalk for unbeatable views of Mt Fuji, then explore northern Japan’s natural wonders, from Hell Valley’s volcanic steam to Mt Asahi’s peaks and the serene waters of Lake Shikotsu.
- Ride the rails like the locals, from lightning-fast bullet trains to scenic mountain rails offering seasonal views of cherry blossoms and autumn leaves.
- Stay in two local ryokan hotels and immerse yourself in the Japanese onsen experience – relaxation via natural hot spring.
- Visit a 300 year old sake brewery in Kyoto, sample street food in Osaka and savour a signature Kaiseki dinner in a ryokan.
- Japan is best to explore on foot – in fact most travellers are surprised at how much distance they end up covering just exploring places when walking! Make sure your shoes are comfy, and you are fit enough to spend most of each day on your feet.
- Be prepared to pack light and smart for this trip as you'll be required to carry your own luggage between train stations and to hotels, which can include going up and down multiple flights of stairs in crowded areas.
- Japanese train connections are typically centred around major cities, so travelling to smaller towns and cities often requires passing through these larger hubs.
- There’s a canoeing activity included in the trip which isn’t too demanding but requires a good level of fitness to fully enjoy the experience.
- This trip is a combination of two trips. Please review the Itinerary for details of when your fellow travellers and leader will change.
Itinerary
Inclusions
8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 5 dinners
Public Bus, Metro, Local Train, Bullet Train, Ropeway
Hotel (15 nights), Farm Stay (1 night), Ryokan Hotel (2 nights)
- Tokyo - welcome meeting and orientation walk
- Tokyo - Sensoji Temple
- Tokyo - Meiji Jingu Shrine
- Tokyo - Shibuya walking tour
- Mishima - Mishima Skywalk
- Kawane - Farm Stay & Home-cooked Dinner
- Kawane - Tea Farm Visit & Tea Brewing & Tasting
- Kawane - Scenic Train Ride
- Kyoto - Gion District walk
- Kyoto - Nishiki-Koji Market
- Kawane - Home-cooked Japanese Breakfast
- Kyoto - Fushimi Inari-Taisha
- Kyoto - Sake Brewery Visit & Tasting
- Osaka - Dotombori and Kuromon Street Food Walking Tour
- Aomori - Leader-led orientation walk
- Hirosaki - Tsugaru Neputa Village
- Hirosaki - Hirosaki Castle
- Hakodate - City walking tour
- Hakodate - Fort Goryokaku
- Noboribetsu - Hell valley
- Lake Shikotsu - Lake Canoe
- Lake Shikotsu - Kaiseki dinner
- Asahikawa - Leader-led orientation walk
- Asakihawa - Kawamura Kaneto Ainu Museum
- Asahikawa - Ainu dumpling making demonstration
- Asahikawa - Mt. Asahi Ropeway
- Asahikawa - Blue Pond (Aoike)
- Furano - Tomita Farm
- Sapporo - Leader-led orientation walk
- Otaru - City walking tour
- Sapporo - Genghis Khan lamb dinner
- Tokyo - Tsukiji Fish Market - Free
- Tokyo - Shinjuku-gyoen - JPY500
- Tokyo - Yoyogi Park - Free
- Tokyo - Imperial Palace - Free
- Mishima - Mishima Taisha Shrine - Free
- Mishima - Rakujuen Park - JPY300
- Mishima - Kakitagawa Park - Free
- Kyoto - Gion Corner cultural centre - JPY5500
- Kyoto - Imperial Palace - Free
- Kyoto Tower - JPY900
- Kyoto - Bike hire (per day) from - JPY1200
- Kyoto - Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) - JPY500
- Kyoto - Ryoanji Zen Garden - JPY600
- Kyoto - Arashiyama Bamboo Forest - Free
- Kyoto - Path of Philosophy (Tetsugaku-no-Michi) - Free
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A Single Supplement is currently not available for this trip due to limited rooms at our chosen accommodation.
2. It is essential that you pack light and compact for rail travel in Japan. There are size restrictions for luggage on Shinkansen trains. Luggage from 160cm to 250cm may require an additional JPY1000 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 from 160cm to 250cm so they can make the necessary arrangements.
3. We are currently unable to book pre or post trip accommodation at our start and finish point hotels due to limited room availability. We recommend booking a hotel of your choice through your booking agent.
4. This trip does not include a Japan Rail Pass. You will need to buy your own train tickets for any independent rail travel you wish to do in Japan pre or post tour.
5. Please note that there are generally less double rooms in Japanese hotels, even those in Western style. While every effort will be made to accommodate double room requests, this may not always be possible.
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