Japan Adventure
Overview
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?
Details
Destinations
Max Group Size
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
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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.
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.
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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. ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
Your trip comes to an end this morning after breakfast. You can leave at any time before the checkout time.
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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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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.
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Finish point
- HOTEL MYSTAYS Sapporo Aspen
- 4-5 Nishi, Kita 8-jo, Kita-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido 060-0808 Japan
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Alternate Finish point
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- 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)
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