Spend 9 days traversing the Japanese mainland on an expedition that bridges the gap between high speed urban energy and quiet rural tradition. You navigate the neon streets of Tokyo and the historic shrines of Kyoto before retreating to the Shizuoka countryside. Here, you join a local family for an overnight homestay and a farm to table feast prepared with garden vegetables. This 9 day journey utilizes the precision of the Shinkansen bullet train to reach Hiroshima for a solemn look at the city’s peace memorials and the floating torii gate of Miyajima island. You conclude the trip in Osaka, the culinary capital, for a guided walk through the vibrant Dotombori street food district. With a local leader to guide you through complex rail networks and hidden backstreets, this tour offers a complete perspective on the nation’s history, heritage, and world class food scene.
Highlights
Learn about Hiroshima history at the moving Peace Park and Memorial Museum
Explore Shizuoka tea farms to learn traditional picking and brewing arts
Taste authentic Osaka street food in the vibrant Dotombori food district
Visit ancient Kyoto temples and navigate the famous scarlet torii gates
Ride the high speed bullet train to connect major cities with precision
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Arrive in Tokyo. Meet your expert leader at the hotel for a vital 6 pm briefing. Explore the vibrant, neon-lit backstreets of Shinjuku. Wander through Omoide Yokocho’s crowded, atmospheric alleys. Taste local fast food at a busy, traditional stall. Follow your leader on a practical orientation walk to master the sprawling surroundings. Socialize with your fellow travelers during a lively neighborhood dinner.
Explore historic Asakusa to experience the traditional soul of the city. Visit Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest and most revered spiritual site. Browse the eclectic stalls along the vibrant Nakamise Dori shopping street. Ride the Tokyo Metro to the high-energy Shibuya district. Witness the iconic Shibuya Crossing, the world’s busiest and most famous intersection. Discover a hidden depachika (underground food hall) filled with mouth-watering Japanese treats. Wander through the serene Meiji Shrine, nestled within a lush, quiet forest. Navigate the quirky Harajuku district to witness Japan’s famous youth pop culture. Enjoy a free afternoon to relax or explore the city at your own leisure.
Included Activities
Tokyo - Sensoji Temple
Tokyo - Meiji Jingu Shrine
Tokyo - Shibuya walking tou
Day 3: Kawane or Gotemba
1 Dinner
Today, you 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 colors change in autumn! Watch out for a glimpse of Mt. Fuji on the way when the weather is good! This afternoon, visit a local tea farm, try your hand at tea picking, and learn how the tea is properly brewed. After this experience, your host for the night welcomes you to their home. Dinner is a home-cooked feast using seasonal vegetables from their garden, and your host teaches you a thing or two about Japanese home cooking.
For some departures, you travel to Gotemba instead. This ensures that we do not overwhelm our Kawane hosts with too many groups and ensures we are working with local communities in a sustainable manner. For these departures, you travel to Gotemba instead, and your local hosts welcome you into their home. You help pick the vegetables that are used for dinner from their garden, learn about their life in the countryside, and enjoy a fantastic home-cooked dinner together.
Your travel time today is approximately 4 hours.
Included activities
Kawane/Gotemba - Homestay & Home-cooked Dinner
Kawane - Tea Farm Visit & Tea Brewing & Tasting (or Gotemba - Local farm and vegetable picking)
After a home-cooked, Japanese-style breakfast, hop on the bus and a Shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto. One of Kyoto’s original names is Heian-kyo, which translates to ‘tranquility and peace capital’, and the thousands of temples, shrines, and gardens make it clear why. In the afternoon, head to the Nishiki Market and stroll through ‘Kyoto’s Kitchen’ for the perfect introduction to Kyoto's regional specialties – from pickled vegetables hidden beneath layers of fermented rice to delicious and ornate Kyo-wagashi (Kyoto sweets) and other local produce. As the sun goes down, continue to Gion – the city’s cultural centre and most famous geisha district. You catch a glimpse of an elegantly attired geisha or maiko moving between teahouses here, though much of this high-class world of entertainment is still off-limits to outsiders.
Today, you 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. The rest of the day is free for you to explore at your own pace. Maybe visit the Path of Philosophy, see the Old Town and explore the wooden houses, or visit Kinkakuji Temple, which is immortalized in Yukio Mishima’s novel ‘The Golden Pavilion’. Tonight, maybe find a local restaurant for dinner – your leader has the best recommendations.
Travel by express train and Shinkansen to Hiroshima today. Depending on what time you arrive today, you visit Hiroshima’s Peace Park this afternoon or tomorrow morning. The Genbaku (A-Bomb) Dome and Peace Memorial Museum stand as a testament to the fateful day in August 1945. The dome is just meters from where the bomb detonated, so it is able to retain its shape. The fact that it looks almost exactly as it does after the bombing makes it an enduring symbol of peace. The memorial park serves the same purpose, and has museums, memorials, and monuments dedicated to the memory of victims. This evening, head out with your leader for one of the city’s signature dishes for dinner – okonomiyaki (a savory pancake of egg, cabbage, soba noodles and meat or seafood).
Today you make your way to the nearby island of Miyajima with its well-known 'floating' torii gate. When you arrive, maybe explore the island further by climbing to the top of Mt Miyajima (or hopping on the cable car instead) for 360-degree views of the Inland Sea. Keep your eyes out for inquisitive and hungry deer that roam the streets. After, visit the Saijo Sake Brewery Street and taste some locally produced sake. The rest of the day is then free for you to explore at your own pace. The wonderful Shukkeien Garden, with teahouses and waterfalls, is a great place to decompress.
Included activities
Hiroshima - Miyajima Island
Hiroshima - Saijo Sake Brewery Street visit & tasting
Day 8: Osaka
1 Dinner
Jump back on the train this morning and head to Osaka, which is 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 last night of your trip.
Included activities
Osaka - Dotombori and Kuromon Street Food Walking Tour
Day 9: Return Home
With no further activities planned after breakfast, your trip comes to an end today. If you would like to extend your stay in Osaka, and it is recommended that you do, just reach out to your Trip Planner ahead of time.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$3,8952-3 travelers
Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
Notes
Select a Date
Rates are per person, based on a twin-share room. Own room option is unavailable. Contact your Trip Planner for details.
Initial deposit is $400 per person, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check, or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and a maximum of $20,000 charge
For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.
Included
1 Breakfast, 4 Dinners
8 Nights Accommodations
8 Days Locally Hosted Guide Service
Accommodations as listed
Ground transportation as listed
Activities as listed
Meals as listed
Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Denali Canyon Run Raft: $92 Per Person
Excluded
Gratuities
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Flight costs (please request a quote)
Additional excursions during free time
Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
Optional Activities
For those traveling internationally with Intrepid: emergency evacuation and medical insurance are mandatory, and comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended. See here for more details
Visa and passport fees
Map
When to Go
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Good to ideal period to travel, and many people choose to visit at this time.
Chance for unpredictable weather but with fewer visitors.
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
