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Japan Essentials 9 Day - One Life Adventures

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TourRadar Curated
9 days
From Tokyo to Osaka
4.8
310 traveler reviews
From
$2,691
-5%
NZ $2,556
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Plan your adventure:
Explorer
Curated to ignite your sense of adventure
Partially Guided
Independent travel, featuring selected guided excursions
Guided in English
Group Size 3 - 22
Age range 18 to 39
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Highlights

  • Take a walk down the famous Bamboo Forest
  • Delve into the buzzing city of Tokyo
  • Visit the never-ending gates of the Fushimi-Inari Shrine
  • Have a taste of the best food spots in Osaka
  • Take in the breathtaking views of Mount Fuji
  • Are you looking to explore more of East Asia? Continue your epic journey with us on our South Korea 10 & 13 day tours where we’ll take you in for an unforgettable experience of a balanced blend between traditional and modern South Korean culture.

Itinerary

Expand All
  1. Introduction
  1. Day 1 Welcome to Japan! Tokyo Time
  2. Day 2 Explore Tokyo, Harajuku, Yoyogi Park & Akihabara
  3. Day 3 Explore Tokyo & Shibuya evening
  4. Day 4 Hakone, Mt Fuji Viewing & Romance Car
  5. Day 5 To Kyoto! Gion District Walking Tour & Yakitori
  6. Day 6 Kyoto, Kiyomizu-Dera & Fushimi-Inari
  7. Day 7 Bamboo Forest, Monkey Mountain
  8. Day 8 Golden Pavilion, Zen Garden, Osaka Food Walk
  9. Day 9 Depart
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What's Included

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  • 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

Where You'll Stay

All accommodations are subject to change

Customer Photos

Number of tours

27

Age Range

18 to 39 years old

Response time

9 hours

Response rate

96%

OUR STORY: At One Life, we’ve always seen tourism as an opportunity to make a...

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Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Customer Reviews

  • Overall Rating
    Excellent
    4.8
  • Itinerary
    Excellent
    4.7
  • Guide
    Excellent
    4.9
  • Transport
    Excellent
    4.6
  • Accommodation
    Excellent
    4.4
  • Food
    Excellent
    4.4
  • 4.9
  • Most Recent
  • Most Popular
  • Highest First
  • Lowest First
  • C
    · June 9th, 2025
    The tour was excellent. It was well-planned, had amazing highlights in its itinerary, and provided a good balance of planned activities and free time. Our tour guide, George, was excellent too. He was knowledgeable, helpful and attentive, and with his humour and easy-going manner he felt just as much as part of the group as the tour participants. And while the tour organiser can't control what kind of people participate in the tour, I still wanted to highlight how wonderful and funny my group was. I enjoyed their company massively and am grateful to have had such fantastic people around me to explore Japan.
    Show more
    One Life Adventures commented on this review
    Thank you so much for your review Caroline! We're delighted that you enjoyed everything throughout the itinerary and found the free time and activities provided well balanced. It's great to know that George's knowledge and humour made the tour even more... Show more
    Trip date: June 2025
  • Japan Essentials 9 Day - One Life Adventures reviewer 2
    · June 8th, 2025
    I find it really hard to put down my thoughts about the trip into words because it truly was everything I could have ever wished for, and more. To have a guide so informed and knowledgable about the destinations and the unspoken do's and don’t's is a real luxury. I really appreciated that our guide was intent on making everyone feel included, even a nervous first “big trip alone” traveler like myself. A lot of things I would have otherwise had to worry about was taken care of, leaving me with more time and energy to explore. I would definitely recommend this to everyone who want to make the most out of their one week Japan trip. Thank you so much for this unforgettable experience!
    Show more
    One Life Adventures commented on this review
    Thank you for your review Nora! It's great to hear that you had an unforgettable experience for your first big trip alone. We know your tour guide will be delighted to hear that you had such an incredible experience and that they made it extra special... Show more
    Trip date: June 2025
  • SS
    · June 8th, 2025
    Had the most amazing time in Japan! Our guide, George, was incredible—so knowledgeable, kind, and made the whole experience seamless. Highlights included visiting the breathtaking Mt. Fuji, dressing up in beautiful kimonos, and seeing the adorable monkeys at Monkey Mountain. A trip to remember forever!
    Show more
    One Life Adventures commented on this review
    Thank you for joining us in Japan Sarah! We're delighted to hear that George's knowledge and kindness made for a smooth experience for you. We hope to see you on another adventure in the future!
    Trip date: June 2025
  • SH
    · June 8th, 2025
    The 9-Day Essential Tour of Japan with One Life Adventures was a great way to experience the country for the first time. The itinerary covered a lot — from Tokyo to Hakone, Kyoto and Osaka — with a good balance of sightseeing, cultural experiences, and free time. Our guide, George, really helped make the trip enjoyable. He was organized, knowledgeable, and easy to talk to, and he always made sure everyone was comfortable and informed. His local tips and recommendations added a lot to the experience. Overall, it was a well-run tour with a great group of people. If you're looking for a fun and smooth introduction to Japan, this is the perfect choice — and George was a big part of what made it memorable. Thank you George
    Show more
    Japan Essentials 9 Day - One Life Adventures customer review photo 1Japan Essentials 9 Day - One Life Adventures customer review photo 2Japan Essentials 9 Day - One Life Adventures customer review photo 3
    Trip date: June 2025
  • BM
    · June 8th, 2025
    Automatically translated. View in EnglishRate this translation
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    It really was an adventure of a lifetime. A perfect mix of educational group activities and time to explore the cities on our own. Our group leader George not only guided us safely and professionally through the tour, he also created a relaxed, fun atmosphere. A 100% recommendation!
    Show more
    One Life Adventures commented on this review
    Thanks so much for your review Betty!
    Trip date: June 2025
  • LD
    · June 8th, 2025
    We just wrapped up an amazing 9 day tour of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, and a huge thank you goes to our tour guide George. He was organized, knowledgeable, and super easy to get along with. George made the whole experience smooth and enjoyable, from navigating busy train stations to explaining the history behind the sights. He always had great recommendations, and was really attentive to everyone in the group. You could tell he genuinely cared about making sure we had a good time and got the most out of the trip. We really appreciated his local tips, good humor, and patience throughout. If you're thinking about doing a tour in Japan, I’d definitely recommend going with someone like George!
    Show more
    Trip date: June 2025
  • SM
    · June 8th, 2025
    George was an outstanding guide throughout our nine day tour of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. His knowledge, organisation and genuine passion for Japan made the trip smooth, enriching and memorable. He was always helpful, flexible and went above and beyond to make sure everyone had a great time. I would highly recommend George to anyone planning a tour in Japan. You will be in excellent hands.
    Show more
    One Life Adventures commented on this review
    Thank you for joining us in Japan Sean! We'll make sure to pass your kind words onto George - it sounds like his knowledge and passion really made you time there extra special. We hope to see you on another adventure in the future!
    Trip date: June 2025
  • Japan Essentials 9 Day - One Life Adventures reviewer 8
    · May 30th, 2025
    The overall experience was great and met some wonderful people which made the trip so much more enjoyable. Jordan was a good tour guide and fit well into the group. I don’t think it is clear in the itinerary just how much free time there is on the tour. Whilst some people may enjoy this, if I had known I would have done a lot more research into places / areas and felt I was missing out on some of the locations. I think some of the days in Kyoto could have been condensed down to 2 days to spend more time elsewhere. Those on the 9 day tour only get an afternoon / evening in Osaka and the tour could be better organised to spend more time there if other days had been condensed. The accommodation in Tokyo was poor in comparison to the other hostels we stayed in. If there were more social events in the first day or two where the whole group could spend time together I think it would really help the group dynamic as it felt like these activities only happened on the last few days.
    Show more
    One Life Adventures commented on this review
    Thank you for your feedback from your time in Japan with us, Sophie! We're so glad to hear you had a great overall experience and connected with some wonderful people - it's often those shared moments that make a trip truly memorable. We really... Show more
    Trip date: May 2025
  • BR
    · May 29th, 2025
    This was the perfect tour as a first time visitor to Japan and gave me a taste of the country - I’ll definitely be coming back! The tour had a good balance between planned activities and free time and our guide, Jonny, was very friendly and always happy to answer questions. Overall I had an amazing time with a great group of people!
    Show more
    One Life Adventures commented on this review
    Thanks so much for the review Beth! We're glad to hear you felt the tour had great balance between exploring on your own time and group activities. Thank you for choosing to travel to Japan with us - we hope you made some incredible memories!
    Trip date: May 2025
  • AB
    · May 29th, 2025
    Great tour, good amount of shared time between free time and add on activity’s, Japan is one of my new favourite countries.
    Show more
    One Life Adventures commented on this review
    Thank you for your review Amy!
    Trip date: May 2025

Dates & Availability

9 days
Japan Essentials 9 Day - One Life Adventures
From Tokyo to Osaka

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From
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-5%
NZ $2,556
Find this price
Save and compare this adventure
Payment plan $350 now + easy payments of $167 Learn More

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

What our customers ask about this tour

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

    Brooke

    Asked on May 4th, 2025

    Tokyo has multiple airports. what airport should I drop down to in Tokyo? And how to move to the meet-up point?

    Flights / Transfers
    Tour Details
    • One Life AdventuresOperatorWritten May 2025

      You can fly into both Narita International Airport (NRT) and Haneda International Airport (HND) which are both based in Tokyo. 30 days prior to your tour commencing you will receive a welcome pack with detailed instructions on how to get from both airports to our first accommodation/meeting point using Japans public transport system. The journey from both airports will take around 1 hour, and tickets can be purchased from English speaking kiosks.

  • R

    Roger

    Asked on April 10th, 2025

    Does this mean a room full of bunk beds? I have a CPAP machine - would I be able to get a bed near an outlet? Would my American CPAP machine plug into a Japanese outlet without issue?

    Accommodation
    • One Life AdventuresOperatorWritten April 2025

      We will be using multi share dormitory rooms throughout the whole of the tour, and you will only be sharing with fellow members of your One Life Adventure. So after reaching out to our ground team over in Japan, I have been informed that we cannot guarantee that there will be outlets for power by each of your bed. We do have an award winning Japan Classic tour, this tour uses upgraded accommodation and can accommodate for your CPAP machine. Please do note that you will need a letter from your doctor to get the CPAP machine through customs.

  • D

    Deborah

    Asked on April 10th, 2025

    I'm currently 15 years old (turning 16 at the time of the tour), and I'll be traveling with my 19-year-old sister. I'm interested in the 9-day tour, which is listed as being suitable for ages 18–29, and I had a couple of questions. Firstly, could you please clarify why the age range is set that way? Is it primarily due to social activities such as drinking, or are there other reasons behind it? Secondly, is this an age restriction, or more of a general guideline?

    Age Range
    Tour Details
    • One Life AdventuresOperatorWritten April 2025

      We do have age limits to ensure the best experience for all our participants. Guests must be 18 years or older to join. While we believe that all adventurers are young at heart, our tours are tailored for those aged 18-39, which is why we have an upper age limit of 45 years.

  • A

    Alyssa

    Asked on April 7th, 2025

    Will they match price for 1085$ for the tour in June 15th?

    Price / Availability
    • One Life AdventuresOperatorWritten April 2025

      We would be more than happy for you to join our tour commencing on the 1st June for the price of $1075USD, would you like to secure a spot?

    • A

      Alyssa

      TravelerWritten April 2025

      Unfortunately I won't be able to make it so early in Japan! That's why I was looking for more the middle of the month.

    • One Life AdventuresOperatorWritten April 2025

      So our tours commencing throughout June have actually been incredibly popular at full price, and we are seeing them fill as we speak! These tours may in fact sell out between now and closeout date, would you like to get a spot on our 15th June departure date secured?

    • A

      Alyssa

      TravelerWritten April 2025

      Ok, so basically that's the reason why you won't be able to match the price with the previous one?

    • A
      3 more answers
  • K

    Kristin

    Asked on April 6th, 2025

    Looking for a self guided tour. Need hotels and transportation service for trip to Japan. Interested in Tokyo, Mt Fuji, Osaka, Kyoto. Prefer 3 to 4 star hotels, budget friendly. Want hotel names and total cost.

    Accommodation
    Tour Details
    Transport
    • One Life AdventuresOperatorWritten April 2025

      We currently only offer group tours with fixed itineraries. Each tour has experienced guides. We have Japan Essentials 9 day tour available on 13th July, 2025 and 27th July, 2025.

  • D

    Debbie

    Asked on March 29th, 2025

    i wish to attend the Japan Expo 2025 in Osaka for 7 days. What does your tour package include. How can you assist me to enjoy this Japan experience

    Other
    Tour Details
    • One Life AdventuresOperatorWritten March 2025

      Great choice with our Japan Essentials adventure, we have tailored this tour in a way that gives you the perfect balance of free time along with included activities for you to enjoy. This tour will in fact come to an end in Osaka where you could continue onto the Japan Expo! You will get to explore a handful of locations prior to reaching Osaka such as Tokyo, Hakone and Kyoto, taking part in 13 activities. All accommodations and transport used on tour will be included in the given price.

  • G

    Greg

    Asked on March 28th, 2025

    Is it possible to boo this tour with 2 children 14 and 17?

    Age Range
    Tour Details
    • One Life AdventuresOperatorWritten March 2025

      We do have age limits to ensure the best experience for all our participants. Guests must be 18 years or older to join. While we believe that all adventurers are young at heart, our tours are tailored for those aged 18-39, which is why we have an upper age limit of 45 years.

  • S

    Stephen

    Asked on March 27th, 2025

    Could you let us know if you offer something similar to these itineraries or could customize based on our preferences? If our desired stop in Fukuoka for a wedding on Nov 10 can be worked into the itinerary? What's included, your pricing, group size info, and if payment plans are possible?

    Group size
    Payments
    Tour Details
    • One Life AdventuresOperatorWritten March 2025

      We offer group tours, with a maximum group size of 22 guests and minimum of 5. Payment plans are possible, with small deposits needed and full payment required no later than 60 days prior to the tour starting. Included in our Japan 9-day Essentials tour will be all accommodation, transport (excluding airport transfers), 13 activities and 8 meals.

    • S

      Stephen

      TravelerWritten March 2025

      We are thinking of arriving October 30 or 31 in Tokyo and doing Disney and DisneySea before the tour starts on the 2nd and doing Universal while in Osaka if there is time.

    • One Life AdventuresOperatorWritten March 2025

      We have an age requirement of 18-45 to join us on board one of our tours, meaning that you would need to request a custom private tour.

    • S
      2 more answers
  • H

    Hayley

    Asked on March 24th, 2025

    I'm interested in joining your tour this July! I was wondering if it would be possible that I join the tour from day 2 onward, as I'll be attending an event on Sunday July 27th.

    Tour Details
    • One Life AdventuresOperatorWritten March 2025

      Joining us on Day 2 of this tour would be no problem at all! We will in fact still be in Tokyo, and staying at the same accommodation that we use for Day 1 of the tour. You can simply follow the detailed instructions that you will receive in your welcome pack on how to get from the airport to the first accommodation after notifying our tour guide.

  • M

    Martin

    Asked on March 14th, 2025

    3x pax. Single occupancy room for each. Pls advise the rate

    Accommodation
    Price / Availability
    Single supplement
    • One Life AdventuresOperatorWritten March 2025

      Our Japan Essentials tour is our pocket friendly version of travelling Japan, with a good balance of included activities and free time so you are able to do some exploring of your own! Each accommodation will be shared dorm rooms in hostels, these rooms will only be shared with fellow members of your One Life Adventure. An alternative option would be our award winning Japan Classic 10 or 14 day tour. This tour focuses heavily on unforgettable inclusions, all pre organised ready for you to enjoy a completely stress free and enjoyable time. Although this tour does not have single supplement, you will be staying in upgraded accommodation and twin or multi share rooms. Booking together will man that you are automatically paired together, and the 3rd guest will be paired with another solo traveler of the same gender. During the multi share stays you will all be grouped together.

Can’t find the answer to your question?
Reach out to the experts at One Life Adventures with your enquiry, they usually respond within 9 hours.

Good to Know

Tour ID: 255975

  • 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 August 16th, 2025 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after August 16th, 2025, a minimum payment of $350 is required to confirm your booking with One Life Adventures. 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 65 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 One Life Adventures will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
    • The following cards are accepted for "One Life Adventures" 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.