Ultimate Japan

24 days
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Small Group Tour
Begin your Japanese adventure in the tech-haven of Tokyo, then discover scenic beauty on the Hakone ropeway. Sip the best sake in Takayama and be reminded of the sobering past of Hiroshima. Visit the floating torii gate of Miyajima and make use of your local leader and guides to reveal layers of culture and history in lesser-known cities. Spend some time in K...
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$14,398
From$10,665
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Overview

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

Highlights

    • Soar high above Lake Ashi and (on a clear day) get a glimpse of the iconic Mt Fuji on a ride on the Hakone ropeway.
    • Stay in a countryside homestay, taking you off the beaten track to experience classic Japanese hospitality. Feast on home-cooked meals over conversations with your welcoming hosts and learn about rural life in Japan. 
    • Spend three nights in Kyoto, and craft your own experience in this ancient capital with loads of free time and the help of your expert local leader.
    • Watch the steam coming out of the ‘hells’ (hot spring pools in Jigoku) of Beppu and enjoy a unique experience for lunch – you’ll cook and steam your food right in the hot spring steam, said to be rich with healthy minerals, then take a relaxing a soak in a traditional onsen,
    • Explore the little town of Takayama that sits within the Japanese Northern Alps and take in the stunning view of the five peaks of Mount Aso from the Daikanbo Observatory.

What's this trip about?

    Begin your Japanese adventure in the tech-haven of Tokyo, then discover scenic beauty on the Hakone ropeway. Sip the best sake in Takayama and be reminded of the sobering past of Hiroshima. Visit the floating torii gate of Miyajima and make use of your local leader and guides to reveal layers of culture and history in lesser-known cities. Spend some time in Kyoto, then veer off the main island of Honshu to the naturally beautiful southwest. Wander through art-laden castles, spend a night in a tranquil homestay in Usuki and relax in the steam of Beppu’s onsens. Soak up the peace in the caldera of Mt Aso in a traditional Japanese inn surrounded by rice terraces. Visit the Peace Park in Nagasaki and end it all back in Osaka.

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 CityOsaka

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • High Adventure

Destinations

Attractions

  • Hakone
  • Hiroshima
  • Indiana
  • Kyoto
  • Nagasaki
  • Osaka
  • Takayama
  • Tokyo

Activities

  • Culture
  • Historic sightseeing

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 12

Trip includes

    • Nikko - Toshogu Shrine
    • Hakone - Cable car/Ropeway
    • Hakone - Lake Ashinoko boat cruise
    • Takayama - Hida Folk Village
    • Takayama - Market visit with snack sampling
    • Takayama - Sake brewery tasting
    • Takayama - Incense making in Zenkoji Temple
    • Hiroshima - Peace Park & A - Bomb Dome
    • Hiroshima - Peace Museum
    • Hiroshima - Okonomiyaki dinner
    • Hiroshima - Miyajima Island
    • Himeji - Himeji Castle
    • Kyoto - Gion District walk
    • Kyoto - Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
    • Kyoto - Fushimi Inari-Taisha
    • Kyoto - Japanese sweet making & Mocha tea experience
    • Kyoto - Nishiki Market walk with snack sampling
    • Takamatsu - Ritsurin Garden & Sanuki Folkcraft Museum
    • Takamatsu - Naoshima day trip (ferry, public bus & bicycle)
    • Matsuyama - Matsuyama Castle
    • Usuki - Local Sake brewery visit and tasting
    • Usuki - Japanese home-cooking experience
    • Beppu - 'Hells' of Beppu (Jigoku)
    • Beppu - local onsen
    • Beppu - Steamed lunch (Beppu style)
    • Mount Aso - Nakadake Crater
    • Mount Aso - Sunasenri trail hike (or Kusasenri trail, weather and access dependent)
    • Mount Aso - Ogi Rice terraces
    • Mount Aso - Daikanbo Observatory
    • Nagasaki - Glover Garden
    • Nagasaki - Peace Park & Atomic Bomb Museum
    • Nagasaki - tram day pass

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Tokyo

Konnichiwa! Welcome to Japan. Bursting with contemporary urban culture, there are many sides of Tokyo to explore, from fascinating museums and world-class shopping to neighbourhood backstreets lined with hole-in-the-wall eateries and bars. Your adventure begins with a...

Day 2 Tokyo - Nikko

Enjoy a free morning in Tokyo. This afternoon, you’ll catch a local train to Nikko. Japanese trains are a quintessential experience and one of the best insights into culture (and efficiency!) of the country. Go shopping for some snacks or a bento box at the train stat...

Day 3 Nikko

You have a full day to explore Nikko today – this ancient town is overflowing with shrines and temples, some a UNESCO World Heritage site! You'll visit Toshugu Shrine – the resting place of a Tokugawa shogun who was one of the most powerful rulers of the country. The ...

Day 4 Hakone

Say goodbye to Nikko and set out for a bit of a travel day to Hakone. Hop on a local train, followed by two shinkansen bullet trains and finally a bus. The journey is certainly worth it, as Hakone is a scenic hot spring resort in the foothills of Mt Fuji. You’ll be staying at a family-run ryokan tonight, with tatami-mat rooms, shared bathroom facilities and a lovely outdoor hot-spring onsen.

Day 5 Hakone

This morning, hop on a boat across Ashinoko Lake, then ride the Hakone ropeway cable car to the top of the surrounding mountains. The area around the lake offers plenty of stunning views, and you may even catch a glimpse of Mt Fuji in the distance if weather condition...

Day 6 Takayama

Travel by a local train, then a shinkansen towards Takayama – a charming Edo period town in the Japanese Alps, famous for its traditional inns, sake breweries and the Hida Folk Village. The village is your first stop – an outdoor museum where the traditional thatched-...

Day 7 Takayama

This morning, you’ll head to the markets in Gifu prefecture – these markets have been held for over 600 years and are known for their array of high-altitude vegetables. Browse the stalls of seasonal produce that’s brought in from the surrounding countryside and set up...

Day 8 Hiroshima

Travel by express train and shinkansen to Hiroshima today. Depending on what time you arrive today, you may visit Hiroshima’s Peace Park this afternoon or tomorrow morning. The Genbaku (A-Bomb) Dome and Peace Memorial Museum stand testament to the fateful day in Augus...

Day 9 Miyajima - Hiroshima

Today you'll make your way to the nearby island of Miyajima with its famous 'floating' torii gate. You might like to further explore the island by climbing to the top of Mt Miyajima (or hopping on the cable car instead) for 360-degree views of the Inland Sea. Keep you...

Day 10 Kyoto

Leave Hiroshima today and take the train to 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. The moats, baileys, towers and walled alleyways were ...

Day 11 Kyoto

Start your day with a visit to the iconic Kinkakuji Temple, with its impressive Golden Pavilion, immortalised by Yukio Mishima's novel. Then, join a sweet-making demonstration to learn how yatsuhashi (a traditional Japanese snack of flour, sugar and cinnamon) and moch...

Day 12 Kyoto

Enjoy a free day to explore this charming ancient capital at your own pace. Maybe head off to Arashiyama and wander through the Sagano bamboo forest, or cycle along the Kamo River. You could see the architecturally impressive Higashi Honganji Temple and the Sanjusange...

Day 13 Osaka

This morning, say goodbye to the members of your group who are leaving and hop on a train to Osaka – the vibrant unofficial culinary capital, whose motto is 'Kuidaore' (eat until you drop). When you arrive, you’ll have free time to wander the trendy streets or pick up...

Day 14 Takamatsu

Depart Osaka this morning and begin the journey west. Take the train across the bridge spanning the stunning Inland Sea and onto Takamatsu. This may be the largest city on the island of Shikoku (the smallest of Japan’s four main islands), but it's a beautifully unpret...

Day 15 Naoshima Island/Takamatsu

Take the ferry this morning for a daytrip to the island of Naoshima, in the Inland Sea between Takamatsu and the mainland – famous worldwide for its modern art galleries, museums, avant-garde architecture and lovely natural setting. Explore the island by public bus or...

Day 16 Matsuyama

This morning, take the train and head west to Matsuyama – one of Japan’s least discovered prefectures coined ‘the citrus state’ by the locals. When you arrive and have maybe picked up a mikan (mandarin) or two, visit the hill-top Matsuyama Castle with your group. This...

Day 17 Usuki

Get ready for a bit of a travel day today. Jump on a train and then ferry for Usuki, on Kyushu Island – the third largest of Japan’s four main islands. When you arrive around midday, take a public bus to the village to visit the local sake brewery, where you’ll get to...

Day 18 Beppu

Say goodbye to your hosts after a traditional home-cooked breakfast. Then, head to Beppu, famous for its variety of hot springs and onsens in Kyushu. Have lunch at a specialty restaurant that offers a unique dining experience where you can select the food you’d like, ...

Day 19 Beppu

Today is a free day in Beppu. This is the perfect opportunity to take it easy in this onsen town, soaking your muscles and taking advantage of the benefits. Maybe explore other onsens in the city or alternatively, explore Beppu at your own pace. Maybe check out Jigoku...

Day 20 Mount Aso

Today is all about chasing views! Hop in your private transfer this morning and head to Mt Aso, stopping at Ogi Rice Terrace along the way. Soak up the scenic landscape of Ogi between Mt Aso and the Kuju Mountains Range. When you’ve snapped some photos, head on to the...

Day 21 Nagasaki

This morning, say goodbye to your scenic guesthouse and hop back on the train to Nagasaki, arriving in the early afternoon. Nagasaki was the sole port in Japan to trade with Dutch and Portuguese back in the 16th century, so city has a fascinating mixture of traditiona...

Day 22 Nagasaki

Wake up in Nagasaki this morning – the coastal city set on a natural harbour has surrounding hills with many viewpoints over the scenic hub. Visit the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum for a sobering reminder of what happened on that dreadful day – the 9th of August 1...

Day 23 Osaka

Say goodbye to Kyushu and jump on the shinkansen back to Osaka. When you arrive this afternoon, soak up some free time to relax or explore. Tonight, why not head out for dinner and drinks with your leader and fellow travellers, to celebrate an amazing trip in southern Japan.

Day 24 Osaka

With no further activities planned, your trip comes to an end this morning. That doesn’t mean your time in Japan has to end! There is plenty to do and explore in Osaka, so if you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

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Dates & Availability

Price From $10,665
Price per day$444
Last Updated: 6/4/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
02 Mar 2025
25 Mar 2025
$9,065
09 Mar 2025
01 Apr 2025
$10,094
13 Mar 2025
05 Apr 2025
$13,335
16 Mar 2025
08 Apr 2025
$13,335
20 Mar 2025
12 Apr 2025
$10,294
23 Mar 2025
15 Apr 2025
$10,706
25 Mar 2025
17 Apr 2025
$13,715
27 Mar 2025
19 Apr 2025
$10,795
30 Mar 2025
22 Apr 2025
$11,972
07 May 2025
30 May 2025
$9,614

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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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 (17 nights),Japanese Inn (5 nights),Homestay (1 night)

Transportation & Flights

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

Transportation & flights

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

  • The Bridge Hotel Shinsaibashi
  • 1-10-24, Nishishinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi 大阪府大阪市中央区西心斎橋1-10-24
  • Osaka
  • Osaka
  • 542-0086
  • JAPAN
  • Phone: +81 649636501

Alternate Finish point

  • For trips departing on the following dates, use this finish point.
  • 01 Mar 2026 (CJSTC260301), 08 Mar 2026 (CJSTC260308), 12 Mar 2026 (CJSTC260312), 15 Mar 2026 (CJSTC260315), 19 Mar 2026 (CJSTC260319), 22 Mar 2026 (CJSTC260322), 24 Mar 2026 (CJSTC260324), 26 Mar 2026 (CJSTC260326), 29 Mar 2026 (CJSTC260329), 07 May 2026 (CJSTC260507), 10 May 2026 (CJSTC260510), 17 May 2026 (CJSTC260517), 31 May 2026 (CJSTC260531), 14 Jun 2026 (CJSTC260614), 30 Jun 2026 (CJSTC260630), 16 Jul 2026 (CJSTC260716), 26 Jul 2026 (CJSTC260726), 09 Aug 2026 (CJSTC260809), 23 Aug 2026 (CJSTC260823), 30 Aug 2026 (CJSTC260830), 06 Sep 2026 (CJSTC260906), 13 Sep 2026 (CJSTC260913), 20 Sep 2026 (CJSTC260920), 27 Sep 2026 (CJSTC260927), 01 Oct 2026 (CJSTC261001), 08 Oct 2026 (CJSTC261008), 18 Oct 2026 (CJSTC261018), 25 Oct 2026 (CJSTC261025), 01 Nov 2026 (CJSTC261101), 15 Nov 2026 (CJSTC261115)
  • Hearton Hotel Nishi Umeda
  • 3-3-55 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi
  • Osaka
  • JAPAN
Trip ID
intrepid-CJSTC

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