Japan Essentials 9 Day Tour Tokyo To Osaka

From: $2,195.00

  • Dive into the vibrant energy and attractions of Tokyo.
  • Experience Kyoto’s iconic temples, shrines, and traditional charm.
  • Visit Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima Island.
  • Marvel at stunning views of Mount Fuji and surrounding landscapes.
  • Savor authentic Japanese cuisine and cultural experiences.
  • Ideal for travelers seeking a condensed yet immersive Japan experience.

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Description

Discover the essence of Japan on this 9-day essentials tour, offering a perfect blend of culture, history, and modernity. Explore the bustling streets of Tokyo, the serene temples of Kyoto, and the poignant history of Hiroshima. From savoring traditional Japanese cuisine to experiencing cutting-edge cityscapes, this tour captures the highlights of Japan while leaving room for personal exploration and unforgettable memories.

**Travel insurance is compulsory for all One Life tours **

Inclusions

  • STAYS – 8 nights of accommodation
  • TRANSPORT – All transport during the tour including bullet train, subways, Romance Car & more (Airport transfers Day 1 & 9 excl.)
  • CREW – Your unbeatable, legendary tour leader
  • MEALS – 4 Breakfasts, 4 Dinners
  • ACTIVITIES – 11 included, 5 optional extra over 3 location

Not Included

  • International Flights
  • Personal Travel Insurance
  • Visas
  • Some Meals
  • Arrival Transfer

Highlights

  • Famous Tokyo Districts (Shinjuku, Harajuku, Akihabara and more)
  • Visit to Senso-ji Temple at night
  • Mt Fuji viewing & exploring Hakone
  • Fushimi-Inari Red Torii Gates
  • Kiyomizu-Dera Temple
  • The Golden Pavilion in Kyoto
  • Climb Monkey Mountain (Iwatayama)
  • The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
  • Food tour in Osaka
  • Karaoke on the final night

Your Travel Itinerary

Touch down in Tokyo! Arrive into your Tokyo hostel in the historic Asakusa area to be greeted by your tour guide. Tonight we’ll take you out to feast on Japanese cuisine and meet the rest of your group. After dinner when the crowds have all dispersed, we explore the iconic Tokyo Senso-ji Temple by night!

We’ll start the morning off with a a Japan Orientation Briefing. You’ll learn simple Japanese customs and phrases to help you dictate your way across the country. We’ll then head out to the birth place of Japanese teen pop culture, Harajuku. We’ll then head into Yoyogi Park, host of the beautiful Meiji Shrine.

Afterwards, we’ll head to Akihabara – Tokyo’s electric town – and be blinded by the all the neon lights and crazy shops in store. You can challenge each other in the arcades, check out the famous Maid Cafes or just wander around the area.

The first half of the day is yours to explore. Our guide is on hand to help you with your plans, but you could either take a sushi making class, visit the Imperial Palace, or just allow yourself to get lost in this magical city. This evening we head to Shinjuku, we’ll see an unparalleled skyline of Tokyo, check out the famous Omoide Yokocho alley & grab some dinner before viewing the famous Shibuya Pedestrian Crossing. For those of you who want to try the street go-karting, this is your chance! Take to the streets in a go-kart while wearing your favourite character costume. It doesn’t get more wild than this!

Today we take the aptly named “Romance Car” to the stunning mountain town of Hakone. After checking into our hostel in the town of Hakone, we set off taking the train further into the mountains. Why is Hakone so special? Well, not only is the food incredible but you can get a spectacular view of Mt Fuji (weather dependent.) After a day of exploring and taking photos of Japan’s most famous mountain we’ll head back to our guesthouse accommodation before having a family-style dinner with the crew.

*If you have asthma/respiratory condition, the brief visit to Owakudani is not advisable, please speak to your guide for the alternate arrangement.

Say goodbye to the serenity of Hakone as we make our way to the ancient capital of Japan by bullet train; Kyoto. Check in to our accommodation close to the traditional area, and then we head out to explore the area. In the evening you’ll be guided around Kyoto’s Gion district, known for Geisha’s (Japan’s traditional art form of entertainment), if you are lucky enough, you might even spot one. After our walking tour, we’ll take you to one of the best yakitori (grilled chicken sticks) for an included dinner.

We’ll rise before dawn and take the subway to the Fushimi-Inari Shrine. We arrive early to escape the throng of tourists and work our way through the mountain exploring corridors of never ending red gates. After, we will head to Kiyomizu-dera temple, one of Japan’s most famous temples. A stunning bamboo and wooden complex that sits high in the mountain side. You will have the rest of the day free to explore at your own pace. For those of you who would like to experience the traditional side of Japan, you can opt to take part in a tea ceremony and hire a kimono.

The day starts with a train ride to Arashiyama, a town surrounded by mountains and a river running through it. The itinerary includes a visit to the bamboo forest, climbing Monkey Mountain, and an optional traditional Japanese boat ride through the valleys. You will have the afternoon free to explore as you like.

We head to the stunning Golden Pavilion, a beautiful gold laden building surrounded by a lake and traditional Japanese garden. After we’ll head to Daitoku-ji, a quiet, leafy complex of old temples where you can silently reflect on your adventures so far. We then head on to Osaka where in the evening, we explore the famous Dotonbori area. The food, people, lights, and colors of the “kitchen of Japan” will be experienced. Your guide will take you to the best spots for street eats, and you’ll get to taste some of the delicacies which make Osaka such a famous foodie city. Finish up the evening with a night of karaoke and drinks!

It’s time to say goodbye to your group and the new friends you have made from your tour. We hope you’ve loved your Japan experience!

Important info before travel

  • Main bag – smaller than 160cm when height, width and depth are added together
  • Closed shoes
  • Travel adaptor
  • Camera
  • If travelling between September-April warm clothes

  • You can fly into Narita International Airport (NRT) or Haneda International Airport (HND). We don’t offer airport pick-ups on this tour but we include detailed information on how to get to the hostel from both airports in your welcome pack.
  • For those wishing to return to Tokyo after the tour finishes in Osaka there is the option to include the train cost in the ticket price. Those guests who wish to book their return train journey whilst on the tour will need to arrange this as soon as possible, so we would recommend arranging this before you arrive.
  • Leaving from Kansai Airport (Osaka) – We recommend booking your flight after 9am since the earliest you can get to the airport via public transport is 6am and taxis are very expensive (~14,000Y+).
  • Leaving from Itami Airport (Osaka) – We recommend booking your flight after 9am since the earliest you can get to the airport via public transport is 6:15am and taxis are very expensive.
  • Flying out of Tokyo – We would not recommend flying internationally any earlier than 5pm. It takes 3 hours to reach Tokyo with the return train ticket, a further 1 hour to reach the airport and you’ll need to be there at least 3 hours earlier than your flight.