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From
$1,915
US $1,723

Essential Japan

10 days
From Tokyo to Osaka
4.5
21 traveler reviews
Essential Japan - Intrepid Travel
From
$1,915
-10%
US $1,723
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Payment plan $400 now + easy payments of $105 Learn More

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Plan your adventure:
  • In-depth Cultural
  • Group
  • Fully Guided
  • Train & Rail
  • Sightseeing
  • Historical
Fully Guided
An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Guided in English
Group Size 12 - 16
Age range 18 to 35
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Highlights

  • Get your fix of Japanese culture with and visit temples
  • Indulge in sushi and go crazy shopping in bustling Tokyo
  • Soak up Kanazawa’s fascinating samurai culture
  • Get down with your world history at Hiroshima
  • Meet traditional geishas in Kyoto’s Gion district
  • Sip sake and rock out at an Osaka karaoke bar

Itinerary

Expand All
  1. Introduction
  1. Day 1 Tokyo
  2. Day 2 Tokyo
  3. Day 3 Kanazawa
  4. Day 4 Kanazawa
  5. Day 5 Kyoto
  6. Day 6 Kyoto
  7. Day 7 Hiroshima
  8. Day 8 Hiroshima
  9. Day 9 Osaka
  10. Day 10 Osaka
Want to read it later?

Download this tour’s PDF brochure and start tour planning offline

What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport
  • Free eSIM
    Stay connected on your adventure with a free eSIM, making it easier than ever to keep your friends, family and social media up to date without the hassle of roaming fees.

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Optional
  • Additional Services

Operated by

Intrepid Travel

Number of tours

1,391

Age Range

5 to 99 years old

Response time

within 1 day

Response rate

96%

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
    4.6
  • Transport
    Excellent
    4.6
  • Accommodation
    Excellent
    4.2
  • Food
    Excellent
    4.3
  • 4.6
  • Most Recent
  • Most Popular
  • Highest First
  • Lowest First
  • 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 reviewer 3
    · 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 reviewer 6
    · 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 reviewer 7
    · 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
  • A
    · September 18th, 2019
    1) Travelling with Intrepid had a great social aspect which allowed me to make many friends from all over the world. 2) The provision of a guide made travelling in a foreign country easy and stress free. This was especially helpful in restaurants as I cannot eat gluten. Having Tomomi to translate and communicate in Japanese allowed me to enjoy the traditional cuisine without worrying about being sick. 3) I greatly respect that Intrepid is environmentally aware.
    Show more
    Trip date: March 2019

Dates & Availability

10 days
Essential Japan
From Tokyo to Osaka

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Ends on 22 Apr, 2025
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What our customers ask about this tour

    The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.
    • Will all necessary information be provided in the travel documents?

      Yes, all necessary and detailed information will be provided in the travel documents.

    • Is transport for arrival and departure airport transfers provided?

      At this time, we do not offer transportation to and from the airport.

    • Can most of the exploration be done on foot?

      Much of the exploration can be done on foot very comfortably.

    • Are two-day transport passes provided for each city?

      If transit passes are needed in order to take part in any included activities, they will be provided.

    • Can you book airline tickets for us?

      We have a helpful place to search flight prices and book your flights here: https://www.tourradar.com/flights

    • What is the standard check-in time?

      The standard check-in time is 15:00.

    • Is there a group chat to get to know other travelers?

      No, we don't organize a group chat prior to the start of the tour.

    • What if I have flight delays or other travel issues?

      Please refer to our booking condition for our trip cancellation and Cancellation due to Force Majeure policy.

    • Are the details provided in the travel documents detailed?

      Yes, we provide very detailed information for our travelers in the travel documents.

    • What would be the total costs for 2 Adults + 1 Child (9 years) without extra bed?

      Please refer to the booking page for detailed pricing for this specific configuration.

    Can’t find the answer to your question?
    Reach out to the experts at Intrepid Travel with your enquiry, they usually respond within 1 day.

    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 June 15th, 2025 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after June 15th, 2025, 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.