Map of Essential Japan including Japan

Discover Japan's excellence on this trip through Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka

Say Konnichiwa to Japan, a land of captivating culture, intriguing innovation and exceptional eats. You’ll get your fix of sushi and shopping in Tokyo before soaking up Kanazawa’s crazy samurai culture. Then, brush up on your world history at Hiroshima, spy geishas in Kyoto’s Gion district and get your Tina Turner on at an Osaka karaoke bar.

This trip is for 18 to 29-year-olds

Some of our under-30 travellers prefer to get around with people their own age. If that’s you, you’re in the right place!

Over 29? We’ve got over 900 other great adventures to choose from for solo travellers, friends, families, food lovers, hiking enthusiasts, and more.


Start
Tokyo, Japan
Finish
Osaka, Japan
Destination
Japan
Style
Basix
Theme
18 to 29s
Code
CJYO
Physical rating
Ages
Min 18, Max 29
Group size
Min 1, Max 16

Travel solo, together

You're never alone when travelling solo with Intrepid

Why you'll love this trip

  • Japan has so many great destinations and this trip has tonnes of free time to see them your way. Think all the benefits of group travel with a leader and new buddies to explore with, without having to do (or pay for) any sightseeing experiences you don’t want to.

  • Immerse yourself in the varied neighbourhoods of Tokyo. From the technological subculture of Akihabara, historical Asakusa and Ueno, to the wild side of fashion in Harajuku and the nightlife of Roppongi – each suburb is almost like a city of its own and you’ll have time to explore them all.

  • Discover Hiroshima Peace Park & Museum – a sobering, but vital, destination for all travellers to Japan to gain insight into tragic events of the nation’s past.

  • Explore Kyoto with your locally-based guide on a walking tour around the Gion district, the heart of the city’s Geisha culture. Later, take the opportunity to check out some of Kyoto’s nightlife and perhaps, hit one of the karaoke bars with your crew.

  • Live your samurai fantasies in feudal-era Kanazawa. We’ve heard there is also excellent sake to be sampled here and plenty else: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/why-kanazawa-is-japans-best-ke...

Is this trip right for you?

  • This tour includes accommodation in multi-share dormitories. In Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, you won't be staying in twin share hotels, but rather they'll be cool hangouts with shared facilities. This means travellers on the same booking may be split between rooms due to the single gender dormitories.

  • In some destinations you may be staying in a ryokan, which is a Japanese-style inn. It’s a great taste of tradition, however not everyone finds futon mattresses on a tatami mat floor, tiny bathrooms and proximity to other guests as comfortable as more western-style hotels and beds. Read more about ryokans in our Accommodation section of the Essential Trip Information.

  • Your leader will take you on orientation walks in each destination, giving you tips on things like supermarkets, places to eat and ATMs and recommendations of fun things to see and do. For more in depth exploration you can head off on your own or with other members of your group, or for the days we are in Kyoto and Tokyo, book one of our excellent Urban Adventures day tours. Public transport to get to various sites is easy and cheap, but do take the cost of transport into account when planning your budget for activities.

  • You will 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.

  • 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.

Itinerary

Konnichiwa! Welcome to Japan. Your adventure begins in Tokyo – a dynamic, modern hub; the thriving capital of an ancient land. Contradictions are everywhere, as hi-tech gadgetry and neon lights play an integral part in the lives of a population steeped in tradition. You’ll meet your fellow travellers and group leader during your welcome meeting at 6pm this evening. Afterwards, your leader will take you for a walk around one of Tokyo’s most popular hubs. Then, you might like to join your leader and new travel buddies for an optional first dinner together.
Accommodation
  • Hostel (multi-share dorm) (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Tokyo - Shinjuku-gyoen - JPY200
  • Tokyo - Studio Ghibli Museum (advance bookings required) - JPY1000
  • Tokyo - Sensoji Temple - Free
  • Tokyo - Imperial Palace - Free
  • Tokyo - Disneyland or Disney Sea - JPY6400
  • Tokyo - Gotokuji Cat Temple - Free
  • Tokyo - A Tour Through Tokyo’s Kitchen (with World's Largest Fish Market) Urban Adventure - JPY8280
  • Tokyo - Kanpai Tokyo: Shinjuku Drinks and Neon Nights Urban Adventure - JPY11500
  • Tokyo - Made In Japan Shopping Tour: Cultural Curiosities Urban Adventure - JPY6900
  • Tokyo - Tokyo After 5 Urban Adventure - JPY14720
  • Tokyo - Tsukiji Outer Market - Free
  • Tokyo - Wholesale Fish Market (relocated to Toyosu) - Free
  • Tokyo - Metropolitan Government Building observation deck - Free
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
During your stay in Tokyo, travellers on the same booking may be split between rooms due to the single gender dormitories at this hostel.

Check out out Tokyo guide here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/our-guide-to-the-perfect-day-in-tokyo/
In the morning, head out exploring with your group leader in the Shibuya area. Look down on one of the busiest intersections in the world at Shibuya station and visit the statue of Hachikō the famous loyal dog. Next indulge your eyes, and your belly, visiting a depachika food hall where vendors sell everything from bento boxes for lunch to formal gifts and everyday groceries. Grab a picnic lunch (optional) as we are heading to Yoyogi Park, home to many events from the first Japan Olympics. Afterwards, visit Meiji Jingu Shrine. Enter via a massive Torii (gate) and let the sights and sounds of the busy city be replaced by a tranquil forest. Then we continue our journey with a visit to Harajuku, the home of quirky youth pop culture. The rest of the day is free for you to explore.
If you are a lover of cats visit the Gotokuji Cat Temple. Maneki Neko (the beckoning cat) are known for good luck and prosperity not only in Japan but all across Asia. Perhaps re-visit your childhood with a magical day spent at Tokyo Disney or Disney Sea theme parks (tickets can be bought at JR ticket counters, convenience stores, online). Or perhaps get the group together for the final night in Tokyo and experience the Robot Cafe in Shinjuku. You can catch a 3 hour show full of neon lights, lasers, robotics, video screens and dancers.
Accommodation
  • Hostel (multi-share dorm) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Tokyo - Meiji Jingu Shrine
  • Tokyo - Shibuya walking tour
  • Tokyo - Yoyogi Park
  • Tokyo - Harajuku street
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
This morning we speed through central Japan on a bullet train bound for Kanazawa. This city is best known for Kenroku-en, 17th-century gardens. Kanazawa is also known for being the home of samurai - it boasts beautifully preserved samurai and geisha districts, historic temples and awesome markets to shop and eat your way around. After checking into our hotel perhaps go and explore Kenroku-en Garden and Kanazawa Castle Park. The castle is free to enter however the gardens have an entry fee of 310JPY. A bus pass for the day in Kanazawa will cost you approximately 500JPY. Tonight is a free evening for you to explore the streets and indulge in Kanazawa's izakaya and famous seafood.
Accommodation
  • Hotel/Ryokan (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Kanazawa - Kenroku-en Gardens & Castle - JPY310
  • Kanazawa - Oyama Shrine - Free
  • Kanazawa - Omicho Market - Free
  • Kanazawa - 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art (excl. special exhibitions) - Free
  • Kanazawa - Nagamachi Samurai District (excl. museum entry) - Free
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
In peak season, bedding configurations and room types at this destination may vary. Single pods (similar to a capsule style hotel) may be used.

Check out our guide to Kanazawa here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/why-kanazawa-is-japans-best-kept-secret/
Explore Kanazawa by foot on a walking tour of the Higashi Chaya district. Get lost among the Geisha in the alleyways and admire the traditional Chaya houses, known locally as places of tradition, feasts and entertainment. If tea's your thing, perhaps enjoy a traditional tea ceremony at one of the local tea houses. The afternoon will then be free for you to explore on your own. Everything is super accessible in Japan so you'll do a fair bit of walking. Be sure to pack a comfy pair of shoes to get around!
Accommodation
  • Hotel/Ryokan (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kanazawa - Higashi Chaya District walking tour
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
In peak season, bedding configurations and room types at this destination may vary.
Today catch a train through the Japan alps to Kyoto - once the imperial capital of Japan and one of the most beautiful cities in the country. With over 2000 temples, shrines and gardens, Kyoto is a great place to get lost in - so get out, walk the streets and soak up the wonderful atmosphere in your free time. Kyoto has a great bus network linking all its key sites, so hop on the bus to also get around.

Perhaps visit the magnificent, gold-plated Kinkaku-ji Temple with its expansive grounds in Kyoto’s northwest, or maybe Nijo Castle, the feudal-era castle famous for its squeaking ‘nightingale floors’ designed to alert inhabitants to approaching ninja. In the early evening, hook up with your leader for a walk through Kyoto’s famous Gion district, the heart of the city’s geisha culture. This is where Kyoto’s immaculately made-up geiko (the Kyoto name for geisha) perform and entertain private clients in small teahouses tucked away down tiny back streets.
Accommodation
  • Hostel (multi-share dorm) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kyoto - Gion District walk
Optional Activities
  • Kyoto - Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) - JPY500
  • Kyoto - Nijo Castle - JPY800
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
Check out our Kyoto guide here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/what-to-do-in-kyoto/
Join your leader this morning for a walk in the wooded hills of Inari Mountain, famous for its Shinto 'fox temple' and atmospheric red torii gates, a quintessential Japan sight and must-see for keen photographers. The afternoon is free for you to explore and your leader can give you recommendations on what to see and how to get there. It's your last night in Kyoto, so make sure you try some of Kyoto’s famed Kyo-ryori (‘Kyoto cuisine’), or wander the food market of Nishiki in the city’s heart to see the ingredients that make up Kyo-ryori or, in true Japanese tradition, hit the karaoke bar and show off your impressive pipes. Cycling is another great way to explore Kyoto. You can hire bikes and helmets from one of the many bike shops in town with costs usually from 1000JPY/day.
Accommodation
  • Hostel (multi-share dorm) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kyoto - Fushimi Inari-Taisha
Optional Activities
  • Kyoto - Imperial Palace - Free
  • Kyoto - Kiyomizu-dera - JPY400
  • Kyoto - Kimono/Maiko/Samurai Dress Up - JPY10000
  • Kyoto - Arashiyama Monkey Park - JPY550
  • Kyoto - Kaiten Sushi Train at Kura Sushi - JPY2000
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
Due to limited availability, if you wish to experience a traditional tea ceremony, sake tasting or kimono rental, we recommend booking this in advance. Enquire directly at: samurai-house.jp for further information and prices. 
Hiroshima is a bustling metropolis with a tragic history, approximately two hours on the bullet train from Kyoto. Once here, your leader will take you to visit Peace Park and the ruins of the A-Bomb Dome building, one of 11 structures left partially standing as a reminder of the destruction of nuclear war following the nuclear bomb blast on 6 August 1945. The Peace Park contains monuments and a sobering and very informative museum dedicated to Hiroshima and international peace. In the evening, try its most famous dish – okonomiyaki (savoury pancake of cabbage, meat or seafood) – grilled in front of you on a sizzling hotplate.
Accommodation
  • Hotel/Ryokan (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Hiroshima - Peace Park & A - Bomb Dome
  • Hiroshima - Peace Museum
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
Check out our Hiroshima guide here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/guide-one-day-hiroshima-japan/
Today jump on a local train and ferry to spend the day at the nearby island of Miyajima with its famous 'floating' Torii Gate and the grand Itsukushima-jinja Shrine. Hike through the woods to the peak of Mt Misen for some stunning views of the Inland Sea stretching far out below you. Be sure to watch out for inquisitive and eternally hungry deer that roam the island. Back in Hiroshima you can enjoy a free evening tonight.
Accommodation
  • Hotel/Ryokan (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Hiroshima - Miyajima Island
Optional Activities
  • Miyajima - Itsukushima-jinja Shrine - JPY300
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
Check out our Miyajima guide here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/miyajima-island-day-trip-japan/
Travel by bullet train to Osaka, and what better way to finish our trip than in a city with the motto 'kuidaore' (translation: 'eat until you drop'!). Osaka is Japan's unofficial culinary capital, with sprawling shopping hubs and tiny backstreets overflowing with restaurants and bars serving up local delicacies as well as Japan's answer to fast food. Notably, Osaka is credited with the first kaiten-zushi (conveyor belt sushi) restaurants, after its inventor - the owner of a sushi restaurant with staffing issues - watched beer bottles on a conveyor belt at the nearby Asahi brewery and thought it might be a good way to solve this problem! We recommend you try Osaka’s takoyaki (a delicious grilled octopus dish) which Osaka is renowned for!

With your leader, enjoy a walking tour around the popular Dotombori district which is the city's most famous shopping, food and entertainment district. At night it’s lit by hundreds of neon lights and mechanical signs, including the famous Glico Running Man sign and Kani Doraku crab sign.

Thrill seekers are sure to find adventure at Universal Studios theme park and for those of you wanting to try your hand at a local skill, try a taiko drum lesson or, if you’re feeling like a little relaxation, indulge yourself at Spa World, and try a traditional Japanese Onsen.

If shopping is your cup of tea, take in some of the city's landmarks, including the wonderful Kuromon covered market and pick up some final kitchen gadgets (or plastic food!) at the quirky Dogusuji Arcade.
Accommodation
  • Hostel (multi-share dorm) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Osaka - Dotombori District walking tour
Optional Activities
  • Osaka - Osaka Castle - JPY600
  • Osaka - Universal Studios (Day Pass) - JPY7200
  • Osaka - Dogusuji Arcade - Free
  • Osaka - Spa World - JPY2700
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
Check out our Osaka guide here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/osaka-japan-best-food/
There are no activities planned for Day 10 and you are able to depart the hotel at any time. Check out time is 10 am and if you are departing later, you can arrange luggage storage at the hotel.

Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Meals

1 dinner

Transport

Public bus, Metro, Train, Bullet Train

Accommodation

Multishare Hostel (5 nights), Hotel/Ryokan (4 nights)

Included activities

  • Tokyo - Meiji Jingu Shrine
  • Tokyo - Shibuya walking tour
  • Tokyo - Yoyogi Park
  • Tokyo - Harajuku street
  • Kanazawa - Higashi Chaya District walking tour
  • Kyoto - Gion District walk
  • Kyoto - Fushimi Inari-Taisha
  • Hiroshima - Peace Park & A - Bomb Dome
  • Hiroshima - Peace Museum
  • Hiroshima - Miyajima Island
  • Osaka - Dotombori District walking tour

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Essential Japan trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

Prices may go up, so secure your trip today!
Jump to a departure month

Important notes

1. A Single Supplement to have your own room is not currently available on this trip due to limited rooms at many of our properties.
2. This tour includes accommodation in multi-share dormitories in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. This means travellers on the same booking may be split between rooms due to single gender dormitories used.
3. A 7-day Japan Rail Pass is included on this trip. This pass will be validated on Day 3 of the trip with the assistance of the tour leader, but you won't be able to use the pass prior to that. An extension to 14-day or 21-day pass is available to purchase, but you can only use the extended pass for travels after the trip. Please note that you can't purchase the Rail Pass or extensions once in Japan.
4. Transport from one destination to the next is included, however to get around to optional activities in your free time you will need to buy your own public transport pass - your leader will assist you with the best value options.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. We are not able to book airport shuttle service for Japan now. Japan has an extensive and efficient public transport system and the joining and finishing point instructions are listed in the Essential Trip Information.

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.

View Essential Trip Information

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