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Who is travelling?

Who is travelling?

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Essential Japan (5 destinations)

10 days
From Tokyo to Osaka
4.5
22 traveler reviews
From
$2,770
-10%
NZ $2,493 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

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Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
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May
Jun
Jul
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1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

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Plan your adventure:
In-depth Cultural
Immerse yourself in rich history and local traditions
Fully Guided
An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity
Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 1 - 16
Ages 18-35
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Tokyo

    You'll arrive in Tokyo and have time to explore on your own before the 6 pm welcome meeting. If you get there early, check out Sensoji Temple or the Imperial Palace, both free options. The Avatar Robot Café is worth a quick visit if you're curious about something different. After the group meeting, there's an optional dinner with your fellow travelers.

    Optional Activities

    • Visit Sensoji Temple
    • Visit Imperial Palace
    • Lunch at Avatar Robot Café
    • Dinner in Tokyo's popular hubs
    Landmarks/POIs
    Sensoji Temple
    Imperial Palace
    Avatar Robot Café
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2Itinerary Image 3
  2. Day 2

    Tokyo

    Head to Shibuya with your group this morning to see the crossing at Shibuya Station and the Hachiko statue. Then walk through a depachika food hall before grabbing lunch in Yoyogi Park. From there, you'll visit Meiji Jingu Shrine and spend the afternoon in Harajuku where things get quirky. The rest of the day is yours to use however you like. The Gotokuji Cat Temple or Tokyo's nightlife both make good options if you're looking for something to do.

    Included Activities

    • Shibuya walking tour
    • Visit Shibuya Station and Hachiko statue
    • Visit depachika food hall
    • Visit Meiji Jingu Shrine
    • Explore Harajuku street
    • Visit Yoyogi Park

    Optional Activities

    • Visit Gotokuji Cat Temple
    • Dine at yakitori stalls in Omoide Yokocho
    • Karaoke experience
    Landmarks/POIs
    Shibuya Crossing
    Hachiko Statue
    Meiji Jingu Shrine
    Yoyogi Park
    Harajuku
    Gotokuji Cat Temple
    Omoide Yokocho
  3. Day 3

    Tokyo to Kanazawa

    Take the bullet train to Kanazawa through central Japan. Once you're settled at your hotel, wander through Kenroku-en Garden and Kanazawa Castle Park at your own pace. You'll have a free evening to find local izakayas and try fresh seafood around the city.

    Optional Activities

    • Explore Kenroku-en Garden
    • Explore Kanazawa Castle Park
    Landmarks/POIs
    Kenroku-en Garden
    Kanazawa Castle Park
    Itinerary Image 1
  4. Day 4

    Kanazawa

    Join a walking tour of the Higashi Chaya district this morning. You'll walk through alleyways with traditional Chaya houses where geisha still work. If you're interested, a local tea house offers traditional tea ceremonies. The afternoon is free for your own exploration around Kanazawa.

    Included Activities

    • Higashi Chaya District walking tour

    Optional Activities

    • Traditional tea ceremony at a local tea house
    Landmarks/POIs
    Higashi Chaya District
  5. Day 5

    Kanazawa to Kyoto

    Catch a train through the Japanese Alps to Kyoto, the old imperial capital with over 2,000 temples and shrines. The bus network works well for getting around, so you can explore on your own throughout the day. Kinkaku-ji Temple with its gold plating and Nijo Castle with its famous squeaking floors are both worth visiting. Your leader will meet you in the early evening for a walk through Gion district.

    Included Activities

    • Gion District walk

    Optional Activities

    • Visit Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • Visit Nijo Castle
    Landmarks/POIs
    Kinkaku-ji Temple
    Nijo Castle
    Gion District
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2Itinerary Image 3
  6. Day 6

    Kyoto

    Participate in a Kyo-Yuzen dyeing workshop with your leader, a traditional hand-painting technique from the 17th century. You'll create delicate designs on a handkerchief, phone case, or tote bag to take home. Later, walk through wooded hills near Fushimi Inari with its red torii gates. The afternoon is open for exploration, and renting a bike is a good way to cover more ground. For your last night, try Kyoto cuisine or visit Nishiki food market.

    Included Activities

    • Kyo-Yuzen Dyeing Workshop
    • Visit Fushimi Inari-Taisha

    Optional Activities

    • Bike rental around Kyoto
    • Traditional Kyoto cuisine dining
    • Visit Nishiki food market
    Landmarks/POIs
    Fushimi Inari-Taisha
    Nishiki Market
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2Itinerary Image 3
  7. Day 7

    Kyoto to Hiroshima

    Travel by bullet train to Hiroshima, a vibrant city dealing with profound history. Your leader will take you through Peace Park and the A-Bomb Dome, one of 11 partially standing structures from the atomic blast in August 1945. The Peace Museum shows the sobering impact of that day. You'll have the afternoon free to rest or explore more. For dinner, try Hiroshima's local okonomiyaki cooked on a sizzling hotplate.

    Meals
    Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Visit Peace Park & A-Bomb Dome
    • Visit Peace Museum

    Optional Activities

    • Try okonomiyaki at local restaurants
    Landmarks/POIs
    A-Bomb Dome
    Peace Memorial Park
    Peace Memorial Museum
    Itinerary Image 1
  8. Day 8

    Hiroshima to Miyajima

    Take a local train and ferry to Miyajima island, known for its floating Torii Gate and Itsukushima-jinja Shrine. Hike through the woods up to Mt Misen's peak for views over the Inland Sea. Deer roam freely on the island and they're curious about food, so be careful. You'll return to Hiroshima in the evening with time to yourself.

    Included Activities

    • Visit Miyajima Island
    • Visit Itsukushima-jinja Shrine

    Optional Activities

    • Hike Mt Misen for Inland Sea views
    Landmarks/POIs
    Itsukushima-jinja Shrine
    Torii Gate
    Mt Misen
    Miyajima Island
  9. Day 9

    Hiroshima to Osaka

    Head by bullet train to Osaka, Japan's food capital where the local motto is 'eat until you drop.' Walk through backstreets packed with restaurants and try kaiten-zushi on a conveyor belt. Join your leader for a walking tour of the colorful Dotombori district. Time permitting, you can explore Shinsekai district and see Tsutenkaku Tower. Dinner options include kushikatsu or takoyaki, both local favorites.

    Included Activities

    • Dotombori District walking tour

    Optional Activities

    • Explore Shinsekai district
    • Visit Tsutenkaku Tower
    • Dine at kaiten-zushi restaurants
    • Try kushikatsu or takoyaki
    Landmarks/POIs
    Dotombori District
    Shinsekai District
    Tsutenkaku Tower
  10. Day 10

    Osaka

    No activities are scheduled for today. You can leave anytime after checking out of your hotel. If you want to stay longer and explore more neighborhoods in Osaka, contact your booking agent beforehand to arrange an extension.

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What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport
  • Free eSIM
    TourRadar offers the lead traveler (the person who booked) a free 1GB eSIM for the trip. The eSIM is redeemable only through the TourRadar app 72 hours before departure.

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Optional
  • Additional Services

Operated by

Intrepid Travel

Number of tours

1,046

Age Range

5 to 99 years old

Response time

7 hours

Response rate

84%

Back in 1989, two guys from Melbourne, Australia by the names of Darrell and...

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Sustainability Initiatives

Reduce Carbon Emissions

Animal Welfare

Supporting Destinations

Sustainability Programs

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Customer Reviews

  • Overall Rating
    Excellent
    4.5
  • Itinerary
    Excellent
    4.6
  • Guide
    Excellent
    4.7
  • Transport
    Excellent
    4.6
  • Accommodation
    Excellent
    4.2
  • Food
    Excellent
    4.4
  • 4.5
  • Most Recent
  • Most Popular
  • Highest First
  • Lowest First
  • TK
    · August 30th, 2025
    Loved our guide Benjamin, itinery was great as per price, had heaps of fun and created hundreds of memories, would love to go again to Japan
    Show more
    Intrepid Travel commented on this review
    We are so happy to read of your adventure with us, Tarun! Japan is certainly an easy place to want to return to, and we are thrilled to know you are taking away some amazing memories. Benjamin is an asset to us and our travellers to be sure, and we... Show more
    Trip date: August 2025
  • CK
    · June 11th, 2024
    Depends on the group size and the guide if the tour is great or just ok. Nice trip, good accommodation but less motivated / trained guide.
    Show more
    Intrepid Travel commented on this review
    Hey Christian, thank you for your review. We are sorry to hear that your guide lacked motivation. Your feedback has been shared with the operations manager in Japan to ensure that he is given further support to develop his skills.
    Trip date: May 2024
  • DS
    · November 27th, 2023
    Fantastic trip of a lifetime! Amazing from start to finish. Itinerary was great and had a good balance with free time to explore what Japan had to offer. Shout out to our guide Takumi who was fantastic to be around and made this trip very special!
    Show more
    Intrepid Travel commented on this review
    Thank you so much Daniel for leaving such a positive review! We are so pleased that you found the itinerary and your tour leader to be fantastic and that they both made your time in Japan so special.
    Trip date: November 2023
  • Essential Japan (5 destinations) reviewer 4
    · October 15th, 2023
    Yutaka was a great guide, helped get everything situated and really made this trip special. Thanks, Yutaka!
    Show more
    Intrepid Travel commented on this review
    Hi Jeremy, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts with us! We're so glad you had an awesome time with us!
    Trip date: October 2023
  • LG
    · March 27th, 2023
    the tour guide was excellent he showed us a lot of temples and places you would not normally see while travelling on your own
    Show more
    Intrepid Travel commented on this review
    Hi Leila, thank you for leaving a review. We're delighted to hear that your local leader showed you all of the hidden gems of Japan. Sounds like an incredible experience, we hope to welcome you on another Intrepid adventure soon. All of our local... Show more
    Trip date: March 2023
  • SN
    · December 3rd, 2022
    Excellent tour leader and very well-organized trip. Would recommend to others.
    Show more
    Trip date: November 2022
  • Essential Japan (5 destinations) reviewer 7
    · April 1st, 2020
    Everything was very well organized and informative
    Show more
    Intrepid Travel commented on this review
    Thank you Ryan!
    Trip date: February 2020
  • Essential Japan (5 destinations) reviewer 8
    · December 1st, 2019
    Great and flexible enough to head out on your own
    Show more
    Trip date: November 2019
  • EZ
    · October 27th, 2019
    One of a kind one of a kind
    Show more
    Trip date: October 2019
  • A
    · September 18th, 2019
    Trip was definitely made better when you have a good tour leader. Tomomi was great, so helpful and made the experience easy and fun.
    Show more
    Trip date: March 2019

Dates & Availability

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2026

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Dec

2027

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Feb
Mar
Apr
May
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1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
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What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.
All questions
  • V

    Veronica

    Asked on October 1st, 2025

    I'm looking into booking this tour. I see that there is an age range limit of 18-38. I'm 43, and very active. Can I book this tour, or should I find another tour?

    Age Range
    Tour Details
    • Intrepid TravelOperatorWritten October 2025

      The selected trip departure is specifically designed for travellers aged between 18 and 35 and by the time of travel, you will be 43 years old, which falls outside the designated age range for this tour. We kindly ask you to consider an alternative departure or a trip that better suits your requirements.

  • A

    Ali

    Asked on August 1st, 2025

    Does this tour have a guaranteed departure?

    Tour Details
    • Intrepid TravelOperatorWritten August 2025

      Yes, this departure is guaranteed to run — even with just one passenger. The minimum requirement for this trip is only 1 person, so you're all set!

  • M

    Megan

    Asked on July 30th, 2025

    I want to add daily breakfast and dinner for all days. How much extra will the cost be per person?

    Meals
    Price / Availability
    • Intrepid TravelOperatorWritten July 2025

      We are unable to arrange meals from our end for the days that meals are not included. However, you can check this with the leader and hotel directly while on ground and have this arranged.

  • C

    Carol

    Asked on May 30th, 2025

    can you quote a reasonable Japan tour for me and my daughter (16 years) for the following dates

    Age Range
    Tour Details
    • Intrepid TravelOperatorWritten May 2025

      Here's a great Japan tour that covers most of the places you are interested in visiting

  • J

    Jeremy

    Asked on May 17th, 2025

    We would like to know if you would have no problem in having her as a traveller. On the other hand, her parents are 52 years old, they are older than the reccommended age. Would they have a problem as well?

    Age Range
    Tour Details
    • Intrepid TravelOperatorWritten May 2025

      Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate this trip request as the trip falls under the theme 18 to 35s only. We are unable to accommodate any requests that exceed the maximum age limit of this trip.

  • C

    Clare

    Asked on May 12th, 2025

    Can a minor under 17 years go on this tour?

    Age Range
    Tour Details
    • Intrepid TravelOperatorWritten May 2025

      This trip is an age restricted trip so all travelers must be within the 18 - 35 year old age range.

    • Intrepid TravelOperatorWritten May 2025

      The cost is USD $1,880 per person for our 22JUN2025 departure.

    • Intrepid TravelOperatorWritten May 2025

      We are pleased to offer a complimentary hold on the trip for 48 hours, after which a deposit of 1600 is required to confirm your space.

    • 2 more answers
  • B

    Barbara

    Asked on May 12th, 2025

    I am interested in the 10 days tour in August this year. Do you have any requirements?

    Price / Availability
    Tour Details
    • Intrepid TravelOperatorWritten May 2025

      The price you're seeing on TourRadar is similar to what we have on our website. We are pleased to offer a complimentary hold on the trip for 48 hours, after which a deposit of 200 is required to confirm your space.

    • B

      Barbara

      TravelerWritten May 2025

      Are there any specific requirements for this Essential Japan 10 days tour?

    • B
      1 more answer
  • C

    Carla

    Asked on April 17th, 2025

    how does my daughter go back to Tokyo?

    Transport
    Travel Support
    • C

      Carla

      TravelerWritten April 2025

      can that be possible? to the Osaka airport. its not for me is for my daughter she is 18 years old and i worry

    • C

      Carla

      TravelerWritten April 2025

      can she be picked up from the airport

    • Intrepid TravelOperatorWritten April 2025

      Japan has a very efficient public transport service and there are many ways to get from the two airports in the Tokyo region (Narita Airport or Haneda Airport) to your hotel. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide arrival transfer service for this hotel at the moment.

    • C
      2 more answers
  • A

    Adrian

    Asked on March 9th, 2025

    What happens if you arrive after 6pm in Tokyo on Day 1?

    Tour Details
    • Intrepid TravelOperatorWritten March 2025

      No problem. In that case, we can leave a note on your booking so your tour leader will leave instructions for you then.

  • A

    Ashley

    Asked on February 28th, 2025

    Can you please let me know the accomodation for each of the locations? I would like to book as a solo female traveller aged 36.

    Accommodation
    Age Range
    • Intrepid TravelOperatorWritten March 2025

      Here is the tentative hotel list of this trip departure: Tokyo - Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel OR Imano Tokyo Hostel (Single Gender Dorms), Kanazawa - Torifito Hotel & Pod Hostel (single pods), Kyoto - Piece Hostel Sanjo (Single Gender Dorms), Hiroshima - Ikawa Ryokan (ryokan with shared facilities or twin-share hotel room), Osaka - Imano Osaka Shinsaibashi Hostel (Single Gender Dorms). Single supplement is not available for this trip and accommodation includes some multi-share hostels with shared facilities.

Can’t find the answer to your question?
Reach out to the experts at Intrepid Travel with your enquiry, they usually respond within 7 hours.
From
$2,770
-10%
NZ $2,493 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select Date

Select departure month

2025

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
Save and compare this adventure

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Plan your adventure:

Good to Know

Tour ID: 125236

  • Currency
    ¥
    Yen
    Japan
  • Plugs & Adapters

  • Vaccines
    • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
    • Hepatitis A - Recommended for Japan. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Hepatitis B - Recommended for Japan. Ideally 2 months before travel.
    • Japanese B encephalitis - Recommended for Japan. Ideally 1 month before travel.
  • Visa
    • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
    • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • Payment information
    • For any tour departing before January 13th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after January 13th, 2026, a minimum payment of $400 is required to confirm your booking with Intrepid Travel. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 60 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
    • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Intrepid Travel will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
    • The following cards are accepted for "Intrepid Travel" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Accessibility
    Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0

Select departure month

2025

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
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2026

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2027

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