Overall Winner of 2024 Araf Tours of the Year
Take in Japan’s distinct atmosphere.
Learn how to cook sushi and understand basic Japanese phrases.
Take a bullet train ride and stay overnight in a temple.
Explore the Gion district and Takayama’s streets.
Take a tour around Osaka and end it with a karaoke session.
Land in Japan! Greetings from the land of culture, a nation with breathtaking mountains, dazzling neon lights, top-notch cuisine, and an intriguing and ancient past. A place where incense drifts around temples and shrines, where the sun gleams off snow-capped peaks, where sake is either hot or cold, and where technological advancements are sweeping the globe. Japan is a utopia, a sought-after location where everyone departs feeling awed. Your tour guide will meet you when you get to your typical Tokyo-style hostel. We’ll take you out tonight to enjoy some delicious Japanese food and catch up with the rest of your group. After our exploration is complete, we will proceed to Senso-Ji, one of Tokyo’s most significant temples.
When the people have dispersed, this magnificent crimson temple is a sensory extravaganza. Visiting this temple in the evening is a totally unique experience; smell the incense and attract good fortune.
Accommodation Twin Bunks at Sakura Hotel Nippori (or comparable) Start point: Sakura Hotel, Nippori Reception, サクラホテル㗥㚮里, 千駄木3-43-15, 㝱京ヽ, Tokyo Prefecture 113-0022, Japan
We will begin the morning with an orientation session. You will acquire basic Japanese phrases and habits to assist you navigate the nation. After we have acquired all the necessary knowledge, we will travel to Harajuku, the cradle of Japanese teen pop culture. After all that chaos, we’ll head to Yoyogi Park, which is home to the stunning Mei-ji Shrine, for some peace and quiet. The neon lights and wild stores in Akihabara, Tokyo’s electric village, will blind us when we visit there in the evening. We’ll put you all to the test in the Sega Centre and provide you a map of the top attractions so you can tour the area.
After breakfast in the morning, we’re going to our own private sushi-making class! You will discover the secrets of Teriyaki, three different kinds of sushi, and how to create miso soup! There is a vegetarian alternative, but you have to let your guide and One Life know a week before the tour begins. After your sushi lunch, you should return to the hostel to quickly change before going to the amazing Shinjuku neighbourhood for some yakitori and drinks. After exploring Kabukicho, we will conclude the day by taking in the renowned Shibuya Pedestrian Crossing.
Accommodations: Sakura Hotel Nippori (or comparable) Twin Bunks
Today, we go to the breathtaking mountain village of Hakone from Tokyo on the aptly titled Romance Car. We will spend the day touring the surrounding surroundings on a range of different transportations, including the renowned Romance Car, after settling into our guesthouse lodging in the mountains. What makes Hakone unique? Not only is the cuisine amazing, but on a clear day, the vistas of Mount Fuji are quite breathtaking. Following a day of seeing and photographing Japan’s most well-known mountain, we will prepare a traditional Japanese Nabe meal at the guesthouse and spend the evening playing family games.
Accommodations: Gora Gaku Guesthouse (or comparable) with twin or triple tatami mats
We are going to board the bullet train today, an amazing engineering achievement that transports you across the countryside. Enjoy the breathtaking views of the mountains as you go all the way to Takayama, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Tonight, we are staying in a beautiful Japanese temple. Your bed will be on plain tatami mats, and you will have never stayed in more picturesque surroundings. We’ll go out for a traditional Sake Tasting in the evening, and you can even indulge in some of the notoriously delicious Hida beef. Following all of that, you have a genuine opportunity to concentrate on your mindful experience while you rest peacefully in the temple.
Accommodations Zenkoji Temple (or like) with multiple-shared rooms
Your guide will take you on a tour of Takayama’s picturesque old town and village in the morning. We’ll make sure to have lunch before returning to Nagoya and riding the last bullet train to Kyoto. Kyoto, known for its temples, shrines, and Geishas, is a great place to get lost in its tiny lanes and discover inner calm. We’ll take a stroll through Gion, a neighbourhood in Kyoto known for its Geishas (traditional Japanese performers); if you’re lucky, you could even see one.
Accommodations Ryokan Hostel Gion (or comparable) Pod-style Bunk Bed dorm
We’ll get up early and get to Fushimi-Inari Shrine via the underground. We go there early in order to avoid the crowded tourist crowds and navigate the mountain’s endless red gate passages. After that, we’ll travel to Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, which is among the most well-known temples in Japan. A beautiful compound of bamboo and wood, perched high on the slope. After participating in a customary ritual, you will have the afternoon to independently explore Kyoto.
Accommodations Ryokan Hostel Gion (or comparable) Pod-style Bunk Bed dorm
We’re going to the magnificent Golden Pavilion this morning, which is a gold-laden structure around by lakes that display a breathtaking reflection of the structure. After a good workout, go to Daitoku-Ji, a peaceful collection of temples and structures located outside of the major tourist areas, where you may really find your inner peace. We attend a traditional Kendo class in the afternoon, which is held in the dojo where it all started. You will learn the proper technique of this respectable martial art from your real Bushido instructor, who is descended from a Japanese Samurai Warrior!
Accommodations Ryokan Hostel Gion (or comparable) Pod-style Bunk Bed dorm
We’ll take the train to the Arashiyama district early in the morning to avoid the throng. There are mountain valleys on either side of this beautiful district, and a river runs through the centre. Before ascending the stairs to Monkey Mountain, we will first explore the Instagram-worthy bamboo forest. After we descend, we’ll board a private rowboat and take a traditional Japanese tour of the valleys. After that, we’ll return to our accommodation to check out and travel to Osaka! We’ll take you on a culinary tour of the Dotonbori neighbourhood once you check in.
Tasting your way through this amazing, live, breathing city is the best way to experience it. We will conclude our journey with a final Japanese custom in the evening: karaoke!
Twin-share lodging at the WBF Namba Motomachi (or a comparable establishment)
It’s time to bid your group and the new friends you’ve met from your tour farewell once you’ve recovered from yesterday night’s antics. We hope we’ve given you a taste of Japan’s finest. We hope that we have at least encouraged you to #exploremore, and if you are returning home, we look forward to seeing you in Sri Lanka or the Philippines.
Do you wish to stay in Japan longer? Take a look at our 14-day tour!
WBF Motomachi Namba, ホテルWBFなんば元町, 浩速区元町2-7-20, 大阪市, Osaka 556-0016, Japan, Final destination
The ten-day Japanese tour was an incredible experience. I had the good fortune to travel throughout Japan with a fantastic group of folks. From the busy Tokio to the serene Buddhist temples of Koyasan, we experienced various facets of Japan. Selomi led us through all of our travels and activities with success.
My first group excursion was this one. I had a great time and learned a lot at the same time. I would unquestionably advise
It was my first time going on a group vacation, and I heartily endorse it to everyone.
With our tour guide, we were quite fortunate.
You could always do something else and find the group later; the organization was excellent and never pushed. He assisted us in planning our next steps even after the group excursion was over.
This is the best option if you’re thinking about visiting Japan and want an enjoyable and immersive group experience without having to worry about organizing it.
The tour guide was outstanding, and the tour was fantastic. To maximize the time spent in Japan, the tour struck a solid mix between activity and downtime. I heartily endorse
