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12 days
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Small Group Tour
Experience Japan’s perfect harmony of ancient tradition and a modern way of life on this 12-day Premium adventure through the cultural heart of the country. You’ll start among Tokyo’s soaring skyscrapers, making your way to Hakone’s mountainous hot springs and find the meaning of relaxation in a cloud of fragrant steam. Then, head to Takayama, which delights ...
26%
$8,921
From$6,608
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • Soak up some quintessentially Japanese Exclusive Experiences, including a sushi making class and a guided meditation session with a Zen Buddhist monk.
    • Unwind among the beauty of nature at your Feature Stay accommodation in the hot springs town of Hakone – with mountain views, a traditional ryokan design, modern comforts and a private onsen (thermal pool) for each room, you’ll find relaxation here!
    • Visit the sobering Hiroshima Peace Park and be reminded of this city’s history with a guided tour. Learn about how the city is recovering and is now dedicated to promoting world peace.
    • Soak up Japan’s natural beauty – with stays in mountainous Hakone, glimpses of Mt Fuji, a stroll around the stunning island of Miyajima and the views of the Japanese alps in the ancient village of Shirakawa-go.
    • Take a half-day tour of Tokyo – wander Asakusa (the temple district), explore the buzzing Shibuya area, find a treat in a depachika (underground food hall), chill out in Yoyogi Park, discover the thriving Harajuku district and get a birds-eye view of the city from Tokyo Skytree.
    • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Eden Reforestation Projects. Donations help them provide local employment opportunities and tackle climate change one tree at a time as they restore forests across 10 different countries.

What's this trip about?

    Experience Japan’s perfect harmony of ancient tradition and a modern way of life on this 12-day Premium adventure through the cultural heart of the country. You’ll start among Tokyo’s soaring skyscrapers, making your way to Hakone’s mountainous hot springs and find the meaning of relaxation in a cloud of fragrant steam. Then, head to Takayama, which delights with its Edo-era beauty. Shirakawa-go immerses you in charming countryside life before you discover the intriguing cultural diversity of Kyoto. Find a passion for peace in Hiroshima, take a sushi-making class with an expert, soak away your worries in an onsen and travel with a local leader who will share the rich variety of their country as you visit temples, castles, shrines and holy mountains.

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - max of 12 people
Age range15 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityTokyo
End CityKyoto

Travel Themes

  • High Adventure

Destinations

Attractions

  • Ginza
  • Hakone
  • Hiroshima
  • Kyoto
  • Takayama
  • Tokyo

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 12

Trip includes

    • Tokyo - Welcome dinner
    • Tokyo - Sensoji Temple
    • Tokyo - Shibuya walking tour
    • Tokyo - Meiji Jingu Shrine
    • Tokyo - Yoyogi Park
    • Tokyo - Tokyo Skytree
    • Tokyo - Tsukiji Outer Market
    • Tokyo - Sushi Making Class
    • Hakone - Cable car/Ropeway
    • Hakone - Lake Ashinoko boat cruise
    • Takayama - Leader-led walking tour (with street food sampling)
    • Takayama - Showa Museum
    • Takayama - Shirakawago Village
    • Takayama - Morning Market visit
    • Hiroshima - Okonomiyaki dinner
    • Hiroshima - Leader-led orientation walk
    • Hiroshima - Miyajima Island day trip
    • Miyajima - Itsukushima-jinja Shrine
    • Hiroshima - Peace Park & A - Bomb Dome
    • Hiroshima - Peace Museum
    • Himeji - Himeji Castle
    • Kyoto - Gion District walk
    • Kyoto - Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
    • Kyoto - Daitokuji Temple
    • Kyoto - Zen Buddhism meditation session
    • Kyoto - Fushimi Inari-Taisha
    • Kyoto - Sake Brewery & tasting
    • Kyoto - Final dinner

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Tokyo

Konnichiwa! Welcome to Japan. Your adventure begins in the country’s lively capital, Tokyo, with a welcome meeting at 6 pm at your hotel. If you get to the city early, there are many sides of Tokyo to explore, from history museums and world-class shopping to neighbour...

Day 2 Tokyo

Bursting with contemporary urban culture and historic temples and shrines, Tokyo has so much to uncover. Exploring the world’s largest city alone can be a daunting task, but today your leader will introduce you to the old and new Tokyo on a half-day tour. Begin in the...

Day 3 Tokyo

This morning, get ready for a delicious experience at the famous Tsukiji Outer Market, where fresh seafood from Tokyo's largest wholesale fish market (recently relocated to a new site at Toyosu) is delivered and ready to sample daily. Your leader will provide insight ...

Day 4 Hakone

Say sayonara to Tokyo this morning and board a train bound for the mountainous onsen (hot spring) town of Hakone. Away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, Hakone offers tranquillity among stunning natural scenery. In the afternoon, take a cable car up the mountains t...

Day 5 Takayama

Today, travel to Takayama via shinkansen (bullet train), with a few changes along the way. Takayama is a charming Edo-period town located in the Japanese alps. Renowned for its traditional inns, sake breweries and tranquil atmosphere, this riverside jewel of central H...

Day 6 Takayama

Start the day with a visit to the Takayama morning market. The Gifu region is known for its production of high-altitude vegetables, and local women have been travelling in from the countryside to sell their produce for more than 600 years. Your leader will guide you t...

Day 7 Hiroshima

This morning, you’ll travel by train to Hiroshima – a cosmopolitan city with a tragic past. Today, the city is full of distinctive cuisine, tightknit communities and a focus on promoting world peace. When you arrive, head out with your leader for an orientation walk t...

Day 8 Hiroshima

This morning you’ll visit the Genbaku (A-Bomb) Dome and the Peace Memorial Park and Museum. Your leader will share the devastating story of the fateful day in August 1945 when Hiroshima was attacked by atomic warfare. The dome was just metres from the atomic site and ...

Day 9 Kyoto

As you speed north to Kyoto on shinkansen, you’ll stop on the way at Japan’s most impressive samurai castle at Himeji. The building, which has survived earthquakes and war since the mid-16th century, was restored to its full glory in 2015. Explore the castle that was ...

Day 10 Kyoto

Begin your day with a city tour around some of Kyoto’s sights. Visit the extravagantly decorated Kinkakuji Temple, immortalised in Yukio Mishima’s novel 'The Golden Pavilion'. After, visit Daitokuji Temple – the head temple of the Daitokuji School of the Rinzai sect o...

Day 11 Kyoto

This morning, head to Kyoto’s famed Fushimi Inari Shrine – known throughout the world as the ‘Path of the Red Gates.’ Take time to appreciate the quieter corners of the shrine, and if you’re feeling fit, a walk to the halfway point provides stunning city views. Contin...

Day 12 Kyoto

There are no activities planned for the day and you’re free to depart at any time after check out. If you’re departing later, you can arrange luggage storage at the hotel. If you’d like to extend your stay in Kyoto, and it’s recommended that you do, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Design custom trip

Dates & Availability

Price From $6,608
Price per day$551
Last Updated: 11/17/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
01 Dec 2024
12 Dec 2024
$7,929
05 Dec 2024
16 Dec 2024
$7,434
10 Dec 2024
21 Dec 2024
$7,021
15 Dec 2024
26 Dec 2024
$7,731
09 Jan 2025
20 Jan 2025
$7,906
06 Feb 2025
17 Feb 2025
$7,614
20 Feb 2025
03 Mar 2025
$8,810
27 Feb 2025
10 Mar 2025
$7,542
02 Mar 2025
13 Mar 2025
$9,765
04 Mar 2025
15 Mar 2025
$7,614

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 (10 nt),Hakone Feature Stay (1 nt)

Transportation & Flights

Boat,Public Bus,Cable Car,Ferry,Metro,Bullet Train,Train,

Transportation & flights

Boat,Public Bus,Cable Car,Ferry,Metro,Bullet Train,Train
Guides
All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Premium leaders are Intrepid’s most experienced, with in-depth knowledge and extensive local networks to make it a trip of a lifetime. Your leader 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. When not already included in your trip, your leader will be able to recommend a local guide service who can share more detailed or specialised information at specific sites should you be interested in delving deeper. 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

  • The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa
  • 310-2 Bizenjima-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 京都府京都市中京区備前島町310-2
  • Kyoto
  • 604-8023
  • JAPAN
  • Phone: +81 752568955

Alternate Finish point

  • For trips departing on the following dates, use this finish point.
  • 27 Feb 2025 (CJPJ250227), 18 Mar 2025 (CJPJ250318), 28 Mar 2025 (CJPJ250328), 31 Mar 2025 (CJPJ250331), 12 Apr 2025 (CJPJ250412), 13 Apr 2025 (CJPJ250413), 03 Oct 2025 (CJPJ251003), 07 Oct 2025 (CJPJ251007), 17 Oct 2025 (CJPJ251017), 24 Oct 2025 (CJPJ251024), 14 Nov 2025 (CJPJ251114), 20 Nov 2025 (CJPJ251120)
  • Hotel Monterey Kyoto
  • 〒604-8161 604 Manjuya-cho, Sanjo-sagaru, Karasuma-dori, Nakagyo-ku
  • Kyoto
  • JAPAN
  • Phone: +81 752517111
Trip ID
intrepid-CJPJ

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