Tokyo to Kyoto, and all the donburi in between
Home of the sumo, the geisha, sake, karaoke, onsen and izakaya – Japan is a true feast for all of your senses. Spend seven days covering the hotspots of this enchanting land, from the bright lights of Tokyo to the cultural capital in Kyoto. In two of Japan’s major cities, you’ll be walking through the quirky neighbourhoods and eating all the street food you can handle! Stop by the charming coastal town of Kamakura to break up your high-speed Shinkansen journey – beachside and close to Mt Fuji. Thousands of years of history distilled in a country so visually pleasing – come and discover Japan’s highlights yourself.
Savour local flavours from Tokyo to Kyoto with chances to try all kinds of sumptuous street food, sake, snacks and other surprises – including the best sushi, of course.
Relax on a short cruise down the Sumida River in Tokyo, taking in the sights of iconic buildings and alighting at the delightful urban oasis of Hama Rikyu gardens.
The coastal city of Kamakura offers a variety of experiences – ancient statues, hiking through lush green and past half-hidden temples, views of Mt Fuji and plenty of time to relax beachside.
With your local leader to show you the way, you’ll not only see the hotspots like Tokyo’s Shibuya and Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari-Taisha, but you’ll go behind the tourist map to local neighbourhoods and places less visited.
Even getting from place to place is fun in Japan! Ride the Shinkansen bullet train, hop on public transport and take the renowned Enoden train line at different stages of your small group adventure.
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.
Trip departures are unavailable.
There are currently no scheduled departures on our Japan Highlights trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.
1. 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.
2. Due to the rapid increase in tourism in Japan and 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.
3. We are currently unable to book pre or post tour accommodation at our start & finish point hotels due to limited room availability. We recommend booking a hotel of your choice through your travel agent or an online booking engine if you are planning to stay longer in Japan.
4. 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 JPY 1000 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.
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.
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