Japan Adventure

19 days
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Small Group Tour
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 an...
26%
$11,583
From$8,580
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

    • 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.

What's this trip about?

    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.

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeIntimate group - max of 12 people
Age range15 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityTokyo
End CitySapporo

Destinations

  • Asia
  • Japan

Attractions

  • Kyoto
  • Tokyo

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 12

Trip includes

    • Tokyo - welcome meeting and orientation walk
    • Tokyo - Sensoji Temple
    • Tokyo - Meiji Jingu Shrine
    • Tokyo - Shibuya walking tour
    • Mishima - Mishima Skywalk
    • Kawane - Homestay & 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

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Tokyo

Konnichiwa! Welcome to Japan. Bursting with contemporary urban culture, Tokyo has fascinating museums, world-class shopping and backstreets stuffed with restaurants and karaoke bars. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. After, you’ll have some...

Day 2 Tokyo

Dive right into Tokyo today by exploring historic Asakusa – one of the older and more traditional parts of the city. Visit the city’s oldest temple – Senso-ji – founded almost 1400 years ago when Tokyo was nothing more than a fishing village. Browse the many interesti...

Day 3 Mishima

Leave Tokyo behind and jump on the train to Mishima – a city built on the lava flow of Mr Fuji. Thanks to an eruption several thousand years ago, the soil here is rich in nutrients and there’s an endless supply of fresh, filtered water that flows through the city like...

Day 4 Kawane Farm

Today, you’ll hop on a local train to Kanaya station, then transfer to the scenic train that travels through the mountains and gorges of Kawane. The ride is especially beautiful during cherry blossom season in the spring and when the colours change in autumn! After di...

Day 5 Kyoto

After a home-cooked, Japanese-style breakfast, hop on the bus and a Shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto. One of the Kyoto’s original names was Heian-kyo, which literally translates to ‘tranquility and peace capital’, and the thousands of temples, shrines and gardens make...

Day 6 Kyoto

Today, you’ll head to one of the most photogenic spots in Kyoto – Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine. Famous for the thousands of scarlet torii (square archways) along the path, this shrine is dedicated to Inari – the god of rice. Because foxes do his bidding, there are also...

Day 7 Osaka

Jump back on the train this morning and head onto Osaka – Japan’s unofficial food capital. When you arrive, follow your leader on an orientation walk, then explore the city at your own pace. Meet in the evening for a street food walking tour with your group through Dotombori District and Kuromon Market and celebrate the end of this fast and furious journey in Japan with your fellow travellers.

Day 8 Tokyo

Head back to Tokyo on train today. Tonight, you’ll have a second welcome meeting at 6 pm to meet the new travellers joining your group. After, why not head out to dinner together to get to know each other.

Day 9 Aomori

Hop on a bullet train (shinkansen) this morning and head north to Aomori, where you can relax and enjoy the countryside views. When you arrive, get your bearings with a leader-led orientation walk and then enjoy a free afternoon. Maybe visit the Sannai-Maruyama Archae...

Day 10 Hirosaki/ Aomori

Hop on a train this morning and head to Hirosaki for the day. One of the most famous festivals in Japan is held here every August – the Nebuta Matsuri – featuring large lantern floats of mythological warriors. You’ll see some of these floats on display in Tsugaru Nepu...

Day 11 Hakodate

Today you’ll make your way to Hokkaido Island via bullet train. When you arrive in Hakodate, your leader will guide you on an orientation walk, with a stop at a fish market for lunch. It’s famous for its fresh seafood and is a great spot to try some local delicacies l...

Day 12 Noboribetsu

Traverse more of Hokkaido today by heading to Noboribetsu by train – a famous onsen (hot spring) town, part of the larger Shikotsu-Toya National Park. You’ll go straight to Jigokundani, literally meaning ‘Hell Valley’, this is an apt name for the volcanic activity on ...

Day 13 Lake Shikotsu

Pass through rural Hokkaido as you travel to Shikotsuko by train and bus, where you’ll be welcomed by the sight of Lake Shikotsu – a caldera lake formed by volcanic activity. Cruise along the clear water in the afternoon in a canoe and admire the surrounding forests. ...

Day 14 Asahikawa

Today you’ll journey to Asahikawa – the second largest city in Hokkaido, located in the heart of the island. It’s one of the coldest cities in Japan so make sure you layer up for your leader-led orientation walk if you’re visiting during winter. After, maybe check out...

Day 15 Asahikawa

Start your day with a visit to the Kawamura Kaneto Ainu Museum and learn about the rich culture of Ainu people – an Indigenous group from the northern regions of Japan. This is the first Ainu museum in Hokkaido and set up back in the 30s by an Ainue family who was hop...

Day 16 Furano

Hop in a private transfer to Asahidake Ropeway – a line that climbs Mount Asahi, the tallest mountain in Hokkaido. Get all the rewards without the sweaty workout by riding the ropeway up the mountain, taking in the elevated views. After, drive to the Blue Pond – a bod...

Day 17 Sapporo

Stop and smell the flowers with a morning visit to Tomita Farm. From late June to early August, you’ll see the expansive lavender fields that have made the farm famous in Japan and beyond – and there are plenty of other colourful crops to admire outside of those summe...

Day 18 Otaru/ Sapporo

Head out on daytrip today to Otaru – a nearby town with a scenic canal area – and enjoy some free time roaming the streets. Maybe visit the Otaru Music Book Museum, home to 25,000 music boxes and lots of information on the city’s music box craftsmanship. If you visit ...

Day 19 Sapporo

Your trip comes to an end this morning after breakfast. You can leave at any time before the checkout time.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $8,580
Price per day$452
Last Updated: 11/8/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
09 Mar 2025
27 Mar 2025
$8,955
30 Mar 2025
17 Apr 2025
$9,300
02 Apr 2025
20 Apr 2025
$10,880
07 May 2025
25 May 2025
$9,265
11 May 2025
29 May 2025
$8,925
18 May 2025
05 Jun 2025
$8,925
25 May 2025
12 Jun 2025
$8,925
15 Jun 2025
03 Jul 2025
$8,580
06 Jul 2025
24 Jul 2025
$9,120
23 Jul 2025
10 Aug 2025
$9,485

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel

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The Intrepid Travel Experience

If you’re looking for adventure, you’ve come to the right place. For the past 25 years, we’ve been taking small groups of travelers on unforgettable trips around the world. What makes them unforgettable? Take a look for yourself and discover the Intrepid experience.

Our travelers have three styles of tour to choose from: Basix, Original and Comfort. Each has a different level of inclusions and accommodation, but all have unforgettable real life experiences as part of the package. Travellers can also choose themed trips, such as Family, Sailing or Food, to suit their interests.

Our group size has an average of just ten travellers, which allows us to get off the beaten track, use local accommodation and transport, and really get to know the culture. It also ensures we are contributing to the local economy; by choosing local suppliers we were able to keep AUD 60 million in local economies in 2012. We’re also working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and were the first in our sector to introduce carbon offset trips. This, along with our many corporate sustainability activities, has meant we’re one of the travel industry’s leaders in responsible travel.

Why Intrepid?

  •   Small groups - average of 10 people per trip
  •   Sustainability - pioneers for the industry
  •   Local leaders - authentic perspectives
  •   Local transport - get close and personal
  •   Local accommodation - experience real living
  •   Intrepid travelers - like-minded companions 

History

Intrepid Travel has come a long way since its beginnings in 1989. From two university friends, a typewriter and a kitchen desk, it is now a proud member of The Intrepid Group, taking over 100,000 travelers every year.

Intrepid Travel is part of The Intrepid Group of companies, alongside leading small group adventure companies Peregrine, Urban Adventures and PEAK DMC.

Despite growing into a global business with over 1,000 staff based all over the world and over 800 different trips across every continent, we’ve remained devoted to the same grassroots values and responsible travel philosophies that we had at the very beginning.

 

Values

On every trip we operate and in every interaction we have with a client, supplier or local, we live our core values everyday:

  • Integrity – Doing the right thing
  • Responsible – Think global, act local
  • Growth – Stakeholders in our own success
  • Innovation – Thriving on new ideas and embracing change
  • Fun – It’s engrained into who we are and what we do
  • Passion – We are inspired by the work we do and the trips we offer

 

Why we love this operator
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
What they’re known for
Small group tours for all types of travelers at a range of different price points and trips to off-the-beaten-path destinations.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Hotel (15 nights),Farm Stay (1 night),Ryokan Hotel (2 nights)

Transportation & Flights

Public Bus,Metro,Local Train,Bullet Train,Ropeway,

Transportation & flights

Public Bus,Metro,Local Train,Bullet Train,Ropeway
Guides
All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip. Due to Japan's popularity it has been necessary to go outside our traditional sources for employing tour leaders. As a result, our passionate, professional and trained tour leaders may either be Japanese or long term foreign residents in Japan.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your group leader or local representative. If you have credit card insurance your group leader or local representative will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or USA the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside of their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form at the Group Meeting, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise. For assistance with travel insurance or other services, please visit the link below: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-resources/our-services
Visa requirements
PASSPORT You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date. We need your passport information to get everything ready for your trip so it’s important that the information on your booking matches your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends. VISAS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our page here:  www.intrepidtravel.com/visa-entry-requirements
Health & Safety
Most national governments provide regularly updated foreign travel advice on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all destinations and activities on your trip. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trips here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/travel-alerts We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, flight tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. Your group leader or local representative will accompany you on all included activities, however, during your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests or relax and take it easy. While your group leader or local representative will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your group leader or local representative has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Intrepid's operational safety policies can be viewed on our website at the link below. We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how safety is being managed on our trips. https://www.intrepidtravel.com/safety-guidelines JAPAN Crime levels are low. It is generally safe to walk around at night and to travel on public transport, but you should maintain the same level of vigilance as you would at home and take sensible precautions. Reports of inappropriate touching or ‘chikan’ of female passengers on commuter trains are fairly common. The police advise that you shout at the perpetrator to attract attention and ask a fellow passenger to call the train staff. The Roppongi entertainment district of Tokyo is considered a higher risk area for crime.
Age Requirements
15 years and up
Additional Information

Finish point

  • HOTEL MYSTAYS Sapporo Aspen
  • 4-5 Nishi, Kita 8-jo, Kita-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido 060-0808 Japan
  • Sapporo
  • JAPAN

Alternate Finish point

  • For trips departing on the following dates, use this finish point.
  • 18 Jan 2026 (CJSHC260118), 01 Mar 2026 (CJSHC260301), 08 Mar 2026 (CJSHC260308), 29 Mar 2026 (CJSHC260329), 01 Apr 2026 (CJSHC260401), 05 Apr 2026 (CJSHC260405), 10 May 2026 (CJSHC260510), 17 May 2026 (CJSHC260517), 24 May 2026 (CJSHC260524), 14 Jun 2026 (CJSHC260614), 05 Jul 2026 (CJSHC260705), 22 Jul 2026 (CJSHC260722), 09 Aug 2026 (CJSHC260809), 16 Aug 2026 (CJSHC260816), 30 Aug 2026 (CJSHC260830), 06 Sep 2026 (CJSHC260906), 13 Sep 2026 (CJSHC260913), 27 Sep 2026 (CJSHC260927), 04 Oct 2026 (CJSHC261004), 11 Oct 2026 (CJSHC261011), 25 Oct 2026 (CJSHC261025), 08 Nov 2026 (CJSHC261108), 29 Nov 2026 (CJSHC261129), 06 Dec 2026 (CJSHC261206)
  • Sapporo
  • Array
  • Sapporo
  • JAPAN
Trip ID
intrepid-CJSHC

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