13-Day Japan Adventure

Greetings from Tokyo! You’ll have plenty of time to rest and recuperate after your flight after you get to the hostel and check in before you meet up with the rest of your group.

Before visiting the Meiji Shrine, the first stop is the Senso-ji Temple, which is the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo. We then explore vibrant Harajuku and the famous Shibuya Crossing, the busiest crossroads in the world! We’ll visit some of Japan’s oddball eateries and amusingly small pubs in Shinjuku later tonight.

With our tummies full, we are beginning the day by watching a sushi master demonstrate the skill of rolling sushi. After some free time, we’ll explore Tokyo before taking in Akihabara’s futuristic sounds. The arcades, maid cafés, Japanese picture booths, and gaming centres in this “Electric City” are well-known.

Time to ride the renowned bullet train that travels at 200 mph! We’ll arrive in Nagano in time to enjoy a soothing swim in an Onsen (a volcanic hot spring) after trying out the age-old craft of origami! We will sleep on comfortable futon bedding and tatami mats in our traditional Japanese Ryokan this evening, just like the natives do.

This morning we’ll dive deeper into Japanese cuisine, by learning to roll our own soba noodles. After that, we’ll head into the mountains to see the renowned snow monkeys, also called Japanese macaques, that inhabit the area. In the summer, these red-faced miscreants play among the trees, and in the winter, they take a dip in the natural hot springs to stay warm. After that, we’ll enjoy the pure mountain air while leisurely seeing the stunning lakes and woods of Shiga Kogen National Park in the summer.

We will travel by bullet train once again today to the breathtaking Hakone, which is well-known throughout Japan for its breathtaking vistas of Mount Fuji.

We’ll spend the morning seeing the breathtaking Hakone region by cable car and pirate ship, where you can get unparalleled views of Mount Fuji on a clear day. We’re going to Osaka next, where we’ll have a BBQ dinner and get ready for an Osaka-style night out. Prepare to sing some of your favourite karaoke songs!

Enjoy a leisurely morning or explore Osaka’s fantastic shopping options. The magnificent Osaka Castle, which was initially constructed more than 400 years ago, will be our next stop. Here, we’ll study the history of Japan and the Samurai, the country’s legendary warriors. Our final destination will be Dotonburi, the renowned canal district of Osaka, which is also known for having some of the best cuisine in the nation!

Today, we return to the highlands for an experience of a lifetime: spending the night at a Buddhist monastery that dates back a millennium in the intriguing village of Koyasan. Here, the monks will teach us how to meditate and give us their traditional food. Later, we’ll take a trip around the biggest cemetery in Japan at night.

We get up early today to witness the Buddhist monks’ morning prayer service and fire ceremony, which will be a remarkable experience. The monks will give us the customary breakfast before we continue on to Kyoto, the historic capital of Japan. We have a trip of Gion tonight to discover more about the enigmatic Geishas of Japan.

Today, make sure your phone is charged! First up is the well-known Bamboo Forest of Arashiyama on Instagram, which is ideal for photos with the tall bamboo in the background. After that, we go to the stunning Golden Pavilion. This is a free evening, so go to a sushi restaurant, locate a pub or challenge your friends to an arcade game or a game of bowling.

The countless Torii gates of Fushimi-Inari are waiting for you today! As we explore the ancient mountain’s twisting pathways, you will be astounded by one of Japan’s most famous temples. A Samurai expert who has devoted their life to the sword’s skill will instruct us on how to use a conventional sword in the afternoon. As you cut through rolled bamboo and unleash your inner warrior, discover the grace of these weapons. Tonight we’ll have our last meal and drinks together to enjoy our stay in Japan!

Your incredible 13-day journey comes to an end. You have the option of checking out and heading home, staying longer in Kyoto, or continuing your journey around Japan.